630 miles, six landmarks, five tanks of fuel. Judging by the traffic on the A303, Corwall/Devon must be pretty empty by now. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z |_\_____/_| ..81108../..22119.../..31893. (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG* |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5 \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11 '^' RBR Clues: 17 Pts: 285 Miles:1108
Just another 61 to get. I've got 13 lined up for EOSM weekend. 16 in Wales for the end of August. 21 in Scotland for some time in September. Leaving 11 in N England to be fitted in somehow. Probly on the end of the Scotland trip. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z |_\_____/_| ..81750../..22169.../..31893. (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG* |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5 \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11 '^' RBR Clues: 23 Pts: 440 Miles:1738
Ah. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z |_\_____/_| ..81750../..22169.../..31893. (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG* |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5 \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11 '^' RBR Clues: 23 Pts: 440 Miles:1738
as it was, I set off from home at 07:15 yesterday morning, to find The Highway closed off for a Triathlon. So, down Commercial Road, through the City, and over Blackfriars Bridge it was, then. Along the Southbank, over Vauxhall Bridge, then left onto Victoria Embankment. Filled up, it was over Chiwick Bridge and down the A316 to the M3. Saw loads of bikes going the other way on the M3 - presumably on the way to WSB at Brands Hatch. At the end of the M3, I followed the M27 West, then took the the A36 north to Pepperbox Hill - site of landmark #44. Entry was gained via a very tricky steep rocky path., and then over a cattle grid with *much* bigger gaps than usual. Back down the way I came, then north on the A36, round the outskirts of Salisbury, then down the A354 to Briantspuddle, to get a picture of the War Memorial (#13). Big, tall, thing, it is. Next on the list was a trinagular folly house in Plympton. Now, on Saturday night, I had no idea where this was, then I had a brainwave - English Heritage. I know - it's obvious when you think about it. Sorted. (I hope) Anyway, from Briantspuddle I took the A35 along the coast then the A30 to the M5, to go around Exeter, then the A38 to Plymouth. The A38 was wonderful - not deserted, but still freely flowing, except for the odd caravan. From Plymouth, it was A38 al the way to Bodmin, then the A30 and A39 to Helston. Then further south, past RNAS Culdrose to Mullion Cove where Mr Marconi did stuff on the wireless all those years ago. Mullion Cove was packed with holiday makers. They've put a nmonument to him up on the clifftop, too. Awkward to get to, it is, without walking. Stil it was a baking hot day, and I had a motorcycle jacket on, so that was okay. From Mullion it was homeward bound. Sort of. From the A30 near Bodmin, I took the A39 "Atlantic Highway" to Bude, to get a picture of the sea locks on the End of the Bude Canal. No, I didn't know Bude had a canal, either. Bude was, if anything, more popular than Mullion. Then again, it is a bit easier to get to. From Bude I stayed on the A39 along the coast, through Bideford, Barnstaple and into Exmoor. I was really enjoying myself on the Wing - stayed in third gear, never going too quickly, but never having to let anything past, either. Overtakes were conducted with remarkable efficiency, too. Well done me. No teddy bear in sight. A very good road for a motorcyclist not in a hurry. The descent to the sea at Lynton was "fun", as was the climb out the other side. 1 in 4 descent and climb - no wonder the village was a bit quiet. Into Somerset, then, and a final stop at Horner, to get a picture of an old packhorse bridge. From there, it really was "home, Jeeeves", and the GPS directed to the M5, via Bridgewater. Upon arrival, the M% was stationary, northbound, so I went straight across the junction, and continued up the A39, despite the "Oi, where are you going?" noises from the GPS. Eventually, it got the message, and directed me onto the A303, via some wonderfully deserted country lanes, then I was able to make good time up the 303, util I reached the tail of the queue at Winterborne Stoke. Which lasted until *just* past Stonehenge. Why the don't put a big hedge up there to stop folk rubbernecking the bloody thing I don't know. From there it was a simple blat of A303/M3/A316 home. Some observations: £92 of petrol - a personal daily record I have no wish to eclipse in a hurry. Them Ford Focus ST's - the orange ones. What a colour! I want the Wing painted in that orange. The chap with the *very* old car going down the A38 - you're supposed to be looking after it, not thrashing the tits off the poor old thing. It's probably older than your granny, ffs. To the motorists on the A303 last night - a genuine thank you for the Red Sea effect as I filtered up the middle. And another thing - why does the autorouting feature on my GPS produce completely different routes to the PC? -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z |_\_____/_| ..81750../..22169.../..31893. (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG* |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5 \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11 '^' RBR Clues: 23 Pts: 440 Miles:1738
Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, SD <> typed (Snip usual enjoyable stuff) <Steve H Mode> 'Cos Bill Gates is a ****. </SHM> -- Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in Performance Bikes WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41 SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner", Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big" Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer
