A motorcycle parked in front of a tent on a pleasant green campsite

Home Travel StoriesLincolnshire 2014

A Good Ride Home

By Ren Withnell

We are treated to some heavy showers in the night. But, considering how poorly we both slept the previous night I know I have slept extremely well and the gf reports only minor disturbances. It has rained hard overnight, thankfully my tent and all within is dry, warm, safe and secure. As we rise we are subjected to the occasional very light shower that lasts a few minutes. The tent comes down in the dry and soon enough I'm ready to roll. The gf however is struggling to get the bungees just right over the bags and the strange bat thing that's becoming her mascot. He'll be learning to fly soon if she doesn't hurry up.

sharon and the ghost bat toy both hide their faces while inside the tent
Stop messing about and HURRY UP!

On this grey day in full waterproof attire we set off. Reports from our friends who left yesterday is that the trip took 4 hours. That's OK but they're all riding big powerful bikes, we're on 125's. I bet they used the motorway, with the gf still on "L" plates we can't. We do have one big advantage though, we've got ALL DAY! We're just rolling with the traffic along the broad open flatlands through Lincolnshire and it feels good.

What is it with "L" plates? On this big wide road that is gently weaving its way through the farmland we are travelling at around 55 mph just rolling with the rest of the traffic. The gf likes to leave perhaps a little more space than the norm between us presumably to avoid running into my rear end. This winds the car drivers up no end! They cannot get more than 50 yards ahead of their current station in the line of traffic but they'll follow the gf with feet to spare. It winds me up and I imagine it winds her up too.

One chap in his Corsa passes her and proceeds to park in my derrière. Being a little more experienced and less intimidated I wave for him to back off. He gets closer. It's not like I'm slacking, I'm behind several more cars and a truck. I slow down. He gets closer. I speed up, he keeps up. The correct course of action as I was informed when I was an instructor is this. You should have 2 seconds gap between yourself and the vehicle in front. There should be a further 2 second gap between yourself and the vehicle behind, therefore the vehicle behind is 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front.If the vehicle to the rear is too close, by say 1 second, you need to keep a 3 second gap to the vehicle in front, keeping the same 4 second overall gap.

I do this, just as an experiment. I have to put 4 seconds between myself and the car in front as the Corsa is so close. I know what's going to happen, the Corsa driver will be super, extra, mega upset! He is, I chuckle to myself as I see his arms flailing in frustration. I keep this up until, regrettably, a straight comes into view. He passes me, a fat 55 year old man who ought to know better with his rotund wife looking scared and bemused in the passenger seat. He makes rude angry "V" signs at me. I respond by suggesting he needs to relax by shaking a maraca or two (think about it...). He scoots off as fast and as far as he can, a total gain of a few yards altogether. Was it worth the effort? No matter, it helps pass the time of day.

I like Lincoln, or at least I thought I did. Last time I was here I took an open top bus tour with a previous bike club, some 15 or 16 years ago. I remember a pleasant town filled with sun, pretty streets and an impressive cathedral. This time it's just a town, I guess I must be in the wrong part. We stop at a Tesco to get a bite to eat, I suppose this must be breakfast or brunch. We then take a tour of Lincoln. No, not in an open top bus. Not by foot. By 125 motorcycle. All around the town. Several times. I like to think of it as a tour, the gf would have you believe I was lost. It's not a bad place Lincoln, and I feel I know it (too) well now. Ah, there's the A57.

ren and sharon's 125cc motorcycles parked outside lincoln tesco, loaded up with camping gear
This is how we roll, camping style. Lincoln Tesco before I get us both lost.

The A57 takes us easily around Worksop and we are making fair progress. The gf must have her riding head on, she's not breaking any records but her pace is healthy and she's no problem keeping up through the roundabouts, junctions and lights. I remember not too long ago the little girl who was scared to stop in case she never got started again. There's none of that now. As we enter Sheffield with it's complex junctions, multi-lane traffic lights, god-awful many exited roundabouts and some tram lines to add to the mayhem, she switches with me when I'm in the wrong lane, holds her nerve as cars cut her up across the roundabouts and doesn't let the cagers bully her at the junctions.  

The A57 Snake Pass brings relief. Sheffield is like any other city, great if you know it well, terrifyingly confusing if you don't. I pull in to a layby, it's time for something to eat at the butty van next to the Ladybower reservoir. Pants! It's not here. Feeling a little let down we carry on. The Snake is a good road. We are lucky too, the rain has stopped completely and the road is mostly dry by the time we get here. We're extra lucky as we follow a couple of cars driving at the ideal speed, a good solid pace that allows us to tip into the bends without going mental. I have a play on a few bends, the gf is always back behind me in a matter of moments.

We arrive in Glossop windswept, a little worn out and perfectly contented. It's been a good ride so far and we're nearly home. Including the stop for breakfast I reckon it's taken us 4 and a half hours so far, we're not far of the big bike's pace at all. We have a brew and a rest in another Tesco cafe in Glossop. It's good to have time on our side, neither of us wants to ride all day long without a break.

To me, Glossop is almost home. Bit of motorway, a couple of junctions and Bob's you're Dad's brother - ba-da-bing. Stalybridge, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Droylsden, Manchester, Cheetham Hill, Prestwich and Whitefield all have other plans. On this Tuesday afternoon it is busy busy busy. Crazy drivers abound, each on a mission to be somewhere else fast. Buses stop at every bloody stop. Lorries want to turn into side streets that are too small. Cyclists and pedestrians are on a suicide trip. It's taken us 4.5 hours to cover maybe 110 miles including stops and getting lost in Lincoln. It takes us a further 2.5 hours to cover just 33 miles. She'll have to take her bloody test soon, even if it's on the 125, I hate cities...

What a trip! The weather, apart from a minor hiccup at the start of the weekend, has been awesome. We had a great ride out with friends on the first day. We had a splendid, hot and entertaining day at the Emma Radford memorial and now the gf and I have completed a good solid and safe ride home with only the merest hint of rain first thing. Many thanks to those at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk), the UKBEG (http://www.ukbeg.com) and the members of the bike club. To the gf, AKA Sharon - Yes sweetie you can ride very well now. Get that blinkin test thing sorted!

Soggy And Sun Into Lincolnshire Ren describes a day filled with rain and sun, countryside roads, corners and friends.
Buells, Planes And Sun A day at the Emma Radford Memorial is filled with sunshine, Buells, friends and fantastic aeroplanes!
A Good Ride Home Our ride home from Lincolnshire involves crazy cars, mad cities, getting lost and the Snake Pass. Lots of fun!

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