by
John Waters
The day started in bright sunshine, the
only cloud was the fact I had to go to work before leaving for the
National and it was Ada’s birthday, although my youngest daughter
had kindly given me a weekend pass (I think she wanted her embarrassing
father out the way when she had her friends for a sleepover).
This Friday had to be a busy one, loading up a lorry with enough beer for two outside functions and the Ely folk festival and setting up the marquee and getting the beer ready for the Bedfordshire County show at Shuttleworth, because of this I didn’t leave Shefford until 2ish.
The run to Mersea was surprisingly smooth – A507, A10 A120, A12 then B1025, no hold-ups, brilliant. I was nearly to the island when I spied in the mirror a blue GTR behind; it was Paul and Julia so we both sped onto the island and to the camp.
We booked in and made our way to the KGT area and found Ken, Little Geoff, Yvonne and Alistair (and girlfriend, sorry didn’t catch your name). They plied us with a much needed cuppa and after pitching the tents we sat around putting the world to right and Little Geoff (bless him) went off to get us a fish & chip supper.
About 20.30 our esteemed chairman (all right, Richard Clifford) arrived and we helped him erect his tent. When I say “erect his tent”, what I mean is we helped him put up the outer piece of the tent as none of us wanted to stand downwind of the inner. It had been put away wet and was now a bit aromatic (to say the least). After which, in good KGT fashion, we stepped smartly towards the clubhouse.
The owners have spent a few bob on the clubhouse. There are now two bars, one with large screens and the other for the little ones, a bit like Sunny Hunny was all those years ago. The karaoke had to be heard to be believed (hopefully it will get better) but, oh joy, they have installed a handpull. Oh bother, it was Greene King IPA. Never mind, better than smoooooooooth John Smith’s (sorry if you like the smoothies). After which we went back for a few hours kip.
The next day dawned bright, more than I can say for myself, and after a hearty breakfast we returned to the tents to find Felix, our tour guide for the day, going over his route for the day. After looking at the route it was decided to shorten it and head for Orford via Woodbridge. We gave Ade a bell just in case he was close then we got ready and went off. There was Felix, Richard, Geoff, Paul, Julia and me.
I will not bore you with all the road names that we took. All right, I admit it, I can’t remember them! I just followed whoever was in front of me. It was very slow going for the first bit, all stop and go around Ipswich and we had to have a stop to let Geoff’s BM cool down a bit. So it happened to be a pub – so what?
Paul & Geoff look on as Julia attempts to hypnotise Chairman Richard Blues Brothers Richard & Felix at Orford
After cooling off we shot off to Orford, not a bad place but no place for a cuppa, so it was decided that a quick blast back to Woodbridge was in order. If you ever go to Woodbridge for a cuppa I can heartily recommend the café at Woodbridge station – the coffee was good (free refills) and the fruit cake was better.
We thought that a quick blast back to the campsite so that we could get some nosh was in order, so onto the A12 (sorry mentioned a road number) for a quick run back. Felix had to get back home so he peeled off somewhere (can’t remember where).
When we got back to camp there was big Geoff, Neil Petty, Ade and Caron. Ade told Richard that he had got a call from him and all he could hear was rrrrrrraaaaawwwwww, wwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaa (hope I spelt it right) as Richard was on the run, in fact Richard had called him twice.
We had a clean up and went down to the camp café (which can be recommended) for something filling to eat then (you guessed it) back to the bar for some world putting right. Later in the evening Mike Matthias and Steve Burrows arrived and joined us for a beer (or two). I am a bit worried about the chairman and his secretary though – we will have to keep our eye on them. We don’t want another scandal!
The next day was windy and slowly got worse so once my tent was
dry I got all my stuff packed away ready for the off so that I could
get home before all the birthday cake was eaten (fat chance of this). I
said all my goodbyes then hit the road home.
Many thanks to Ken for organising another great weekend, for Felix for a good run round and for finding that café, for Little Geoff for the chip run and to everyone else who turned up to make this another great weekend.
This Friday had to be a busy one, loading up a lorry with enough beer for two outside functions and the Ely folk festival and setting up the marquee and getting the beer ready for the Bedfordshire County show at Shuttleworth, because of this I didn’t leave Shefford until 2ish.
The run to Mersea was surprisingly smooth – A507, A10 A120, A12 then B1025, no hold-ups, brilliant. I was nearly to the island when I spied in the mirror a blue GTR behind; it was Paul and Julia so we both sped onto the island and to the camp.
We booked in and made our way to the KGT area and found Ken, Little Geoff, Yvonne and Alistair (and girlfriend, sorry didn’t catch your name). They plied us with a much needed cuppa and after pitching the tents we sat around putting the world to right and Little Geoff (bless him) went off to get us a fish & chip supper.
About 20.30 our esteemed chairman (all right, Richard Clifford) arrived and we helped him erect his tent. When I say “erect his tent”, what I mean is we helped him put up the outer piece of the tent as none of us wanted to stand downwind of the inner. It had been put away wet and was now a bit aromatic (to say the least). After which, in good KGT fashion, we stepped smartly towards the clubhouse.
The owners have spent a few bob on the clubhouse. There are now two bars, one with large screens and the other for the little ones, a bit like Sunny Hunny was all those years ago. The karaoke had to be heard to be believed (hopefully it will get better) but, oh joy, they have installed a handpull. Oh bother, it was Greene King IPA. Never mind, better than smoooooooooth John Smith’s (sorry if you like the smoothies). After which we went back for a few hours kip.
The next day dawned bright, more than I can say for myself, and after a hearty breakfast we returned to the tents to find Felix, our tour guide for the day, going over his route for the day. After looking at the route it was decided to shorten it and head for Orford via Woodbridge. We gave Ade a bell just in case he was close then we got ready and went off. There was Felix, Richard, Geoff, Paul, Julia and me.
I will not bore you with all the road names that we took. All right, I admit it, I can’t remember them! I just followed whoever was in front of me. It was very slow going for the first bit, all stop and go around Ipswich and we had to have a stop to let Geoff’s BM cool down a bit. So it happened to be a pub – so what?
Paul & Geoff look on as Julia attempts to hypnotise Chairman Richard Blues Brothers Richard & Felix at Orford
After cooling off we shot off to Orford, not a bad place but no place for a cuppa, so it was decided that a quick blast back to Woodbridge was in order. If you ever go to Woodbridge for a cuppa I can heartily recommend the café at Woodbridge station – the coffee was good (free refills) and the fruit cake was better.
We thought that a quick blast back to the campsite so that we could get some nosh was in order, so onto the A12 (sorry mentioned a road number) for a quick run back. Felix had to get back home so he peeled off somewhere (can’t remember where).
When we got back to camp there was big Geoff, Neil Petty, Ade and Caron. Ade told Richard that he had got a call from him and all he could hear was rrrrrrraaaaawwwwww, wwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaa (hope I spelt it right) as Richard was on the run, in fact Richard had called him twice.
We had a clean up and went down to the camp café (which can be recommended) for something filling to eat then (you guessed it) back to the bar for some world putting right. Later in the evening Mike Matthias and Steve Burrows arrived and joined us for a beer (or two). I am a bit worried about the chairman and his secretary though – we will have to keep our eye on them. We don’t want another scandal!
Many thanks to Ken for organising another great weekend, for Felix for a good run round and for finding that café, for Little Geoff for the chip run and to everyone else who turned up to make this another great weekend.