Set off @6:15 Friday morning to ride down to Dartmoor and yes it started to rain then torrential downpour for the next six hours. Had 3 stops one for fuel and two to get some feeling in the old a*se! Bike never misse a beat and despite having the full travel gear on was very comfortable.
Visibility slowed traffic down to 40mph on a few occasions and the spray was horrendous! Arrived at @12:30 and the rain stopped, managed to get tent up in the dry. Met up with a few Richard, one of big Colin Hilliards' mates and showed off the new Tenere. This was a GS BMW meet but what the heck anyone can join in (I suppopse). They were all very friendly and a good site , but very wet and soggy. Bill Rutter arrived late afternoon and promptly threw his bike onto the ground, read got shoe lace cought on sidestand and toppled over! No damage but bloody funny. Also he had new gloves which to my and others amusement turned his hands blue! Plenty of beer on the evening and went on a rideout with the bunch on the Saturday morning. Arrived back to see big Colin who had come in his works van as he had worked very late the previous night. The usual nattering and then another night of frivolity. The GS club are a good bunch and took a keen interest in the Tenere. Big raffle, lots of prizes, won a book! Heck I'll have to read now!
Up not too late Sunday morn and a good breakfast in the pub. Broke camp and were last off the site. Followed big Colin back to his gaff where I procured some of the best handlebar muffs available (surplus to requirements!) Set off back home and got here for @ 9:00 pm
Bike was doing a min of 220 miles before reserve at motorway speeds fully loaded and when I filled up only took 17 litres which would leave a further 6 litres in reserve! This would give a tank range of
300 miles on a full tank!
An excellent, if not moist, and tiring weekend and the Thumper club were represented!
Cheers SteveD
, be there or be square! .......and the theme will be UMBRELLAS! (Don't ask!)
