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.
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