Event
Report
The
2009 Weekender
Report
by Dave Simpson
Regular participants on this event will know that this proposed gentle
weekend away, with a few responsible adults with a common interest in
classic cars, should be largely an uneventful happening, well past history
belies this as it usually ends up in some sort of chaos and a lot of laughs.
Was this year any different?
Read
on dear friends.
Saturday,
a pleasant warm sunny day the gallant few gathered at Scotch Corner and
listened intently to the instructions regarding the route, given by the
overworked hon. sec in an effort to make things easy, well that’s where
the first above mentioned laugh comes in. Anyway papers passed around the
trusty steeds were mounted and off we went. Here I might add some members
were intent on setting a new record for getting lost, or to be polite, lets
say ‘straying off the route’, so now we were effectively two groups
heading in roughly the same direction on different routes. Luckily the route
directions etc were printed by means other than the secs printer so they
didn’t cost us anything. The fact that the A68 was closed at Tow Law due
to a fatal accident, meant that a diversion had to made around it, this
didn’t help at all so really it developed into a free for all and make
your own way to Seahouses, which would have been a good idea in the first
place.
Nevertheless
somehow, which remains one of the worlds great mysteries we all arrived at
the correct destination almost at the same time, impressive.
 Cars
parked and rooms allocated, the race to the bar was on, this was won by a
short head by Dave and Sue.
Saturday evening, suitably refreshed from the rigours of travel the party
gathered in the dining room to face a most agreeable meal, with large
portions of main meals enough to keep even our treasurer happy for a short
time. For the benefit of new members who have not been tempted to try the
weekender we were now entering the danger zone period of the weekend, i.e.
Saturday night on the town where traditionally things get rather more
disorganised than usual.
A
suggestion to stroll along to the harbour to walk off dinner was agreed,
however certain members managed to reach the Ship Inn and developed desert
thirst disease so that was the end of the exercise period and amber liquid
was consumed in an attempt to rescue the Northumberland economy.
 The
evening ended much later in the beer garden looking out to sea, trying to
decide if that flashing light in the distance was really the Longstone
lighthouse or something closer to home and much more serious, and Kate
muttering something about an old blue van. (Don’t ask).
Sunday
morning dawned again sunny and warm, a claim was made by a certain member
that the rigours of the
North Sea
had been braved prior to breakfast but as the only witness was the members
partner it could not be proved. Breakfast was once again superb with honours
being won by Jim for tackling the largest Kippers ever seen. A short burst
up the coast to
Bamburgh
Castle
was embarked upon, a distance of only 4 miles and guess what, yes a car was
reported going in the wrong direction.
 The
Castle proved to be an interesting diversion and occupied some time, so an
agreement was made to make ones own way home owing to the inability to
follow printed routes, Several of us returned by the coast and visited Amble
for lunch ice cream and to watch Puffins and buy fresh crabs, does life get
any better.
All in all largely a successful venture with only the usual minor chaos and
mayhem which is normal for this event, enjoyed by all try it next year, it
beats staying at home.
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