RNLI Fundraising trip
Round the Coastline of Britain

Day 4 - 15th May 2005
Beverley to St Abbs (274 miles)
Visited 20 RNLI Stations

Another early start, but as we were packing to leave, we had the chance to talk to a cyclist who is riding round the coast of Britain on his bike. He started in Wales and was travelling clockwise, so he still had a fair bit to do. After wishing him luck and taking a last photo of the YHA, we were on our way back to the coast.

The roads were pretty quiet first thing and we made good progress as we arrowed across towards Hornsea, then up past Flamborough Head towards Scarborough where we met Eyeball Paul on his Aprilia. The RNLI guys had just shot out on a training exercise as we rode up, but we had a great chat with a couple of them that were hanging around the boathouse while we waited for Eyeball. He knew the area well and took us round the headland to a roadside cafe where we chatted to a couple of guys one of whom had a yellow GS like mine.

After the tea, we were off up to Whitby where all three of us rode up and down a very narrow busy and cobbled pedestrian precinct trying to find an access route to RNLI station. Again the bib's did their stuff and everyone just moved aside and let us through without a murmer. Makes a change. :)

The charge northward continued with us riding up past Saltburn, Redcar and Middlesborough before reaching Hartlepool, which was full of Sunday holidaymakers. Soon we were heading up to Tynemouth and beyond. The timing of the trip proved perfect, as we managed to hit all the major English conurbations on weekends, so the journey through Tynemouth was no problem at all. As we stopped at Cullercoats (a very pretty town); Red Baron, one of Pondgirls online friends, greeted us and wished us well on the journey.

With no time to stop, we hared off up the coast past Whitley Bay, Blyth, Newbiggin on Sea towards Amble. Then up past Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands, Holy Island and into Berwick upon Tweed. A quick rest and we headed up to Eyemouth and then the last stop of the day St. Abbs where we were going to meet Farmer Palmer and the Berwickshire Bad Boys. 20 RNLI station today which proved to be the highest total for one day.

As we sat around on the harbour wall and phoning home to tell people we had reached Scotland, the roar of bikes filled the air and Farmer Palmer, Forry and Bozza on their three 1150 Adventures fairly hammered down the steep track into the harbour, before wheeling round to line up and park next to the RNLI station.

After the introductions and a few photo's, Farmer Palmer said he would take a scenic route back to his farm where we were going to stay for the night. Well, after a quick stop at the nearby Scottish YHA to pick up a leaflet on their locations, FP lead us down some backroads, through a ford and then turned a sharp right down a very rutted track and into a field of newly growing crops, where he made us all park up for another photoshoot. When I mentioned the owner might not approve, he said "Don't worry, its my field". Straight back up the rutted track across the opposite verge of the A road and into a minor road. (These guys really are a rufty tufty bunch, spinning it up and popping wheelies at every opportunity) and a few minutes later the bikes were lined up outside Farmer Palmer farmhouse while we had a much need coffee and cream cake.

After Forry and Bozza had left, FP took us into Dunbar where we ate at an excellent Italian restaurant - Ristorante Umberto's run by the Piscitelli family. After a pint and a plate of lovely pasta, my brain decided enough was enough and just stopped working. However, this did not stop my mouth from make its usual fool of myself, when I was asked by the very attractive waitress if I wanted anything else I replied "A bed for the night". FP was left spluttering in embarrasment.