FACE 2008 - The De-Brief

[chuffmeister]

Friday morning started well - the van Tony secured was very nice and good progress was made to Thetford.

A few bikes had already arrived and by 10:45 the Van was loaded with everyones kit - and the Journey began

The plan was to stay as close to the group using the main routes that way if assistance was needed I wouldnt have too far to travel.

 

[chuffmeister]

SO I arrive at

and the two bikers we are due to meet are sat waiting

And we wait ----- and wait ----- and ----- and wait

Eventually after 2 hours the group ride past , ( tossers ) they were due to stop.

So the 2 bikes give chase and catch up and I tootle round the M25.

I then drop down onto the route the group are taking and I expect to be passed son enough.

After no sign I presume I am now behind them so cut the corner and go direct for our first night stop In Bath.

However - I arrive first by 2.5 hours from the FIRST people to arrive ( ones who had phoned me to get the postcode to come direct . then the main group turn up 45 minutes later ( they had to wait for MTK to come back from his unexpected trip to LUMPS neck of the woods ) , and I eventually go and FIND the last 2 ( none bird owners sh1tehppns) so everyone finally arrives at the campsite and get their tents pitched by 10pm . A need for food is great so into bath we go sausage n chips X13

 

[chuffmeister]

Daybreak brings positive vibes, and everyone is looking forward to a better day, until they see the chuckle brothers route planning again.

Melzibub arrives from her night at HOME and we find out that FUEL could become a problem as she had seen 2 garages closed. So we desend on Sainsburys in BATH and all 12 bikes jump the queue and pi$$ off a fair few drivers in the process

SO we are off heading north, a VAN leading the way so as to keep the group together around bristol and onto the M5 so we can get a few miles under our belt and miss out some town centres, and thankfully the Truckers go slow protest driver is heading in the other Direction.

 

[chuffmeister]

Then it was time for one more FUEL stop and they were back on there own.

So the Riders drop off the M5 and head up the A49 towards Whitchurch and a Lunch Meet with Big Harv. I meanwhile shoot further up the M5 to try and get ahead again, something I did on the A49 when they were having yet another stop

So we all get to Whitchurch for Lunch and no sign of Harv

 

[chuffmeister]

With the weather looking Bleak the Planning Committee overule Tonymac and decide to have another short blast up the M6 to missout 3 town centres, and allow more time on the much better Roads north of Preston - so after meeting up on the M56 they group are led by the Van again, up the M6. At this point the group are sent into panic when the van dissapears into a cloud of smoke but thankfully it was the Afla infront of me and they all let off the brakes and catch me back up

SO they come off the M6 and jump onto the A6 looking forward to the joys of a run up thru Lancaster , Kendal, Snap, Penrith and onto Carlisle. Meanwhile I shoot up the M6 to jump ahead again then cut over onto the M6 expecting to play sweeper but I soon find out by text that I am now Leading again so take time out for some piccies

and despite being stuck behind this for 5 miles, I manage to get to a nice viewpoint and await them for some ACTION shots

 

[chuffmeister]

SO after watching 4 crazy cyclists come up this

and finally they come into view

and so now I am Sweeper collecting 3 bikes just as we get to Penrith.

From there its a short hop to the Campsite Just outside Carlisle for the night. We pitch up and the Support Van comes in very handy for a run to the local village for Supplies and we settle down for a takeaway and a few beers, just as the heavens open.

 

[chuffmeister]

its at this point we find out MTK has the biggest gob and soon to be biggest stomach

 

[chuffmeister]

Even the rain cant dampen down our spirits and fun was had laughing not only at other peoples tents but also one of our own

SO after annoyying some old bbattleaxe in a camper van we crash out for the night - a night that would get VERY Cold indeed

By 7am the whole site is up, packed away somesones cow POP up tent once again providing a source of pi$$taking

 

[chuffmeister]

we saddle up

we Invaded Carlisle Mac Donalds for what we THOUGHT would be a quiet breakfast.

However - things soons became very entertaining when Super Tony and Andy came to the rescue when a Woman took a caravan thru the Drive Thru and promptly got wedged


and we loose one with injury and he heads home for a very long and boring 316mile run down the motorway while

 

[chuffmeister]

And after a brief shower, and another fuel stop they riders head off over the A69 and i set off for yorkshire on the A66 to see me old man, well it was fathers day.

We meet back up again at the Humber Bridge

and thanks to Bruce Wayne I get to go over it 3 times g0551p

SO now its the run for home, and I jump ahead whilist the bikers dry out and eat at the Bridge. I then get the call - " Chuff - where are you ? " MTK has got a Puncture. I am 25 miles from thetford, they are 46 miles BEHIND me . Thankfully Mick uses tyre slime and Everyone arrives safely back in thetford. its when MTK notices why his bike has been somewhat " lively " on the last stretch, yep the tyre was flat again .

So after everyone had said there goodbyes, some had realised it was Snetterton BSB and the A11 was chocker, the support van came into its own and MTKS shame began.

And off we went, ( in the WRONG direction for ME ) mick mandy and mesen putting the worlds to rights as I took them home.

After offloading I turned and headed for TOnymacs and collect me Car and head home. after a 5 am alarm call, some 550 miles I was 30 miles from home and had to conceed to tiredness and crashed out in the car in a layby on the side of the A43. Fianlly awaking at 2am when a wagon pulled in behind me. so at 2:32am I quietly put the car in the garage and crawled into bed.

To those who donated - thanks

To those who took part - hope you enjoyed it, as much as i enjoyed 95% of it

A few more piccies can be found

http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/chuff69/FACE%202008/

And Finally - The old money --- oops sorry, Group Shot

 

[brucewayne]

I've got the week off.....Let's do it all again....backwards

 

[chuffmeister]

he was withing 5 miles Lumpy - but Sat Nav had long since packed up

oh and the rest were sat waiting for him the other side of the M3

Going the Right way on the M27

 

[mick the knife]

So many different bits of this all over the place, so I'll stick this here too.




http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/showthread.php?p=411298#post411298

 

[chuffmeister]

you forgot the old woman and her dogs :-0)

 

[mick the knife]

you forgot the old woman and her dogs :-0)

Yer right, very bad of me to forget someone, so my post's duly edited.d34l

 

[Vinterceptor]

Good trip report there, cheers :yo: :yo:


Caravan through the drive thru :-0) now I've heard it all, was she a Gippo?

 

[brucewayne]

Caravan through the drive thru :-0) now I've heard it all, was she a Gippo?

Nah just a northerner

h1d1ng2

 

[tonymac]

I've got the week off.....Let's do it all again....backwards

How about fook off LOL, i struggled to get out of bed this moring, ok it was 6.45 as i was due to return the van, then got home and crashed out on the sofa .

Thank you guys & ladies for the support and the fun we had, like chuff says 95 % of the time.


Mel hows ya research going on sticky eye syndrome :neenaw:

 

[Embabe]

Even the rain cant dampen down our spirits and fun was had laughing not only at other peoples tents but also one of our own

Why is MTK wearing a pair of pants on his head?

 

[chuffmeister]

Why is MTK wearing a pair of Mandys pants on his head?

are you saying Mum wears Grey pants ??????d34l . . . w;;v


h1d1ng2