Vdubs in the Valley:
The Trilogy. A title like that
kind of builds expectations doesn’t it?
Well, despite an earlier weather warning, the usual last minute stress
and sheer exhaustion that accompanies back-to-back shows, “The Trilogy”
delivered in ways some of it’s more corporate competitors failed to.
Take the site for example.
Thirty-four acres of level camping in rolling English countryside made
for some stunning sunset photographs on both Friday and Saturday night.
I managed to have the luxury of a night off on Friday and
still failed to pack the right clothes.
With the sun kicking out record-breaking temperatures, I opted to dress
entirely in black all day on Saturday, which only served as a magnet to the
heat. (Whatever Gaz and Hayley’s super
power is as far as influencing the weather’s concerned, I’d love to know, but
next year, I’ll be sure to book any staycations when they do!) I also hit the ground running. I can only apologise for the lack of
photographs and general chitchat on offer from us this year. We were flat out!
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| Photo credit: Richard Harper |
Vdubs show tees and stickers were flying. A particularly tasty burrito was raised to
my lips and placed back down again so many times, I gave up on it and as Gaz
will testify, I can turn when deprived of my food! Even Dr Jones stayed sulking in the van for much of the day, as
neither of us had time to help him to his rightful place on his Lancaster
Bomber toilet seat.
With BruteBox as our neighbours for the weekend, music was
abundant (and a fair few cheeky Amarettos from the bike bar).
Usually it’s me who splashes the cash at shows, indulging my
love of vintage, but with our regular neighbours Kinky Melon otherwise engaged, this time around Gaz kitted the P6 out with new plates. What do you think? He also mooched off to view a scooter and very nearly bought a
klaxon.
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| No identity crisis for the Rover P6! |
We also had an early Christmas present from Brutebox – a
life ring bearing our name and now piled on top of the Rover. Trust me,
with the rain we’ve experienced at some of this year’s shows, a life ring has
the potential to be a very handy piece of kit.
Gaz and Hayley Aulton and their crew (too many to mention –
you know who you are!) pulled off a blinder of a festival, with visitors
travelling from as far afield as Scotland.
There were no toilet issues – always a blessing, quality catering, including Little Retro Kitchen and the Bayked Potato Bus), a chilled out daytime
musical line-up and some vaguely familiar and very animated dancing ladies
kicking up a storm in their twilight years (thanks for the turban hat Charlie!)
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| There are no words. |
Our downtime was spent chilling with friends, shooting the
breeze over a few drinks and harvesting firewood with the generous assistance
of Baz’s chopper!
Sunsets, sunrises (OK I didn’t witness the latter), sales
and stupendous memories – that was 2016’s Vdubs in the Valley.
