Whoops

It has been pointed out to me that I have not blogged in a while - sorry about that but I have been mainly busy with home projects : as laid down by management !!! Painting, Decorating, Gardening, fix this, repair that etc etc.

I have had a few days out on the bike just to keep it warm... I also visited the Motorcycle Live at the NEC Birmingham although I did chicken out of taking the bike as there was a storm running and riding for 6 hours in the rain was not a good idea so I took a car ; but had to pay the £12 parking fee?

I also tried to see one of the bikes on EBay - lots of views (934), 2 enquiries, 1 visit but no bids... ah well it owes me nothing so I still have the twins..

Planning has started for Morocco 2017... I just want to get warm again...

Saw this on Facebook - Soft or Hard Luggage or both.....

Another day in 4x4 heaven!!!

Good evening dear readers,

I spent another restless night at this event, in spite of having a couple of cans with John from Felixstowe.   I was in bed by 10pm but I was awoken during the night by the wind blowing through the barrier tape at the other side of the hedge, and then again when the f******** Exped Air bed deflated ( I had it returned and repaired just 3 weeks ago)... Into the bin with that later....

I spent the day wandering through the the endless lines of Landrovers (Landys), Discoverys (Disco's), 110 and even some 101's.  !!!   Everything you can think of the to fix up and bling your vehicle ready to drive it down to the supermarket and back.   Not very much for the biker I fear.   I will not bother next year.   I suppose the next event will be the Motorcycle Show at the NEC in November. 

I met up with Nathan Millward at lunch time and then walked around again...  I have just had supper and another brew so an ready for another sleepless night.   The weather has been grey and overcast all day and the forecast is overnight rain.   I will make an early and hasty departure after breakfast and ride back home the long way, again taking the back roads.

September - Adventure Overland Show Stratford-upon-Avon

I have just arrived at the show and it starts tomorrow for 2 days.

The ride up was good as I had taken to the back roads where possible.  Lots of traffic in the popular towns in the Cotswolds and a few idiots but that is to be expected of car drivers....

I brought the Khyam Biker tent as it hasn't had a trip out for some time - I had forgotten just how spacious it is... about twice the size of my usual tent.

Not too many bikers here yet... I can see just 5 from here....

The bike ran very well.  I had issues yesterday as I was trying to fit pannier fixings (Supplied by Zen Overland)...  The problem was that I mounted the left side first.. But when I came to fit the right side it would have been too low and therefore touching the exhaust!!!  Bugger.   The only way out was to either re-drill the holes and re site the left one or....... change the exhaust for one that I happen to have in the garage.   It was a it do a fight but it is now in place.  It is not a quiet as the original but it works.

Now to get the kettle on and get supper ready...

Whoops

I got carried away with the polishing mop. I meant to clean up the bash plate on the bike but ended up with a mirror finish!!!!

The twins in the sunshine

Just get packed for the Overland Adventure show at Stratford upon Avon the weekend....

Now which bike ? It will have to be Madiba... He has not been out since coming back from the USA...

Apple picking in Ringwood

Dizzy again

Got home from the Overland event on Monday only to have a reoccurance of Labyrinthitis.... Dizziness and loss of balance plus feeling nauseous ... Stayed in bed until this morning... Managed to unpack the bike and hang up the tent etc to dry.. even managed to mow the lawn.

Now knackered and need to sit down a while. It really is a weird feeling, just move your head and the whole world starts to spin... Just like those awful moments when you have had too much to drink and you lie down a try to close your eyes - whooooow super car .... but without the booze.....

Now I need to sort out a haircut and a shave before my birthday on the 11th September

The end of a good weekend....

Back to mowing, painting, repairs and just a few items to fix about the house...

Some storm and it is still raining now ⛈⛈⛈

At the Overland Event in Oxford

Hi Readers

A long gap since blogging last.
Well we set off on Tuesday and headed for the West Country..... David and I camp for the first night at Bridgetown on Exmoor... Yes it rained... On Wednesday we rode down to Okehampton and yes it rained again... Then on Thursday we attempted to have casual ride to Glastonbury but got caught on the M5 for 2 hours as some tart was on a bridge threatening to jump.... She brought the whole of the West Country to a stand still. Another 20 miles on I had to stop as the bike was not running at all well.... it felt like the clutch was buggered... After closer inspection it turned out to be the heated grip had parted company with the throttle handle and so I applied 3 cable ties to the grip and that will fix it until I get home.

We eventually arrived at Glastonbury and found a very good camp site next to the Tor... The toilets and showers scored 9 out of ten. We walked into Glastonbury for a beer or two... Note there are a lot of hills in this part of the world..... and we walked most of them..... A very hippy place... but my legs were knackered by the time we got back, and just in time to hit the sack as the rain poured down again...

On the Friday we had a in gently ride into the Overland Event and arrived at about 11:30. All set up and ready for the event and Mick O'Malley arrived and we had a good evening with a few drinks with Colin, Mick, Brandon, David and Hulme.

It is now Saturday noon as I write this... The weather is part sun part overcast. So now another walk around is required, the tea and coffee is free all day.. There are lots of people I know and it is great to meet them and swap travel stories, especially now that I can add my trip to the USA into the mix.. They are such interesting and nice people... and as I always say; it is great to turn up and and people to know you.....

Yes Ted Simon and the time machine

Stuck on the M5 for hours....

Whoops - one dead tent 😩

Exmoor Aug 2016

Off again.....

Off this morning to Exmoor, and then probably North through Wales and then somewhere else.... until Friday and then off the the Overland Event in Oxford until Monday....  I am taking Herman as Madiba is is need of a service after its trip to the USA....  Mind you Herman needs a full service too... £££

I found this photo on the www....  Such a long time ago....   Ah well happy days....

The joys of retirement.....

Madiba has arrived home..

Many thanks to Schumacher's of LA, Motofreight of Egham and Steve the van driver from Chas Mortimer Bike Movers...

Around the World in a bus !! Now there is an idea....

These 9 guys did it - it only took 2.5 years....

At the Adventure Film Festival 2016

Never mind Where's Wally - where is Madiba

Well I have been tracking the progress of the container ship MSC Florida, as I contains a container, in which contains amongst its contents my bike Madiba..... Which was due in the UK on the 5th August..

It first called in at Lisbon Portugal, then briefly into the London Gateway, then Antwerp and finally Le Harve..... What is more worrying is the fact that it is now off the coast of Bournemouth heading for the Panama Canal......,😂😂💩💩 and that does worry me!!! Still no news of where is Madiba!!!

Afternote... I have now tracked the container as it was trans shipped at Antwerp onto the Kristin Schepers and it delivered the container to Tilbury on the 5th of August .... At least it is in the UK.....😃😃😃 just got to get in delivered.....

Hi each,

Try this new link....

http://overlandjunction.com/milestones/milestone-search-results/?search_query=&a=55

Night one Hay-on-Wye

This really is a good camp site - very clean - quiet - and only £8 per night..... and it is just outside the town. Tomorrow we ride up to Snowdonia area for a beer with an old friend - he was actually my Best Man at my wedding in 1989....

Now what is for supper : chicken and mushroom with pasta.....

N

Bugger

Despite having the battery on Herman connected to the Optimiser all day yesterday - It was as flat as a pancake today...  Now just kicking my heels whilst I pump a few volts into it......  

Cork, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow....

Cork and colours....

Limerick

Spanish Point County Clare Eire