A B Road Bonanza
by
Richard Axford

 The weather forecast was for “isolated showers” but the Sunday morning was warm, bright and dry with blue
skies and a few clouds, just about right for a KGT run, with some KGT detours probable.
  Having put maps and cryptic route notes in the tank bag, I set off early to High Wycombe on the Yamaha 900S Diversion – my GT750 having done the practice run recently it needed a rest – topped up with fuel, then a quick ride round checking the local roads. I had received a few emails from members so thought I knew who would attend. Unfortunately, Patrick Garner had gone down with a bad cold on the Saturday and phoned his apologies in the evening.
  Back to the Asda petrol station in time to see Vic Holt on his Moto-Guzzi California EV (Y-reg) fueling up. We went down to the store car-park and chatted until John Gilpin rode up on the Honda CBR600F (R-reg). I’d ridden with John before in the Yamaha Diversion Club. We were just about to put helmets on to leave when a familiar shape hove into view on a W-reg Honda Pan-European ST1100A. When I said, “Here comes Mike Matthias," John said "Who?" Turns out John and Mike work at the same company in Reading but didn’t know they were both on the run today. Small world etc. Apparently a very late decision by Mike (at 8 that morning) to come along.     
                 
  A group photo was arranged, then just after 9.30 we set off for the first leg – on B-roads to Stokenchurch, with majestic red kites swooping and gliding low beside us, down the Chiltern ridge and the first slight KGT detour of the day when Mike shot off up the B4009, then realised he’d missed the leaders at a staggered crossroads.
  More narrow lanes through tiny Kingston Stert and Sydenham to Towersey and the outskirts of Haddenham, up on the ridges again via Cuddington and Ashenden, past the old station house and wooden buildingof the Brill Tramway at Westcott, the only remaining wooden structure still in place from the Metropolitan Railway branch from Quainton to Brill, opened mid-1871, closed November 30, 1935.
  After a quick leg rest and visor clean (and sweater removal by Mike) at the On Yer Bike showroom forecourt, we then followed the trackbed of the Tramway past the steam railway centre on the old Met/Great Central joint line. There was a brief photo-stop at the Quainton windmill, now restored to working condition for the first time since World War II, then passed lots of thatched cottages in the Claydons, past Verney Junction (last outpost of the original Metropolitan Railway from Baker Street), then on to the main A413 at Padbury for a short fast run to the first proper stop at the Tesco café at Buckingham.
  We had arrived at my estimated time but were delayed in leaving by the inefficient queue for hot food. We just had pots of tea, buns or sandwich, used the loo, then back on the bikes. Onto a very narrow lane through Radclive and past the impressive Stowe School drive entrance, then on long fast lanes past the Silverstone track, but no racing event this Sunday (which is why I chose the date before realising it was also my wedding anniversary… ooops!). Finally, a fast section of the A43 to the next stop at Jacks Hill Café, just north of Towcester, arriving at noon.
   We soon found Derek and Christine Kelly, who had ridden from Warwick on their V- reg Yamaha 600S Diversion. Christine had just finished a big breakfast so after more visor cleaning and chatting we were soon
ready for the off at about 12.15.
   The next major turn was at a large roundabout. I went round very slowly to the final minor exit with Mike Matthias (I thought) close behind, looked back and stopped about 30 yards off the roundabout. Where was everyone? Apparently Mike had zoomed off down the A43 out of habit, with the rest sticking close behind him! KGT detour No.2. I decided to wait and after a couple of minutes they all came back and lined up behind, five bikes in the group for this leg.
   The motley crew swept through Greens Norton and kept up a good speed through various lanes and villages, through Helmdon and Farthinghoe to Aynho. Another group photo by the old village stocks and time for Vic to depart for home. Vic had done an excellent job as tail-end Charlie. He’s ridden behind me on many runs together and still talks to me!
   Back to four bikes for a fast section through Deddington, right up very narrow lanes to Barford St Michael and time for the third KGT detour, this time my fault. A short road was closed for roadworks so I took the detour and then disbelieved my own notes and went right at a T-junction (no signposts of course) instead of left. We soon stopped, checked the map, then turned round and got back on course via Wiggington, past a superb Saxon church, to the sprawling town of Hook Norton. We drove up to the brewery. Unfortunately the
shop was shut this Sunday, but still took some photos and had a bit of a chat aboutthe KGT, AGMs, bikes and life in general. Derek and Christine departed for home from here, leaving Mike and John to complete the run with me.
   There was a short ride to the tea rooms at the garden centre near Great Rollright for lunch. Hot food was still on but we made do with baguettes, cakes and large pot of tea (coffee for Mike), with pleasant views across the valley and surrounded by lots of little old ladies having tea.
   More visor cleaning (Mike has a Magic Cloth that really works well) and final loo visit, then a quick phone call to Sue with a request to light the barbecue charcoal in time for our arrival home, and to cook enough for Mike and John as well.
   Onto the final and longer stretch – the next 60 miles would be virtually all minor roads. Very slow past the 4,500-year-old stone ring at Little Rollright (the Rollright Stones), then on another ridge with good views of several Cotswold stone villages in the valleys, and right onto a very narrow stony track past Chastleton House, a Jacobean manor (built 1612).

  We stopped for another group photo in front of the gates, the photo kindly taken by the father of a family group on pedal cycles who were resting at the entrance, then set off past many horses being ridden by young
girls and sped through tree-lined lanes down the long hill to Kingham. There was no other traffic as we turned left to travel between farm fields, through Idbury and Fifield, then Milton, Shipton and Ascott-under-Wychwood.
  Soon we were on the B4437 to Charlbury, an excellent biking road – 55–65mph, great views, sweeping curves, no traffic, great fun. In my mirror, Mike and John were keeping good formation all the way. I stopped for Mike to get a photo of Charlbury Station, one of the last Brunel chalet-style station buildings, fully renovated and still in use on the main line.

  Then it was round the one-way system in Charlbury, nipping past some very slow Sunday drivers, over the A44 then on to Wootton and the B4027 via Islip, another excellent road, fast, with little traffic as we pushed on to Bletchingdon and Wheatley.
  We had to go on the A40 dual carriageway when John rode up beside me and pointed to the tank, fuel needed. We stopped to agree the final route. Mike wanted to go through the lanes near Aylesbury and past Chequers,
so we carried on a few miles to Thame where John filled his tank, then on through Bishopstone and Butlers Cross and down the valley past the Prime Minister’s official house, stopping at the entrance gates. Not easy to see, now all the leaves are on the trees.
   Down the Hughenden Valley, unfortunately stuck behind a car that was too slow, but just speeded up enough to prevent overtakes. Up the hill through High Wycombe to the Shell petrol station, where Mike and I refilled. A short blast down Bisham Hill then into the drive at my house, with smoke issuing from the barbecue and the table set in the garden... Well done Sue & Louise!
   Sausages, burgers and salad disappeared with a beer to end a perfect KGT day run. My bike showed 183 miles for the day, with only about 12 miles of the run (169 miles) on proper A-roads.
   Unfortunately, just as we finished the food, the first few spots of rain fell. Mike and John departed before it really threw it down. I hope they got home OK. Many thanks to all the riders on the day. I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did.