RBR: Platyfest and beyond. Warning! Includes bits of Wales.

Set off Westward around 4pm Saturday.

Made reasonable progress to the M4, and settled into a brisk cruise.

Once through the narrow lanes section, the traffic slowed while the
"Traffic Wombles" closed the outside lane in response to an accident
on the other side. A it later there was an accident on my carriageway,
but I saw no TWs closing the other carriageway in response.

Almost immediately after, I had to take avoiding action to miss a
suitcase lying in lane 1A.

Motorways are so boring.

Got off at J17, and trekked cross-country to Kilmersdon near Radstock.

Here I found my first landmark of the weekend: the stone marking the
start of Jack and Jill's march up the hill (to fetch a pail of water).

From there, I headed toward Weston Super Mare, until I arrived in
Banwell. Here, there used to be a "Cart Wash", and the landmark was
the commemorative plaque.

left Banwell on fumes, and trundled cautiously towards the M5.
Having stuck 23 litres in the tank, I tanked it up the motorway to
Platy's.

PlatyFest: a sort of WestCountryChimay, without the bike racing, but
with ablutions. I felt a touch "second-hand" on Sunday a.m., and even
declined breakfast.

Set off around noon in blazing sunshine, over the Severn. Onto the
A466 up the Wye valley, then off the main road to the little village
of Broadstone. The landmark here was a stone commemorating the
donation of the land for the village green by a local landowner
chappie. At this point, I noticed the battery indicator on the camera
was not full. Eek.

Set off westward still, to Hay on Wye. There's no direct route by main
road, so it was B this and B that nearly all the way. Almost deserted,
mind, so no great handicap.

The Butter Market was easily located, though I had trouble lining up
the shot avoiding the sun. That done, I was able to turn east, and
back into England. Phew.

Arrived in Bromyard, via Leominster in good time, and immediately
found the sculpture of the resting sheep, so snapped that and set off
immediately for Great Malvern.

I think it was along this run that I came to a tiny wooden bridge,
with "AutoToll" on a scratchily written sign. Luckily, the barrier was
up, so I just rode past it, and fucked off. Fifty pee, for tiddly
little bridge like that?

Great Malvern seems an unlikely place to build a town - up the side of
a cliff, but I suppose there are mitigating circumstances. The Theatre
of Small Convenience was listed a "leisure waypoint" on the Zumo, and
is, awkwardly, directly opposite a current [though much larger]
convenience. Parking was tricky on the steep slope, and the sun was
being awkward once more, but I got away without mishap.

From Malvern, it was SE through Upton On Severn, then onto the M50/M5
before turning off towards Beckford. At Toddington Hands roundabout, I
found the Tibblestone, over the road from the signpost which had been
the landmark some four years back.

I took the opportunity to refuel, both the bike, and myself - it was
now 5pm, and I'd eaten nothing all day - and retraced my track to the
M5.

Got off the M5 onto the A417, then nearly got wiped out by some dizzy
tart at the Air Balloon roundabout. Well, just past it, on the uphill
bit - she presumably spotted a gap in the traffic, and when changing
gear, the car veered across the road. Nothing to do with her using the
'phone though. Probably.

The 417 was empty and good progress was made round Cirencester and
Swindon, before turning off towards Wantage.

Just past the White Horse, I found the Blowing Stone, which was my
last landmark of the weekend, so I stopped for a drink and a comfort
break, before heading for the M4 via Lambourn.

The motorway was fine up to about the A33 junction, then it got
steadily worse, including several dead stops. No accidents as far as I
could see, but lots of potential for one.

Once I'd fought my way through to the Fuller's Brewery, it was fine,
and even a 30 shower along Westminster Embankment couldn't cool me
off.

So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

Oh, I did. Not as much as some, though. Some were as enjoyed as a
newt.

100% four years out of seven.

It *should* be 100%, as I've buckets of leave left, but I guess, it'll
be around 60-70%. Scotland is worth around 40% of the total.

For instance, the Bier House at Keysoe, Beds, is a ten pointer, whilst
the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse is fifty points. There are four fifty
pointers this year, all the other side of the Great Glen. Highest
scoring landmark in England are the three in Cornwall. Thirty points.

Total points available: 2000

Er. Yes. One of them, definitely.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

There was one in Luton a couple of years back. Water Tower.

Oh, yes. Complete change all round.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

We're invited to send in recommendations that we turn up on our
travels, but yes, he does have a helper.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

I'm sorry, please give me a clue: what would I have to Google to decipher
this sentence?

 

@mid.individual.net:

Never heard of Broadstone in Mon. <googles> Back of beyond, pretty
scenery and a Michelin starred restaurant just down the road
http://www.crownatwhitebrook.co.uk/home.html

You could've called in. We have kettles now, you know.

That was Whitney on Wye, as you left Hay towards Leominster, unless you
were lost on your way *to* Hay

My mate Gerry is the tollmaster. The bridge is owned by some Yank and I
think Gerry has a laissez faire attitude to toll collection as the bloke
is minted. Gerry was probably a mile down the road in the Bridge Inn.

Comfort break at the Blowing Stone, eh?

Nice write up,

Do call in if wandering around S Wales.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, wessie

NAHAY?

One of the items requiring a photo could be the underside of your
scrotum and the first thing you'd know about it would be a picture on
Dodger's website.

 

42 landmarks found; 58 to find. I'm doing seven of those the first
weekend in September, and of the remaining 51, the nearest to London
is in Cardiff.

That do?
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

<Geographs>

A so it was.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/60747

Ta. I couldn't remember where it was.

Phew.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

Well, what with the bad knee'n'all, I've been spending a lot of the daytime
lying in bed. I know, I'll close the blinds. The neighbours won't be happy
but that'll make the fucker ring the door bell.

 

Bloody scalding!

Still very hot

icy

Sorry to have missed you at Platy-fest. I really should have had
diary and carer better organised.


--
Champ

ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R 600 racer
My advice as your attorney is to buy a motorcycle
To email me, neal at my domain should work.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, wessie

I'd check the airing cupboard first, IIWY.

 

I'd much rather see you when you're up and about, to be honest. I are
dead squeamish about poorly folk.

That's supposed to encourage you, btw, not bring about a relapse.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

Look, it's part of the tradition of Dodger's journies that even if the
landmark is at the bottom of your road, you'll read about it here
first.

To be fair to him, mind, if he accepted a cuppa off every local ukrmer
each landmark would take about 3 days on average.
--
Champ

ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R 600 racer
My advice as your attorney is to buy a motorcycle
To email me, neal at my domain should work.

 

yes, yes. He's getting old. The bikes are becoming SO. He'll/they'll crack
soon. Plus, the comedy value of it happening in Wales...

 

http://www.roundbritainrally.co.uk/about.htm
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

Ah - TVM. I Googled 'RBR' but didn't spot that - it doesn't feature very
high up in the Google search results. I imagine there's a fair bit of
forward research involved as well as the tearing around?

 

Ho yus. Usually can get around 75% just from streetmap, or similar,
but the rest are usually achievable via google, or geograph, or
National Heritage, with one or two exceptions every year.

Locals are nearly always rubbish at knowing their own locality.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) 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: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

 

I understand.

Big day with the x-ray machine and consultant tomorrow, so I'm off to
bed!
--
Champ

ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R 600 racer
My advice as your attorney is to buy a motorcycle
To email me, neal at my domain should work.