Riding through fords,
Any excuse for a summer weekend ride, Paul Lang and Tony Hoare take a Yamaha Super Ténéré and KTM 790 Duke and go in search of cool water
1 Bottesford, Leicestershire
I’ve never forded a river before and was nervous. Tony blasted past me laughing all the way. It’s slippy. Algae avoidance wasn’t in the bike test. We found our fords on wetroads.co.uk and it’s looking like this is going to be a great day. Thanks Michael Kirkland for taking our pic while out walking his dog Arnold. Next stop brekkie.
2 Watery Gate, Leicestershire
Today’s deepest ford. I hit it too hard and the bow wave rises over my HJC. Open visor and laughing don’t work in this situation. And fords, I discover, don’t taste great. But it’s a brilliant way to cool down in late summer heat . Tony takes the keys to the KTM and he loves it.
3 Geddington, Northamptonshire
Geddington’s ford has a bridge if you don’t fancy the get-wet option, but we do, especially as con dence is building. Unfortunately mid-stream the big Yamaha goes sideways on me, pure luck saving me from a ducking. Back on more familiar ground we blast along the B660 into Kimbolton for ice cream at Oliver’s Cafe. Mint choc chip for me, peanut butter for Tony. Jools Holland’s groovy band are in town for the locals.
4 Hail Weston, Cambridgeshire
Probably the most dangerous ford of the day thanks to its slight bend. I wonder if You’ve Been Framed would be interested in a video of Tony stacking it. Sadly he stays on. Having a quest, no matter how silly, makes riding a motorcycle in the sunshine even better but aer 200 miles, 11 hours and many laughs this one is at an end and it’s time to hit more wet stu again – this time made from barley and yeast.