Back from my 3 month tour or Britain

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Miss me?

To celebrate having done 10 years in the same job, I managed to get my boss to let me have a 3 month unpaid sabbatical.

I used this to do a camping tour of Britain on my Royal Enfield 350 Bullet.

To give me something to aim for, I decided to complete the Round Britain Rally which is a kind of navigation/treasure hunt that runs between Easter and Autumn. You are given a list of 89 landmarks to visit and photograph with your bike in front of them in that time. The landmarks are pretty well spread out over the whole of mainland Britain in no particular defined route.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/tourmap.png

So, 89 landmarks, 3 months, one 50mph OHV single motorcycle and a tent. Covered 9,500 miles and visited every county in Britain.

The bike proved to be as reliable as it is slow. Sum total of breakdowns consisted of two punctures, a broken throttle cable and a kinked breather hose. Had to do 4 oil & filter changes en-route and one change of tyres. I didn't have to adjust the chain at all (it gets a lot of oil blown on it from the crankcase breather) and while I checked the tappets, they didn't need adjusting either.

It did however burn a huge quantity of engine oil, but bullets always did so I just kept it topped up.

I can't post most of my pictures showing the landmarks because the rally is still underway but I've kept a blog which I'll make public once the event is over (to prevent others using it the cheat).

I took a roundabout route, starting in Cumbria, working down through the North West then did a loop of Wales and back up the West Midlands. I then did a circuit of Scotland and did the rest of England in a series of East/West zig-zags heading gradually further South. I had a week off in the middle in the forest of Dean to Canoe the Wye with my girlfriend.

Most of the time I camped. Wild camping in Scotland, various and sundry campsites in England, mostly from the camping and caravan club big book of campsites (they have a whole variety of them ranging from big family holiday sites to a small field behind a pub).

I did intend to meet up with people along the way and did catch up with a couple of folks. It turned out to be tricky keeping in touch and organising that alongside my landmarks though. I had a laptop with me but the vagueries of mobile internet connections and lack of both time and battery charging facilities made it all I could do to keep my blog updated and research landmarks for the next day.

Thoroughly enjoyed myself though. Lost 10kg in weight by being active and eating properly and I can set up camp, cook dinner and generally get my shit together faster than ever. My route-finding and navigation skills are getting pretty sharp too.

Anyway. Some pictures:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0718.png
Ready to leave.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0730.png
Campsite in the Dales.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0731.png
Stupidly steep gated hill road.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0757.png
Welsh C-road.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0777.png
Welsh bothy.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0784.png
Ghost town.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0793.png
Royal Enfield phone charger.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0801.png
No need to eat crap just because you're camping.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0827.png
Camping and Caravan club site in Herefordshire.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0860.png
Bivvying in Dumfries and Galloway.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0861.png
I do like having a campfire when I can.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0902.png
Near Loch Tay.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0911.png
Near Aberfoyle.

https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0914.png
Loch Awe.

I have other pictures but I haven't got them all sorted out yet.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

Oh wow...I can't wait to read the blog (and see other pictures). I had forgotten yes, but then didn't know exactly when you were heading off! Like the pic with your tent at the bottom of the mountain.

Nice one. Thumbs Up

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TeamMCS · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 12 May 2010 Karma :

Ah an excellent start mate! I'm loving that truly British grub!

Once you've sorted the pics out, you'll have to tell us which ones were best so we can follow in your tread marks Wink

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Carl_steveo · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Karma :

Nice one stinkers. Can't wait to see the rest of the pics and the write up. Fancy doing this myself but won't be able to find the 3 months sadly. Crying or Very sad

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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Posted: 21:09 - 20 Sep 2010 Post subject:

Well done and welcome back. Thumbs Up

No speeding tickets then?

Pat
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Asharin · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

Welcome back.

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Karma :

Excellent

Carvel · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Awesome, cant wait for the write up. Thumbs Up

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ws4936 · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Karma :

Excellent, i shall be watching this for updates.
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Grazoid · Scooby Slapper Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Karma :

Was wondering when you would come back to "civilisation" Very Happy

How did you get on with the Banshee 200 ?

Mine proved too small on the trip to the Alps so am looking for a 300 now. Fairly similar pack size just a bit more room inside.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

AN GOF. · Nova Slayer Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Karma :

Looking forward to reading the blog, top job Thumbs Up

The Shaggy D.A. · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :

Can't wait to read the blog Thumbs Up

The "This post is cool" rating is woefully inadequate Smile

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Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

Charlie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2007 Karma :

I know where that first campsite is, I have stayed on it twice. Tis a nice cheap campsite with a really farmer feel to the showers.
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Tonka · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Karma :

Really Very Cool - I've never seen a map of the British Isles look so blobbed!! Mr. Green

Looking forward to the blog and yes, you have been missed Thumbs Up

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pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

Well done mate and I'm sure I speak for most of us on here when I say...... 3 months, a full tour of the uk, a motorcycle and a tent....

YOU LUCKY BASTARD!!!

Fair play to you mate. Great post and I look forward to seeing the pictures
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Do you know how much you spent on fuel, and how many miles you did ?
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Grazoid · Scooby Slapper Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Asharin · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

Paxovasa · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Karma :

I also look forward to the write up and pics. Thumbs Up

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supZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Karma :

wow, that makes my week long, hotel/b&b stopping 1660 mile tour around scotland look like a trip to the shops and back Very Happy

good going there m8y
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virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Karma :

Welcome back chap, It'l be nice to see the main pictures when your allowed to.

I see youve still got the bourde bomb, how do you rate them?

Cheers
John
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stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

621andy · Scooby Slapper Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Karma :

Great stuff!

kingsknight · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Karma :

mate mega impressed! Looks amazing! Was there times you wished you was on a more powerful bike? I did a 3 week tour myself on my XR125 and there where times where I was in 3rd doing 40mph due to the wind and/or hills!

A bloke down the road from me has that exact time you have and its pretty slow. Iv been out on a few ride outs with him and he has a hard job keeping up.

but then again he is a BIG guy!
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