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Diary Page 2 |
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This web page is the diary of the ‘Round the Outside’ charity motorbike ride.
This webpage is page 2 of the diary; click here for page 1 of the diary.
The Motorbike Ride Continued...
Day 2 – Sunday 5th July
Peter and Denis are complaining about the speed of other drivers – anyone heard of car drivers complaining about the antics of 2 motorbike riders? The update from Peter and Denis:
304 miles... arrived at Skegness at 7.30pm.
We met up with friends in Great Yarmouth after a good ride.
However the maximum speed was about 22.3 mph with drivers having an average age of 108!
The speed of some drivers appeared so low that there obviously wasn't anything above third gear available and there was nowhere to overtake! Bends of more than one degree required serious braking by some drivers.
In Lincolnshire they have home grown speed cameras on just about every second lamp post with the speed limit being mainly 30mph or 50mph!
However despite this we enjoyed our ride and arrived more or less as planned, ready for a slap up meal...
Day 3 – Monday 6th July
When the lightening hit the road in front of us we decided to get off the road as we were the tallest things on it at the time! We were completely soaked!
By the time we got to Scarborough it was baking hot sunshine and we had dried out enough to sit by the harbour and have fish and chips.
Our first night camping......the zip broke on my brand new sleeping bag, it rained heavily in the night until 1am and I finally fell asleep, only to be woken at 4.30am by a cockerel crowing....
Day 4 – Tuesday 7th July Managed a fat boys breakfast at The Grand Hotel in Scarborough (lovely) and a superb ride over the Yorkshire moors. It is quite surreal to get to the edge of the moor and look down on the industrial towns.
This will be our second attempt at camping tonight.....
Day 5 – Wednesday 8th July
Today we attempted the causeway to Holy Island in the strong wind. If the wind had let up for just a second I would have fallen over into the sea!.
We then travelled on to Edinburgh and over the Fourth Bridge up to Dundee. We were mostly on major roads until the A93 which is a great road to ride (!).
We were staying with a mate at Crathie, next door to Balmoral Castle.
We tried several Malts and slept very well thank you!
Day 6 – Thursday 9th July
Today we stopped at RAF Lossimouth and were shown around 617 Squadron. To top it all 12 tornados flew in and buzzed the airbase.
We were stunned to meet Dame Ellen MacArthur there with her boat and crew who were going round Britain (the other way).
Day 7 – Friday 10th July
Our paperwork was completed and stamped and we then travelled to our place of rest The Weigh Inn at Thurso. They provided us with a fantastic three course meal.
Day 8 – Saturday 11th July
The best ride EVER!! Everything that has been said about the road from Thurso going West is true! Jaw dropping views – thoroughly enjoyed it and the sun was shining……
Day 9 – Sunday 12th July
Our evening at the Seaforth Inn in Ullapool was a huge success and my heartfelt thanks go to everyone who worked so hard to make it so. They raised a staggering £1,168 for Help for Heroes!!!
Unfortunately, whilst waiting in the car park to leave, the only other vehicle in the car park (a car), reversed into my bike, knocking me over. The Triumph needs repairs but is still able to continue on our journey. Next stop Fort William….
Day 10 – Monday 13th July
Although we were due to camp for the next two nights, we were so soaked through with rain so we booked into a B & B. A warm bath and a scotch or two helped, both physically and mentally.
Day 11 – Tuesday 14th July
A local day of rest. Visited the Fort William to Mallaig steam railway and met up with other bikers on a tour of Scotland.
Day 12 – Wednesday 15th July
Got soaked again travelling to Ravenglass. Looked at weather forecast and decided to opt for B & B again. Eventually found a B & B prepared to take us – Muncaster Castle, staying in the coachman’s lodgings – brilliant!!!
Day 13 – Thursday 16th July
Great days ride over Hardknot and Wrynose Pass in the Lake District. Not much mileage today but fantastic “grin” factor….
Day 14 – Friday 17th July
Travelled from Ravenglass to Liverpool in pouring rain. I think I am now officially suffering from wet rot!!
Day 15 – Saturday 18th July
Liverpool to RAF Valley in North Wales.
Day 16 – Sunday 19th July
Today RAF Valley held their community day and lunch. We were the guests of honour. Denis and I were shown around the base and met the Air Sea Rescue guys. We had a couple of beers in the Officers Mess after lunch and later had a BBQ with the Anglesey Celts Motorcycle Club.
Day 17 – Monday 20th July
250 miles in the dry!!
After a photo shoot at RAF Valley we rode a beautiful coastline, through Aberystwyth to a great welcome in South Wales.
This trip has reignited my love of this country and we have met such wonderful people.
Day 18 – Tuesday 21st July
Got soaked again!
Purely on a chance, I went to see Ken Johnson, (who lives in South Wales) and who flew with my father in the Lancaster, Vergeltenswaffe, during the second World War. It was a very emotional meeting as I had not seen him for a number of years and Denis had never met him.
I am now very tired and fed up with being soaked all the time. I could quite easily just turn towards London and home.
Day 19 – Wednesday 22nd July
After a good nights sleep we felt better, emotionally and physically. It was a better day today. We visited the West Somerset Railway and then Lynmouth, on our way to Wadebridge in Cornwall. (Of course we had to have a Cornish pasty)!!!
We are staying the night with a good mate of mine and it doesn’t get better than a hot tub in the garden at the end of a good days biking……
Day 20 – Thursday 23rd
We started early after a good breakfast at The Granary, Wadebridge (many thanks). It was great to see my mate Mark again, although the visit was too short. We made our way via St Ives and Geever Tin Mine to Lands End. After photos and a chat with various tourists we travelled on to The Lizard and the most southerly café in England and the “must have” cream tea!
Day 21 – Friday 24th
After a leisurely start we rode to Torpoint Ferry. We encountered very heavy traffic in the Paignton/Torquay area and we just managed to stay away from the worst of the rain! The traffic going the other way was very heavy probably due to the school holidays just starting. We arrived in Poole in Dorset to stay the night with Graham.
Day 22 – Saturday 25th
Our final day! It seems a bit strange to think that 3 weeks have passed so quickly. It’s a bit upsetting really but we have enjoyed the experience and it will be good to get home.
We set off with 12 other riders today, who were escorting us all the way to the finish line in Brighton. We arrived about 30 minutes later than I expected (after nearly 4000 miles), due to heavy traffic along the south coast. Our welcome in Brighton was fantastic and quite emotional. I will be adding a further tribute to this diary in a few days time, along with photos of our trip.
Many thanks to the Madeira Café in Brighton for their help in making our return so welcome.
Thank you to all the people who helped us with accommodation and meals. We met lovely people on this trip and discovered some beautiful places.
Now we must collect all our sponsorship monies together and get our cheque sent to Help For Heroes.
This webpage is page 2 of the diary; click here for page 1 of the diary. |
