An Awayday to Milton Keynes

The day had arrived. The day for my first long ride since I came back from Assen over a year ago.

In fact with only 390 miles logged from one mot to the next it didnt look good for my biker credentials...

According to TomTom it was 124 miles door to door each way.

To ensure I got there in good time to find somewhere to park Vera, and in case of heavy traffic, I planned to leave at 1130 for a 1500 kick off. Doable?

I was away at around 1120. I was going to set the Yamaha My Ride but forgot. 

Although the TomTom was connected to my phone and helmet headset, there was no sound. 

First stop was Tesco at Ashford. The range shown on the instrument panel was lower than the distance to Bletchley and Stadium MK.

Petrol and diesel is 3p a litre less than our usual Tesco at Cheriton. It shows what rip-off Britain is all about.

The journey wasn't too bad as long as you discount the 50mph limit and the three mile queue to the Dartford Tunnel... I filtered through the latter at not much more than walking pace. Most car and truck drivers sensibly letting bikes filter.

The next holdup was joining the M1. Traffic either stopped or crawling at 20mph. This went all the way past Hemel to the climb towards Luton Airport junction.

Finally I arrived at Bletchley and the stadium at 1416! Almost three hours on the road.

I found a place to park next to an old Honda Blackbird on a gravel corner of the car park by entrance 7. Away fans are entrance 3. Diagonally opposite to where I am parked! The stadium is in the centre of a massive shopping food court.

Every fast food joint I had ever heard of, and loads I hadn't, available. I missed them all out and settled for a Greggs sausage roll. 

The away fans are in the North stand. Luckily the seat next to mine was unsold so I had somewhere to put my Triumph 'Steve McQueen" jacket. 

The game was pretty even. Neither side really bothered the goal and so 0-0 was a reasonable result. 

Once out of the stadium I decided to go left and complete a complete lap of the outside. The Blackbird guy was there with a small boy pillion. A nod and he was off into the traffic.

It took a while for me to get ready and take off the disclock. Then I was away. 

Once clear of the traffic around the immediate area I basically retraced my steps. 

At the St Albans A1081 junction with the M25 I peeled off into the Tesco's. It's been there for years. Except it was a Sainsbury's!! It still had petrol. I filled up with E10. Unlike Tesco where I had popped in a tank of E5.

From there, only the usual four lanes of free moving traffic to thr QEII Bridge at Dartford. No long holdups and stationary traffic this evening.

There are signs over head on the Hertfordshire section; "Don't be a middle lane hogger" and 'Use the left lane unless overtaking". Sadly no bugger reads them. I couldn't count the clowns stoically plodding along at less than the 70mph limit on lanes 2 & 3. I must have overtaken hundreds whilst riding along in the left lane....

Why post these signs but don't police it?

I chose to follow TomTom's advice and go down the A2 and M2 instead of the M20.

It made a change. By the time I got to Maidstone I needed a comfort break. In fact I need the loo and a bum break. 

Whilst in Maidstone Services after the first break, I had a latte from McDonald's. I sat for a while and people watched. 

It was Saturday evening and there were all sorts on the road. Families.  

The McDonald's Drive-Thru was also rammed. A long queue that was beginning to block one of the parking exits.

Of course. Due to Operation Brock, the junction slip road is blocked. This means going back a junction and turning 360° or taking the A20. I took the A20 to Ashford and rejoined the M20 there.

All in all a good but long day for 90 minutes of football. By the time I got onto the drive it was around 9 hours since I had left....

Where next? Meldrews maybe next weekend and the Biker Photos guys near Jo's on the road to Rye? Later in August for the Arsenal home game with (Dirty) Leeds United?

We'll see.