Specs

I seem to have lost most of mine. Couldn't even find a black one the other week.

No sympathy for these idiots whatsoever. They should try a course of anthrax jabs if they're worried about reactions.

Same here but I think that the yank was a Canuk.

My neighbour's father always wears a tie. Working on the car, gardening or painting, always has a tie. He's not a lot older than me!

It’s the same story repeated time after time. They think that they’ll be ok for a short while. The third guy was probably not thinking straight due to shock. First mistake was with the first guy who should have tested the atmosphere. We always tested before going into chain lockers and any space where there might be rust, such as ballast tanks. Had to ventilate for twenty four hours before entry if I remember correctly. protective gear used if there was chance of getting contaminated, oils or sulphur for example. Breathing apparatus or dust masks as required.

I always remember this case from when I did my last Confined Space Course. It's from 2007. "In its report on the Viking Islay incident, which took place on the Amethyst gas field, 25 miles off the East Yorkshire coast, MIAB noted that the ERRV was conducting rig support operations when two seamen went forward with the intention of securing a rattling anchor chain within the chain locker. One of the seamen entered the chain locker and collapsed. It is probable that the other seaman, realising that help was urgently required, raised the alarm with the duty watchkeeping rating on the bridge before he, too, entered the chain locker in an attempt to help his companion. He also collapsed. During subsequent rescue efforts, the first rescuer found he was unable to enter the chain locker wearing breathing apparatus, and he therefore donned an EEBD. He entered the space, but at some point the hood was removed, or became dislodged, and this rating also collapsed. All three seamen died as a result of an oxygen deficient atmosphere within the chain locker." There were plenty of other similar examples. All very sad and unnecessary.

Same happened to me at Gib. Wasn’t happy.

Last time I was over it was €10 for a pint and a half - for the herself at the time. Must be at least ten years ago.

I wouldn't want to walk some of those trails let alone try to ride them! Looked like a good ride.

I did a pub relief manager job in Bristol in a previous life. Can't remember where exactly, maybe southwest. Anyway it was a bit of an eye opener. Family had conjunctivitis and had to be off the premises. Apparently the relief guy before me had a one armed bandit nicked, and an old clock off the wall. An old guy from across the road was telling me his hard luck story about his wife having died, trying for a free sympathy pint. He didn't know me very well Later on one of the barmaids told me that they used to see him out of the bedroom window beating the shit out of her. Yes. Bristol. There last time I went there was a couple of years ago and stayed in a flat over my mate's son in law's shop. Pretty central as we walked everywhere. A great real ale pub across the road run by biker, and some idiot upset the HA there and took a pretty spectacular kicking. To be fair, he was a bit of an idiot. Of course the place emptied, the CCTV tapes disappeared before the cops turned up. Yes, Bristol. I quite liked it!

My shit is well and truly gripped by this bloody heat! Hate it. It's nearly 30C here. I'm not genetically engineered for these sort of temperatures.

I’ve got Mono Enduro or was it EnduroMondo somewhere. Great stuff!

Great book. There's another of hers about her trip in Iran which I haven't read yet. Lone Rider by Elspeth Beard was very good.

I didn't see him or Louis and their names weren't among the presenters. @Sir Fallsalot is a great fan of his.

He's writing the memoirs of his early life. Jupita

Seen a few. We used to do some spying observing now and again.

Interesting. I can remember visiting Lisbon a few times on ships in 80 - 81 and can remember hearing Russian on the radio. Vividly remember wondering why Portuguese should sound like Russian. Weird how your RR triggered that memory.

How much are the Irish charging for camping and B & B these days? I could be interested in a trip down memory lane. More to the point how much is a pint of Guinness now?

Great stuff, keep it coming.

I also have one that lives in the top box.

Certainly is. Made the effort to thank her for her presentation, as I did with every speaker

Yes, it was there. I might have been pissed when I thought I’d taken a photo Really annoyed with myself that I missed it. It runs, and appears to have some replacement parts including wheels and tank. The old tank was there, quite heavily corroded, and also what I assume was her lid. She’s an amazing character. Like you say, Sam was usually surrounded!

Bought a ticket for this event that I'd always fancied attending months ago so the day arrived. I was meeting my mate Titus who was coming up to Oxford from Reading while I took the A40 route rather than the M4. Most of the photos are Titus's as I ended up taking loads of them for him when he was posing around the place. I stopped here for a brew somewhere near Burford I think as I was way too early as usual, as is my want. I then went to a McDonalds on the ring road to meet up as we were far too early for the 1700 opening of the event. I was only about 45 minutes too early at this time. Having checked in at the gate we got the tents up the same as everybody else. Then after some wine it was up for an explore around the site. There was a recorded video from Ted Simon who couldn't attend as the Covid travel regulations were all a bit too much for a ninety year old. His bike however was there. After a few more beers talking with some guy from Northern Ireland it all got a bit vague and it was time for bed. Woke up to accordion music. This guy had been busking at some time, and thought it a great idea to stimulate hangovers at some ungodly hour. Fred might remember Titus's morning garb from the Moon Rallies. Quite chuffed with this somewhat surreal photo. There were several speakers. We attended I think four, it might have been more but it interfered with the drinking, besides many of the people we met had interesting travel tales to share. Besides, a good excuse to go again. I think the first talker we listened to was Elspeth Beard. This is her bike that she rode around the world, and had ridden to the event. Until recently the first recognised woman to do the RTW. Also listened to Mary Sievier. I seem to have unfortunately lost the photos I took so the link says it all. She was absolutely brilliant. I hope she gets a book written. There was also Mark Holmes who shared an extremely personal tale of his circumnavigation on a Triumph Rocket! I'm reading his book at the moment. He also did a talk on some research that he's doing on how many people have circumnavigated the world on a motorcycle. At present 303 I think. The last talk I think, as I probably have these all mixed up, was by Ian Coates from Hebden Bridge who roamed the world for I think fourteen years.. He must be one of the most. entertaining speakers that I've ever had the pleasure of hearing, and I was in stitches most of the time. Brilliant. I got photobombed while photobombing! I forgot that this was hanging off the pannier frame in line with the exhaust. Oops! A few more random photos.

Brilliant fascinating read. Really enjoyed that, and yes it is a Nuthatch. Thanks.