It. Was. Roasting. 23 degrees at the airport and there was I clad in a heavy textile jacket and reinforced trousers. And a helmet. Was this the shape of things to come? For today at least, yes.
The team at Lands End couldn’t have been more helpful. They’re obviously used to charity events starting or finishing on site and with the blazing sun overhead and the blue sky behind us, it was a fantastic backdrop. Daren and Sarah, my friends (and colleagues) from the Savoy had come down to see me off and Jayne the Bloodbikes coordinator was there with Ian and Mark. Mark had his “Ride” and together we had a little photo shoot in front of the Classic Signpost.
I’m a stickler for recording things (one of the reasons I’m keeping this blog) and I have two tracking devices on my phone. One plots your course and sets it over Google Earth, which I will be using for each separate day. The other plots your journey over a usual map, which I am running and keeping the whole journey in one go. I set them up, gloved up and headed off. With Daren and Sarah escorting me in the Mini Cabrio, behind. Past Lands End Airport (But couldn’t beep as I had to overtake a bus!) and then to Newbridge to Beep at the BloodBikes as there postal home is there….. To Penzance and The Savoy. A chat, a drink, a ticket for Top Gun Maverick and a few photos later and I was on my way.
St Ives on the back road, meet Dave the manager and the same routine, then on to Helston, Falmouth, Redruth, Bodmin and Kingsbridge. As I left Carbis Bay though I had the added pleasure of spotting and waving to a couple of past Savoy employees who I had shared my first shifts with…… Still don’t know if they have a clue who the mad motorcyclist was, waving maniacally at them…….
It was an honest delight to meet the various members of staff at the different sites. All were welcoming and helpful and Karl at Bodmin had actually crossed my path 9 years ago doing my training at St Marys Airport!!!!!. Such a variety of characters, some quiet, some bubbly and effusive all open and enthusiastic. It would be great to get back and catch up when I’m less constrained.
As good as it was to get to the other Merlin sites, I was disappointed I didn’t have time to look around and see how they had things set up….. I will be back though. Having said that, I was too sociable and time slipped away to the point that as I crossed the border into deepest darkest Devon, I knew that I would not be able to visit the New Central in Torquay AND spend the evening with Mother….. Family won out and I once I had arrived at my bed for the night, I replotted my course for Day 2 which sadly meant I would be in Torquay too early for them to open and I would miss my favourite stretch of Dartmoor road, but it was not going to add too much onto my journey time.
As hot as it was and as much as the hayfever kicked in over the last couple of hours, it was a good day to get started. Some lovely characters, a bit of wildlife in the shape of buzzards, rabbits and Alpacas (well, maybe not wild!) and some beauty cars who I always point at and give a big thumbs up to (Lotus 7, Ford Capri, Ford Sierra and more)
The only real scare for today was at Liskeard, doing 70 on the Dual and getting my glove finger hooked in a zip on my coat. It would have made it very difficult to stop as I needed my left hand to use the clutch and balance when stopped is very difficult with this machine anyway (fully loaded) I settled for easing back to 50, and wiggling my finger bit by bit until the snag came free. A little disconcerting but no real issue and if that is as bad as it gets, this should be a breeze!!!!
PS, a video of todays route....
https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqokRJk8yq
The team at Lands End couldn’t have been more helpful. They’re obviously used to charity events starting or finishing on site and with the blazing sun overhead and the blue sky behind us, it was a fantastic backdrop. Daren and Sarah, my friends (and colleagues) from the Savoy had come down to see me off and Jayne the Bloodbikes coordinator was there with Ian and Mark. Mark had his “Ride” and together we had a little photo shoot in front of the Classic Signpost.
I’m a stickler for recording things (one of the reasons I’m keeping this blog) and I have two tracking devices on my phone. One plots your course and sets it over Google Earth, which I will be using for each separate day. The other plots your journey over a usual map, which I am running and keeping the whole journey in one go. I set them up, gloved up and headed off. With Daren and Sarah escorting me in the Mini Cabrio, behind. Past Lands End Airport (But couldn’t beep as I had to overtake a bus!) and then to Newbridge to Beep at the BloodBikes as there postal home is there….. To Penzance and The Savoy. A chat, a drink, a ticket for Top Gun Maverick and a few photos later and I was on my way.
St Ives on the back road, meet Dave the manager and the same routine, then on to Helston, Falmouth, Redruth, Bodmin and Kingsbridge. As I left Carbis Bay though I had the added pleasure of spotting and waving to a couple of past Savoy employees who I had shared my first shifts with…… Still don’t know if they have a clue who the mad motorcyclist was, waving maniacally at them…….
It was an honest delight to meet the various members of staff at the different sites. All were welcoming and helpful and Karl at Bodmin had actually crossed my path 9 years ago doing my training at St Marys Airport!!!!!. Such a variety of characters, some quiet, some bubbly and effusive all open and enthusiastic. It would be great to get back and catch up when I’m less constrained.
As good as it was to get to the other Merlin sites, I was disappointed I didn’t have time to look around and see how they had things set up….. I will be back though. Having said that, I was too sociable and time slipped away to the point that as I crossed the border into deepest darkest Devon, I knew that I would not be able to visit the New Central in Torquay AND spend the evening with Mother….. Family won out and I once I had arrived at my bed for the night, I replotted my course for Day 2 which sadly meant I would be in Torquay too early for them to open and I would miss my favourite stretch of Dartmoor road, but it was not going to add too much onto my journey time.
As hot as it was and as much as the hayfever kicked in over the last couple of hours, it was a good day to get started. Some lovely characters, a bit of wildlife in the shape of buzzards, rabbits and Alpacas (well, maybe not wild!) and some beauty cars who I always point at and give a big thumbs up to (Lotus 7, Ford Capri, Ford Sierra and more)
The only real scare for today was at Liskeard, doing 70 on the Dual and getting my glove finger hooked in a zip on my coat. It would have made it very difficult to stop as I needed my left hand to use the clutch and balance when stopped is very difficult with this machine anyway (fully loaded) I settled for easing back to 50, and wiggling my finger bit by bit until the snag came free. A little disconcerting but no real issue and if that is as bad as it gets, this should be a breeze!!!!
PS, a video of todays route....
https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqokRJk8yq
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