The Journey So Far II - The RealClassic Royal Enfield Round Britain Ride

17th April 2004

The Journey So Far - II

Part Two. Up, across and back down again, and it's only rained once. Dignitary Headcount: One Mayor, one Lady Mayoress, one High Sheriff, one Busaflyer!...

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Message Board, Friday May 13th, from Tjay:

I caught up with the intrepid pair at South Carlton Enfield near Worksop drinking coffee. Now there's a suprise !? Then a bit of head scratching over the best route to Pontefract as they wanted to avoid the A1(M) and who can blame 'em? Jousting with Juggernauts isn't my idea of fun, so an A road trip via Conisbrough and Mexbrough was decided upon. In charge of navigation was.....well.....they had me.

Actually, it was a very pleasant trip. The only minor incident was when a loose plastic bag, intoxicated with freedom, wrapped itself around Ro's engine. Every time we stopped, a glance in the mirror showed both the girls with heads bowed. I thought "Blimey, this must be bad they're praying!" It was a big relief to find they were just checking the maps on the tank bags....phew!

There seems to be a lot of this going on... We pulled into Peter Smith MC with Emm's bike still dribbling oil and my bike with a flat back tyre. Well it is Friday the thirteenth isn't it?

A sip of oil into Emm's Enfield and a new tyre for me, (Changed in record time. Thanks Pete and the gang.) we parted company. They were last seen heading off towards Wakefield, still keeping to the A road theme. Both still smiling, grinning and having fun.

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Message Board, Saturday May 14th, Busaflyer:

Met up with Ro & Emm today at Preston and they looked full of the joys of spring. The bikes were running well, although there was a very minor leak from Emm's machine that was hardly noticable.

Gorgeous weather for the trip up the A6 through some lovely countryside to Morecambe. Joining the trip was a very nice dude and his wife who had restored to mint condition a G-reg (1968?) MKII Interceptor. Started first kick and a beautiful mellow tune to boot.

It really was a lovely run up to Morecambe and we were treated to a Royal welcome with food and drinks laid on at Wall & Sagar.

When the intrepid duo left, three more Enfields had joined the trip up to Hawes and that lovely Interceptor was continuing to enjoy the trip up North. I'd promised to do some welding on a mate's bike this afternoon so couldn't tag along any further.

It was good to see our heroes enjoying themselves after all the hard work they've put in to the mag in recent times. They've even made it on to the Royal Enfield website www.royal-enfield.com

Spare Enfields on eBay.co.uk

Life on the road is tough... ********

Message Board, Saturday May 14th, from Martin:

I saw the girls at Mike Tonge Motorcycles in Hawes. They were evidently having a great time and came in from an outstanding ride "over the top" from Ingleton. It was a lovely sunny afternoon (so typical of N. Yorks!), we had some good company, lots of bikes and Swaledale looked splendid in its Spring colours. And the home made jam sponge cake was excellent.

It seems to me that the whole RBR idea is turning out to be a great success even before it is over.

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Fax, Saturday 14th, from Rowena and Emm

Hello!

After 900 miles, all appears to be well - the weather's following us around the country, and the scenery is superb.

Both enjoying 'trundling', with the odd piece of A road, but only if necessary.

The bikes are behaving themselves impeccably (so far), and there are many familiar faces popping up, which is brilliant!

Now, on to Scotland.

(Dignitary Headcount: One Lady Mayoress, one High Sheriff, one Busaflyer!)

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Message Board, Sunday May 15th, from Gordon:

Just a quick message to say that the ladies had reached our shop here in semi sunny Scotland. It's about their half way point but as I have pointed out to them, it's all down hill now. I left them heading south on the A68 with a Norton mounted guide and handful of Enfield followers.

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Email, Sunday May 15th, from John Powell:

I accompanied your ladies from Tranent as far as the Tyne today. I expected two haggard exhausted creatures to arrive at Tranent - but there they were, happy, relaxed and fresh as daisies.

A gaggle/school/fleet/bevvy/agglomeration of Enfields accompanied us as far as Jedburgh. I am afraid I only took two digital pics with the wife's digital camera, which I had borrowed. But, anyhow, here is one of them, taken at Scottg's View, Bemersyde. Weather was not as grey as the picture looks.

The interloping Norton (rear view, with fairing) is mine - -

Regards

John Powell

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Which brings us - via Grimsby, Saxilby, Horncastle (mind the Martians from Mortons) Boston and Shipdham - to Cambridge, this morning.

Some people called Paul, and some other people. Nice person on the far right stopped to check I was okay on the A14; thank you!

Our Enfield Edventurers arrived looking somewhat chilled after being sleeted on in Norfolk, but a warm welcome from lots of people called Paul soon cheered them up. The coffee and doughnuts probably helped. Emm's bike got a quick check over and top-up from two of Hayward's technicians while Emm and Rowena shared their thoughts on the trip.

Emm first: "The bikes are berserk, because they're so much better than I expected them to be. I don't understand why anyone has to go abroad to go touring when there is so much of this country to discover. To anyone and everyone who is saying ' Good luck' and 'Congratulations' I want to say 'Just get on your own bike and do it. It's easy."

And Rowena: "Loads of people said before we left, 'On a 500 single? Are you mad? Wouldn't any other bike be better?' and I thought we were being a bit adventurous as well. But they cruise at sixty, overtake at seventy five, we've been doing 300 miles a day in perfect comfort - no vibration, no white-finger - 80 to the gallon, 240 to the tank… and I think Watsonian should give the bikes to us when we've finished."

And then we were off to Rockingham Classics near Market Harborough for coffee and cakes with the Mayor and Mayoress and a chance to meet up with some more RealClassicists. There was even some bloke in a suit claiming to be A65Bill. We weren't fooled for a moment.

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Wednesday is Southend, Romford, Walthamstow, Hanwell, Ripley and Horely, Thursday is Madistone, Robertsbridge, Melpash and Torquay, and then you can ride with them all day on Friday, from Lanivet Motors in Bodmin at to Swindon Classics in (wait for it) Swindon. The full RBR Route is here...

Postscript: It wouldn't be a RealClassic Ride if someone didn't come home with part of their bike stuffed down the front of their jacket, and today it was my turn. Why *did* the kickstart chose the busiest bit of the busiest dual carriageway to make its bid for freedom? RM

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