Rather than witter on about the issues that I had during those last few days they're in a boxout elsewhere I'll just talk about the actual trip itself. For, yes, I got it sorted, so didn't have to use one of the back-up bikes that friends had offered.
With an MOT passed and a pair of Bridgestones fitted, I left Lincolnshire after tea on June 18, planning to get about halfway to Cornwall before finding a room somewhere. Due to no testing, I didn't know what the fuel consumption would be like, nor the tank range. I'd squeezed in 13 litres after the MoT, so guessed that I'd get over 100 miles, so I covered around that distance and topped up, with nine litres going in telling me that I could certainly get 125 miles before thinking about fuel, so used that as my gauge for the following few days.
After a nightmare finding accommodation near Bristol, only getting a room after seven enquiries (mostly fully booked, but one wanting £366 for one person for one night!), and only some slight aches from my knees after the 200 miles covered, my head hit the pillow at midnight, ready for an 8am start to get to Land's End the next day.
A steady 200-mile ride saw me meeting the other 35 riders and event organiser, John McAvoy, at 2pm, some introductions made, photos taken, and then to the hotel for food and instructions about leaving the next morning, June 20, the longest day of the year.
The Longest Day
We left on the strike of 4am, with John's instructions ringing in our ears of "Watch for the speed cameras on the A30", and I set a steady pace along the A30, bike tail lights stretching out before me as the sky began to lighten, heading towards Bodmin Moor. As the sun began to burn through, a scarlet glow added to the mist over the moor and, trying to get the phrase 'Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning' out of my mind, I concentrated on counting down to my first fuel stop on the outskirts of Exeter.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2024 de Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2024 de Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.