Day One: Ace Cafe to Stonehenge to Bath
We have no internet access this morning here in Bath, but I’ll type out an update in hopes I am able to get connected later in the day.
Yesterday was an absolutely unbelievable start to the ride. Everyone seemed to be excited and nervous and ready for the ride to get started. Two of our wonderful supporters at Harley-Davidson here in the UK – Marg and Alan – got up early on their Saturday to join us at the hotel for our momentous ride to the Ace Café.
The weather was perfect. The rain was totally gone, there was sun and a few clouds, not too hot or too cold. Just perfect. There was a huge crowd waiting for us at the historic Ace, including the owner Mark, friends and family and lots of media.
We spent the next hour and a half talking to reporters from newspapers and even managed a live spot on Sky TV. Carolyn and Alison were brave enough to share their stories on air. Then there were the photographers who positioned us and the bikes every which way looking for the perfect shot. One of them was from the Sunday Times, so with a little luck we’ll be in today’s paper.
They broadcast our departure live on Sky News, and we left the Ace to a huge round of cheers and applause. More than a few tears in some helmets.
We had a police escort that was a huge help in getting us through lights and difficult intersections as a group. Everyone is riding very well, and it is an awesome sight to see our group together on the road.
We had to fight our way through some tedious stop and go traffic, but our reward as we came over a hill was an incredible sight of Stonehenge rising out of the countryside. Everything seemed to be going our way, as there was parking for all the bikes and the van just inside the main parking lot, although the place was packed with tourists. While Meredith was in line negotiating our 10% group discount, Dee was off talking her way into getting us all in for free!!!
The ride from Stonehenge to Bath was beautiful. Winding country roads, lush and green. So many sights and sounds and smells. Some of us even saw a newborn calf in a field just off the road.
We spent the evening in Bath having dinner just outside the beautiful Abbey. We stayed in the dorms at Bath University which was great.
As we begin day 2, we have another perfect, sunny day. It should be a relaxing ride through beautiful country roads to our next stop - Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Megan
Yesterday was an absolutely unbelievable start to the ride. Everyone seemed to be excited and nervous and ready for the ride to get started. Two of our wonderful supporters at Harley-Davidson here in the UK – Marg and Alan – got up early on their Saturday to join us at the hotel for our momentous ride to the Ace Café.
The weather was perfect. The rain was totally gone, there was sun and a few clouds, not too hot or too cold. Just perfect. There was a huge crowd waiting for us at the historic Ace, including the owner Mark, friends and family and lots of media.
We spent the next hour and a half talking to reporters from newspapers and even managed a live spot on Sky TV. Carolyn and Alison were brave enough to share their stories on air. Then there were the photographers who positioned us and the bikes every which way looking for the perfect shot. One of them was from the Sunday Times, so with a little luck we’ll be in today’s paper.
They broadcast our departure live on Sky News, and we left the Ace to a huge round of cheers and applause. More than a few tears in some helmets.
We had a police escort that was a huge help in getting us through lights and difficult intersections as a group. Everyone is riding very well, and it is an awesome sight to see our group together on the road.
We had to fight our way through some tedious stop and go traffic, but our reward as we came over a hill was an incredible sight of Stonehenge rising out of the countryside. Everything seemed to be going our way, as there was parking for all the bikes and the van just inside the main parking lot, although the place was packed with tourists. While Meredith was in line negotiating our 10% group discount, Dee was off talking her way into getting us all in for free!!!
The ride from Stonehenge to Bath was beautiful. Winding country roads, lush and green. So many sights and sounds and smells. Some of us even saw a newborn calf in a field just off the road.
We spent the evening in Bath having dinner just outside the beautiful Abbey. We stayed in the dorms at Bath University which was great.
As we begin day 2, we have another perfect, sunny day. It should be a relaxing ride through beautiful country roads to our next stop - Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Megan
1 Comments:
It was an amazing sight as you all poured out of the car aprk at Stonehenge. My husband, daughter and I stopped on our way back from holiday to wave at Alison, and we really glad we had, despite the awful traffic!
You all looked so together and really cool- I alomst wished that I could join you for a while!
Enjoy and take lots of photos Ali- we'll start the scrapbook when you get back!! Marian Devons
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