The Bra Wire Run

Well what a name to give to a rideout but it will become apparent as you all read on. We decided to go for a rideout today but there were no plans for a destination when we made our arrangements, there were some suggestions but nothing confirmed, so this morning I got home from work around 5-am and straight to bed to be woken by my alarm at 10-am and climbing into my leathers and additional cold, wet weather gear, I headed off to meet the others at one of our regular meeting points, McDonalds at M1 Junction 30. Arriving at McDonalds, I saw the familiar group of motorbikes parked up but was surprised not to see Paul’s Pan European ST1100, (you couldn’t miss it really because it was an ex police bike) in the car park as I arrived because he and his charming wife Lisa are usually there first. (Paul has to get a substantial meal inside him to avoid withering away to dust as the day goes on). I had a little problem with my intercom on the VFR750 which I’d taken out today, so off with the seat to get it sorted.
Problem solved, I walked towards he entrance to see Lisa, Paul’s wife through the window. I stopped and looked around the car park again for Paul’s bike then spotted a Pan European ST1300 within our group of bike and thought to myself, “He’s sold his sole to the Devil”, and sure enough this was Paul’s new bike. Inside the building I asked Paul “When did you get that?” and he replied “about 23-hours and 15-minutes since”. Refreshed and in the car park ready to set off Keven suggested Mablethorpe as a destination and who knew there way there? I said I had my Sat Nav with me so that would lead the group of 5-bikes, myself in lead, then Paul and Lisa, Stuart and Lyn and Pete and Kate with Keven bringing up the rear as last man. I decided to put a bit of variety into the ride so I would do the opposite to what I was instructed by the Sat-Nav in some cases. Turning right out of McDonalds towards the roundabout, the Sat-Nav told me to go straight on… so I hung a right.
The Sat-Nav now tried to get me back on course but I continued in the direction I was heading until the Sat-Nav re-planned a different route. We now headed towards Newark and crossed the A1 where the Sat-Nav tried to direct me up the A46 towards Lincoln but again I decided to follow the A17 towards Sleaford where we made a stop at a café just past the famous RAF Cranwell air base. It was during this pit stop that this rideout got its name. I made a reference to the route we were taking not being the most direct and that I was following a route that was a U shape as if something like a Bra wire shape (that the ladies would understand and us men because we are always having to get them un-jammed them from the washing machine) had been laid on a map and that was the route we were taking. One of our party commented that had we used one of his wife’s Bra wires, then we would have gone via London, names in this case won’t be mentioned.	Well you wouldn't want to out there in this in just a bikini
After our refreshments and a warm, we continued on the A17 then picking up the A153 and heading north soon picking up the signs for Mablethorpe. During the ride, Paul wanted to put his new toy through his paces, the first inkling I got of this was on a nice bit of open road where I saw a single headlamp coming past all our bikes and I dropped over to the left to let the bike past me only to be surprised as the bike dropped in behind me. Realising it was Paul I gave him the thumbs up and as we continued. I noticed as I overtook slower traffic, Paul would come with me then we would back it off to allow the others to catch up. This happened several times and Lisa later told me my bike’s exhaust was like an early warning system for her, when she heard it roar, she knew it was time to hang on. We arrived at Mablethorpe just after 2-pm and parked the bikes close to the sea front while we went for a walk and a spot of lunch. It was very cold here with the wind blowing off the sea and I walked around keeping my under gloves on and turned my neck buff into a hat to keep my head warm, Stuart bought a woollen hat as we walked, it was quite surprising how cold it was. We went into a fish bar where despite being on my diet I decided to have a fish and a curry which was very nice. Soon we were wrapping up again and heading back to the bikes for the journey back home which was to be a more direct route and after stopping for petrol just outside of Mablethorpe we set off on our waywere on our way with a call at Willingham Woods picnic area for a short break. On this leg I hammered the bike past a few cars one last time and Paul duly followed although I did catch a glimpse of Lisa making hand gestures in my mirror and I can only imagine what she was shouting at Paul.
Thanks to all that showed up and helped me run my New Toy in. I had a great time and I am still smiling