Slowlycatchymonkey

Is that what happened Six? You can tell us we're listening

It won't be a problem I do yoga and I'm quite fond of messes

Thats as good as last year when I had to beg n borrow tent pegs from all over the shop cos Mr Slowly forgot to pack them. He pitched it in an area with lots of bits of wood on the ground and one particular lumpy bit was most annoying. Packed up and I was ready to fling this lumpy annoyance into the trees. Yep you guessed it

Didnt even see that one!

I have to confess for no reason I can fathom on the Bandit I'm bad for leaving the indicators on, fine on the other bikes but not that one dunno why, so the tank bag had to go.

The tankring also arrived yesterday. I was well pissed off because only one of the dilled holes aligned. I thought I must have bought a wrong part but I couldn't have as the bike specific part fitted, it was the generic Givi ring that didn’t align so I spent a good hour faffing about very slowly and carefully shaving bits off with a drill hoping it didn't damage the integrity of the tank ring and leave it in a weakened state and possibly a tankbag in the face while on the motorway Finally it all fitted nicely and packing up I discover a separate piece of paper in the bottom of the box under the other things saying- Cheeky barstewards they don’t mention it doesn’t fit and you’re gonna need a drill before you buy it!

I wouldnt use words like strapped on round here I have a small tankbag arriving on Monday. The large one I have I didn't get on with at all, it obscured the whole dash on the Bandit but then I am a short arse!

Im hungry but theres no-one here so no cooking today huzzah. Does gin and tonic count as food if you out a slice of lemon in it?

Sounds like they were frightened of you?

I’m with you on the shower and the glass of wine bit, not so much on the big mess part I’m a practical person. Function will always trump form for me. The place I couldn’t find anywhere to stay because everything was booked up was Scotland but I don’t need to stress about it I have a tent for back up

and it didn't help his Dad owned the strip club in Weston and he would earn pocket money by running bar errands!

Glad it turned out alright in the end. My sons school were brilliant. They were so open and frank that being gay wasnt really a big deal to any of the kids there. If someone announced they were gay the most of a response they'd get was "ok" and everyone carried on. The trans kids had a harder time because that was at the time still something ridiculed but good on the school they took a zero tolerance policy towards abusive language and after a bumpy start they were ok too. This boy had a hard time at the hands of people outside the school gates. Weston super Mud where he lived isn't exactly known for its enlightened attitudes!

My grandmother was ginger. My dad and one brother have hint of ginger. My husband and sons also have hint of ginger about them. My hair is dark brown/black but in the sunlight it has a bit of red shine to it so I've spent my whole life having people asking me if I dye my hair, who does my hair, complete strangers stare and ask me about my hair?!! Even my hairdresser used to occasionally ask me if I dyed my hair! If its sunny and I go into Weston super Mare (shudder) I wear a hat

That was impossible for him, people are pretty cruel, he started self harming things were bad for while!

and it causes huge delays because customs don't understand it either so whether a parcel would turn up while you were still there is completely unknown.

Since Brexit you're taxed on everything you send/receive! Based on what its is and the value. Its both very confusing and annoying.

My sons best friend at school for a year or so was all of those things and gay, it wasn't easy for him thats for sure!

Its a Royal Enfield it can take it..

Souls and temper issues by the looks of it

I like it @Pedro especially the two big boxes under the cargo net but if two panniers were enough for me I would be ok with the Givi hunks of metal I have. Unfortunately I have to carry a hell of a lot of food and some kitchen equipment with me because I'm a coeliac and getting gluten free foods not a given which is really really annoying, before that happened I always travelled light and ate wherever. A bit off topic but about the camping thing. I know you're not keen on camping (totally understandable) but I don't think you should write the idea off completely. I certainly wasn't at all keen. I'd been camping once as a child (Bala in the pouring rain), didn't like it and never went again preferring a good quality hotel. I assumed people who camped were poor or mad but then I got a motorbike and met a bunch of very strong very adventurous women who had travelled significant chunks of the globe (some RTW) on motorbikes. They explained about how to travel without a set destination or time restrictions. Their adventures were far more exciting than anyone elses I've ever heard but to do what they do meant embracing camping because you don't know how far you'll want to go in a day (or even necessarily where) or if accommodation will be available for you when you get to wherever it is. They pointed me in the direction of the right kit and I was surprised how comfortable and convenient camping was... as long as its not raining! It's a different way of travelling and thats what the runs up and down the UK have been about testing out. I love it. I reckon you would to. You let go of everything and just go where your whims and the weather takes you. The feeling of freedom and letting go is incomparable. Unfortunately they also explained the part about the less you spend the further you go so camping also has a part to play there (unless you're fortunate enough to be a trust fund baby ). I definitely do not like camping in the rain its just not fun and thats what I figured out on the last run, if its raining persevering is daft just try and find a hotel and dry out but if I cant and have to spend a night in a tent in the rain that is a price worth paying. I tried out your method of going onto booking.com and finding somewhere the night before or in the morning and it works really very well until you get into popular areas or theres an event on. I nearly had nowhere to sleep twice and ended up riding much further than I wanted to to find a bed. That sort of travelling is certainly not everyones cup of tea but being able to mix it up brings a lot more freedom and freedom is manna from heaven

I dunno I find all this deciding who can win before a race a bit crap. Happens in a lot of sports and theses are highly competitive people at the top of their game being told they must let someone else win even if they are better. They ruined some cyclists by keeping them down.

Were you a tubby ginger at that?

Ooh a nerve. Six WAS a ginger kid

Nope put your glasses on

Is this projection, were you a ginger kid?