What A Buzz

I have never taken my Harley and ridden across some of the beautiful scenery that the UK has to offer, mainly due to work and the lack of free time.

Well the opportunity arose and a rapid bit of planning was undertaken, with Mrs Fogg booking some alternate locations and Johnny Copilot suggesting some routes to travel. “Hey Johnny, plan me a pleasant 5 day ride away from motorways, exploring some of the east coast and returning through the Yorkshire dales”.

Day 1

York to Helmsley to Hutton-le-Hole to Blakey Ridge to Castleton to Danny to Grosmont  to Whitby

Day 2 

Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay to Runswick to Staithes to Saltburn to Redcar to Hartlepool to Seaham to Durham

Day 3

Durham to Sunderland to South Shields to Whitley Bay to Blyth to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to Amble to Alnwick

Day 4 

Alnwick to Longframlington to Rothbury to Thropton to Elsdon to Corbridge to Tow Law to Piercebridge to Richmond to Catterick to Newton-le-Willows

Day 5 

Newton-le-Willows to Knayton to Northallerton to Thirsk to Easingwold to Alne to Linton-on-Ouse to York and then home 

And what a fantastic trip of 1,016 miles on a 18 year old Harley Road King Classic, stopping in some AirBnB and some hotels. The quirkiest being the Truck at Athey’s Airfield. The highlight being enjoying the ride, the roads and the scenery. Catching up with an old friend and Mrs Fogg joining me for an evening of stargazing in Northumberland.

The weather was surprisingly excellent apart from Day 4 on the stretch from Thropton to Richmond on the A68 where the heavens opened and the wind was a paltry 45mph blowing right to left.

All told though an excellent few day

Le denier souper

This is our last evening in Carcassonne, so why not finish it with a spectacular view and a cassoulet

Tomorrow back to home and work. A lovely break in the searing heat.

All That’s Missing

Is a Kiss Me Quick Hat and a stick of rock

As Mrs Fogg waits eagerly to do her second sit on train ride around the city (well a tractor pulling carriages of just us 2). We sat waiting for the city train to see the sites we had just walked round. According to Mrs Fogg, you just have to do a train!

We first came here in 2014 when the Folks had rented a house (24 Rue De La Gaffe)

It is a small place and once you’ve walked it three times you’ve seen it all, but it has a certain charm.

Very clean and tidy with plenty of nice little eateries, well worth a visit

All That’s Missing

Is a Kiss Me Quick Hat

As Mrs Fogg was eager to do her second sit on train around the city. We sat waiting for the city train to see the sites we had just walked round.

We first came here in 2014 when the Folks had rented a house (24 Rue De La Gaffe)

It is a small place and once you’ve walked it three times you’ve seen it all, but it has a certain charm.

Very clean and tidy with plenty of nice little eateries, well worth a visit

Duck it’s Lightning

I love lightning, the power, the spectacle and the majesty and I am loving the storm here because of the light show and the fact it is breaking the heat. I had to opportunity to catch a strike on slo-mo

Strike1
Strike2

But just before this we found a lovely little restaurant with duck legs in fig sauce, oh and would you like fries with that madam (that would be all the fries in the restaurant of course).

Carca Choo Choo

A leisurely up and hunt for breakfast followed by a ride on the little train to learn all the history of the Citadel (I was in my element!).

Down then for another womble round the city which is really empty even for a Sunday. We got chatting to a Kiwi who learnt wood turning and setup a shop here, he was saying that due to weather takings are down by at least 30%

Had to stop for a little light 12ish pizza snack before climbing back up the steep slope to the Citadel. Photo opportunity time once more in case you forgot what we look like

Mrs Fogg decided to run up the last 100yds and then decided to do her instagram pose impression (you know the one, you see women stopping adjusting hair and make up, pouting saying look at me on my travels, to all of my 3 followers who really could care less, because they accidentally clicked like on a picture).

Or is she just looking at more history crap! Or maybe it’s just wind.

She has also managed to keep her uber white trainers spanking white so far despite the hikes and having a bottle of beer thrown over them

La Barbacane

This is a fantastic location for a restaurant and one we have been to many times. What a wonderful evening, 3 hours of food, drink and laughter with a beautiful woman.

I’m dwunk and I dwibbled
Nothing left here!

We would have shown the dessert but Mrs Fogg ate it too fast, oh but the second dessert is awesome

Flex Those Mussels

After a long walk in the heat (just over 1 mile), you need to flex your mussels and have the world’s smallest glass of fizz.

So are we walking back or catching the lazy train.