Mersea Island 2008 by Michelle Airey
Most peoples checked the weather for the weekend, saw the severe weather warning and decided to stay at home and catch up with some DIY. Not Us!
It started with a quick trip to Junction 26 of the M6 on Thursday night to rescue a stricken Scott - a couple of hours later he was returned to Sedbergh fiddled with and set-free around midnight for a good nights sleep at Lucy’s ready to try again Friday morning – so much for the ‘get there first’ idea, anyway he made it there without any further problems.
Steve & I set off into the rain about 5pm - by Forton services our waterproofs had started to give up, by Charnock Richard’s they weren’t even trying anymore but we got ourselves some fresh diesel gloves and persevered! Somewhere after that I remember seeing a vision going north – a lorry with a Premier Inn room on the side – big double bed, warm lighting bliss …..
At the next services a man told me he was praying for us! Jesus – now I’m scared! Off the M6 and onto the A14 – still pissing down! We couldn’t see a thing for the rain, were being blinded by oncoming traffic and aquaplaning, and then a miracle – Steve spotted a service area with a hotel and we turned in – miracle more for the fact that he saw it rather than the fact he stopped! The unhelpful cow at the Travel Lodge told us they were fully booked and all hotels round about were too – some horse show or something. So off we set again and managed to get the last room in a Premier Inn 10 miles further on – it was the one off the lorry – I think that man’s prayer had worked – thanks.
We set off again on Saturday for the final 70 miles after a shower and full breakfast with some now nearly dry clothes. We got on site just as Scott was waking from his wet bed – top tip never chuck your soaked waterproofs onto your sleeping bag or it will be wet by the time you go to bed!
The weather was now much better with the sun even making a few brief appearances. Most of the day and night was spent catching up with everyone in the bar – I think there was a custom show and some bands but didn’t really see much of them. Night came and with it again came the rain.
We set off on the long trip home in the dry, which was a nice change. Along the A120 we stopped at the junction to wait for Scott - he went screaming past at full throttle but he did managed to get off at the junction and stop – his carb has seized open due to a load of grit from his tank which had also caused his problems on Thursday. They got it all cleaned out and off we went again – but worse was yet to come …. Scott lost compression going onto the M6 and had to get breakdown home – not sure what the diagnosis is yet! We carried on but had fuel problems and threw in the towel at Forton where A&S Recoveries (an A&S Builders company) very kindly picked us up as the RAC were going to be about 2.5 hours wait. After a couple of hours in the shed it turned out not to be terminal – the petrol tap was worn and wasn’t turning on fully.
What do points make? A bloody sore, wet arse!
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