Sat...... possibly

Friday 5pm........ Just having a cuppa tea before going on duty until 7pm..... Two presentations ....

Met some great people today and I have wandered amongst the trade stands - I only purchased 1 book this time..... Never mind there is always Saturday.... More guys from SAM turned up - I think that makes 6 in the field.    I think this band of roaming warriors are using the same SatNav as me...

I need to remember that I need to get new tyres and repack the bike for next Friday - leave work at 12 noon and catch the chunnel at 3.30pm ...... Mmmmm

Friday (ish)

Friday 5pm........ Just having a cuppa tea before going on duty until 7pm..... Two presentations ....

Met some great people today and I have wandered amongst the trade stands - I only purchased 1 book this time..... Never mind there is always Saturday.... More guys from SAM turned up - I think that makes 6 in the field.

I need to remember that I need to get new tyres and repack the bike for next Friday - leave work at 12 noon and catch the chunnel at 3.30pm ...... Mmmmm

HUBB UK

Friday 5pm........ Just having a cuppa tea before going on duty until 7pm..... Two presentations ....

Met some great people today and I have wandered amongst the trade stands - I only purchased 1 book this time..... Never mind there is always Saturday.... More guys from SAM turned up - I think that makes 6 in the field.

I need to remember that I need to get new tyres and repack the bike for next Friday - leave work at 12 noon and catch the chunnel at 3.30pm ...... Mmmmm

Early morning tea

Thursday . I think

 

Yesterday for wet, very wet…..  I spent most of the day helping with the setting up, moving tables and chairs, putting up various tents and display units….   Lots of suppliers are here as well as a great range of 4x4, overlander vehicles, pedal bikes and motorcycles.   The camp was quiet except for the occasional low flying airplane from the airport next door.   We can also hear the Donnington race track from here….

 

Popped into the bar early last night as it had been a long day and managed a couple or three lemonades before retiring early ??   Some of the guys from SAM are due to arrive today so I suppose I will have to join them in the bar again this evening!!

 

I am in duty at 2pm until 5pm assisting with the IT and the presentations in one of the rooms.  The organisation is excellent and Sam Manicom and Ian Harper have done a great job.  Sue and Grant Johnson are here and Grant is looking very well.

 

It is now 9.30 and I cooked breakfast in the tent at 6.30am…. had as shower shave and then put up posters and timetables ready for the event start at 2pm.   I am sitting in a quiet corner of the building just sorting out this laptop and files that I need ready for next Friday – which is the start of the next 16 day adventure – riding to Dubrovnik – oh for some hotter weather….

 

HUBB UK

Arrived ...... Sort of .....

Hi the trip up was wet and misty ... Left work at 4.30 and stooped for coffee at Family Farm near the M40...

The I got to my Nemisis the M42 / M6 .... Gertie did here normal thing and directed me west this time .... Bugger ... Stopped at a Shell garage for fuel and the nice chap showed me a short cut over the other side of the M6 and back to the M42 and of the castle Donnington . Arrived at 8pm and pitched the tent and am now in the bar enjoying a beer and a scampi and chips ??????

A trip to the Beach

 

I dropped the bike off at CW motorcycles for a service this morning and replacement front discs -
now that's going to cost maybe an arm and a leg - I think I will leave the tyres for early June !!!!!

I took out a loan bike (BMW 650 Sertao) and I am now sitting on the beach at Burton Bradstock waiting for the Cafe to open.

An interesting ride - a smaller bike than I'm used to - but quite fun; as long as you stay away from motorways !  Put on Pannier rails for the soft luggage and a solid top box for the Technology and away we go.....  It pulled very well for a 650 - I did test it going up the hill at Abbotsbury....

..and so to Touratech South Wales..

…Off we go… rushed into Southampton to give Blood at the donor centre and got there too early – bugger – such nice people there and I managed to get bled early… then off to work for 9.15am.. Tried to get the desk clear ready for the off to South Wales at 12.15. As usual the faster you go the slower you get - and then stuff just keeps arriving and has to be dealt with…. 12 noon all stop and I need to get changed… on the bike and away to meet with David at Ower…

On a clear day you can see my bike and tent.......

David was already there and it was time to stop and relax over a coffee and a burger - the Touratech weekend had started.. Just got started on putting on the technology onto the bike (Radio and SatNav (one has to have music your know)) I then realised why Gertie was on my desk at home last night – put the route on she was saying… bugger missed that… OK David looks like your leading….

Let’s take to non-motorway route to the Severn Bridge…. We stopped at Chippenham for coffee managed to get an adapter so that I could extract the route from David’s micro SD card onto my grown up SD card and I now had the route as well…. Yippee… onwards to the bridge and endless lines of Bank Holiday traffic as we approached the junction of the M5 etc- lots of filtering passed hundreds of miffed drivers wishing they too could filter to the front like us !!!

It was not too windy on the bridge – remembering my last disastrous crossing where I dropped the bike on the bridge due to the exceptionally high winds … Oh how I dislike that road along to Swansea – so we turned off and fled into the valleys heading north to the Head of Valleys road and west to Touratech (the named of the location looks like a poor hand at Scrabble ??) only stopping once to put on more clothes to ward off the cold.

Arrived in good time and pitched the tents and met up with Mark from SAM. Once settled, and cooked, we decided that a trip to the nearby pub was in order – at least they had the heating on… but…….. they don’t like quiet in Wales …. On goes the juke box – loud and therefore everyone has to talk louder to be heard. So we moved into the other bar – only to have the sound from the TV join the throng… two pints and so to bed…

A fair nights sleep as I had taken the Snug Suit to wear – Dave had a cold night and later that day decided that a new sleeping bag was needed…. I was so tempted to get one too…. And still am…

The event was well – disappointing – not many stands – not enough to do and see – having been spoilt for choice at the HU events – it was very noticeable…. Oh yes and not enough toilets… and no showers….. we passed the day looking around the Touratech Showroom and smirking the price tags, chatting to the few stands that were there, meeting up with Austin Vince again and watching some of the BMW GS Trophy Challenge – which mainly consisted on riding non BMW bikes over rough ground and around and around cones in the car park ! Not forgetting the putting up tents competition!! I must have missed the interesting bits..

Cooked a good meal and decided to slip away to the local pub again… same thing; loads of chat, loud juke box, a local version of “you ain’t got talent” on the TV but as a special treat a Karaoke man playing louder to be heard and singing to the occasional track…. Two pints and we were away to the tents….

The second day had not much promise and to wait around all day just to listen to Austin Vince that evening was a none starter… so up at 6.30am and on the road for 7.30am… we were meant to be running west to east and into … and then south through Hay-on-Wye – Swindon - Marlborough and then home… but as with all things planned – I made a miss turn and ended up going south at back over the bridge at Newport Cirencester ….ending up in Salisbury for coffee in the square… excellent…

Arriving home at about 1pm and a much needed hot bath……

Excellent weekend even though Touratech was disappointing…. A good preparation for the HUBB and Croatia in May and June….

... Just a note to say that this weekend is the Touratech Event in South Wales...  Using it a shakedown for the HUBB and trip to Croatia in June...   All the kit is in the garage - just have to sort it and discard it and then pack it....  I do try to pack light but it all goes wrong somehow !!!  Good job the big is big enough to take it !!!   David Chalton is going and I think Mark Haydock will also be there.. 

A visit to CW Motorcycles next moth should fix both the front discs and the money I thought I had to spend on the trip !!! Bugger

... Must sort out a another bike - Tenere XT660, KLR600 sort of thing - XRV750 are just so expensive now -

Next report from South Wales

….. Wow – that was a fabulous read – without doubt one of the best Motorcycle Adventure books I have read – and I have read many.   It is so very down-to-earth, extremely well written, factual without over doing it and full of wonderful imagery from a marvellous couple one of which is totally blind.   There is nothing over the top about it, just two lovely, wonderfully “ordinary” people (their word not mine – I think they are extraordinary people) riding the world on an elderly BMW R100RT.     We, and I include myself is this; spend so many hours talking and thinking about the right bike for the trip, the best kit, shall we go or not, solo or not etc, etc ….   It brings to mind a John Cleese training film I once saw – GOYA…. or Get Off Your Arse…….

When I was at Horizon Unlimited and I passed Cathy and Bernard on the steps as I was “on duty” in another hall and never did get to meet or hear them speak – I won’t pass up the opportunity again…

My humble advice is go out and get the book and then GOYA – as for me – I have 3 year before retirement and maybe a belated Gap Year..

..Off to the Races..

An early morning start from home, the weather was cold but promising for a good day at the races at the Prescott Bike Festival, just north of Cheltenham - the ride up to Salisbury saw a temperature of just -3 degrees. 

By the time I arrive at Prescott the weather was clear and about +9.   It was my first time at the Prescott Motorcycle hill climb festival and the organisation was extremely good.  Lots of parking, many trade stands, and load of bikes.    The first stop was to the tea stand for a hot drink and warm up a little.   I sat on the hill and watch the first set of bike make their way up the hill - some fast and some not so fast.....   Then lunch in the Bugati Owners Clubhouse - very nice (and warm)...  More wandering around looking at the bikes and stands and then more racing up the hill.

Met a chap who was the George Suttleworth (Speed Demon) look-a-like (aka George Formby) - I will leave you to look it up on the www.  Photo below

 

 

All in all a good day out and I will certainly go again next year.

 

 



... and the Planning goes on. I think the route is about right now - nothing planned other than the Chunnel tickets - just the general route and the possible number of days. It would be so good to have just a direction and no end date... The route is 2 days short so I can stop over or be late if I want !!! No Sites booked but I have marked up a few places I would like to see - the castle at Neuwachstein, Garmisch Partenkirchen, the Brenner Pass, the Lake at Bled, the Bridge at Mostar, Dachau Concentration Camp and some of the memorials to the Somme.

...Also planning some events to attend:

ZEN Overland open day - Mar
Ace Cafe Adventure Bike Day London - April
Adventure Travel Film Festival in Sherbourne - Aug
Touratech Weekend in South Wales - May
Prescott Bike Festival at Cheltenham - Apr
Horizons Unlimited weekend HUBB at Donnington - Jun

and hopefully a weekend or two just touring UK !!!

Bye for now

 .... It been a while since the last post - so I thought I had better jot one down - the fact that you are reading this means that you sought it out... I have taken off the auto-notification.

Planning for the next trip is well underway and the approximate route is laid out - Calais-France-Germany-Austria-Italy-Slovenia-Croatia and end up at Dubrovnik... then the return will be via Bosnia and over the Alps and back across France.   It will be about 3000 miles this time and I do plan to ride less miles each day and will definitely be taking more photos.  I did look at taking the Rail Saver train from Holland to Alessandra but it is the wrong side of Italy and the train to Slovenia does not run until July...



Lake Bled in Slovenia taken from the camp site

 Equipment - well I will have to think about that - I will probably stick with the Khayam Bike Tent this time but the rest will be the same...  Still planning riding solo this trip and on camping all the way.




The possible Route 2013

  

Sunday 30th Sep 12

... Decided not to go to Stafford, so I made tracks to Leominster then over to Hay on Wye....

Found a great Campsite just outside town (Ashbrook Camping) - very clean with great showers ....... No pub nearby so hit the sack early after a good read while watching the sun go down.... Still cold - so much for the down 4 seasons sleeping bag. Now I know what to get for Christmas. On the road for 8.30..... A gently back-road ride to Monmouth and now having toasted tea cakes at Tintern Abbey.....

The is to go over the old Severn Bridge, along the M4 and come off at 17 then Trowbridge, Warminster, Salisbury and Home.
Adventure before Dementia !

RAF Cosford Museum

This morning rode to Telford and replaced the gas burner.... A huge shopping centre - could not wait to get out...

Then onto RAF Cosford - managed to arrive at the same time as 200 Boy Scouts !!!!!!! Apparently the Vulcan Bomber is due here at about 3pm ......

It is an excellent Museum - lots of memories - I remember roping down from a Wessex helicopter at 16 years old - flying in a C130 to Germany a few times - they event have a Brixmis vehicle - similar to one I drove whilst in Poland.

The weather has got a bit better - at least I am warm now..... Sandwich at the Museum then off to Stafford....... N
Adventure before Dementia !

Friday 28th Stafford

Hi ...... Had a gently ride to Stafford - just one wrong turn threatened to send me through the centre of Wolverhampton ...... A little green lane riding put that right....

A basic camp site but OK.... Supper was fine but burner failed this morning - no early morning tea for me.... Bugger. Mind you it was a cheap one - back to the petrol stove I think.

Turned in early - and shivered all night - got up at 3am and put on more clothes .... Heavy rain through the night.

Just listening to the wind-up radio whilst waiting for the tent to dry a little .... Then off to find Breakfast, coffee and a camping shop.

Chat later ......
Adventure before Dementia !

..... Time to pack the bike again ...   Next weekend I`m off to Staffordshire and Herefordshire - hopefully the floods will have receded by then....  If not it will be wet one.....  

Then plan may include a short visit to Stafford Motorcycles..... And RAF Cosford museum

.....more from the field ....

HUMP - the Mendip Party

Last weekend was the 3rd Annual HU Mendip Party meeting in the Mendip Hills.  I last attended this event in 2008.   Yet another excellent weekend - A great number of people to chat with - lots of great Speakers - and maybe even a few lemonades by the camp fire !

I took the old ridge tent this time - I haven't use it since probably 1984... it smelt a bit musty but was OK once aired - lots of headroom.

Maybe just one more trip out before the winter.......









... Just forgot to Blog.. and the ATFF

Well what a great weekend – down at Sherborne Dorset for the 2nd Annual UK Adventure Travel Film Festival. Hosted and organised by Austin Vince and Lois Pryce and a great team of people behind the scenes.

I arrived on Friday afternoon straight from work, having travelled down with Mike West. Having pitched the tent and cooked supper it was time for the first film – there is something very magical about watching a film in the open air, sipping a cool beer and occasionally looking out for the passing of the International Space Station overhead !!.

Saturday was a quiet start with the first film not starting at 10am – the film was Above and Beyond – a trip by a powered para-glider across Canada   http://aboveandbeyondcanada.com/   and what a excellent way to start the festival. I have no intention of listing all the fabulous films that I saw at the Festival – but honestly you should have been there…… Don’t forget to book early for next year.   http://www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com/uk-festival/

Needless to say the site was excellent and the facilities were very good.. maybe more loos and showers next year maybe !!


Mike with "that" hat, me and Mick O'Malley


Myself and Mike O’Malley quickly found the “Tea Chest Café” and we enjoyed many a coffee and chat there – and the staff were just great.. see you all again next year…

The next event is a quick trip (not on the bike) to Berlin with Debs and then we arrive home on Friday and then I’m off to the HU Event in Cheddar for the weekend …. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/UK2012-autumn.php

Then starts to planning for next year… now let me think….. Minsk, Debrovnik, Denmark, France, Bavaria.... the world is my lobster - as long as it's within a 2 week ride and the kitchen at home is done !!!

Spain 2012 - Final

I am just going to note down points from the trip to Spain 2012. Not in any particular order – just thoughts – not for any particular reader – just for me really.

Equipment
Tent – I think that taking the Coleman Avior X3 was a good choice for the trip… it packed away small and was easy to pitch. The space inside was smaller than I am used to but I did get used to it.

Stove – I used a combination of the Multi Fuel stove and the cheap Chinese copy of a gaz unit and they both worked well – the quickness of the gas stove was appreciated. It fact I have taken it to Ripley and have left the petrol stove at home. I like the idea of one pot cooking. Forget the fancy stuff..

Packing – Packing the bike was easy at the end as I put everything that I wasn't using in the top-box and left it there. Note to self – take much less next time

Garmin – Gertie was fine all the way until the last two days when the screen gave up and started self selecting items !!! She continued to give crap directions – but thats SatNavs for you….. Best used as a guide rather than gospel. She did take us to some out of the way places though but I did try to stay off motorways.. …. But she was crap in big towns as the voice and screen changes are just not quick enough – by the time you get the message you have invariably passed the turn….

Bike – Apart from a couple of small items the bike went very well – even in the 40+ degree temperatures. One brake light bulb did need replacing. I needed oil after about 2000 miles and of course I managed to drop the bike off the centre stand (on soft grass) and broke a mirror –the right one again…

Campsites – I don't think we could fault with any of the campsites – some are better that others but they served well – ever the concrete ground at Seville was manageable – just !! And the kids at the site in the mountains could not be foreseen - I blame their handlers. Most were selected from the ACSI database. I must make use of more of the French municipal campsites: they don't offer many amenities; but they are generally inside towns, clean and are usually secure.

Overall – I did enjoy the trip – it may have been a bit far for the others; with not enough stops but I kind of like it that way. The heat had a lot to do with the days feeling very long. Would I do it again? – oh yes. I did enjoy the company too but I still have preference to travelling solo – but it I had to; I believe that ideal number would be myself plus one.

I am still at HU in Ripley and have spoken to many people here about the dynamics of group riding…. And there are just as many opinions as riders….. Every trip is different and every rider is different – so many combinations……… but I do need to slow down – ride shorter days – stop more often – and create more opportunities to meet people – I know I am not too good at that !!!!!!

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HU Ripley 2012 6.30 am

Excellent day yesterday - hot sun - good company etc...... Ended up at the Campfire until 10pm - then the skies opened and it is still chucking it done outside - A good choice if tent this time (Khyam Biker) big enough to sit in and cook in (with care)... I have a couple of leaks - ah but that camping for you!!


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HU Ripley 2012

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Horizons Unlimited 2012

Hi ...... Now attending the HU 2012 event in Ripley, Derbyshire. Rode up yesterday afternoon - no Garmin too ! Lots of rain last night but clear this morning - it' nearly 6.30am and I am on my 2nd coffee and thinking about cooking breakfast.....

The guys should be arriving at 11ish.... Lots to sort out this morning before the Event starts at 4pm

I have aready met up with Sam Manicom, Iain Harper and many others - and my old mate Mick O'Malley has now returned from South Africa......

See you later

Sent from my BlackBerry wizzy thing

Sat 30th and Sun 1st– Belgium / France


The Last Supper



A second night in one place – very strange event for me asI liketo keep moving on….. we visited to Museum again – they had had a complete change of the layout – not a good as before – too much technology.. The guys took me for a meal last night in Ypres – excellent – sat in the Square watching the town – and it was raining… We then tried to find a bar for a final beer – only a few open and they appeared mostly of the “gay” variety !!! Not for me thank you… So we were unable to located a bar with a TV for the Footy…. So had just a quiet beer to round off the day.





Just thought it was a good picture...



Walked back to camp and had a reasonable nights sleep. Then an early start this – the call of nature started at 5.30 with the sound of a “bird scarer” and then the normal dash to the heads……. 200 yards this time…. Such a close call – I know – too much information – but I don’t care – it’s my blog….



Left at about 7.30am and made it to Calais without to much trouble – Gertie Garman is playing up – I think the screen is now buggered so will have to get that repaired or replaced.









We are now sat the Chunnel terminal – have bought the ‘Smellies” for ‘er-in-doors’ and had a coffee or two….. We are early but have managed to get on an early train….

I have still to write up a valedictory report on the trip – equipment (tent, mat, sleeping bag – cooker – packing – what was need and what was not – routes – thoughts on the trip etc etc….. I will have to do that from home following a long soak in a hot bath…..



The plan now is to ride the M20 – M25 – M3 or A3 home…. Parting with the guys at Clacket Lane Services…. Final mileages etc will be in the Final Report







29th June ......

Leaving the camp site in the pouring rain this morning – the temperature 20 degrees lower than it was yesterday …. Bugger…

We motored from 8am until 4.30pm…. Gertie put us on a Toll Road a couple of times… and I managed to have an argument with a petrol pump that would not speak the English…. After all if it wasn't for us they would be speaking German….. but sorted out the problem with the card being upside down !!!!!

We found the camp site in Ypres and pitched and then walked into town to watch the Ceremony at the Menin Gate and then watch a bit of a concert in the town square and as usual a couple of light beers followed by and ice cream !!!! I will have to join a gym when I get back….. or get a bigger pair of trousers….

It is now 10.30pm and we do not have to get up and ride in the morning – but the plan is to get up late (ish) visit the Flanders Field Museum and ride to a couple of the interesting places – of which there are so many…. Now raining again ----- after all it's Belgium........ Nite nite

PS I managed to drop the bike off the centre stand – it sank into the grass and fell over very sedately… and broke the Right hand mirror…. Worse things happen at sea… as they say…

28th June......

We sat in the bar are watched the Spain v Portugal match after having our supper. There was a BBQ but we did not fancy paying £13.00 a head for a meal… Had a bit of a set-to with the lady running the site as she thought we were going to attend and complained that we had cost her money as the food would be wasted!!!! Balls I thought – then she came back 20 minutes later and apologized for her misunderstanding…… Having sorted that they tried to get us to pay for the pitches twice….. ah well hey ho….

Thursday was a long day – we set off from the Camping Moto by 8am as usually…We were going to try to get as far north as we could as the more time on the road on Thur would mean less on Friday when we head for Ypres in Belgium…. We it was a long day and we road sum 400 miles or so …. Very tired we arrived at a municipal site in the town of Nogent-le-Rotrou….

We sorted out the tents and walked into town – dead dead dead – I though it must have been the Germans again…. But managed to find a small bar open – so we had a beer – Dave was feeling generous and so he paid for the round…. Bugger he thought 17 euros for two beers and a coke…. Good job we didn't have a second round…

Still in France

No not pissed - just a little tired

Somewhere in France

What a happy pair - wait til you see the bill

Wed 27th June – Camping Moto – Dordogne – France

Hi Each…. Not too bad a night – sleep ok but work at 3am…. Had a shower and shave at 6am…. And we were all packed and on the road for 7.30am…. off to the Tarn Gorge – and chilly start but it soon got very hot… We stopped for a double coffee along the gorge and I managed to misplace my sunglasses… idiot… then another great run along the gorge and left up and over the top – fabulous views down too…. I managed to get a few videos of the guys riding behind from the head cam…

Then the long haul in the heat (42 degrees) to Cahors – the road was so hot that the tarmac was nearly liquid and the chippings were coming up…. On the tyre line most of the stones were missing and we had just black tar… !!! tricky and tacky…. Stopped at an Inter-marche for another coffee break and to get supplies for lunch (and replacement sunglasses)… then rode for another hour and stopped off the main road by a church in the shade and ate lunch – very chilled.

I would be fair to say that Rui is suffering a little from the heat and the long riding days… it is not everyone cup-of-tea…. I like it and I have modified the days to suit – by adding more twisties that I would do and the days are genuinely shorter --- honest

Tomorrow is a fair days ride to somewhere north of Sumur / Le Mans…. If it proves too hot again or even too wet; then we may have to shorten the day… that for democracy

Total mileage is 2616 so far…..