All The Way Round

2008-06-07T02:44:00.000-07:00

7th June

At Arundel in a very nice hostel in the countryside just outside of the chocolate box town. Got here at about 7 O'Clock last night after meeting with Andy (Thatman) at Epping Forest hostel. Made a big boo boo with my booking and had booked for 5th May instead of 5th June but fortunately they had a whole dorm to spare for me. After introductions we set off to the Dartford tunnel and although the M25 was free flowing it isn't exactly a scenic route, neither are the anonymous towns we passed through. Finally left the urban sprawl and stopped for brunch, courtesy of Andy, cheers mate, and continued along the coast. At about 12 O'Clock it started to spit with rain so we decided to don wet gear nd a good job too as the restof the journey was pretty awful. Andy has entered the 'Round Britain Rally' so we stopped at ?????? so he good photograph the water balance lift and from there made our way to Rye Harbour for another photo. Just as we were leaving there the heavens opened and the local drains couldn't cope so there was a lot of standing water that needed to be avoided. I had problems with my visor misting so was pussy footing round corners, I can corner better than that Andy, honest. After a while I decided to make direct for the hostel where I parted with Andy who was off for another photo shoot. The last hour or so of the ride was in sunshine so despite a wet day it ended well.

I rustled up some food at the hostel and bought a bottle of wine and sat out side enjoying the peace, quiet and wildlife. Struck up a conversation with another chap (Wolfgang) and a while later two sisters joined and we proceeded to put the world to rights with the help of alcohol. Hic!

I am now in the local library having to pay for the Internet but at least it's reasonable at £1.25 for half an hour. Have bought some seafood and salad stuff for diner tonight, my diet has not been the best to date with arriving late at hostels and just knocking up pasta, rice and a sauce or similar.

Back to the hostel shortly to refrigerate food and do some mundane chores such as laundry and cleaning the visor on my helmet. This pm I shall go back up the coast to the part of the route I missed yesterday.

1 O'clock a group of families and their 13 strong army of the dead arrived and created havoc for the weekend, just as I was about to catch up on some missed sleep so driven out of the hostel I decided to go back along the coast but only made iot as far as the outskirts of Brighton and turned back. Being a glorious sunny day every man and his dog and hordes of weekend bikers cluttered the roads so much it was almost impossible to move, even on a bike, so I gave up and went back to Arundel.

2008-05-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

28/05/2008
Oban - Having to resort to prepaid internet access as wifi is unheard of in YHA's.

25/05/08
Met Dave Silburn on Sunday, sorry you couldn't make it Vic, and we merrily set off for the coast. Hit rain and spent most of day testing waterproofs, Draggin' Jeans Oilskins are not waterproof when subjected to continuous rain for several hours. Got lost on the peninsula but eventually found the road to Conwy. We encountered fallen trees, road closures and a twatnav diversion that sent us down a lane where we had to duck under overhanging trees and avoid rubble in the road from collapsing walls.

We parted on the outskirts and Dave made his way oop North to see his daughter and I checked in at the YHA. Great outlook over the castle and town but being half term full of schoolkids running amok.

Monday 26/05/2008
Set off for Ingleton in the Lake District and once through Liverpool and the other sink holes on the coast had a very pleasant but extremely windy day. The YHA was a pain with a drunk teenager effing and blinding in his sleep half the night. Discovered a rash on my torso and arms that gradually got worse and guessed it was a reaction to the thermals I was wearing so left them off for the next leg.

Tuesday 27/05/2006
Off to Glenluce and it chucked it down with rain all day and still very windy, stopped in Carlisle to chew the fat with Peter off the Maxi Scooter Riders Club and bought some new thermals that are doing the job just fine, thanks Peter.

Went through some glorious forest roads and never saw a car for at least an hour and the smell of the pines was just wonderful. Finally got to the hotel/pub at 9pm, bloody long day and too late for a hot meal so had to make do with soup and a sandwich that the landlord rustled up. Had a few pints of Big Lusty May and chatted with the locals. There was a fine array of single malts behind the bar but it really wasn't the time and place.

The rash started to fade so I guess it was the underwear.

I was in a sorry state physically with my right wrist giving me hell which I believe is an aftermath of the off in St Albans the other week. Was wondering if I was going to make the first week at one stage.

Wednesday 28/05/2008
Another wet start that lasted most of the day and cut out the Southwest peninsula
, also left the coast for part of the route as it was pretty dire but the run up from Loch Lomand was pretty spectacular and the air was filled with the smell of Bluebells that were still in flower as the rain had eased a little the last hour was completed in the dry.

Will expand more when I don't have to pay and try and add some photo's too.

Pre trip service

2008-05-22T01:26:00.000-07:00

Got the bike serviced on Tuesday, new tyres, belt and rollers all courtesy of Piaggio UK. Managed to get out of St Albans safely this time :)

I've had a back rest made but on a trip at the weekend discovered that the brackets are too flimsy but that will be sorted before I start. Just waiting for a gel pad to arrive and I've only packing left to do then.

Preparation

2008-04-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

My bike dealer offered me a free service in preparation for the ride and I took him up on his offer last Wednesday. On the way back I was filtering past stationary traffic when a car pulled out of the line and sent me crashing to the floor. I suffered only minor injuries but the bike has a few damaged panels that I fear won't be sorted before I start the ride. The bike is still roadworthy so it's not a great problem but I would have preferred to have had a pristine bike to show off.

Friends

2008-04-10T01:43:00.001-07:00

I have been amazed at the number of people offering to accompany me on various parts of the trip and the very generous offers of a bed, food, petrol and a laugh on the way. Some of the offers are from people I only know from forums and it will be good to see them in the flesh.

Accommodation

2008-04-10T01:40:00.000-07:00

Let down by the YHA, they failed to confirm one booking and I now find that I have to book into a B&B, more costs । *sigh*

Update: Managed to find a B&B close to the YHA so no need to change route plan *phew*

Edit: YHA cancelled a booking in favour of a group and wanted to shunt me into a hostel many miles away but told them it was impossible because of my schedule so they booked me into a B&B at their expense. It works out better for me as the B&B is right in the middle of Salcombe.

Garmin

2008-04-10T01:33:00.000-07:00

I bought the Garmin Zumo 500 and have finally made the route plan using the PC and downloading the route to an SD card, that way I will have a back up if I lose any of them, deity forbid.

Sat Nav

2007-11-29T04:14:00.000-08:00

After pissing about with my tomtom rider* I have found it almost impossible to plan a complete route so have decided to get a Garmin Zumo 550. I've used the Garmin maps before and they can be superimposed onto Google Earth showing the whole route on one map.

*Map card keeps dropping out so can't use cigarette lighter as power source. Connections in cradle don't appear to work and as it only holds a charge for about 3 hours it won't be much use to me.

The beginnings

2007-11-27T06:52:00.001-08:00

I have started to plan the route and it looks like the trip may take longer than planned and I will have to ride over 6 hours a day and I am a bit concerned if I am physically capable of that over a long period.