I like long runs, and as I enjoy riding by myself sometimes, it can feel quite isolated especially if you are a fair way from home. This is why the Vintage Motorcycle Club Millennium Relay Rally seemed to be a good day out. The Inter had just been rebuilt after damaging the main bearings during the Manx Grand Prix last September and I needed to do some miles to bed it in. Having checked everything thoroughly on the Saturday I went to bed early to get an early start. Up with the lark on Sunday, went to get the bike out of the shed and found a flat front tyre typical. Still, I can put in a new tube and get to my start point if the tube change goes OK which, for once, it did. So we finally leave Bracknell about 7.15am to our start point at Old Sarum. Although this was not the nearest start point, it did open at 8.00am, an hour and a half before most of the other start points. Left the M3 at Basingstoke the idea was to keep off main routes where feasible and past Popham airfield where I hope to finish in about 9 hours time. The old A30 is a wonderful bit of road, almost dead straight for nearly 30 miles it shows its roman past very clearly. Traffic is nil at this time in the morning, the bike is feeling good, the sun is starting to burn off the morning mist and alls well with the world. From Mitcheldever through Sutton Scotney and Stockbridge to reach our start at Old Sarum airfield. Arrive about 8.20, blast I have not gained any time back, but at least my first estimate of an hour to do the first 60 miles is OK. There are several people signing on here who have travelled a lot further than we have, to make the most of the early opening time.

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