Bluepete has a new job

[Bluepete]

Well, after five weeks and nearly 5000 miles, today I qualified to ride this for a living






We have been all over the country. Wales, Cumbria, the North East, Pennines, on average 250 miles a day.

Naturallly, I took my camera with me and took a few pictures.

Here are a few highlights.

We did an evening ride across North Wales, ending up at the coast where the Welsh water fairies were, well, they were watering the beach. I have yet to find out why, but I'm pleased to say, the beach didn't catch fire!



Some pics of the bike;











We started off on BMW F800ST's. Not bad bikes, very uncomfortable after a few hours though.



It wasn't all hard work though, each day we left Manchester by 8.00am and rode through to lunch. Some fantastic spots...



and whilst doing so, I waved at more kids and did more Public Relations for the Police than I could have imagined. Everyone wanted to stop and chat, sit on the bikes, wave and generally be friendly. Not like Manchester at all!



















Each and every day was special. There were good day and bad days, like the day one lad dropped the R1200 at the fuel pumps...

There were memorable days, and then; there was Yesterday. (Yes it does deserve a capital letter)

It was a sunny, bright day. We left as usual, heading for Wales. Breakfast was at the Elvis Cafe, then I set off in front. (A student leads, followed by the instructor with the other student behind)

Off across the A55 and warp factor LOTS! I'd rather not say just how fast, believe me when I say it was fast enough! Then, Denbigh. I'm getting excited now because I love the roads around there, then off we went up towards Mount Nebo.

Now, you know when you have a good day, it all flows and the roads are perfect? Well, this was my day.

Out on the A534 over Nebo.

I promise you, I was having such a good time, then it all went mental.

An RAF hawk went over. Not an issue, it's happened before. But then, I caught a movement in my mirror as his wingman came past in the valley to my side, AT MY HEIGHT! I was at around 90mph and had a hard time taking it in.

The lad following was beside himself, the pilot had banked the plane at the same angle as us and followed the same curve, but obviously a lot faster! I will NEVER forget that moment.

Awesome.

So we pootled (love that word) over towards Snowdon and down to Rhyd with the other student leading. Lunch by the lake, very civilised.

After lunch, I was given the lead again and after contacting air traffic control, set off.

A487, A470, A4212 from Rhyd to Bala.

25 miles.

17 minutes.

You work out the average speed.

It truly was emotional.

I will never, ever be able to ride that road like that again and not have to worry about losing my licence.

It wasn't all serious though...



Pete

Congrats

that deserves a WOO YAY

[hindle8907]

Nice one Pete !! congratulations .... so you do that full time now ?

Well done and congrats

Ste.

[timwilky]

Oh god, there will be no getting away from him now.

Does that mean no more hair dryer duty on Silk Street?


Congrats, enjoy the cold, the rain, the snow when you could have been in a nice warm car.

Woo way

That is well cool

You may be able to answer a question I have Pete. I went to watch a stage of Le Tour De Britain cycle race a couple of weeks ago (Stage 2 Stoke-Stoke) and in the 'entourage' were at least 25 police bikes from all over the UK. Is that something a police biker would be assigned to or could you volunteer? It looked great fun as they were a couple of miles ahead of the race to ensure the road was clear and to stop the traffic at junctions etc and they weren't hanging around. A couple of them got 'air' on the particularly bumpy back road we were watching from

[Bri w]

Nice one!

BTW that lunge looks far too feminine

Nice one Pete

Congratulations, extremely jealous !!