Silver lining to the Cloud

Like in the Welsh rally, I ended up with a silver award, but the experience was very different. Firstly, silver wasn't the target - gold was. I had to shorten my route after encountering a few problems. But what else? The weather was far from ideal. I don't remember any point at which there wasn't a strong wind, and the rain came down to coincide nicely with the fall of darkness. Ah, yes, darkness, another difference. Then there were the roads. In Wales, interesting roads. On this rally, erm, some interesting ones, but also a fair few motorways and dual carriageways.

What went right? Refraining from using the GPS until I really needed it was one thing. I knew the battery wouldn't last the whole trip, so I had to ration usage, and I got that right. I got the re-fuelling right, too. This was more by luck than judgement, aided by getting 150 miles per tank from the TMax on this occasion. Usually I can only count on 120-130 but for some reason I discovered - after 3 years of ownership - that I could squeeze extra fuel in when I'd previously assumed the tank was full. In addition, the buffeting from the wind and consequent noise in the helmet made me keep speeds down to 50-60 mph, which probably helped. Nevertheless there were at least two occasions when I noticed the needle was in the red and I didn't really know where the next (open) petrol station was going to be. Lighting was also right-ish. I'd fitted a Halfords "90 per cent brighter" main beam bulb, and it did make a difference. Finally, on the getting-it-right front, I just about rested often enough and at the right moments, although I was pushing it at one point. This was after a particularly long and difficult leg (see below), when someone at the Kegworth control thought it necessary to advise me to "take it steady". I'd already decided to cut out a section at this point, and thought the advice unnecessary. But when I arrived at the next control (Leicester) I realised I was slightly dizzy, very tired and definitely needed to rest. This was around 2.00 am. Fortunately this control had the best facilities of any of the ones I visited, including a warm club-house, food, hot drinks and even lilos to crash out on. I took full advantage - thanks Fosse Riders MCA :-)

The main problem I had was on the route to Kegworth (travelling NE). The police had closed the M42, which I had planned to take. I made a detour, intending to pick up the A42 where it takes over from the M42, but that, too, was shut. So I took a fair bit longer on that leg than should have been the case. Checking the time, and factoring in the weather and how I felt, I decided at that point that discretion was the better part of valour and I'd drop down to the silver distance, cutting out the Gainsborough leg.

It was great to arrive at Bletchley Park, and feel I'd done the rally properly. It was also amazing to realise that I'd ridden a motorcycle for about 18 hours solid, with only occasional and fairly brief rest breaks totalling a couple of hours, plus control-stamping stops, within that time span. I didn't know I could do that.

I take my hat off to the folks who man the controls, in bad weather, all night. Often they were just in little awnings in car parks or lay-bys. Not much fun, I imagine, and with little chance of winning the 'best control' vote, compared with Fosse Riders!

Would I do it again? Ask me next year.