...and after the show...

… Now back to work…  It’s amazing how much work builds up on your desk when your away for such a relatively short time.  God know what will happen when I disappear off the Australia in October for three weeks – best not think about the coming back!
Time to reflect on the visit to HUBB UK 2014…  I love the location at Donnington – even with the aeroplanes;  I used to live in Old Windsor so I’m sort of used to it…  It was great to meet up the old friends and make new ones – especially those who have been fortunate enough to break away from the daily grid of work and actually go somewhere… I am just so envious.   I know that I could just jump on the bike go but having worked my way into a corner of dependency of Mortgage / Loans and all the other dependencies that go with living and families, it will take some planning to just do it – a sort of planned spontaneity….   Having spoken to Ian Coates and his advice was don’t wait get of bike and just go…. Today…   I wish…. But such a nice chap – very down to earth and straight talking.. 

 

 

Ian Coates - and inspiration to all.... and such a nice chap

I did not attend as many presentations as before although I did do the IT for some very good speakers…  I just took the opportunity to chill and wander more this time.   All the kit worked well and even the expensive Ex-Ped air mat stayed inflated for most of the time – even after my repairs..  I didn’t take the trusted frying pan this time and was relying on the lightweight one – total disaster – so either back to the pukka pan or take porridge next time – too much bloody hassle with a cooked breakfast.   The 2-man Coleman Phad x2 tent was fine and I will look at getting a lightweight tarp.

Somehow it just felt so right being back on the XRV – such a joy and I am getting about 58 miles to the gallon….  I must organise the MOT for next month and keep dreaming of the big one --- on 30 months to go……  PS the beard had to go.... ah well

 





Well I think it suits me !!!

HUBB UK 2014 Friday

3pm in the field... I spent most of yesterday afternoon doing IT support... But a couple of presenters were held up on the M1 as that was apparently closed at some point. Then another gathering in the bar for a couple lemonades... Before an early(ish) night - honest. David, Ruin, Stuart, Trevor & Lesley from SAM arrived in the afternoon.

The sun is shining but still a little cool at times.... Lots of cups of tea, a few presentations and lots of chatting about Morocco and trip planning for 2015 and 2016.. I must remember to join the HU Community for Australia as I believe there maybe a meeting near Brisbane in October ! And all the time feeling so good about changing back to the Africa Twin... Although I do need to sort out the Corbin Low Seat... There are at least 4 other XRV's in the field - they might just notice that their taller seat has disappeared..!

There are still people arriving and I suppose that Saturday is the main day... Maybe too many big Overlander trucks for my taste. More pictures to follow.... Chat later.

HUBB UK 2014 ... Thursday

Dear diary,

We'll it is now 6.30 on Wednesday morning... Got up about 5.30 and hit the showers before the rush .... Now that does feel better... It was a busy day yesterday with putting up marquees, shifting tables and chair, installing lights in tents, and putting up signage - oh so much signage....  But the sun came out and it was so warm - excellent...

All was ready and Grant and Sue we're due arrival at about 5pm - they had been 'escorted' a whole collection of riders once they arrived at Dover.   I believe they got a little "mis-placed" somewhere.near Loughborough and finally arrive in glorious sunshine at 6.15pm....
And as is traditional Mick and I retired to the bar for a night cap ..... reminds me of Waldorf and Statler......

So sitting here having a quiet cuppa - well as quiet as it can be under the flight path of the East Midlands Airport - just waiting for the camp shop to open to pick up some eggs and bread for breakfast.    It's a little chilly this morning but the sky is clear and it promises to be a good one.

David is due to arrive this afternoon, which is good as the field is gOing to fill up quickly as the people arrive for the start of the event at 1200 noon.    I have pulled at long shift on duty this afternoon (4pm to 11pm) but at least I get a front seat.

All in all a good trip so far - Mugabe behaved itself on the way up, and it was nice to ride sedately again, the kit is working well, as even the air-stayed inflated after my effort to repair it,  and lastly the new panniers were excellent.   I still have to find someone with a similar bike and sort legs so that I can broker a deal/exchange for my current lower seat.

It is now nearly 7am and the shop is about to open.... Breakfast awaits......  Note yesterday's offering was MOD compo beans and potato circa 2006.....

L8ter

HUBB UK 2014

Hi each,

We made steady progress from Southampton to Donnington. Just a couple stops for a cuppa at Oxford and then a pee break somewhere awful ... Thank god for McDonalds LOL.

Arrived at about 4pm and pitched the tent and immediately helped put up a marque... And more of that tomorrow. Met up with some old friends, Mick O'Malley, Sam Manicom, Ian Harper and many more. It is such a great feeling to meet people that are pleased to see you and know your name... I don't always get that even at work !!!!

... And ended up in Glocester in a shower of rain

 

Left the Honey cafe in cloud and rode through Brecon and Sennybridge and dropped in at the West End cafe in Llandovery for a cuppa .... The last time I went there with William it poured down with rain too !! The staff are still a happy bunch....... When I left it was a over the hills into the Brecon Beacons proper.... And what a a view from the top ... Excellent

 

On the way off the mountain .... The speedo packed in - which is exactly a what Mugabe One did way back when nearly 6 years ago....... Passed through Gurnos but thought better of stopping at Touratech...

We then motored over the Brecon's again and through a few rain storms... Before stopping at Abergavenny for a drink.... Then off the Gloucester and the Red Lion pub and camping caravan site.. A beautiful spot by the river but still the black clouds are following me.... Having cooked supper of Army compo rations circa 2006.  Then off to have a hot shower I between the rain showers - so I have taken shelter in the pub......... Until tomorrow then

... It's raining so it must be Wales....

 

Stopped and had breakfast at the Honey Cafe... Excellent and so quiet and peaceful ... Just lots of birds looking for tit-bits and a great view of the Black Mountains.... Then rode on through the heaven rain to Llandovery for yet another cup of hot tea..... Now off the the Brecon Beacons in the rain !!!!!.

.... Now that's what I call a storm......

... Set off from work just after 4pm and pottered through Salisbury, Devizes, Chepstow and finally Abergavenny and Pandy (the Rising Sun pub and campsite to be exact). Mugabe ticked alone well and appeared to enjoy it's being ridden rather than parked up.. Note: it had only done less than 1000 miles in the last 4 years..

I enjoyed a couple of largess and turned in early, only to be awoken by the 'crack of doom' from a thunder storm and very heavy rain at 4am. All still dry inside... and it is now 6.30am and I am already showered and ready to go once it has stopped raining!!!!

The plan is to ride to the Honey Cafe about 10 miles north of here and then to zig zag over the Brecon Beacons. Then stop for a cuppa at Llandovery before escaping from Wales and heading for Herefordshire...

And there's more.....

Well readers - it's running well....  Planning for a good service as I am not sure when it last had one.  Today it reached 46000 miles....

So in the last week I have replaced the Headed Grip controller, sorted out some of the electrics, installed the Autocom, power for the Satnav, added mudflap fore and aft, had the bash plate sand-blasted as it looks better in natural aluminium and finally a Baglux Tank cover. Just a taller screen and it's sorted.

... and it now looks like this...

 

And so.. by way of the test we, that is Mr Mugabe and I, are off the Wales and Herefordshire tomorrow for the weekend.... just when the weather is promising to be awful....  Ah well, a good time to test the tent and the Adventure Spec Magadan panniers too.   Still need to change that saddle for a genuine on...

 

I will keep you updated en route....  N