Chappel (nr Colchester) Beer festival 9-14 September 2014

[rip]

I've got people to see in Colchester on Sunday afternoon, otherwise heading for a drive towards Cambridge sounds like a good idea.

[Stef]

Does sound like a plan although unsure on Sunday afternoon as yet.

Also unsure how long recovery time will be required

Perhaps see on the day!

Weather certainly looks a corker, maybe even as good as Brands Hatch was!

Garr! We gonna be burnt pirates fur sure me hearties!

Also bringing spare pirate stuff

[G UK]

Well the cars fixed, sort of.

Now to unpack the new tent and make sure everything is there!!

[rip]

Well done on getting your gear cable working again, G

I've had a closer look at the map.

Graham, I assume you're still ok to meet at 2pm in the layby on the A14 immediately after the A14/M11 junction?

Shaun, what do you want to do? Graham & I should pass Bury at 2.30. A good place to meet there is Tesco's car park, the other side of the roundabout from the sugar factory which is where the A134 arrives from the north.
The other alternative is to meet you near Needham Market in the layby on the A14 immediately after the A140 junction. If we meet here, Graham & I should arrive at 2.50.

Turning off the A14 at Bury is a more direct, quicker & more interesting route from Bury than going via Ipswich but it is obviously further out of your way. I don't mind which way I go & usually I don't suppose Graham would either but it may depend on how his gear shift is feeling

Stef, if you can catch us up or are running very slightly behind us, then please give me a call. I'll be ok to answer because I have hands free.

[Stef]

Cool

Jam packed today. Need to finish packing and load up, wash Blipi and cover my tracks to get away!

Will be in touch as I leave! Can't wait!

[G UK]

Just about ready to leave , See you in a couple of hours.

[Stef]

Wow. Well what a cracking weekend!

Weather was superb (even the misty Sunday morning was great!), beers were fab, company excellent and all in great event again.

Spotted a green Elan at the local shops. Bodywork shattered, interior excellent. Owned from new with around 28k on the clock.

The mankini boys were an added bonus for Saturday night and we all Pirated up for the evening too! Thinks we will appear in a few mags and websites

Here are a couple snaps, will load mmore later, it's back to the sunshine for me now.

Thanks to G, Shaun and RIP for being fab company and for being my swashbucking crew! Garr! Ye be great mehearties!

Pirating.jpg

Me & Mankini.jpg

Green Elan.jpg

[Stef]

Some more of my snaps:

Me & G Pirates.jpg

Me, G & rip.jpg

Party in the shed.jpg

First night.jpg

Swashbuckling.jpg

Me & Witchmen.jpg

Misty Blipi.jpg

[rip]

what a cracking weekend!

That's exactly what I was going to post. You beat me to it.
Hopefully everyone got home safely?

Things went well from the moment we left on Friday. Graham, Shaun & I were all a little late arriving at our meeting points & this worked perfectly. Stef's work caused her to miss the convoy but this allowed her to take a shorter route to catch us up almost completely.

The weather was amazing. We bumped into a few of my ex-colleagues on Friday including LEC's Basher.
The Elans stayed put on Saturday. Like last year, Graham & myself caught the train to Colchester to freshen up with a quick swim before buying some supplies. It was a great way to break up the day before a second, more gentle day of beer drinking.

The heavy mist on Sunday morning took me by surprise. Going for a run worked too. When we got back, the mist had lifted & the sun was drying things up nicely.
Shaun/Stef: I hope I didn't slow you down too much? I had not been out running for several months!

Great weekend. This event is one I always look forward to. The company, the beer & the setting never fail to deliver but the weather was amazing this year too!

[ShaunM]

Couldn't have said it better. Another excellent Chappel Beer Festival.

Great beers, great company, incredible weather and a very relaxing weekend.

Great to have banter with the staff who referred to me affectionately as "Mr Hand", and also to Rip for my new name..."Dr Where"

I think Graham enjoyed the dressing up the most and we had a great reaction from the crowds...not more so than "Dixie"

Pics on facebook...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... d21ed41058

[basher]

Good to see/meet people on the Friday.
I looked around to find you before I left that night and couldn't find you as even at that time the place was still rammed.
Will be there next year....

[rip]

Friday night again this year, Mike?

Stef, Graham: I have your tickets. I've also pre-ordered us glasses to ensure we get this year's . They are still refundable though.
Shaun cannot make it this year. I'm sure he mentioned it at Brands but his posting signature will explain.
The beer list has been published. You can find it by googling 'chappel beer festival'.

[Stef]

Super!

Thanks Rip

Still rustling up fancy dress and still looking at warrior, knight, battle type theme

Shall keep updated on arrival time

[basher]

Friday night again this year, Mike?'.

Yes, that's the plan.

[ShaunM]

Gutted I can't be there this year, will be doing this instead:



Rip has suggested sponsorship for every beer drunk, I reckon I'll get at least a couple of pints down me on the 23 mile cycle and probably 1 on the 6 mile run...not sure about the swim though!

Have a great weekend

[ShaunM]

Did anyone go? Or are your Fancy Dress costume soooooooo that you don't want to post them?

[Stef]

Distanced by G and RIP, myself and Ian made an effort

For some reason, despite re-sizing, my pics will not load...

Is there an LEC issue?

[Rob P]

For some reason, despite re-sizing, my pics will not load...

Is there an LEC issue?

Had this issue last night also, tried reloading a picture which had previously loaded OK and got the same error so I assumed it was a site issue and gave up

[Stef]

Second photo attempt

Us sml.jpg

Us 2 sml.jpg

Horses sml.jpg

Bar Humbug sml.jpg

Death horses sml.jpg

[Stef]

2014 dates are from 9 to 14 September.

Me and Ian are in. Who else?

RIP, can you arrange Friday tickets again please?