This is not mayhem.
This is a watered down version of the event I hold dear to my heart.
Looking at the site it seems you can’t camp on the Friday night. This is my biggest issue. How do I prepare my traditional Saturday morning repast while busily setting up camp for less that 24 hours? how are we supposed to decompress with a few beers, bottles of red, fine comestibles and bonhomie around a washing machine drum of love? How will the far flung attendees feel about such scant rewards for their efforts? I for one was never fit to drive by midday Saturday when the race started. If festivities that usually last into the early hours are restricted to Saturday night after the race and we have to leave the site by midday Sunday, can I limit my consumption to perhaps a single bottle of wine and port?
I can envisage the vast majority of riders unclipping their bikes from their vehicles, competing and returning home all in the same day. This will create a different vibe around the campsite. Who will we annoy? Where will the fun police find us? Will the retrospud rocket of righteousness return for another mesmerising midnight mission to the stars?
Not given this much thought as yet but my enthusiasm although somewhat dampened has been ignited by the return of an old friend, a release, a chance to ride a little, relax a great deal more, reacquaint with those sorely missed…….
I’m in.