Day 15 - C&A Superbikes, Kings Lynn to BMF Peterborough

The night before, Paul and I decided to meet up at C&A Superbikes, Kings Lynn around 8:30am as we had a ride-out arranged from there to the BMF Peterborough show. However no one else turned up apart from us, Paul brought along his lady, soon to be Mrs Newman x.

We waited till 9am then headed off to the BMF. It was a little windy on the way there but not too bad. When we arrived there was a few people waiting for us see above photo.

We had a few photos taken there then Bernard William Jewry otherwise known as Alvin Stardust of the Glam Rock style of the 1970's turned up on his borrowed trike, see below middle, built in Germany - best engineering of course. He was a really nice chap, down to earth and since I had to Google who he was that morning I wasn't star struck in anyway so just chatted to him about his horse riding hobby and tried my best to persuade him to not listen to his management and get himself a bike

Typically, the rain that had managed to hold of dumped itself on us. It was arranged for us to ride in column into the arena, do a bite of mike talking then a few laps and then off, so off we went. It was different than a typical weekend for sure lol.

After wards we went for something to eat and a look around. Usually the BMF if heaving but because of the weather I would say only a third turned up. The tail end event is always the best to get biking bargains and a good bit or retail therapy. The materials suit I was going to use on the trip decided to fall to bite the week before the trip, hence the Kevlar jeans, so I treated myself to a heated jacket and trousers for £45, that’s right, last of the big spender’s lol.

At least now I know what I'm working for though, to travel. Next year’s plans are to circumnavigate Ireland for two weeks then a two week trip to Rome via the Alps and maybe catch a ferry and travel back through the Balkans, watch this space.

 



 

One of the big show bikes above, was a Yamaha.

Day 14 - Southend-on-sea to Harwich then Kings Lynn to C&A Superbikes

 

Up, quick shower, pack the bikes, no oil leaks - all good. Said or farewells and his the road for a short hope up to Harwich and a local charity run project to build a full sailing replica of the Mayflower. The ship that took the pilgrims across from Boston, Lincolnshire to the US.

Harwich is a place much like Stranrear, being forgotten about by the economy with hardly any job prospect for the younger generation growing up there. The project is designed to bring back a skills base of Engineering from wood working to fibreglass and steel fabrication with recognised qualifications at the end of their apprentices to carry them on into the industry and good jobs. The government have set them a 16% pass target but so far they have been exceeding this and hitting 60% which is an incredible achievement for the dedication and enthusiasm of the founders and team involved. For the investors, a fare few from America and understandable so. By 2015 they will have a visual reward in the Mayflower which will tour using the trade winds from Britain’s through the Azores to America and then back again every 15 months much like the original did, though less crowded and with no cases of scurvy or worse hopefully. It will also tour up the coast of Britain in short hops. As someone who has sailed on 40 footers I've put my name forward, I would love to experience a real raw sailing ship.

Will put up some photos that the project said they will provide for us as at the moment they are in the process of stocking up on raw materials such Oak which will be used in its construction. At the moment they are putting the final design touches. As there is no existing designs they have had to be almost designed from scratch with a few amendments to the hull shape to make it more stable and streamlined as the original was described as a barrel with a bowsprit, not pretty but functional.

After Harwich we drove up the Norfolk coastline which, to be fare is pretty. Following the coast to Cromer, Sheringham and lovely little village called Wells next to the sea. The sun was starting to set at this time which made riding into it very entertaining.

We arrived in Hunstanton 'sunny hunny' to watch the sun kiss the ocean, adding a natural finality to our journey.

Our final run to C&A Superbikes was really quick as Paul had yet another 50 miles to cover to get home, so we took some quick photos, shook hands and parted to re-join in the morning to ride up to the BMF and Peterborough showground.

 

 

 

Day 13 - Hastings, Playing Field to Southend-on-sea

 

 

Today will be a really easy one compared to what we've had so far. I contacted a good biking friend based in Southend-on-Sea who kindly gave us his front room for the night.

Though today looks heavy with rain, so we put all our wet weather gear on, unfortunately for Paul he slit his in a very inconvenient part so by the end of the day Paul was a bit conscious of himself. Riding with cold water somewhere inconvenience the whole days not fun; been there done that.

Before we headed off from Hastings we stopped off at the petrol station again and had a quick bite to eat for breakfast. There was a lot of traffic to we stopped there for half an hour to let it die down a little. Was interesting to see the stress on people’s faces as they struggled to work and also I noted there was a lot of cars with only one person in them!

We gave up on waiting for the traffic and joined the fray stopping off at Folkestone services for a coffee and breakfast. Whilst we sat outside enjoying out overly expensive coffee and wafer thin bacon butty's a Triumph with French plates rode in. We haled him over and soon found that both side new very little of the others language. But thanks to Google translator we managed to get by. Turned out he was from Paris and was over here to do a bit of touring and his first stop was a famous biker’s haunt in east London called the Ace Cafe. He needed direction so I popped into W.H.Smiths and grabbed and map of London for him, unfortunately the exact place he needed was just of the page but again with the help of Google he managed to get some useful directions and with some parting advice from Paul 'London is a dump' he left happy and another aspect of being a biker was experience from both sides. Doesn't matter who or what you are as long as you’re on two wheels we look after each other.

Paul then had a text about doing a recording for the radio to be played the next day. So we waited for them to call and for Paul to then do his bite before we hit the road again. We were chatting about what not to say on the radio when I suggested he suddenly get Tourette’s half way through the interview when the phone went. I stared at Paul who had the hold his mouth to stop laughing so I quickly went to the other side of the car park and left him to without any distractions lol.

Ps, there was this random frozen text on a TV monitor at the services I took a photo off:

You never know we might just be, jot having seen any news for two weeks lol.

We then headed off to Dover, from there on I had drove these roads before so for me a little the trip was over. We stopped at Dover a far while, chatting to the fisherman catching whiting from the pier, had some bad seafood from a small trailer food stall but much better tea and cake at the end of the pier cafe. Siting outside the cafe we were contemplating a cruise liner that was birthed on the opposite pier. I did a quick wiki search and entertained both of use by reading out all the incidents that had happened in its life staring of by the Judy Dench not being able to brake the bottle on its bow to it nearly capsizing a few years ago and all the other unexplained by the company incident. We wish we had a megaphone we would have wished the passengers a safe journey lol.

Back on the bikes we coasted up to Southend-on-Sea and my good friends, soon making the front of their house look like a bike paddock. We had a very good evening with lots of bike chat and had a good lunch at a favourite Indian restaurant of theirs.

 

Day 12 - YHA Salcombe, Devon to Hastings, Playing Field

 

Woke up to the above view from the YHA.

Woke up too early for breakfast so got packed and loaded the bikes, luckily there was only a small amount of oil under the bike so must have just been some excess from the air box, phew, tough bike. Paul was extra nervous this morning about the hairpins going back down the hill from the YHA. I plugged into the satnav our next destination and we started the day and luckily half way down it told us to take another turning away from the rest of the hairpins which Paul was happy about but even he said that the one's he did have to do where not as bad as he expected they would be, certainly no Applecross.

We briefly stopped at Slapton Sands and had a really good breakfast at a cute cafe called sea breeze. Slapton Sands is a curios place from a geological point of view. Though having a geotechnical engineer explain their idea of what’s going on it seems logical. If you look from a plan view the seas current travels not directly to the shore but along it. So there’s no force pushing inland to break the land barrier to get the fresh water. There is a bridge on the southern side with a culvert to allow the fresh water to exit out to the sea but no salt water enters due to the pressure of the fresh water. There you go.

 

 

Apart from the geological education there’s some WWII history to the place with a floating Sherman Tank or funny's as they were nick named. They were designed to be launch from landing craft positioned off shore and using a prop driven if the drive shaft, where motored on to the shore where the large skirt that surrounds the tank where dropped and fighting was engaged. The problem with the design was that if the seas where even a bit choppy the water would slosh over the side of the skirt and quickly drown the tank and if the crew where not quick enough to escape they follow it to the bottom. Slapton Sands was where they tested these tanks and off course a few of them sank. In the 1970's a local man, with a lot of effort, found and recovered on that sank 65 meter off shore, to be displayed as a monument. You can just see it to the left in the above image.

 

 

We arrived here at 8 am but the cafe was not open till 9 am so we had a wonder around including the shingle beach with its sea warn rocks and alcoves. There was also a nice route up the cliffs providing a good view. I was very surprised at the warms of the water, having only ever experienced on our shores cold, very cold or F*** etc seas. Wish I'd though I could have brought some swim clothes and enjoyed the sea, next time. Defiantly going to re-visit.

Having had a very enjoyable breakfast, Paul going for the English breakfast and myself the American with pancakes and bacon. Off course I ate the bacon first then the pancakes, I'm not weird!

We then headed on to Dartmouth and our first ever ferry, crossing the river Dart. On the way into Dartmouth from the South, I had to stop as the little bays with all the little boats moors up looked so pretty, lovely little place. It also has a steam train running along the far shore, see video below I took during our crossing:

 

 

We had a fun moment before boarding. We were in a queue for a few minute so we decided to hope of the bike and stretch our legs. I also monitored the still slow drip of oil from my air box, but there was no difference in my oil level so I didn’t worry to much. Whilst I was looking the other way the ferry had arrived and the cars in front where on the move, so a mad scramble ensued to get on the bikes and catch up. We parked the bikes in a small layby dedicated for motorbikes kept a secure hold on them most of the way across. It cost us £2 each for the crossing.

We then carried on to Brighton where we stopped near the sea front for fish and chips watching the constant stream of runners and people who really like to keep fit. We did think of giving some of them a chip but thought better of it. After a while feeling a little out of place for not doing anything energetic and feeling a little tiered from watching them we decided to bale and head on to Hastings.

Arriving at Hasting petrol station after dark, we were shattered from the day so I went off on a hunt for a campsite spot and luckily just around the corner there was some playing fields, see above photo, with no one around or nearby. We managed to squeeze the bikes through the gate and with just enough energy get the tents up and slide into out sleeping bags.

Day 11 - YHA Land's End to Land's End to YHA Sharpitor, Salcombe, Devon

Up, packed the loaded the bikes. A quick chat with the biker chick/dude then, for Paul, the joy of the dirt track leaving the YHA. Destination Land's End for some photos and a fridge magnet Paul had to get for his mom to complement the one he picked up in John O'Groats, Scotland.

Always on the lookout for a good photo opportunity, I spotted the leaving gates and thought the above photo was a good set up.

Please note Lands End does not open till 10am. We were there for 9am so had loads of time to wonder around. Had our photo taken at the sigh, don’t have to pay here unlike John O'Groats, Scotland. Helped take some photos of other bikers their and a load of cyclists starting of up to John O’Groats.

The bikers we naturally had a natter to, find out what there riding, from where and to where. Told them what we were up to and one of them later that morning just before we left came up to me and said he think I'm an amazing biker to be doing what I'm doing. Never had anyone say that and I dare say look up to me, I'm always looking up to other bikers now it appears I'm one. Don’t worry, it didn’t go to my head but you cannot help letting yourself for an instant enjoy the compliment. I know I'm only really just starting out in my biking career and have a hell of a lot more to learn, from off-roading to long distance overlanding outside the UK, can’t wait hehe.

 

On the road again, we headed to get around Plymouth. We stopped for fuel and found that we were almost dead on our feet so we looked at the map and decided today we will need to have a more restful day to looked for a YHA near Torquay but the nearest YHA was Salcombe so that’s where we headed

 

 

The above is a photo of the YHA at Salcombe and behind me was the view below, it really felt like a tropical jungle apart from a random pigeon flying past!:

 

 

We had enormous fun climbing the twisty hill to get to this place. I went ahead to give Paul a line to follow and he was doing well till the last hairpin where a car appeared around the corner and made me stop suddenly at which point I promptly fell over and did a parachute drop and roll down the hill lol. I was fine and the bike can take it, poor thing. Getting the bike back up wasn’t easy and the wheels where pointing up hill so I could only get it up so far before then using the wheels to turn is facing the other way before standing it up. I let the car go then got back on and proceeded up and to finish the climb. Meanwhile Paul had parked up on some gravel near where I tumbled but couldn’t help as his bike kept slipping down the hill so could only look after his bike whilst I sorted myself out. He made it around the corner ok. He started with too much throttle and realising this he backed off, saving pulling a wheelie all the way up!, and took it easy up the climb in to the car park. I helped him park the Triumph by supporting the back and we made sure it was left in gear with a rock under the rear wheel.

The car park had one live bamboo wall, a really odd thing to see in the UK, but you do have the Gulf Stream bringing a milder climate to the area. I forgot about this else I would have gone swimming or paddling as I can’t swing though I enjoy sailing. I have total belief in my buoyancy aid.

When we stopped Paul notice I was dropping oil. With a bit of investigation we discovered it was coming from my air box breather pipe. Having owned an ER-5 that decided to hydraulic lock on me I realised that when it was on its side pointing downhill the hot runny oil must have gone up the engine breather tube into the air box and saturated the box and probably the air filter too. Not much I could do, it was getting dark as well so I decided to leave it till the morning. If there was a massive pool under the bike something more serious must have happened if not then the excess would just run out eventually, we shall see.

The YHA is definitely one to bookmark. It has an extensive garden with beautiful walk and friendly people running the place. We met two brothers form Wisconsin, USA, over here visiting their relatives as their family descended from the area. We had our dinner with them and a few drink and put the world to rights. A lot was discussed, though a few interesting points where raised which was that Americans are sick of politically sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong and generally being the world’s cop. They can also see themselves handing over there superpower title to other countries in the near future.

After a few drinks we hit the sack and had a good night’s sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 10 - Llanedi Services near start of M4 to Lands End and YHA Land's End

 

We stop at all the exotic locations.

We arrived at the M4 at around 10 last night to head down to Bude, Cornwall. As you can see from the picture Paul's tented up but I chose to just put by airbed next to the bike with a tarp over it, tramp style.

Trust me I was nice and toasty, but yes I admit it's a bit hardcore or daft but i was just as comfortable as in a tent. Might ditch the tent for a bivvy bag and basha.

Well this is the start of another long day, yesterday was 14 hours!

In addition;

Jumped onto the M4 this morning and blasted down to ear Bridgewater before jumping back on to the B-roads to Bude.

When we got to Bude it was only half way through the day so we decided to carry on to Land's End.

We got to Land's End and both had a moment where we shook hands and it felt very poignant. All we had now was a blast straight across the bottom of the UK then familiar roads back home.

We had both spotted a YHA 10 miles back up the road so off we went looking for it. We must have been tiered and blind as we didn’t find it. In total we visited Land's End twice, not sure if that still counts lol. We pulled in after nearly colliding on a roundabout and I Googled the nearest YHA which was 10 miles north. So off we went.

We had another moment similar to The Black Isle, winding tight dark road leading somewhere creepy only our imaginations conjured up. The only nightmare was the track leading into the YHA, for my little off roader no problems but Paul wasn't entertained lol.

I was definitely tired though, I parked up next to a small blue car and since the parking lot was cambered I promptly fell onto it! Paul assures me I left a small dent in the door panel, though I couldn’t see much apart from a small rub mark. I was surprised the alarm didn’t go off but discovered the next morning talking to the oldish gent who owned it that it was not fitted with one. Luckily he was stuck in the 1950's so hopefully he won’t notice, never mind karma will get me and I'll accept it I'm sure, especially since I then picked up the bike and moved it to the other side of the lot as if it wasn't anything to do with me.

There was another bike parked up there and Paul was keen to discover who owned it. Talking to another guest passing by we were informed that it was owned by a lady, however that was debatable as we found out the next morning after having a present chat to this very nice lady with large hands!, the jury still out. But as I say doesn’t matter who or what you are as long as you’re on two wheels you’re alright by me. The main curious matter was she was really tall but the bike was lowered and but have been a bit uncomfortable on a long trip, but we were assured she loved it and 'it goes like stink!' lol Love the random people you meet in this world, makes it a multi interesting place to be.

Also to note, when we checking in we bumped into a few Chinese that where holidaying. The one lady we spoke to as we checked in was attending University in Bristol to become a teacher back in China. We told her what we were about and she was seriously in ore, luckily there was a map behind her on the wall which helped put into scale what we were doing.

Later that night we bumped into her on our way down stairs to have lunch, she wished us good night and after giggling a little scampered of to her room! Leaving us in the hall with cheesy grins on our faces. Paul's thoughts where to get back to his lady and I was contemplating the difficulties of learning Chinese lol. We obviously left a good impression on her.

We continued down stairs to the kitchen to heat up our dinner that we picked up from a Petrol station on the way. Why we bought it was simply because of the smell. As soon as we walked into the station the smell of Indian cooking hit us and our stomachs and we both thought what a good idea as they were already packed in Tupperware ready to go and being sold by an Indian who according to him was famous in the area for his cooking.

It was a little funny though as we were eating our Indian in the communal room. Paul had chosen to eat lotus style by a coffee table with fingers, I did my best to join him. While the other Chinese tourists ate western style next to us. Quite a culturally mixed situation and observation lol.

 

 

Day 9 - Holyhead to Llanedi Services at the start of the M4

Up, packed and a quick coffee. I mentioned to Paul that if looking for a tyre for me was going to be difficult then he was to go ahead and I'll catch up later. To Paul's credit though this was the last thing he wanted.

 

 

We had parked up next to a country parks with facilities, so on my bike I rode in to use them. On my way back Paul had only just finished chatting to a local walking his dog who had informed him of a bike shop back up the road at Bangor. A quick Google and I had the post code and off we went.

Once there I rushed in and quickly told them what we were about and my situation. Their jumped into action and informed me that they had 3 tyres that would fit, be about an hour, score!

About an hour later they took my bike in, ten minutes later the mechanic came out and asked if I also fancied renewing the front brakes? Why I asked, because you've not got any! Oops, yes please!

15 minutes later all was well; they even solved the rattling I thought was coming from the gearbox. Turned out that 1 chain link was a bit stiff and the chain was lose all the miles had stretched it.

We had them give Paul's bike a quick look over too, as it was rattling as well. Had enough brakes and rubber on it to see it through the rest of the tour, so back on the road we went.

The ride went well, I was told to take it easy on new rubber. I didn't but also didn't haven't problems.