After the Towerkop Rally experience, I was very skeptical to try a new rally, but the Whale Rally did not disappoint….too nice!!!      We had excellent weather the whole weekend and cannot complain about the cold evenings as that will just be ungrateful.

We (DF, Larry, Monica & André, and myself) arrived there on Thursday evening just before dark.  The Old Brown Sherry was waiting for us (about 15 glasses) and we could finish them all as it was very cold…the organizers welcomed us as if they knew us for years already.  We expected to pay extra for the Thursday night, as other rallies charge extra for the Thursday night, but we were told to go in, there is enough wood to keep us warm and happy.  They even started trying to find out from other people where we could still find a bottle store open as we had nothing on us and there was no booze in the campsite yet.  We actually did not want to leave the entrance, because the people were so friendly, but we had to.  DF and André went into town to get the booze (they got excellent service and 4 glasses for free) and the rest of us started to pitch the tents.  We had a half drum and lots of wood and before long, we were having a rustige evening next to the fire.  There was one foodstall open…kak food, kak expensive, but we did not go to sleep with hungry tummies.

Friday we had a rustige day…accept for DF that rode over himself with the trike…nerve wrecking at first, but very funny later!!!  The bikers only started arriving late afternoon and you could feel the rally atmosphere building up.  All over the campsite were fires going and the bakkie just dropping off wood every hour or so.  When we took a ride to the entrance, we were invited to have another sherry on the house and a tequila…too nice! 

Friday night in the main tent…the music was excellent…NO techno kak…just rock and a few Afrikaans songs in between.  I saw 3 fights, but apparently it is local clubs that just cannot stand each other and it is the norm when they are on the same site.  I never felt threatened once in the main tent and enjoyed the main tent for the first time in a long time…you could actually breath in there…no “aaptwak” making you feel sick all the time.  They had a lucky draw for pre-entries on Friday night…R1000 cash and unfortunately it was not my number!!!  The bikes were very very noisy Friday night, but we were at a rally and accepted that.

Saturday we went to town to sort out a light on the trike, came back and polished the trike as DF was told with no uncertain terms that he had to enter the concourse. They had a division just for trikes as there were lots of trikes on the campsite.   Judging started at 2 o’clock, but in the mean time they had lots to keep the crowd busy…tug of war…slow rides…etc.  The toilets were clean at all times (and there were enough).

Saturday evening in the main tent…not too crowded…lots of place to sit at tables…music good…lucky draw did not take too long.  A Lady won the Katana (1st prize) and DF won the concourse!!!  Mooi man! 

Although it was a long time on the road, I will definitely go again next year if all works out.  Hopefully the wind will be kinder to us on the way back.