United Kingdom 2015
  
 

Day 06

September 20

  
   
  Today I begin the long journey back to the Holler. I am not looking forward at all to dealing with the M1 and London traffic, but I get Silver Queen already to go.  
   
  Breakfast at the motel is really busy, and many of the group are already partaking of the hen fruit and pig meat.  
   
  I know the drill well by now, so I pick and choose my 'ammunition' quickly.  
   
  I don't expect to make any food stops on the way down as it is a little more than 200 miles for today. When I finished up, I try to say good-bye to as many folks as I can and dispense hugs as appropriate.  
   
  When I get my stuff and get ready to go, Peter and the lovely Miss Fi come out to wish me good-bye. They are some of my favorite folks over here, having shown many kindnesses to me over the years.  
   
  And there's Bob - another one of my favorites. He's always a joy to be around and I really look forward to spending time with him when I come over to this neck of the woods.  
   
  But, I've got to get on with it, so I wish them well and head out of Bradford and on toward London  
   
  It doesn't take me long to get back on the M1 motorway.  
   
  And it is a little busier than I anticipate for a Sunday morning.  
   
  As I head south, I notice a windmill farm off to the right. As I always say, I like the concept I just don't like the looks of them.  
   
  My theory of 'accumulated fatigue' is really playing out this morning as I am very physically tired. So when I see this sign ...  
   
  I take its advice and hit the next service area. I decide I'll just drink a little water and eat a snack I have on board. That perks me up a bit, so I head back out pretty quickly.  
   
  One of the things I've grown to greatly dislike are signs like these ...  
   
  and their accompanying instruments of apprehension. It's such a soulless, antiseptic method of revenue generation that it just seems wrong to my way of thinking.  
   
  I don't mind the 'normal' speed cameras where they have the hash marks as they are clearly marked. I know it is a variation on a theme, but timed cameras just seems to be very heavy handed ...  
   
  especially when they throw in 'variable' speed limits into the mix. While driving on the motorway with timed cameras, you don't have a clue if you a little bit over or a little bit under since your speed will vary due to traffic conditions.  
   
  It doesn't take long before I am 'welcomed' back to London with the all the traffic at the end of M1. M1 was actually better than I thought it would be, but London is fixing to make up for it.  
   
  It feels like it takes me as long to negotiate the 13 miles or so back to the hotel than it did to ride the 200 plus miles to get to London.  
   
  But I manage to get through the various twists and turns without any problems and for that I am thankful.  
   
  I stop by the hotel first so I can check in and unload Silver Queen of all of her burdens. With my stuff stowed in my room, my next objective is to fill up the bike and get her safely back to AboutTown.  
   
  When I arrive at the shop, there are already three other machines parked where I was planning on parking. Since I don't want to block both their doors, I put Silver Queen a little to the left of the main front door. I wish her a good future and I head back towards the hotel.  
   
  I think seriously about heading to the pub with the lovely cottage pie but I am really tired. And then I remember that lovely pork pie I can't take back to the States because it is a meat product. All I need is a few 'extra' fixings and I've got supper right here in the room. There's a convenience store right next to the hotel so I wander over and get some necessary additional provisions - a jug of milk, some chips (or crisps as the Brits would call them) and some Belgian chocolate cookies.  
   
  It's a good meal and it gives me extra time to sort out my packing for tomorrow. My intention is to hit the breakfast bar downstairs as soon as it opens and then get to the airport early. With those thoughts floating through my noggin, it does not take me long to drift off into a deep slumber.