Yesterday I earned a Bronze Award in the above event. This is how it happened.
This year's event was to make up for missing last year's when Mrs RP booked us a holiday in Greece - I'd already enrolled into the event and forgot to mention it !
Yesterday rode the hundred odd miles to Lymme in Chester (via Llandudno to drop off my watch to be serviced) to meet up with a biking buddy, me on my BMW 1200GS him on his mint Triumph Bonneville. (well it's three weeks old !) The purpose was to accumulate 275 road miles, visiting a network of checkpoints in ten hours. Weather on arrival was crap but improved throughout the next 12 hours so we didn't get at all wet ! We visited Congleton, Ashourne, Kegworth, Leicester, Meridan, Stratford, Worcester and Cleobury Mortimer, riding home via Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Witchurch. Bike performed faultlessly - running at 56 mpg in mixed riding including a mix of rural As and Bs, town work motorways. The bike's creditable 200 mile plus range saved some time !
The Midlands are pretty damned impressive these days, road surfaces were good even in the towns and cities we passed through with no major trauma. Learnt lessons about over-dependency on GPS which ultimately cost us the silver award.
Had probably the ride of my life from Clee Hill via Ludlow to Shrewsbury on the A49 - a warm moonlit night on a deserted road apart from the odd biker going the other way meant there was no need to barely touch the brakes save for traffic lights at Church Stretton. The GS in its forte of high speed express, ideally weighted for the fast sweeping bends. A couple of aches and pains today (Tennis Elbows in particular) but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Man and and machine in perfect harmony.
The highlight and most bizzare incident was in Leicester. We'd stopped for a map conference when a powder blue 1985 2CV piloted by a young Asian lad pulled up - not only did he give us perfect instructions for where we wanted to go but escorted us in some style to the venue....you meet the nicest people on a motor bike.
Last edited by: R.P. on Sun 1 Jul 12 at 21:28
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Like Rats and his wheels eh! (0:-:0)
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Very pleased for you, Pug. Sounds a cracking trip. We're so fortunate to have the A49 at hand. Me and me mate have booked for the Dam Rally, last weekend in September. It's a small event at Pen-Y-Bont in aid of the MacMillan girls.
A556 to Sandiway then A49 to Shrewsbury by-pass. Pontesbury, Minsterley, coffee and a bun at Clun then Knighton and off over the top into Wales. Can't wait.
Mate's just chipped his very nice R100 in for a GS850. I've not seen it yet. Ride out on the Saturday organised by local retired Durango Kid.......usually end up in Aberistwatch on the seafront.
I did the VMCC founder's rally in '98. Checkpoints all over Britain, usually with tea/cakes. Started at High Lane, I think we managed 4, ending up near Chorley. We were on a Velocette LE and a 1926 Triumph P, though.
Ted
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500 entrants on this year's event, huge diversity of bikes GS and GSAs by the bucket load, saw a lovely little Vincent complete with LED indicators and a GPS and a tiny little Laverda single....oh and a scooter !
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Oops...dubble post !
Ted
Last edited by: Ted on Sun 1 Jul 12 at 21:47
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Well done RP, that was some ride out:)
We're both sitting here green with envy, what an excellent route too. What was your mileage door to door?
>>The highlight and most bizzare incident was in Leicester. We'd stopped for a map conference when a powder blue 1985 2CV piloted by a young Asian lad pulled up - not only did he give us perfect instructions for where we wanted to go but escorted us in some style to the venue....you meet the nicest people on a motor bike. <<
This makes me homesick for my roots and proud to be from Leicester, and although I can never explain in words what I love about it, does typify the place for me.
The Fens just don't have it.
Pat
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Our checked mileage was 205 miles (just sneaked into a Bronze) - total mileage for the trip was (door to door) was 460 miles......it was a marathon, truth be told felt it yesterday... a it. Fine today though.
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National Road Rally 2012.... - MD
