6 Days in February

and there you all where thinking it was done - continued from last month

Sunday 25th February

You thought it was all over, the event may be but there is still a lot of work to be completed.

The day starts with a very pleasant drive to Quick-Fit's and then onto the cliff top between Boscombe and Bournemouth to collect a few metal barriers. Thank goodness I have Dave W with me to read the map, he also knows where two of the barriers are hidden. These barriers are taken to the fly-over area and added to the pile. The straw bales used on the sea front are then collected and then delivered to the collection point up at Ringwood North. We call in at my stage on the way and load on as many more bales as possible and drive over to Ringwood North. Another journey back to my stage for the final load of bales and bit more clearing of brushwood. Deliver these last bales and then back to the hotel.

When we arrive there, what a pleasant surprise, the lorry, big trailer and vans are all packed, Jackie's car park pavement and road have been swept and everything is ready to move. I change trailers, off with the small lightweight one, on with the large heavy one loaded to the top, but already sheeted over and roped down by Russ with his expert knots.

We all thank Jackie and for organising her hotel as an open house, thank goodness she knows what rallying is all about and what it requires.

Back at the club stores by about 3 o'clock.

Having sat in the car for just over two hours just listening to Classic FM radio, it takes a while to get the body and joints moving again. In the next few hours everything is packed away in the club stores, much quicker than last year. I arrive home at about 7:30p.m. and for me it is all over but some of the team have to return to Perrot's Farm on Monday morning to take the vans back to Southhampton. Neil also had a lorry to return to the hire firm and during the following week made a number of journeys to the stages to clear our brushwood right back behind the tree line so as to keep the Forestry Commission happy.

Now I did say at the begining that we could do with some new blood to help us out with stage setting up. If you have read this far I hope I have not put you off, the camaraderie within the team is great and it makes for a great time.

I know I am always putting my foot in my mouth but honest I did not start this epidemic that is still going around our country.