This is the coolest wee rally in the country. Its compact bejou and well worth doing. The Allander MCC provide the usual rally stuff, music trophies, badges etc and the hotel's well friendly. Once the bar shuts (or even when its open) theres a barn out back with tea, coffee, cuppa soups, and rolls to hand with tables and chairs laid out to provide a wee chill out room. At least this year it was quite mild and more a chill out than a freeze yer nuts off room like previous years. Theres even a big sofa and a bag of blankets should you wish to crash out. Big Bob who normally runs the wee kitchen took a back seat and let everyone help themselves to the tea and stuff. A great idea as it meant the club members could enjoy the rally as well.
On Friday night there was a two peice band with backing tapes playing some rock music. They played for ever. After their two sets and a wee return for an encore they just kept playing and playing. Fantastic. After hours its a wee trip to the barn for a wee nightcap and finnish off a couple of bottles of wine.
On Saturday afternoon we had a wee run along to Killin where the Mercury MCC was holding their Tartan rally. It was a shame that the two rallies coincided but it was interesting as well visiting a rally when we were booked into another. We spent a couple of hours in the fishermans rest with a few people who were at the Tartan before returning to the Sheep'n' the welly. Saturday nights entertainment was provided by a three piece band playing a strange kind of rockabilly/60s/rock/strange kind of music. As Bob explains we get Heavy Metal and Blues at every other rally so he goes for something different. Definitely different Bob but we all enjoyed them and got up dancing.
Fortumatley they were able to play an accoustic set as the electricity decided it wasn't coming out to play and the entire valley was thrown into darkness by a power cut.
Enough of the band for me and it was through to the dining room for a blether. Thats what makes the Sheep'n'the welly good cos you can do that.
After chucking out time it was back to the barn till the wee sma hoors for a another night cap. Actually it was the big sma hoors cos we sat there through most of the night. Carol was her usual self and managed to forget where shed put her camera and left the new trophy lying in the middle of the campsite before she staggered to bed.
In the morning it was the usual hungover attempts at dismantling the tents and packing up before heading off. On the way down the road we stopped at the little burger van that sits in the carpark at the top of the hill between Lix Toll and Lochearnhead for breaky. Its a great wee van that sells good grub at reasonable prices. We were saddened to learn that the council are trying to move them on. Apparently because the new folk who have moved into the cottage across the road don't want them there. Fer feck sake did they not see the van there when they went to view the house. I hate people that move into an area and immediatly try to change things. Who the feck do they think they are. The vans been there for ages and provides a great service to bikers, motorists and the many walkers that use the route.
Anyhoo thats a rant and nothing to do with the sheep'n'the welly so all thats left to be said is what a great time we had and THANX to the Allander MCC for a great wee rally. Hope to see you all again next year.