THE TALE OF THE MODDEY DOO MYHTICAL DOG, THE MODDEY DHOO MOTORCYCLE CLUB AND A KNOXVILLE GIRL

What is this all about then? Six degrees of separation that's what. How confusing is the title? I suppose I had better explain. Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.

KNOXVILLE GIRL sent me and email about a couple she met called Marie and Dave in Knoxville. They just happen to be from the good' ole Isle of Man, and get this they know acquaintances of our very own cdp KNOXVILLE GIRL. .They are also the founders of the infamous MODDEY DHOO MCC .Well known around the island and in biking circles worldwide and by all accounts a rip roaring bunch of biking folks. Where else would you find this lot but on the Isle of Man, the home of the TT Road Races. The aims of the club are.

1 - To enjoy all aspects of motorbiking in the company of like minded people

2 - To attend and organise social functions as a group

3 - To help other members in any way possible

4 - To have a bloody good time

Now you can't argue with that philosophy can you now.

So where does the name come from, and the slightly different spelling. Ah, that would be the tale of the mythical Moddey Doo black dog. Read on.

During the reign of Charles II of England and Charles, Earl of Derby, king of Mann, Peel Castle was guarded by soldiers. The guard-room was just inside the entrance gate of the castle and a passage used to lead from it, through one of the old churches, to the Captain of the Guard's room. At days one of the soldiers locked the castle gates and carried the keys through the dark passage to the captain, in turns daily. The soldiers began to notice, sometimes in one room, sometimes in another, a big Black Dog with rough curly hair. He did not belong to any person there, and nobody knew anything about him. But every night when the candles were lighted in the guardroom and the fire was burning bright, he would come from the dark passage and lay himself down by the hearth. He made no sound, but lay there till dawn, and then he would get up and disappear into the passage. The soldiers were terrified of him at first, but after a time they were used to the sight of him and lost their, fear, though they still looked on him as something otherworldy. While he was in the room the men were quiet and sober, and no bad words were spoken. When the hour came to carry the keys to the captain, two of them would always go together.

One night,one foolish soldier had drunk more than was good for him, and he began to brag and that he was not afraid of the dog. It was not his turn to take the keys, but to show how brave he was he said that he would take them alone, daring the dog to follow him.

'Let him come,' he shouted, laughing; 'I'll see whether he be dog or devil!'

His friends were terrified and tried to hold him back, but he snatched up the keys and went out into the passage.

The Black Dog slowly got up from before the fire and followed him.

There was a dead silence in the guardroom-no sound was heard but the dashing of the waves on the steep rocks of the Castle Islet.

After a few minutes, there came from the dark passage the most awful and unearthly screams and howls, but not a soldier dared to move to see what was going on. They looked at each other in horror. Presently they heard steps, and the soldier came back into the room. His face was ashen and twisted with fear. He spoke not a word, then or afterwards. In three days he was dead and nobody ever knew what had happened to him that fearful night.

The Black Dog, (Moddey Doo) has never been seen again!

The image is one that Gary quickly drew for me for the blog. Again you will see varied spellings but you get the Manx drift. There are many black dog myths around the world, and this is ours. Hound of The Baskervilles sound familiar? Also quoted in Sir Walter Scott's "Lay of the Minstrel"

Quote,

For he was speechless, ghastly, wan

Like him of whom the Story ran

Who spoke the spectre hound in Man."

So there you go, from black cats, to black dogs thanks to KNOXVILLE GIRL . Now if I can just find the escaped wallaby and a manx fairy I'd have the full set.