Set off Westward around 4pm Saturday.

Made reasonable progress to the M4, and settled into a brisk cruise.

Once through the narrow lanes section, the traffic slowed while the
"Traffic Wombles" closed the outside lane in response to an accident
on the other side. A it later there was an accident on my carriageway,
but I saw no TWs closing the other carriageway in response.

Almost immediately after, I had to take avoiding action to miss a
suitcase lying in lane 1A.

Motorways are so boring.

Got off at J17, and trekked cross-country to Kilmersdon near Radstock.

Here I found my first landmark of the weekend: the stone marking the
start of Jack and Jill's march up the hill (to fetch a pail of water).

From there, I headed toward Weston Super Mare, until I arrived in
Banwell. Here, there used to be a "Cart Wash", and the landmark was
the commemorative plaque.

left Banwell on fumes, and trundled cautiously towards the M5.
Having stuck 23 litres in the tank, I tanked it up the motorway to
Platy's.

PlatyFest: a sort of WestCountryChimay, without the bike racing, but
with ablutions. I felt a touch "second-hand" on Sunday a.m., and even
declined breakfast.

Set off around noon in blazing sunshine, over the Severn. Onto the
A466 up the Wye valley, then off the main road to the little village
of Broadstone. The landmark here was a stone commemorating the
donation of the land for the village green by a local landowner
chappie. At this point, I noticed the battery indicator on the camera
was not full. Eek.

Set off westward still, to Hay on Wye. There's no direct route by main
road, so it was B this and B that nearly all the way. Almost deserted,
mind, so no great handicap.

The Butter Market was easily located, though I had trouble lining up
the shot avoiding the sun. That done, I was able to turn east, and
back into England. Phew.

Arrived in Bromyard, via Leominster in good time, and immediately
found the sculpture of the resting sheep, so snapped that and set off
immediately for Great Malvern.

I think it was along this run that I came to a tiny wooden bridge,
with "AutoToll" on a scratchily written sign. Luckily, the barrier was
up, so I just rode past it, and ****ed off. Fifty pee, for tiddly
little bridge like that?

Great Malvern seems an unlikely place to build a town - up the side of
a cliff, but I suppose there are mitigating circumstances. The Theatre
of Small Convenience was listed a "leisure waypoint" on the Zumo, and
is, awkwardly, directly opposite a current [though much larger]
convenience. Parking was tricky on the steep slope, and the sun was
being awkward once more, but I got away without mishap.

From Malvern, it was SE through Upton On Severn, then onto the M50/M5
before turning off towards Beckford. At Toddington Hands roundabout, I
found the Tibblestone, over the road from the signpost which had been
the landmark some four years back.

I took the opportunity to refuel, both the bike, and myself - it was
now 5pm, and I'd eaten nothing all day - and retraced my track to the
M5.

Got off the M5 onto the A417, then nearly got wiped out by some dizzy
tart at the Air Balloon roundabout. Well, just past it, on the uphill
bit - she presumably spotted a gap in the traffic, and when changing
gear, the car veered across the road. Nothing to do with her using the
'phone though. Probably.

The 417 was empty and good progress was made round Cirencester and
Swindon, before turning off towards Wantage.

Just past the White Horse, I found the Blowing Stone, which was my
last landmark of the weekend, so I stopped for a drink and a comfort
break, before heading for the M4 via Lambourn.

The motorway was fine up to about the A33 junction, then it got
steadily worse, including several dead stops. No accidents as far as I
could see, but lots of potential for one.

Once I'd fought my way through to the Fuller's Brewery, it was fine,
and even a 30 shower along Westminster Embankment couldn't cool me
off.

So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:02:04 +0100, Bear <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, SD says...
>
>> PlatyFest: a sort of WestCountryChimay, without the bike racing, but
>> with ablutions. I felt a touch "second-hand" on Sunday a.m., and even
>> declined breakfast.
>
>Strewth. You must have enjoyed yourself

Oh, I did. Not as much as some, though. Some were as enjoyed as a
newt.
>
>> So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
>> weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies.
>
>I forget, what's the most percentage you've got on previous years?

100% four years out of seven.

>What's the target for this year?

It *should* be 100%, as I've buckets of leave left, but I guess, it'll
be around 60-70%. Scotland is worth around 40% of the total.

For instance, the Bier House at Keysoe, Beds, is a ten pointer, whilst
the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse is fifty points. There are four fifty
pointers this year, all the other side of the Great Glen. Highest
scoring landmark in England are the three in Cornwall. Thirty points.

Total points available: 2000

>It does seem one hell of a challenge. Or a sort of collective lunacy.

Er. Yes. One of them, definitely.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:24:26 +0100, Bear <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>You'd think they'd give more points for going to total shitholes ... 50
>for <insert name of Midlands town here>, 100 for Luton, etc.

There was one in Luton a couple of years back. Water Tower.
>
>And all these points change every year?

Oh, yes. Complete change all round.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:44:19 +0100, Bear <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, SD says...
>> On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:24:26 +0100, Bear <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >You'd think they'd give more points for going to total shitholes ... 50
>> >for <insert name of Midlands town here>, 100 for Luton, etc.
>>
>> There was one in Luton a couple of years back. Water Tower.
>
>You poor sod
>
>> >And all these points change every year?
>>
>> Oh, yes. Complete change all round.
>
>Then the bloke who sets it (compiles it?) must be *barkingly*
>"committed" ... or does he have a team of little helpers, like Santa?

We're invited to send in recommendations that we turn up on our
travels, but yes, he does have a helper.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

"SD" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
> weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies.

I'm sorry, please give me a clue: what would I have to Google to decipher
this sentence?
--
R.

SD <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:6f6q2kFa54v8U1
@mid.individual.net:


>
> Set off around noon in blazing sunshine, over the Severn. Onto the
> A466 up the Wye valley, then off the main road to the little village
> of Broadstone. The landmark here was a stone commemorating the
> donation of the land for the village green by a local landowner
> chappie. At this point, I noticed the battery indicator on the camera
> was not full. Eek.
>

Never heard of Broadstone in Mon. <googles> Back of beyond, pretty
scenery and a Michelin starred restaurant just down the road
http://www.crownatwhitebrook.co.uk/home.html

> Set off westward still, to Hay on Wye. There's no direct route by main
> road, so it was B this and B that nearly all the way. Almost deserted,
> mind, so no great handicap.
>

You could've called in. We have kettles now, you know.

> The Butter Market was easily located, though I had trouble lining up
> the shot avoiding the sun. That done, I was able to turn east, and
> back into England. Phew.
>
> Arrived in Bromyard, via Leominster in good time, and immediately
> found the sculpture of the resting sheep, so snapped that and set off
> immediately for Great Malvern.
>
> I think it was along this run that I came to a tiny wooden bridge,
> with "AutoToll" on a scratchily written sign. Luckily, the barrier was
> up, so I just rode past it, and ****ed off. Fifty pee, for tiddly
> little bridge like that?
>

That was Whitney on Wye, as you left Hay towards Leominster, unless you
were lost on your way *to* Hay

My mate Gerry is the tollmaster. The bridge is owned by some Yank and I
think Gerry has a laissez faire attitude to toll collection as the bloke
is minted. Gerry was probably a mile down the road in the Bridge Inn.

<snip>
>
> Just past the White Horse, I found the Blowing Stone, which was my
> last landmark of the weekend, so I stopped for a drink and a comfort
> break, before heading for the M4 via Lambourn.
>

Comfort break at the Blowing Stone, eh?

Nice write up,


> So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
> weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies

Do call in if wandering around S Wales.


--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, wessie
<(E-Mail Removed)> typed
>SD <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:6f6q2kFa54v8U1
>@mid.individual.net:
>
>> Set off westward still, to Hay on Wye. There's no direct route by main
>> road, so it was B this and B that nearly all the way. Almost deserted,
>> mind, so no great handicap.
>>
>
>You could've called in. We have kettles now, you know.
>
>> So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
>> weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies
>
>Do call in if wandering around S Wales.

NAHAY?

One of the items requiring a photo could be the underside of your
scrotum and the first thing you'd know about it would be a picture on
Dodger's website.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

My position was (and, to be honest, largely remains) one of complete ambiguity.

On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:47:27 +0100, "Rudy Lacchin"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"SD" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
>> weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies.
>
>I'm sorry, please give me a clue: what would I have to Google to decipher
>this sentence?

42 landmarks found; 58 to find. I'm doing seven of those the first
weekend in September, and of the remaining 51, the nearest to London
is in Cardiff.

That do?
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:52:23 GMT, wessie <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>SD <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:6f6q2kFa54v8U1
>@mid.individual.net:
>>
>> I think it was along this run that I came to a tiny wooden bridge,
>> with "AutoToll" on a scratchily written sign. Luckily, the barrier was
>> up, so I just rode past it, and ****ed off. Fifty pee, for tiddly
>> little bridge like that?
>>
>
>That was Whitney on Wye, as you left Hay towards Leominster, unless you
>were lost on your way *to* Hay

<Geographs>

A so it was.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/60747

Ta. I couldn't remember where it was.
>
>My mate Gerry is the tollmaster. The bridge is owned by some Yank and I
>think Gerry has a laissez faire attitude to toll collection as the bloke
>is minted. Gerry was probably a mile down the road in the Bridge Inn.

Phew.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..98154../..30234.../..32080.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 42 Pts:0695 Miles:2498

Wicked Uncle Nigel <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, wessie
> <(E-Mail Removed)> typed
>>SD <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:6f6q2kFa54v8U1
>>@mid.individual.net:
>>
>>> Set off westward still, to Hay on Wye. There's no direct route by main
>>> road, so it was B this and B that nearly all the way. Almost deserted,
>>> mind, so no great handicap.
>>>
>>
>>You could've called in. We have kettles now, you know.
>>
>>> So, 42 down, 58 to go. Discounting those [7] booked in for the EOSM
>>> weekend, the nearest one is in Cardiff, 137 miles as the crow flies
>>
>>Do call in if wandering around S Wales.
>
> NAHAY?
>
> One of the items requiring a photo could be the underside of your
> scrotum and the first thing you'd know about it would be a picture on
> Dodger's website.
>

Well, what with the bad knee'n'all, I've been spending a lot of the daytime
lying in bed. I know, I'll close the blinds. The neighbours won't be happy
but that'll make the ****er ring the door bell.

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS