This may well be the ultimate example of why we all love this channel and Freddie in general. There is the beautifully appropriate reverence for Lawrence, the motorcycle angle, gorgeously poor weather that adds ambience to the contemplative moments and views of T.E's cottage and grave, the random discovery of a junk yard, perfectly chosen music, completely shambolic "planning" , the sheer incompetence that sees a sleeping bag completely sodden and the magnificently understated summation of this outcome as "annoying" 😂. It is all so brilliantly endearing and just perfect. Well done , Freddie. This is the motorcycling lifestyle summed up in totality. It is all so very soulful, which is why so many of us do it. Never change.
Mate... Don't feel deflated by your camping efforts. Just remember it's all part of the adventure. You're out there living life whilst most of us are watching you from the comfort of our homes yearning for an adventure. Keep your head up and keep on adventuring.
Hi Freddie, I'm an old man of 71 and a bike lover. Unfortunately, I had to sell my last bike, a 1978 BMW R80/7 in 1998 for financial reasons . Previous to this I'd owned and re-built a 1971 BSA 650 Lightning. (I had owned other bikes before). When you apologise for going to stay in a cabin instead of camping.....remember, sensibility surpasses stupidity! I love your videos and look forward every week to what you and Monica have in store for us! Thank you for adding so much joy to my life! God bless you both! Gerry Rautenbach from Umkomaas in South Africa. ❤
Freddie, it was because of Lawrence’s death that led to the development of helmets that we wear today. The surgeon Hugh Cairns who treated Lawrence when he crashed became an expert neurologist and helped develop helmets to prevent head injuries. Amazing men both. As for your trip, wouldn’t be Freddie without some rain or kit problems!
Lawrence of Arabia was my dad’s favorite film. He told me he saw it twice every weekend in CinemaScope. A few years ago we went and saw it on the big screen together for the 50th anniversary. This past weekend was my first Father’s Day without him. Thank you for this little reminder.
In 2022 I bought a bunch of quite expensive camping gear, Drove from Belgium to the north of Germany, it was unusual cold for june with around 10 at night and my sleeping bag was summer rated. The next day I drove to Sweden, where it was 6 at night, I was freezing cold. The next day i drove home and sold all my camping stuff. Hotels for life.
@@FreddieDobbs You need to be abit of a masochist to 'enjoy' camping. It looks very nice on pictures but in person the reality is often rain/cold/muddy campings.. not quite like on instagram lol.
Hi Freddie, Really proud of you for taking the time out to visit and pay your respects to this amazing man. In a world where few know who he was you have my deepest respects mate, Thank you.
When I saw the first shot of the luggage i thought why is the sleeping bag unprotected? Then I thought he must have it in a special waterproof bag. Freddie knows what he's doing. Apparently not. However, at least you made one sensible decision. Not to camp in that weather with an already soggy sleeping bag!
Easily one of the best videos you guys have ever made Freddie &Monika. A wonderful English history lesson soaked in traditional old English folk music and piano 🎹. I'm also proud to announce that after getting my beautiful Honda cb500s stolen 3 weeks ago, that l now own a 2011 Triumph bonneville just like yours Freddie. I'm delighted ☺️
I love the scene where the camera fell over, during a period of wet, cold misery! I well know that feeling. Well done mate, brilliant choreography… if perhaps not planned.
Lawrence was a fascinating character. After Arabia he changed his name and joined the RAF as an ordinary airman, not an officer. He we instrumental in modern speed boat hull designs. The Doctor who tried to save him was also inspired to start to design crash helmets which he believed would have saved Lawrences life if he had had one. Politically his book 'The Seven Pillars of Wisdom' explains how many of the problems in the Middle East today came about.
He wasn't driving at speed , since he had just slowed down for road works. They were not children but delivery boys . His head hit a tree. He used to race planes near his bovington camp. He called his bike Bernarges - sound of thunder. Inside the church is a huge mausoleum effigy to him. Above the door of his cottage are the lines in greek of an ancient rude poem. There was no kitchen , a woman nearby brought his meals. There was no toilet either. Even Churchill was at his funeral , including many dignitaries.
@@columbmurray Indeed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this man. Not sure Freddie actually does any proper research. Most of the stuff he said reminded me of the AI shorts that have infested YT. Have you read The Road? I found the original version in an old motorcycle book by Setright, about 36 years ago.
Fun fact - his attempts to join the RAF after WW1 were thwarted by the recruitment officer, who just so happened to be William Earle Johns. The same W.E Johns who a few years later created Biggles and became one of the world's best selling authors.
This is a very personable vlog Mr Dobbs. I'm in deepest southern Western Australia, rain is coming, it's 2°C and dawn of the Winter Solstice. Burning of bonfires and sacrificial Kings later. I can feel the rain on your face as you confess that you let your gear get soaked, and your ineptitude is revealed but it is endearing. Referencing Lawrence, you could easily be an English second Lieutenant, fresh from a Public School, in khaki , fighting The Turk with the shining might of Empire behind you, pink faced amongst the bearded swarthy cutthroat Arabs. Lawrence was a scholar and spy with Gertrude Bell before WW1. His expensive bikes an indication of his Imperial status, as he did not see k being a General or a Knighthood which he declares in his book 7 Pillars of Wisdom , were his for the asking. A Brough Superior, costing as much as a house, were his self appointed reward for the vicissitudes of Imperial service and intrigue. But Lawrence withdrew to those obscure English lanes you have shown me and others. There beneath an oak, he died, not in some foreign field. but a field forever England. !!!
Freddie, even if the tent had not got wet though, even if the weather had been brilliant, I'd have still gone for the pod. The only good thing about camping is it gives you some real horror tales to talk about after you've recovered.
As a kid I saw Lawrence of Arabia. I knew of his passion for Brough Superior motorcycles from watching Jay Leno. It was awesome to see where he lived and where he died. Thanks.
I think the trip was a success , nobody else out doing what you are doing .and you shared your journey which was really interesting. Looking forward to part 2.
During the 1930s TE Lawrence used to ride his Brough motorcycles from that wee cottage to Edinburgh and back in one day on the old A1 that used to go through the centre of cities, townes and villages no mean feat for the time,what a legend the man was!Read his book the Severn Pillars of Wisdom all about the Arab revolt it's a excellent read.
"First time camping in a while, it's been...a complete failure..." LOL, oh no it hasn't, Freddie! Even your "bad" trips are fascinating and fun to watch. For instance, the quest to see the grave of T.E. Lawrence. I knew that he was the source of the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" and I knew he was a motorcyclist, but not much else. The fact that you went to such effort to bring us his story is fantastic. And we appreciate the effort. We look forward to seeing the rest of the adventure. Fingers crossed that the weather gets better and you and your stuff dry out. Cheers!
Another wonderful little vignette. Had me gripped from the start. Camping is great when the weather is good. Wild camping is even better and you dont need a tent. A tarp maybe just in case it rains. There's nothing quite like waking up and seeing the sky up above. It's a beautiful experience
Thank you for sharing this wonderful adventure. My daughter’s into bikes and we both find T E Lawrence fascinating. One of our great British heroes. I loved hearing that song too. We used to sing hymns but also sea shanties in assembly! Now they don’t allow it.
Oh dear Freddie, It looks like you couldn't have picked a worse day, and and food at the end of all that. What a night mare!. Fingers crossed it was better the next day and you had a mighty big breakfast!. Thanks for going all through that for us viewers.
On a side note - Siân Phillips walked past me at Spitalfields market a couple of months ago. The 91 year old was married to Peter O’Toole, the star of Lawrence of Arabia. Amazing woman. Thanks for this superb video Freddie.
Bravo....what a great video, Lawrence of Arabia is a legend whos name shouild never be forgotten. And who doesn't love Riding motorcycles in British summer time ?
Thanks for this, Freddie! T.E. Lawrence's story is forever engraved in the history of motorcycling. As someone enthusiastic about history and motorcycles alike, I wish he survived that fateful accident and lived through WW2 and beyond, that would've definitely left its mark on European history as well as that of motorcycling.
I just got back from a 3 week camping holiday in Europe and on one day it rained all day while travelling, so I choose to book into a hotel that night. No fun pitching a wet tent (from the morning) in the rain on wet, soggy ground. However I was camping again the next night. Also we used our 36(ish) year old sleeping bags that were not a cheap buy in the 80's. I'd say spend the money on the sleeping bags, the rest doesn't matter as much if you are summer camping like us (May-Sept). Tents and mattresses have come and gone in that time. Plus our sleeping bags compress down to about a third of yours which matters when there is two of you and limited packing space.
Hi , Lawrence wrote his book THE MINT in the 1920's where he described his 'after work run' buying bacon in one town, sausages in another from Sleaford to Newark and completing the triangle riding to Lincoln and back to Sleaford. . He averaged 78mph on the run . He describes a tea cafe SCOFFERS in Sleaford which is still there after 100 years !! ..My Harley friends and I rode the route last year following his description. He wrote about racing RAF Swordfish planes taking off parallel to the road from Newark and having to slow down for the. planes to catch him up! for him to then leave them standing again . Another great story Freddie . Well done . Thank you Simon
Well done bud for not sugar coating your experience so far. So much better for us viewers, warts & all. Quality content. Goes without saying take some protein bars & dry bags for kit are relatively inexpensive. Best Wishes & looking forward to day 2 👊
I observed immediately that you didn’t waterproof the sleeping bag. Lesson learned. You won’t make that mistake again 😊 Your stellar perseverance through that weather is epic. Not many TH-cam vloggers keep on filming in such conditions. Respectable and highly entertaining.
Here you go Freddie, The site of Lawrence’s fatal accident is marked by a stone erected by the T. E. Lawrence Society. Memorial2The site can be reached by heading north along a narrow footpath from the small car park situated 400 yards to the south of Clouds Hill on the road to Bovington. In the car park is another memorial to Lawrence placed there in 1983 by Tom Beaumont who served with Lawrence in the Arab Campaign. The road no longer follows exactly the same route as it did in 1935. It has been realigned since the accident and is wider, with the dips levelled out.
You are an inspiration Freddie with your travel vlogs... normally! However, im quite happy just to watch this one with no real ambition to follow in your footsteps on this particular trip but it did make excellent viewing. Thank you for suffering for our entertainment 😁😅
Such a wonderful, sentimental journey to Lawrence grave! The sky is crying and Freddie is our allday hero who made this way! ❤️ Best wishes from Germany, brother! 🙏
Interesting, I keep my camping gear in Kayak bags, Even my theoretically waterproof back pack got soaked through on the back of my bike. I was wet through and freezing cold and went and bought clothes from the skin out and a dry sleeping bag. You learn from experience. A tarp can be handy when you get there.
I'd have gone Premier Lodge and I'm quite an experienced camper. With weather like that, if you don't need to camp - don't. It's not fail, it's adaptability. Great share!🙂
As always a fabulous, entertaining and informative video. You might well know this, as an undergraduate T.E. cycled more than 2500 miles through France over 50 days visiting cathedrals, abbeys and medieval castles. The following year (1909) he undertook a 1000 mile walk primarily through Syria and Lebanon during his summer holidays. He was as tough as nails.
Sooperb video. I’m assuming Monica does the video production? The editing and choice of music is first class. Keep up the collective great work 👍 The Bonneville looks superb.
You did the right thing by getting that pod! You did the wrong thing by not putting that sleeping bag in a waterproof bag! All a good learning experience Freddie! You would make a great David Attenborough for bikes and documentaries.
Bovington is the home of the Royal Armoured Corps. Seeing it brought back memories of learning to drive tracked vehicles a lifetime ago while with the army. There is also a tank museum adjacent to the camp which is well worth a visit.
Well, Freddie, what you refer to as a “failure” video, just happens to be a smashing success to view. Terrific history tour on behalf of Lawrence of Arabia. The weather set the mood for a trip to the cemetery. And dealing with adversity is what turns a ride into a true adventure. I might add that the music accompaniment throughout the video was excellent. Two thumbs up, Mate!! 👍👍
That area is so beautiful! Just down from Moreton church is Moreton Ford, an amazing shallow chalk stream. The Tank museum is well worth visiting too if ever you are down that way again.
I don't blame you Freddie. Camping in the rain can be a downright miserable experience. Sleeping in a wet sleeping bag just makes it all worse. I would've booked a hotel for sure. Lawrence was a fascinating character indeed. Such a wonderful history lesson. Thank you.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I’ve lived in the area for 3yrs and ride past that TVR graveyard often but never stopped. Nice to see it pop up and see a bit more than I have from the road. Never knew about LoA’s connection to the area but I’ll be paying his house and grave a visit. Cheers
Freddie, it’s the spirit and intent of the ride that counts, from my years on a motorcycle around Europe I always remember someone saying a trip is just a trip until the unexpected arrives and then it truly does become an adventure. Keep up the great content, it truly is inspiring. Cheers Paul K
This could have been me... Without any German Schadenfreude I can assure you these are the stories you will still love to tell in decades. Deepest respect and stay as you are.
👏Good man for not wrapping it in cotton wool. You can endure some soul trodden, testing days on a bike. I remember being in Glencoe in January, snow on the ground and sleet in the air. Six layers on and soaking wet. All I longed for was a hot cuppa. Thank you for the upload. 👊
New to the channel. Most You Tubers wouldn't have put this one out there. Freddie's honest style is refreshing and endearing. Very enjoyable, and a good history lesson. Thanks Freddie. Keep them coming. I would like to see an episode of how influential and timeless Turner's '37 Triumph 500 speed twin has turned out to be. My all time ultimate bike, and very much the classic style of today.
Freddie, your bike sounds amazing ... that lovely crisp exhaust note. Much better than the rattly tin can noises it previously made. It now sounds like a proper Triumph 🙂
Lots of comments about what you should have done, could have done and should do in future Freddie, but ignore all of them. You are who you are so continue to enjoy being you. (Loved the video too!)
Brilliant video Freddie,lovely countryside,lovely Bonneville,Scottish weather and a lovely story.well done as usual and thank you for sharing your experiences
What a lovely video, as many others have already commented. Thanks Freddie and what fantastic footsteps to enable us all to follow 0 in such a beautiful part of the world. A real shame about the rain, but i'm not sure how any of us can always avoid that one. Good to see the bike going so well. Perhaps one day you'll have the chance to do that journey on an old or maybe even new Brough. thanks again
Great video Freddie. One of my biking ambitions is to do exactly what you have done (except for the camping disaster of course) so this was fascinating. All the best, keep posting.
Freddie, another great video. Gotta love British summer time! I have toured on a bike in the rain and camped overnight. If it's dry, it's tiring enough pitching up and putting away each day...but if it's raining you get soaked putting up the tent, have wet kit and put away a wet tent, only to repeat the following days. For that reason I AirBNB without fail. You need refreshing after a day in the saddle. No shame at all. Look forward to rhe next one. Take it easy.
Freddy, don't give up on your motorcycle camping trips-they're amazing. I’ve ambitions to make my own moto camping trips so this adds me courage to pack and go even today. Keep going, me and my wife would enjoy to see more of your camping adventures ❤
Watching this vidéo is learning what mistake we would all do! Will never be a failure when trying something new and… sharing the reality of the experience! 🙏 for sharing!
Had an aborted camping trip this weekend too. Didn't anticipate how long it takes for a National Park to dry out. Dropped the bike a couple of times, caked myself in mud, called it about 10km before getting to the campsite. Found the nearest blacktop and took the motorway home. Over 500km done and no camping, but plenty enough adventure for a weekend. Appreciated a hot shower at home as opposed to sub zero overnight temperature.
Glad to see you enjoying my home county Freddie, it doesn’t always rain that much ! I’ve visited Clouds Hill many times, both on school trips and privately, and have found it a very moving experience each time. A great video, as ever, and a wise decision with the weather ! Looking forward to the next video.
There’s a passage from T E Lawrence’s lesser known book ‘the mint’ which just epitomises riding a motorcycle. Great adventure Freddie and enjoy finding more out about the complicated character he was! 👍
Great video- Lawrence is one of my hero’s for sure. Must have watched Lawrence of Arabia 20 times (including the interval!). Have seen his Brough Superior in the Imperial War Museum and also his memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral (as shown in the start of the film).
Stumbled upon this channel after Fredie visited Sri Lanka, my home country. And what a delightful journey it's been since then. Absolutely love the content, the way it's presented... Great that there are folks with passion, respect and such a perspective on life making YT so much richer. Great job mate and keep it up!
Well done Freddie, for your perseverence and resilience in adversity. We've all forgotten things, the weather has been against us and then even the mindset turns becomes an enemy, with self-criticism playing a major part. However, even in your wet, tired and hungry state, you still managed to continue your video and have time for a little self reflection. Thanks. I hope to see you soon.
A fitting tribute to a great man, very well explained and documented. Sometimes you just got to go with the flow, The hut was a very good decision, being wet through on a bike is no fun. Keep up the great work Freddie, you have become my favourite channel for bike adventures 👍👍
I can feel this entire video. Just bought my first bike since 2014, brought her back home on Saturday, 54 miles trip to London (never even driven in the UK before that, so I made a 104 miles from it, at one point I was closer to France than London). Fast forward, Saturday afternoon, standing there under a tree somewhere at the edge of London, soaked, shaking, still 30 mins away from home with a cup of hot petrol station coffee, trying to be warmed up a bit. Was kinda miserable, but I got every aspect of riding in 3 hours. A real "welcome back to the saddle, are you sure about that?" trip. (On the bright side, I surely know now what part of my gears are definitely not waterproof :) )
Good onya Freddie - sometimes these trips are the ones that end up providing the best memories and experiences. And thanks for showing us a little of Lawrences life. He was a legend of a man.
You know... I'm not really sure what you call you.. you have such a wide field of things that you do so I call you a Motorcycle-Touring Historian. I think that is what describes you best! Thanks man... damn, I love your videos!
What a great vlog,,, Lawrence was such a hero used by the government,,, I'm so pleased u did a light vlog of him,,, well done for battling those weather conditions,,, me and my harley wouldn't be so happy Nice one bud
@@FreddieDobbs didn’t you do some camping videos in Spain or Portugal a couple years ago? You had a little tent that set up next to the bike, didn’t you?
@@FreddieDobbs you're welcome Freddie, it was advice given to me when I started out and it makes a huge difference. They don't take up much space and are very light too 👍
@@michaelmclarney1994 Not only light but wrapped around the sleeping bag may well have kept it dry, Plonker springs to mind when I consider Freddie, in a very "Only Fools & Horses" manner.
A friend and l endured a long weekend camping. Started off at Brands Hatch camped in a nearby wood...it pissed down we rode on and ended up near Stonehenge where it continued to piss down. eventually we called it a day and rode back to Southend, where it wasn't raining..all this happed in 1965..... l never went camping again. l now live in España where fortunately the sun shines most of the time..
Freddie, I obviously found Part 1. You truly put maximum efforts in producing your videos. Thanks for sharing this adventure and some great Intel of T.E. Lawrence. I think I will check the house and grave on my next visit home. Cheers.
Every such a trip is an experience gained. As a bikepacker I've immediatly spotted your sleeping gear unprotected and though "oops, that's gonna hurt later". Great content!
Freddie …. One of the best videos I have watched on your channel. T.E. Lawrence, the beautiful countryside, and the amazing place where he was laid to rest. All fascinating. The trip was not a failure.. far far from it. Wet cold sleeping bag in inclement weather. You made a wise choice. A side note… the pipes sound great. Tell Danny if the pipes are too loud for him… keep a greater distance from them. You made the best of a bad situation.
Don’t feel too bad Freddie there’s a lot to remember to make camping comfortable. I know you’re getting a lot of advice but to add to your large dry bag get some smaller dry bags. Lomo do some good ones. That way you can make sure stuff stays dry and if things like your fly sheet gets wet you can pack that separately.
We’ve visited Clouds Hill several times and stayed with friends we met there. It, his grave, church,are all wonderful. The leather bed cover is remarkable. Not to be pedantic, but the Broughs were all named for George Bernard Shaw, who bought them for him.
Don’t feel bad mate, every hero starts from adversity! I have to admit though it was the very first thing I thought at the start of the video “ooo, why’s that sleeping bag not in a dry bag and why’s it the most exposed thing 😂”. Better a roof over your head and a warm bed then a wet sleeping bag, a proper wet sleeping bag can genuinely kill you.
There's only one person to blame here and that person is Monika, because she should never let you organise a trip or let out on your own. Joking aside Freddy as soon as you said your sleeping bag was soaking wet that would of been my que to look for a B&B. Even though the weather did it's best to ruin the day it was still a very interesting video, lets hope for better weather tomorrow.
Freddie, I thoroughly enjoyed this video and am a huge T. Lawrence fan. What an incredible and interesting man. I thought the song was fitting toward the end of the video. You young man are truly living your life. Good for you. A+ rating!
Well done Freddie I take my hat off to you for battling on through that dreadful weather. Not easy journey on its own but with filming as well. Excellent thank you for a very interesting episode.
Well done, Freddie. Read The Seven Pillars of Wisdom some thirty years ago, in my 20s. What an iconic and inspiring man TE Lawrence was. I think he's better known than you suggest - at least, he was a few years ago. Re; the camping. The best laid plans, and all that....... There's always next time.
I remember seeing one of his bikes at the Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, although just googled it and I don’t think it is there anymore. I took my Dad there for his 70th birthday, they had his first bike from the early 60s. Well worth a visit. Great video, favourite bit was the camera falling over 😂❤
Freddie is the type of biker every REAL biker loves to have around! He just sucks in all the "bad luck" to himself, so everyone else looks good and gets a bloody good dose of hysterical laughter! I haven't met someone so DISCONNECTED from the mechanics of how THE WORLD WORKS, since my old life in Cambridge! (a couple of pot head bikers, who were so wasted they always ended up in trouble their mates had to pull them out of, trying not to laugh too hard, which was difficult!)
LOVE the sound of your bike Freddie!! Awesome to hear that 360deg crank Bonny motor through those TORS exhausts!! Thoroughly enjoyed this video - I think your misadventures and slight mishaps added a bit of grit to the tale. So sorry your great adventure got slightly spoiled by the rain. Maybe you should re-visit when we get a dry spell?
![The beginning of a one-month motorcycle camping trip in NEW ZEALAND | Norden 901 [S6-E1]](/img/n.gif)
You can click on this link to give Readly a try and you'll get two months free, and you can cancel at any time: readly.com/freddie24
This may well be the ultimate example of why we all love this channel and Freddie in general. There is the beautifully appropriate reverence for Lawrence, the motorcycle angle, gorgeously poor weather that adds ambience to the contemplative moments and views of T.E's cottage and grave, the random discovery of a junk yard, perfectly chosen music, completely shambolic "planning" , the sheer incompetence that sees a sleeping bag completely sodden and the magnificently understated summation of this outcome as "annoying" 😂. It is all so brilliantly endearing and just perfect. Well done , Freddie. This is the motorcycling lifestyle summed up in totality. It is all so very soulful, which is why so many of us do it. Never change.
- My thoughts exactly! I just wish I could have put them as eloquently as you did.
Love this comment 😂 🙏🏼
I have put numerous comments in support of Freddie and Monica’s work, but this says all it all.
Mate... Don't feel deflated by your camping efforts. Just remember it's all part of the adventure. You're out there living life whilst most of us are watching you from the comfort of our homes yearning for an adventure. Keep your head up and keep on adventuring.
Hi Freddie, I'm an old man of 71 and a bike lover. Unfortunately, I had to sell my last bike, a 1978 BMW R80/7 in 1998 for financial reasons . Previous to this I'd owned and re-built a 1971 BSA 650 Lightning. (I had owned other bikes before). When you apologise for going to stay in a cabin instead of camping.....remember, sensibility surpasses stupidity! I love your videos and look forward every week to what you and Monica have in store for us! Thank you for adding so much joy to my life! God bless you both! Gerry Rautenbach from Umkomaas in South Africa. ❤
Freddie, it was because of Lawrence’s death that led to the development of helmets that we wear today. The surgeon Hugh Cairns who treated Lawrence when he crashed became an expert neurologist and helped develop helmets to prevent head injuries. Amazing men both.
As for your trip, wouldn’t be Freddie without some rain or kit problems!
True.
Lawrence of Arabia was my dad’s favorite film. He told me he saw it twice every weekend in CinemaScope. A few years ago we went and saw it on the big screen together for the 50th anniversary.
This past weekend was my first Father’s Day without him.
Thank you for this little reminder.
In 2022 I bought a bunch of quite expensive camping gear, Drove from Belgium to the north of Germany, it was unusual cold for june with around 10 at night and my sleeping bag was summer rated. The next day I drove to Sweden, where it was 6 at night, I was freezing cold. The next day i drove home and sold all my camping stuff. Hotels for life.
Yes definitely agree 👍🏻
I rode to Sweden in August and I was so cold I paid for a hotel
No bad camping and no bad weather. Only bad gear 😂
This is quite a popular comment, so this is clearly a common feeling. I may now also be in this group😆
@@FreddieDobbs You need to be abit of a masochist to 'enjoy' camping. It looks very nice on pictures but in person the reality is often rain/cold/muddy campings.. not quite like on instagram lol.
Hi Freddie,
Really proud of you for taking the time out to visit and pay your respects to this amazing man.
In a world where few know who he was you have my deepest respects mate,
Thank you.
When I saw the first shot of the luggage i thought why is the sleeping bag unprotected? Then I thought he must have it in a special waterproof bag. Freddie knows what he's doing. Apparently not.
However, at least you made one sensible decision. Not to camp in that weather with an already soggy sleeping bag!
Easily one of the best videos you guys have ever made Freddie &Monika.
A wonderful English history lesson soaked in traditional old English folk music and piano 🎹.
I'm also proud to announce that after getting my beautiful Honda cb500s stolen 3 weeks ago, that l now own a 2011 Triumph bonneville just like yours Freddie.
I'm delighted ☺️
I love the scene where the camera fell over, during a period of wet, cold misery! I well know that feeling. Well done mate, brilliant choreography… if perhaps not planned.
I won't lie, I kinda giggled at it slowly starting to tip then hearing "Ohhh shiiiiii" 😆
Lawrence was a fascinating character. After Arabia he changed his name and joined the RAF as an ordinary airman, not an officer. He we instrumental in modern speed boat hull designs. The Doctor who tried to save him was also inspired to start to design crash helmets which he believed would have saved Lawrences life if he had had one. Politically his book 'The Seven Pillars of Wisdom' explains how many of the problems in the Middle East today came about.
Fascinating- the more I read about him, the beeper I get drawn in
He wasn't driving at speed , since he had just slowed down for road works. They were not children but delivery boys . His head hit a tree. He used to race planes near his bovington camp. He called his bike Bernarges - sound of thunder. Inside the church is a huge mausoleum effigy to him. Above the door of his cottage are the lines in greek of an ancient rude poem. There was no kitchen , a woman nearby brought his meals. There was no toilet either. Even Churchill was at his funeral , including many dignitaries.
@@columbmurray Indeed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on this man.
Not sure Freddie actually does any proper research. Most of the stuff he said reminded me of the AI shorts that have infested YT.
Have you read The Road? I found the original version in an old motorcycle book by Setright, about 36 years ago.
@@columbmurray See my other comments, if they survive.
Fun fact - his attempts to join the RAF after WW1 were thwarted by the recruitment officer, who just so happened to be William Earle Johns. The same W.E Johns who a few years later created Biggles and became one of the world's best selling authors.
This is a very personable vlog Mr Dobbs.
I'm in deepest southern Western Australia, rain is coming, it's 2°C and dawn of the Winter Solstice. Burning of bonfires and sacrificial Kings later.
I can feel the rain on your face as you confess that you let your gear get soaked, and your ineptitude is revealed but it is endearing.
Referencing Lawrence, you could easily be an English second Lieutenant, fresh from a Public School, in khaki , fighting The Turk with the shining might of Empire behind you, pink faced amongst the bearded swarthy cutthroat Arabs.
Lawrence was a scholar and spy with Gertrude Bell before WW1.
His expensive bikes an indication of his Imperial status, as he did not see k being a General or a Knighthood which he declares in his book 7 Pillars of Wisdom , were his for the asking.
A Brough Superior, costing as much as a house, were his self appointed reward for the vicissitudes of Imperial service and intrigue.
But Lawrence withdrew to those obscure English lanes you have shown me and others.
There beneath an oak, he died, not in some foreign field. but a field forever England.
!!!
Freddie, even if the tent had not got wet though, even if the weather had been brilliant, I'd have still gone for the pod. The only good thing about camping is it gives you some real horror tales to talk about after you've recovered.
🤣
I do honestly think my “camping” days may be over
@@FreddieDobbsNooooooo! We're enjoying your camping journey too much!
Thanks for the ‘Spanish Ladies’ too nostalgia for travelling and of course the Swallows and Amazon!
As a kid I saw Lawrence of Arabia. I knew of his passion for Brough Superior motorcycles from watching Jay Leno. It was awesome to see where he lived and where he died. Thanks.
I need to find the Jay Leno episode
I think the trip was a success , nobody else out doing what you are doing .and you shared your journey which was really interesting. Looking forward to part 2.
During the 1930s TE Lawrence used to ride his Brough motorcycles from that wee cottage to Edinburgh and back in one day on the old A1 that used to go through the centre of cities, townes and villages no mean feat for the time,what a legend the man was!Read his book the Severn Pillars of Wisdom all about the Arab revolt it's a excellent read.
"First time camping in a while, it's been...a complete failure..." LOL, oh no it hasn't, Freddie! Even your "bad" trips are fascinating and fun to watch. For instance, the quest to see the grave of T.E. Lawrence. I knew that he was the source of the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" and I knew he was a motorcyclist, but not much else. The fact that you went to such effort to bring us his story is fantastic. And we appreciate the effort. We look forward to seeing the rest of the adventure. Fingers crossed that the weather gets better and you and your stuff dry out. Cheers!
This is you at your best!!! Love it
Hugely appreciate it, thank you
Bovington Tank Museum, was just around the corner when you stopped to escape the rain, I would recommend to visit that place at some point
Another wonderful little vignette. Had me gripped from the start. Camping is great when the weather is good. Wild camping is even better and you dont need a tent. A tarp maybe just in case it rains. There's nothing quite like waking up and seeing the sky up above. It's a beautiful experience
Thank you for sharing this wonderful adventure. My daughter’s into bikes and we both find T E Lawrence fascinating. One of our great British heroes. I loved hearing that song too. We used to sing hymns but also sea shanties in assembly! Now they don’t allow it.
Oh dear Freddie, It looks like you couldn't have picked a worse day, and and food at the end of all that. What a night mare!. Fingers crossed it was better the next day and you had a mighty big breakfast!. Thanks for going all through that for us viewers.
On a side note - Siân Phillips walked past me at Spitalfields market a couple of months ago. The 91 year old was married to Peter O’Toole, the star of Lawrence of Arabia. Amazing woman. Thanks for this superb video Freddie.
Hey Freddie , if you go to the Tank museum they actually have one of Lawrence’s Broughs on display and it’s stunning
Bravo....what a great video, Lawrence of Arabia is a legend whos name shouild never be forgotten.
And who doesn't love Riding motorcycles in British summer time ?
Thanks for this, Freddie! T.E. Lawrence's story is forever engraved in the history of motorcycling. As someone enthusiastic about history and motorcycles alike, I wish he survived that fateful accident and lived through WW2 and beyond, that would've definitely left its mark on European history as well as that of motorcycling.
Freddie, don't be too hard on yourself. The video was not a failure--it was an adventure. And thanks for introducing me to the HillTopTrio.
I just got back from a 3 week camping holiday in Europe and on one day it rained all day while travelling, so I choose to book into a hotel that night. No fun pitching a wet tent (from the morning) in the rain on wet, soggy ground. However I was camping again the next night.
Also we used our 36(ish) year old sleeping bags that were not a cheap buy in the 80's. I'd say spend the money on the sleeping bags, the rest doesn't matter as much if you are summer camping like us (May-Sept). Tents and mattresses have come and gone in that time. Plus our sleeping bags compress down to about a third of yours which matters when there is two of you and limited packing space.
Nice video idea! 3:02 was such a british moment to ride in wind and rain only to stop for rain trousers.
brilliant video Freddie. This has to be one of your best videos, enjoyed every moment. can't wait for the next one.
Thank you so much!
Hi , Lawrence wrote his book THE MINT in the 1920's where he described his 'after work run' buying bacon in one town, sausages in another from Sleaford to Newark and completing the triangle riding to Lincoln and back to Sleaford. . He averaged 78mph on the run . He describes a tea cafe SCOFFERS in Sleaford which is still there after 100 years !! ..My Harley friends and I rode the route last year following his description. He wrote about racing RAF Swordfish planes taking off parallel to the road from Newark and having to slow down for the. planes to catch him up! for him to then leave them standing again . Another great story Freddie . Well done . Thank you Simon
Well done bud for not sugar coating your experience so far. So much better for us viewers, warts & all. Quality content. Goes without saying take some protein bars & dry bags for kit are relatively inexpensive. Best Wishes & looking forward to day 2 👊
I observed immediately that you didn’t waterproof the sleeping bag. Lesson learned. You won’t make that mistake again 😊 Your stellar perseverance through that weather is epic. Not many TH-cam vloggers keep on filming in such conditions. Respectable and highly entertaining.
It's really amazing that you had the opportunity to walk around his cottage. Very cool! Thank you for sharing.
Here you go Freddie, The site of Lawrence’s fatal accident is marked by a stone erected by the T. E. Lawrence Society.
Memorial2The site can be reached by heading north along a narrow footpath from the small car park situated 400 yards to the south of Clouds Hill on the road to Bovington.
In the car park is another memorial to Lawrence placed there in 1983 by Tom Beaumont who served with Lawrence in the Arab Campaign.
The road no longer follows exactly the same route as it did in 1935. It has been realigned since the accident and is wider, with the dips levelled out.
You are an inspiration Freddie with your travel vlogs... normally! However, im quite happy just to watch this one with no real ambition to follow in your footsteps on this particular trip but it did make excellent viewing. Thank you for suffering for our entertainment 😁😅
Fantastic Freddie , sending thanks and best wishes from Perth Australia
Such a wonderful, sentimental journey to Lawrence grave! The sky is crying and Freddie is our allday hero who made this way! ❤️
Best wishes from Germany, brother! 🙏
Interesting, I keep my camping gear in Kayak bags, Even my theoretically waterproof back pack got soaked through on the back of my bike. I was wet through and freezing cold and went and bought clothes from the skin out and a dry sleeping bag. You learn from experience. A tarp can be handy when you get there.
I'd have gone Premier Lodge and I'm quite an experienced camper. With weather like that, if you don't need to camp - don't. It's not fail, it's adaptability. Great share!🙂
Absolute comedy gold Dobbo, my wife and I were chuckling away last night! Thanks for all you do 🙏
As always a fabulous, entertaining and informative video. You might well know this, as an undergraduate T.E. cycled more than 2500 miles through France over 50 days visiting cathedrals, abbeys and medieval castles. The following year (1909) he undertook a 1000 mile walk primarily through Syria and Lebanon during his summer holidays. He was as tough as nails.
The video was amazing despite your experience about the trip so far. Now gonna watch part 2!
Sooperb video.
I’m assuming Monica does the video production? The editing and choice of music is first class.
Keep up the collective great work 👍
The Bonneville looks superb.
Ah Freddie..... sending love to you and Monika....the Lawrence of Arabia story on the other hand was touching. 👍👍👍👍
Thanks Julian, right back at you:)
You did the right thing by getting that pod! You did the wrong thing by not putting that sleeping bag in a waterproof bag! All a good learning experience Freddie! You would make a great David Attenborough for bikes and documentaries.
Bovington is the home of the Royal Armoured Corps. Seeing it brought back memories of learning to drive tracked vehicles a lifetime ago while with the army. There is also a tank museum adjacent to the camp which is well worth a visit.
Well, Freddie, what you refer to as a “failure” video, just happens to be a smashing success to view. Terrific history tour on behalf of Lawrence of Arabia. The weather set the mood for a trip to the cemetery. And dealing with adversity is what turns a ride into a true adventure.
I might add that the music accompaniment throughout the video was excellent.
Two thumbs up, Mate!! 👍👍
Well done Freddie, a real trooper out in the pissing rain. Great vid. Thanks
That area is so beautiful! Just down from Moreton church is Moreton Ford, an amazing shallow chalk stream. The Tank museum is well worth visiting too if ever you are down that way again.
I don't blame you Freddie. Camping in the rain can be a downright miserable experience. Sleeping in a wet sleeping bag just makes it all worse. I would've booked a hotel for sure.
Lawrence was a fascinating character indeed. Such a wonderful history lesson. Thank you.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I’ve lived in the area for 3yrs and ride past that TVR graveyard often but never stopped. Nice to see it pop up and see a bit more than I have from the road. Never knew about LoA’s connection to the area but I’ll be paying his house and grave a visit. Cheers
Freddie, it’s the spirit and intent of the ride that counts, from my years on a motorcycle around Europe I always remember someone saying a trip is just a trip until the unexpected arrives and then it truly does become an adventure.
Keep up the great content, it truly is inspiring.
Cheers Paul K
This could have been me... Without any German Schadenfreude I can assure you these are the stories you will still love to tell in decades. Deepest respect and stay as you are.
Very interesting video. Loved it! Totally in agreement with your accommodation choice! But, yep, waterproof bags for everything, I reckon!
Classic yarn. Best understood by those of us who get out and about and have experienced wet tents and sleeping bags Nice to see Clouds Hill.
👏Good man for not wrapping it in cotton wool.
You can endure some soul trodden, testing days on a bike. I remember being in Glencoe in January, snow on the ground and sleet in the air. Six layers on and soaking wet. All I longed for was a hot cuppa.
Thank you for the upload.
👊
Really good to see you out doing trips !!!
New to the channel. Most You Tubers wouldn't have put this one out there. Freddie's honest style is refreshing and endearing. Very enjoyable, and a good history lesson. Thanks Freddie. Keep them coming. I would like to see an episode of how influential and timeless Turner's '37 Triumph 500 speed twin has turned out to be. My all time ultimate bike, and very much the classic style of today.
Freddie, your bike sounds amazing ... that lovely crisp exhaust note. Much better than the rattly tin can noises it previously made. It now sounds like a proper Triumph 🙂
Thanks very much!
Agree. The triumph sounds excellent.
Lots of comments about what you should have done, could have done and should do in future Freddie, but ignore all of them. You are who you are so continue to enjoy being you. (Loved the video too!)
Brilliant video Freddie,lovely countryside,lovely Bonneville,Scottish weather and a lovely story.well done as usual and thank you for sharing your experiences
Good decision not camping in a cold windy rainstorm. Thanks for the story of a great man and showing us his home and resting place.
What a lovely video, as many others have already commented. Thanks Freddie and what fantastic footsteps to enable us all to follow 0 in such a beautiful part of the world. A real shame about the rain, but i'm not sure how any of us can always avoid that one. Good to see the bike going so well. Perhaps one day you'll have the chance to do that journey on an old or maybe even new Brough. thanks again
Great video Freddie. One of my biking ambitions is to do exactly what you have done (except for the camping disaster of course) so this was fascinating. All the best, keep posting.
With good weather Richard, it’ll be STUNNING!
Freddie, another great video.
Gotta love British summer time!
I have toured on a bike in the rain and camped overnight.
If it's dry, it's tiring enough pitching up and putting away each day...but if it's raining you get soaked putting up the tent, have wet kit and put away a wet tent, only to repeat the following days.
For that reason I AirBNB without fail. You need refreshing after a day in the saddle.
No shame at all.
Look forward to rhe next one.
Take it easy.
Freddy, don't give up on your motorcycle camping trips-they're amazing. I’ve ambitions to make my own moto camping trips so this adds me courage to pack and go even today. Keep going, me and my wife would enjoy to see more of your camping adventures ❤
Watching this vidéo is learning what mistake we would all do! Will never be a failure when trying something new and… sharing the reality of the experience! 🙏 for sharing!
Had an aborted camping trip this weekend too. Didn't anticipate how long it takes for a National Park to dry out. Dropped the bike a couple of times, caked myself in mud, called it about 10km before getting to the campsite. Found the nearest blacktop and took the motorway home. Over 500km done and no camping, but plenty enough adventure for a weekend. Appreciated a hot shower at home as opposed to sub zero overnight temperature.
Glad to see you enjoying my home county Freddie, it doesn’t always rain that much !
I’ve visited Clouds Hill many times, both on school trips and privately, and have found it a very moving experience each time.
A great video, as ever, and a wise decision with the weather !
Looking forward to the next video.
Excellent video Freddie. Great mix of history, tourism and bikes. That TVR graveyard was a nice find as well.
There’s a passage from T E Lawrence’s lesser known book ‘the mint’ which just epitomises riding a motorcycle. Great adventure Freddie and enjoy finding more out about the complicated character he was! 👍
Great video- Lawrence is one of my hero’s for sure. Must have watched Lawrence of Arabia 20 times (including the interval!). Have seen his Brough Superior in the Imperial War Museum and also his memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral (as shown in the start of the film).
Stumbled upon this channel after Fredie visited Sri Lanka, my home country. And what a delightful journey it's been since then. Absolutely love the content, the way it's presented... Great that there are folks with passion, respect and such a perspective on life making YT so much richer. Great job mate and keep it up!
Well done Freddie, for your perseverence and resilience in adversity. We've all forgotten things, the weather has been against us and then even the mindset turns becomes an enemy, with self-criticism playing a major part. However, even in your wet, tired and hungry state, you still managed to continue your video and have time for a little self reflection. Thanks. I hope to see you soon.
A fitting tribute to a great man, very well explained and documented. Sometimes you just got to go with the flow, The hut was a very good decision, being wet through on a bike is no fun. Keep up the great work Freddie, you have become my favourite channel for bike adventures 👍👍
I can feel this entire video. Just bought my first bike since 2014, brought her back home on Saturday, 54 miles trip to London (never even driven in the UK before that, so I made a 104 miles from it, at one point I was closer to France than London).
Fast forward, Saturday afternoon, standing there under a tree somewhere at the edge of London, soaked, shaking, still 30 mins away from home with a cup of hot petrol station coffee, trying to be warmed up a bit. Was kinda miserable, but I got every aspect of riding in 3 hours. A real "welcome back to the saddle, are you sure about that?" trip.
(On the bright side, I surely know now what part of my gears are definitely not waterproof :) )
Good onya Freddie - sometimes these trips are the ones that end up providing the best memories and experiences. And thanks for showing us a little of Lawrences life. He was a legend of a man.
You know...
I'm not really sure what you call you.. you have such a wide field of things that you do so I call you a Motorcycle-Touring Historian. I think that is what describes you best!
Thanks man... damn, I love your videos!
What a great vlog,,, Lawrence was such a hero used by the government,,, I'm so pleased u did a light vlog of him,,, well done for battling those weather conditions,,, me and my harley wouldn't be so happy
Nice one bud
Freddie, you WILL need a foam insulating mat for camping. It insulates your body from the ground and gives minimal comfort from the hard ground.
Thanks Michael👌🏻
@@FreddieDobbs didn’t you do some camping videos in Spain or Portugal a couple years ago? You had a little tent that set up next to the bike, didn’t you?
@@FreddieDobbs you're welcome Freddie, it was advice given to me when I started out and it makes a huge difference. They don't take up much space and are very light too 👍
@@michaelmclarney1994 Not only light but wrapped around the sleeping bag may well have kept it dry, Plonker springs to mind when I consider Freddie, in a very "Only Fools & Horses" manner.
Happy adventures. Hope the weather cooperates tomorrow. Thanks for sharing
A friend and l endured a long weekend camping. Started off at Brands Hatch camped in a nearby wood...it pissed down we rode on and ended up near Stonehenge where it continued to piss down. eventually we called it a day and rode back to Southend, where it wasn't raining..all this happed in 1965..... l never went camping again. l now live in España where fortunately the sun shines most of the time..
Freddie, I obviously found Part 1. You truly put maximum efforts in producing your videos. Thanks for sharing this adventure and some great Intel of T.E. Lawrence. I think I will check the house and grave on my next visit home. Cheers.
A super film, the rain only adds to its atmosphere- thank you
One of your best Freddie. Simply terrific. We are lucky to have you…
Every such a trip is an experience gained. As a bikepacker I've immediatly spotted your sleeping gear unprotected and though "oops, that's gonna hurt later". Great content!
Freddie …. One of the best videos I have watched on your channel.
T.E. Lawrence, the beautiful countryside, and the amazing place where he was laid to rest.
All fascinating.
The trip was not a failure.. far far from it.
Wet cold sleeping bag in inclement weather.
You made a wise choice.
A side note… the pipes sound great.
Tell Danny if the pipes are too loud for him… keep a greater distance from them.
You made the best of a bad situation.
Freddy it wasn't a failure you are out there, thanks taking us all along with you.
Don’t feel too bad Freddie there’s a lot to remember to make camping comfortable. I know you’re getting a lot of advice but to add to your large dry bag get some smaller dry bags. Lomo do some good ones. That way you can make sure stuff stays dry and if things like your fly sheet gets wet you can pack that separately.
We’ve visited Clouds Hill several times and stayed with friends we met there. It, his grave, church,are all wonderful. The leather bed cover is remarkable.
Not to be pedantic, but the Broughs were all named for George Bernard Shaw, who bought them for him.
Don’t feel bad mate, every hero starts from adversity! I have to admit though it was the very first thing I thought at the start of the video “ooo, why’s that sleeping bag not in a dry bag and why’s it the most exposed thing 😂”. Better a roof over your head and a warm bed then a wet sleeping bag, a proper wet sleeping bag can genuinely kill you.
There's only one person to blame here and that person is Monika, because she should never let you organise a trip or let out on your own.
Joking aside Freddy as soon as you said your sleeping bag was soaking wet that would of been my que to look for a B&B.
Even though the weather did it's best to ruin the day it was still a very interesting video, lets hope for better weather tomorrow.
Freddie, I thoroughly enjoyed this video and am a huge T. Lawrence fan. What an incredible and interesting man. I thought the song was fitting toward the end of the video. You young man are truly living your life. Good for you. A+ rating!
Well done Freddie I take my hat off to you for battling on through that dreadful weather. Not easy journey on its own but with filming as well. Excellent thank you for a very interesting episode.
Well done, Freddie. Read The Seven Pillars of Wisdom some thirty years ago, in my 20s. What an iconic and inspiring man TE Lawrence was. I think he's better known than you suggest - at least, he was a few years ago.
Re; the camping. The best laid plans, and all that....... There's always next time.
I remember seeing one of his bikes at the Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, although just googled it and I don’t think it is there anymore. I took my Dad there for his 70th birthday, they had his first bike from the early 60s. Well worth a visit. Great video, favourite bit was the camera falling over 😂❤
Freddie is the type of biker every REAL biker loves to have around! He just sucks in all the "bad luck" to himself, so everyone else looks good and gets a bloody good dose of hysterical laughter! I haven't met someone so DISCONNECTED from the mechanics of how THE WORLD WORKS, since my old life in Cambridge! (a couple of pot head bikers, who were so wasted they always ended up in trouble their mates had to pull them out of, trying not to laugh too hard, which was difficult!)
LOVE the sound of your bike Freddie!! Awesome to hear that 360deg crank Bonny motor through those TORS exhausts!! Thoroughly enjoyed this video - I think your misadventures and slight mishaps added a bit of grit to the tale. So sorry your great adventure got slightly spoiled by the rain. Maybe you should re-visit when we get a dry spell?