From: adbru2 Sent: 26/06/2006 10:10
Bob,
You are my RBR idol ;-)
Rock on ....
Adbru :-)
From: Beebs-TDM9 Sent: 26/06/2006 10:38
Bob,
Hope you and bike are ok after the drop?
I have to ask... do you work?
I think I've got to get involved with the RBR next year, it sounds like great fun.
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 26/06/2006 13:39
Hi Beebs-TDM9
Yes me and the bike are fine -thanks, BMs are sturdy machines,and I've perfected the art of falling off gracefully!,forward roll with a 1/2 tuck!!
Yes I do work -Aircraft engineer with VT Aerospace,working at RAF Church Fenton near Selby and doing the RBR is very enjoyable.
Regards Bob
From: Fiasco Sent: 26/06/2006 13:54
Way to go Bob
Or should we be calling you Ewan ??
Don't forget to give us in mention when you get your name in lights :-)
Glad you came out of the spill ok, did Gladys say "please pick up the bike when convenient" ?
Dave :-)
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 26/06/2006 14:50
Hi Dave
No ......she just sulked a bit,probablly because of the inclement!!! weather,she got her own back later by taking me down some really filthy tracks! still all good fun.
see you soon Dave.
Regards Bob
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 26/06/2006 19:06
Hi Adrian
Need a bit of help on No3,are they at two separate locations or in the same place? the phone box should be easy but carn't find any info on the memorial trough.
Regards Bob
From: adbru2 Sent: 26/06/2006 20:23
Hi Bob,
RE No3 , they are side by side.
I nearly missed the trough as I thought it was a bench !!
someone had put a piece of wood over it
did you find the castle in Maybole ok ?? none of the locals seemed to know when i was there so i took a pic of the big fortified house on the north side of the hifgh street ??
Adbru
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 27/06/2006 19:10
Hi Adrian
Thanks for the help on No 3.
Yes I think I got Maybole Castle ok,as I came down the A77 from the North ,the photo I took was of a big house with turrets etc on the right hand side, if you put Maybole Castle into Google it shows a few pictures of the Castle
Regards Bob
From: adbru2 Sent: 27/06/2006 20:18
Hi Bob,
Yip, thats where I went... phew !
Adrian
From: jon_san4 Sent: 28/06/2006 23:03
Hi Adrian,
#16 2 weeks ago on a ride out with mates from work, my divvy 6 was the oldest & smallest in the group......
. #1 tonight, Luton ctr still traffic hell at 19:00 lol no probs both easy to find...
john
From: ladaman98 Sent: 02/07/2006 10:18
Have got the Divvy fixed now (new fork seals and headstock bearings) so back on the hunt again. Went out yesterday for a quick blast over the Cotswolds and bagged landmarks 16, 43 and 45. Confined to barracks at the moment as missus is working and I have to look after young 'un. My son did a couple of trips with me last year but has no interest this year (sign of growing up I suppose -- its not cool going out with your dad!) Ho Hum. Still plenty of time till the end. Shaun
From: jon_san4 Sent: 02/07/2006 10:27
Great ride out to East Anglia yesterday, #27 28 37 &38 done.....hottest day and my longest trip (450mls) to date on my divvy 600.....needed the nice soak in a hot bath to relieve all the aches...lol.......
last hours riding was gr8 empty roads......
got back home a little behind schedule but just in time to see England out on penalties
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 02/07/2006 19:39
Hi John
Well done mate,450 mls in one day is no mean feat.
Drive safe
Regards Bob
From: adbru2 Sent: 19/07/2006 20:26
Hi Guys,
went for a run before work today (nite shift!)
#53 Turriff in the bag :-)
I have 8 left in Scotland to do for my target (Silver)
I will upload the spreadsheet later but as a group we only have 14 left to get out of 84 !!
10 of these are in Wales :-(
Go get them men !!
Adbru
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 20/07/2006 08:33
Hi Adrian
The Old Cross was very obliging,nice little parking slot right at the side.
Well done mate hope you get the rest for your Silver.
Now just to give you a heads up on my 'cunning' plan for the Welsh ones.
Will do the North Wales LMs when I go to the Welsh Rarebit run and the Southern ones when I go down for the BMW off road skills coures in Sept.
The South Coast ones will be done in a couple of weeks when I go down to St Mawgan, also picking up Martins Stones run ,on my way back home. Phew it's all go ain't it!!
Drive safe
Regards Bob
From: adbru2 Sent: 20/07/2006 15:39
hi bob,
if you go to St Mawgan do you come up to Kinloss ??
if so give me shout and we can meet up (I work in ops wing)
has anyone figured out the plympton folly house yet ??
I (might) have another long run yet this year ;-)
adbru
From: ladaman98 Sent: 21/07/2006 00:04
Had a pleasant if not horribly hot trip out yesterday to the far south western edge of Wales. Apparently the temperature hit 40 degrees. It was a lot hotter in my bike gear even after consuming 5 litres of fluid!
Well, I managed to locate landmarks 74,76,81 and 82 and cover 410 miles. Luckily I left home by 07.00 when things were a bit cooler.
The woman at Landmark 76 was very friendly if not a bit eccentric! I had a wander around the museum. Very interesting if you are into pumps and engines. They weren't running the machines up when I arrived due to the heat so I was allowed in for free
Hoping to get to either South Wales or North Wales this weekend, if not then in August.
Shaun
From: adbru2 Sent: 09/08/2006 12:03
FJRBob:-
Iv'e just got back from a week 'darn Sarf',managed to do 15,21,40,41,18,44,13,12,7,8,35,3,2,39,4 and 32.
The one that eleuded you-No12-The Folly House, was covered in ivy and very easy to miss,it was behind the BP petrol station in Cornwood road next to a Swiss looking house.
(copied from other thread for clarity)
Adbru,
Last saturday did a world tour of scotland :-)
52,54,55,61 and 71.
Spreadsheet updated, can you each check your LM's as I think I have screwed up somewhere :-(
Cheers
Adbru
From: jon_san4 Sent: 28/08/2006 17:44
no 32 done 2 weeks ago
temperamental old divvy meant only nos 33, 83 & 19 done yesterday!
so still a few more points/rides out required to get a bronze......
john
From: ladaman98 Sent: 17/09/2006 18:12
Not a bad weekend trundling. First time for ages had chance to take the weekend off and play on my Divvy:) My sister came along and she clocked a few landmarks across the Cotswolds. The trip we did was roughly what I did earlier on so no extras for me. Sunday managed to get to Pendon Museum and had a look around - a model railway persons dream! I think this year I will be settling for Bronze. Shaun
From: ladaman98 Sent: 19/09/2006 21:55
Forgot to put landmark number on. doh! Pendon museum - landmark 32. Shaun
From: ladaman98 Sent: 19/09/2006 22:00
Hi Adbru
Just looked at the spreadsheet and noticed a couple of erors on my list:
Landmarks not entered - 32 & 40
Landmarks entered but not done (needs removing) - 71 & 73
No wonder my totals weren't matching your totals!
Shaun
From: adbru2 Sent: 20/09/2006 10:26
Thanks Shuan,
I'll sort it tonite
Adbru
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 20/09/2006 17:15
Hi Adrian
Just got back from 5 days in South Wales, got Nos 19,74,75,76,80, 81 and 82, will do the last 4 when i go to the Welsh Rarebit run in a couple of weeks time.
The BMW course was great,the weather was cloudy and damp which made the tracks and trails very slippery.....had several spectacular falls but no broken bones!
Drive safe
Regards Bob
From: jon_san4 Sent: 20/09/2006 22:30
Hi Adbru
Just looked at the spreadsheet and noticed a couple of erors on my list:
Landmarks not entered - 19 32 33 43 45 83
Landmarks entered but not done (needs removing) - 40
best regards
john
From: adbru2 Sent: 21/09/2006 01:09
Hi Guys,
Spreadsheet updated... not long left now :-)
Bob, I dont have you listed as having done 45 (I've looked back through the posts...)
Current state of play:-
Biff 8 (125points)
Adbru 22 (555)
FjrBob 79 (1700)
Ladaman98 17 (330)
Jonsan4 15 (265)
Ride safe
Adbru
From: FJRBob1 Sent: 21/09/2006 18:59
Hi Adrian
Yes have done No45, did it way back in May,my total is 80,and hope to do the last 4 when I go to the Welsh Rarebit run next week-end.
Drive safe
Regards Bob
From: adbru2 Sent: 21/09/2006 21:46
Cheers Bob,
spreadsheet updated, good luck for next weekend !!
Adbru
From: Tour_De_Mark Sent: 25/09/2006 08:55
Nicked off UKRM might be of interest to the RBR boys, certainly was to me. Obviously can't link to the ukrm on google so have copied it here. I've scanned it for potty mouth words and it's clean.
Set off late on Tuesday morning, and having thought I'd heard
something about the M11 being at a standstill[1], decided to go
through town, up the Holloway road, and up the M1.
Whadda mistake-a to make-a, as Captain Bertorelli would say.
The Holloway Road was solid, but was as nothing compared to M1 between
6a and 10. Nightmare.
I had the GPS on the stats screen and my rolling average did not reach
40mph until past Milton Keynes.
Any road, on up the M1 to J42, and along the M62 westbound. Off onto
the A629, and through a succession of old mill towns to Hebden Bridge.
Turned off there, up onto't Moors, past wind farms, to the first
landmark - The Stump Cross. Well, it wasn't a cross. It might have
been, once. A long time ago. It's a lump of stone, with "Stump Cross"
carved on it. At least, I hope it is.
From there it was downhill to Burnley, and onto the M65 north, then
right onto the A59 to East Marton. The landmark here is a
double-arched bridge[2] - which involved a short walk along the
towpath of the Leeds-Liverpool canal to photograph.
Next stop, the Lakes. I set off along the A65, crossed the M6 and
headed west on the A590. Traffic was light, and I was making good
time. Landmark #3 of the day was the canal foot at Ulverston. i.e. the
bit where it meets the sea. Number four was the roman milestone at
Temple Sowerby, on the A66, so I doubled back along the A590, the
turned north along the shores of Windermere - a lovely road, the A592
- if you're not in a hurry. I continued over Hartside(?) Pass, and
down into Penrith. By the time I reached Temple Sowerby, it was nearly
8, dark, and I sought refuge for the night in the King's Arms.
Washed and changed, I headed for the bar, where I was befriended by
the pub labrador, whilst I tried to re-read "Jupiter's Travels".
366 miles today.
The following morning, I was fed and on my way by 8:15. The milestone
was only half a mile up the road, and I was soon on my way to
Scotland. A quick dash up the M6, and A7, and then off into the
lowland countryside. The Millholm Cross was easily located and was
definitely a cross, the a cross-country trek to Bentpath, to the
Telford memorial bench. All the time the sky was getting darker, and
the wind seemed to be picking up, too.
Down through Lockerbie, I filled up in Lochmaben, before heading west
on the A75. A light drizzle became heavier. Then it rained. Then it
got heavier. Then it really rained. A lot. It was gusty, too.
I stopped at a little cabin serving tea and bacon rolls, and when I
emerged the rain had stopped.
The run into Stranraer was completed on drying roads, and having
snapped the monument to the MV Victoria which sank in 1953, I headed
north up the Ayrshire coast. Isn't Cairnryan an odd-looking ferry
terminal? A makeshift pier-cum-ramp sticking out into the sea. Very
peculiar. After a while the rain returned, and having visited Maybole
castle, it was uphill again, along the A70, to Douglas.
With St Bride's Church safely in the camera I set off or the M74 and
Glasgow. For some reason, which I've yet to fathom, I took the
southbound exit onto the motorway, and had to battle ferocious cross-
winds[3] for ten miles just to get back to where I'd been twenty
minutes previously. It might be unfair, but I'll blame the GPS anyway.
The M74 and M8 were as bad as the M1 had been yesterday, and I headed
of up the A82 past Loch Lomond a good hour behind schedule. Left at
Tarbet, then left again onto the B840. Not a good road. Single track,
soaking wet, in the dark, with lunatic locals did not make for a happy
(or quick) journey to Kilmartin. It was nearly dark when I arrived,
still bloody raining, and I was quite fed up.
Still, I got a couple of acceptable pictures of the stone circle, and
headed north in search of lodgings. I had intended to get to Ft
William, but gave up on the rain-lashed promenade at Oban, and
decamped to the Regent hotel for the night.
The A816 had succumbed to the weather, and was a foot or so deep in
water in a couple of places. I didn't spot the first flood, in the
gloom, and was surprised just how quickly the Wing slowed down, from
around fifty, when confronted with ankle deep water. The bow wave was
quite impressive, mind.
My evening meal consisted of a few pints, and a couple of wee drams,
then it was off to bed. Standing outside in the rain for a smoke felt
odd, too. The barmaid said that it was nicer not working in a smoky
room, but claimed that cigarette smoke appeared to mask all kinds of
unspeakable aromas, that had now become much more noticeable.
434 miles today.
Thursday morning dawned grey, and wet. I was a little surprised when
the Wing started first prod, to be honest. The rain eased off as I
headed north, and I emerged from Fort Augustus into blazing sunshine.
The sun had gone by Drumnadrochit, and I arrived at Corrimony cairn in
heavy overcast. Photo taken, it was north to Beauly, then onto one of
my favourite roads, the A835 to Ullapool. After the tribulations of
the previous day, it was a joy to find dry tarmac again, and I
thoroughly enjoyed the run to the West coast. I filled up in Oban, at
101.9p a litre, then headed north to Kylesku to see the memorial to
the X-craft crews.[4]
I was not looking forward to the long trek along single track roads
round the coast to Durness, but the GPS had a "bright idea". I
backtracked to the A837, then cut across to Lairg down the Oykel
valley. It was a single track road, true, but dry, with good
visibility, and I made really good time. Left onto the A9 at Skelbo,
then north to Durness. Two landmarks here, which was nice considering
their remoteness. A Millennium Dyke (or wall) in the bay, and the
stone inscribed "the most northerly point in mainland Britain" out at
the head. It was now around 5pm, and no way was I going to make the
next landmark that evening, as it was south of Inverness. So, I
determined to get as close as reasonably possible before seeking a
hotel. I was wrong. I arrived in Forres, having stopped at my
favourite chippie, in Golspie, for supper, and found the Witches Stone
just along the road from where I had my third fuel stop of the day. I
presume flash photographs count. I made it on to Elgin, where, after a
shower, and a pint, I collapsed into bed, exhausted.
499 miles today.
After a very average breakfast, I set off for Turriff, to see the Old
Cross. I arrived by nine-fifteen, and was immediately accosted by some
old guffer who wanted to know what I was up to. Apparently there'd
been bikes pulling up here all summer. I told him, and he suggested
that we were all a few slices short of a loaf. He may have a point.
From Turriff, it was south through Deeside to Braemar. Her I
photographed an engine from a Vickers Wellington, which crashed nearby
in early 1942. The roads around the area are delightful, enhanced by
occasional sightings of deer, and red squirrels.[5]
It was here I met a chap with an R1150GS, who was travelling with his
dog in the tankbag. Folk were crossing the road to take his picture.
From Braemar it was over the mountains at Glenshee, to Pitlochry, then
West along the B846 to Rannoch station high on the moors. The landmark
is a memorial stone to man who pioneered the railway to Fort William,
a Mr Renton. Unfortunately, the fabled tearoom at the station was
shut, so I set off back the way I came towards Montrose, on the coast.
I stopped at Spitalfield on the way, to have a break. I stopped by the
village green, and popped into the local shop for a pastie, and some
milk. Suitable refreshed, I went to set off, but the alarm wouldn't
disarm. I suspected the fob battery, and went in the shop - no joy. I
was directed to a garage around the corner, but still no joy. a quick
test revealed around 10v in the battery, and the mechanic chappie
suggested it should be fine. I trudged back to the bike, reassembled
the fob, and, prior to phoning for a recovery truck, tried it in
desperation. It worked perfectly, as it has done ever since. After the
rain on Wednesday, I would have expected it to fail then, not two days
later - most odd.
The statue of the Earl of Montrose was easily located, and then it was
south again, in search of lodgings. As I crossed the Tay, I realised I
could probably get the next landmark before dark, so I headed across
Fife to Pitscottie, to find the spot where Vincenzo Lunardi completed
the first balloon flight in Scotland in 1785. A small plaque between
to farm gates seems a little understated as a memorial to such an
adventure.
From Fife, I headed West along the A91, towards Stirling. As I
approached the next landmark, I decided to visit it anyway, and
collected a dead moody shot of the statue of Col. Stirling, the
founder of the SAS. Lodgings were secured at Kincardine services
Travel Inn.
417 miles today.
A late start today(Saturday), as breakfast wasn't available until
eight, but I made good time along the M9 before turning off for Niddry
Castle. Which is where I lost my control card. At least, I think I
did, because it wasn't in the topbox when I arrived at Bolton
dovecote.
This was the first time I ridden the A720 in light traffic, and it was
a definite improvement. From Bolton, it was SE to a memorial for David
Hillary, who crashed near here during the war. I think he was one of
the "guinea pigs" for burns treatment by plastic surgery, but I'm not
sure.
England again! Phew.
Warkworth castle was unmissable on the Northumberland coast, then it
was through the Tyne Tunnel to South shields. I turned up, offered the
barrier monkey a handful of 2p pieces, and was informed it was "silver
only for the machine". I told him it was all I had, and he reluctantly
opened the barrier. It was all I had, too, except for a 5p piece.
The lifeboat "Tyne" was next on the list, then it was into Durham to
Finchale Priory. They wanted £2 to get in the carpark, so I took a
picture from outside the gate.
Into Yorkshire next, after a run down the A1(M) to Scotch Corner, then
off via Richmond to Reeth, to snap the war memorial on the village
green.
South once more on the A1(M) to Skipton on Swale, then east along the
A170, over Sutton Bank, to Sledmere. Here, the landmark was the
memorial to the Waggoners - raised to drive horsedrawn supply wagons
during WWI. The depictions of German soldiers burning churches, and
slitting the throats of young women, drew a formal complaint from the
German government, apparently.
Over the Humber Bridge (£1.70!) - where the tops of the towers had
vanished in the low cloud, it was south to Caistor, to get the Village
pump, with a golden lion on top. A local, who I asked for directions,
had never heard of it. Considering how visible it is, in the centre of
town, I can only assume he wasn't local, after all.
I plodded on south into the gathering gloom, and found Cogglesford
Mill in proper darkness, and took a couple of photos more in
desperation, than anything. I may have to revisit.
From there, it was a straight charge down the A1 and home. I arrived
around midnight.
572 miles today.
So, I think I've got the lot. We'll see.
The Wing is definitely in need of some TLC, having done >4000 miles in
the last fortnight, and more than 7k since mid-July. The brake pedal
has a definite "pulse" to it - not too pronounced, but definitely
there. The rear tyre's almost gone.
[1] It was the A11, not the M11, I found out from Radio 5 whilst sat
at a standstill on the M1.
[2] One on top of the other, like an afterthought.
[3] Which took me from lane 1 to the hard shoulder at one point. Not
nice.
[4] Tirpitz?
[5] And pheasants. Loads of 'em.
From: adbru2 Sent: 25/09/2006 12:17
Hi TDM,
Good read, many thanks :-)
Maybe we could get FjrBob to do a writeup of his adventures this year ??
I would like to think I will get gold this year but will probably have to settle for another silver.
. Last year I was well on me way to bronze by this time. I have managed to research most of the south and SouthWestern landmarks in readiness for the challenge but thats as far as its got. Is there no hope for me? Maybe I need a holiday
)
)