Sally is on the road, having made a safe and rather spectacular start on Sunday 28th. Technology being what it is, rather than a daily e-mailed report with pictures and so on we got an update for the first week over the phone on Friday evening. So if anything isn't in the right order, if I've got places or days or people wrong please just let me know and I'lll make the adjustments as we go along...

Sunday 29th June - Brighton to Felixstowe.

Sussex Police Bikesafe gave Sally, Tom, Richard and rather a lot of other bikers an escort out of town, stopping traffic at junctions and generally making them feel like VIPs. Probably 50 other bikes joined in the convoy - when they reached Beachy Head and looked back there were just masses of bikes. So a great start which just stayed good as they kept picking up other riders on the way through. Despite many peoiple telling them it was too far to do, they made Felixstowe without trouble.

Monday 30th June - Felixstowe to Grimsby.

The day started off with an unplanned visit to Lings in Lowestoft. Richard's bike was playing up but Ling's were fantastic, dropping everything to deal with it and then refusing payment. So if you're around there you might want to pop in and say thanks. And maybe buy something.

Foby, chairman of the Anglian HDRCGB made them very welcome then he and fellow members escorted them from Hunstanton to Cleethorpes also contributing another £100.

Anyhow, once they got moving properly things got better and better as they were met on the way by the Lincolnshire HDRCGB who arranged a very late lunch  well diner by that time  at Boston for Sally, Richard and Tom.  Then it was back in the saddle everyone headed north to be met by The Warlocks, a rather exclusive bike club. Again the traffic was stopped, perhaps slightly less officially but equally successfully, as the convoy rode into town. And what a reception! Again, loads of people and loads of bikes. And people's generosity was astounding as a bucket passed around raised £121 in on the spot donations at the Yardbirds Club. Even the local kebab shop keepers knew who they were and made them welcome.

Tuesday 1st July - Grimsby to Edinburgh.

The team met up again with Mort from Lincolnshire HDRCGB on the southside of the Humber Bridge for breakfast and a deafening ride behind his bike to meet up with another Harley rider (Swinny) on the northside of the bridge. A quick photocall at Withensea lighthouse, out the ride behind schedule, but a well earned break at Scarborough Sea Front brought in some more sponsor money and a photo with another James Toseland fan. 

Winny led the team through Teesside and on to the transporter bridge, with a police van behind them. Time for Tom to whisper something to the WPC whilst Sally wasnt looking.

For one reason or another insurance was a bit of a last minute bother for Sally. So when she got pulled over by a Police van and informed that she wasn't insured, though she was sure she was there was this horrible feleing that perhaps she'd mucked up. So it may have seemed a little odd to be arrested for it, but the penny didn't drop until she'd been cuffed and the WPC whispered that she'd been had. Yes, Tom the photographer was having a little jape. Payback came shortly afterwards as he dropped his bike off the stand while setting up for a rideby shot. No damage but a red face...

Sally's cousin Victoria was waiting for them outside Hartlepool, but beacuse Richard's bike was still playing up they were running late. As a result, one of the pressing needs when they met was to use a toilet. Victoria took them across the road to a private gentlemen's club (sorry, I don't know what it was or what it was called - if you do please tell me) where she was made welcome, allowed to use the facilities and givin another £100 in on the spot donations.

Arriving in Edinburgh they were met by Chris who took them in and gave them a quick guided tour before leaving them for the night.

Wednesday 2nd July - Edinburgh to Helmsdale.

Chris collected them in the morning and took them out to the Forth Bridge first thing in the morning. Again, a lot of people had told them that they'd never do this leg - that it was too far, too twisty and just too hard. But they did it. The weather remained fair, as indeed it had for the whole week, and though it was quite hard work they arrived in Helmsdale in good time.

Thursday 3rd July - Helmsdale to Ullapool.

More great weather, some fantastic biking roads and a relatively easy ride. Sally's riding is by now as confident and capable as anyone's could be, bolstered I'm sure by the session at Mallory park with Sean Hayes which showed her just how hard the bike can be ridden before it bites. And how hard she could ride it, too.

The generosity of people in Scotland - in fact generally - is truly heartwarming and restores one's faith in humanity. Wherever they go, as soon as people find out what they are doing they seem to want to donate money.

Friday 4th July - Ullapool to Skye (Dunvegan).

When Sally rang me she said it was like sitting by the Mediterranean. It's only dark for about 3 hours up there at this time of year. It's warm, light and beautiful. Apart from the ferocious biting midges.

It seems that everyone is riding the coastal route at the moment as there are many groups of bikes. They also met up with half a dozen or so Germans in classic cars, producing a "Wacky Races" sort of atmosphere as they passed each other, waving and cheering, regularly through the day until they took the ferry. Richard's bike has now eaten a front tyre so he has to leave for Oban very early in the morning while Sally and Tom can relax. Saturday will be a gentle day while Sunday is a rest.

Saturday 5th July - Dunvegan to Oban.

Should have been an easy day's ride. Richard set off early to sort out his tyre with Sally & Tom following on. The Satnav had other ideas and sent them north. After turning around and retracing their route they stopped for fuel and Sally dropped her bike in the forecourt. She just over balanced but was caught underneath. Several people rushed to release her, she was unharmed but the bike had a sheared clutch lever & mount. They gaffered it up to make it functional and managed to contact Richard who obtained a replacement from a local Honda dealership then set off back to meet them half way. Unfortunately the lever was not a replacement as Sally's bike had an upgraded lever. However with a bit of jiggery pokery it was fitted and functional. Thus they carried on but several miles further down the road whilst overtaking Sally hit a patch of gravel that jangled her already frayed nerves. No harm done but not a good day.

Sunday 6th July - Oban (rest day)

A day off that Sally made the most of to chill out but the boys had a ride out around mull, a mere 100 miles of sightseeing.

Monday 7th July - Oban to Stranraer

Set off for 10 hours riding to Stranraer feeling a little more positive than Saturday! Full report to follow...

Tuesday  8th July  Stranraer to Southport

At Stranraer, the team was met by Patsy, who made us feel very welcome. The journey south was made even longer by the wind and torrential rain. Sally hang on, according to Richard as if she was on her broomstick! The weather was that bad that they didnt stop at the blacksmiths at Gretna, but pushed on into England. Waiting at a wet, windy and deserted Blackpool Tower were Grahame and Lyndsey , from the HDRCGB, who got them down to the B&B at Southport and really looked after the team. Lyndsey fed them fed and watered them and even offered to do the washing, but Richard had had the foresight to equip everyone with Matalan throwaway underwear that was a job spared!

Yet more rain  all the way ! As the ride headed onwards, Toms brother, John, and AIM observer Paul were waiting at Flint, which was very welcome sight as everybody was so wet that riding in the sea would have been drier! Another couple of bikers were waiting at the Menei Bridge to do their bit and help get the team further round. Knowing that other people have been waiting for you in the rain just to get even more drenched as they ride with you is a big boost to the morale. Even the rickety toll bridge at Barmouth held no fear nor were sprits dampened by riding in heavy traffic and at low speed with Richards bike still playing up.

By the time Sally, Richard and Tom reached Cardigan Bay they were about 4 hours late, but the luxury hotel stop provided at Cardigan. A welcome meal and a couple of glasses wine made it al worth while. Time to put the feet up, the drenched wet weather gear on the radiator and for Richard to leave a trail of soggy sock prints across the beige hotel carpet.