Posted: 02 December 2006 at 8:38am | IP Logged

Forgot i had this untill i stumbled upon this and my BBG reports

Hope you enjoy the read

Dreamflight – The Long Haul

After watching just about every TV channel, web site and anything to do with the weather I could find, it was looking good for the weekend of 24/25 April. It was on.

1000 Miles in 24 Hours

The idea originated about a year ago when Tim mentioned the ‘Iron Butt Association of America’ and having trawled their web site and been turned down once before, as John O’Groats to Lands End wasn’t quite 1000 miles my chance came.

I read that Jilly (Lady Of Harley) had nominated Dreamflight as her charity for the year and NewForestHOG had put £500 up for it. I knew that by doing the ‘Saddle sore 1000’ I could at least raise the other £500 she needed to sponsor a child to go to America. So that was it. All was agreed and I got over a grand from contributions from the Shopping Centre that i manage. All I had to do now was do it.

Saturday 24 April dawned in bright sunshine. I couldn’t believe my luck. The forecast was excellent.

The Harley was loaded up with soft luggage for a backrest, (warm thighs are better but this should do) flag before 7am. Then I showered and off I went picking up Ian and Sue on the way to Dockgate (DG) Harley dealership for the start.

Bob Tile the dealer principal, was kind enough to offer me a breakfast but I was too hyped up and raring to go so just had a quarter of a slice of toast. The Daily Echo turned up and got a few snaps although we lost the Photographer somewhere on the motorway, and at 10 to 10 it was off to the first garage just up from DG for the ‘start receipt’ (the ride had to be verified by receipts and GPS, Odometer and speedo). Over a dozen Harleys were there to escort me away up to the M3 turning. (Just making sure I was gone I reckon)

Jilly, John, Ian, Sue, Phil and Marie, Pat, Tracy, Mum, Dad, Glinne, Mole (sorry if I have missed any). Off we went and on the M3 I waved goodbye as Phil took them back to Dockgate to relax in the sun, and I got my head down and swiftly got into ‘the zone’.

M3, M25 Clacketts Lane services 11.15am I met Esther for a quick hug and snog and it was off again M25 to M1.

Getting on to the M1 was a nightmare and down to 15mph with lots of weaving in and out of traffic and all it was was weight of traffic, no crash or anything. Finally after over an hour I got to open up. Very hot, but better than cold and wet.

When I meticulously planned this ride I had split the country into 4, SE, NE, NW, SW and expected to get wet for at least one of the quarters. To stay dray and do it in sunshine was more than I ever dreamed of.

Next stop Northampton Services at 13.22, a quick refuel and long drink of water and off again.

16.01 saw me at Wooley Edge Services where I had decided to take a 45-minute break and get out my pasta meal and flask of hot water (lasts longer than tea does) and made a brew of tea, first one since 6am.

Just before I reached Durham Services I had problems with my rear brake, which lasted until Ower the next morning. I ate a banana and Mars bar while cruising at a respectable 75mph. Wonder what the cars thought

At 17.25 I pulled into Durham Services starting to feel the evening cold. I put on my FX jacket and cold weather gloves, another banana and off again for what could be the worse bit, the A69 over the Pennines from Newcastle to Carlisle. I was right it was a bugger.

‘A’ roads are no use for serious long distance riders facing the clock. Everything I made up in the past 7 ½ hours I lost in this stretch and I was lucky to get through Carlisle and to cross the Scottish border still in daylight.

HALFWAY POINT 508 miles

The garage in Gretna was closed so I found an ATM at 19.26 to get my ‘NW corner receipt’. When I got back to the bike only 100 yards away it was surrounded by youths who need to be told to f**k off and get their hands off my Harley. I jumped on and left at speed as a rock bounced on the road along side me. Bless them.

I stopped at Southwaite Services Cumbria at 20.29 and decided, as it was getting cold to get a hot meal and drink and damn was it good. A long call home followed and then as I made my way to the Harley a man spoke to me asking what it was all about. After 10 minutes ‘selling’ what I was doing he said ‘hold on there, I have money in the car, coming back 5 minutes later with 37 pence (15 cents) in loose change which I thanked him profusely for, placing it delicately in my saddlebag. (Still there I think) Fuelled up at 20.45 and legged it. Now in full FX gear it was really dark and getting very cold.

22.21 saw me pull into Charnock Richard with still a lot of traffic on the roads.

At 9 minutes past midnight with a little under 300 miles to go I stopped at Frankly Services where again I was surrounded by yobs, this time drunken ones. I moved off into the corner of the car park for a 10-minute break and a last call of the day home when a young lad about 17 came across asking me if I would siphon my tank to give him fuel. After I told him ‘bollocks’ he started to walk off then turned and asked if I could give him a fiver instead. The bag in his hand and scabs around his mouth and nose told me all I needed to know. I left.

I crossed the Severn Bridge into Wales just after 2am feeling good but very cold. The temperature had dropped to minus 6. I carried on to Cardiff exit 29 of the M4 as this was part of the route to make up the miles without doing Bodmin at the end of it all. That was my third Country visited, a quick stop at Magor putting on every bit of clothing I had and marking it on my GPS.

I knew I was around 2 hours behind schedule. I had intended to be at Exeter Services by now and grab an hours’ kip. Oh well only 8 hours to go and I would be done.

The ride down to Exeter was in one word ‘bloody freezing’, ok that’s two but trust me it was cold. I remember singing songs at the top of my voice to ward off the cold. God knows what any one I passed or over took thought but it worked it took my mind from the cold just enough not to have to stop again until I reached Exeter.

Heavy ground mists also slowed me slightly but my rendition of Bohemian Rapsody and a bit of Barry White got me through it. Very hard work

I pulled into the Services at 2 minutes past four and went for a much needed dump and a warm. Getting a hot chocolate and an orange juice, I found a nice quiet corner thinking I could doze for 30 mins but a family of 5 took the very next table to me despite the whole place being empty and that was the end of that idea.

At 5.22 I refuelled and headed off to Bere Regis as the most beautiful dawn broke. I had to get off the bike and get a picture. Breathtaking. The county sign of ‘Dorset’ made me feel fantastic and any sign of fatigue eased slightly. I got to Bere Regis around 6.55 refuelled and thought I had half an hour to spare, but the sound of approaching Harleys cancelled that as Ian and Mole turned into the forecourt. Blue with the cold and wondering how I had gone through the night in it, we stocked up on coffee as Bob and Sue also arrived with Melvin and Mickey. Was I glad to see this lot. I was nearly there and felt quite emotional

Sue told me that Jilly and a few others were waiting at St Leonards to tag along to help me home. So off we set, picking up another half dozen along the way including Captain Bob. (What the hell were they doing out of bed at this unearthly hour on a Sunday)

The ride to Ower was almost uneventful until a car undertook me on a roundabout and nearly wiped me out. So near but so far. I swear I felt the toe of my boot, which was resting on my highway peg nudge his car. At Ower I refuelled and got the ‘end receipt’ and that was it I had done it.

1017 miles in around 23 hours, which equated to around 18-19 hours in the saddle. I was seriously chuffed so much so that I forgot to mark Ower as a waypoint on the GPS but it didn’t matter as I switched the unit off. Around another 30 Harleys converged at Ower as my ‘escort’, which included Phil and Marie. Off we set to Dockgate with me leading, flag blowing in the wind and around 50 Harleys following as we rounded the bend into Dockgate there was another 60 – 100 people all watching us arrive, and in the middle of them all was Esther. After a few handshakes and pats on the back I managed to get the hug that I had been waiting for with tears in my eyes. 

Then to my amazement everyone started clapping. Never been so embarrassed in my life and very humbled. Bob Tile kindly signed my ‘end’ form and it was time for home after being given grief because I wasn’t going to the days ride out, after a hot bath and breakie it was time for an hours kip. I noticed a large deep line along my saddle where the seam of my leather  trousers had dug in and was told later that the same seam was running along my butt. Took 2 days for it to fully disappear.

So that was it. 1000 miles in 24 hours with loads of dosh raised. My body was seriously fatigued and right wrist and shoulder was quite painful but apart from that I had done it. Problem I now had was I had to go to Dublin the next day for a course so didn’t and still haven’t had a good rest (Cider Rally took care of that) but I did manage to go to the dealership and found the half Helmets we all crave are allowed over there and they had plenty in stock

To sum up it was hard, of course it was. These rides are designed for the USA or Europe where you can leave early in the morning and be home in time for a late dinner, not the UK but it was well worth it and I proved it could be done.

Basic Statistics are fuel used 113.56 litres at a cost of £97.05. 24 counties and 3 countries visited. 5 bananas, 6 Mars bars, 2 lollypops and a pack of chewing gum.

My thanks must go to Jilly for letting me help and her very kind words after, Dynamike for his speedy web coverage, Sue for the bits in the Mag, a guy by the name of ‘Dude’ who had been there and done it and provided me with moral support. Also as ever the lollypop gang which seems to grow and grow but finally a BIG BIG thank you to all who either sent me on my way, helped me home or both. You will never know how much I appreciated it.

So whets next. 1500 in 36 hours, I’m already planning it for after we have ridden through France Spain and Portugal next month. But that’s another story.

Roger Allen

Posted: 03 December 2006 at 9:11am | IP Logged

Thnaks Voni, really appreciate your comments. Does that mean i should post my BB Gold report then????

Have a great day

Roger

iron Butt UK