So true Jez.I expect most on here are great on collecting bikes and bits,but not quite so good on parting with them. My son has said to me that I was lucky to have the enjoyment of having the bikes and riding them and now is the time to move on.He is quite right of course.
Did another 80 mile round trip, using another 1/2 days leave to get my Triumph's spare keys coded. I had to buy a new ‘keyless’ key from them so went up to get it coded a few weeks ago - nobody had mentioned the spares would need doing too FFS!
Back home from two days at the festival of speed, courtesy of BMW, and what a bloody amazing time we had. It was loads quieter yesterday, so Thursday is definitely the day to go. Don’t tell anyone! We’re sitting here watching the highlights, wishing we’re going back tomorrow! View attachment 341454
Am watching my own rides highlights of the 10 hours on Discovery plus. Looks amazing. Deffo going as soon as possible!
Away for the weekend with friends in Christchurch. Last night was a meal in the local Turkish followed by the Regent Theatre for a comedy night, headlined by Reginald D Hunter. Today we took the bus to Boscombe, walked down to the beach for the beach for a breakfast at Urban Reef. Then walked along the beach towards Hengistsbury Head, cut up past Solent Meads golf course, on through Wick village to the ferry. Crossed over, walked through the classic car show and into town. Browsed the record shop, had an ice cream followed by a couple in The Saxon before walking home and firing up the barbecue. Lunch at The Bear of Burton tomorrow and then home for the football game. Lovely weekend.
Removed the old bed/ sofa from the Vivaro. Salvaged most of the wood which will either come in useful for the rebuilding or take its place in the "I couldn't possibly throw it away, it might come in handy" mountain of stuff I probably should throw away! Made the first section of my replacement bed without mishap. I took the advice on the screw length from the guy in the shop who subsequently sold me a big box of massive screws. Oh well I won't do that again, as I now have enough of the perfect size to build my own wooden Eiffel Tower. T'will be an early start tomorrow, as it looks like the weather may break on Monday. I want to break the back of this job whilst the sun is shining...
Set off in the old VW camper after 2 weeks of service/restoration...de-rusted the chassis and wax oiled everything...What a nightmare job. Still it goes...drove 2 hours into the middle of nowhere near the Gorge de Verdon, was only supposed to stay for one night...but I might take a few slow days to get back home!
Do you have a modern VW or a Classic one? Also since I'm very new to this lark, what is your must have top 3 things in your van excluding music & sat nav Bed gas burner etc? If you have some Royal Maharaja recommendations I might just go them too!
Slung a False Widow out the window (it went "wheeeeee!") Apparently their poison venom is like a wasp or bee sting.
60 miles off roading then an hour tearing around a homemade motocross track until I scared myself sensible by nearly going over the bars when I landed a jump badly, so I decided it was time to act my age and go home. I can’t feel my fingertips, my legs are like jelly and I think I’ve got heatstroke. God knows what state I’m going to be in tomorrow morning and I’m also playing cricket at lunchtime
It's a T4 California...but with 333K km(!).. but relatively indestructible. Bed comfort is a must, I added a over mattress that makes all the difference. A good sun awning is also a good idea...and armrests for comfortable driving. I'm not sure there is a 'top three'...mainly just super flexibility and an approach to 'I will cope' (certainly with old vans)
I think I walked into town this morning. It's all a blur, a heat haze. I went to my sister's to give the cats chicken, but I couldn't be bothered and neither could they. Got back and continued the endeavour started yesterday, to arrange all three fans in a way that actually makes a difference, rather than just moving the stifling air around. Been reading, all day since, 'This is Your Brain on Music' which, mostly, reminds me that our entire experience of the world is manufactured by the brain. And looking out my window now, at dusk, as it gets mercifully cool, reflecting on that, taking in the view. It's very leafy, Cheltenham. I was wondering if I can actually see more trees than houses? Or maybe it's about half and half. What there must be is shades of green literally in the millions. Birds like late stragglers making for home. One in the middle distance looked like a hawk. And it's all photons bouncing off the birds, millions of leaves, wisps of cloud, afterglow on the horizon over Malvern (where a 52 yr old man was murdered this morning), into my eyes and converted to electrochemical signals. And a dog barks somewhere to the left and I feel the cool evening air on my arms and chest, all constructed in my brain like this post on this screen being, really, just ones and zeros. It's not so much a wonderful world as riches beyond measure to have the faculties to appreciate it. Being human, and alive. I looked in at the garage but it was too hot. Too hot last year when I rode the SS Hereford way. Too hot when I rode the 999 on the M50, whenever that was, and went fast to make a breeze but it just meant I rode through hot air, faster. Who'da thunk it!
Missed the ferry to France Not sure if that qualifies as being something that I have done - missing the ferry - or something that I have not done - catching the ferry. Spent too long at work finishing off - then manic rush around to get ready to go. Got there too late to load. Went to the ticket office and the nice lady put me on tomorrow's ferry for a small charge of a couple of quid. Kind of nice actually, really manic day rushing around in the hot sun today. But tomorrow will be an easy day !
Other than a lovely ride to Rothbury, and getting to know some lovely roads in the area, I spent most of the day lounging in my garden. We then decided at 7pm to go to Tynemouth for a drink and something to eat……..we gave some friends who live there a quick call to ask if they wanted to join us but they were at the beach and had been paddle boarding and we’re just drying off and packing up the car. Anyway an hour or so later they’d got home, showered and came to join us so we had a really nice evening together. We finally got home after midnight
Well the bots have been getting busier over the last few days. And this morning I’ve deleted around 30 “accounts” that have tried to join the forum. But the bots are getting lazy……..they’ve started using the same usernames over and over. A few weeks ago they were all in Jamaica and now the same “people” are in Sri Lanka. I just wish whoever is behind this would just fuck off because I can spot them a mile off now.
So far got woken up by the cat wanting to go outside then had the pleasure of picking up her poos. Got to it before the dog ate it. Hope you are having breakfast while reading lol.
