Monday, 28 March 2011
The Mad Moped Challenge Route
(All timings approximate)
DAY 1 Sunday 27th March 2011
Norsman Hotel Post Code KW1 4NL 7:30AM
Road: A99
John Groats Tourist information car park 8:30AM
Road: A99
Tescos Super Store WICK KW1 4QS (Fuel) 9:00AM
Road: A99 & A9
The Bay Owl Inn & Restaurant KW6 6EG (breakfast or tea) 10:00AM (Tel: 01593 731356) (Dunbeath)
Road: A9
BORA (fuel & toilet) 12:00AM (Evelix Garage)
Road: A9
EVATON (fuel & toilet) 1:30pm
Road: A9
The Store House (lunch) 2pm - 3pm, Folis Ferry, IV16 NUX. (Tel: 01349 830038)
Road: A9 & A862
DINGWALL
A862
MAYBURGH
B9169
BEAULY (fuel and toilet) 4PM
A833
DRUMNADROCHIT (fuel toilet) 5pm
A82 (side of Loch Ness)
Stravaigers Lodge PH32 4BG (overnight stop)
DAY 2 MONDAY 28 MARCH Stravaigers Lodge PH32 4BG (overnight stop) 9AM Road:A82 INVERGARRY (fuel & toilet) Road:A82 The Commandos War Memorial (photos/ time to reflect) Near SPEAN BRIDGE. Road:A82 Morrisons Store/ Mc Donalds PH33 6AN (fuel/food/break) 11AM Road:A82 ONICH (a MUST fuel stop) We start to hit the hills from here Road:A82 The Kings Head Hotel PH49 4HY (warm up tea/cake) 12:30AM (Tel: 01855 851259) Hills and peat bogs lower down. Road:A82 The Green Welly stop FK20 8RY at TYNDRUM (lunch/fuel) a well known bikers stop 1:30pm to 3pm Road:A82 still LUSS (full of quaint little shops/ coffee/tea) 4:30pm (on the banks of Loch Lomond) Road:A82 still DUMBARTON TRAVELODGE G82 2TZ Over night stop Around 6pm |
DAY 3: TUESDAY 29 MARCH
Leave 7:30AM
Road:A82
Fuel in 1.3miles
Over the ERSKIN bridge, soon as you cross left onto
Road: A726
AROUND PAISLEY keep on A726 onto B775 to GlenLiffer Braes Country Park
Through Hall Village and then onto A735 to Lugton and Dunlop
Stay on A735 to Stewarton.
Stop for fuel and toilet at Sainsburys in Stewarton (KA3 5LE)
Stay on A735 to Kilmarnock
In centre of Kilmarnock (on 1 way system) go onto B7073 towards Crossroads/Mauchline.
At Crossroads go onto A76 towards Mauchline.
Fuel Stop at Mauchline
In 2 miles – stop at Catrine House Coffee Shop (KA5 5JY)
Road A76
In 26 miles - Fuel at Thames or Sanquahar (toilets on right at Sanquahar if required)
Thornhill (Lunch at Buccleuch Hotel) (Tel: 01848 330215) (DG3 5LU) (Organisers to phone with exact numbers on morning)
A76 towards Dumfries
A76 Dumfries Bypass onto A75 to Gretna
Crossways Inn, Gretna (DG16 5DN) (Tel: 01461 337465) (Tea/food/fuel at 3PM)
Bottom of hill in Gretna – DO NOT TURN ONTO A6071 TO LONGTOWN – go onto unmarked road alongside new M6 to Kingstown onto A7
A7 to Carlisle Centre
West on A595 to Newby Cross through Moorend and Red Dial
Around Bothel turn onto A591 towards Keswick
Pass Bassenthwaite Lake to Keswick YHA
Overnight Stop at Keswick YHA (CA12 5LH)
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH
Leave YHA Keswick at 8.30 and refuel at Keswick
Road: A591
Through Thirlspot/Grasmere/Waterhead
Bypass Kendal on A591
Below Kendal turn West on A590 towards Ulverston
Within 2 miles turn south onto A6
Through Heversham/Milnthorpe and stop at Beethan
Tea Stop: Beethan Nurseries (LA7 7AP) approx. 11AM (Tel: 01539 563010)
Road: A6
Esso Garage is ½ mile south of Beethan Nurseries – petrol stations are now frequently placed
A6 straight through centre of Lancaster to Catterall
Stay on A6 to centre of Preston
Around Preston 1 way system to Penwortham on A59 (organisers to use sat nav as difficult route)
Road: A59
Past Muchhall at Burscough Bridge turn left down School Lane on Wheat Lane to Ship Inn, Burschough (Postcode: L40 4BX) (Tel: 01704 893117) at 1PM for lunch
Stop at first fuel stop after Ship Inn.
Left onto A5209/Right onto B5240 – under M58 motorway onto A570 towards St Helens.and around Rainford
Onto A580 around St Helens onto B5201 beside Rainhill over M62 motorway onto A557 towards Widnes.
Over Widnes/Runcorn bridge on Runcorrn side, turn right onto A557.
Over M56 turn right on A56 through Fordsham onto B5152 past Kingsley. Turn right onto A49 south to Whitchurch.
Stop at Whitchurch Truck Stop – Lynn’s Raven Café (SY13 2AF) (Tel: 01948 665691) at 3PM.
South onto A49 to Shrewsbury.
Hotel on Roundabout A49/A53 – Battlefield Travelodge Shrewsbury (SY4 3EQ) (Tel: 0871 9846120)
DAY 5: THURSDAY 31 MARCH
Leave Travelodge Shrewsbury at 8.30PM. Petrol station at Travelodge – refuel before leaving.
Road: A49/Shrewsbury Bypass
Turn right onto A5 Shrewsbury Bypass.
Road: A49 South. Past Church Stretton through Craven Arms.
Stay on A49 around Ludlow and Leominster.
Through centre of Hereford. Stop at first fuel station on roundabout entering Hereford.
Stay on A49 towards Ross on Wye
Stop at Much Birch – Pilgrim Hotel for bacon sandwiches etc if required (Tel: 01981 540742) (HR2 8HJ) 11AM.
Road: A49
Stay on Ross on Wye bypass onto A40 towards Gloucester.
Bypass Gloucester onto A417, slip road off onto A4301 onto A430 (to Quedgeley) - this changes into A38.
Road: A38 through Whitminster/Cambridge/Falfield turn right onto B4061 to Thornbury.
In Thornbury Town Centre, stop at Wheatsheaf Inn for lunch (approx.. 1.30PM) (BS35 2BJ) (Tel: 01454 412356)
On departing, stop at Thornbury Tesco’s for fuel.
Back onto A38 – under M4/under M5. Stay on A38 past Filton Airport – left onto A4174 towards Downend and Mangots Field. (This is the Bristol Bypass).
Road: A4017 through Kings Wood.
Road: A420.
Road: A4174 past Cadbury Heath.
At A4174 and A4 Roundabout, turn right towards Brislington. Second road on left is Riders of Bristol (Harley Davidson Showroom) – tea and toilets. (BS4 5LR) (Tel: 0117 9588777).
Double back onto A4 to Bath.
At Junction A4/A39, turn right at Globe Inn onto A39 South.
Road: A39 to Wells. Straight through Wells – stay on A39 to Glastonbury.
Overnight stop at Glastonbury Crown Hotel (BA6 9HD) (Tel: 01458 833353).
DAY 6: FRIDAY 01 APRIL
Leave Glastonbury Crown Hotel at 8.30AM
Road: A39 to Street – stop at first fuel station.
Road: A39 turn left on A361 to Ashcott through Othery and Athelney.
Over M5 onto A38 through centre of Taunton.
Road: A38 to Wellington – go under . At Waterloo Cross, turn left onto B3181 to Cullompton
Stop at Manor House in High Street (EX15 1JL) (Tel: 01884 32281) (organisers to phone on the morning)
Road: B3181(which keeps winding around M5) to Exeter.
Just before Exeter, on bypass road B3212 – stop for fuel.
Onto A377 and then onto A30 to Okehampton.
Road: A30 – stop at Plusha Truck Stop (Subway) for fuel and lunch (PL15 7RR) (Tel: 01566 782882).
Road: A30 to Penzance and then onto LANDS END
Photos!
"The Beast" in its final form:
Ken Rawlinson (R. K. Ick) tries The Beast for size at John O'Groats. He looks a bit big doesn't he?
The bikes and riders ready for the start at JohnO'Groats.
Ken Rawlinson (R. K. Ick) tries The Beast for size at John O'Groats. He looks a bit big doesn't he?
The bikes and riders ready for the start at JohnO'Groats.
Route for Friday 1st April
[This just in from Pete Sykes]
The route next friday is:
DAY 6 – FRIDAY 1ST APRIL (WE HAVE ALMOST MADE IT)!
Leave Glastonbury Crown Hotel at 8.30AM
Road: A39 to Street – stop at first fuel station.
Road: A39 turn left on A361 to Ashcott through Othery and Athelney.
Over M5 onto A38 through centre of Taunton.
Road: A38 to Wellington – go under . At Waterloo Cross, turn left onto B3181 to Cullompton
Stop at Manor House in High Street (EX15 1JL) (Tel: 01884 32281) (organisers to phone on the morning)
Road: B3181(which keeps winding around M5) to Exeter.
Just before Exeter, on bypass road B3212 – stop for fuel.
Onto A377 and then onto A30 to Okehampton.
Road: A30 – stop at Plusha Truck Stop (Subway) for fuel and lunch (PL15 7RR) (Tel: 01566 782882).
Road: A30 to Penzance and then onto LANDS END
http://www.justgiving.com/Pete-Sykes and its about time some donations came in :-)
The route next friday is:
DAY 6 – FRIDAY 1ST APRIL (WE HAVE ALMOST MADE IT)!
Leave Glastonbury Crown Hotel at 8.30AM
Road: A39 to Street – stop at first fuel station.
Road: A39 turn left on A361 to Ashcott through Othery and Athelney.
Over M5 onto A38 through centre of Taunton.
Road: A38 to Wellington – go under . At Waterloo Cross, turn left onto B3181 to Cullompton
Stop at Manor House in High Street (EX15 1JL) (Tel: 01884 32281) (organisers to phone on the morning)
Road: B3181(which keeps winding around M5) to Exeter.
Just before Exeter, on bypass road B3212 – stop for fuel.
Onto A377 and then onto A30 to Okehampton.
Road: A30 – stop at Plusha Truck Stop (Subway) for fuel and lunch (PL15 7RR) (Tel: 01566 782882).
Road: A30 to Penzance and then onto LANDS END
http://www.justgiving.com/Pete-Sykes and its about time some donations came in :-)
Mad Moped Challenge Day 1
Well after a slow start, small 2 stroke urban moped, steep hills and large riders the "beast" made it to the foirst stopover point in daylight at about 5.30 tonight.
Everybody has survived and apart from the speed, or lack of it, and some initial heavy fuel consumption all appears to be OK.
Report on day 2 will be tomorrow.
Everybody has survived and apart from the speed, or lack of it, and some initial heavy fuel consumption all appears to be OK.
Report on day 2 will be tomorrow.
MadMoped Challenge Report The One
Bike arrived safely in John O'Groats last night as did Pete and Ken. They met no resistance from the men in skirts.
The run started on time at 0830 this morning. It is reported as very cold with a possibility of some snow flurries today.
Team Real Classic as you know have elected to use a MadMoped.......made in China and a sort of black colour with Norton decals and Commando footrests to help boost its power.
John Youg's (of this message board) team from the TR3OC are using an NVT Easy Rider moped(s). The others all appear to have opted for "modern" scooters or step throughs, at least one of which is brand new! They obviously don't understand the meaning of the word Mad, and are clearly normal people.
Anyway with Pete (of this very message board) riding they are now heading generally southwards and pointing in the direction of Lands End. Other reports will follow and some photos after today. Ken follows in the van at the moment.
Commercial follows: -
Mad Moped Challenge: Raising funds for Help 4 Heroes.
As usual I would ask those who have not made a donation to the Help 4 Heroes Mad Moped Challenge to please do so. Please be generous it is in a good cause. Either use the link that Ken put on here recently or send it to me. My e-mail above if you want more details on how to pay.
The run started on time at 0830 this morning. It is reported as very cold with a possibility of some snow flurries today.
Team Real Classic as you know have elected to use a MadMoped.......made in China and a sort of black colour with Norton decals and Commando footrests to help boost its power.
John Youg's (of this message board) team from the TR3OC are using an NVT Easy Rider moped(s). The others all appear to have opted for "modern" scooters or step throughs, at least one of which is brand new! They obviously don't understand the meaning of the word Mad, and are clearly normal people.
Anyway with Pete (of this very message board) riding they are now heading generally southwards and pointing in the direction of Lands End. Other reports will follow and some photos after today. Ken follows in the van at the moment.
Commercial follows: -
Mad Moped Challenge: Raising funds for Help 4 Heroes.
As usual I would ask those who have not made a donation to the Help 4 Heroes Mad Moped Challenge to please do so. Please be generous it is in a good cause. Either use the link that Ken put on here recently or send it to me. My e-mail above if you want more details on how to pay.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
It starts here...
Welcome to the RealClassic.co.uk message board regulars' Mad Moped Challenge blog. It's designed to give information and updates on the message board members' attempt to ride from John O'Groats to Lands End by moped, as part of the Help For Heroes Mad Moped Challenge 2011.
Help for Heroes raises money to support members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded in the service of their country. They ask their supporters to “do their bit” to show these extraordinary young men and women that they are cared for. Over a million people have responded to date and millions of pounds have been raised to buy much needed services that will aid their recovery, but theyneed more! So far, they have allocated almost all of the money they have raised in order to fund direct projects and support other service charities. They are passionate about what they are doing and as far as they are concerned the sooner they can see results, the better.
You can find out more about the challenge here: www.heronet.org.uk/event.php?event_id=815
You can support Help for Heroes here: www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
And you can say hello to the RealClassic message board regulars here: www.realclassic.co.uk/messages.html
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