improptu rideout for this weekend.

[rictus01]

looks like a decent weekend weather wise, and a few miles are called for, so the plan.

all fairly basic, I'm meeting Mac at the comfort cafe at 11.30 friday (yes I know it's a work day), and from there we're going to a campsite near Lincoln, setup there for friday and Saturday night, nothing fancy, down the local pub for dinner friday night and riding over the humber bridge and along the coast road to Bridlington (possibly Whitby) on the saturday, returning that evening to the campsite, then ride home the following day.

the campsite is very nice and the pub wonderful (also a Naafi next door for breakfast if you want), anyone about want to join us at the site is more than welcome (or indeed anywhere on route), just shout up, it's just a couple of guys riding some miles.

http://www.comfortcafe.co.uk/map.asp

http://eastkirkbyhideaway.webs.com/


Cheers Mark.

[dizzyblonde]

Say hello to Julie

[NTECUK]

I hope its not 11.30 pm as its past you rcurfew

By 11:30pm I hope to have had an adequate sufficiency of liquid refreshment preceded by meat pie and ensconced in my cocoon.

[NTECUK]

Now due to dog sitting arangmet fall through Friday i'm starting my trip up to the peaks at 5am Sat.
So you have a better plan than I

If you want to join us we could delay our Sat morning start-------meaning if you crack off early you could be with us by 10:00.

otherswise enjoy your trip.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

By 11:30pm I hope to have had an adequate sufficiency of liquid refreshment preceded by meat pie and ensconced in my cocoon.

Please remember to make sure you have ample room in your belly for stated steak pie. Oh and another note Thomas's fingers are not on the menu for breakfast

[NTECUK]

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

If you want to join us we could delay our Sat morning start-------meaning if you crack off early you could be with us by 10:00.

otherswise enjoy your trip.

Aiming to be at Caselton at 9am .
I hope to be there before Sarah & David have eaten all the bacon

Breakfast already accounted for----------just back from Scotland so it will be Lorne sausage rolls.

[rictus01]

and indeed we did have a couple each, good weekend riding totaling 784 miles when I got back.

Started with a lorries electrical fire in the blackwall tunnel which delayed me about 50 minutes ( not even me on a bike can get through there when they stop all traffic) anyway that made me a bit behind schedule, so I had to take the M11 up to make time, met Mac at the Comfort cafe on time, nice gentle ride up to East Kirkby (yes I can do it when I want to), pulled up outside the shop on site and Julie made us a cup of tea, now that's service, sat and chatted for an hour and got a second cup before setting up our pitch, over to the red lion and as is normally the case they remembered me, warm welcome; a pint and of course their fabulous steak pie (seriously it's really good) and we settled in for the evening, I was on the cider as I wanted to keep it light, nursed my way through the evening on 5 pints, Mac on the other hand had a few more than me and topped it of with some rather generdoing a ous G&T's, I guessed he'd had a wee bit much when he started doing a Jig to the karaoke (both the landlords daughters where singing and they can carry a tune), came out about 1am, Mac was asleep virtually as soon as his head hit the bed (well sleeping mat), relaxed start the following day, Mac provided breakfast a couple of brews and we set off for a days riding up the coast, weather was just about perfect, not to warm and just enough cloud to stop the sun glaring, nothing to frantic just some good fun out on the road, Mac was still feeling the effects of the night before so we adopted a system of me playing with traffic and waiting at turn offs , iit actually worked out rather well.

we done 125-130 miles and called in at Bridlington, fish and chips, brew, fresh doughnuts; you know the usual stuff for a seaside visit, didn't do to much walking about as we're both old duffers, anyway time was getting on and we wanted to make it back before dark, so kicked off on a more direct route back to the campsite, it was about 30 miles shorter than the run up and we got back just as the light was fading, pretty much exactly as we intended, sit and chat, have a brew, shower and Mac turned in as I headed back over the pub for a nightcap, I had a pint of the Tiger and as remembered it was rather nice, so the nightcap turned into a swift half dozen pints although I only bought 4 a couple "appeared" at my elbow, but who am I to complain...., they were doing 60's night so a good sing along was had (well beer makes it sound better in my case), rolled out about half one, the days walking came back to plague me and I couldn't get to sleep even well the beers help, so another shower (hot water on the knee helps, love hot shower by the way), finally got to sleep about 3.

alarm woke me at 8 and then again at 9, rolled out and Mac was just about packed up, me I have two speeds slow and stop, I continued at my speed, brew and fag first then packed away over the course of an hour, pretty easy as I'm well practiced and the hard luggage makes things easier still, finally got the bike loaded said our farewells and got on the road again, took it nice and steady for the first few miles, then hit the faster roads, adopting the same system we had the day before, stopped for a fried breakfast, body suitably recharged we pressed on agreeing to meet at the comfort cafe at a certain time, Mac went main roads and I took a more "wiggly" route, I got there first and had finished my sausage and egg butty and just about my brew as Mac arrive, perfect timing for him to get me another when he got his..., not in any great rush or anything; so we took our time, I followed Mac back down the A1307 and left him when he turned off the main road in witham (I presume that's near his home), rode down to Maldon and done some back roads coming out down by Grays, stopped at a mates house and got persuaded into eating a sunday roast which was rather nice, back on the bike and jumped across the bridge, not quiet ready to call it a day, so the A225 down to sevenoaks and a play on the roads around penhurst/ edenbridge and Lingfield, Up the A22 and home for the end of the light.

Tent off, unclip both panniers and drop them in the dinning room and that's as much unpacking as I've done, four hours in the bath and the knees not so bad, isn't going to work for a day or two, but a good weekend is worth it (yes I'm up now because it won't let me sleep).

a few pics here, but didn't take my big camera, I won't bother linking them those interested can see them on my facebook if that link doesn't work.

Cheers Mark.