Modern Vespa

The pootlers tour sounds fun Genie (watch out for the monkeys with shaving foam on their chins)

So the route needs some more thought, anyone wants to come up with a nice schedule, just post it here. Whenever I sit down to look at it, it seems to be the early hours of the morning and I am too tired to think.

Thanks for any help. 8)

I'm still looking at it every now and again.
Plenty of time. 8)
All suggestions welcome though.

I think I've been to Rabid Monkey World a few years back.

Isn't just around the corner from the Psychotic Seal Santaury ?

Marc don't get me involved in the Charity Run because the control freak in me would want to take over.

Best left to the experts.

Bill X

Psychotic Seal Sanctaury near the Albino Aardvark Asylum.

Bill, crack on mate, take over, please. So far I have planned a weekend of beer tasting and boobie oggling.

Pepy is no doubt making a more mature contribution (I hear he is going to Costco to buy a box of Space Raiders and Panda Pops for the journey)

we now have £100.00 already donated by the way.

2% there.

This is a serious weekend folks!!!!!

No, I mean no boobies.......










The wife won't let me go if there's gonna be boobies.....

Blame Stewart (558) , he suggested Page3 girls. I just happened to have a customer who works for The Sun.

I think that's just up the road from the Ga Ga Guinipig Farm and the Home for Depressed Dolphins.

Marc I can't give my input because it's your bunny now.

(Your my wife now Dave )

Bill X

Hi all,

400+ miles in a weekend should be perfectly possible, 125s and all (and I don't see why we shouldn't do it as one big group; I don't have an issue with keeping speed manageable when riding en masse. It will look more impressive if we're all together!)

One thing I'd say, though, is that when there's a big group it's very easy to let breaks stretch out and eat up your time. At the stop, tell everyone how long we've got ("right folks, 15 minutes, petrol and a pee / half an hour, grab a sandwich") and make sure you're ready to go at the end of that period. Factor in time to spend standing in a layby scratching our heads over the map, too!

I'd like to volunteer my services as a tail-ender (just as important as a leader, but less likely to get lost ).

Good suggestions. 8)

I don't really want to lead as i find it a little intimidating having everyone watching my every move. That said i have lead small groups in Europe before so will be willing to take a turn (I will have sat nav with the route plumbed in of course).

I have used a drop off system before....leader always first, whoever is 2nd drops off to indicate to the following group the direction. This person then rejoins the group in front of the tail end charlie and so on.

Thanks Husky. Well volunteered.

I agree one group should be fine, It will look more impressive and be good for pics. Like you said, its just a case of keeping everyone on schedule. I am sure we can manage that.

I have actually managed a grand total of 0 miles riding in a group, so have no clue what I am doing. But having said that I am not easily intimidated or embarrased. So I will ride anywhere.

I have ridden many times in groups on motorcycles and scooters.
It's fine as long as people stagger and concentrate.
The main problem will be the impatience.

better stick me at the front then

Stay out of everyones way!

I got flashed by a speed camera this evening .. Bollox

I can see Pepy's point. I like to "get there" so to speak and I could see a few frustrations if we are all travelling in one group and it's a long way to ride at a reduced speed.

You could argue that for such a good cause I should forget myself and lump it for the duration but I think two groups would make it more flexible.
Agreed it defeats the object if we aren't doing it together but I'd like to enjoy it was well.

Also to start it on the South East coast means that all of the Londoners have to ride out East only to ride West again.
The majority of you live in or around London so why not start it somewhere there but with great historical/military interest ?
Woolwich Arsenal or Chelsea Barracks or even Hendon Aircraft Museum ?
It also means that we don't have so far to ride on the day ?

Plus we won't have to get a hotel the night before the ride if we want to make an early start on the coast.
Granted we won't enjoy an evenings festivities the night pre-ride but location wise we wouldn't re-trace any of our steps.
Sorry it's the courier in me speaking.

Marc I know you said you are open to suggestions but in the past when I've tried to planned a ride and others ( who are only trying to be helpful ) suggest another way of doing things I've felt that they are trying to wrestle my bunny away and that's why up till now I've kept my gob shut.
I'm sure that there are going to be lots of bun fights until we all stroke our beards and nod in agreement.

That's the problem with opinions they are like arseholes - everyone's got one.

Love and Rockets

Bill X

No matter where we start someones going to have to travel.
I'm on the brink of booking my travelodge room in Margate so please let me know asap if there's going to be a change.
Personally i'm going to have to do approx 130 miles just to get to Margate before we even start so the Londoners have it good compared to me.

I'm saying London and I have 35 miles to travel on the morning.

And here's a little suggestion - those who are could be staying over in the smoke book up the same hotel ?

Coming from a logistical piont of view.

There is plenty of time to sort all this out.

Bill X

Marc did say that people can join the route anywhere they wanted.
Maybe those that don't want to go to Margate could tag on at Brighton or some other such exotic place?

What could be more exotic than Margate ? Discuss.

And there is the age old problem of not being able to please all of the people all of the time but I admire you Marc for taking this on and you have my support if and when you need it.

I'm in agreement with Genie about Exeter being a good place to stop on the first night because the 2/3rds of the journey is complete and we can take the run to Lands End an easy jaunt ?

Bill X

mornin' all,

All good suggestions people. Believe it or not this is what this thread is for, to iron out all of the bugs before next year. I have no problems with anyone expressing their views, in fact I welcome it. All of you are an invaluable source of info. for me.

The ride will start from Margate. For no other reason than I have pastered it all over the web, and it would be impossible for me to change it now. It will start around 9.00 /10.oo in the morning. I think everyone will have to decide for themselves how they spend Friday evening. I for one am not sure, I will have work commitments on Friday and as you all know I have a young family.

The route will end Sunday (whatever time we get to Lands End), again, it is up to you what you do after that. I will probably take the fastest route home, on Monday morning.

The actual route itself can be discussed and mulled over , with a thorough beard stroke.

I do like the idea of completing a good 2/3 of the Journey on day one. That way day 2 can be a relaxing day. I agree with Bill about the groups, I like the idea of 1 big group riding together, however Bill and I like to go a little too fast. This can be discussed also.

Good work everyone
Keep up the discussion.

Marc

Just a thought but the ride back from lands end will be almost as long as the ride from margate to lands end for those from London.

What are people's plans for getting home, a long slog on Sunday afternoon (5 hr) or some sunday and some Monday?

Stay over on the Sunday near Lands End then ride home on the Monday ?

At the moment i'm planning the following;

Friday night - Margate
Saturday night - (to be decided)
Sunday night - Lands End ish
Monday......loooong slog home.

Saturday night Exeter ?

Oh this is so much fun.

I'm going to look at some maps.

Just asking we are leaving out motorways so we can all travel on the same route ?

Bill X

Exeter Saturday night , sounds like a plan.

No motorways, the scenic route this time.

Check out those maps.

Marc

Try a coastal route Margate - A28 to Canterbury to Ashford then A2070 into A259 to Hastings then Eastbourne then A27 all the way to Havant then a short motorway section the M27 * to pick up the A31 on the other side of Southampton which takes you to the A35 past Poole then on to Honiton where it joins up with the A30 to Exeter. Carry on the A30 past Bodmin to Penzance then Lands End.

Yes there's a motorway section on it but it's worth considering.

Another one coming up.

Margate A28 to Canterbury then on to Charing. Pick up the A20 to Maidstone to get on the A25 at Borough Green then follow the A25 all the way to Guildford to connect with the A31 at Farnham. The A287 goes up to Basingstoke where the A30 connects with the A303 towards Andover.
Stay on that until it turns into the A30 just before Exeter then as before to Lands End.

Another one coming up.

Margate A28 to Canterbury and Ashford then follow it to the A262 at Biddenden to connect with the A21 outside Tunbridge Wells.
Get on the A264 to East Grinstead and through Crawley then either drop down on the A23 or A24 to the A272 through Midhurst,Petersfield and Winchester then either drop down to Romsey on the A3090 to jump on the A31 or up a little way on the A272 to connect with the A30 towards Sailsbury.
Follow it to through Shaftsbury,Yeovil and Chard to pick up the A303/A30 to Exeter then as before.

Try that for size.

Somewhat avoids the coast though........

How about Wacky Races style everyone for himself......

Can the route be done , literally along the coast? Visiting most coastal towns?

By my reckoning that should be about 470 miles , 235 per day. 7/8 hours riding per day. Which if we keep the stops short and set of early, should not be a problem.

Oh yeah... and can we fit in , a military start to Saturday, a military stop 3/4 through Saturday and one Military stop off on Sunday.

I am off to book a feckin' great hotel for Sunday night in Lands End. Something with a jacuzzi and themed rooms.

(or a travel lodge)

I'd probably want to head 'ome Sunday night as I'm stingy with my Annual Leave, as previously discussed

Re riding as a group: with the drop-off system, it's possible for everyone to ride at their own speed within the group. As long as you don't overtake the leader or drop behind the tail-ender, it's all cool. Polite and safe overtaking of other riders in the group, so you can have a blast where necessary, is fine. It's inevitable on a long ride along major roads that we'll get split up by cars at some point - it's that or make a thorough nuisance of ourselves

At every junction, the leader points for the second rider to 'mark' the turning. When the tail-ender turns up, the marker drops into last-but-one position. If the leader doesn't indicate for a marker to wait, but you think it's a potentially confusing spot, wait anyway - better safe than sorry.

Sorry if I'm teaching grandmothers to suck eggs, but it's good to be clear.

I favour a fast-ish route along the coast without going through every town as such.
Riding along the front at Brighton would be good though. 8)

Are we dead set on the travelodge at Margate Friday night then?

The ride will definatly start on Saturday morning in Margate, I suppose it is upto each individual on where they spend Friday night. I favour the travelodge, but i may have to ride down early Saturday, but i will confirm that nearer the time.

I have had a very nice email from the chairman of : Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/

They have kindly agreed that we can line our scooters up in front of one of their static displays for a photoshoot. They have also agreed to arrange some local PR.

If everyone is in agreement can we put this in the schedule?

Thanks
Marc

Yes I like the idea of that but shall we make it the only stop that we make ?

Hang on Marc I've been thinking about stuff. Give me a minute.

Bill X

That's 272 miles from Margate (using motorways until the A23 ) Via Chichester and on to Exeter which without breaks is around 6 and a half hours so add a couple of hours on to that.
I don't want to create doubt in anyones mind but I wouldn't want to do that on anything smaller than a 200 because that's going to be a very long day for the saddle for the 125 crue but that's my choice so pay me no attention.

Bill X

I know what you are saying about the 125's. I am a bit worried about that.

Those with experience: Can we do this with 125's and L platers?

we just went to golant and back on a 200 and a 125 which kept up just fine on the faster A-roads. if we don't plan too optimistic a top speed we should be fine.

i'd second the A30 part of the route - having done it this weekend i can vouch for its loveliness.

taking a coastal route will add quite a bit of time - there were some insane traffic queues that would be difficult to filter past in a large group.