Day 9, 5.27pm, Sunday 13 June, back home, Guernsey
The Bubblegum Bangers Rally 2010 Extreme has ended in tremendous style.
The Bubblegum Bangers Rally 2010 Extreme has ended in tremendous style.
The wrap up began at the rally presentation night in the Chez Francoise restaurant, Paris, last night.
After a fantastic meal and after we sang Manno a happy 30th birthday complete with a cake that seemed to have a firework shoved in the top, it was time for the awards.
Rightly so, the Dumb and Dumber team of Nik Le Page and Craig Alan won the two big gongs of the night – the car of the rally and the team of the rally.
Known affectively as the Doggies, the two lads have been stars all week in their doggy outfits and doggy van.
Absolute legends.
Manno and myself also received some trophies.
Somehow we were named the media team of the week and I was also given the biggest cock up award for stacking the Mazda MX5 at the media challenge hill climb.
The trophy was a mounted part of the rear suspension that I ruined.
It was very touching…
From the presentation, a group of us made our way to the bar opposite our hotel called Caffe Cambronne.
We sat outside celebrating Manno's birthday with champagne and cigars before we got into a sing off with The Netherlands Radio Choir who were in Paris to give a concert.
We stunned the professional opera singers into silence with our powerful and emotional version of Wonderwall.
After three hours kip, we were back up at 6am for a 400km drive to St Malo for our midday ferry home.
Everyone made it in time except for the Doggies.
A combination of their slow van and the night before's excitement meant that they were late by half an hour or so.
They are due back tomorrow.
After a good sailing back and a chance to grab some much-needed sleep, the Bangers were welcomed back by cheering masses at the ferry terminal.
We then brought the roundabout at the bottom of St Julian's Avenue to a standstill and then drove in convoy up to Saumarez Park for the classic car show.
What happened there was like the end of a cheesy 80's film.
When we pulled up all the people at the show crowded round the cars applauding.
The only thing missing was that everyone didn't start spontaneously dancing.
However, it was just like the final scene from the Cannonball Run.
It was very fitting.
In Conclusion…
I have been thinking about what I was going to write in final blog since about Tuesday.
And I'm no nearer to what I think I'll write.
Already a couple of people have asked me if I had a good time.
Just saying yes doesn't do the week justice.
It has been epic.
It has been emotional.
It has been tiring.
It has been fun.
It has been unbelievably frustrating at times.
I have been at my wits end at times.
We have done around 4,000 miles.
If I had to write this on Thursday when we finally found our hotel in Prague, I would have honestly said that the rally had been a nightmare.
We had had four extremely gruelling days, that saw us put in 15 to 17 hours at a time behind the wheel.
People were even rescued from mountain sides.
Someone had worked out that on a couple of the days, that we had driven the equivalent of Land's End to John O'Groats, putting in more than 1,000km.
We weren't getting enough sleep and we weren't eating properly.
It was infinitely harder than the 2008 rally.
But after a good night in Prague, things seemed to ease up a little and we could start to enjoy ourselves more.
But then maybe, we all began to realise what organiser Brin Harrison meant by 'Extreme'.
This was not a holiday.
It was a challenge and an experience.
The week has created a special affinity between a group of people.
I'm reminded of Jim Telfer's speech in the brilliant Living with Lions DVD about the British Lions tour to South Africa.
The Scottish rugby coach said to his players - In 20 years time you'll walk down a street and you'll see someone here. You won't say anything but there'll be a look in your eyes and you'll know.'
I think that will be the case for all of us who went on this adventure!
And of course it was all for a good cause – The Tumaini Fund.
If you've yet to pay up your donations, please do so as soon as possible because a lot of people have been through a massive amount to raise this money!
A big thank you must go to Brin who put a tremendous amount of effort to organise event.
He also stayed strong when things got heavy during the week.
Also thanks must to go the numerous people who helped him out in different guises – 'The Lovely Jubblies', the mechanics Big Dale and Big John (Dale and Forest Road Garage also donated the media cars – much thanks) and all of the stewards who helped at the track day.
I'm sorry if I've missed anyone out.
And cheers to Manno for again being a great team mate.
This time we didn't argue once even on the Arc d'Triomphe.
So would I do it again?
Of course.
But let me get some sleep first.
Anyway, when is the next one Brin?
Memories:
The convoy around the island as we made our way to the harbour for the off.
The party in the hotel car park in Rouen.
The tollbooth girl on the Croatia-Slovenia border – I fell in love.
Drinking pints of Long Island Ice Tea in the Bombay Bar, Prague.
The champagne and cigars in Paris.
Watching the sun set on the back of the overnight ferry with Channel TV's Tamara Timothy as we left Ancona for Split.
It was a moment that was only bettered by playing Sigur Ros as Manno and myself came up to a lake in the early morning in the Swiss Alps. One word – emotional.
Getting lost in Lahnstein trying to find our hotel with 'The Doggies'.
The pizzas we had for lunch in Ried, Austria.
Dale's driving at the track day.
The Dutch opera singers.
The final farewell at Saumarez Park.
Observations:
France always seems to be shut when you drive through it.
Croatian roads are fantastic.
Croatia is beautiful.
Slovenia's countryside looks like a giant golf course.
Italy was a disappointment.
The Dutch seem to get everywhere. Lost count of the number of times we saw Dutch number plates around Europe.
Use P20 sun cream – it's brilliant.
Prague wasn't as good as I expected.
Take your own pillow – if it's good enough for Wayne Rooney, it's good enough for me. Although I left mine in Rouen.
The Czech police don't like a laugh.
Google Maps is rubbish.
I can never look at another cheese and ham baguette, let alone eat one.
Gaviscon is a lifesaver.
Download the Mumford and Sons album. One word – emotional.
Best moment – Driving round the famous hairpin in Monaco.
Worst moment – Getting lost in the Italian Alps trying to find that campsite.
Funniest moment – Whenever Manno jumped out of the car to pay at tollbooths he looked like he was in Challenge Anneka. Of course without the jumpsuit.
