Strom67
Due to the lack of undulations in our own county does anyone fancy a leisurely ride out to Cannock on the 6th?
With an early start we could even make the Yondermann at 10:30 and join Nick & co. for the run down to Cannock and hopefully see some real scenery.
Norfolk, Beds, Northants welcome if there is somewhere sensible to meet en route?
Sensible speeds only, my hairs white enough already!
Wraith750
I was thinking of taking a run out to there myself, cutting across to join the A5 & heading straight up that way. It`s a decent road where you can keep a reasonable pace without needing to go hyper, & plenty of fuel stops, should the need arise.
Strom67
Sorry I missed out Hertfordshire especially as I was born there. I was thinking of J1 of the A14 to cut through to the A5, but which way would be your cut through Wraith?
Wraith750
I have a couple of different cut throughs to the A5; a meandering one going through the lanes & Woburn deer park to pick up the A5 at Brickhill, just south of Milton Keynes, or I use the infamous A507, past Shefford & Ampthill to cross the M1 at J12 & pick up the A5 at Milton Keynes.
Strom67
Bit of a detour south for me so how about Magna Park roundabout at A5/A4303 junction west of Lutterworth as a meet. I used to go to North Wales on a Cb125 twin 30 odd years ago but I expect the A5 has changed a bit!
Wraith750
Sounds like a plan.
A few parts of the A5 have changed over time; extra roundabouts mainly & new industrial estates springing up along the way, but generally good. Most of the traffic uses the motorways, thankfully.
Strom67
OK, assume as you're talking about the A5 that's straight to Cannock. Should be not much over an hour from Magna Park but can get there anytime. Might even get some more interest if the weather's not too bad.
Wraith750
Ok, sounds like we should aim to be at Magna Park for around 11.30 to midday.
Mister Pete - Optimi
Would suggest that you consider coming off A5 and going through Lichfield & Rugeley - and not bother going through Cannock as Springslade is north of Cannock. Would then come into the last part of the ride the same way as the main group if they are still coming via Blithfield resevoir and Rugeley
Wraith750
Yes, I had been thinking about just that a little earlier, as the A5 starts getting messy where it runs alongside the M6 toll road after Tamworth
Strom67
Happy to be at Magna Park earlier and go with this plan, will now try to work out if we can be ahead of Nicks people to join them somewhere unless you know the area Wraith?
Mister Pete - Optimi
If you stay on A51 ring rd around Rugeley and take a right at the island with Colton Rd (opposite Station Rd) and head past the train station under the bridge that takes you into the B5013 to Blithfield Res which is only a couple of miles outside of Rugeley.
Looks like Nick will be passing there around 12:15 to 12:30 - There is a car & park prob ice cream van on the other side of the bridge coming from Rugeley end which could be a good place to meet?
Strom67
Thanks for the info MP-O, OK with you Wraith?
Wraith750
That sounds fine to me, as I`m not too familiar with that area once past Tamworth.
Mister Pete - Optimi
Great see you both at Blithfield - I will either be going up to Ashbourne to meet up with Nick (as i love the road across to Uttoxeter) and riding back with him - or will be meeting up with him at Blithfield myself - I will be on Orange KTM SMT - what are you both riding so I know how to recognise you? - although not a big car park it does get a few bikes there at times
Strom67
Funnily enough I will be on a V-Strom 650 Xt, or more precisely the large black and yellow thing on the black and yellow thing! And just to check you meant the Watery Lane Car Park on the NE side of the bridge?
Mister Pete - Optimi
Silly question really then lol - yes the Watery Lane one
I am not colour co ordinated like you - old leather with blue shoulders / blue lid - and a bright orange bike
oh well save me some ice cream
Strom67
Excellent, well I guess Wraith and I will have to be at Magna Park for 11 if we're going to the reservoir. I better make some notes for my tank bag unless you have a sat nav Wraith?
Wraith750
Sat nav? Me? No chance! Good old fashioned reliable maps are what I navigate by, lol.
It looks like I`ll be on my R1150RT. You can`t fail to miss it - it`ll be the one splattered with reflectives, oh, & a Scottish flag on the front!
Strom67
Anyone up for a Sunday morning run up to Monyash to meet but not mingle with Nick and co?
Beds, Cambs, Herts, Norfolk, Northants for example, possibly a run through Rutland and on to avoid motorways?
We might not be able to do this again for a while...