Nookster
21-06-2010, 11:25 AM
This weekend saw me do the second RBLR1000. Organised by the RBLR.
I went up to Squires on friday the 18th June, pitched up the tent, and duly went and got fed and watered and chatting to fellow riders and the marshals. Great warm sunny day, and nice feeling about the imminent event.
Squires cafe, is just outside Leeds and is a Biker venue, out in the middle of nowhere, there is a bikers accessories shop behind the pub, and loads of camping available on site..
Duly registered and formalities done, next was the riders briefing, at 6.30pm, brought forward because of some footy thing, during the briefing safety was banged home , and the importance of the obligatory paperwork, timed fuel receipts for the mandatory stops, briefing over, it was to the bar and outside in the sunshine (away from the tellies) to chin wag to other riders, made some new friends and met some old ones... Perfic...
Saturday morniong, 4.20 am some eager sods, started bikes and took to start line, (Doesnt start till 5.30am?) ANyway, got up at 5am, got packed what I needed, bimbled down to start line, left at 5.50 am.... First stop on my route was Berwick on Tweed.... 4 miles before the fuel stop found stranded bike and biker on side of road, stopped for him, he was on phone to AA... Said he cut out, he said he had plenty of fuel... Was with him for 10 mins, he seemed happy and told me to carry on as he was sorted... Arrived at Berwick and refuelled, got obligatory timed and dated receipt... Next stop, was Dreghorn services, this was an uneventful ride, it was cold, and quite blustery, but nothing untoward. Refulled at Dreghorn, again dated and timed receipt collected... Had 5 minutes break here, then off to Aviemore.. (Home from Home to me).
Once at Aviemore, I had a half hour break, coffee and a small bite to eat...Good blather with other riders at this venue... Off again, next stop Wick...... This was the interesting part of the ride, was it windy or what!!!!!!!!!. made for VERY interesting riding, a couple of scary moments wioth the gusts.... Arrived at Wick about 4pm ish... Refulled at Wicks Tesco... Didint hang around here too long due to the wind, so set off to Fort William.. The best part of the journey, down the Glen, had another wee break at Fort William, met a couple been married 6 months, doing the ride on a Honda Storm, I felt real sorry for the young lady riding pillion and offered to take her pillion, but she was determined to finish it on the bike with her hubby, even tho she was aching and only had a match box of a seat to sit on.... Fair play to her, I wonder if their still married after that ride... ??:o
Nest stop on the cards was Happendon services for me, on the M74, I didnt go down the side of Loch Lomond but carried on down the A85, little bit longer but nicer road... As I hit the M74 , darkness was falling and the temperatures PLUMMETED... I had 4 layers of clothes on, and it was still cold....
Had a hot drink at Happendon, and chat with another group of riders, these guys came down from Dundee to do the ride.. I tagged onto the back of their group for the next 120 miles, and left them as they had to refuel on the M6...
I caled into Tebay services, for a warm up and splash and dash on the fuel... Then set off to the last obligatory fuel stop at Birches services (couldnt get my leg over the bike at Birches) I wasnt tired, but my legs had gone stiff.So had a quick walk around to free them up... Didint stop long here, only 50 miles left to Squires and finish.
Got back to Squires, at 3.54am... Marshalls there clapping and yelping at all the finishers, what a great boost that was..... So, 22 hrs to do a total of 1054 miles....
Got a warm cuppa at squires, but spilt most of it as was shaking from the cold... LOL... I stayed up for another couple of hours watching other riders finish the ride... Then off to bed for a couple of hours.
Everyone I met, and chatted to thorougly enjoyed the event, and ALL said they will be back next year with a vengeance....
I dont know any stats of how many took part or finished, but as soon as I hear the stats I will post them up.....
What a great way to raise funds for the Poppy appeal, and have fun doing it and with a challenge thrown in......
Lest we forget.......
I went up to Squires on friday the 18th June, pitched up the tent, and duly went and got fed and watered and chatting to fellow riders and the marshals. Great warm sunny day, and nice feeling about the imminent event.
Squires cafe, is just outside Leeds and is a Biker venue, out in the middle of nowhere, there is a bikers accessories shop behind the pub, and loads of camping available on site..
Duly registered and formalities done, next was the riders briefing, at 6.30pm, brought forward because of some footy thing, during the briefing safety was banged home , and the importance of the obligatory paperwork, timed fuel receipts for the mandatory stops, briefing over, it was to the bar and outside in the sunshine (away from the tellies) to chin wag to other riders, made some new friends and met some old ones... Perfic...
Saturday morniong, 4.20 am some eager sods, started bikes and took to start line, (Doesnt start till 5.30am?) ANyway, got up at 5am, got packed what I needed, bimbled down to start line, left at 5.50 am.... First stop on my route was Berwick on Tweed.... 4 miles before the fuel stop found stranded bike and biker on side of road, stopped for him, he was on phone to AA... Said he cut out, he said he had plenty of fuel... Was with him for 10 mins, he seemed happy and told me to carry on as he was sorted... Arrived at Berwick and refuelled, got obligatory timed and dated receipt... Next stop, was Dreghorn services, this was an uneventful ride, it was cold, and quite blustery, but nothing untoward. Refulled at Dreghorn, again dated and timed receipt collected... Had 5 minutes break here, then off to Aviemore.. (Home from Home to me).
Once at Aviemore, I had a half hour break, coffee and a small bite to eat...Good blather with other riders at this venue... Off again, next stop Wick...... This was the interesting part of the ride, was it windy or what!!!!!!!!!. made for VERY interesting riding, a couple of scary moments wioth the gusts.... Arrived at Wick about 4pm ish... Refulled at Wicks Tesco... Didint hang around here too long due to the wind, so set off to Fort William.. The best part of the journey, down the Glen, had another wee break at Fort William, met a couple been married 6 months, doing the ride on a Honda Storm, I felt real sorry for the young lady riding pillion and offered to take her pillion, but she was determined to finish it on the bike with her hubby, even tho she was aching and only had a match box of a seat to sit on.... Fair play to her, I wonder if their still married after that ride... ??:o
Nest stop on the cards was Happendon services for me, on the M74, I didnt go down the side of Loch Lomond but carried on down the A85, little bit longer but nicer road... As I hit the M74 , darkness was falling and the temperatures PLUMMETED... I had 4 layers of clothes on, and it was still cold....
Had a hot drink at Happendon, and chat with another group of riders, these guys came down from Dundee to do the ride.. I tagged onto the back of their group for the next 120 miles, and left them as they had to refuel on the M6...
I caled into Tebay services, for a warm up and splash and dash on the fuel... Then set off to the last obligatory fuel stop at Birches services (couldnt get my leg over the bike at Birches) I wasnt tired, but my legs had gone stiff.So had a quick walk around to free them up... Didint stop long here, only 50 miles left to Squires and finish.
Got back to Squires, at 3.54am... Marshalls there clapping and yelping at all the finishers, what a great boost that was..... So, 22 hrs to do a total of 1054 miles....
Got a warm cuppa at squires, but spilt most of it as was shaking from the cold... LOL... I stayed up for another couple of hours watching other riders finish the ride... Then off to bed for a couple of hours.
Everyone I met, and chatted to thorougly enjoyed the event, and ALL said they will be back next year with a vengeance....
I dont know any stats of how many took part or finished, but as soon as I hear the stats I will post them up.....
What a great way to raise funds for the Poppy appeal, and have fun doing it and with a challenge thrown in......
Lest we forget.......