I set off round 8 on Friday morning, it was pissing with rain, so I was a little relieved I had decided to take the car, passed several people who seemed to be heading towards Stranraer who were soaked, some in 1 piece leathers, others togged up nicely.
As I roll onto the Ferry, I was amazed by the sheer number of bikes filtering on, fair play to the ferry staff as everything went to schedule. Then I started to panic .... not about the ferry trip, but whether my brothers tent had all the bits in it as he had not used it in a year. I thought bugger it, and rang some of the tent stores in Belfast trying to source a Kyham Biker tent (I thought easy up, easy down, more time in the pub). Could I find one, could I baldrocks. Anyhoo, I managed to find a Eurohike pop-up tent which seemed to be fairly sturdy so I called through to Millets and reserved one.
Although not my video, this is the one I plumped for, nice n warm, piss easy to put up and err a bit fiddly to collapse (Until I saw this video that is)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIgFhRSQV1A
10 minutes after docking in Belfast I wandered into Milletts, all sorted, now just for a trip up to Portrush. The traffic was horrendous, bikes filtering through, riders soaked, cars full of people, half already on the lash!.
I arrived to the official campsite in Portrush, it seemed fairly good, nice pitch, not much noise and decent facilities. So I pitch the tent and bigger off to meet up with my mate who was working with Guy Martin. We have a meal with Guy n the team in one of the restaurants and he is a top bloke, he had a major tendency to say "Boy" everything he said, it was quite amusing several people came over and asked him for photo's one bloke even saying to Guy, have a feel of my wife's tits if you like, he just took it all in his stride, not sign of nerves and very little talk of what raceday had in store.
We finish off our meal and they decide to go back to the apartment they had rented, " You coming back to boy" he says, we call at the offy for a few beers and head back to what was the guitarists from Genesis' flat, 4 bedrooms, plasma screen, looking out over the ocean. as we arrive, Karl Harris turns up with his burd (Brolly Dolly and err is fit as wombles!)
We share a few beers, Guy has his 4th Cappuccino and then we decide to call it a draw for the night.
I head back to the campsite, which has swollen with knob heeds since I left it, I thought bugger it, I'll join in and got fired into several cans of Grolsh. I get talking to a group of lads from Belfast, off their head but a reet laugh, I finally turn in for the night round 3AM, head spinning and a little worse for wear.
I wake up round 5, nip to the toilet, to see the same group of lads hard on it still, all credit to them as I couldn't have managed another beer!
The morning after the night before, I pack my day bag and wander down to the paddock. what I thought was a 20 minute walk turned into an hour, I was knackered, rough from the night before and ready for the days action. I finally get to the Hydrex tent, where they had zipped everything down, no people pestering and a small team going about their job, relaxed and hopeful of a few trophies. Guy says " Nowthen boy, did you have a good kip in ya tent boy" gently sipping yet another cappuccino.
I leave them too it and take a wander through the paddock, people are pissed ad 10 AM and generally everyone enjoying themselves. The weather seemed to have held up and the first race started. ring a ding ring ding ding off them 250's go, only to be red flagged after a length delay, off they go again, Elkin and Dunlop pushing hard, with Elkin first to make a mistake, he high sided leaving Dunlop an easy run to the line. Elkin breaks his leg after hitting the bails hard.
Out come the superbikes and again, a crash stops the proceedings prematurely. Guy out braking himself on a number of occasions, managing 6th.
As the day progresses, so does the amount of pissed people, I ended up picking one bloke up who ran passed me n then collapsed, it can't have been later than 2PM, his head split open, his mates come over and grab hold of him, and give him another beer. You had to be there to see it.
Anyhoo, later in the day, the weather turns, torrential Rain for 5 minutes, the dry the next, as a result the last 2 races were cancelled, right decisions in everyone's minds as it was so difficult to call what tyre to use, a wet on the start finish was all well and good, but the 200mph stretch would have shredded them because it was dry.
I bimble back to the Hydrex tent, say my goodbyes and wander back to the Campsite. Woaah I thought, everyone was leathered, some people fighting, others couldn't stand, others trying to break into to join in.
I thought bugger this so collapsed my tent, loaded the car up and set off down to Belfast for the night. I finally got to my hotel round 11, dropped my bag off and then on the lash in the hotel bar. I ended up chatting to a bunch of lads who had done a day trip up to the NW200, everyone in good spirits, and again another 3 in the morning session.
Sunday morning, I wake up in good time, and make my way to the Ferry Terminal, there must have been some 1000 bikes and about 20 cars them wet and tired, me chillin in the car watching a film on my iPhone.
Once the ferry gets underway, they put on the MotoGP on all the TV Screens, everyone sits quietly reflecting on what I hope for everyone was a top weekend.
On arrival at Stranraer, I type in my home address in the Sat Nav to see how long it would take to get back. I arrive home at 7 o Clock, missus happy to see me, my son even happier at getting a hydrex coat n Tee shirt.
I put him to bed and settle in for the night, with, yup you guessed it, a load more beer
Top weekend, deffo go again, although with a bit more planning will get a proper bed for the night rather than camp.
For those with Sky, all the racing is to be shown again on 973 at 10.30 (tonight I think), I think they managed 18 laps in total due to crashes n bad weather, I heard today one of the 250 riders unfortunately died after a crash at Mathers Cross and another remains critical after a crash on Tuesdays practice. That was the only downer of the weekend.
Ends
Hope you enjoyed reading.
gonna try and do the NW next yr 
. (£20 Return including breakfast and main meal,see thread if interested).