2026 - UK to Singapore

It all started so well; first the bus arrival at Ringwood was delayed by 15 minutes, but this was OK as the flight from Heathrow was now delayed by 45 minutes.

I can’t remember the last time I flew from Heathrow but I’m sure that Terminal 2 was never that big!    We managed to find a seat in the “London Pub” and had a very nice but pricey Cheese Burger: £21.50 ; I ask you.   Once the departure gate was announced it was a charge from what seemed to be one side of the airport to the other !

The flight was with Singapore Airways - highly recommend - then started a mammoth 13 hour flight.   I managed to watch a decent film staring Emma Thompson and even slept for a bit.

We arrived on time at Singapore where we would be stopping at the Airport Hotel for the night to break up the journey .   Then it was a matter of where is our baggage?  There appeared to be no ‘Baggage Claim’ area like what is at other airports.   We managed to speak to a chap the the airline help desk and he dutifully arranged for the bags to be secured over night and cross loaded over to our flight to NZ tomorrow evening!!!  I live in hope - I still remember losing a bag for good at Jo’berg SA airport in 2008 - it never did appear.

We are now settled in the hotel at Terminal 3 but the time change means that we are not too tired : hence me typing this at 0:30 in the morning!!!    Breakfast is at 8:00am and we then have a long lay-over until our 2nd flight.   Only a 9 hour flight this time.

The bike is being dropped off at  our Air BnB on Friday evening and my 10 day self guided tour of the South Island we’ll start.

But I will get the meet up with our daughter, her husband and the grandson Beau before and after the tour.

Nite nite

Tracker links for next week

https://maps.findmespot.com/s/GK7S

https://nigel-grace.blogspot.com/?m=1

March 2026 - and I’m off again

 

That’s the only clue you get …,,,,

Jan 2026 - Overland Winter Warmer

What an interesting weekend, David and I met up with lots of old friends, made a few new ones.  Camped in a cold, windy and muddy field near Oxford.   What’s not to like.

Watched some great presentations, drank a lot of tea, had some great Asian food.

2 Jan 2026 - Ringwood

Well today's the day that I am selling my Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid. It's being collected by Peter Leach of BikeHike and delivered to its new owner in St Albans.

It's been a great bike and I have ridden it all over the place including France and of course 10 weeks across the USA, from Florida to Virgina via Alabama and then across to California. I would love to have kept it, but if I want to travel in 2026/7 then I will need the funds.

I still have my 1997 Honda XRV750 Africa Twin.

Unpacking the bike in Orlando Florida

The Grand Canyon

Monument Valley

Nov 2025 - Moto Junkies Wales

What a night that was - very high winds, torrential rain, thunder and lightning : who could ask for more!!! 

After a couple of ciders and went back up the hill to the tent to get another jacket on, but ended up reading my book and staying.

Then the wind got stronger and the heavy rain started… I had to get out at about 1am the fold up the tarp before it ripped its self to pieces. Then again at 3pm to get rid of too many cups of tea and a couple of ciders. Only to find 3 chaps still toasting their way through a bottle of vodka in the bar…

I don't think I slept a wink all night, what with the tent deforming every five minutes.

This morning I cooked my breakfast in their kitchen and also had a bacon bun. The rain continues, as does the wind.

I then decided that I would visit Mick O’Mally on the way home, so I packed up in the rain and departed about 1pm and ride back down to Hay on Wye for the night.  Then following another good breakfast at the Honey Cafe I ride off in the sunshine to to see Mick and his new wheelchair.

After a hour or so and a very nice cup of tea I ride the rest of the way home.  I arrived just as it started to rain again.   Monday morning and I hung up the tent, ground mat and tarps in the garage to dry off.   Then unpack the panniers.   I’m not sure when the next trip is but it will probably be the Winter Warmer in Oxford at the end of January !!

31 Oct - Moto Camp Wales

 Good morning reader

The ride up the Wales yesterday was fine, and the rain held off all day.    I stopped for lunch but had

just missed the breakfast menu so I had to settle for ham, egg and chips!! and tea of course.

Made it to the camp site which has now been taken over by a “group”.   All very clean and tidy with excellent showers .   Not and lot to do here and it gets dark at 5pm - so a very early night in the tent having a read of my latest book.   The wind and the rain started at about 9pm - and what a blower it was, good job with those storm guy ropes.   

Early rise this morning the rain had stopped for a while and a 6am hot shower was really good.  On the road for 8am and the wind is very gusty this morning.   I road the few miles the the Honey Cafe at Bronllys but it doesn’t open til 9am - so I ride the the nearest petrol stop to top up.   I think this was the first fuel stop I have used in the UK where you have to pay for fuel first before you can use the pump - i.e like the USA where you have to guess how much fuel you need!!!  

I’m now sitting at the Honey cafe with an early pot of tea awaiting breakfast.   It’s a tuff life on the road

Oct 2025 - Home at last

Well the ship arrived at Southampton, the shippers shipped the bike to Chandlers Ford and I arrived to collect it on Friday but alas it would not start.  After nearly five months in transit since I dropped the bike off at LA, the battery was totally buggered.  Despite numerous attempts to jump start it, it would not run.

A quick phone call to Carol Nash insurance and the RAC recovery were despatched.   Thanks to the nice guys at LV shippers for their help and the cups of tea.  The recovery truck arrived and we were transported to the Yamaha dealership in Verwood.   

So I purchased a new battery and it was charged up over night and I collected this afternoon.  All the kit was unpacked, washing done, tent aired and all spread out in the garage.   Now I need to repack ready for a weekend away at MotoCamp Wales next week.

It just needs a good wash and polish tomorrow.

Oct 2025 - Nearly home

 Following my trip across the USA earlier in the year, I ended up in Los Angeles.   I delivered my bike to the Shippers on the Friday 30 April and flew after the week end.   Then it was just a case of waiting for the container to be full and allocating it to a ship!!  That what I thought, but after a long wait it was ready to ship but then US Customs decided to hold the container for a customs  check and so it missed that boat.

Once this customs check was completed it was then allocated for another ship ( and an invoice issued for the check - £470 just for my bike ).   

So after a while the arrived at LA, the container was loaded and he ship sailed towards Southampton via a couple of ports and the Panama Canal.

I have been able the track the ships’ progress across the Atlantic and today it finally sailed into Southampton, and my tracker on the bike started to work again as it sailed up the Solent ( it works on the GSM network that does not work in the good old US of A ).  So nearly 5 months later I get to receive both my bike and the bill for shipping (including the charge from US Customs)

So now I just need to wait until the container is moved to the agents in Chandler Ford and I can go a recover it.  I’m assuming that it undamaged, luggage is all complete and the bike starts !?!  Fingers Crossed on that lot.

Aug 2025 - Overland Event 2025