Left home under brightening skies. Arrived Bristol 45 minutes later totally f***ing sodden.

Welcomed by Moss and Sue at Matt's MCs with coffee and triple choice of donuts. Complete absence of Gloucester Dribblers noted.

Joined by Len Page and his '47 M20, and waited.

And waited

Waited some more.

Assume girls are struggling in the shallow end of Atlantic.

Waiting over at 4.00pm. Girls have had a week of dry riding until yesterday when they thought they'd had enough rain to make up the deficiency. That was until today....

Emm said wet riding now held no terror. Seen it. Done it. Had enough. Unfortunately Rain God thought otherwise.

Left Bristol all ship shape and Bristol fashion with Len leading. Within half an hour deluge descended. Stair rods bouncing back up to head height. Max 30mph if brave enough to ride blindly into the unknown. 20mph more realistic.

East of Calne Len's M20 throws in the towel. Like a captain of a sinking ship he tells me to complete the mission & get the girls to Swindon. Complete absence of Calne Crew noted.

Marlborough rain worsens and it's as dark as night. Visibility about 25 yards.

Swindon bypass I note another bike emerging from the spray in behind.

Len's M20! Obviously it decided running was better than drowning in a layby.

Arrive Swindon Classics at 7.00pm. Thank God they kept faith and stayed open. Good size welcoming committee led by Steve Wilson. Beer, tea, coffee, sandwiches and chocolate cake to die for. Complete absence of Gloucester Dribblers noted.

Rowena comments that if Day One had been like today she would have jacked it in there and then.

Purchase dry gloves at substantial sympathy discount. Ride home into bright dazzling sunshine. Ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Hope as many as possible turn up to give them the hero's welcome they deserve.

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Message Board, Saturday May 21st, from NVNL:

Humbled in awe.

Quackers.

The full extent of the RBR hadn't dawned on me until Ro & Emm started to do the riding. All through the jolly preamble and preparation of the winter months I just didn't grasp the Reality of the jaunt. The places they been in such a compact piece of time, never mind the rare chance to meet so many Classicists. Fabulous experience.

Then there's the weather. Yesterday it was my privilege to ride for a very brief and not very character forming few miles with The Girls. Part of the journey involved a 70 m.p.h. (TIC) dual carriageway run with John on his '79 V50 through some pretty intrusive rain. Hard going, I thought, gosh this is fraught with potential danger, etcetera so forth, wouldn't fancy doing this all day. Then I went home, which luxury will be theirs soon, I trust.

So to read that the other end of Ro & Emm's day was subject to weather three times (four times, five times?) more challenging just humbles me frankly. I mean really, 25 m.p.h. in the pouring rain ........... well endured team. I am awed by the concept of the RBR and even more by the execution.

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Message Board, Sunday May 22nd, from Rowena:

Thank you; all of you

For making it an unforgettable Ride Around Britain. If goodwill was bankable we'd be millionaires several hundred times over. Especial thanks to everyone who helped us through the last few -- saturated -- days. It's been a long time since I've ridden up a river in full flood -- and I suspect that without hearty RC alongside me and waiting at Swindon I might just have curled up under a cosy warm hedgerow and waited for the waters to recede!

I also cannot quite believe how many folk turned out in yesterday's storms to ride in with us to Blockley. You're all mad. And lovely.

And I'm very tired. My eyeballs ache and my ears are ringing. And I don't have to be at a dealer in somewhereshire in the next hour or so -- how weird!

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Pictures from PaulG80 and Martin Peacock, as cameras are not allowed south of Buntingford. Apparently.

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And finally...

Message Board, Saturday May 21st, from Dave:

Thanks to RE GB!

In next month's SUPERBIKE: "We do the same route in 12 hours on a Yoshimura Fireblade....on the back wheel"

RIDE: "Which is the best 600 on the RBR route? You'll be surprised by the answer".

BIKE: "Exclusive next month, we take the 600s round the RBR route"

MOTORCYCLE NEWS: "Exclusive... Royal Enfields to be imported from India, spy pics inside"