English Counties Ride - Stories

[Grim Rider]

My story of the first completion of the English Counties Ride can be found here: http://www.thegrimrider.com/index.php?p=1_65_English-Counties-Ride

[PeterBoat]

Or maybe not the first! I completed a tour of all the old county towns in England in two days on a Kawasaki Z1B in the 1970s to raise money for Kidney charities. I still have the scrapbook of all the photographs of all the town signs and the press cuttings somewhere in my loft. I doubt if I was the first but this was at the time of local government reorganisation so was topical at the time. The following year I did Lands End to John O'Groats without using motorways between dawn and dusk on midsummers day also on a loaned Kawasaki. Well done for your ride anyway. I'm at the age where I prefer to take things a bit steadier now, 400 miles is about my max in a day on the RBR.

Peter

[Grim Rider]

Or maybe not the first! I completed a tour of all the old county towns in England in two days on a Kawasaki Z1B in the 1970s to raise money for Kidney charities. I still have the scrapbook of all the photographs of all the town signs and the press cuttings somewhere in my loft. I doubt if I was the first but this was at the time of local government reorganisation so was topical at the time. The following year I did Lands End to John O'Groats without using motorways between dawn and dusk on midsummers day also on a loaned Kawasaki. Well done for your ride anyway. I'm at the age where I prefer to take things a bit steadier now, 400 miles is about my max in a day on the RBR.

Peter

Would love to hear more about your journey Peter - must have been a hell of an adventure back then - I imagine there weren't many petrol staions open at night? If you ever get round to scanning the photos would love to see them (and issue you an honorary award! ). Are you intending to attend the RBR dinner in February?

[PeterBoat]

I have found the folder in the loft so will try to post some pictures etc later in the week. I'm not too hot on these computers but I'll give it a try! I must admit I still send Dave a photo album for the RBR as I haven't got the hang of the CD things! I do remember having problems over petrol once near Worcester I think and having to do a 20 mile detour at reduced speed to fill up. There were only 35 old county towns then so the total journey was around 1600 miles which I completed between 4.15am Saturday and 10pm Sunday. Of course there were fewer bypasses and dual carraigeways then but also less traffic. I didn't go into the towns where not necessary, just took photos of the town signs. A friend met me at some locations to take photos to send to local and motorcycle press but I took Polaroids at all the locations as well as getting verification signed by passers by at various points on the trip.

[PeterBoat]

Sorry I can't work out how to post them on here but have e-mailed you a selection of photos to the address given on your winter challenge ride page.
Peter

[Grim Rider]

Sorry I can't work out how to post them on here but have e-mailed you a selection of photos to the address given on your winter challenge ride page.
Peter

Received them Peter - great to see, let me know what you think of my proposal, cheers, Grim.

[Grim Rider]

Have put up copies of Peter's newspaper clippings and photographs here at: http://www.thegrimrider.com/index.php?p=1_98.

Many thanks Peter

[rigsville]

Great article Peter, thanks.