Leading to Leeds

I looked out of the window of the Chesterfield Hotel and realised it was going to be a day for the wet weather gear. The forecast was bang on. Breakfast was excellent.  The poached eggs were very tasty and would set me up for a wet ride.  Go to work on an egg! Now that dates me.   Bike was packed and the panniers covered. Rider in wet weather gear.  Nobody I asked seemed to know the best route for Rotherham. All claimed they had not been there.    Without too much trouble I found the old Sheffield road which would take me straight there.  Rotherham  the town of my birth.   Just after 09.00 and with a few miles done I contacted brother David and Kieran who were meeting me in order to join the ride.  They had camped at Peterborough and were making their way steadily north.  I arrived in Rotherham without fanfare.  No civic reception. Maybe it was the fact that I was a full day ahead of schedule.  Never mind,  next time!   With the rain coming down it did nothing to improve the route to Barnsley and then on towards Wakefield.  There were one or two areas that a bulldozer could improve.  Just before Wakefield I met up with Kieran and David on the main A61 and yes still raining.  We enjoyed a great cup of tea and lunch in the camper van and a well earned rest.  Following this down time brothers Simington formed a convoy for the ride into Leeds.  With David and myself on the bikes and Kieran on a mini monkey bike.   We got a number of cheers as we went along the route. Earlier in the day a a couple had stopped to ask about the ride and took the web address for Just Giving.  It was a generous gesture.      Most of the route to Leeds was gently downhill.  By mid afternoon the convoy was approaching the outskirts of Leeds.  I made contact with my sons Joseph and Thomas to make sure they had the flags out!    Kieran returned on his motorbike to fetch the camper and take it to the site for the evening. David and I continued on looking for a cafe to take a break.   There is an investment potential here as all the way on the A 61 not one cafe.  Through the centre of Leeds was confusing and out towards Joseph's house.  We were early and had some time to kill.  After a long search and a grind up the road out of the city,to the north, we found a very small Italian cafe.  Water, chocolate, coffee and cakes were ordered and the well earned rest was enjoyed, so much so that I dropped off to sleep much to the amusement of the other customers and and owners.  My brother David kindly got this on record! So kind.    I look like an old man taking his afternoon nap!   I am an old man taking a nap.   David left to join Kieran at the campsite.  We  were having a family meal later so he needed to have a wash and brush up.   I eventually made my way to Joseph's house. A great welcome. The last time I had seen Joseph was a week ago at Diss station.   My son Thomas arrived and after a shower and change out of wet clothes we all made our way to the campsite to pick up Kieran and David.   Not before my son demonstrated his domestic skills by putting some of my clothes in the washing machine.  Most impressive.  David had achieved his personal best distance on the bike. Some steep  hills to make it more interesting.    Great meal, good service and company. Half way celebration.   Back at the house we watched or tried to watch the Apprentice.  The old man fell asleep again. Joseph went off to pick up Louise from the station who had returned from working all day in Manchester.   Bed came soon and I took no rocking!