I left Plymouth at 0230 hours to ride to RAF Culdrose in the rain (what a good start), high winds, fog, then light rain and even more fog.   On arrival at Culdrose someone forgot to tell them I was coming but that was soon sorted out.  I left Culdrose and headed to St Austell where I met up with Alan and Glen.  The ride up to Plymouth was good with H.M.S Drake being the first stop.  On approaching our second stop, we were stopped by the Police doing routine checks, which is good as we had chat and they wished us luck and we then headed off to the Citadel barracks.  On leaving the Citadel it was fuel up time and then off up the A38 to Lympstone Barracks (but less said about this stop the better).  Alan and Glen then went to Exmouth for a ‘jolly’ and off into the mist I rode to RNAS Yeovilton (unfortunately the Brigadier could not meet me as the Admiral had arrived and I would have talk to him too).

It was then north bound travelling up the A303 and I thought ‘well I’m bit ahead of schedule, so I’ll pop into Stonehenge’, but the road was closed (whoops).   However, I found a MOD place, Rollestone Camp; it looked like something from the ‘Great Escape’.   Next was the Royal Artillery School at Larkhill, then 4 Rifles at Bulford Camp (I could pick up more as there are loads there but one’s enough).   RAF Lyneham was next on my list, but I got there 45 minutes early so rode around to see some old haunts, and then rode off to Brize Norton.  The Brize Norton stop was an eye-opener as I had a guided tour of the base and even saw inside their hangar (damn it’s big).  I was there for about an hour but it was good to park the bike up and walk and be driven around.  Then I road to my stop for the night, The Old Minstrel and Swan near Witney.  Well it was 5 star, excellent service, excellent everything actually.

It’s now day two and I am heading north bound - well I was going that way but my back had started playing me up by now, but hey-ho that’s life.  All was going well but as I was travelling up the A34 I found road works urmm.   I knew I had to pull off onto a B class road to meet up with the A43 and if I missed it then it would be hell getting though Bicester, urmm I missed it but did find MOD Bicester.  It would have been another ‘stamp’ if I could find the main gate.  Anyway, by now I was going around in circles so the M40 it was, and I hoped that ‘Mr Plod’ would not see me.  I already had my excuse ready just in case – the lorry wouldn’t let me turn.   Right, I am now on the right road on the  A43 heading towards Cranwell, but ‘hey what’s those golf balls lets go look’ it was USAF Croughton (scary as they came out with guns) but after few words of  asking and me trying to explain The Poppy Appeal and British Legion, they signed my form to get rid of me.  Cranwell was next on my list of stops.  What a fantastic stop, met Dave there and a few others.  The Commanding Officer came to meet me - it was well n truly very good stop.  I am going to personally thank these guys, they were brilliant.  Dave rode few miles with me up to Waddington/Scampton then the turned off after giving me directions to the Humber Bridge – thanks Dave.   So it’s then over the Humber Bridge where I met up with Paul outside Leaconfield.    We rode together doing York, Dishford, Leeming and Catterick.   One problem though, I lost my rear lights but got that sorted.   At Catterick met up with some guys who are doing run at the end of June this year, so I hope to get to ride with them when they get to Devon & Cornwall.  , I then went to my hotel, The Bridge, and Paul went home.  Cheers mate it was good riding with you.       

It’s now day three and I am heading south for Ripon, but the first stop of the day was Marne Barracks, ex RAF Catterick then down A1 for Ripon and heading toward Harrogate then A59 to Skipton.   Popped into AFC Harrogate, an extra ‘stamp’ and also more golf balls down the road (USAF but RAF Menwith Hill.  After that it was a run to Preston stopping off en- route so see Dirk Turpins MCC.   The weather had changed by now and I am back in drizzly rain (damn I hate that stuff) and also temperature had dropped.  Once at Preston I had photo-shoot at Fulwood Barracks by the Lancashire Evening Post. Then it was down A6 then A49, I was back on roads that I know.  Met some Harley riders but hey-ho bye.  En- route for RAF Ternhill which is now manned by the 1st Irish, then it was down to RAF Shawbury where I met up with Alfie who had been looking for me for ages.   My back was playing up big time but the pain killers were working well though, but I hide most of it (I can not be done with folk saying ‘you look like your in agony’).  Alfie then rode with me to Much Wenlock for my night stop, never been there, but my brother lives there so I must go back.

It’s now day four and  I was due to ride to RAF Cosford but decided that due to my back playing up I would give it a miss - I had 5 extra bases already.  I was up early and off to Bristol.  My brother Ian said I would get there in 3 hours but I did it in 2.15 hours, nice.  I was actually ahead of schedule by 2 hours now, how I do not know but I did.  I decided to take it a bit slower and stopped a few extra times and had breakfast outside of Bristol at Hilltop Café – they like bikers and it’s on the A38 between Bridgwater and Bristol by the speed camera.  

After a lovely breakfast, calls were made to Martin and Suzie and I met them at Norton Manor camp for pictures, coffee and a chat.   They then escorted me back onto the A38 as the Taunton marathon was on and roads were closed.  A big ‘thank-you’ to the nice officer who opened the road for us.  Once on A38 it was nice run down to Exeter where I met Roy and Graham on his trike.  Thanks guys, coffee and cakes in Sainsburys at Exeter and then off we go in the rain (I started in rain, looks like I will finish in rain) but it blew out, but damn windy, also Graham had problem with his trike.   We met Ivan, Steve and Glen and a few orders at the BP garage near Bodmin, and then it was slow ride down to Culdrose.  We had to stop for fuel at the Highway House as we were still running ahead on time, as we were meeting guys at Culdrose - urmmm this went bit wrong Mr Ian Mackey was there to take pictures etc and I got my final stamp but it was a ‘no show’ from the Culdrose guys, never mind.  I felt I had let the guys down who escorted me, but once on the road there was nothing I could do - sorry guys.   Roy had a 140 mile ride home and I had about 100 mile ride, so we left and went our separate ways.   It was cold riding home, probably because I was ’knackered’ and hurting but it had to be done.  Once home and the bike parked (and me actually saying thank-you to my bike) it was time for coffee and bed

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In total I covered 1,275 miles and visited 26 bases.  The best visits were RAF Brize Norton and RAF Cranwell.  The best day? - they were all the same, brilliant.   To date my ‘justgiving page’ has a total of £460.00 with gift aid and there is more coming in.

For the past five years I have completed UK charity rides on a 125cc motorbike, covering thousands of miles and raising thousands of pounds along the way, I relish a challenge and welcome your support for my chosen charites, over the years I have helped raise over £40,00.00, for which I would like to thank both my supporters and sponsors.

Although I originally planned not to do a charity ride in 2011, it is well over due for me helping THE POPPY APPEAL.  Therefore I have decided to ride a 125cc motorbike from R.N.A.S culdrose to Catterick Garrison between 31 March 2011 and 3 April 2011.  Once at Catterick I will then take a different route for my return journey back to R.N.A.S Culdrose.  The ride will be done as follows: Day 1 - Culdrose to Oxford area; Day 2 - Oxford to Catterick; Day 3 - Catterick to Hereford and Day 4  - Hereford to Culdrose.  This will be appoximately 400 to 450 miles per day.

On route I will be visiting various service bases Army/Navy/Air force/M.O.D. 

My Route will be: