This is what I will be riding 3500 miles on around our glorious countryside in April this year.
She is a 1997 85cc moped. Built in their masses for the masses.
I gave her the name "Lucille" as BB King the legendary blues and guitar player calls each and every one of his guitars "Lucille" so I thought I would do the same for my bike.
So why am I doing this - the honest answer is I'm not sure! It seemed like a good idea at the time. I do have an idea though as I have been inspired by a good Army friend of mine Will Geordie English who as I type is in Australia mooching around in a campervan! He has ridden all over the world on motorbikes and taken a Honda C90 down to the Gambia for a charity.
Another guy that inspired me was a lunatic called Ed March - this guy has ridden a C90 back from Malaysia and taken one up into the Arctic Circle.
So if he can do it, I can take a C90 3500 miles starting from Lands End, heading up along the South coast to Dover where I head North all the way up to John O'Groats. Along the Northern coast of Scotland, down the West coast then head South all the way back to Lands End.
Not an easy task as I have only 12 days to do the trip in! It will be tough going for sure.
A week ago I took the bike along with all my camping gear to the Red Lion at Winfrith - I set up and spent 2 nights under canvas with one of the nights being stormy with 60mph plus gusts of winds. Not for the feint hearted but I was fortified with numerous pints of Guinness and to be honest slept soundly!
The tent I am using is a Vango Banshee 200 and it is absolutely cracking! But and this is a big but and it does go for all tents. It is classed as a 2 man tent, but once I have all my gear in it, which includes panniers, motorcycle clothing, helmet etc there is only room for one person and that's me!
Now I'm a big lad! but there is plenty of room in the tent if you stow everything well. If your untidy you will have no hope, book a hotel!
The tent stood up well to a night of heavy wind and rain, in the morning only one guy rope had gone a bit slack. It did not leak and being a low profile tent deflected the wind and it did get a good beating! I also have to say that I stayed nice and warm, but I did have a 3 season sleeping bag to snuggle down into.
Going back to why am I doing this, and as I said, I'm really not 100% sure as to why, but seeing as I am I thought I would try and get a bit of sponsorship. My chosen charity is "Help For Heroes" for those of you who have been with me for a while you will know that this is an obvious choice but for those of you who are new here. I'm ex forces - Royal Signals. Enough said!
I have set up a "Just Giving" page which if you look to the right of the blog in the side bar you will find a button to donate, please feel free to donate a couple of pounds!
To be totally honest I'm a big believer in the saying that charity begins at home and my chosen charity should not even need to be in existence. But due to our Governments view of supplying aid to foreign countries instead of looking after it's own first this charity is needed desperately.
I do tend to get on my soap box every now and again! Some countries require aid and for those that are genuinely up against it I do not have a problem, but lets take India, we send them aid and their Government has a space programme! What is all that about!?
All the planning has been done, just a few more parts to buy, such as a screen and new shock absorbers for the old girl and apart from that we are ready to go!
As you can imagine this trip has kept me occupied over the festive season which has been brilliant and to be honest probably kept me from losing the plot.
You can read more about my adventure at fatblokestravels.blogspot.com here you will see more about my trip and the preparation I've done so far.
So don't forget that JustGiving button over on the right hand side, even if it's only a quid it all helps to look after those that have given more than they should of!
Till later........
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