RTTW 2012

With my head bowed, all I could hear was the chinking of the cable against the flag pole.

15,000 Bikers present and you could have heard a pin drop. Now if that is not a sign of respect for our Armed Forces, then I have no idea what is.

RTTW 5th Anniversary 2012 

2012 RTTW - Ride to the Wall our 4^th and the RTTW’s 5^th anniversary was simply amazing.

So many bikers in just one small area showing their support for our Armed Forces and their respect for those no longer with us. Nothing I can say will portray the immense pride I and the other 14,999 bikers have in our Armed Forces but still we all have one thing in common, the Ride to the Wall, held the first weekend in October every year. The first ride was the idea of just one man Martin Dickinson.
Read about the History of Ride to the Wall on the RTTW website. From humble beginnings in 2007 to the first ever RTTW in 2008 the event has grown into what can only be described as the "Biggest Event" in the biking communities calender.

RTTW Mission Statement
That bikers may gather together and ride as a group to a place of remembrance to pay their respects to our serving and fallen servicemen and women and in doing so raise funds solely for the purpose of perpetuating their memory.

Getting up at 6.30am on a Saturday is never great but once a year Jeannie& I do just that. The reason being, we are both ex-forces, both having served in the British Army. Jeannie as an Officer in the Queen Alexander Royal Army Nursing Corp (QA’s) as a Captain & me as a Corporal in the Army Catering Corp, re-badging on Spilt docks in Bosnia to Royal Logistics Corp.

Meeting the guys from the MancRiders just off junction 19 of the M6 was nice. There were a few faces we knew and what was better still a few faces we didn’t. As with all clubs we, the MancRiders that is, are starting to draw in like minded members. Mature, local, dedicated bikers with nothing to prove who just want to enjoy riding and having a laugh. Of all the forums I partake in the MancRiders has to be the most open minded and at times, ruthless bunch of people I have had the pleasure of chatting to and meeting. No bull, no quarter given or expected. If you want a straight forward “what you see is what you get” bunch of true mates then look no further than the MancRiders.

MancRiders Motley Crew 2012

The ride down the M6 was kept interesting by a couple of "eager beavers" and frustrated as ever by the impatient drivers pulling in and generally not giving a dam about what we were a part of. Once we were off the M6 at the toll road the crowds appeared, waving, and cheering us on. This is when you just know you are part of something special, really special. The crowds got bigger the closer we got to the National Memorial Arboretum , why it is not called the Royal Arboretum I have absolutely no idea, still there’s always time.

So many bikers, all heading to the RTTW

Pulling into the “over-flow” car park to find thousands of bikes there already is both reassuring and humbling. So many bikers, so much respect.

15,000 Bikers with one thing on their minds

"Respect"

The National Memorial Arboretum is full to overflowing , our 4^th visit and even more bikers than ever before, filling the place with so much respect. It is without doubt the busiest day of the year and I am so proud to be a part of the whole event.

Listening to the pipers fills me with pride, the video of thanks from our troops in Afghanistan makes me want to cry. They are thanking us, the biking community for attending, I am holding back the tears as I write just thinking about how sincere their words of thanks were. In my world it is “Us” who should be thanking them for doing what they are doing, keeping us safe and happy. Allowing us to live our lives in relative peace and calm. I know what it is like to see sadness and destruction first hand. It’s a place I visit in my mind quite often, not as often as years gone by but it is still there waiting to remind me when I’m at my lowest ebb.

The fly over was brilliant 

The sound of the bugler sounding the reveille brings us all back to the here and now with what can only be called relief. It’s then I realise that what happened in Bosnia is for the most part forgotten, except for today.

As long as I have a breath in my body and a bike in the garage I will always attend the RTTW – Ride to the Wall at the National Memorial Arboretum .

After the joke came the painful reminder

of the Falkland's Conflict 

After what feels like minutes the event is over, the thoughts are stowed away, the  prayers are said and everyone who attends shares one common bond, that of respect for those no longer with us.

In the visitors centre stands a poignant reminder of our forces losses. One which strikes a cord with so many visitors, “Empty Chairs” it is called by the artist Mike Yorke. It is a display of small model “Empty Chairs” each representing a member of the Armed Forces who as lost their lives in Afghanistan. When he started the project there were 140 “Empty Chairs” as of 7^th October 2012 there are 438. This display hit Jeanie & I like a ton of bricks as we always set an extra place at the table each year for special occasion’s like birthdays and Christmas in memory of our family members who are no longer with us. Our very own “Empty Chair”.

"Empty Chair's" by Mike Yorke

Riding away from the National Arboretum Memorial a feeling of calm descends over me and I can hold my head up high knowing that once again the biking community has held fast and proved we are 100% behind our Armed Forces.

 

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them”.

“We Will Remember Them”

Day 11 Homeward Bound

Monday 1^st October - Day 11                      Daily Mileage 275 – Total  3100

Having had a good night’s sleep on Ron’s couch it was time to head back into London city centre to wish Bruce Smart of www.TeaPotOne.com “Bon Voyage” as he sets off around the world from the Cenotaph at 9.30am.

Ron gave me a shout at 5.30am, no rest for the intrepid Gold Post Box hunter. By 6.30 we were on our bikes having said our fair well’s after coffee, as Ron was off to work and I was heading home after seeing Bruce of along with another 40 bikers.

Following Ron on his CBR600 in the rain through what was interesting. The traffic was quickly building into the beloved London Rush-Hour and it was not long before Ron peeled off leaving me to carry on alone. Not something that I was looking forward to but as I rode over London Bridge past the Houses of Parliament it all felt a little surreal. There were cars, taxis, buses, bikes and scooters absolutely everywhere.  The time was flying by.

Westminster - Riding through yet another tunnel I was filtering through gaps that I’d never thought possible. I even clipped my mirror and shoulder on a couple of occasions. “Steady on Raymondo” I told myself but I just didn’t want to be late for the photo of Bruce & I at the Westminster Gold Post Box. We had arranged to meet at 7.45am so Bruce could get to the Cenotaph for 8.00am.

I arrived at Gold Post Box , I asked the police guarding the entrance to the Houses of Parliament. They didn’t know where it was. Just at that minute the postman arrived in his van, the police officer asked him and he pointed across the square. “It’s over there, you can’t miss it” I already had done, twice! Tiredness was starting to seep in.

Thanking them both I rode around the square again and true enough there it was just 10 foot from where I had ridden 5 minutes ago. I parked up at the side and took a few pictures Tweeting one to a couple of fellow #GoldBoxJourney’s.

Westminster Abbey - Project Launch

By 7.55am I knew Bruce was not coming so I mounted up and headed around the corner to the Cenotaph where Bruce was already drawing a crowd. As I arrived he came straight over,

“I was here at 7.45am as we arranged”

“It’s OK I was at the Gold Post Box, we must have got our wires crossed and I realise you have enough on today”.

Bruce’s bike was packed so high I wondered how the hell he was going to get on. Just as well he’s over 6 foot tall and can just put his leg through without issue. Within what felt like minutes there were well over 30 bikes behind Bruce’s bike. It was a sight to see and the photographer was having a ball. All the charities Bruce is raising funds for were represented and I was  really pleased to see “Wandering Walton’s” across the side of Bruce’s bike.

Now that's what I call

"Packed"

We will travel with Bruce every inch of the way

In mind & spirit if not in body

9.15am everyone mounted up and followed Bruce to the other side of the Cenotaph to have a group photo. I’ve looked on line but it’s not up yet but I will post a picture once I’ve found it. There was Bruce in front 8 Police Bikes who would escort the 40 bikes out of London. It was a brilliant occasion and one I’m pleased to have been a part of.

Bruce with representatives from all the charities

he is supporting

www.TeapotOne.com

9.30am prompt Bruce led us all out escorted by the police cavalcade. It was brilliant but as they were all heading to Dover and I was heading to Stoke Mandeville I peeled off after the first mile and doubled back to where we had started.

And he's off..........

"Good luck Bruce - have a fantastic journey"

Turville – My first destination was 40 miles away to the West of London and so off I set. The first 15 miles  was heading out of the city in the rain. Not that much fun but luckily for me it was a single road all the way to the M1. I have never been so pleased to see a motorway in my life as I was yesterday morning. Manchester traffic is an absolute doddle  after running the gauntlet of London Monday morning rush hour traffic.

Heading along the M1 I was soon looking for the A41 turn off which would whisk me across to Turville. I thought I’d best top up with fuel only to find three consecutive Shell garages void of unleaded fuel. I carried on to the quaint village but could not find the Gold Post Box for the life of me. Pulling over at the local pub I asked a couple who were in the car park.

“It’s the brick post just at the side of the road on the grass verge” replied the kind lady.

“It doesn’t look like a post box from three sides you have to be on the foot path to see it” added the gentleman pulling up weeds.

True to their word the pillar was there and I’d ridden past it three times. Photo taken it was time to head to my most anticipated Gold Post box of the day.

Main Street Weston Turville

Pamela Relph - Gold medal Rowing: Mixed Coxed Four (LTAMix4+)

Stoke Mandeville – The short ride from Turville to Stoke Mandeville was over in a flash and there it stood the Gold Post Box painted by Baroness Grey-Thompson to commemorate the birth place of the Paralympics.

As I pulled up in front of the Gold Post Box I felt sick. It was sealed by a metal plate and had clearly been subject to some form of vandalism. Taking my photo a tear ran down my cheek.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Baroness Grey-Thompson - To celebrate every ParalympicsGB gold medal win.

Now part of me wants to explode with rage at this mindless display of disrespect and the other part of me feels sick to the pit of my stomach. I have contacted @RoyalMailNews and forwarded on a picture that I took. They are looking into it. I did a little research today and found out that no less than 4 Gold Post Boxes have been vandalised two of which I have already visited. They were in a good state of repair when I visited them but this is just sad. People peeling Gold Paint from Andy Murrays Gold Post Box inDunblane, Kat Copeland’s Gold Post Box in Ingleby Barwick was defaced by two young girls, Jessica Ennis ‘s Gold Post Box in Sheffield,  was defaced with “Go Jess” and to top it off police are hunting vandals who sprayed 5 post boxes gold in Norfolk. Has the country gone mad?

Oxford – With mixed feelings I left Stoke Mandeville and rode over to Oxford my last visit of the day.  Arriving without issue, a student agreed to take my photo as her friend looked on giggling. Seems I can still get folks laughing at me even without trying.

Divinity Road Oxford

Lily van den Broecke - Gold medal Rowing: Mixed Coxed Four (LTAMix4+)

Day Eleven - 4 Gold Post Boxes 

So with the my mission complete I plumbed “Home” into the Garmin 660 and was told “184 mile to your destination” doddle. I arrived back in Rochdale after only seeing a couple of incidents. The first being a Volvo’s engine burst into flames in the middle lane of the M6 North bound. I only just managed to ride through the plume of smoke as the owner watched one of the road workers douse the front end of the car with a foam extinguisher.

Only to see on the opposite side of the road, a truck ram a car clean out of the way spinning it into the hard shoulder facing the wrong way. The car driver had slowed down after seeing the plume of smoke from the burning car I’d just riden through.

Still it took a nice ‘ethnic female driver’ in a dark green Rover 600 to pull straight out in front of me just 2 miles from my front door to round off what had been a wonderful yet thought provoking days ride.

Day 10 “Golden Sunday”

Sunday 30^th September - Day 10                     Daily Mileage 539 – Total 2825

With the challenge of visiting all the Gold Post Boxes over 22 days of riding I thought I’d better pull something out of the bag, so to speak. The number of Gold Post Boxes is growing at an alarming rate, there are now 100 throughout England, Scotland & Wales, 1 on the Isle of Sark, 1 on the Isle of Man and now fantastically 3 in Northern Island giving us a grand total of 105 Gold Post Boxes. However the Royal mail have added a footer to the list saying there may be more added in the future!

Trying to map all the locations is turning into a daily struggle. Some post boxes appear on the Royal Mails Gold Post Box Finder site then suddenly vanish. The same can be said for Wikipedia’s Gold post Box List’s too so it’s just a matter of gathering the information from anywhere or anyone willing to help.

I’m lucky in one respect that two fellow #GoldBoxJourney families are in constant contact with me through Twitter. @Gold_Postbox_Family & @PaulaJubliee are travelling around the country visiting the Gold Post Boxes & we’re all keeping each other updated on where the Gold post boxes are which is a great help. @Gold_Postbox_Family told me about Pete Reed’s second Gold Post Box near Nailsworth as recently as yesterday so that’s another one to go on the list that I was unaware of.

So, with my mind full of lists & maps I headed off to bed at 8.30pm on Saturday night leaving Jeannie and Ben watching the TV. A quick shower & within minutes I was fast asleep content in the knowledge Mr T was packed, my bike gear was laid out ready to put on and all the locations and route were uploaded into my trusty guide, my Garmin 660.

In what felt like minutes the alarm went off, I was wide awake, wired! Rolling over I thought it odd Jeannie wasn’t there? Up washed, dressed, I headed down to find both Jeannie & Ben watching TV.

“We wanted to say have a great ride and see you off, Dad” Ben said as he gave me a massive back-breaker of a hug.

“You be good for Mum now and look after her whilst I’m down at Uncle Ron’s, OK?

“I will, love you, say hello to Uncle Ron from me won’t you”

“I will” Big Kiss.

I said my good bye to Jeannie and left them to it. 

Sat on Mr T I opened the garage door and that is when it hit me like a punch in the face! It was pitch black outside the time half past midnight. In order to achieve my challenge I’d decided to put on my “Iron Butt Head”. The plan, I’ve always got a plan, to ride to London picking up a swathe of Gold Post Boxes on route. Meet Ron at the Ace Café for breakfast at 9.00am. Visit all the Gold Post Boxes in London bar one, Westminster which I would do on Monday morning. Try and collect as many as possible on the outskirts of London. Spend the night at Ron’s then back to Westminster to meet Bruce of www.TeaPotOne.com and take part in his setting off on his “Around the World Ride”. Finally head home collecting whatever Gold Post Boxes we missed.

Halifax - It all sounded simple enough in my mind but as I watched the temperature gauge plummet from 17 degrees down to 8 degrees I was just wishing I’d plugged my heated jacket in already. The ride over the tops was nice not a single car on the roads, up and over the hills past the White House Pub I realised I’d best top up with fuel. At £1.40 a litre in Rossendale I kicked myself for not filling up at ASDA in Rochdale at £1.36. I even had to hand my card over before filling up, it was like being in France all over again.

Pulling into Halifax town centre I realised straight away, I’ve done this one. Something I told the “Street Angel” in her high viz vest as I almost rode over her stood in the middle of the road I’d just tried to turn down. Great start to a long ride still Hannah Cockroft’s second Gold Post box on Tabor Road was only 1.8 miles away that was until I punched it into the Garmin that is. “3.2 miles to  Tabor Road?” Brilliant pieces of equipment Satellite Navigation Units but I’ll tell you one thing they never marry up with the mapping program on my laptop (and yes I have downloaded the latest maps thank-you).

Still it was a straight run out of Halifax and I was there. The Gold Post Box took a little finding as I never imagined it would be in someone’s outside wall but hey who cares. Photo taken and I was happy to now be heading South.

Mount Tabor Road Halifax

Hannah Cockroft - Gold Medal Athletics: Women's 200m - T34

Kirkby Ashfield – There’s not a lot to say about the ride down other than I was happy that the Garmin clipped off the M62/M1 turning as it was closed for the night. What did surprise me was arriving at the Post Office to find the post box RED! “Here we go again” I screamed in my lid! Riding around at 2.25am looking for a post box is not  great especially in a suburban area. Luckily for me a white van came up the side road looking to turn left in front of me onto the street I was on. I gave the driver a wave and flashed to indicate I wanted to speak to him. The van driver stopped and wound the window down. To my surprise he was dressed in a familiar black uniform with head set on and the biggest Alsatian I’ve ever seen in a cage in the back. Whoops!

“Good evening officer, I’m looking for the Gold Post Box do you know where it is?”

“Yes”

Pause!!!

“Can you tell me whereabouts I can find it as I’m visiting all the Gold Post Boxes in the UK”

“Yes”

Pause!!!

“Where is it?”

“I’m going that way now, follow me”

“That’s great thank you”

5 minutes of back lanes and side roads  later and the hazard lights switched on in the van. There is was 2.8 miles away from the location I’d taken from the internet. Ahhhgggg!

Still after a brief chat and the offer to take my picture which I gracefully accepted I had my photo. Now how’s that for a stroke of luck at 2.30am Sunday morning.

Chapel Street Kirkby in Ashfield

Ollie Hynd - Gold medal Swimming: Men's 100m Backstroke - S8

Lowdham – is just 16 miles down the road on the outskirts of Nottingham and is a brilliant twisty stretch of tarmac. The post box is outside the Post Office and so within minutes I was off to my next destination without issue.

Main Street Lowdham

Richard Whitehead - Gold Medal Athletics: Men's 200m - T42

Milton Keynes – A spirited 85 mile ride down the M1 then into the bike heaven that is Milton Keynes roundabout city of the world! I had a great time only interrupted by a pit stop for loo and fuel. Again the loo was out of order but I’m sorry to say the back of the patrol station wasn’t! Relieved and happy I arrived at the shopping precinct and took the photo.

Silbury Boulevard Milton Keynes

Greg Rutherford - Gold medal Men's Long Jump

Bedford - No drama’s straight  across to Bedford, post box found, photo taken I was away again.

St Paul’s Square Bedford

Etienne Stott - Gold Medal Men's Double Canoe Slalom

Stotfold – “Where is this damned post box?” Could I find it, Brook Street, right I’m  here the shops are there, nope I could not see it and at 4.15 in the morning I was getting a wee bit stressed out too say the least. 35 minutes it took me find the damned Gold Post Box at the other end of the street! Hay ho and on we go.

Brook Street Stotfold

Victoria Pendleton - Gold medal Women's Keirin

Elsenham – Brilliant, straight down the hill and straight in front of me stood the Gold Post Box Photo taken and I was off quick as a flash. With the sun now up life just got a whole lot better.

Robin Hood Road Elsenham

Ben Maher - Gold medal Equestrian Team Jumping

Harlow – “Excuse me do you know where the Gold Post Box is?”

“Yes love it’s down there but you will have to ride back around town as it’s a one way road”

Yea right! at 6.00am on a Sunday morning, I’m sure I’m going all the way around Harlow to get to a post box 20 foot away. Photo taken I was away in minutes.

Post Office Road Harlow

Laura Trott - Post Office Road Gold medal Women's Team Pursuit



Cheshunt– In, photo, other end of town, photo number two taken, out, enough said!

Cadmore Lane Cheshunt

Laura Trott - Cadmore Lane - Gold medal Women's Team Pursuit

Newham Parade Cheshunt

Laura Trott - Newham Parade - Gold medal Women's Omnium

Enfield - Having made good progress I could either arrive at the Ace Café at 8.15am straight from Enfield or go to Watford and bag another Gold Post Box. The post box won hands down. Like I said I’d got my Iron Butt Head on.

Southbury Road Enfield

Charlotte Dujardin - Gold medal Equestrian Team Dressage



Watford –  A kind Polish chap took my picture before rushing off before I could even say thank you and check if it was OK. So to the kind chap in Watford “Thank You for taking my photo with the Gold Post Box”. As for the chap trying to sell me a Bible…….. I’ll leave that to your imagination’s!

High Street Watford

Anthony Joshua - Gold medal Boxing Men's Super Heavy Weight 

London – Now there is absolutely no way I am going to break each and every suburb down or this Blog will be colossal. I’m sorry if this offends true Londoners but hey I’m a Northerner, deal with  it!

Breakfast at the Ace Café was very enjoyable and by 9.00am it was heaving with bikers. I love visiting the Ace Café as it is just one of those places that has stood still in time. 1960’s time and it brings me out in goose bumps just thinking about being a “Biker” back in the 60’s.

Ron arrived and we had a good catch up. Not impressed with the thought of visiting Gold Post Boxes would be a polite way of putting it but “what are best mates for if not to get you to do stuff you’ve no interest in what so ever, hey Ron?”

Now I don’t visit London (or Ron come to that matter) half enough. It’s a great city with some of the UK’s most iconic land marks all within one sprawling metropolis. I love it but in short bursts. Needless to say by 2.00pm we were heading out of the city off to collect the two far flung Gold Post Boxes near Reading.

The reason I’m not going to prattle on about how manic the inner city is, how mad the driving and rising is can be summed up in this small briefing Ron gave me before we left the Ace Café.

“Right so tell me if I’ve got this straight or not”

“30 means 40, 40 means 50, 50 means 60, yes”

“Yea, that’s right”

“And what were you saying about passing”

“There are no lanes, pass where you can, slow down for the camera’s but ignore the average speed cameras as there not switched on”

Oh and I nearly forgot, don’t go round the bollards though, the police don’t like that at all” 

With those words of wisdom clearly logged in my head we set off. Here’s the 7 inner city Gold Post boxes we visited in rapid succession. All I can say is I’m glad I chose a Sunday to visit them as the city is one very busy place even on a Sunday. We saw a film being made, where one of the security men actually let me sneak into the corner of the back drop between takes to get the photo at Chiswick. We visited Wimbledon, Ron had me doing the Mo “M” just to make sure everyone watching knew I was a total head case visiting all the Gold Post boxes. We visited a post box that was only Gold for a week then re-painted red on Carshalton Road? I even managed to get up close to the Gold Post Box in Cheam which was a little bit of a challenge and chose to push my bike back with hazards flashing so as not to upset anyone.

Heathfield Terrace Chiswick

Pete Reed - Heathfield Terrace Gold medal Men's Four Rowing

London Road London

Mo Farah - Gold medal Men's 10,000m

Broad Street/North Lane Teddington

Mo Farah - Gold medal Men's 5000m

Church Road/Somerset Road Wimbledon

Andy Murray - Gold medal Men's Tennis Singles

Worple Road Wimbledon

Sophie Hosking - Gold medal Women's Lightweight Double Sculls Rowing

Woodcote Road Wallington

David Weir - Woodcote Road - Gold medal Athletics: Men's 5000m - T54

Ewell Road Cheam

Joanna Rowsell - Gold medal Women's Team Pursuit

(Sadly on my return home I now see we missed visiting David Wier’s second Gold Post Box just 1 mile up the road on the edge of Mollinson Square, mistake number one.)

Bentworth - Happily after a boring ride down the A3 we were out of town and soon onto some interesting country lanes. Ron was really happy to be out of the city and started to enjoy himself a little “though he will stringently deny it to anyone who asks”.

Now having had another look on the Gold Post Box Finder site and on Wikipedia I see that Peter Charles Gold Post at Bentworth is no longer listed I have Tweeted @RoyalMailNews but had no reply so I am claiming this as an official Gold Post Box and leaving it in until someone tells me otherwise.

Bentworth

Peter Charles

Alton – Not the Alton where my Dad lives but the one near Bentworth. Again a lovely town with pub’s offering two Sunday Lunches for £10 “Sorry Love we’re sold out, but you can have a drink if you like!”. Moving on swiftly.

Paper Mill Lane Alton

Peter Charles - Gold medal Equestrian Team Jumping

We found a lovely Pub called ”The Bull Inn” at Bentley where we stopped for an amazingly tasty Sunday Lunch and a soft drink for the princely sum of £30. Well worth every penny it was too.

The Bull Inn at Bentley

"Does a brilliant Sunday Lunch"

Sunningdale – A swift ride up the A31 / M3 put us back on the outskirts of West London, straight in and out photo taken we moved on. (On my return I now see I missed visiting Sophie Christiansen’s other Gold Post Box some 3 and half miles up the road in Egham, mistake number two).

London Road Sunningdale

Sophie Christiansen - Gold medal Equestrian: Mixed Individual Championship Test

Maidenhead – In out no fuss what so ever, photo taken and away.

High Street Maidenhead

Sophie Christiansen - Gold medal Equestrian: Equestrian: Mixed Individual Freestyle Test - Grade Ia

Marlow – See above plus a quick call home to check in and let Jeannie know we were all right, if not a little tired by now in my case.

High Street Marlow

Naomi Richel - Gold medal Rowing: Mixed Coxed Four - LTAMix4+ final

Henley-on-Thames - Ron and I had a discussion about whether or not to visit Oxford and the two Gold Post Boxes on the way there but chose to head back into the city to collect the last Gold Post box of the day.

Hart Street Henley-on-Thames

Henley Rowers - A celebration of Henley Rowing Clubs

Uxbridge – With a little effort we managed to squeeze both bike together each side of the Gold Post Box for the last photograph of the day. 

High Street Uxbridge

Natasha Baker Gold medal Equestrian: Mixed Individual Championship Test - Grade II

Day 10 - 26 Gold Post Boxes 

“Golden Sunday” had been a resounding success with 26 Gold Post Boxes visited and photographed. We only missed 1 box which it turned out had been painted back to red and missing just two opportunities to visit two more Gold Post Boxes.

Still, as I said to Ron “It just gives me an excuses to re-visit London again”.

Just not today………..Oh and Thomas to answer your question, "Yes it is possible to vist 20 Gold Post Boxes in a day"