14-02-22, 11:09 AM
The campsite turned out to be the same venue as four years ago, when, by the time I’d got there, there was no camp space not under water available. So after collecting my attendance badge, rode straight back home. That was a long day. Decided to tough it out and camp, but questioned my decision until pints of lager seemed to take the edge off of any anxiety. As always, met some really interesting rallyists, including an 83 year old, camping under a tarp lashed to his bike. Proper hardcore.
Packing up in the pouring rain with a banging head, won’t go down in my top 5 memorable moments for sure, but managed to throw all the soaking kit in my cavernous Ortleib bag, and get it lashed on the bike, which fired up straight away despite the torrents of rain that had descended on it. Next stop, the caff just in to Shropshire.
All was not well as we pulled into the empty carpark, as the carpark being empty meant it was shut. Oh the despair, as breakfast was going to be the prize for enduring the heavy rain ride out of Wales. A BP station coffee and pastie was a very poor alternative, but hey ho such is life’s disappointments. The next stop was Bourton on the Water in Oxfordshire, for a final gas up and coffee, before picking up the M4 at Swindon, down to Reading, then across to the M3, M25 and home. No point in taking an unfamiliar A road route home in this weather, as it wouldn’t have been enjoyable and would have taken a lot more time. On the drive another 321 miles had been knocked off by my faithful old warrior who’ll be 28 years old next month, and all the miles it’s done have been my miles. :lol .
I’ll post a few pics later, as tent drying out is today’s project.
Packing up in the pouring rain with a banging head, won’t go down in my top 5 memorable moments for sure, but managed to throw all the soaking kit in my cavernous Ortleib bag, and get it lashed on the bike, which fired up straight away despite the torrents of rain that had descended on it. Next stop, the caff just in to Shropshire.
All was not well as we pulled into the empty carpark, as the carpark being empty meant it was shut. Oh the despair, as breakfast was going to be the prize for enduring the heavy rain ride out of Wales. A BP station coffee and pastie was a very poor alternative, but hey ho such is life’s disappointments. The next stop was Bourton on the Water in Oxfordshire, for a final gas up and coffee, before picking up the M4 at Swindon, down to Reading, then across to the M3, M25 and home. No point in taking an unfamiliar A road route home in this weather, as it wouldn’t have been enjoyable and would have taken a lot more time. On the drive another 321 miles had been knocked off by my faithful old warrior who’ll be 28 years old next month, and all the miles it’s done have been my miles. :lol .
I’ll post a few pics later, as tent drying out is today’s project.
Whizz kid sitting pretty on his two wheeled stallion.