RUN DOWN
I left Plymouth at 02.30 hrs to ride to Culdrose in the rain ( good start ) , high winds fog then light rain more fog . on arrival at culdrose some one for got to tell them i was coming but that was soon sorted , left culdrose n then rode to St Austell where i met up with alan & Glen . The ride up to plymouth was good H.M.S Drake 1st stop..2nd we got stopped by the police doing routine checks which is good we had chat they wish us luck n rode off to Citardel barracks . On leaveing there it was fuel up time n off up the A38 to Lympstone barracks ( But less said about this stop ) .the guys then went to Exmouth for jolly n off in the mist I rode to R.N.A.S yolverton ( brigader couldnt meet me as the Admiral had arrived I would have talk to him too ) .
It was then north bound ish traveling up the A303 I thought well im bit ahead so I pop to stonehedge ( Road Closed whoops ) But found a M.O.D place Rollestone camp it looked like something from great escape lol next was Royal Artillery school Larkhill , then 4 rifles Bulford camp ( I could picked up more as there are loads there but ones enough . R.A.F Lyneham was next got there 45 mins early rode around to see some old haunts , then rode off to Brize norton .The brize stop was an eye opener had a guided tour of the base even saw inside there hanger dam its big I was there for about hour it was good to park the bike n walk n be driven around , pics were taken which will be forwarded in due course.Then I road to my Nights stop The old minstral n swan nr Witney 5 star exellent service excerlent every thing actually .Bed !!1
Day two Rode out north bound well i was going that way back had started playing me up by now but hey ho thats life all was going well traveling up A34 road works urmm. I knew I had to pull off onto B class road to meet up with the A43 n if I missed it it be hell getting though Bicester , urmm missed it but found M.O.D Bicester would have been another if i found main gate ,, anyway by now was going in circles so M40 it was,, n hope that mr plod wouldnt see me lol .( my excuss was the lorry wouldnt let me turn ) .ok im on the right road heading to A43 towards Cranwell but hey whats those golf balls lets go look USAF Crougton ( they came out with guns ) but after few word asking n me trying to explain poppy appeal british legion they signed my form to get rid of me lol . Cranwell was next Fanstatic stop met dave there n few other Commanding officer came to meet me it was well n truly very good stop ( Im going to personal thank these guys brilliant ) .Me dave rode few miles up to Waddington /Scampton then dave pealed off n gave me directions to the humber bridge thank mate , over the bridge met up with paul out side Leaconfeild , we both rode together doing york .disford .leeming & catterick , One problem lossed my back lights but got that sorted ,At catterick met guys whos doing run end june hope i get to ride with them doing in devon & cornwall ,I then went to my hotel the bridge n paul went home cheers mate it was good riding with u .
Day 3 I rode south heading for Ripon , but 1st stop of the day was Marne Barracks Ex R.A.F Catterick then down A1 for Ripon heading toward harrogate then A59
to Skipton popped into AFC harrogate an extra one also more golf balls down the road USAF but R.A.F Menwith hill , After that it was run to Preston stopping off on route so see dirk turpins mcc . the weather had changed by now & im back in drizzly rain dam i hate that stuff Also temp had dropped . Once Preston had Photo shoot At Fulwood barracks . Lancshire evening post . Then it was down A6 then A49 back on roads I know ..,Met some harley riders but hey ho bye ,,,On route for R.A.F Ternhill which is now manned by the 1st Irish ,Then it was heyy ho down to R.A.F Shawbury were I met up with Alfie who had been looking for me for ages , My back was playing up big time pain killers were working well though , but I hide most of it ,( carnt be done with folk saying u look like ur in agony lol ). He then rode with me to Much wenlock for my night stop , never been there , brother lives there must go back .
[u]day4[u] This well I was due to ride to R.A.F Cosford but decided due to my back id give it a miss I had 5 extra bases already so up early n off to Bristol Ian my brother reckon 3 hrs did it in 2,25 nice ,I actually got ahead of myself by 2hours how I dont know but did , so took it bit slower stopped few extra time had breakie out side Bristol at Hilltop cafe they like bikers its on A38 between Bridgewater n bristol by the speed camera. After that calls were made to martin n suzie & i met them them at Norton manor camp .pics coffee chatting & then they escorted me back to A38 as Taunton marathon was on n roads were closed , thank u to nice officer who opened the road 4 us . Once on A38 it was nice run down to Exeter where I met ROY n Graham on his trike thanks guys coffee n cakes in Sainsbury Exeter then off we go in the Rain ( I started in rain looks like I finsh in Rain ) but it blew out .. but dam windy Also graham had problem with his trike , But we met Ivan steve Glen n few other at BP nr Bodmin .Then it was slow ride down to Culdrose ,We had to stop for fuel n at the Highway house as still running ahead on time , as we were meeting guys at Culdrose ,, urmmm tis went bit wrong Mr Ian Mackey was there to take pics etc got my final stamp but it was No show from Culdrose guys never mind ,I felt Id let the guys down who escorted me but once on the road there nothing I can do sorry guys .
But Roy had 140mile ride home I had about 100mile ride to do so we left n went our ways . It was cold riding home prob as I was Knackered n hurting but it had to be done . once home bike parked n me actually saying thank you to my bike it was time for coffee n bed .
In Total 1275 miles =26 bases visited best visits R.A.F Brize norton ..R.A.F Cranwell . Best day they were all the same brilliant , justgiving page to date with gift aid £460.00 more coming in ..
Will I do it AGAIN Ithink u know the ans YES Im already planning 2012 run .
Thank you to everyone who helped me