Guernsey’s First Rally
Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, is the home of our twin HOG chapter who were hosts for the first "Rally on the Rock" held on August Bank Holiday. Robert Steen, the chapter director is also the owner of the Ambassador Hotel, which Nij & I have visited on numerous occasions in the past. We have over the last four years traveled to Guernsey with fellow members of Thames Valley chapter for week long parties and always had a great time so when they decided to have this rally it was not a case of shall we, more a case of we must!
Along with about 32 other Thames Valley members we booked the hotel and asked Tracey who works for Robert to book the Sea Cat on our behalf and off we went. Friday 27th August saw 19 bikes and a car on board the 05:30 Sea Cat from Weymouth to Guernsey and settled down for a very rough crossing. It was the first time we had ever had a bad crossing, and I must admit … it was bad. I was okay, switched off and went to sleep, but several people were ill although once we arrived two hours later, were met at the dock by Robert and several of the Guernsey chapter and enjoyed a champagne breakfast at the hotel everyone was fine.
We introduced the people that didn’t know Robert and the crew including Sue Noble who was experiencing her first visit “over the water”, and them headed off to the rally site to register and collect our t-shirts and programmes etc. The site was the local scout hut … no ordinary scout hut this … it is a huge building with “proper” showers and toilets, a big hall and a vast area around it for camping etc. It was secure as there was only one entrance, which was manned night and day, and lots of hardstand parking for the bikes.
Time to relax, or attempt the treasure hunt, the prize for which was a Guernsey silver coin made and donated by one of the local goldsmiths and them the evening began.
Nij & I elected to stay at the hotel that evening as we wanted to catch up with old friends and had a very relaxing evening with a great meal. Many of the crew also came back as we had been up since 04:00 that morning so were knackered.
Saturday
Saturday dawned with the sun trying to shine so we had a few hours of relaxation before heading down to the rally site again to help set up and meet a few more people. We were only allowed to help with the setting up and were told “you are on holiday, enjoy”. The afternoon was taken up by a very well organized ride out around the island. The Guernsey police, including the Inspector, a very charming gentleman, who enjoyed the opportunity of riding with the crew, marshaled it.
By this time we had realized that there were representatives from 13 other chapters … a fantastic result for a first rally, and not the easiest of places to get to.
Saturday night we spent at the site, enjoyed an excellent meal, cheap drinks, good music and none of us had to ride as Robert had kindly organized a coach for us back to the Ambassador.
Several of us also bought Guernsey teddies that were wearing sweaters embroidered with the rally logo. More of them later …
Sunday
Sunday started bright and sunny and after the obligatory swim we set off for the rally site in convoy. We nearly had a few accidents with the local Guernsey folk as Nij decided to ride in his “Uncle Sam” outfit (the one he wore at Bisley) including the hat. He had people laughing and one guy nearly fell out of the tree he was trimming. Several of us entered the bikes in the show and then explored the event. It was rather like a country fete but with bikes and cars and no W.I. There were displays of military vehicles, classic cars and bikes as well as the ride in show. They had a stunt motorcycle team, a model aircraft display and an opportunity to launch our teddies in a parachute … yes that’s right … Yvette managed to get her teddy, complete with parachute tangled in a tree but it was hilarious watching the guys trying to release it.
The other attraction was the local police dog team, two German shepherds and a sniffer dog called Lucy. They put on a fantastic display, so good in fact that we asked if they ever used volunteers. They explained that for reasons of health and safety they could not but we were on a mission. Our chapter joker Tubbs was going to get his comeuppance one-way or the other!
After explaining his job they agreed that they could use him so it was then up to us to make sure he stayed around. I asked him to stay as we were planning to “stitch” Robert and he readily agreed. Well, they did the display again and then announced that a member of the public had expressed some doubts that the dogs would work with strangers so invited Tubbs onto the field. Strangely he called me a “cow” but took off his leathers and obliged. They dressed him in the leather arm and the female police officer asked his permission to remove his wallet and chain so that it couldn’t hurt the dog. What none of us knew was that she then planted some cannabis in his back pocket. Well, he and the German shepherd performed really well together and he was ready to leave the field when they stopped him and explained to the crowd that they were unhappy with this person so needed Lucy to check him out. Bless him, he was protesting by this time that he was “clean” but lo and behold Lucy discovered the cannabis in his pocket and he was taken off the field in handcuffs. I can only say I have great admiration for Tubbs, he carried it all off with a huge smile and great style.
Thames Valley did well in the bike show as well. Richard Noble won Best Dyna, Nij took Best Softail and Sue Moyler received Best Sportster, and they all received fantastic wooden trophies carved in the shape of the island.
The evening was taken up with eating and drinking again (nothing new there then) and then back to the hotel for a well-earned rest.
Monday
On Monday several people headed home so we saw them off and then enjoyed the National Hill Climb, which always takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Unless you have seen or ridden the Valles de Terres it is difficult to imagine. These lunatics in go-kart's, on bikes and in all sorts of cars race up the hill at breakneck speeds … I think the record stands at 39.4 seconds … and it takes us nearly two minutes to ride it, and we think we are going fast! The rest of the day was spent Clay Pigeon shooting or shopping, (there are some wonderful jewelers on the island, and all tax free) or just relaxing ready for the trip home on Tuesday.
As always the crew came to see us off and we had a millpond trip home on the Sea Cat.
Thanks Robert and the entire chapter for a fantastic weekend. It was one of the friendliest rallies I have been to and I am now looking forward to the next one. Rumor has it that it will be in 2006.
If you have never been to Guernsey … try it … Robert will always help with ferries, flights are good from Southampton, and the Ambassador is a great hotel … not to mention all the real friends you will make on the island.
Trish
Director - Thames Valley
