Nige’s LEJoG part 28.

This is the day after the night before, a quick photo dump and basic details…

We set off at 4am, and after a diversion on the A30, we realised that Ants bike was not performing right (approx. 40mph) top speed, so we were the last bikes on the road by a long way.

We pulled over and had a quick chat, he decided to limp it to pitstop 1 to see if he could fix the problem and I was going to carry on at my own speed. Nearing Exeter I needed fuel, so pulled over and had caught up with a few other bikes, so we ride in convoy to pitstop 1 (Cirencester services), we arrived at 08:25. At the pitstop we had a quick chat, visor clean, food and fuel then back on the road. Very quickly I realised that one of the fellow riders was wanting to increase the pace a little, a couple of nods to each other and off we went (this rider was Jenny Tinmouth, the fastest female at the IoM TT and BSB rider).

By the time we had got to pitstop two (MyMoto, Clay Cross) after a couple of impromptu diversions around Coventry, we had gained a good lead on the other bikes we had ridden with earlier and somehow passed (but didn’t see) another 6 other bikes.

The prescribed 2025 route from my Beeline app. I was very lucky to have a Moto2 for this journey, I don’t think it would have been as easy without it. I forgot to take a screen grab until the drive home!

We arrived as a duo at 11:30. Before I had got off the bike Ian (from CRC restorations) was on my bike checking oil, chain tension and clean whilst someone else took our helmets and cleaned them.

Both desperate for fuel we filled up and set off on what was meant to be the worst part of the trip, through cities. Leg 3, was to take us from pitstop two to pitstop three (Guys Thatched hamlet near Preston) through Sheffield, Huddersfield, Halifax and Skipton, areas I knew well, so I was hopeful of some good speed, in Sheffield someone on a GSXR wanted a traffic light race, if only he knew who beat him (both of us that is), but I think being beaten by a TT and BSB legend would be enough to accept defeat. Without any diversions and some good filtering we made good progress, it to pitstop three at 15:00 (my aim was between 14:00 and 16:00 from the beginning) and waiting there for me was Em (my wife) and my daughter, this made my trip to be honest.

A quick bite to eat and a drink (plus filling up my water bladder) and a sandwich in the bag for later. At this point we were advised of some road works going on and we were told to use the motorway to get to pitstop four, we set off with another group up the M6 stopping for fuel enroute. Someone somehow managed to take us off the route and down to Windermere, I used the beeline Moto2 got us back on track via the stunning Kirkstone Pass back onto the A6.

We pulled into Pitstop four (Gourock ferry terminal) at 20:10. We had to wait for the ferry, but that gave us a much-needed break for about 15 mins to be off the bike, eat and have a drink whilst people ran round the bikes cleaning our lights, chain lube etc. Whilst waiting for the ferry, some other bikes caught up with us. We then had the 20 min crossing for a walk around the ferry and toilet break.

Then we were on our merry way aiming for to be at Pitstop five (Inverness Motorcycles for 23:15 ish). We were making good progress when we came across a road closure due to an accident in Spean Bridge (an hour from the ferry) which meant back tracking then a long diversion to Oban then Fort William with an extra fuel stop.

After dodging deer and other wildlife, we finally got to Pitstop five at 03:00 (we should have finished by now the way we were going). A quick visor and light clean, a can of energy and find fuel…. then we were gone aiming for John O Groats.

That last 120 miles must be the longest of my life. Across the line to claps and cheers at 05:40, 1034.6 miles start to finish, in 25 hours and 40 minutes. And no, not last, far from it.

My heartfelt thanks to Em for letting me attempt this ridiculous ride, Ant for all his help with the Suzuki and being as stupid as me to try this. Dan, for being Dan and getting me home safe.

A special thanks to my impromptu companion for the majority of the ride Jenny Tinmouth and then Paul Lee for letting me join his group and lead for a good part of it.

A huge thanks to John and Jo McAvoy (aka King and Queen of LDC), the broom wagon and everyone who was at the pitstops giving us all a huge warm welcome, food, cleaning and generally looking after us all.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who sponsored me and supported me in any way, be that financial or sponsored parts and equipment.