The Leeds and Leicester rally was my first rally…quite a daunting prospect! I arrived just about on time to the beam engine on the Friday night, and carried my bags to the minibus. Then came the challenge of getting all of the items safely on the minibus! Stupidly I volunteered to help! Any way…that is not the point! After the tedious process of loading up minibuses we eventually departed from Loughborough! The bus journey was not too bad! No one was sick or started crying – so I suppose you could say it was great!
After a small round the block detour (thanks to Amy who pointed us in the right direction!) we arrived at Bramhope Campsite – up in Leeds! After registering, unpacking the minibus and pitching tents it was time to head to the bar, and for rally veterans to catch up with old mates from rallies. The new people were introduced to friends of friends! After a campfire of singing songs people drifted off to their tents (or other peoples – no…not scogui people…!). We were awakened to the sound of pots being banged and shouts of BREAKFAST! Most of us managed to get up for breakfast, then head off on the scavenger hunt in our groups.
Arriving back to the campsite more people were out of bed (lazy people! Tut tut!). A sandwich lunch was enjoyed by everyone. The afternoon was spent taking part in a variety of different events – ones we had chosen to take part in. A small group of us spent the afternoon watching a bar in Leeds Student Union watching the rugby! After a short detour to Morrisons supermarket (you don’t have those down south!) we arrived at the bus pick up point to meet an excited bunch of people who had been around the armouries museum – most armed with plastic swords! We were then taken to an old scout hut. It was cold and the ceiling dripped – which provided cooling refreshment when the barn dancing started. There was an interesting dinner after which all dignity was lost in changing into costumes (scogui went as Asterix) in the cold hall! The barn dance got off to a great start, with lots of enthusiasm! Later on we were all boarded onto the busses to be taken back to the campsite. A campfire followed and people began to drift to tents.
Sunday morning…it felt so early! Could the weekend be almost over! Not before there were all of the silly games. Lunch soon came, then it was time for the presentation ceremonies. Simon armed all of scogui with leaflets about the Loughborough rally to distribute to everyone. Helmet challenged Cardiff (for them to keep their mascot) to a garlic eating competition – Helmet won! But…somehow Cardiff got their mascot back! Then, the weekend was over, all that was left to do was to strike tents, and say good bye to new friends. Helmet was almost stolen by Cardiff – until he burped a big garlic burp…they decided they couldn’t put up with the smell all of the way back to Wales!
We arrived back to Loughborough having stopped at a service station once. The roof racks were unpacked, and people dropped home. Then the sociable ones popped to the EHB for some dinner, and to enter the quiz.
What a great weekend
Written by Em Cowell
