Gerontious

Cover blew off the bike which is bad.., in fact I’m traumatised. The bike got rained on and continues to get rained on. I daren’t go out as it might ruin my toop. (And that would never do) if the rain stops I might give it a wash (the bike - not my toop) as it’s had a thorough pre-rinse. Silver linings and that.

I’ve had the flu jab every year since about 2005. Because each one is slightly different - the side effects are also slightly different. The one consistent being that the site of the jab is quite tender next day. Like I’ve been punched in the arm. But my arm looks completely normal and everything works. It just feels tender. Other side effects. Every now and then I might feel a bit off-colour the next day. Like that feeling you get when you’re about to get ill with something, but before the proper symptoms begin. It’s no big deal and goes away over the second night after the jab. Neither of these come even close to putting me off having the jab. And it clearly works as I’ve not had the flu for absolutely donkeys years. Probably last time was in the 90s. i also have the Covid jab twice a year. Mostly because of work. But also because my consultant tells me it’s a really good idea - for me. Pneumonia every 5 years I think. Shingles is another one, because I’ve had chickenpox as a child and nobody wants shingles!! I don’t bother questioning these things. If either my consultant or my GP suggests or recommends anything. I’m there.

Prepped the bike for, what is likely to be my last long day out of the year. Cleaned and oiled the chain and checked the tyre pressures. I’ll sort out a route later tonight.

850cc

back in the day Morbidelli produced a lovely looking V8 engine. However one of the models they put this engine into was, shall we say a little odd looking. (being generous) Ive actually seen one of those on the road.. up near Bolton Abbey. Though the more standard looking bike was a little more 'traditional'.

Thermals also work really well in the summer heat. which on the face of it makes no sense. Though its best if they're white (to reflect the sun) they work so well because they are non-absorbent, so sweat evaporates very quickly which is cooling. I always wear them on tour regardless of how hot it is as they are so much more comfortable than plain cotton, which rapidly becomes sodden with sweat. you see very similar gear being sold in bike clothing shops and at a very high price (normally) - often described as 'technical base layers'. don't be fooled, this is to all intents and purposes exactly the same thing, though it's often thinner and a bit sexier looking.

I only suggested the Umbrail as it’s a fairly pleasant ride to the start of it at Santa Maria and it’s very nice anyway, quiet by comparison. It also joins the stelvio very close to the summit and then if the original intention was to ride up and then back down the north side. You can then ride back down the north side and take in the quite stunning views. I think riding down that road is a far better experience than riding up it. It’s also much easier to safely pass ‘slow’ tourist drivers. But the Stelvio is a road I make a point of avoiding now as it’s such a massive tourist trap. Which can be completely ruined if you catch up with a line of cars stuck behind a coach going up.

So basically the Vosges. Switzerland and the western Tyrol. (North and South) you missed out the Umbrail - which, in my opinion is by far the best route to the summit of the stelvio. You also missed out Gavia - which is great fun. But needs to be treated with a great degree of respect as it’s quite dangerous in places, south of the summit. the odd one out in that list is the Otztal. Which is a valley and not a pass. (Tal = Valley) The pass at its south end being the Timmelsjoch. If you’re the type for ticking off achievements - then turn up the Glacier road. (maybe that what you mean by Otztal? ~ The Glacier road) And record your altitude as you emerge from the tunnel as at ‘that point’ you’re at the highest achievable elevation (on tarmac) in Western Europe (aside from Spain) but it’s a bit of an anticlimax aside from that. As the road goes downhill again to the restaurant and ski lift. And there’s nothing much there to mark the altitude. i really like the Otz valley, one of the more picturesque valleys at that end of the Tyrol. And not much traffic either unless you’re there during the holiday season or the weekend. (Shudder)

Somewhere in June for a fortnight around the time of the solstice. Maybe south of France though nothing is certain until much nearer the time. I shall be camping so will be chasing the sun. Seems a million years away in mid November - but it isn’t really. Then back to the Eifel in September for a week at the Schloss in Neuerburg. And see what surprises lie in store this time!! Then after that it’ll be major service time - and this is the big one. Which is subtle code for expensive. 32,000 so Valves and spark plugs and anything else that’s due. (Sigh)

My engine temp indicator is 3 bars. I wait until 1 bar is showing then will ride down the hill. It’s always at 2 bars by the turn into the next road and take it gently as there’s a series of fairly brutal speed humps. Just a smidge over tickover. By the time I’m over the final on I’m in 3 bars then it’s uphill to the main road. It’s no big deal being a bit patient and following the advice of the owners manual. I’m never in that much of a rush. It’s a 20 to the top of the hill so it hardly matters anyway.

My bike came with tubed tyres. I knew that from the off and they had to go. I swapped over to tubeless wheels very quickly. i just couldn’t be doing with the faff of a punctured tube.

The suffering is real and too early. Far too early.

me too. But they’re always ruined by this unfortunate recent fashion of marinading them in a lemon sauce. It should be lime!!

I wouldn’t. At least not without ascertaining when in the year this proposed tour is due to take place. Ignoring the possibility of closures due to snow - there are also times it’s best avoided due to crowds. And the gaggles of cyclists that seem bent on torturing themselves as well as anyone who happens to get stuck behind them. also… isn’t it a little like suggesting someone climb Everest when all they’ve ever done is stroll up Snowdon. Not everyone can deal with high passes - I know several people who definitely cannot. im never quick to suggest high alpine passes for a first trip. Not when there are so many fantastic routes that are much easier and don’t involve such a huge dog leg if the aim is to get down to Spain. in fact I would suggest the Pyrenees rather than the French Alps I’ve got a really nice 10 day route that takes in all of the sights between the Atlantic and Med coasts and on both sides of the border. Sometimes it’s just lovely winding your way through the mountains instead of going over the top of them.

If you believe in fate. Or whatever you want to call it. I would still have this bike and then, perhaps the fella who bought it from me might still be alive and have children, perhaps grandchildren by now. Who knows. But he bought it and a few weeks later. Wrong place. Wrong time. Killed instantly. No fault of his or the bikes. The drunk driver was killed too - no seat belt. It was a lovely bike. And I do genuinely regret selling it, because it was quite special. But those new Hinkley Triumphs looked so good and were a huge leap forwards in 1994. i don’t have a photo of it on my phone. But it looked exactly like this. The last Meriden Bonnie before the factory closed down. Mine was a 1984. This is an 83. And is exactly as I remember it. i remember the day i bought it so clearly. I really did think it was the bees knees.

1. Only use motorways if you absolutely must. 2. Stay at Municipal campsites. 3. Have a euro friendly credit card for 24/24 petrol stations. Do not use debit cards. 4. Skirt around Paris and avoid larger Cities. 5. Take your time. It’s Holiday, not an endurance test. and because I’m cheeky. 6. have the middle Sunday as a rest day. And take advantage of the campsite laundry. That way you only need take clothes for 1 week. Which will cut down on your luggage significantly.

Meanwhile…. Today I was doing it in style!!

Looks to me like a kids program aimed at a hearing impaired children’s audience with that woman doing sign language and caught in a pause between her dialogue. The pose is quite typical as they often look at the screen they stand beside before turning to the audience and resuming. by looking at the screen she is signalling to her audience to watch the action rather than her. but the point of this image escapes me completely. As these sorts of programs are quite normal nowadays. Especially in the mornings. It’s good that they are doing this for kids. if it’s a joke it’s a very poor one. In my view bad jokes work because they are so bad they are funny. This is borderline discriminatory. The implication possibly being that somehow watching programs aimed at this type of audience is somehow bad? Maybe? I was brought up watching “vision on” It did me no harm - in fact I have fond memories of it.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1WbwPJR17H/?mibextid=UalRPS

it’s been quite a bewildering experience, to put it mildly.

Thats what I thought. It’s just mad.

I’m listening to EVERYTHING!! Been doing a lot of selling on eBay now they have done away with sellers fees. And in a moment of madness bought a new (2nd hand) Amplifier - mint condition. Just under half price. The eBay ad mentioned including some cables and when the whole lot arrived it turned out to be one of the most shocking experiences of my life. The amplifier was wondrous as expected, I did a lot of research after I discovered this was one of a few - that the makers of my speakers use to showcase their products at shows and exhibitions. It’s impressive. Even more impressive. The fact I could afford it without the trauma of credit. But. The cables? Not a brand I was familiar with. Unsurprisingly. So I googled them and nearly fainted. They are the same cables as used at Abbey Road Studios. Very swish. The phono interconnects cost £550 and the Speaker cables £150 per meter. And there’s 10 meters in total! Obviously they’re second hand. But even so. It’s a good job I was sitting down. The speaker cables I already had cost about £30 and my phono was a good brand, but only cost me £1 when I found them in a box of cables in a charity shop many years ago. the amp is a thing of beauty - mind. I’m very pleased. When the seller rang to check everything was ok, I asked him why he had sold it. His answer was, baby is nearly a toddler so I’m going wireless. And can lock the streamer away. He told me the brand. But the name meant nothing. i asked him about the speakers and they were a German brand I recognised: Kii, he sent me a photos. And I looked them up. The speakers without stands are £16,000 and having them in white costs £1,400. Stands are £1,500 and the remote controller another £1,500. he lives in a different world to me. they’re not even particularly pretty. Too modern looking for my taste. he’s now baby-proofed them What a week!

The propaganda worked!! contempt for the conmen - compassion for the conned. Germany had absolutely no effect on our governments decision making. None. Our rules are quite different to those in Germany. We are unique in Europe. And messed up badly. It was a very clever move to shift the blame. Shifting the blame to those damn foreigners is something we are exceptionally good at.