A spin out to Staffordshire to visit a hole in the ground

A day out with Mr.A and its a big loop from Lincoln, Grantham, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Burton-on-Trent and back to Lincoln via Nottingham.
All to visit a bloody great hole in the ground near Burton, (former!!) site of a WWII ammo dump that ended up being the 4th biggest explosion in the war after Hiroshima, Nagasaki and the New Mexico atom bomb tests.

Steve A. takes his life in his hands and jumps the fence to play russian roulette in the woods with unexploded ordinance.

A big hole, courtesy of WW2 armourers neglecting to use spark proof tools

Sign outside the Cock Inn. (pubs with this name are usually locally known as 'the lady's delight')

A new bike??

...........Well no.

Had  a test ride on the new water cooled GS - very nice but I'm not sure it's what a BMW GS is all about. Cruise control on a motorbike? Whatever next.
Very smooth and nippy, but I like my old tractor somehow.

First day out on RBR...

Get a text from the Sgt Major on Sunday asking if I'm up for a scoot around on Monday. Yes says I, how about kicking off the RBR for this year, so its off to East and North Yorks we go on a circular route over the Humber bridge, over the wolds and up to the moors, then down to Scarborough for fish&chips and then back to Lincs.
Its quite cool out so the electric jacket gets another airing. Not many bikes out but I've forgotten its bank holiday Monday so plenty of cars and caravans!!

The young lady at the Humber Bridge insisted we both stop and go through separately and won't lift the barrier until we work out what she wants - no problem its free now after all. First stop is at the Fimber Cafe as Neil is dying for a fag and his hands are getting a bit cold I think. I treat him to a mug of coffee. Theres no one else here bar one other car in the car park. First time I've ever stopped here, but passed it dozens of times.

Suitably refreshed, out to the moors via Malton and Pickering and up and over Blakey Edge. Sprinkling of snow up here as you would expect.  Passing the Lion Inn its a bit too early to stop for a bit of lunch, so we head on to the viewpoint on top of Leaholm Moor.

How far does Mrs Garmin reckon it is to Scarborough

Neil struggles to get a light. It's easier when you're facing away from the wind.

 Plans are made to head on down to Scarborough and into a greasy spoon for something to eat. Theres a greenlane leading eastish from here, and a quick check of the map shows it's known as Stonegate and about 2 miles long. Its a well maintained track, but plenty of loose stones and water filled holes 4-6" deep but not looking too bad today so away we go. Worst part is the last 15 yard before joining the tarmac again near Stonegate village - foot deep muddy ruts and a 'bombhole'. Steady up, decide which rut, gas it and we're through.


Start of track to Stonegate at Danby end

Excitement over for the day, we head on down to Scarborough for some snap. Neil seems to know the whereabouts of a cafe on the north bay, so we join the bucket & spade brigade and its a fill up for just over a fiver each. Time for a steady run home, this time via Driffield and no dramas at the Humber Bridge this time.



Full of fish & chips and a mug of tea, no time to build sandcastles today, but always time for another fag.