The Frankland Frenzy.
We had been trying to organise a ride through the HUKRC email group for a while, but either weather or commitments or both just kept getting in the way. Anyway finally the weather forecast looked good, the ride was kindly arranged by David Frankland, the idea meet near Peterborough and then the route was to be:
Peterborough - Market Deeping - Bourne - towards Sleaford. Turn left on to A52 - west until you meet A1. then A1 south (1mile ! ) to Colsterworth ( services on A1 here ) Right onto B676 to Melton Mowbray - A606 to Oakham - Stamford - (Cross over A1 ) - A16 back to Market Deeping – Peterborough.
Sadly there was to be only myself and David, but we didn’t let that stop us.
Sunday morning, I arise to thick fog!! Eeek!! I phoned David and he assured me it was lovely in Peterborough, so I ventured forth. I got to Ely and the fog got thicker, and thicker, and well you can guess. So almost ready to swallow pride and cry off, I get to Chatteris, and the sun is shining roads are dry etc.
I Arrive at Frankland Towers a little late due to the fog, David is Gardening in his leathers!! There's dedication ready to drop his bucket and spade at the first opportunity.
Quick chat and we're off, the Africa Twit being absolutely no match for a Fireplace on the straight, and especially on the Dual Carriageways. The throttle was firmly against the stop as I watched this dot in the distance.
The roads were very good, nice selection, and mixture. I really wasn't taking too much notice of where we were going, ie placenames etc I was just having a really good ride, the scenery definitely being the green stuff either side of the tarmac.
We turned onto the A52 and Stopped at the Roman Café, really nice café, more "Tea Shop" than "Greasy spoon". Coffee good old chat, and then back on the bikes.
This time I’m in front, and blast the Africa Twin forwards at a fairly lively pace, well as fast as an Africa Twin will allow a lively pace. Overtake a couple of cars dropping downhill into lefthander, I can see the road going straight after the bend, go bounding around the bend, and? The road goes right under a bridge, the road I had seen was a narrow lane, almost a cart track, I could have hammered the brakes and got around the right-hander, but chose to go straight on, stop and turn around. Much to the bemusement of the driver of a Merc coming the other way, and the cars I had previously overtaken. My minor excursion up the cart track just made me howl with laughter.
As I have no real idea of the route I wave David past again, we now have a couple of Yam Rsomethings behind us. They were good boys and didn’t bother us, I suspect they found the pace "Adequate". David didn’t see my next faux pas. We were trundling through a small village still with the R’s behind, the centre of the road is a bit gravely and loose, so I start buggering about spinning up the back wheel, I did this on an uphill lefthander and almost lost it!!! I didn’t bother anymore after that.
Big Trail Bike honour was at stake, so I thought "I have to get at least one overtake on David". So dropping down into a lefthander, David I think went in a bit hot, and had to compensate, I saw the opportunity and just went for it, the astonished look from David was worth it.
The ride past Rutland water was just great. We make our way back towards Peterborough, I don’t think either of us wanted it too end, but the day was drawing on, and it would be dark and cold soon.
Perhaps the only bad moment of the day was a couple of Nutters, one on a Bandit and the other on a GSXF who barged past us, and put everyone’s back up, they were on a death wish methinks. I was relieved when they just P8$$ed off. Very low skill and very aggressive riding style, folk like this get us all a bad reputation.
We stop just outside of Peterborough, grin like fools and say our goodbyes. The ride home took me back through the fog I had left behind, it had not lifted all day, and was starting to close in again.
Aside from all that it was a brilliant day, and a great ride, BIG, BIG Grins all round.
Here’s to the next one.