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The phrase ‘why not’ alongside its bedfellow ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ has been known to land members of Lincolnshire’s Free Wheelers Motorcycle Lodge in a lot of trouble! However, both questions can also lead to adventures, which was the case when several members used it to respond to John Webber’s suggestion that they should ‘Chase the Sun.
John’s idea was quite simple: Watch the sun set on the west coast in Aberystwyth and then ride through the night to watch it rise on the East Coast. Simple enough in its concept –but planning the event to see it rise on the longest day meant riding through one of the shortest nights – a challenge to cover the 300 miles in 6 hours 48 minutes before sunrise in Lowestoft at half-past four the following morning.
So, at 21:42 on Saturday 20th June, seven Free Wheelers members watched the sun set in Aberystwyth, got on their bikes and started the ride. Five of the posse – Andy Bagworth, Rob Pursey, Chris Pursey, John Webber and Ken Bevis – had ridden up on the Friday to enjoy the Welsh seaside town, with a trip to the local waterfall, hostelries, and a curry house.
Two others – Chris Fletcher and Chris Jones – had been engaged on other masonic business on the Friday and Saturday, so had time for just a bag of chips before departure.
Chris Fletcher said: “It was a wonderfully scenic ride, eastwards through Wales to the first caffeine refill and fuel stop at Telford Services, then on to the second at Cambridge. Disaster was narrowly averted here, when Chris Pursey took the wrong exit at a roundabout and rejoined the A14 – heading the wrong way!
“However, the group rolled into Lowestoft at 04:15 to join many others at Ness Point, the most easterly point of England, Great Britain, the United Kingdom and the British Isles. The initial sunrise was obscured by a fog bank, then five minutes later, out it came, accompanied by a great cheer by the crowd!”
Ride leader John had organised a breakfast at a nearby pub, The Trowel and Hammer for 5.30. As may be guessed by the name, it is owned by mason!
A steady ride back (though Chris and Chris took the opportunity to scout out the venue for Free Wheelers September meeting in Great Yarmouth) left seven tired, though very happy Free Wheelers motorcyclist glad that they had asked ‘why not?’
