By KevinTheB
November 6 2004

And with a reputation for good, clean fun (and plenty of it) preceding us, arranging the DW Tour to Calvisano was, as always, a pleasure.

Sixty-three souls arrived in the Bergamo Orio airport arrivals lounge, only four down on the expected number.  One of these joined up later (having missed the strict Ryan check-in time), two had called in sick, and we are still waiting news of the fourth.  Check-in at the hotel brought a number of prior arrivals to light, and eventually a large party went up the road to the Vasco de Gama restaurant for a meal nothing short of a banquet.  For the first time in living history, a group of diners containing Sleepy Pete and KevinTheB left good food uneaten on the table.

 

Back to the Golden Lion pub for a few beers, followed by a few more back at the hotel.  A good Friday night to start the weekend.

 

Saturday morning took us round the town, finding Roman remains, street markets, and … the Golden Lion.  Cabs back to the hotel for the matchday coach.

 

Now we don’t want to blow our own trumpet, and numbers aren’t exact, but we believe something like 115 people travelled down to the match in DW transport.  This is a record for us, but our new method of control (as mentioned by Dixie) : “be on the bus or it goes without you” seemed to work a treat all weekend.  For completeness, this was 25 people more than went with the official tour.

 

The match has been described elsewhere, and we got over to the clubhouse for a few beers.  Trevor Leota came past, renewed old ties with Phil, and showed us the ear.  Didn’t look much worse than normal.  Questioned about the sense of playing with it, Shaun Edwards commented that evening: “He’s a pro – it’s what you do”.  Shaw took our approval for his try on comeback with humility, and wished someone had been there to save him the sprint.  Warren went past, and to my question “Satisfied Warren?”, politely suggested otherwise.  Oogie was “over the moon” that we had room for his parents and little sister on our bus back to town.  Acquaintances renewed, two full coaches went back to Brescia at 1830hrs prompt.

 

Out for meals, and a gathering at … the Golden Lion.  Josh and Craig Dowd were there, as were Shaun, Warren, Craig White, Tony Hanks, Malcolm Sinclair, and Knibbsy. The two All Blacks were more than happy … to pose for photos with our Kiwis. 

 

Craig seemed really joyful – in fact the happiest I’ve seen him since that gloomy day in Treviso in 2000 when he played his first HEC away tie.  Getting back to fitness and having experienced the support of the crowd has really made an impression on him. He made it clear to us that he was honoured to be a Wasp.  Back to the hotel, Amaretto for nightcaps, off to bed.

 

Sunday morning, bacon and eggs, coffee and painkillers.  Sciatica, guv, honest.  Over to the supermarket across the road for last minute cheeses, chocolates, Amaretto … and there’s Kim and Fats, holding court at the bar.  Eventually about eight of us group round, with expressos, beers and grappa to get a kick start.  Check out, onto the bus for 1200hrs prompt, and off to Sirmione. 

 

A really beautiful town growing out into Lake Garda, and three hours wandering and dining.  PhilTheB couldn’t make his mind up between Lemon and Raspberry – so had both. 

Greedy sod.

 

Back on the bus, round to Raffa Del Garda to the Pasini Cousins winery.  A quick tour (“Mr Pasini, great winery, love you to death, how about a drink?!”) partially translated by a hard-working Barney, then a feast of local salumi and cheeses washed down with three different wines.  My rough estimate is that we drank about 30 bottles while we were there, and took something like 200 away with us. 

 

The tour party split at this point, one bus going back to Brescia where the Monday fliers “had a good time”, and the rest of us poor souls going on to the airport to be Ryaned back to Stansted.

 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to thank me for the tour.  General opinion was that it was one of the best, and I’d like to return those thanks to everyone for making it so. 

 

The Drunken Wasps Charity this year will be those supported by Will Green's Testamonial Year - and I spoke to Will today to let him know that we have raised just over £800 this weekend to start him off.  Will, needless to say, is very pleased with us all.

 

In traditions of the Olympic torch, I hand the management role over to Sleepy Pete and Barney for Biarritz in the sure knowledge that the DW Tours reputation is in good hands!