I ’ d written to my mum and dad during my 20-day ride through England and Wales . It was memorable , for sure ... and , bless it ’ s little overrevved heart , the CB175 delivered the mileage goods ... despite a chain break in Brighton , a puncture just outside Stow-on-the Wold and an eventual blow-up on the outskirts of London just a couple of hours from the dodgy bedsit / lodge place I was heading back to in South Kensington . I gave it to a bloke in a garage , gratis , and got a bus home . “ Bike going fairly well ,” I wrote . “ Saw Stonehenge yesterday ... really huge rocks .” Really ? I ask myself in this more enlightened of my life ’ s times . “ This is great ... so much to see .” It was great , as part of the journey was calling in at Mallory Park for the post-TT race meeting , where I got to see the howling MV Agustas of Phil Read and Franco Bonera . A sound I shall never , ever forget ... as they chased Tuevo Lansivouri on the works Yamaha V4 . In the pub that night there were a few fine English lads who had ridden to see the event , and after spotting my helmet with ‘ NZ ’ scrawled on
the back , got chatting . I said I ’ d been though the east and southern coasts , had enjoyed Southampton and been fascinated by the high hills of Wales ’ Brecon Beacons and the beautiful seaside towns and cities over that way . I ’ d had a great night in Cardiff where I was shouted all the drinks I wanted as I had told the barman that my dad had worked for the local Rugby Union and that All Black chaps like Kel Tremain , Ian McRae and Billy Davis had been to our house . “ You know Kelvin Treeeemain ?!” The rugbyobsessed barman cried ... and then the drinks came . I spent another day in Cardiff as I had to ... I couldn ’ t really see properly . Oh , it wasn ’ t a World tour and it wasn ’ t a rocket ship beneath me , but it was golden in terms of having done it . Spending about 150 quid on a totally unsuitable “ tourer ” which I had to fetch by taking the train to Tunbridge Wells , and encouraging it across a most beautiful landscape . I was 19 years old ... I think I did ok .
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