Super sausage cafe & Great Central railway

[Bianco2564]

Had a free day today, Mrs has gone with the two daughters on a spa day, so it was all about me today.

Did a bit of work on the M3 this morning, then donned my leathers on and fired up the R1.

Took a ride down the A5 to the Super Sausage cafe just south of Towcester. More like super queue for a cuppa, about 20mins, was going to have a bacon batch, but I clocked the ticket number was about 25 later than what they were calling out so opted for a Kit Kat instead. Usual mix of bikes there, must have been Victory Hammer club day out, must have been 15 of them there. Finished the brew and set off back towards Silverstone and ended up passing over the old GCR line at Helmdon so decided to trace it back to Rugby. 

First pic is from Helmdon station bridge and looking back towards the Banbury Lane.

Helmdon viaduct in the distance.

Went down one road from Sulgrave that was so badly rutted, had grass growing in the middle and sheep grazing on the verge, don't think they were too impressed with the R1.

Stopped at a bridge between Sulgrave and Eydon, eerily quiet.

Made my way to Woodford Halse, after a bit of riding around found the old station entrance and twin bridges. They had a large engine repair shop there back in the day.

Back onto familiar territory of the A361 at Byfield, stopped at Charwelton, there used to be a station here, now the reception centre for the Catesby tunnel aero test track.

Back towards Daventry for a while then left to Southam and crossed the GCR near Flecknoe and headed back into the boonies.

Got to a gated road near Wolfhamptcote, found the line again for another bridge pic.

Next bit of road/farm track was interesting on a sportsbike, only about a mile fortunately and passed two blokes walking, they must have thought WTF. 

Back onto the A45 at Braunston, crossed the track again at Willoughby twice before finally hitting Rugby at the Onley lane cutting. No bridge parapets remaining there, just an embankment. 

Crossed the line again for the final time on the Ashlawn road then home.

About 75 miles altogether, bike ran a treat and had great fun.