BRSA National Rally #3
Thiswasthe thirdnationalscooter rally oftheseasonand it
waseverythingwewanteditto be.An epic 300 - mileround
tripwith plentyof upsand downs,greatmusic,a top-quality
custom show,plentyofflowingalcohol anda wedding!
F
ridayafternoonourrideupwas
nothingshortofblissful.Like
mostscooterists,werodealong
theA 68 withitswinding
countrysideroadsand
picturesquescenery.Asalways,wehadto
stopattheScottishborderforaquick
photographandtotakeinthebreath-
takingviewsofbothEnglandand
Scotland.AlongwithLlandudnoand
Weston-Super-Mare,thisridehasalways
beenoneofmyfavourites.Butthen,ifthe
weatherisn’tonyourside,yourjourneyon
thisroadwillbeatotallydifferent
experience,aswehadthemisfortunateto
findoutonthewaybackhomeonSunday
morning.Yougetthebestofbothworlds
withKelso.It’sprimarilyacampingrally
attheBorderUnionAgricultural
Showground,butit’sonlyafive-minute
walkalongtheRiverTweedintothe
markettown.Hereyouwillfindsome
greatcafésandpubsfullycommittedto
hostingscooterists,makingsurewe’reall
fedsquaresausagesandTennent’slager
withsomemusictosuit.
WhenwearrivedIwastoldthattwo
fellowscooteristsdecidedtousethemain
hallonthecampsitetogetmarriedand
everyonewasinvited.Isthereabetter
venuethanascooterrallytogetmarried?
BigcongratstoPaulandKaren,wewish
youallthebest.Fridaynightweheadedin
tothemainhallontheshowgroundto
watchthefirstbandoftheweekendcalled
GimmieGimmieGimmies.Inmy
experienceofattendingthisrally,the
venuehasnotalwaysbeensokindto
musicians.Thesoundcanbetoughto
masterandthecrowdcanbeeventougher
tograb,nomatterhowbigorsmallthe
bandmaybe.However,thisfive-piece
punkrockoutfit,whichdescribesitselfas
‘atributetoaparodybandthatonly
coverssongstenuouslybasedonScottish
musicians,writersandperformers’,
managedtonailtheirset.Theyplayedall
therightcovers,fastpacedandfullof
energy.Icertainlyenjoyedthem.Nexton
theagendaitwastheDJ’sturntofillthe
largedancefloorsacrossbothroomsby
playingalltheclassicscooteristtunes.
Whisttheydidthatthebarstaffwerealso
busydoingagreatjobkeepinguspunters
fullofalcohol.Potentiallythebestservice
atascooterrallybarever.Therewere
morethanenoughadequatebarstaff
acrossanextremelylongbar,whichmeant
verylittlequeuing,whichinturnkept
everyonemerryandfullytoppedupwith
22 |SCOOTERING|AUGUST 2019
