MCCNI rally at Ballymena

 
 
 
 
 
 
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MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 12.02.2012  ·  #1
Another great weekend with MCCNI.

Over 50 motorhomes attended.

Venue was great, bar with good prices (see how I mention drink first)
Good entertainment both evenings made the trip worthwhile.

A very mixed age group attended and a few kids too. It is great to see families taking part in rallies.
We had two quite late nights and were not the only ones.

Managed to meet up with Joy and Rob at last.

Thanks again to everyone who put the work in to make it happen.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 12.02.2012  ·  #2
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Viktor
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 12.02.2012  ·  #3
Mmmm... I turned up about 5.30 pm Fri ..... and quickly realised this wasn't going to be for us as:


1. Because a campers washing facility's are limited for 3 people....need to be a short distance away from those facilities like in a
pub car park.

2. In a camper (unless alone), because I'm always moving things around I've learn't that I need to be on firm clean hardstanding
as anything else quickly gets trailed every where on feet..even a mat wouldn't particularily help as everything would still be on the
mat lol).

3. A bit of lighting required as I'm in and out as I mentioned moving stuff usually at bedtime or when swivelling seats.

The rough car park area was quite mucky and puddly with the loose fill quarry stones and dust. It was a good distance from the club
which wasn't open except for an outside toilet changing area which was full of discarded and used sports kit. The parking area had no lighting.

Also my intention of easing the GF into the scene by partaking in the socialising but spending the night elsewhere close to 24 hr
facilities wasn't particularily welcoming....(the situation hadn't arisen before??...but local members have turned up in cars to meets
and left not staying the night)....it seemed expected that I should pay for the overnight stays...which was eventually after a bit of
polite protest reducing to paying for one night....seemed to be more important to pay rather than see if a new member could be encouraged
to feel comfortable in the group to be a committed future member....

ok...it was only seven quid....and I realise the function was a chip in to a degree....but it was the
attitude that got me....leaving me considering the £14 originaly asked for.... better spent contributing to a hotel cooked breakfast....I had pretty well decided before the comeback offer.

so...sorry...she wasn't impressed....she junior wasn't impressed and both were so disappointed they wanted to go home....frankly I wasn't
particularly impressed myself either, but I realise I wasn't catching the group at it's best, and a camper might not be the ideal vehicle to be
in among a group of large MH away from handy facilities. I was expecting an all weather type pitch or a large tarmac car park a short distance
from a club lounge/restaurant and toilets.

On my own perhaps I'll attend another meet...but she has definitely very little interest in even attempting to socialise again.

As it was we did have a successful enjoyable week end touring the Antrim Coast....but as for this new member to the MCCNI....he might just have
lasted 30 minutes.....I'll have to think about it....doubtful at this point if the membership will be renewed next year.
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 12.02.2012  ·  #4
Sorry we missed you Viktor.

We arrived about 8 ish. Pity it wasn't what you expected as there was plenty of friendly chat in the evening.

At least you didn't have wasted weekend.

You should give it another try sometime.


twister
 
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 13.02.2012  ·  #5
Thinking of joining a club myself. Looks like you didn't get what you expected out of a rally. I thought the idea of a rally was to be self sufficient in your own vehicle? ? I didn't think a pub would let you use their facilities for washing the family just cause you are staying in their carpark. I don't know many pubs with clean carparks. This was a rugby club wasn't it? Usually a bit mucky round them in my experience. Did you find a better place to stay in your camper ?

Sorry for the questions but this interests me with regard to peoples perception of the clubs and rallys.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 13.02.2012  ·  #6
i think the main toilets were not open yet when viktors family went in,probably the changing room toilets.
we had access to the bar toilets and the lounge toilets all weekend,both of which were clean.

we never have access to full facilities at a rally,just toilet facilities, fresh water, and elsan disposal facility.

most schools and clubs have lighting and tarmac standing, this rally at ballymena didnt.
54 vans were at ballymena so you can imagine the pressure on facilities if we were given full access to them.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 13.02.2012  ·  #7
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Viktor
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 13.02.2012  ·  #8
Quote by twister

Thinking of joining a club myself. Looks like you didn't get what you expected out of a rally. I thought the idea of a rally was to be self sufficient in your own vehicle? ? I didn't think a pub would let you use their facilities for washing the family just cause you are staying in their carpark. I don't know many pubs with clean carparks. This was a rugby club wasn't it? Usually a bit mucky round them in my experience. Did you find a better place to stay in your camper ?

Sorry for the questions but this interests me with regard to peoples perception of the clubs and rallys.


Yep agreed, which was why I said a camper isn't exactly self sufficient, especially with two females on board. A pub isn't ideal either, but usually there is little problem with a hotel...I've used hotel facilities to wash and shave in when travelling overnight in a car over the years too...so it really needs to be a hotel, or upmarket pub with multiple toilets and restaurant, or a golf type club when you have a camper. The Christmas rally at Enniskillen would have been ideal as it was in the Killyhevlin.

We toured the Antrim Coast as you can see from the photos and was lucky to time a sunset at the Causeway when the stones turn golden...it's just quite special for that few minutes. We parked up free overnight in a local hotel and relaxed in their lounge before retiring for the night to the camper. Then had a full breakfast in the hotel for 2 +1 child for £20 and no problem grabbing a quick wash in the toilets in the morning.

This particular location just didn't suit a campervan but I suspect that as we both are only very light social drinkers (the odd glass of wine...and I drink non alcohol drinks most of the time as I'm driving), that sitting about playing party games, chatting, and boozing isn't our scene anyway...we're both more into finding out what is round the next corner, stopping if we feel like it to see a view etc....so we're not exactly predisposed to be the stay in one place for a weekend rally types anyway.....we like to do our own thing.....guess I'm trying to say that I knew what I was likely getting into but expected better access to facilities as unless I'm mistaken everyone including MHers prefer to use their own toilets only if there is no access to a clean one elsewhere....unfortunately the outside toilets I mentioned didn't even have a sink to wash your hands in afterwards....it was very basic.

So not entirely the fault of the MCCNI...partly our own too as we are NOT self sufficient...not exactly ideal rallyers.....but disappointed in the location, the mucky very dark car park, and lack of facilities until later in the evening.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 13.02.2012  ·  #9
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Viktor
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #10
Most likely I'll be on my own for most of these rally's so I'm likely to give it a go by myself next time....yep...sounds like a timing issue right enough as the inside toilets access would have been ok....still we wouldn't have been on site for the duration either, but possibly might have come back to socialise in the evening if the lighting and parking surface had been better and closer....as for MH'ers toilets...campervan toilets are only usable when everyone vacates the campervan and the curtains are closed...so the remainder standing in the rain or on mucky ground doesn't cut it lol.

....at least the issues have been raised and perhaps future campervan members attending might be facilitated closer to the premises and inside toilet access extended for longer periods.....I imagine Bob will probably pass on these views to the committee as I think I might have been the first campervan attending in some time.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #11
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Viktor
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #12
Indeed....it turned from disappointing for them into a fun weekend for them....so the good boy points were rescued lol.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #13
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #14
Did you just mention Carlsberg and case in the same sentence! ? :fgrin:


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #15
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Ally
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #16
:'(

Where is the "drool" smiley?:)


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #17
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Viktor
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #18
Just to keep you updated Twister....I had a very nice friendly phone call from the MCCNI chairman who had decided to hold my application for membership until he had a chance to chat with me as he felt that the locations normally used were probably not suited to a member with a campervan who was not self sufficient. We had a friendly chat...and thanks very much Des for the call :up: ....Twister I decided to withdraw my application for membership...I'll just attend our own meets when the location is suitable.


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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #19
im glad to see an amicable solution viktor.


Viktor
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Re: MCCNI rally at Ballymena

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Posted: 14.02.2012  ·  #20
No probs Bob - thanks for your time. :up:


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