Back on the Road Again…although, with apologies to REO Speedwagon, not leaving, but a return to two-wheeled adventures. It was time to get the new wheels back into the groove and have a trip out. After a two-year two-wheeled break from the roads other than a quick blast around on the Triumph Street Triple, Rig came up with a few suggestions of the latest Cafes on the RigsVille list, the Bouverie Lodge Café (also known as Through The Gate) sounded most intriguing. This establishment forms part of a Bison and Deer Farm just to the North of Melton Mowbray.
Leaving the finer points of the day in Rig’s more than capable hands we agreed to meet up in a layby on the A426 close the Whittle Island in Lutterworth, Rig emailed me the Google Earth co-ordinates but I still managed to stop in the wrong one and when 8:30 clicked around I decided that I must be in the wrong place as Rig is nothing if not punctual, sure enough, further down the road was where I should have been, Rig was there with the big Beemer and to make a good start the sun was shining which given the shite weather we have had in the past week was a godsend.
After a while talking the finer points of the bikes, the pro’s and con’s, as you do, it was time to hit the road, Rig had come up with a scenic route so we headed down the hill into the roadworks around Whittle Island, the signs proudly displaying the boast that the works will improve the traffic flow, I’m sure the commuters using it day in day out will have their own opinions on that but as a casual user I can only be guided by the Highways Department claims………..
From the memorial to Sir Frank Whittle, we headed to Market Harborough through some historic looking hamlets and villages, the churches certainly looked old, from Market Harborough, our route took us north on the B6047 then East across to Uppingham. The Harley Davidson Dealership in Uppingham seemed to have increased in size over the last few years, they must be selling plenty of the American Brand. From Uppingham, we headed North again towards Rutland Water and Oakham.
Another detour took us off the main track an onto the lanes as we winded our way towards the home of pork pies, Melton Mowbray, one of my favourite locations if only to visit “Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe”
Once into Melton the traffic was heavy with Saturday Shoppers so took us a little time to negotiate, once out of the town on the A606 it was all ahead full to Burton Lazars and some scram
Turning off the main road into the car parking area gave us a chance to test the “off-road” capabilities of the bikes, basic repairs to the abundance of potholes with loose material presented a low-speed control challenge. The café itself has an outside servery which presumably caters for quick coffee/tea and cake visits then inside a small reception area leads to the homely looking main body of the establishment, tables are farmhouse kitchen type wooden construction. There was further seating outside for when the English weather permits
The modus operandi is full table service, the waitresses come to the table to take orders etc, this presumably due to the bijou entrance space available. Two breakfasts duly ordered service was efficient and the food, whilst not copious quantities, was perfectly adequate and of a decent quality to fill the hole which is produced after a couple of hours on the road.
After demolishing the healthy offering, I had a mooch in the fridge intending to take home some Bison to try, it was daft to come out this way without sampling the unusual goods on offer. Ferreting about amongst the various joints I settled on a Bison Rib Eye Steak, now not being a connoisseur in meat cuts I didn’t know if this was a good choice or not, I am more of a pie and chips man, however it fell into the price range that I considered was good enough to splash out and try the meat. Parting with my eight quid it went into the top box for the trip home and subsequent interface with the frying pan.
Our route back was more direct but non the less enjoyable, there are some fine roads radiating out of Melton and well worth trying out, this is Borne out by the many signs lining the roads warning bikers to be careful.
Arriving back at home with 145 miles added to the odometer brought home the fact that it had been over two years since I had covered that distance on a trip out, good reintroduction and now looking forward to more breakfast trips……. Just need to work in the time to get out and about, work certainly gets in the way of the important things……….