United Kingdom 2006
 
 

Day 02

August 20

 
 

We are up and out way early this morning after a great night's sleep. It's raining just a little bit, but I've learned to come prepared for that. Moff is ready to roll, so I snap a quick shot and we're out onto the London streets, leaving Brewer's Inn far behind.

 
 
 
 

As we make our way out of the city, I am totally amazed at the deserted streets. I'm so used to curb to curb traffic, that this seems almost surreal. We start out riding along the South Embankment of the River Thames, then over Westminster Bridge. As we go past the houses of parliament, I even have time enough to stop at the side of the road and take a picture of Big Ben without being honked or cussed at.

 
 
 
 

We work our way north up through Central London to a road call A1. Moff, an excellent historian, tells me it follows the basic same route as the original Great North Road. It has been traveled for thousands of years and was created before the Romans. It traverses the middle of England and was the same road that Guy and I took to Edinburgh in 2005. We are making good time, but the rain just keeps pouring down. I finally signal Moff so I can pull over and put on my better wet gear. While we are there, he gives me a little lesson about the police cameras and how to stay out of trouble, for which I am thankful.

 
 
 
 

Just south of Leeds, we leave the A1 for M62, also known as the Trans Pennine Motorway. The motorways in the UK are very much like the interstates in the States, except you are riding on the 'proper' side of the road. We are only on M62 for a short time before we are back on A650, going through a small town named Bradford. At Skipton, we turn on A65 to cross the Pennines, a range of hills that connect North East and North West UK that are sometimes called the "Backbone Of The UK". Traffic is pretty light, so we stop for a break just off the main highway.

 
 
 
 

It's a lovely ride through the countryside as all I have to do is follow Moff's taillights. We jump on M6, another motorway for a short period of time and I see something I will never forget. Something goes sailing through the air in a perfect pirouetting movement in front of me. It sails probably a good 20 feet up into the air before it lands in the median. I suddenly realize that it is Moff's Laminar Lip that has decided to part company with him. But he figures there's no use of wasting the time to go back and get it, so we just keep motoring on. Soon as we can, we abandon the motorway and turn on A560 to make our way toward Ulverston. It is sheep shearing time in the country and I see them in all stages of 'undress'.

 
 
 
 

Moff knows the way instinctively in the Lake District and takes us on a local twisty coastal road that he likes. We follow Morecambe Bay towards Barrow-in-Furness until we come to Roosebeck where their caravan is located.

 
 
 
 

After 320 miles in around six hours, it feels good to get off the bikes for a while. As soon as Moff heads toward his place, Fizzy Pop, his pooch, comes to greet his master. I guess it is true that we tend to have dogs that are a lot like us. I have my Bubba, Moff has his Fizzy Pop.

 
 
 
 

I have the unique pleasure of meeting Moff's momma, Miss Norma, first. She is standing on the porch as I walk up and she says -

"I appreciate you befriending Moff. You mean a lot to him."

"Well ma'am, I can tell you he means a lot to me too!"

Mommas are still mommas regardless of how old their boys get, and they still are glad when their boys make good friends. I guess that I have been a good influence for Moff, and for that I am happy.

They have prepared a 'Sunday Roast' for me and boy does it ever smell good cooking as I go into his parent's caravan. I meet Mr. Cliff, Moff's dad and he is a real joy. We have a great time of talking, as they describe their adventures as missionaries in a difficult, poor section of London and I talk about some of my experiences in ministering in a rough part of Nashville. They are a real blessing to me, and I immensely enjoy their company. When Miss Danni-anne, Moff's oldest girl comes in, I can see the joy light up the faces of her grandparents. She is quite the character - a regular little Moff with pretty eyes and pretty blonde hair.

 
 
 
 

I also get to meet Miss Nikki, Moff's lovely wife. I tell her -

"You and my daughter share the same name."

Of course, Fizzy Pop wants to be the center of his momma's attention.

 
 
 
 

After the scrumptious meal, they ask me if I would like some dessert.

"Well, I reckon I could work it in. Wouldn't want to be inconsiderate you know."

So Danni-anne disappears for a moment and comes back with a big grin and a chocolate cake that would make your tongue beat your brains out. I'll tell you that the chocolate in the UK is up at a whole other level above what we get back in the States.

 
 
 
 

After we finish up, Moff takes me over to their caravan, where I get introduced to little David. For all of his physical challenges, he is quite active. We hit it right off, as I tickle him and play with him, using a bit of my 'grandpa' experience. Moff and Nikki are amazed at how he is giggling and laughing as we play together. I tell them -

"I guess I get along better with dogs and kids than I do adults."

I can only imagine the challenges that they now face and will face ahead with David as he tries to understand the world around him without sight or hearing. I make a promise in my heart to keep them and him in my prayers.

Too soon, it's time to hit the road again so we can meet Dave in Moffat, Scotland. This is the same town that Guy and I spent the night in on our 2005 trip. Moff guides us back along the coastal road then up by beautiful Lake Windermere. I get to go over Kirkstone Pass from the opposite direction that Guy and I rode from.

 
 
 
 

I could ride roads like these in scenery like this forever. But the traffic makes it difficult to make time and we need to get to Moffat at a reasonable hour.

 
 
 
  Soon we are back on M6 making a dash for Moffat. I had said something to Moff about getting a another picture of Border of Scotland, so he takes me on a slight detour so I can do that.  
 
 
  We finally arrive in Moffat at around 6:30 PM and we see Dave's Wineberry ST1100 waiting for us patiently with Dave nearby.  
 
 
  As we pull out of Moffat, Dave takes the lead to Tayport where his flat is located. He rides a lot and knows the roads in this area and how to avoid traffic. So it's up A701 pretty much all the way to Edinburgh. It's been a long day for Moff and I, so we pull off and take a much needed stretch break.  
 
 
  We make a quick run through Edinburgh over the Firth of Forth and on to Tayport. It is pretty dark by the time we reach his flat.  
 
 
  Moff and I have been in the saddle all day, having cover over 520 miles for the day. So it's not long before we are all making strange sounds that vaguely resembled roaring lions or thunder storms - with our eyes closed.