.. And there's not much more...

... Not a lot to report this week.  Mugabe has now been serviced and thankfully not too much wrong with it... just a few minor issues with fiddly bits (aka engine stuff).  Next item is the MOT - fingers crossed for that.  I have now managed to get in touch with a short-legged XRV750 rider that would benefit from my lowered Corbin Seat that I don't want.   He is going to send his by post and we will swap it.

Planning for the Oz trip with Debs goes on but so does the planning for USA in 2016/17.... in between I have to sort out a trip to Morocco with Dave but that might end up as a fly-ride type visit..

I still have a couple of events this year to attend - there is the Adventure Travel Film Festival in August at Sherborne and the following weekend is the "ZEN and the art of Cider" in Somerset.
There is also the Adventure Overland Event at Stratford-upon-Avon in late September but also the HUBB Mini meet in Cumbria but I am not sure that I have the holiday-time left for that - and it's a long way just for a weekend.   God I wish I could retire soon.   Mind you I should try to avoid the "too" commercial and too BIG events.  

Of course there is also the Auto-jumble at Beaulieu soon and lastly the Motorcycle Show at the NEC in December !!!

63 years old in September - bugger...

I am still reading loads of books - and have just started on Graham Field's "Ureka" - which is really rather good and I am really enjoying it...  I must get my Reading/Read list up-to-date....




Now does my bum look big in this !!! 2ltr Turbo charged VW engine !!

Best get back to work I suppose....

...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

He's Only Gone and Done it Again.........

Hi...  It's Tuesday afternoon and I'm a working... bugger...  but the good news that I have taken the plunge  - again. 

Three years ago I foolishly sold my XRV750 Africa Twin for a handful of coins .....  As it left my drive I knew it was the wrong thing to have done but with a 55 plate BMW R1200GS already in the garage I thought I would be OK. And so for 3 years I have lamented the sale of the Africa Twin  - aka Mr Mugabe (a black African!) - I would say that the BMW has been great - we have ridden nearly 53,000 together in just 3 years - we have been to twice to Croatia and Slovenia.  We have been to Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Germany, Andorra, Italy and little Luxembourg.

... and so having moaned about it for 3 years I have decided to do something about it - and later today I will be driving down to Bristol to collect another Black African Twin (1997) (Mugabe II).  Special thanks to my Mum for lending my to cash until I can sell the BMW.

The BMW is on EBay to start with and I have already had 3 silly questions about the price... just bid and it's could be yours.....

one like this .........

It's nearly May.....

.. Time passes;  so I thought I better put something here..

As I ride all year round, I get slightly miffed when I hear that it is the "start of the riding season" - where were you when it was raining and so bloody cold...   Missing it that's where!!

At present I feel that I need to get out and about again with the tent and as I am going to miss any long trips on the bike this year as I am being required to do a visit to Oz for our 25th wedding anniversary year.  So I am planning the following:

30 -   1 Jun   - Wales & Herefordshire

18 - 22 Jun    - HUBB UK at Donnington
13 - 17 Aug   -  Adventure Travel Film Festival in Sherborne Dorset
22 - 23 Aug   -  ZEN and the art of Cider in Somerset (ZEN Overland)
20 - 21 Sep   -  HUBBUK Mini Meet at Haggs Bank (possibly)

The mind still wanders off into the bigger trips - Morocco in 2015 and the USA in 2016.
Just enough to keep me going and coming to work every day to pay for it....

Later ....

 

 

Mendip Moto Madness March 14

The week saw the start of the “gatherings” with the March Moto Madness event at Fernhill Farm near Cheddar.   Organised by Tiffany Coates and the attendance was small but still good fun.  Although the rain on the Friday night may have put off some of the less hardy riders.  Whilst the camp site was reasonably full with about 20 attendees, we did have the use of a room in the barn and that had some facilities, notably a wood burning stove and a kettle.   On Saturday morning there was a Breakfast and road ride-out and later Gabe Bolton lead an off-road ride-out.

On the Saturday night half the campers sat around a camp fire and partook on copious amounts of Cider and a few bottle of Jim Beam (so I am told).  

The Sunday had glorious sunshine and an early start for me lead to a very long, sedate and pleasurable ride home….

 

A good weekend all in all

 

Adventure Bike day at the Ace Cafe




Cheer up Mick - it wasn't that expensive !

Saturday 23rd March - Adventure Bike Day at the Ace Cafe - London.


Lovely XRV750

 

Another excellent day out, albeit a bit cold.  Met up with Mick O'Mally, Sam and Birgit, Ian Harper, Austin Vince and Dom Giles.   Watched enviously as Steph set off on her RTW trip on the Honda 250

Saw so many bikes and I believe that some of them even go places !!!



.


 





Sad but true.....

Having read about the fatal crash on the A31 this week in which a motorcyclist hit a horse and died and another biker is seriously ill - and in the knowledge that I have travelled that road every work day for the passed 13 years. In fact I was on the A31 that night but was turned off just minutes before the incident happened - "there but for the Grace of God go I....."

I try not to get too philosophical about life, death and motorcycling but the thought that if I had not turned off that night, I too would have filtered to the front of the traffic and could have been sat with the other two guys.

Life on a bike is risky and you do what you can to minimise those risks but somethings you just can't factor in - New Forrest ponies on a Dual Carriageway declared "OK" by police is one of them. Hence being a member of the IAM.

I have, for years been thinking about, talking about and planning for my retirement at about 65 and about taking the trip of a lifetime but ....... will I still be well enough or even alive to enjoy it !!!! I bet the biker that died had plans too.

So what's to be done ? Enjoy every day as if it was your last - or is that too is risky..... Keep planning - oh yes ! Get fit, lose a few pounds - possibly ! Stop biking - definitely not....... RIP Biker who ever you were. N

Abby and I go shopping - Biker Chick !!!!

NEC Motorcycle Live 2013

 

 

Visited the NEC and met with these two characters........ Mike O'Malley and Sam Manicom - great to meet with you both again

Only purchased a few books but had a good look around... Had a good look at the CCM 450. £8000 ! Or the Triumph XC...... .?

It was a cold ride up and back....

 

Stratford-upon-Avon - Day 2

Good evening Blog..... Another excellent day - Did a lot of wandering around the Stands and Stalls - and met many very interesting people - of course they are far more diverse than usual as it's not just bikes. So many big trucks and converted Land Rovers.... Some of the big trucks are thousands of pounds - enough to finance many RTW trips - there is a ex-military truck up for sale at just £37,000..... And a new MAN truck with luxury body for just £230,000 ...... WTF...... bathroom,under floor heating, iMac, air conditioning, well just about everything you could think of...... Mind you it only does 2 kms to the litre !!!!
I think I will stick to the bike and overpacking !!!



It's now 7pm and too late to cook - so I may just go and get a pint and a bowl of Crocodile curry !!!!! Honest !

Nite nite



nigel.grace@btinternet.com

Stratford-upon-Avon - Adventure Overland show....

Good morning blog,

It's now about 7 in the morning, quite cold, and I am boiling porridge and having a second cup of tea.
Having just read the first chapter of Ted Simon's "Rolling through the Isles".

Sitting in a field in the middle of Stratford racecourse about the size of six football pitches with just two very small tents!! Apparently someone on gate has directed most of the bikes to the main camping area where they are all squashed together with the 4x4 overland trucks...... I had a nice quiet night - these bikers can be a noisy lot.

The facilities are sparse and quite a long way off - not planned for campers really.... Looks like just one shower for many hundreds of campers... Having said that most of these huge truck probably have one inside with the hot tub.

The forecast looks good and should warm up soon. The porridge was excellent as is the tea. Looks like the rest of the site is waking up now.....

Bye for now



nigel.grace@btinternet.com

Saturday - somewhere north of Stafford

Dear Blog

It is now 1130 and it is still cold - thank god for heated grips... Had a pleasant ride into Stafford and visited Stafford Motorcycles... They have 3 Africa Twins and 2 BMW Dakars... I will need to think about this..

Left Stafford and Gertie led me North and I am now somewhere near or heading to Nantwich ? I will re-direct her to Oswestry and then south to Newtown and then Hay-on-Wye....

I am sat in a very nice Tea Rooms somewhere - nice and cosy with Nat King Cole playing in the background... The sun just shone through .... If it starts to rain later I may well ride on through Gloucester and home --- it will be pointless setting up the tent in the rain just to sit and listen to the rain all night...

Chat later

Just to finish this - I did travel down to Tintern and then across the bridge and then home - in one hit - a bit saddle sore by the time I reached home - but a nice relaxing ride home nevertheless...

It turned out that Stafford Motorcycles wer not prepared to offer me a sensible price for my BMW even though they were over the top on their price for the XT750.    So back on the BMW for now and maybe stick with it for a few more years..  I am planning to retire in 2016 and do the big trip that I have always wanted to do ...  it will be 11 years old by then....

Day 2 - Much Wenlock

.... Nice Camp site - still pouring with rain ! I decided that it was too wet and cramped to cook in this tent - so I walked into the village - found a good pub and had a beer and Faggots, Peas, Gravy and chips - excellent. Met a nice chap and we talked about Croatia and Cycling then walked back in the rain.

And so to bed....

Cold this morning but not raining yet --- good showers here and I am now having an early morning cuppa.     Then !!!! Disaster - I went to open the packet of Porridge but opened up the Staffordshire Chicken Balti instead - bugger - so that's breakfast !!!!!

It's still cold and my toes are freezing in these Crocs !!!!!! Now to have a 'hot' breakfast ?

Bye for now

En Route to North

This is my current location.
Having a coffee in the Car park

http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=52.31352&scr_z=0&lon=-2.23333&label=A449%2C+Hartlebury%2C+England%2C+United+Kingdom%2C+DY139&address=A449&city=Hartlebury&region=England&country=United+Kingdom&postalCode=DY139&z=0

A weekend in the Rain...

I thought it was about time that I got away from everything again - so I will be packing the bike on Thursday night and travelling up to Staffordshire on Friday morning.  Colin H was going to accompany me this time but his work schedule has got in the way again - a definite case of not yet having the work / life balance sorted yet..

A simple trip up the Staffordshire - possible visit Stafford Motorcycle and look at some examples of Honda XRV 750's and bikes like that.  Then on Saturday traverse over to the Newtown area of Wales and then follow that lovely road down to Hay-on-Wye.   Then travel home on the Sunday via the Honey Cafe, Tintern Abby and Salisbury Plain.... Proper Job !!   Going to try to travel ultra light LOL

At the Adventure Travel Film Festival in Sherborne Dorset

Dear reader, arrived yesterday after work and having located Mick O'Malley and pitched the tent it was time for a quiet beer.

Linked up with Austin and Lois, Sam Manicom, Ian Harper etc we had a BBQ for the Volunteers and another beer then it was time to hit the sack.

Slept OK but was a bit too warm in the new sleeping bag - also Daughter #2 had borrowed the bag for a beach party and left lots of sand in the bag. Also a bottle top from a Vodka bottle which I found - or should I say my backside located it at 2am. Surprise surprise !!!!!




It's now past 7.30am and I cooked Breakfast and had cups of tea at 6am, walked around the field for exercise as my back is none to good. We have a Volunteers meeting at 10.30.....

Right I'm off the test out the Festival toilets - something to do with worms ?!!!!!!!

Well that's that then..

Trip mileage 3285..

Finally arrived home at 3pm after a day's total of 340 miles  - mind you we had a break at the Eurotunnel.  

Home early by about 5 Days - well yes but why not - the plan was to get to Dubrovnik and that's what we did. Next time I think I will travel with another rider  as it will keep me "on plan" - maybe.. now I have time to sort a few things out before Monday.  

The bike was great with no problems - the tyres still have tread but they need to be changed this week. The rest of the kit worked fine and whilst unpacking I could find very little that I had not used. I still need to take less though!  It was noted that 3 of the Travellers I met en route were riding the elderly BMW R80GS - mmmm interesting - I was offered one at the HUBB UK??

Next year I been told that I am flying to Oz to visit friends and "have a proper holiday" with Debs and no motorcycling. .   So planning for Morocco 2015 will start in Jan 2015 ish

We still have the Adventure Travel Film Festival in August and maybe the occasional weekend event this year to look forward to and many more miles of riding...

18th June.....

Trip mileage 3072 to Calais

Dear Reader....
..... I must be getting near home as it rained all night... Early night and therefore early start - I'm not one for navel gazing in the mornings ..... S+S+Shaved, made a brew... Packed up the wet tent for the final time this trip.... Waved goodbye the Jean Claude at the gate and away we go.......

We had planned a very gentle route to the Chunnel of just 172 miles through some very local and empty roads.

Remember the big Overlander I met on day two - well I looked them up on the net - a very interesting guy - www.overlandkiwi.com - I only met his english wife and baby on the site as he was in Turkey on business !!!! Read the site and see why he is one not to be messed with. I must read the rest of the site when I get home.

Well back to the ride - very gentle thriugh the lanes and backwoods all they way - very little traFfic until the motorway leading to Euro port - I booked in and had jusy enough time to get some smellies for Debbie..... And a bun.... Then on the metal rabbit . We have to put the clocks back one hour - so we actually arrive in the UK before we left France - if you see what I mean.....

Just the ride from Folkestone to home now .....

Bye for now

... Still in France

Trip Mileage: 2868
Today: 284
Current location Soissons France

We got an early start (8am) as today was promising to be a hot one - 32 degrees at one point. The roads at the start were great as the climbed more hills through to St Die and Rambersvillers. After that it got very flat and agricultural around Nancy, Toul and up to Verdun and very straight roads for miles and miles ......

Tried to get Gertie to avoid Reims but I think she likes the catheral as, just like 2 years ago we went straight into the center at about 4pm !!!!! Bugger

Finally arrived at about 4.30pm - sorted out the tent etc and had a wonderfully hot shower...... And hung up the riding jacket and trousers as they are smelling very lived in .... Got to dash it has now started to rain .... Got to get the washing in......

Now to sort all this paperwork that I have in various pockets....

.... Goodbye Scharnitz

Trip Mileage 2615 - today 274....
.... We left Scharnitz at about 7.30 - very overcast and cold - roads still very wet from the overnight thunder storm - God when it rains around here - its the works..... A good little campsite - quiet and very clean..... Had a group on KTM 900's getting ready to hit the trails - master and pupils by the looks of it - I don't like the bike myself but it does sound good!!!

Rode back through a much drier Garmish then in and out of Austria and Germany en route to Friedrichshafen which is not to be recommended on a Sunday as the place was over flowing with bikers, cyclists, vintage cars, and walkers (does nobody walk without two ski poles anymore). We them rode along the lakeside and away to Titisee and Freiburg - then finally crossing ze Rhine again and riding up to Colmar and stopping. Too many miles again but better than sitting in the sun somewhere reading and chillin !!!!!!

Tomorrows route is to Verdun via Nancy and promises to be only 200 miles?

Now to sort out a shower and then some dinner......

The view from my Tent: ain't life a bitch

....Scharnitz, Austria

Trip mileage 2336 miles

Dear Reader

The problem with plans are that they are OK if you stick them - but having to re-route to avoid any flooding in Southern Germany - re-route I did, and headed from Camp Slapic in Croatia towards Zagreb and then Ljubljana with the idea of staying over at Camp Bled again! Sounded good but although I had a late start (9am).... (Delayed by a group of British Camper drivers wanting to know about the roads to Dubrovnik) but I arrived at Bled too early to stop - So I rode on to Cortina d'Amprezzo - again too early to stop - off again to the Brenner pass - might as well carry on I though !!!! Ouch was the feeling from my bum - so I finally called it quits here at 6.30pm - somewhere between Innsbruck and Garmish.

Had a great shower and cooked Chicken Balti !

Now time for bed...... Tomorrow we make the run from Austria through Germany into France ( Silent approach is called for I think).......

Today was Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Italy, Austria .......

Nite nite

This is my current location.

http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=47.38507&scr_z=7&lon=11.26277&label=Feldweg+390%2C+Scharnitz%2C+Austria%2C+6108&address=Feldweg+390&city=Scharnitz&region=Tirol&country=Austria&postalCode=6108&z=7

Friday - day off !!!!!

Hi Dear Reader

So much for taking a day off from riding - left at 7.30 and rode to the top of the hill over looking the Old Town to get some pictures..... Then back into town but there were a couple of ships in and it was busy already and so out on the coast road again going North - it took me 2 leisurely days to ride down - but took one long day to ride back up and then turn off into the hills and to a small campsite at Generalski Stol.... Full of D and NL vehicles as expected.

The riding was fine and the traffic going was lighter.. Lots of speed traps though.... Made good time but my butt is suffering....

Tomorrow I intend to ride to Lienz and then on Sunday back track through Innsbruck either via the Brenner Pass or the Grossglockner and then try for Colmar in France.... I wonder if it still raining on the other side of the Alps? I know this will put home earlier than expected but thing to do .......

Nigel - in the hills near Zagreb .....