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Travel StoriesWatford 2015 - Meeting Monk
A Taste Of England
By Ren Withnell
It takes my brain a few moments to realise where I am and put the unfamiliar room into context. Ahhh, yes, Monk's flat, that's right. Ooooh, I wonder if my bike's OK? A brief look out the window confirms my CBF 125 is still where I left it and still dirty, good. I check a few more emails and catch up with facebook until I hear signs of life from Monk and his wife. It's always just a tad awkward staying at people's houses, especially when you don't know them well. After a light breakfast and more tea it is time for me to depart.
How do you thank someone? I mean it's obvious to say thank you but it just doesn't really cover it properly does it. Thanks for the tea, thanks for the bed, thanks for the pub grub, thanks for being different but not weird or creepy. I guess all you can say is thanks. After a brief photo outside Monk's flat it's time to go, I've got around 200 miles to cover and I'm not even sure how to get off this estate let alone back onto the A5.
Thanks Monk! It's time I took my dirty bike home now.
For the first 10 miles or so all my attention is focused on getting to St Albans and picking up the A5. 100 lanes, 200 signs, 1,000 possibilities and a million cars are all in place to confuse the out-of-towner. Riding around strange towns and cities is always a daunting prospect. However I call upon my experience and my skills and a big chunk of luck and soon I'm following signs for the A5 and Milton Keynes. It's time to relax.
Out of the mayhem I have a spare moment to think as I ride. Have I enjoyed myself? Yeah, although it would have been better without the rain on the way down. What about Monk? I was right, he wasn't what I expected but then people seldom are. My overall emotion as I head home is a sense that this trip has been worthwhile. Despite my prejudices the Hare Krishna Temple was a serene and fascinating insight. Also I now know that not everything inside the M25 is "city". As I ponder my feelings about the trip and meeting someone who reads my website a strange thought strikes me - I wonder what Monk thought about me?
With all these things to ponder I find myself getting close to Milton Keynes in what feels like a few moments. I've only covered 30 odd miles and Monk's tea is making an impact on my bladder. I stop off at a McDonalds services and avail myself of the facilities, much to my relief. Hang on, if I'm at Milton Keynes I'm making good time already, the day is young, the sun is shining and I'm in a good mood. Today is going to be a good day. I hope. Out in the car park I have a discussion with a car driver who's asking me about my e-cig. As I get back on the bike I think how odd it is that strangers can just end up talking like that, it's fantastic!
Relief comes in the form of the Golden Arches.
The road rolls by and England looks resplendent in the warm sun. The green leaves are vibrant, the country homes look so pretty and the crops sway gently in the breeze. I climb up rolling hills and down into gentle valleys, I cruise along dual carriageways and meander around easy bends. I think back to Saturday when I passed through here in the pouring rain and how much difference the weather makes. Everything looks better in the sunshine. Even the petrol stations look better in the sunshine.
As Hinckley approaches I decide I am a fan of the A5. This road provides a taste of England both good and bad. It moves well through some pleasant countryside and it allows the traveller to pass through some typical country villages. It also shows the industrial estates around the Midlands and the bustling traffic at the motorway junctions. If a foreigner were to ride the A5 from end to end I believe they'll get a representative snapshot of England and then of course Wales at the Western end.
I pull into a petrol station and as it is dry I can consult the map on my phone to find the Triumph factory. I'm not far away at all, right at the junction then it should be somewhere down that road shouldn't it? I'm soon on a rather large industrial estate surrounded by lorries, large units, people coming and going and no sign of "Triumph". I don't know where I got the notion from that Hinckley is just about British motorcycles there's all sorts going on here. Ah! A sign, "Motorcycle Factory", that'll be Triumph I reckon.
It's...it's not as big as I expected. Oh I really really must stop with my wrongful preconceptions. It is smart, modern and very well presented but not vast. I turn into a visitor's car park as a security attendant in a booth looks at me quizzically. Perhaps he's noticed I'm on a dirty old 125 Honda and not a shiny Daytona, what would a scruffy oik on an overloaded 125 want at this factory? I'm not approached by the attendant, no-one from the factory comes out to ask if I would like to upgrade to a "proper" motorcycle made in Britain and no-one offers me a nice cup of tea. I just take some pictures and ride off again. Come on, what was I expecting, the Red Carpet treatment? I probably was...
So...Triumph...let me show you what a proper motorcycle looks like.
As I ride out of the estate and onto the A5 I pass an Aldi. It's the same Aldi I stopped at on the way down and when I failed to find the Triumph factory. Argh! I was but a mere mile or so away. An inch, a yard, a mile or a light year are all the same if you don't know where somewhere is. Pffffft, not to worry, at least today is dry enough to take some pictures. Onwards and homeward bound.
Matrix signs tell me the M6 is jammed up between junction 12 and 14, I'd planned to get on at junction 12. I think I know that if I get to Lichfield I ought to be able to find signs for Stafford or Stoke On Trent and this should bypass the problem. The plan works and soon enough I'm on the motorway at junction 15 and heading North. It's time to find a slow lorry and settle in for the next 70 miles back to the gf's place in Halewood.
And that is the end of my story. It has been a most peculiar weekend. I'm not in the habit of travelling 200 miles to meet people I only know about through my website. I'm certainly not in the habit of stopping at stranger's houses and soaking up their hospitality and cups of hot tea. This meant the weekend has been a mix of trepidation and even a little fear alongside the curiosity, excitement and exploration. It has all turned out rather well though and perhaps I should do this more often.
I would never have gone to the Hare Krishna Temple without Monk. I would never have enjoyed the countryside around Watford without Monk. I wouldn't have got a taste of the town either without Monk. It is easy to "visit" a place but to have a guide to show you around and to talk to is invaluable. Thanks Hugo!
So...where to next huh?
It Never Rains Down South
Ren heads south on a mission to meet BAT reader and contributor "Monk". Contrary to popular myth it definitely DOES rain "daan saaf".
Meeting Monk
Ren meets Monk. But...what if Monk is a psychotic axe murderer?
A Taste Of England
Ren returns home after stopping at Monk's place. The sun is shining and there's time to think on the way through Middle England.
Reader's Comments
Monk said :-
Ren. It was genuinely excellent to experience anothers view of how I live and to share that living with you. I sincerely wish everyone were so open to travelling without judging, to listen without opinion and to see without blinkers. You did all those things quite markedly, that is why the journey was so inspiring, not to mention enjoyable. Life without barriers creates a journey without fear. I learned a huge amount more about myself from meeting you. What did I think of you? It goes without saying that generosity of spirit brought us together, things happen how they are supposed to and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. The mystic motorcycle over the hill, you can't beat it!The door is always open and the kettle is always on!:-)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers Monk. Now...I will likely be daan saaf again soon this time with the boss lady. I shall look at the itinerary. Maybe if you can navigate through the big smoke we could meet at Box Hill? Or is there a biker hang out near you somewhere?
I'll email you when I know the dates better.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Monk said :-
Sounds good. The best place for bikes hanging out and a good cuppa is the Ace Cafe on the north circular...
http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/
http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/Find-us.aspx
Let me know and I hope that I'm about as I'm doing some drum stuff in Cardiff for a week a bit later in the month and gigging a bit to. We'll sort something. Look forward to it.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
jackie said :-
Arrr Ren uf I knew you where waiting outside tbe factory gates I aould have brought you out a cup of tea though im based at Factory 1 which is just down the road from factory 2 where you where.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
What? There's more than one factory?? Well Jackie I shall ask at security for "Jackie, you know, the one that works in factory 1 and reads Bikes And Travels..." the next time I am passing.
I never ever expected anyone from Triumph to read my blog! That's fab, thanks Jackie :)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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Travel StoriesWatford 2015 - Meeting Monk