Bikers1 - Island Invasion 2002

and all got caught drinking by the teacher. Ah those heady days when you could drink Colt45, Breaker and a qtr bottle of Bells and not have a hangover.

Friday was 'pishin' with rain, but Heather the weather's "eyezobarrrs" promised a good weekend. Heather, I owe yer a big kiss, Saturday was blistering as we set off for Weymss Bay (or however you spell it) for the ferry.

We bumped into Lynda and Lachie and many more folk who hadn't made it until Saturday. After a 35 minute ride on "Juno" we laded in "Rothesay", a couple of miles down the coast and we arrived at the council playpark which was to be the venue for the rally. The site really has an amazing outlook. I think we up here in the "frozen" north sometimes forget just how splendid our country is when the sun comes out, not surpring we forgot this year!, no I'm not going to moan about the rain again! .

There was a fair contingent of Germans and I believe some Belgians and loads of folk from the North of England. Most I spoke to had been to the rally many times already. I have to admit this was my first time. I'd always meant to do this rally, like ye do, but something else always came up. Now I know what I was missing.

There were real bogs and showers and a old scout hut where the thankless task of feeding this lot took place, as well as free endless tea and coffee, a masterful touch at any rally, especially at 5am when you just can't be arsed sparking up the trangia.

The Islanders MCC Island Invasion Rally has been going for a good few years now. The site, nestled in the bay of Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute. Generally know as "Rossi" or "Doon The Watter" if like me your from in or around Glasgow.

I hadn't been there since I was about fourteen years old when we went on a school trip on the paddle steamer "Waverley"

Having originally planned to get here on friday the world conspired against us, including Annie's dragstar's alarm doing a sterling job of immobilising her bike, by flatttening the sodding battery, course it's a gel battery, don't try bump starting a 650 dragstar, it's not even interested.

Having met up with the crew who had made it on Friday, the partying ensued. "Paddicraic" entertained us with some rousing jiggy numbers, followed by "Sticky Fingers" who kept everyone dancing.

The main event of the evening was of course the "Miss Island Invasion 2002" competition, but you'll have to look on page two for more of that, providing ye've got a strong stomach ;-)

As usual I was too friendly with Mr Daniels to get it together to note the prizewinners, however a special friendship award was given to the the guy's from Germany, and the Saints and Sinners won best club turnout, not surpriing since the entire population of Dundee seems to be in that club ;-)