Who remembers this place then?

[Lonewolf]

 Right, for those us who attended the hugely successful 2012 GTR owners meet this may bring back a few tears of nostalgia. What a cracking weekend that was eh? 

I'm venturing down here again on the 2^nd September to have lunch with Nigel, (Rusty) but as the GTR hasn't really had a decent run out since Nigel and I returned from Scotland at the end of June I felt a lengthy ride out was long overdue.

I am of course talking about the Lower Lode Inn at Forthampton near Tewksbury in The Cotswolds.

I have to apologise in advance to Geoff as I did use the motorway's all the way down there,  M1, M42 & finally M5 before popping up just a few miles from the Inn and yes it was extremely boring, but it was a late start for me so it was practical to do it this way, but there are many other alternative routes such as the one Dave and I used via Lyn Ravens Café, far more scenic.

As usual I was armed with my camera and snapped away at various subjects which caught my eye. Literally just a few miles from the Inn before I crossed the bridge after coming off the motorway was this quaint cottage/residence. Quite unusual, perhaps not for down there but in any case it caught my eye.







The Inn was exactly as I remembered it, however there were about 15 GTR's missing on this occasion, mine looked so lonely! I asked the owner of the pub, Sam, if she had received the group photo I sent her last year at her request of all the GTR's precisely lined up outside her pub and she confirmed she had, she apologised for not updating me, obviously a busy lady. She said it is still her intention to have it framed and hung in the main bar area but currently it's in her bedroom. She mentioned that in all the time she's owned the pub she has never seen such an impressive sight of identical bikes displayed as ours were.




She may have been impressed with the photo, but not that impressed that I got a free lunch, if only I was DPG, everything just falls in their laps it would appear. (private joke, but at least one on here will get it). 

Ok, so I like a bit of mayonnaise.....








Who remembers the pub's dogs? I reckon Asif will, he was talking it to it at breakfast when it came to see him in the restaurant. No photos of the dogs on this visit, I only saw one, the oldest one, 15 years old it is now and not unfortunately in the best of health. Plenty of reminders about though in the pub that they are there. 









Just a random pic of the best coloured GTR available.









It was so quiet in the pub that there wasn't even a bar man, can I say that? Perhaps I should have said bar person, but you know what I mean. I was surprised at just how quiet it was at lunchtime in this beautiful pub, however Sam was telling me that where the pub is, Bishops Walk, is one of the areas identified for the Governments badger culling exercise and consequently there has been a huge Police presence presumably to deal with protesters. I didn't see any Police, nor did I see any protesters, but then again, I didn't see any badgers either. Anyway, if it's a Police patrolled area, at least it'll be a mecki free zone. If that's gone over your head, see Dave's post from yesterday about his trip to Wales and mecki's comments.









After I'd scoffed my Lasagne (and mayonnaise) down I had a go at taking some 'arty' pics of the GTR. I've seen Uncle Rusty do this many a time so it can't be that difficult can it?








I thought that came out ok.



I got chatting to this geezer who turned up then on his Pan. Steve was his name, (should remember that), he'd recently bought the 10 year old Pan from someone in his village to compliment his Harley which he currently owns. Chalk and cheese spring to mind. Decent guy, a local school teacher by profession and a musician also he was telling me.









This is where we would have been residing a few weeks ago if Nigel's plans hadn't been scuppered through work. We were going to have an overnight camp, but as usual work stops play. Sorry Dave, at least you had a decent trip to Scotland in it's place.




Oh, I forgot to mention, the Pub is doing a range of lamb specials, seems they get their produce locally from somewhere.....






Anyway, time to leave and as I did so I said farewell to the guy with the Pan, what was his name now, I've forgotten, oh well.

I took a few random shots of the properties etc as I rode through the village heading back to the main road and the junction, you remember the junction, don't you Dave?









This caught my eye. Everyone knows how slow I ride, (apparently) I couldn't even catch the ducks!






On a different topic entirely.....when will people learn that if you leave a dog in a car on a hot day, it will die!! Ironically they portrayed themselves as being a dog lover with the sticker. Anyway I got the services to put an announcement out for the owner. Ignorant bastards.




Finally after just under 370 miles I took this photo to prove to the sceptics that you can get decent MPG from the GTR. Nearly all motorway speeds and then some, how some folk only get 40ish I've no idea.

[BigAlan]

Hmmm 2nd September you say,  hmmm i have that week off, hmmm sod it lets have a ride out to the Lower Lode In again. Keep me informed of times etc.

Alan

[Rusty]

Another great write up Steve .... at least now you are taking some half decent photos !!!!! 
The place looks so empty ..what a shame you wern't staying overnight ... get behind that bar and start a Tab !
Looking forward to the 2nd, I have booked the weather and I'll have the Lasagne !

[Winston Smith]

Well if Rusty is turning up on a BMW, what will you be on Steve...................

[2kwacks]

Steve did you go on your own because can't see rustys green job you should have come to Scotland with me and my mate and yes I do remember that junction and very that keith dropped his GTR on the gravel but still deny it was my fault I didn't drop mine in the 2 years and 8,000 miles I did on it and most of them miles where around some of the tightest hairpin bends around the French and Swiz alps and I'm a short arse which I reckon always worked in my favour due to the GTR being a heavy beast I never underestimated the height and weight so kept away from sharp tight turns your a brave man using the motorway all the way down there I would have gone the way we did which is much more pleasant and a dam sight more fun plus you won't get the "old boy" giving you loads of 

[Lonewolf]

Dave, yeah I went on my own, a bit of a last minute decision. I couldn't go to Scotland for three days as much as I would have liked to.
I'm planning on going again on the 2nd September, and next time I go it'll be an earlier start so I will go via Lyn Ravens café, it's a much more scenic route.

Chris, I'll be going on the GTR because that's the only bike I have.

[Winston Smith]

 

[FLIP TOP]

Well having spotted the "DOOMBAR" pump on the bar, any chance of one more for lunch?

[100milesaway]

Steve, how many times do I have to tell ya that  motorways  are for cars, and A/B roads are for bikes?                 

[Lonewolf]

Well having spotted the "DOOMBAR" pump on the bar, any chance of one more for lunch?

No problem at all. If you don't know where t s the postcode is GL19-4RE
Keep an eye on this thread for the final details nearer the time.

[Lonewolf]

Geoff, I have to agree, the motorway down here was boring, you can't beat the brilliant M6. 

[100milesaway]

Geoff, I have to agree, the motorway down here was boring, you can't beat the brilliant M6.

I fear that there is no hope for you Steve, I think a visit to your local GP for a check up from the neck up, may reveal that your strange delusion that motor bikes should only be ridden in a straight line, could in fact be a medical condition, vertigo springs to mind, or some other inner ear or balance issue. On the odd occasion that you actually go round a bend do you find yourself screaming for your mother?, or hastily saying your prayers? lest you over balance and crash to the earths crust. If your doctor cannot help, I would recommend that you up sticks, and find the most remote part of Britain to move you and your good lady too,  far away from roads with big blue signs, and enjoy roads with lots of bends, with fantastic scenery thrown in, and try to erase from your mind those boring as sin long straight bits of tarmac that have warped your mind.       Go on make that appointment today.   

[O.C.]

i needed a good laugh this morning Geoff...thanks.....LMAO, priceless 

[100milesaway]

Start your day with a giggle eh Rog. 

[2kwacks]

I fear that there is no hope for you Steve, I think a visit to your local GP for a check up from the neck up, may reveal that your strange delusion that motor bikes should only be ridden in a straight line, could in fact be a medical condition, vertigo springs to mind, or some other inner ear or balance issue. On the odd occasion that you actually go round a bend do you find yourself screaming for your mother?, or hastily saying your prayers? lest you over balance and crash to the earths crust. If your doctor cannot help, I would recommend that you up sticks, and find the most remote part of Britain to move you and your good lady too,  far away from roads with big blue signs, and enjoy roads with lots of bends, with fantastic scenery thrown in, and try to erase from your mind those boring as sin long straight bits of tarmac that have warped your mind.       Go on make that appointment today.   

Geoff.. some of us work full time this means time is precious and to venture a decent distance to "NEW" places using the motorways is a necessary evil and a means to a end I'm not a fan of motorways example.. on the day we left Scotland we came home 75% "none motorway" but then time was getting on so jump on the motorway at Lancaster and we were home in 45mins geoff a quick question.. do you still rub 2 pieces of wood together like a "troglodyte" to start a fire or do you do it the modern way and use a lighter motorways are simple a way of getting somewhere fast to enjoy more time at the place when you get there also when you do get there, motorways keep the bulk of the main traffic of the roads you wish to enjoy, also if you never had motorways how far do you think you would get if caravans, lorries, e.t.c. never used motorways! I bet your a heartbeat fan and in those days the only way to get to Scotland was the A6 stuck behind that "wagon and drag" with the old "Cummings engine" that did 10 m.p.h with a tail wind over "shap" in theses are modern times with 100& more traffic so in which case... motorways are a result of our own making time to move with the times