..and about everywhere
in between (Ed.)
Leaving
Toronto on May 5th, we arrived on time in Glasgow at 8.20am Thursday
May 6th on an Air Transat Airbus 310.They have now managed to
turn a reasonable wide bodied aircraft into a standard cramped cigar tube
with a few club seats for those who require normal comfort.
Our
hosts Ian & Gillian Foster (K118/119) met us and drove
us back to Polmont in the morning rush. Friends of Irené called to say Hi
in the afternoon, then we settled to supper and planning for Friday.
Our
first ride was to check out the Pan European (ST1100) and visit the Falkirk
Wheel. We all had Lunch then Irené & I took the tour, Then back to packing
for our trip. We had borrowed a Bagster set for the tank, Ian was hoping
we would leave it behind, but no such luck.
Check
this website for more details:
Click
Here
Saturday
was dull as we set off in a slight drizzle,
heading south to Jedborough. A quick lunch, followed by a chat to
a motorcycle policeman (Speed Cop) established the speed limit on country
roads to be 60 mph, with a 70 mph limit on Motorways and Dual Carriageways.
After a visit to "Mary Queen of Scotts House" we set off across
to the East Coast where we met some rain and cloud, curtailing any thought
of visiting the two splendid Castles we passed on the way. Not all the roads
in the northern towns had their names displayed, which resulted in a few
"U turns".
In
the end we found Steve & Andrea Wilson (K130) in Blythe,
Northumberland, north of Newcastle, where nearly everyone speaks in the
"Geordie" dialect. Check out the web site Click
Here
They
made us very welcome as we joined them for supper & stayed overnight.
We had to listen really hard to the conversations especially with Steve's
Dad. After breakfast. With Steve & Andrea leading,we set out across
to the west closely following Hadrian's Wall
and the long straight Roman Roads. This was a typical bikers spot
in the rolling hills.
Following
afternoon tea in Keswick Cumberland, we finally said goodbye and carried
on west to Cockermouth, Steve &
Andrea returned home to Blythe, Steve has owned many bikes and models, and
has done some motorcycling in South Africa where he induced a friend of
his to set up a Bikeshare.
That
night we spent in the north of the Lake District at a B&B near Cockermouth.
It was a charming old farmhouse and we had an ensuite.room, Too bad the
beds were lousy, I slept on the floor. The
Supper & Breakfast however, were first class. The
scenery must have been some of the best in the World
and the weather just perfect.
We
left the Lake District via the Wrynose & Hardnotts Pass after negotiating
some 30% grades then across and
heading south on M6 to meet up with Ted Scott (K143) in Utkinton Cheshire.
Their
garden, tended mostly by his wife Elizabeth, was gorgeous as was the view
from their house. Although our only contact had been via email, in true
Bikeshare fashion they made us as welcome as any visiting Royalty. The Next
morning Ted Scott (K143) escorted us past some picturesque
barges on the Shropshire Union Canal. and across North Wales to Bala for
lunch. Ted is the big tall Guy featured in many of the Bikeshare website
pictures. He rides big tall dual pupose bikes and tours just about everywhere.
After lunch he returned home and we then continued south and west through
Wales to the central coastal town of Aberystwyth
Enjoying
the mountain walk in Wales with our old friend Brian Hains. Check out the
website Click
Here.
Continuing south on the mountain
road from Tregaron to Abergwesyn, then following the Monmouth & Brecon
Canal to Chepstow. Then eastbound on the M4. We finally arrived in Calne
Wiltshire, staying over night with Irené's relatives Rodney & Pam. Rodney
is delving into the family history and discovered a few mysterious hither
to unknown facts
Then
on to a brief luncheon visit with my Cousin Mary & her Husband Alan
in Frenchay near Bristol.
Leaving Frenchay we took the
M5 motorway branching south. Traffic was bad,
the bike overheated and the clutch quit temporarily. We figured this was due vapour from moisture
in the fluid. A half hour stop cooled
it enough to operate with half the lever restored. It gradually returned
to normal as we headed south towards Taunton.
Our
next stop was the little village of North Curry
Somerset to meet with our old friends Geof & Val Golder. I was
best man at their wedding years ago. They had a tiny house and arranged
for us to stay at the local Pub. After supper we watched a Skittles tournament,
and in the morning strolling around the village taking in the view across
towards the south coast. When we went to check out, we found the bill had
already been paid
Entrepreneurs
take note, In the porch of the Village church was this ad. Only in Britain
Eh!! Pity.
On
leaving we went further south on M50 and west, across north of Dartmoor
Lunching at a picturesque locl Pub then out to Port Isaac on the coast of
Cornwall. Here we visited Irené's cousin Janey and her aunt Elizabeth who,
although well into her 90's confirmed some of Rodney's earlier revelations.
Then
another surprise bikeshare visit, this time with Simon & Sandie
Boorer (K136) & John & Sarah Keyes (K135)
in Braunton North Devon. Once again these members only new us via email
and a last minute phone call, but welcomed us as though we had known them
for years. We had a great evening joining their patio party and kipping
down in the spare room. Simon & John have both done a couple of Bikeshares
in Georgia.
The
next morning Simon & John both on their respective Honda Crotch Rockets,
Simon's was a Blackbird, accompanied us across Exmoor as we continued our
journey across the South to visit the area where I lived in my youth and
where Irené & I first met.
We rode east across Salisbury
Plain to Crowborough in East Sussex, which was our stopover for the next
two nights with Neal & Joan Ward. We were able to visit the cottage
where my mother spent her first 30 years.
Also the Seven Sisters Chalk
Cliffs on the south coast
We ended up with a party in
Newdigate Surrey meeting old friends we had not seen for years, and staying
with John & Ann Hanson
Brockham Green is where I grew
up and the Village Church where we were married in 1966
Leaving Surrey we headed up
and across to the Dartford Tunnel under the RiverThames to visit My Cousin
John and his wife Sheila in Spaulding Linconshire. We had quite a time finding
their house even though I had printed a detail map of the area.
Friday
morning was the only other time we had rain, going north to visit with Phil
Carr (K111) and Pat Carr.
Phil
is another veteran Bikeshare member and is also a member of the "Tee
& Pee" group who rides all the time and met us at BMW National
Rally in Trenton, Ontario
Phil
took us across North Yorkshire and back. We rode the train from Pickering,
up all the way through rugged hills, to visit the village of Goathland.
This
is where the Heartbeat series about the "Village Coppers" of Aidensfield
seen on TV Ontario is or was filmed.
The
local Village Garage and Scrips Funeral Service, one of the land marks of
the series.
We
then ambled around the village lunching at the "Aidensfield Arms"
Then
chased Phil back at high speed on the M6 to see his collection of Vintage
Bikes, this old "AJ" was ready to go on a trip to Holland later
that week.
Our
next port of call was Ted Gray (K114) and Sue Gray in Shelley
West Yorkshire. In 1996 they were our very first Bikeshare partners and
we took their BMW R80-RT across to Norway, this would be the third time
I have visited with them. Even though just getting ready to move to a new
House, we again were welcomed as old friends. The next day they escorted
us on their 1500 Goldwing, through the Derby Dales to the Dam where the
Dam Busters practised for the raid on the Mohne and Eder dams.
This is where we had lunch and
parted company.
Phil, Ted & I with the "Tee
& Pee" group Lunch taken in March 2002
We continued through the countryside
heading north to Ramsbottom in Lancashire to visit my brother Norman's widow
Leslie.
We were now into the final few
days of our trip and headed North once more taking the M6 to save some time
but branching off across some quiet country roads as we approached Scotland
on route for Polmont. The last day was cleanup so
the old ST sparkled in the sun.
The view from Polmont looking
north to the Forth Estuary, Ediburgh will be further off on the right.
Irené saw this on one of her
shopping trips, maybe we could get them to become bikeshare members.
Both of us are really grateful
for the warmth and hospitality shown to us on this memorable trip, specially
those of you who have driven miles to pick us up from the airport and had
to rise really early to get us to our return flights. Just a gentle reminder, Ian
and Gillian were the last two to visit us for a Bikeshare in Canada back
in 1997, It's a big country with lots
to see so come on over.
