Children In Need

Blog Five: Friday

In the past I have scoffed at reality TV show stars who say how they miss their family after just a few days and cry and moan and sometimes even pull out of what they are doing because they are so homesick. Saying thatI did miss my lot and it was great to wake up in the morning to the chaos that is the Ashmead household at breakfast.

My first stop on home turf was at Inter Action, Milton Keynes featured project, before heading to Luton and back to base.

It was now a case of making sure everything was in place for the afternoon and Charley’s arrival at the station. I was hugely excited by now and in some ways nervous. The last thing I wanted to do was mess it up now and I did plenty of pacing and checking and re-checking. Phil made sure a cuddly Pudsey was securely attached to the front of the bike. Is there anything that cable ties can’t do? An hour before Charley was due to be here I suddenly had this horrible thought that I may not have enough petrol to make it to London. I dashed out and filled up just to be sure. During the waiting time I did have a chat with Charley on the phone. He was asking guidance from me on the bike he should use to come to Luton. Charley Boorman asking me a motorbike novice, I sounded as knowledgeable as possible and now knew it was the Triumph used in his latest show By Any Means which saw Charley and team take various modes of transport to get from Ireland to Australia.

The one warning he gave me on the phone was that this bike was rather load and so it proved as I was standing in the car park for 3 Counties and heard him before I saw him. Before we could do anything it was straight off to be filmed by the Look East cameras at Stockwood Park in Luton. It was the first but not the last that this though ran through my mind, “Don’t cock up in front of the man that inspired the trip. Don’t fall off Luke”

After the filming at Stockwood we went to visit the project in Luton. Charley was brilliant and spoke to the young people at Signposts with a genuine interest and enthusiasm. I was really pleased to take a step back and let Charley do all the interviewing. I saw in Charley something I pride myself on, the ability to talk to people and put them at ease. An hour’s break followed back at base in Luton in the lead up to Drive. It was great chatting to Charley but I resisted the temptation to offer my services as bag carrier or tyre inflator or general dogsbody for his next project.
Our appearance together on Drive with Rob was great fun and a Charley thrashed me in a Highway Code style quiz.

The excitement was really growing inside me and as Charley and I arrived at Luton Rugby Club, our pre ride to London meeting point, it heightened with the site of all the riders who were to make the run with us. Martyn, Doug and whole Harley crew turned out in force and Tim and his bunch from Hein Gericke were also a welcome site. With a number of road captains we left Luton and things didn’t get off to the best of starts with Charley going the wrong way as we turned through Slip End. He soon caught up and we all headed down the A5. The odd times we stopped at traffic or lights etc I’d look behind me to see the lights of all the bikes and then look to my left or right and get a thumbs up from Charley Boorman himself. The adrenalin was incredible and it was just one of the best things I have done. The Harley road captains made sure the trip was a smooth as possible with amazing organisation. The road captains ride to the junctions of roundabouts and temporarily block the road to allow the whole convoy to travel through. It’s like a motorbike ballet and was truly brilliant Our arrival at the ace café after negotiating a busy north circular was wonderful and Mark and the team at the Ace were…. well…….. Ace.

An hour or so at the Ace and I think Charley must have spoken to every single person. All the bikers knew Charley was one of there own and wanted to say hello and grab a word with him, it was brilliant.

Leaving the Ace Café was interesting. I was not ready but the bikes started to leave and I had a horrible moment when I though I was going to get left behind. The convoy had stopped just outside the Café and I managed to catch up.

Our trip to Wembley Arena was a short one but the sheer number of bikes with the extra people we picked up at the Ace left us causing a short jam outside the arena. Most motorists were good natured and eventually we got to the car park of the arena. The stewards were sent into a panic at the sight and noise of so many bikes but after a short wait myself and Charley with everyone behind us did 20 seconds on the telly and that was it. Charley left for the short ride home and my little scooter was loaded onto the van that had been following me for the whole trip. I had travelled 500 miles and four tenths exactly. What an adventure! I set out to raise a few quid, raise awareness of the projects that benefit from Children in need Money and have some fun along the way. Mission accomplished.

Thanks go out to many. You know who you are.

____________________________________________________

Blog Four: Thursday

Thursday morning and I overslept for the first time on this trip! It put us about an hour behind although I did still have time to eat a hearty breakfast. We were on the road and managed to get out of Norfolk and the route to Cambridge, the longest so far, took us on a more scenic route through Thetford Forest and a massive MOD site with lots of warning signs along the way. We also went past the Desert Rats memorial but due to the time lost earlier in the day had to push on without stopping.

I spoke to Helen on Morning:MK and Ronnie on the Nine before pushing on. I really enjoyed the ride and there was plenty to see including US planes taking off at Lakenheath, what a noise!

Having more of an understanding during this week of Ian and Phil's love of real ale I was slightly concerned when I passed a sign for a local brewery. I had no need to worry though and like the true professionals they are the support vehicle stayed right behind me and on into Cambridge. Once we reached Cambridge the traffic increased and push bikes appeared. Like a swarm of wasps round the sweetest of toffee apples they just seemed to appear from every nook and cranny and I found myself in need of some industrial strength insect repellent. I met with the guys from SCA and although the interview went well, trying to get out of the tight spot the van was in proved tricky. Poor old Ian who had followed the Sat-Nav to a dead end proceeded to scrape the top of the van on an ancient local building. It created quite a stir and the wasps gathered in greater numbers than usual.

For the first time since the first days non stop rain, the heavens opened again and we arrived at soggy BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. An old colleague Heather was there to meet us and I spoke on air to Sue Dougan who also played out the audio from student Community Action. It was the most fleeting of all my visits and we were soon on the road again heading the nearly 50 miles across to Northamptonshire and indeed one step closer to home. We made it to Wellingborough Prison's Visitor Centre and upset security as they said I looked like I'd just escaped! This was a last minute job as the original project had been unable to meet us so I was really pleased to be able to meet the team at the centre.

Still raining we left Wellingborough for the short trip to BBC Northampton and without a minute to lose. Straight on air into the station's Drivetime programme before catching up with more former colleagues in the shape of Bob Walmsley and Managing Editor Laura Moss. A great welcome from a wonderful team.

My ride home was let's just say nerve wracking. The A508 was pitch black in places and the rain at this point was quite heavy. For the first time this week I felt a little vulnerable. It was wonderful to be home and warm up. Big day tomorrow...

______________________________________________________

Blog Three: Wednesday pm

A very very busy day. It's now 4.20pm on Wednesday and I'm sat in The Forum in Norwich, a rather impressive looking building that houses BBC Radio Norfolk and of course Look East. It's been a really hectic day but all the messages I've been getting have been great and have been pushing me on. Thanks.

I've been nagging people whose mobile numbers are on my phone with text messages telling them to donate to my" just giving" page. Did I mention it was www.justgiving.co.uk/localwayround ?

This morning was a pretty early start with breakfast at 6.30 and then the five miles to BBC R dio uffolk. No not a typo, just look at the picture in the gallery! Another warm welcome from colleagues in Ipswich and the chance to tell the county about the trip chatting on Mark Murphy's breakfast show. Thanks to everyone in Suffolk. Had a chat with Helen on Morning:MK and told Ronnie all about the county's new orange gritters in "Not the Nine News Headlines".

The journey from Ipswich was mainly on the A140 and gave me the chance to explore a slightly more rural side of the county as I rode through the wonderfully named Brome, Yaxley, Scole and Dickleburgh and then on into Norwich.

BBC Norwich is set in the heart of the City and close to a bustling centre with shops bars and restaurants aplenty. The tremendous trio of Phil, Ian and I happened upon the Belgian Monk for a well earned bite to eat. The venue served Belgian cuisine and also offered a "Dubbel Deal." Dubbel is Flemish for double apparently- but how do you do a dubbel deal for three? Agonisingly it worked out cheaper to buy four meals so our repast of Belgian sausages and meatballs was topped up with a helping of that other Belgian delicacy - scampi. It was a new take on surf and turf!

An afternoon interview at Norfolk's project The Garage followed, although Ian was questioned by Norfolk Constabulary as he waited to photograph me turning up on the scooter. That happens to Ian a lot.

Spoke to Lorna and Roberto at Three Counties and really enjoyed a chat with BBC Norfolk's Drivetime producer Edd Smith form the streets of Norwich, just outside The Forum on Matthew Gudgin's show. Two top chaps and very supportive.

Right then, more tomorrow but I'm dying to get these trousers off and have a hot shower and the hotel is just a stone's throw away so bye for now…..

__________________________________________________

Blog Two: Wednesday am

Day three now and I'm in Ipswich Town centre at BBC Radio Suffolk.

Again a warm and helpful welcome from the team in Ipswich.

After leaving Essex yesterday, the journey to Suffolk was fairly uneventful. It was A12 most of the way to our next location. I was a bit disappointed to be honest. In many ways the main roads, although busier can be safer but they are so boring. Today's riding to Norfolk is through the villages a bit more so I'm looking forward to seeing a bit more of the local area.

Yesterday afternoon I visited Sue and Emma from Scamps-an inspirational pair of ladies who are both parents of children with autism. I really enjoyed chatting to both of them and spent more time just talking about their life and Scamps before we started recording. Thank you so much to them both for such a warm welcome and for the chocolate biscuits. Don't eat too many Sue!

Leaving Woodbridge the night was drawing in, but excitement was to follow on the A12 as I overtook for the first and possibly last time on this trip. You know who you are Mr Tractor Driver....I took you! I took you! I was very pleased with myself.

Keep leaving me your messages!

__________________________________________________

Blog One: Tuesday

Right now I'm in Essex and It's my first chance to write down my feelings. So back to yesterday...

The only problem with starting a big adventure at the crack of dawn is that I just find it impossible to get to sleep the night before. It wasn't until midnight on the 9th that my head finally hit the pillow. Excitement, adrenalin and a desire to not be late saw me up at 5.30am and on the road by 6am.

It was Morning:MK first then and a chat with my former partner in crime Helen Legh and an opportunity to tell my home town what I was up too. Ian and Phil turned up with the van and we were off to Luton. An uneventful but windy run to Luton and after speaking to Stephen Rhodes on the Breakfast Show I prepared to leave. The Nine o'clock show saw me off from the car park and we ran into the first snag. In true "It Will be Alright on the Night" style, the back box jammed and I couldn't get the keys out. This was all caught live on air of course much to the amusement of Barbour and the gang. We did eventually leave Three Counties but didn't have to travel far.

Our first project of the trip was Active Luton and at this point the rain had started and everything was starting to get a bit soggy. All went well at Luton Sixth form College and it was time for project number two in Welwyn Garden City. We got a warm and wonderfully friendly welcome at the Isabel Hospice and I was so impressed with the whole team there. Although things can be sad at times, Isabel Hospice was warm, friendly and oozing positivity. By the time we had left the rain was non stop and as we made our way out of Hertfordshire on the road to Essex.

I managed to lose the van with Ian and Phil in Hertford and Ian decided that my planned route was too rural. With the flooding that was apparent all around us main roads were a better option. He was right and the A414 and a bit of the A12 took us all the way to Chelmsford and our overnight stay in a place called Boreham. I spent the next 2 hours drying out my gear and all the contents of my wallet. I never thought I'd be hair drying £10 pound notes. Not very rock and roll but I didn't care and I have to say the shower that evening was like heaven. After a bite to eat I left Ian and Phil to sample the local ale while I had the best nights sleep I'd had in years. A combination of all the days adrenalin and the concentration needed during the bad weather meant the 11 hours solid sleep I had was very much needed.

Tuesday morning and Ian and Phil had a breakfast but all I wanted was a coffee!

Spoke to Morning:MK again and it was very funny watching Phil try and remember his fact of the day. It was something about the first radio broadcast and what was said. Don't expect me to remember, search Writtle and BBC. We arrived at the Essex Coalition of Disabled People and just before I spoke to Ann from the coallition I took part in The Nine with Ronnie. We left the project heading towards the postcode of BBC Essex. The only problem was that the postcode used in the van's sat Nav was a PO box number and we ended up at a post office building. Very funny.

We eventually made it to BBC Essex and the whole team at Essex were brilliant. Angela Lodge who takes care of the stations helpline was really helpful and took me to the studio for an interview with the on air presenter Dave Monk. Dave was really interested in the project and the piece went well. Ian and Phil have been busy getting pictures and audio sent back to 3CR and it's almost time to get on the road again. Suffolk here we come………!!