"Safe to say we're looking forward to next year" those were my words at the end of last years Sandancer report and when next year came we weren't disappointed. The Sandancer in 2004 was bigger, better and had cleaner toilets than last year.
It was no wonder that there were more people there this year than last as even our club had more than quadrupled our turn out. We had been pushing for a big club turn out since we got the final dates sometime in January and had a wee quiet competition with the CVMCC to see who would have the biggest turn out. Cliff from our club had tickets no's 1 and 2. We thought we were in with a shout for a trophy but were pipped at the post by a German club who had come over for the event. Well done them and well done our members for trying, (maybe next year :-)).
For me getting to the rally this year was as much an effort as it was last year. After crashing the RF a couple of weeks ago it was dilema time as to how we'd get there. Friends rallied around with offers of bikes but as I'd just smashed my own I was'nt going to risk another that didn't belong to me. I spent most week nights after work in the run up to the rally trying to get Carols wee GSX on the road and fit enough to make the journey. The last job before Friday mornings MOT appointment was to fix a sticky front brake calliper. I didnt make it and plan W (or was it x) was put into action and disappointingly we had to go in the car. Doh.
We got down to the site at around 9:30pm. Enough light to check in, pitch the tent and settle in for the weekend. There were already a dozen or so from our club who'd arrived early in the afternoon and who were already well oiled. Mr Bud, Uncle Jack and Mrs Buckfast had been consumed in copious amounts and we set about joining the rest and starting to party. It was warm enough to sit outside the tents and just have a laugh. We could hear the music from the marquee so there was no need to move. Carol as usual got restless after a few beers and decided to drag me off to the marquee to perform my usual gyratory wonderness as an excuse for dancing. In the marquee we met up with the rest of the Falkirk team and some of the Clyde Valley MCC members and sat and had a reet good laugh. I never noticed who was playing what music but it all sounded good to me. We got kicked out the marquee in the wee sma hours or was it the big sma hours and wandered back to our wee encampment. Mark and Katy were still up and still ready for a laugh so yet again we never got to bed until six in the morning. Apologies once more to those camped around us.
Saturday dawned early as I was awakened by the sun turning the tent into a microwave oven. When I crawled out most other folk were up and amazed that so was I. It was only half past eight. Carol woke shortly after and went to the greasiest spoon burger van for two massive breakies. Sausage, egg, Black pudding, beans,and anything that could be cooked on the same gridle was heaped into a big polstyrene dish and served up. Just what was needed to absorb the excess alcohol running through the veins from the night before. We sat around having a laugh until mid afternoon when it was time to go get more food. Some folks went to the Beach Side pub (at the site entrance) where a massive meal was served up for around 6 quid. (under 10 euros) We headed to the local Asda and bought enough chicken bits to feed a regiment for £4 along with a reusable disposable barbie and some charcoal. We topped this with various salad bowls and the ubiquitous carry oot. Back to the tents for more hilarity and a general chill out. I lit the barbie at 4 oclock and it was finally ready for cooking at 6 oclock which brought about even more hilarity and made everyone question my barbeque skills. It then took a further hour to cook the chicken but as I always say at a rally time is unimportant. Hmm! its not what Carol and Donald were thinking as they were both starving and waiting on the food being served.
Music started playing again from the marquee and again there was no need to venture away from our wee camp.
Carol again got restless and wanted to go for a wander around and meet the rest of the rally. (note for next year: keep her off the ale). Again I was dragged off to the marquee for some rubber man dancing routines. We bumped into the Black Widows (common at most rallies) who had all changed gender and were trying to play football outside the marquee. Folks were just sat around outside or were falling all over the place inside the marquee.
After a while it was back inside to bob around the dance floor, which started at the stage and finished at the back of the tent, or just stand and blether to folk. The Clyde Valley MCC who were there with as big a number as us seemed to be everywhere. Or was that just Billy and Speedbump who seemed to be every where at once. The atmosphere was incredible as folks partied the night night away. We finished up in the wee dining hall marquee thing having a drunken blether with anyone drunk enough to put up with the pish we were talking.
Yet again the Sandancer lived up to expectation and was a fantastic weekend. Last year we did fifteen rallies, although all of them were brilliant we reckoned this was the best and this year we think it will be hard to surpass. Well done the Tyne Phoenix MCC and thanks again for a great weekend.