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He is probably still trying to negotiate the first corner on the stelvio pass …. Bikes been up and down off the floor more times than @Marcel le Moose Fondler pants at one of his hillbilly bike meets

Taking Shadow up to Damerells to do her CBT today. Shed is just a tad nervous this morning. I am sure she will be fine but will be glad to get her there.

The Mrs. & I will be fine tuning the ergo's on her trike today....& then possibly a Ride on this optimum-weather day. Then prepping for our 2-night camping trip beginning on Monday....Destination here:

Thanks Pedro....after owning it for 25 yrs., I sold it to my grandson after he helped me transplant a 305 ci small block V8 into it. It now sports a 454 ci BigBlock V8 w/ a TH400 transmission....

I don't think I have mentioned it but it is Fowey Regatta Week at the moment. Tis sort of a big deal for us Yokels. Anyway spent my day across the water in Polruan yesterday with some life long friends. Good day if a little pissed and sung out by the end of it.

Maintenance on the Beta tonight. new pads front and rear and a new Michelin Enduro medium tyre on the rear, re-lubed the front mousse and that's not the kind of moose lubing Marcel does

Didn't sleep more than one hour last night, was tired and sleepy but went to bed and just had to wait the night to pass. This was hard, but meant that it was easy to get out of bed at 6AM, a little past 6:30 and I was getting on the motorway. Sun rise, it looked like a lovely day but it wasn't to be. A couple of hours after leaving the house, and I'm stopping for breakfast already in Spain. @Earache, your petrol station shops could learn a thing or two from spanish Repsols, generaly you have fresh half decent baguettes and full legs of proper smoked ham My breakfast, by now I was a little surprised it wasn't getting any warmer outside. To warm up a little, a little butter on the hot toast, some fresh orange juice, and an espresso. Theoreticaly, this bike shouldn't be a lot different than mine cruising on motorways, but it is. Mine has the touratech suspension that is always a little too firm for comfort, a short screen, and rough tires. This one, on new 100% road tires, rubber footpegs, stock electronic suspension with soft springs, and a proper screen, rides like a pillow and I listen to music in my helmet at 70% the usual volume. The result is that distance passes by a lot smoother, I WILL look into one of these stock GS screens for mine too, smaller than the massive Adventure screen but they work nicely. The seat is shorter than mine too, maybe that also helps to lower me into the bubble a little more. What this bike seems to do a lot more is use fuel. It does have a substantially smaller tank but felt like I spent all day putting fuel into it. I think it uses more, and I do need a 30 liter tank, this is not funny. Does anyone know if the 1250 uses more fuel than the 1200 just cruising down a motorway? Coming the other way, all bikers were wearing rain suits, I put mine on too to shelter for the cold winds that now were starting to get really strong, and in anticipation of the rain in the distance. I have three days to get to Milan, including today. This is plenty of time, I gave up on doing the Via del Sale because of the weather, I don't fancy going off-road on a rental bike on gay tires after heavy rains. Also, I played with the idea of going all the way to Germany, spending one day stopped on the Nurburgring, and then the 800km to Milan on friday. There's less chance of rain in Germany than in southern France, which sounds ridiculous, but it'll rain there as well and I would like one nice lap of the track with no rain, plus that would be adding some distance to the bike and testing the rental company's goodwill. Gave up on all of that and headed to Pamplona. Got there to find perfectly dry weather, so stopped on a park bench to take all the plastic stuff off and figure out what to do. Pamplona is a very civilized city, huge areas of motorcycle only parking: I gave my friend from Pamplona a surprise call, but turns out he was away. All hotels were either too expensive or full, or in areas where I'm not leaving a bike outside. I found a little place in the hills, one hour away, deep in the Basque hills and got going, but not before fueling up again. The rain did return, and I stopped, once again, to put my rain jacket on. Got to my destination for the night at almost 19:00. Perfect timing to have a nice shower and a walk around town before dinner, it has been a long day. Being lower, with a very much improved gearbox and clutch, this feels like a toy to ride around town compared to my bike. It has less braap thought, it's very smooth but seems like it's half asleep if you blip the throttle. Having said that, it is faster at speed, but not in such a way that makes it a reason for changing. What I don't like about it is all the electronic shit, the screen and you having to navigate menus to see things. I'm always checking my pocket for the keyless key, because it's not where it should be ... I'm staying in a very charming old country house in a very quaint village, so went for a walk: A spot for playing "pelota vasca", but probably "pelota mano" which makes me wince just to contemplate. Look it up if you don't know what it is. I was going to eat beef for dinner, but not after watching a veal scratch her face against a concrete pole: The inside of the place I'm staying almost makes me want proper winter weather, maybe not really though Eating codfish cooked in what must be a very Basque way, with peppers and tomato, the fried egg adds a lot to it. Frankly, I'm not going to miss it. Some cold basque cider to wash it down, and that's the day done. I'm being confident, my rain pants and overboots are inside the pannier that is on the bike, I'm trusting. Let's see how tomorrow goes.

I used to wear jeans like that when i was your daughters age not because it was the fashion of the time but because i was a scruffy cunt, who knew it would catch on and i was one of the pioneering trend setters

He wouldn't like my dark side....

Good morning… shit weather you say …

Next day, I woke up with the certainty of having a very rainy day ahead of me. I intend to ride out of the hotel already with rain suits on, since my "main wear" for this trip consist of jeans and a very summery jacket, enjoy a b-road to Pau and then hop on the motorway and cover as much ground as comfortable before stopping for dinner and sleep, this is my plan drawn in resignation to suffer rain storms in a motorway for the majority of a day. Reality didn't go like that, I did get the rain, and in fact put the luggage on the bike, and exited the hotel all waterproofed only to need to access my gloves in one of the sidecases to then remember the bike's key in my jeans. I hate these keys, since you don't need them to operate the bike they end up wherever and never at hand when you need them. After all the carfuffle I am now sweating, so come back in from the rain to take my sweater off. Most other people in that place are hikers, they agreed that rain and warmth is the worst! I ride off, taking very tiny roads, after a short while I spot this place just right for an espresso with shelter from the rain. I walk in, and stand in front of the counter while the girl is very busy talking to someone, then she's very busy answering the phone, then she runs past, completely ignoring me and the other people now in line. I step outside and take a free seat while contemplating the rain. This was the first taste of french hospitality, they're known for it but since this is Basque Country I thought it would be different: A few minutes later, waterproofs back on, and I head out. Finally the girls in line behind me are getting served, could have taken 10 espressos in that time. I head into the hills and following my phone's guidance through very small roads I start enjoying myself, so much so that when the phone goes quiet I continue from intuition. Roads are really small, very muddy and with lots of animal waste from herds of cows and sheep that are grazed here. After maybe 30 or 45 minutes the rain stops briefly and I take the picture above while finally going for my phone safely tucked inside my jacket, turns out I'm almost back where I started! No worries, I had the feeling that's what was happening, and carried on the right way. I climb a little, and stop to admire the views, nice fog! There's fog and muddy roads, those are horses in the distance down in the valley: I've never had tires as good in the rain as these. These are Mitas Touring Force, granted the name can take some improving but on wet greasy muddy tarmac, they're great. If there's no tarmac they're not so great, but that's fair enough. In the next three pictures, if you zoom in you'll see vultures. They're just standing there with their wings open, I don't know what they were doing but that was it as watched from the outside. I shouted, they flew 50 meters and did the same thing. More horses: There are a lot of tiny ponies roaming around, but I never stopped for pictures because they were too near the road and didn't seem to like my presence, and it was just raining too much and I tried to keep the inside of my gloves dry. Up high, clouds were moving fast: Filthy bike: And as quickly as that, the clouds roll in again, same spot: Now almost 2PM and I feel a little peckish, so stop to both figure out where to get something to eat and where to head after. I stop when it stops raining, and it happens to be in the middle of an amazing forrest. Really a very cool place: I give up on finding a cafe, and go to a supermarket, buy a bread and some cheese, and make a sandwich: Someone cut a tree down in the picnic area, it's growing back again: By now I'm enjoying this too much and to hell with the motorway, so decide to follow the Pyrenees a while more, stopping near Laruns to check where I'm going: Where I was heading was through the Col D'Aubisque and the Col de Soulor, very cool roads eve if it was pouring down, again I was amazed how good these tires were on a bike with softer suspension than mine, I don't think I could have had a more confidence inspiring combination. Up at the top, stopped for a coffee and to decide on accommodation for the night, in the direction of France proper but not too far away as the rain was loosing it's charm: Local cheeses in this whole area are amazing, I almost felt tempted to contaminate a whole sidecase in order to buy some. The smell would have lingered in whatever was sharing luggage space for ages I found this small place near Lourdes, about 45 minutes away, and off I went. It was a nice surprise, nobody spoke english but my broken french made up for it. I fool people into thinking I know french, this lasts 10 seconds, then the momentum carries me through the rest of the conversation One of their "guard dogs" doesn't know he's a guard dog yet, and quickly turned into a play mate, a game of fetch ensued and after a while he was broken and ready for a nap at his owners' door: They knew the way to my heart and the madame of the house told me to help myself to beer on the fridge, (or tea if I preferred ) , her husband was cooking and I was to join the two couples they had as guests and themselves for dinner. After a day of wearing rain stuff it felt good to be having a beer outside in a tshirt. The other dog wasn't a friend of mine, though: The gentleman waving in the picture below is quite a character, he is a belgium who used to race (as an amateur, I think), Sidecar Motocross, and has an old Maico 250cc at home (non sidecar). I didn't ask what color it was, though, so he might be a deviant and have a blue Maico He and his wife have been married for 58 years, which is amazing not only on the number of years but also because none of them look to be old enough, I enjoyed their company as both had a great sense of humor and were a joy to be around. I was not, though, prepared to the amount of food. I misunderstood and thought we were going to have a few tapas or a few platters of stuff, so when the guy filled the table (table, I thought was platter as in board) with all sorts of entrees I assumed that was dinner, it was enough for everyone. But no, after I was full came the soup, which was delicious, then the duck magret with a type of patatas bravas, then the cheese, and then dessert when I was about to pass out. I couldn't say no to dessert as Marie, the owners' daughter had made it. She's working as a pastry chef. I had never over eaten so much in my life. I went for a stroll and then retired to bed feeling like I was going pass out. I had heard of the French and their dinners, but had never been in one. Good thing I had work to do as that helped me digest a little while sitting up and working on the laptop. The next day would be a long one.

Thanks for all your support folks. So, the cardiologist couldn’t see any signs of arrhythmia in the ECG she had today but has seen the results of when she’s had an episode and it’s evident during those periods. He’s now referred her to an arrhythmia specialist so they can try and get to the bottom of the matter. At least it shouldn’t take long to get an appointment but in the meantime she’s to remain on beta blockers and avoid certain foodstuffs and drinks…….no alcohol

It was getting late ...after the hour and half we lost on Roland's bike and a wrong turn off that Dan missed stretching the ride to the motel by 100 km or so...we stopped for more supplies before the liquor shops closed .. Made it to the motel has the sun was setting.

Fortunately it’s very simple electronically, unlike anything modern.

Weekend has started early for me as well up at 5am and just had a breakfast in a place called wisbourough green. now in a public convenience making room for it

I had to look up "CBT" on the internet to see what it was. Won't be doing that again anytime soon. CBT: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=CBT

My scoot cover. it is too wide, and not deep enough, but the scoot fits in there at a angle.

Does the telecommunications company know that you've knicked that

*History Lesson for the ignorant* As the allied offensives of 1918 drew to and end and the german defeat became a reality, Marechal FOCH (commander of the western front) requested that the French military transport organisation find a place where two trains could meet, one carrying himself and representatives of the allied commands and another carying the Germand high command. His criteria were "a place with the solitude that was to ensure calm, silence, isolation and respect for the defeated opponent during the time of negotiations." which was why it was not to be in Paris or any of the other major cities. The site chosen was in the heart of the forest of Compiegne, at a siding originally used for resupplying rail-borne heavy artillery, whichdid not exist on any civillian rail map but was accessible from the main rail network. The train bearing FOCH arrived on the 8th November, The german delegation, accompanied by the French commandant De Bourbon-Busset, arrived shortly afterwards. The Armistice was signed 3 days later, in FOCH's wagon, at 05h15 on the 11th November, Between the wars, the clearing was developed into aplace of remembrance for the dead and of celebration of Victory and Peace. A Stone slab, inscribed with the legend "Here on 11 November 1918 succumbed the criminal pride of the German Empire defeated by the free peoples he intended to enslave." ( My translation from the original French.) When the French capitulated in 1940, Hitler demanded that their reddition be signed in the same clearing as the "Infamous peace" of 1918. and the German engineers ressurrected the original wagon from its building and returned it to the exact spot where the 1918 armistice had been signed. Hitler was present for the beginning of negotiations but rapidly left, the armistice was later signed by the Generals Keitel and Huntzinger. The site was then systematically destroyed by the Nazis, Hitler ordered the wagon to be taken to Berlin, the statues and stone slab are dynamited and the site is plowed over. With the Allied advances in 1944 the wagon left Berlin and was eventually burned by the SS in the Forest of Thuringe, on Hitlers order. The site was reconstituted as in 1918 during the 40's, a wagon of the same series was rebuilt to replacate the actual wagon. The peices of the original stone monument were recuperated from Germany and reunited in the clearing in 1946. It is still there today. *Here endeth the Lesson* I rode past this place years ago on my way back from visiting the battlefields of the somme, but was out of time and need to get home. I have been wanting to visit since. Yesterday I got the opportunity, so despite the round trip being over 500km and probably 7h in the saddle, which I have not done in a looong time, I set off early, about 07h30 ish. Nice clear skies and 20°c. The Plan: I planned to ride up there using the N and D roads and ride back using some N roads, but mostly Autoroute. this was the only way I could keep saddle time down below 8 hours and got me back home just before a strom front, moving west to east across the country bringing some serious rain if the weather pundits were to be believed. I HATE using the Autoroute on a bike and the tiger 800 is not designed for it, or i'm not... Having ridden a couple of hours, I reckined it was time for breakfast. Stopped in a little boulangerie in a village just south of the seine and rode on the breakfast by the river in Marnay sur Seine By 10 O'clock the temps had risen to the point that I needed to remove my sweater, so I pilled over in a shady spot, removed sweater and was just having a glug of water when this little creature came to say Hi Another hour or so saw me stopping at the Memorial to the 128th infantry regiment ( My wif'e great grandfather fought and died at Eparges with this regiment in 1915 ( https://www.landofmemory.eu/en/sites-historiques/ridge-of-eparges/ ) The plaque reads "Here the 128th division stopped the enemy (June 1918) and with a victorious offensive (july 1918) contributed to their definitive retreat" The sides of the monument cite their Battle honors and there are 12 major 1st war battles listed, including Eparges, and Verdun is listed twice, once in 1914-16 and again in 1916-18. For those who don't know, Verdun is the French equivalent to the Somme, Mons, or Ypres for the British army. Slight change of historical register further down the road as I spotted this over the treetops This is the Chateau de Pierrefonds, a 17th century re-interpretation of a middle ages castle, and whilst interesting, was not on the agenda for today (https://www.chateau-pierrefonds.fr/en/discover/history-of-the-castle-of-pierrefonds ) I stopped for a picnic lunch in the forest of Compeigne and rolled up to the Armistice clearing at about 13h00 The stone monument, defaced and scarred but intact. There was some fucking ignorant wanker foreign tourist walking around on it when I got there and he got quite pissed off when I pointed out the multiple signs saying "please do not walk on the monument" Fucktard! the main clearing. In the foreground is the position of the French Wagon, the stone monument in the centre, and the other side of it an identical placement where the German high command wagon stood. The Wagon is housed in a small museum off the theleft of the above picture, but I'm too tight fisted to pay 8€ to look at the exterior of a reproduction of the original... so I didn't. But here's Marechal FOCH tomake up for it Dissapointed there not being anything more to see, I glugged some more water and coffee (30+°c now) and set off for the return journey. Not only was it f'king hot, it was the last day, bar one, of the French summer holidays so the entire population of northern France ( especially Paris) was trying to get home from their Summer hols on the south coast ( today, Sunday will be worse...) and boy was I glad to be riding south, the northbound carriageways were all full as a very full thing and moving at a crawling pace, miles upon miles of bumper to bumper traffic. I had to stop a number of times on the way back, by hour 6 my knees were really bad and I had to stop to cool down and move my knees every half hour or so. The autoroute stations were all heaving with herds of sweaty miserable people, but thanks to the T-shirt my daughters bought for me, no-one though it worth while to get too close: Igot home just around 18h00 and had been watching the storm brewing off to the west fro the last half an hour or more, but I managed to get in and the bike undercover nefore the storm broke.. lots of thunder and lightening but only 4... I counted, 4! spots of rain. I collapsed onto the couch, realising that I had pushed just that bit too far, I pulleda muscle in my right shoulder getting up off the sofa and so today have been hobbling arund with fucked knees and a muscle, or possibly tendon, problem in the shoulder. I think I need to keep daily saddle time below 6 hours in the future...

Decided to start a thread on the ongoing maintenance and repairs for the Beta First entry was from some work last night when doing some maintenance i noticed the rear shock mud plate has been rubbing against the swingarm I've heard this is common on the KTM's but not read any reports on it for the Beta's The two scuff marks above the wear mark are where the air box is hitting the swing arm when my fat arse is bottoming the suspension out I cut and shaped a bit of Ali to fit where the flap touches so that will wear out instead of the swing arm I bonded it on with Tiger Seal the stuff used to stick car trim on good stuff I sprayed it this morning with some stone chip for colour mainly because it's what i had kicking around not too worried about the finish it will be covered in crap next time i'm out with the mud flap fitted and look at my shiny new non gay tyre

It is a good sized display, buy I do not think I would pay £18..50p out of my own pocket to get in... These are the best of the photos, David Bailey I ain't. We had a nice ride back through the country lanes, passed through a couple of new to me villages, the temp was just right for riding,

You really are multi talented! But don’t overcharge your mate for working on his teeth, that’s how dentists got their bad name.

Medic!

I’m more worried about Triumph. The word on the street is that it’s too imperialist of a name and they’ll have to change to Modest Success

Then you can sit at home biting your nails for the first few days.

You just ride a little slower, although i haven't had the enthusiasm i used to have to go out in it these last few years.

That's how it starts, another Glitter in the making right there.

Greedy bugger , mine was a small one

My Asgard.

I think @XTreme failed that question as well

I'll stick this one in taken tonight after i went out to wear the newness off the rear tyre and brake pads. Jacket seems ok

failed a cbt .... i blame the bloke thats been teaching her ..... oh hang on ...

Rookie numbers

New Jacket waiting for me when i got home from work tonight. My current jacket i bought around 2006 so has lasted well considering how much abuse off road it's had, Its almost old enough to receive the @XTreme longevity for jackets award Anyhow what do you think other than i need a smaller belly.

Your erect aren’t you

Alternatively you can ride a bike that is the colour of a dildo and people will avoid you.

Well after a quick stop at Tesco in Mablethorpe (I shit you not), I checked the weather forecast and whatever I did I was likely to end up riding home in the rain so I headed up and across the Humber bridge and did a sprint up the A19 and I am now home in Edinburgh. I did 355 miles today, in total since Thursday afternoon I have done 980 miles and I didn't use the bike at all on Saturday. A few pictures from the trip. Pink BMW for @Six30 because he is a puff. Yellow BMW for @Marcel le Moose Fondler because he is too chicken to race @busabeast Water tower and zombie research centre. Wildlife. AJS, the real thing, tax ran out 18 years ago, it was in use and obviously well maintained.