Back on the road Day 1

Reunions and Rossi.

The bikes were returned and picked up by Jason. He mentioned it was like being reunited with an old friend when he got the WRR.  I liked the sentiment and, feeling the same,  i was eager to get the DRZ.

I got the train down to his house and was reunited with my actual friend who i hadn't seen since we parted company in Toulouse airport.  Browsing his collection of motorbikes and pushbikes conversation quickly turned to the next adventure ride.  Morocco was top of the list :) 

After about an hour of 'lezzing off' (funny, thanks Tash!)  i was kitted up and hopped on the DRZ.  (I cant swing a leg over the massive the Lomo bag, so have to hop on.)  I'd programmed routes of the TET from near Guildford to near Nottingham, my start and end points, on the Garmin Zumo.  - id be totally lost without it.   The route goes via Wales and meanders over the map like a crazy insect trail, i doubt ill get the whole thing done in the time i have. I said goodbye to my friend and set off.

I didnt have high hopes for the South England portion of the TET, thinking it would be mostly minor roads, but i was pleasantly surprised.   Within a few minutes of reaching the TET GPS markers i was off-road.

One trail led to the next,  the off road bits in the south of England is stitched together with 'B'or unclassified roads. Passing through tiny villages and over rolling hills in the Sun, the riding was great.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quantity of Green Lanes, there are loads!   The TET linesman did a great job!

The going got a little tougher as i progressed.  Some of the lanes were overgrown and heavily rutted, the tall grass making it all the harder as you cant see where the ruts are.  I had a couple of hairy moments and decided to bypass the worst lanes, the bike is heavy with kit and i prefer being right side up.

I'd set of from Jasons at about 4:15 and been on the road for a couple of hours when the Garmin turned off. I was on the outskirts of a town at the time and pulled onto the pavement to  try and ascertain the problem.   I couldn't get it working, it turns on and them immediately turns off.  Balls! No GPS = No TET and i'd i have to head home on the main roads.

A little dismayed i looked up and saw a man and woman crossing the road, she was wearing a Yamaha 46 t-shirt (Valentino Rossi's number) :)  They came across to me asked if they could help. The chap said they were both bikers and lived a few doors away, he could give me a cable to hook the GPS to my laptop and she gave me directions to Halfords and Curries.  (brilliant)   They were interested in the TET and my recent adventures and didnt think a small bike with knobbly tires could make such a journey. i love the biking brotherhood!

Halfords yielded no bike GPS's, but they did have a phone holder for bike handle bars.  I purchased and fitted it (£10). A quick google of the TET web page showed the top Android Apps for using the TET track, i purchased and install OsmAnd+ (£8.99).  I download the TET track of the UK to my new GPS software, fitted the phone into the holder, hooked the phone up to the bike power and it all worked!  Mobile again, lost about an hour though, but back on the trails..

After another couple of hours the shadows of the day were growing long, the sun almost sinking behind the green hills and I didnt fancy running the DRZ in the dark.   I had no food or water and all my devices and battery packs were flat. 

I followed the trails until i was close to the town of Marlborough,  i'd passed though it the previous year on a road biking trip and i remember thinking it was a pretty place at the time.  A quick reccy of the town by bike yielded good results and i decided to take the 'middle aged guy approach' - and book myself into a room above a pub! (The Lamb, est 1600's)

 Marlborough; where the barmaids are welcoming, the ale free flowing and the food is good - providing you like Italian.  (there are four or more in the town centre)

 a long way to go.