It’s been raining, it’s been pouring and yet the TT campers still snore on in good spirits!

Thousands of our visiting motorcycling fans have pitched up their tents across the island and despite the wet weather that marred practice week, they are determined to make the most of their stay here.

We went to meet some of them at the Douglas Rugby Club campsite last week.

For Elliot Barker, who is from Swanwick, Nottinghamshire, camping in the rain is ’a doddle’.

’It’s the fourth year I’ve been TT camping. We last visited in 2017 and the weather was absolutely horrible. We’re blaming our mate, Gary Dobson, who we brought last time and it rained and then again this year and it’s rained,’ the 44-year-old said.

’In 2017, I said "I’m not cooking under an umbrella again". This year isn’t as bad as that. This is mild.’

Elliot is here for the full fortnight with friend Gary and partner Terry Perkins. The three of them especially love how close to the action you can get when watching the races.

Conny Fuhrer, 48, from Argovia, Switzerland, is visiting or the first time with partner Daniel Kruese, 44.

’We have seen a lot of great bikes and great people,’ she said. ’Even though the weather is bad, everybody is still feeling okay. The campsite facilities are really great and everyone is so helpful and friendly.

’Five days of sleeping on the floor will be enough for me - I’m getting too old for that!’

Daniel is especially keen to watch the Superbike racing.

Conny added: ’And the sidecars! We’d really like to see that because it’s so special! If you love bike racing, you know about the TT and watch it on the TV and put it on replay.’

Daniel said: ’I think the guys doing the racing are a little bit crazy, but it’s great!’

Both have been struck by how ’beautiful’ the island is while riding their bikes.

Ranno Timmerman, 56, and his good friend Martin Schnatterbeck, 59, have travelled from the Black Forest in Germany to see the TT for the first time.

’We’re waiting for what’s to come!’ Ranno said while both finished organising their tent.

’The TT is historic. We look forward to what we will learn here and have been watching videos about the TT on the boat. We’ve been bikers 30 years plus.’

’I booked this spot for camping because rugby is my sport. I said: "Come on let’s go on the rugby pitch, let the club make some money!"’

Martin added: ’It will be very important having these campers for the clubs here.’

Unfortunately for them, their last leg to the island faced a blow as Ranno’s motorcycle was stolen in Liverpool. We reported that in the Courier on Friday (May 31). Despite this, they’re determined to make the most of TT.

Camper Mark Winter from County Durham called this year’s weather ’atrocious’.

’We’ve had one good day and that was Tuesday,’ he told the Examiner on May 30. ’However, I always enjoy the TT. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining,’ he said.

His friend, David Smith, 47, who is also from County Durham, said: ’This is my 15th TT. I’m a veteran!’ When asked what he thought about the conditions, he replied: ’It is what it is, you cannot change it.’