I shall be attempting Lands End to John O'Groats and back again in three days, yes I did say three days! This is my only planned charity ride prior to the 2009 Bike Rally which we will be holding in July 2009.
I shall be setting off from Lands End at 1830 hours on the 18 June 2009 and will return on the 21 June 2009 at 1830 hours.
My support team will consist of Dougie Fry, support vehicle driver and motorcycle technician and Ian Punchard, who will be acting as cameraman.
We plan to run a very short diary for the duration of the ride which will be posted on this website.
THE ROUTE
Day One - Leave Lands End A30 to Exeter, B3192 to Waterloo Cross, A38 to Worcester, A442 to Bridgnorth, A458 to Shrewsbury, A49 to Preston. A6 to Carlisle A74 then follow B road next to motorway to A702 to Edinburgh/Dunfermline/Perth to A9 to Inverness/Dingwall.
Day Two - A9 Dingwall to John O'Groats, A9 to Edinburgh, A90 to A720 to A68 Darlington. A1 to A168 to Wetherby, A659/A162 to Squires Cafe.
Day Three - A162 to Pontefract, A628 Barnsley/Stalybridge, A624 Buxton to A53 Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury, A49 to Herefore/Ross-on-Wye, A40 to Gloucester, A38 Plymouth, A30 to Lands End.
More details of our ride will appear here as soon as we have them.
2009 LE/JOG/LE Ride Diary (or Lands End to John O'Groats and back to Lands End)
Day 1 - Thursday 18 June 2009
Well the guys should have left Lands End at 1200 hours today, that's Stuart (aka Madrider1961), with Dougie Fry and Ian Punchard in the GT Motorcycles support vehicle.
Day 3 - Saturday 20 June 2009
Received a text message at 0531 hours this morning - thanks Stuart, I was having a lovely sleep.. They are heading off to the Farmyard Rally, Squires Cafe, and then down homewards to Cafe One and Lands End. Stuart has already told me that he will not be beaten and he plans to do a Lands End/John O'Groats/Lands End re-run solo in August on his Honda CG125. Hope its not the weekend of the 20/21/22 August as it's my birthday.
Even with the best of planning things go wrong, but that is life, and even though they had to abort this ride, Stuart will be re-running it at the end of August 2009.
Massive thanks to Dougie and Ian from Stuart's support vehicle and to all at GT Motorcycles.
No one could have predicted the atrocious weather that they were to encounter, which went from the summer (that was promised) to winter in just a few short hours.
Many who have injuries themselves will understand how rapid climate change can cripple them, and they were no exception to this rule of nature. Concern grew with Dougie's neck and Stuart's back and I am astounded by how far tey got, but this shows how determined they were.
But Stuart had to think 'safety first' and the decision was made to sensibly abort.
Hi to 'Honeymonster' who rode out of Cornwall with Stuart (much appreciated).
Mind you, there was not just one thing that went slightly wrong. Their patience was tested by certain road changes, delays and the video camera not working. The tyres on the bike did not react well in the wet, and they all felt low.
Mind you they made it t the Farmyard Rally and met up with Trikeskull and the Hull crew and they spent some time with them. Stuart also met Ian Mutch from MAG, then rode to the Squires Cafe to do an interview with the Great British Bikers. By the next port of call it was obvious that they could not go on and so they had to head for hoe, arriving at 0530 hours in the morning back in Plymouth.
All is not lost though, and because I am so gutted at not finishing this (and I know the support crew are as well) I am doing it again at the end of August solo, which is a big undertaking without the support vehicle,
Stuart will take the CG125cc on the next run I know that he can do it too and will do it. Stuart is going to put this down to a practice run.
Stuart would like to thank you again for all your support but this ride ain't over yet.
They have been lucky with the weather so far in that it has been dry, but at one point they did think it was going to rain. The Honda CBF 125 is performing well. They are currently Nr Gloucester (at 20.22 hours) as I write this diary on their behalf and they are on schedule.
The team seem to be in good spirits. I think Ian is on the search to film some more 'hairy cows', he means Highland cows actually. This stems back to the last ride in 2008 when they went round the UK in an anti-clockwise direction. I have just realised that Stuart must have the most filmed 'rear' in the UK.
Unfortunately it is unlikely that we will be able to post any photos on the diary until after the ride, however I aim to set up a photo album as soon as possible. Filming of the ride is not going to happen due to the poor conditions that they are getting from filming. Madrider is going to try and take as many photos as he can; but riding a bike this will have to be done when they stop somewhere.
Day 2 - Friday 19 June 2009
Just got in the door from work last night and I get a panic phone call to cancel the accommodation at Dingwall. The weather is getting worse by the minute and high winds and crosswinds are terrible. Madrider has asked where is this heatwave the weathermen said we were going to have, it is not in the UK that is for sure. Madrider has said that Dougie is having major problems with his neck complaint, and although Madrider's back is twitching a bit this is not enough for him to stop me. He has to think 'safety first' so he has come to the decision to stop north of Perth. As a consequence they are chopping off approximately 250 miles off of their trip, but they will be riding the rest of the journey homeward bound.
