With a Friday off work in lieu of the previous bank-holiday, I plotted a route for a ride down into Hampshire. Our family had a cottage booked for the week near Mitton in the new Forest so ideal for me to take a scenic country ride down through Malmesbury and Devizes and across Salisbury Plain. I'm not so familiar with Wiltshire, and realise I must come down here and explore some more in the future but with this sunny day I just kept on rolling on through the wonderful countryside and along those military roads across the plain. I didn't see any tanks today, and probably glad I didn't really I reckon they would seem quite intimidating as that turret rotates tracking my GS as target practice!
I stopped in a quiet village I found on the outskirts but no phone signal so I had no idea where I was so decided to park up on the village hall car park enjoying this peaceful setting while eating my packed lunch before moving on to take a look at Old Sarum Castle that overlooks Salisbury with a great view of the cathedral spire in the distance. The castle itself is interesting, mostly ruins with the remains of the fortified mound and castle moat and later superb riding through the forest avoiding cattle and ponies and enjoying the view. The cottage wasn't an easy find since the given postcode isn't really GPS accurate, but luckily Helen guided me in over the phone passing through the nearby ford to park the GS up near the ponies. Really great to meet the neighbours too; Gloucester 'Old Spot' pigs in the field behind were quite amusing and inquisitive, and really do like to eat just any scraps of food. In the evening we all went out for a meal in Lyndhurst and took a wander around Ferrari garage forecourt, each selecting the car of our choice should those elusive lottery numbers come up.
For Saturday I had a loose plan and route for a circular ride through the forest to visit the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum in New Milton. I mentioned my plans to Helen, Gordon and Hayley and was surprised to discover they were interested in coming along too, so we all took the short car ride down to what turned out to be a great morning enjoyed by us all. I'd known about the legendary Sammy Miller MBE for a long time and always wished to visit the museum but had no idea it would be so good. There are 500 classic machines restored by Sammy and his associates to an impeccable standard. There are so many machines to marvel at, not withstanding the Norton race machines, Rickman trials bikes and some real oddities I'd never heard of before like the three cylinder 248cc Radial Redrup. If you are ever near New Milton area and haven't been here before you must pay a visit .. it's superb!
While walking around the museum I heard the roar of a machine startup up and looking out of the glass atrium window saw two elderly engineers revving a classic racing machine. We headed outside and realised one of the chaps was the man himself 'Sammy' actually test riding the 1939 A.J.S. V four super charged 500cc. The first bike to lap at over 100mph during the Ulster GP 1939. Amazing to see him taking turns lapping the car park with everyone watching on open-mouthed.
A short video ‘walk around’ the museum.
Sammy riding the AJS
Hayley (my daughter) found it hysterical to see Sammy 'hooning' around at 91 years of age, as she commented 'he's older than my Grandad!' Afterwards Helen coaxed him out of his workshop for a chat and a picture, and what a nice guy he is too, very proud to tell us a few facts about the bike and how the AJS's technology came 45 years before the Japanese bikes! So pleased to have met Sammy, and I'll definitely come back down for another look. Gordon (my father-in-law) really enjoyed it here too, and I must say thanks to him for my very smart Sammy Miller Museum polo shirt. Afterwards we headed out to visit Milford on Sea and then on to Lymington before returning to the cottage with a Fish and Chip tea for all, a few drinks and a fun evening playing our latest addiction: Monopoly Deal!
An early start on Sunday since I'd have to head off back home for work on Monday we all decided to visit the Portsmouth Historical dockyard. I'd been here before with my two kids but missed out on visiting HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose last time. Today we got aboard the Warrior - the first iron hulled warship, a real game changer at that time. Fascinating to discover they built it from drawing board to launch in less than two years. It was good to get close to the Mary Rose at last too, the King Henry VIII warship I'd seen raised while televised back on the 1980's, with a later harbour tour allowing us to get close to the HMS Elizabeth (air-craft carrier) and HMS Prince of Wales currently docked. Looking out across the deck Helen did notice a couple who were past competitors on the TV show 'Race across the World' too!
I set off for my reverse ride home around 5.30 pm and once I realised Sunday evenings are perfect to pass directly through quiet towns at this time e.g. Marlborough instead of using the congested motorways and A34 around them I arrived back about 9pm after a pleasant cool but dry ride back. What an excellent weekend trip with Sammy Millers Motorcycle Museum and meeting Sammy the real highlight for me!
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