My pal Vern's Versys 1000 and my Fazer rolled out of the filling station at 06:45 on our way to meet two other "day trip to Cornwall" participants, just north of Guildford. Fifteen minutes later the four of us, having gained a Tracer GT and an S1000RR, were on our way to Popham services to meet up with Mr.Red. This would be the boring bit of the trip, but necessary in the time available. We got to Popham slightly ahead of schedule, fortunately Mr.Red was already there and happy with his repair to the mighty thou. Breakfast was about half an hour away, so we set off down the A303, our turnoff about a mile ahead. Whether it was insufficient indicating by those behind me I don't know, but sadly Mr.Red missed the junction, we'd lost him within a mile. Was this a LOFO record?, possibly not as thoughts of the chaos as we left the cafe on our David Silver trip the other year, came flooding back.
I just had to hope that Paul(Mr.Red) would carry on to the A30, which would take him past our breakfast stop. We flew down to Stockbridge and out the other side. The plan was to ensure we got to the cafe ahead of him and could be reunited. Fortunately that's how it turned out.
However all was not well with his Fazer, and juice was weeping out of the repaired area, so sadly he decided to call it a day and limp home. Breakfast was despatched and after saying our goodbyes, it was on the pipe, Cornwall bound.
Dartmoor was a tad overcast, and rather crowded at most parking areas, so didn't stop for any photos this time. However the "Cornwall" sign couldn't be passed without a pic or two. The table I'd booked for lunch was waiting for us at the pub, once helmets etc had been stashed away. A few hours were whiled away eating, drinking and talking bollocks. Then it was time to saddle up and do it all again.
After a fuel top up in Tavistock it was non stop until the outskirts of Salisbury for the final fill up of the day. At Stockbridge we'd decided to go different ways, with team Tracer/BMW taking the A31 from Winchester, while Vern and me carried on the A30 to Blackwater/Camberley, our normal route, after a coffee stop at Popham.
Then it was just a quick dash down to the Hogs Back, A3 and home. It worked out at 474 miles, 3 more than last year, due to a slight detour for petrol as the normal garage was being refurbed, and me taking one exit too early whilst skirting Dartmoor on the way home. The weather had been just perfect for a long very enjoyable bike ride.
If Mr.Red gets the thou sorted and we have some favourable weather, another Cornwall whizz could be on the cards.
I just had to hope that Paul(Mr.Red) would carry on to the A30, which would take him past our breakfast stop. We flew down to Stockbridge and out the other side. The plan was to ensure we got to the cafe ahead of him and could be reunited. Fortunately that's how it turned out.
However all was not well with his Fazer, and juice was weeping out of the repaired area, so sadly he decided to call it a day and limp home. Breakfast was despatched and after saying our goodbyes, it was on the pipe, Cornwall bound.
Dartmoor was a tad overcast, and rather crowded at most parking areas, so didn't stop for any photos this time. However the "Cornwall" sign couldn't be passed without a pic or two. The table I'd booked for lunch was waiting for us at the pub, once helmets etc had been stashed away. A few hours were whiled away eating, drinking and talking bollocks. Then it was time to saddle up and do it all again.
After a fuel top up in Tavistock it was non stop until the outskirts of Salisbury for the final fill up of the day. At Stockbridge we'd decided to go different ways, with team Tracer/BMW taking the A31 from Winchester, while Vern and me carried on the A30 to Blackwater/Camberley, our normal route, after a coffee stop at Popham.
Then it was just a quick dash down to the Hogs Back, A3 and home. It worked out at 474 miles, 3 more than last year, due to a slight detour for petrol as the normal garage was being refurbed, and me taking one exit too early whilst skirting Dartmoor on the way home. The weather had been just perfect for a long very enjoyable bike ride.
If Mr.Red gets the thou sorted and we have some favourable weather, another Cornwall whizz could be on the cards.
Whizz kid sitting pretty on his two wheeled stallion.