First proper ride out of the year

[Millietant]

Today was the first UK FJ/FJR OC ride out of the year and the weather forecast for the day was dry and sunny, so it would have BEENrude not to join in.

It was a bit chilly first thing, setting out at 7.30am (when the temperature was 32f/0c) for the 100 mile down to the group meeting point at the Severn Bridge just north of Bristol. Pete and I, on our matching 3CV's took the scenic Fosse Way route, taking us down through the Cotswolds, which at that time of day was basically free from any traffic, meeting Graham on his matching 3CV at Gloucester, which gave us the opportunity to pick up a quick warning drink.

Arriving at the Services at Just at 09.45 we were met by the sight of around 40 bikes, mostly FJ's and FJR's, with a smattering of other bikes thrown in and after a break for refreshments, we set off on a ride into the South Walkers countryside on some exceptionally twisty and beautiful roads.

Some were very tight, single track roads up hill and down dale with stunning views for the 50 mile run up to Llangors, where we had a group lunch break at their lakeside cafe in a warming sun, with no wind to speak of. By this time, the air temperature had climbed up the to a positively balmy 42f, but sitting in the sun it definitely felt warmer.

Unfortunately, on the ride out to the lake, half the group followed a rider who was not part of the ride out and ignored one of the turns, so only 17 made out to the lunch meet, the others ending up at another local beauty spot for their lunch break 

At an hour break, and filled with good food and warm drinks, we set out on the return leg to Aust which took us on another 70 mile route of stunning roads, into the Brecons and the Forest of Dean/Wye Valley. This time we didn't lose anyone from the group.

The journey home, after parting ways with our fellow FJ'ers, was a very similar route, back up to Gloucester and onto the Fosse Way, stopping 15 miles short of home for Pete to put his FJ away in his remote garage and pick up the R1 and arriving home at 18.15.

The amazing thing to me about this ride, was that was only my 4th ride on the FJ since both my surgery and the shower of last year - 320 miles in the same and yet I had not a single ache or pain over the while day, and actually felt great once I'd put the bike away. One of my biggest fears about getting back to riding has been laid to rest and I'm really looking forward now to some more rides and our FJ Tour to Poland in June. My 6-month review appointment with the Surgeon/Oncologist is on the 28th of this month and I'm hoping for a clean bill of health - I've followed all of my recovery instructions diligently (even down to drinking only water, milk and caffeine-free fruit tea for almost 6 months) and can't wait to have a proper cup of tea, or a glass of wine 

One of the other highlights of the day was swapping bikes with another FJ rider and friend (Pete) for 60 miles off the journey back from Aust. This made me realise how well all the mods to my bike have worked. It really felt like we'r we were riding two totally different bikes.

Pete described my FJ as "smooth as silk" by comparison and he couldn't believe what a difference the front end and rear wheel/suspension had made to way the bike handled - he's now looking for a FZR USD front end. Pete already has the YZR 600R rear wheel swap parts in the garage, but as his bike came with a new Avon Storm rear tyre, he's wanting to wear that out before making the swap.

In a huge coincidence, when we stopped to refuel each other's bike after 176 miles (measured in my Garmin GPS speedo - Pete's odometer reads about 3% than mine for some reason) and at different fuel pumps, we both filled up with exactly 15.57 litres of fuel (£20.85), not even 1/100th off a litre difference - there was even a Motorhome parked between us, so we had no idea of the coincidence until the cashier in the station commented on it when we went to pay for the fuel.

All in all, a fantastic day and it was great to meet up again with Phil (Doc) Hacker and fellow FJ Racer Steve (Who) Munson - Steve also had cancer surgery last year and started chemotherapy on Boxing Day. It reminded me that we all really need to make more of an effort to keep in touch !!

Anyway, just a few photos from the cat parks, we are too busy enjoying the day to stop and take pics en-route.

EDIT - some of the photo files are too large to post from my phone, so I'll have to add them later from my PC.

[Millietant]

A few more pics and our route. The man in the photo with me is a great friend, and former FJ Racer Steve "Who" Munson.

Sorry, can't edit out the duplicate of the route map.