more pink waistcoat pics

JUNE > JULY

And so ends another month's RBR activities: I'm not a religous man but it would appear that someone above was looking after me, with the timely fitting of the new tyres by Bullring Garage at the beginning of month, just in time for what would turn out to be the wetest June in the UK, for just over 100yrs. However it wasn't all doom and gloom, the sun blessed the VMCC Banbury Run and kind donations on the day raised £34.

The "Inaugural RBR Camping Weekend" weather was bearable, auNTy and I were only caught in torrential downpours on the journeys to and from Peak District. Even then my kit kept me fairly dry except for the gloves, resulting in a subsequent investment in a pair of Hein Gericke Goretex lined gloves. It was good to meet the other entrants who attended the meet. The camping club site at Hayfield was basic yet good and the staff very friendly and helpful. I think everyone enjoyed the evening "commitee meetings" at "The Sportsman" pub, where "veteran" RBRers shared their tales and advice with the novices.

Having already done the Derbyshire landmark I opted out of the Saturday group ride and headed instead to Manchester and Merseyside. The morning started with a small northern Peak District loop because of an accidental wrong turn (honest). The Manchester landmark was another example of my 2nd hobby "motorhiking" ! Heading to the coast again brought the same result as experienced in North Wales, Rain Avoidance. After being charged to go through the Tyne Tunnel it was a nice surprise to find that the Mersey Tunnel is free for bikes. Later a friend (Ian W) told me of the legendary MAG ride en-mass through the Dartford Tunnel during rush hour. The toll booth routine: gloves off, helmet off, find money, pay, then put kit back on, for hundreds of bikers, caused such a delay that the management saw sense and changed to a no-charge policy for bikes. The 4 Merseyside LMs presented no problems, the only difficulty was avoiding the almost blind too old to be still driving metallic kermit frog green (proof they were blind!) Nissan Micra drivers in the Wirral. My return route to the campsite included the A537 Buxton to Macclesfield Rd, apparently otherwise known as the Cat & Fiddle, and featured in July 4th MCN's 10 best roads to ride in the UK (somebody up above is definitely looking after me ). Sunday return route home only 2 of an intended 5 LM's visited, so some catch up needed in July!

Welsh Rally & RBRs Part 2

Full English breakfast (oops sorry full "Welsh breakfast") then off to rally control/check in.

Rally check in ; Nick and Steve studying instructions

Lost but we weren't the only ones....

By late morning an interesting but slow single track "shortcut" and delays had put us once again slightly behind schedule. At the Ponderosa café we took stock and agreed to split, Nick and Steve would continue with the Welsh Rally, Jon and I would head off to do the RBR's, Jon being entered in both but was prepared to drop out of the Welsh Rally.
We rode through Snowdonia, out to Anglesey, picked up RBR's and Welsh Rally points down the coast side which also meant we stayed dry although it was very windy. Careful route planning and sacrificing the planned RBR near Ynslas meant Jon still got a bronze award for the Welsh rally and we both got 5 RBR LMs. Returned to Hotel absolutely knackered having covered 308 gruelling miles, quick shower, then out with Nick and Steve to Newtown for curry and ale.

Welsh Rally & RBRs Part 1(just getting there!)

Some of my friends from work entered the 2007 Welsh Rally, so the plan was to join them and include a few RBR's en-route. Weatherwise the predictable happened, despite the recent heatwave all returned to "normal" for the weekend of the Welsh Rally, which in Wales equals WET, lots of WET especially on the Sunday journey home. Things didn't get off to a good start, Shaun's bike refused to restart at the 1st meeting point, much tinkering to no avail so he dropped out. hope his luck improves before his next adventure:- http://www.mongogolia.com/index1.htm
All this was unknown to me waiting at the second rendezvous point, 30 mins after time having tried to phone, I sent a text saying I was leaving for the first RBR stop (Herefordshire) and might see them there.

Motorhiking:- Whilst waiting here I got a text message from the others and decided it best we meet at the hotel. I went on to the next RBR stop(Shropshire) at the entrance to a single track road I met another entrant who stopped to tell me it was a good 3/4hr walk up and back down. "I'm here anyway, so best do it" auNTy V and me continued on along the hilly twisty narrowing hedge-lined lane. The landmark came into sight on a hilltop horizon, I parked auNTy in a field gateway the landmark in the distance behind. When I studied the photograph I'd taken, I thought "Is a speck on the horizon good enough for full points?" I had doubts, so went further along the lane parked auNTy at the start of the "footpath" in the nearest village according to the instructions and set off on a hike across the fields.
I thought there was plenty time, obviously this was not the case, I was aware of the rapidly setting sun, as I neared the woods I looked back over my shoulder, the sun about to disappear behind the hill on the other side of the valley. A steep climb and descent through dense pine woodland in the dark wearing biking attire didn't seem like a wise move, so I took the safe option to turn back and either: accept the risk of reduced points; or return another time putting this visit down to research. The others had made their way directly to the hotel and now it was me who was behind schedule, we eventually met up later in the evening to discuss and agree Saturday's routeplan for the Welsh rally.