Day 15&16 Time to visit the Northern Ireland Trio.

Thursday 8^th November – Days 15/16                         Daily Mileage 668– Total  6002

Initially I had a bit of a dilemma, “should I post this as “Day 15” as I was on the road for 23 and a half hours, or should I post it as “Days 15/16” because I actually set off at 10.30pm on Wednesday. To be honest I don’t really think anyone would give a damn but I do and so in the interest of truth and fairness to myself  Day 15/16 wins out.

Looking at Stena Line ferries on Sunday afternoon  I fully intended sailing from Liverpool to Belfast until I noticed two things that put me off straight away, £160 return and being stuck on the ferry for 8 hours each way would have sent me mad.

So it was Stanraer, well Cairnyan to be 100% accurate, to Belfast. A nice quick 2 hour 15 minute crossing preceded by a steady 230 mile ride up from Rochdale. Strange really that this is the second time of visiting Ireland this year, yet I never served over there in the 12 and half years I spent in the Army as a chef.  

The ferry was booked for 4.00am departure arriving in Belfast at 6.15am and so our Wednesday night out sadly  had to be cut short so I could leave at 10.30pm. The route is was very easy,M62/M61/M6 which would take care of the first 120 miles then onto the glorious A75 for a further 110 miles, “Simple’s”.

Heading North to Cairnyan Dock

As absolutely nothing noteworthy happened I skip straight to the dock arriving at 3.00am and making an awful video of myself explaining where I was and what my plan for the day was. After watching it on my return I thought I’d spare everyone the trauma of having to watch it and immediately deleted it!

Mr T and I were the first to be loaded and so had first dib’s at the comfy seats in the bar area. Jacket off, folded into a pillow, “dosbag” out, boots off and that was me out  like a light. The first thing I heard was the 15 minute arrival announcement by the captain.

Belfast – The first Gold Post Box was just 6 miles up the road on the Northern edge of the city. I took just 10 minutes to get there, photo taken and as per usual I was off no messing.

Antrim Road Belfast Northern Ireland 

Micheal McKillop  - Gold Medal Athletics Men's 800 & 1500 meters T37

Eglington – Gold Post box number two was just short of Londonderry some 62 miles away down the M2 for 12 miles then onto the A6 which took me straight across Northern Ireland. I turned right off of Foreglen Road ( still marked as the A6) onto Brockagh, then along Craigbrack Road which turned out to be a never ending lane which took me all the way to the coast. Left  onto Killylane Road for a mile and I was at Gold Post Box number 100! What a brilliant feeling that was.

It took three attempts to get a good photo with me stood at the side of the Gold Post Box painted to celebrate Jason Smyth’s achievements in both the 100 & 200 meter athletics. My first attempt was to ask a couple of school boys to take the picture which looked OK but not as good as Gold Post Box number 100 deserved. Second attempt was using the mini tri pod “Gorilla” on my top box but I had it pointed out to me by a passing gentleman that I’d just chopped my head off! Third and final, successful picture was taken by said gentleman. Thank you.

Woodvale Road Eglington Northern Ireland 

Jason Smyth - Gold Medal Athletics Men's 100 & 200 meters T13

Seaforde – As I only had three Gold Post Boxes to visit I had planned a route that would take me around the south shore of Lough Neagh and through what turned out to be “An area of outstanding beauty” as all the road side signs kept reminding me. My ferry was booked for 3.30pm and so I had plenty of time to cover the 105 miles to Seaforde near Newcastle in County Down.

The signs were not wrong, the ride was superb and well worth the semi sleepless night. Initially I headed back along the A6 then cut South tracking the westerly shore of Lough Neagh but never actually laying eyes on the lake. The North Sperrins Heritage Trail is stunning and well worth a visit if ever you find yourself in Northern Ireland with a couple of hours to spare. Predominantly a dual track lane with no road markings and all the wildlife you would expect of a country side retreat. 

As nice as it is to escape on the Moydamlaght Road

You still have to be on your toes.

The only down side to the whole ride was the fact the it lead to the M1 dual carriageway motorway where I ended up in a 25 minute traffic jam instigated and controlled by the police. Yes you read it right the police had coned off one lane totally in order to bring the motorway traffic to a walking pace in order to make you read their notices. David Black had been shot dead on 1^st November as he drove to work along the M1 in County Armagh. It worked as I even remembered the victim’s name. I do hope someone was able to remember more about the “Blue Toyota”.  BBC Northern Ireland New report "Police revisit M1 scene of David Black murder"

Once through the traffic it was not long before I arrived at the final Gold Post Box for the day and my 101^st Gold Post Box of my journey.

Newcastle Road Seaforde County Down Northern Ireland

Bethany Firth - Gold Medal Swiming Womens 100 meter Backstroke S14

Heading back to Belfast docks which was just 30 miles north I arrived 15 minutes late for the earlier ferry, I was gutted! Three hours to waste with absolutely nothing to do, you see my approach to the challenge as with everything else I do is so “single minded” that I’m at a loss once the task is complete. As it happens I chose to fill up at the dock petrol station and have a bite to eat. £3.95 for Chicken, chips and gravy, what a bargain! Still by the time I’d eaten and drunk my coffee I still had two hours to kill so I decided to revisit the first Gold Post Box of the day and take a picture in the daylight.

Antrim Road Belfast Northern Ireland 

Micheal McKillop  - Gold Medal Athletics Men's 800 & 1500 meters T37

In the daylight!

Update - I had the great pleasure of meeting

Micheal McKillop at Kidz-up-North

What an absolutely inspirational gentleman,

Micheal you made my year, thank you.

Parked up at the front of lane 14 alone, one of the “container jockeys” pulled up alongside in his truck towing the biggest container I’ve ever seen and announced “I’ve got one of them” pointing at Mr T. We chatted for a good ten minutes before he carried on with his work. That’s about as exciting as the two hour wait on Belfast docks got. I even Tweeted Stena Line to tell them how bored I was but got no reply.

Arriving back in Scotland at 6.30pm in the dark with the 230 mile ride ahead of me left me feeling a little low purely due to the fact  I would not get home in time for “Snugllie Bugglie” with Lilie Rose and Ben. Still the glorious A75 made up a little for missing out with the children.

Homeward Bound

Blinded by the light.......... thank's!

I walked in the house at 10.00pm on the dot to a nice homecoming hug from Jeannie who had decided to wait up for even after having yet another sleepless night alone. Not long now and my Gold Post Box Journey will be complete sweetheart then no more lonely nights alone.

Day Fifteen/Sixteen - 3 Gold Post Boxes

So what’s next, well I’m delighted to say Royal mail have provided me with the “Official List of 110 Gold Post Boxes”. I have cross checked all the locations and found three, yes THREE missing Gold Post Boxes all of which I have now plotted into my MapSource file.

Sunday morning will see me collecting the final 8 Gold Post boxes, 7 in and around London and one in Cheadle Hulme. Tuesday I will be on the Isle of Man to collect the penultimate photograph and to ride the IOM Race Circuit once again. Not 28 times consecutively this time I may add.

The very last Gold Post Box in my journey will be something of a special occasion to for me as Jeannie and quite a few of my Manc Rider Friends will accompany me into Manchester on Sunday the 25^th of November to help celebrate the end of “The Wandering Walton’s Quest for Olympic Gold  …… Post Boxes Obviously!”

"Wardle Wash Take Two" In aid of Children in Need

  

WArdle Wash

Three Days Only

Monday  12^th @ St James ce School (Bookings Only)
thursday 15^th& Friday 16^th

9am Untill 4pm

All Donations to

Children in Need

So bring your Car’s & Motorbikes along TO

The Tryst – Wardle Road

Day 14 “Cold toes & hot coffee save the day!”

Thursday 1^st November – Day 14                                    Daily Mileage 889 – Total  5334

“I’m sorry sir but I am going to have to ask you to turn around and go back about 4 miles and take the B8079 which runs parallel to this road just over there” he said pointing over the trees to the left.

“How far back, officer?”

“It’s about 4 or 5 miles, not that far, just turn left and the road comes back out on the other side of the accident area”

“These lads aren’t going anywhere for the next 4 or 5 hours” came the voice of the second police officer from within the car, referring to the ever growing line of tucks behind me.

“Thank you officer,  I hope everyone is going to be OK!”

“Ride carefully sir, it’s very icy”

“I will, cheers”

With that I turned Mr T around, clumsily pushing him backwards a couple of times in order to face in the opposite direction before heading back past the miles of standing vehicles that I’d just ridden past.

A9 at 6.10am

My stomach was churning, my mind racing, repeating the very same sentence over and over again…..

“What if I’d not stopped? I could have, NO, I would have been here! Not good Raymondo, not good, think positive now lad, think positive”.

The night had started as a bit of a disaster, well a disaster in Raymondo terms that is. I’d woken Jeannie up because I’d put my mobile phone in my pyjama pocket which when it went off, were around my ankles as I was sat on the loo, it was 1.15am. I was cursing myself for putting the damned thing in my pocket in the first place.

Outside, I snapped the cruise control clip that goes over the throttle, then at ASDA Self-Service pump I had petrol splash back covering the whole of my left arm and Mr T in the process.

I realised just as I got onto the M62 west bound that the brand new dual heat controller switch that Gerbings had just sent back to me (6 months after sending it in for repair) was not working meaning my heated jacket was doing nothing. The cold was getting to me already even at 4 degrees C. things were not looking good! Pulling into Birch Services I had another go at switching the controller on, nothing. “Great!”

(My apologies to Gerbing, the controller does work, I tested it today and had not pressed the button long enough for it to come on last night, sorry!)

So it was off with the new and back on with the old single controller. What a “faff”, this was the last thing I needed to be doing at 2am in the morning with an 880 mile ride in front of me. The Iron Butt riders always say “do not try new equipment out on big ride”. How true that advice was turning out to be. Old trusty single controller plugged back in, jackets both zipped up and heated gloves swapped back to Seal Skinz winter riding gloves and I was off again. Temperature check 4 degrees C.

Riding at night on 

lit road...

Unlit

and in Fog...... not good!

Dunblane - After looking closely at my proposed route which I’d planned over a fortnight ago  I’d changed it at about 3.00 o’clock that afternoon by deciding to ride clockwise as opposed to anticlockwise. This would mean I’d be riding  the “night shift” up the M6 / M74 heading to my first Gold Post Box of the night Dunblane. The other change being my start time, 1.30am as opposed to just after midnight giving me a couple of hours precious sleep which I’d enjoyed immensely.

By the time I reached Carlisle the toes on my left foot were starting to go numb, by Penrith I couldn't feel them at all and my right toes were starting to join in the deep freeze too. By the time I reached the Scottish boarder it was time to take action. I pulled into Gretna Service station and bought a coffee. Quarter of an hour later feeling restored I was on my way again. Now anyone that knows me personally will be saying one thing. “Gordon Bennett, Raymondo stopped for a brew after only an hour and a half” Shock horror,well what can I say “Folk’s do change you know”.

Glasgow saw me pulling into the services to top up on fuel and to defrost my toes again. Seems the only part of me that was catching the weather. Half an hour later I was looking for the Gold Post Box which I found near the roundabout in the village centre some 75 meters further on from where I’d plotted it so no great worries there. Temperature check 2 degrees C.

High Street Dunblane

Andy Murray - Gold medal Men's Tennis Singles

Aviemore -  The temperature at 2 degrees C. for the first hour of the 2 hours ride to Aviemore that was until the fog came down. 1 degree C. then my worst night mare 0 degrees C. appeared on the clocks, by this time the screen was frozen solid as was the GoPro

No wonder my video's were blurred!

The only other people on the A9  at 4.30am were lorries, lorries and more lorries. The A9 was full of them. I was so pleased I’d put my panniers on just before going out just for that added security of caring sleeping bag, Bivie bag and even a 1 man tent. Better safe than sorry! Plus the extra bright break and indicator lights where proving to be “priceless” in dealing with the odd “exhaust sniffer” (tailgater to most folk). As soon as I touched the break lever they would back right off. Sadly one thing I do not have on Mr T is a set of rear fog lights but I am toying with the idea after last night.

Having a number of police cars drive past me at unbelievable speed for the conditions only meant one thing. 5 minutes later my worst suspicions were realised in the form of a line of parked lorries separated by the odd car & van.

Sadly two lorries had collided just north of Pitlochry. I rode around them but as you know was  turned back. Luckily the B8079 lane was only 3 miles back and lead me around the crash area.

Arriving in Aviemore it took me a couple of ride byes in order to spot the Gold Post Box as it is sighted on a low level walk way. The chap who took the photo for me told me he was neighbor to David Smith who had won the gold medal. Temperature check 0 degrees C.

Grampian Road Aviemore

David Smith - Gold medal Rowing: Mixed Coxed Four (LTAMix4+)

Grantown on Spey  - I was pleased to be told Spey was only 14 or 15 miles up the road and with the temperature firmly sat at 0 degrees C. I could have done with a little heat from somewhere. As it turned out the foggy cold night was slowly relenting and to my surprise and deep joy allowing the sun to rise, which with it came a couple of degrees then went back down. Although a nice place I was too cold to really care at this point and just wanted to be back on Mr T and tucked up in my Gerbings heated jacket. Photo taken and that was me off up the road. Temperature check 1 degrees C.

I like it "Twisty"

High Street Grantown on Spey

Craig MacLean - Gold medal Cycling Track: Men's Individual B Sprint

Sun Rise in Scotland

Beautiful!  

Lossiemouth – There was a post on the IBA site a few days ago that read

“Just started having a dabble with the post boxes this weekend ……..  the Lossiemouth one is still red….”

I’m happy to say it is not red but Gold and has been since 2^nd of August but I had this information confirmed by Paula a fellow Gold Post Box visitor who was there on 22^nd of October. Paul had Tweeted me to confirm it was indeed Gold. Here’s Paula’s incredible Gold Box Journey Blog

The ride in the glorious Scottish morning mist was breath-taking. The sun continued to rise and all I could do was stop and take photo’s every few miles.

Arriving in the coastal town I realised the location was wrong and the Gold Post box is a few 100 metres further down the road at the side of a car park.

Clifton Road West Lossiemouth

Heather Stanning - Gold medal Women's Pairs Rowing

Westhill Aberdeen – Just 62 miles down the beautifully sunny coastal road I found the two Gold Post Boxes some 300 meters apart. Apparently the locals thought the first one near to the athletes home was a little too far out of town so they painted a second near the shopping area and bus stop. So Tim Baille has two Gold Post Boxes in his home town, Result! Temperature check 4 degrees C.

Westhill Drive Aberdeen

Tim Baillie - Gold Medal Men's Double Canoe Slalom

Westhill Drive Aberdeen

Tim Baillie - Gold Medal Men's Double Canoe Slalom

Aberdeen – Riding into the first city of the day was surprisingly easy compared to London. My first destination Golden Square which actually turned out to be a “circular” car park surrounded by some very impressive buildings also in a circle.

Golden Square Aberdeen

Neil Fachie - Gold medal Cycling: Track, Men’s Individual B Sprint

Next I was off to Castle Street which blow me down if it’s not a “Square”! Still the nice lady who came out of the local shop behind me took a good picture and the police officer looked the other way as I rode onto the “No vehicles allowed” square. I like Scottish people they're nice. Temperature check 6 degrees C. (almost tropical).

Castle Street Aberdeen

Katherine Grainger - Gold medal Women's Double Sculls Rowing

Edinburgh – The two hour ride down the A90 with Scotland’s whole quota of “Speed cameras” on it was both relaxing and enjoyable. I know the road well from riding it on the RBLR1000 and also riding it on my own SS1500 in 2010. How time flies!

As for Edinburgh, I cannot believe how different two Scottish cities can be. One a sedate almost large rural country manor type place the other a sprawling full on city of “go – getter's”. I love them both and will certainly be returning for a more leisurely visit.

Temperature check 10 degrees C. (global warming – or sitting to close to van in front).

Hanover Street Edinburgh

Chris Hoy - Gold medal Men's Team Sprint

Hunter Square Edinburgh

Chris Hoy - Gold medal Men's Keirin

Peebles - Two quick photos and I was off for the short ride down to Peebles through some stunning countryside that was once I had extradited myself from the busy streets of Edinburgh. Give me open roads any day of the week.  The A701 which leads into the A703 is a cracking little road and well worth a visit.

Peebles looked a really nice place but as ever I was on a mission to get home in time for “Snuggle – Buggles” with Lilie Rose and if all went to plan I would be, just!

Plotting in Jarrow gave me a 120 mile ride down the west side, plotting in home gave me a 190 mile ride down the east side of the country. Finally plotting in home with a Jarrow way point gave me 215 miles and added 20 minutes it was a no brainer. There was no way I was going to ride a 268 mile round trip for one Gold Post Box.

I finished my Snickers bar off which I’d started in Aberdeen, another swig of water. A quick “I’m OK” text to Jeannie who replied “Have you eaten yet?” How well she knows me and I was off to the last Gold Post Box location of the day. It was 2.15pm Temperature check 5 degrees C.

High Street Peebles

Scott Brash - Gold medal Equestrian Team Jumping

Jarrow – Last year Jeannie & I rode to Moffat with a group of the Manc Riders and we had a brilliant time. As I rode down to Jarrow the road felt very familiar indeed “yes that’s the place we stopped for lunch in Jedburgh” I said to myself. Riding through Kielder Forest again brought back loads of happy memories and the fact it wasn’t raining made the ride almost as good but just not the same.

Well after a good hour and a half enjoying some of the best roads in the North East I arrived at the grid locked A1(M). The 4.3 miles on the A1(M) took almost 35 minutes to complete, the only down side to having rather large panniers. Still when I finally escaped the kayos I was chuffed to see the roads into Jarrow were all but empty and as it was now dark it was 5.10pm

Pulling up at the first location I had plotted in my Garmin and looking up to see a red post box did not impress me much but I knew that Wikipedia can be wrong sometimes so I was off to location number two taken from the press release published on BBC news site. Bingo.

The final Gold Post box of the days is right at the side of the main shopping centre and so with photo taken and that was me for the day!  A quick drink of water. Home plumbed into Garmin 120 miles and with that I got underway. Temperature check 4 degrees C.

Grange Road Jarrow

Josef Craig - Gold medal Swimming: Men's 400m Freestyle - S7

Arriving home just in time to lift Lilie Rose into bed and give her a good old snuggle I felt a little sad. The accident and what could have happened was playing heavy on my mind. When I told Jeannie about what had happened and how lucky I’d been to miss the accident by only minutes she just looked at me…………… the exact same look my Mum had given me in the staff room of Chesterfield Co-op in 1987 when I arrived back from Germany with my sister. We had missed the midnight ferry from Zeebrugge by 10 minutes.  Arriving at the dock to find it had capsized killing 100’s of passengers because my sister wanted a  break & a cup of coffee……..

Day Fourteen - 12 Gold Post Boxes

So all in all a brilliant days riding preceded by one hell of a tough “Night Shift” . Still with only 9 more Gold Post Boxes to visit…………….. “no stop the press………. Royal Mail have just announced that all 110 yes 110 are to have a “Plaque with the winners names fitted to them” and will remain Gold in colour permanently.

98 Gold Post Boxes Visited

10 remaining

Plus 2 according to Royal Mail News

Looks like I need to find the missing 2 Gold Post Boxes. 1 already found and it’s in Manchester on Piccadilly Square, how’s that for a bit of luck! The other is still to be painted for Natasha Baker. Now that just leaves 1 to be found !!! I just hope it's not the post box in London that was painted red again after the Gold Medalists father complained and had it moved from Carshalton Road to Ewell Road for Joanna Rowsell. If so I have them all!

My favorite photo of the day