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A Rough Last Day
Ride Date 14 Nov 2025
By Ren Withnell
Hmmmm. Yeah. Doesn't sound good. As my eyes open and a vague form of lucidity returns I can hear the rain rattling the tin roof of our static. I'm fearful of waking Her Ladyship, more than usual as her reaction to the rain is unlikely to be positive. The BBC is offering no hope whatsoever. With a grave face the presenter points to huge swathes of blue across most of the country, mostly over our area.
It'll be fine, the BBC's weather team always err on the pessimistic side ever since Michael Fish's faux pas in October 1987. I reckon it'll be a bit wet in places, otherwise damp. Hopefully.
Sharon is indeed non-plussed. In spite of herself she's keeping an open mind and a positive outlook. We're packed up and loaded just before the 1000 exit time. As I return the keys with a little confusion about booking out - Sharon stands outside and the rain pours heavily. She's fully waterproofed up and helmeted yet still looks like a drowned rat and as miserable as rotting lettuce.
Out through a drenched Ingoldmells. Along the fairly straight roads west by north west while struggling to see through the deluge. It takes an hour and a half of soggy junctions and dank collars and cuffs until we reach Hemswell Antiques Cafe. We splash into the car park and pass gloomy looks to each other as we squelch into the cafe. We need the break, our jackets drip and we hug our hot drinks. The idea of returning outside is not enticing at all.
And yet we must return outside. Wet trims of helmet and soppy gloves are restored and the bikes splash once more. A straight road to the M180 makes life easier, I'm glad to be on the motorway. I'm hoping the straighter lanes will be easier to follow through the spray.
The next 75 miles of motorway are every bit as wet and as difficult as I've known. I'm keeping to the left lane where I can, the notion of hurling myself down the middle or outside lanes at 70mph is terrifying, I'm struggling with the 56mph of the trucks. There's times when a van may pass the spray is so thick and heavy I feel as though I'm being waterboarded. It's horrible and even with effective waterproofs the teeming rain is making it's way through the tiniest of gaps.
I pull into Hartshead Moor Services. If I'm worn out and stressed Sharon must be shattered and shell-shocked. She is. She was passed by a couple of trucks running through a river across the motorway, it was like being hosed down by 2 firetrucks at close quarters. We are both tired and bewildered. We drink tea, laughing nervously, trying to keep the mood, trying to stay positive.
At least the final 56 miles are familiar, and in a rare turn of events Manchester's rain is "less" than we've endured so far. This being said the final few miles can perhaps be the most dangerous. We're exhausted, wet, cold, and on friendly ground. It'll be all too easy to allow the concentration to slip, to make an assumption, to relax and drop our guard. Imagine successfully negotiating all those troubles only to cock up within sight of safety?
Sharon's house comes into view. It is a huge relief to have done all that safely, we are both alive and... I was going to say well but we're far from ideal.
It takes another hefty dose of effort to actually put the bikes away, unload the luggage and secure the perimeter when all we both want to do is get dry and collapse. After we've pushed ourselves through the final chores we strip off and get dry clothes on, then finally slump into the settee with a brew. What a day!!
As per the ride to Ingoldmells - there's no images from our return leg. We really weren't in the mood. Pfffffft.
It's not all sunshine and wonder - share your own bad bits - click here.
Prologue And A Rough First Day
Prudent as ever Ren accidentally stumbles into a super cheap static caravan north of "Skeg-Vegas". All that remains to be done is getting there. If previous experience of heading east is anything to go by - it might not be that easy.
Lonesome In The Flatlands
Ren is hoping for a better day weatherwise and riding-wise too. Ingoldmells is deserted, Skeggy and Mablethorpe ain't up to much, luckily the countryside is better than expected.
Bothering The Locals And "Hills"
The Dynamic Muppets are bothering the good people of Lincolnshire as well as bringing the house prices down. There's tea and cake and sweeties too, hills, and spooky stuff.
Lincolnshire - And Dryness
There's something new in Lincolnshire today - DRY! Contain your excitement folks, Ren has found a cheap cafe and there's an awful lot of flat.
A Rough Last Day
In keeping with the theme of this trip - the return home for the Dynamic Muppets is "wet" to say the least.
Reader's Comments
nab301 said :-
Ren , we've all had days like that , it makes the good day(s) seem much better, think positive, you didn't have to wash the bike when you got home....
Nigel
27/03/2026 12:06:42 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
... and you wonder why I no longer choose to ride in the rain. I've had enough of it over the decades to last me out, most of it before modern waterproofs. It's just not fun any more.
27/03/2026 12:39:59 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Pffffffftttttt, blummin rain. Don't like it, never have. Even if you're being paid to ride in it it's a very Pffffffftttttt experience.
No rush to repeat it. And as you succinctly stated young Ed me lad, after hours of it it's just an accident waiting to happen. Where's me spare warm dry gloves Ethel?
Upt.
27/03/2026 12:51:01 UTC
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Travel StoriesFrolicking In The Flattish Lands