Gerontious

Dolomites via the Black Forest and Austria. Put the reconnoitring I did last September to good use. You will need to set aside 14/15 days annual leave.

Add to that, this country had the highest and second highest infection rates in the world this past week on consecutive days. Already Bulgaria has slammed the door shut. France might retaliate with a tit for tat. It’s all looking very dodgy at the moment. I wouldn’t like to go away and then the worst happens we are forced to return early to beat some arbitrary deadline to escape enforced quarantine. Then, finally there is these floods. Daniel sent me a video showing the road outside the front of the hotel looking like a river. The downstairs where the bar toilets and bowling alley are was under water. She told me they have closed the bridge so they cannot check on the guesthouse. People who live along from the guesthouse have been evacuated. By boat. And on it goes…..

Either that or the bike has been to KPH land.. maybe Ireland (from the north) and the marks put in place as a guide for when crossing the border.

Two photos of the village

Yes it has been. Everyone is ok but there has been a lot of damage. I don’t want to press them too hard but the videos she has sent me are awful. the village has been hit hard. The main road, the L4 impassible. videos of the stream, the Enz that lies between the hotel and guesthouse are terrifying.

The sticker normally makes it easier to read the approximate speed. so 20mph will be over the 30kph mark. 30mph over the 50kph. 40mph over the 65kph. and so on.

Love the small point that in a history of the evolution of spoked wheels. The only photo is of a Kineo wheel. A spoked wheel that is both unorthodox and unique. And that, fairly important point is never mentioned. Fitted to the MV mentioned in the article and from which bike the photo is taken. Whereas standard spoked wheels are relatively cheap to produce, the Kineo is not. Mostly because unlike all other spoked wheels it has a solid rim. And is made specifically for tubeless tyres.

Personally.. I wouldn't consider the order laid out. Grom first then a bigger bike. I would do it the other way round.

Bit on the tall side too, considering the sorts of people who go for this particular model in its home market.. could be a subtle ploy on Ducatis side to shake off its image in Italy. Which is something they do not want to talk about. (obviously)

If you mean the plastic cases, they’re fine. However you get more choices if you opt for a third party manufacturer like Givi. For example. That being said there are a few things to consider. The Honda luggage has been designed specifically for your bike, and may 'suit' it better. But, you are stuck with a single size and style. "suitcase" like. Is that what you want or would you prefer more space, or corned beef can style. (top opening). Honda luggage also uses the same key as your ignition. so thats one less key to worry about. As and when you decide to move on to another bike, the chances are that third party cases can just be used again on the new bike. Obviously the Honda cases cannot. .

Low level aquariums present their own problems, especially when it comes to filtration. you will more than likely have to use internals. Are you considering the tank to be 'wall to wall' - fill the space. And be lidded?

Eheim. for equipment. 300L will need a big filter. Shame you are a bit distant and want to build your own stand. Look at what I have standing empty, just not got round to putting it up for sale yet. A 300L Eheim Incpiria The same as the main subject of this video.

Strange Topic, sometimes I do wonder about this forum.

A what?

what it looks like at the moment.. There is an online form to be filled in to satisfy german requirements. we will need a test before the off and that will get us through french border controls and to the hotel in neuerburg. while at the hotel we will be tested once and wont have to pay for that. we are returning on the saturday so will need a test done on the thursday, in germany. and that together with an online form will get us back to the UK. once home, 2 days later, so on the monday. another, final test. I think thats about it. anything missed is minor 'box ticking' by comparison. We are fine stopping for lunch in Belgium, if we happen to be challenged by the Police, they will just want to see our test result, english language is accepted. Nothing else as we are transiting. I will ask Daniela about the test we need to return with.. that will, i think be done at the chemist in the village and I believe its free. (I seem to remember reading that somewhere) ball park figures for the tests this side is £99 each... and thats from Boots. Hopefully there will be none of this next year when we go to Italy.

Let this be a lesson. A private education might get you a good job, well paid, or into politics - even prime minister. But it doesn’t impart much in the way of good sense. He has always been dizzy, it’s one of his many charms.

It is too much, did that kind of distance once, when we went to the Black Forest. and then we used French Toll motorways which are practically deserted compared to here. never again.

When we go to Germany, to the Eifel. The entire ride is (for me) 475 miles. door to door. and as this is the start of a 5 day riding holiday it needs careful planning. There is no point starting and arriving at the Hotel so tired you cant face riding the next day. Or begin the first proper day still tired. Tiredness must be avoided at all costs!! I manage this to be as stress free and relaxed as possible. the ride is split over two days and over a weekend so the roads tend to be a little quieter with no commuter traffic. Saturday starts just after mid-day. leaving my home about 12:30 for a 200 mile ride down to Ashford in Kent. I usually split this into 3 legs.. first stop a relatively short 15minute. second stop 30/45 minutes... a little bit of walking (to the loo) a coffee, bite to eat and a natter. 3rd stop.. is again just a 15 minute... usually arriving around 6-7pm This first ride can be a bit quicker as the first overnight stop is at a premier inn and usually also involves a meal at the beefeater (table booked for 8pm) and a couple of pints. Head for bed about 11. Next morning up at around 6... shower, get bikes loaded up and then off to breakfast. For our 250+ mile ride across, France, Belgium and Luxembourg... the longest stretch of continuous riding is 65 miles. and that leg ends with a 1 hour lunch break. All other parts of the ride are 40 miles long, with quick stops.. usually 15 minutes each time. not including topping up fuel tanks. Some times these are at services. sometimes just a random layby. or somewhere that offers a nice view, or a handy bush to dash behind for a pee. always carry drinks.. at least water, but something isotonic is much better. dress to be warm and dry.. but if its warmer.. then remove layers. (this is important) first hint of rain.. add waterproofs. (this is VERY important.) have spare gloves. just in case. you dont want hot sweaty hands.. or cold hands. I generally aim to arrive at the hotel about 6pm.. and then allow an hour or so to unload bikes. have a shower, change and then go for an evening meal. While we are there. at our destination. the daily plan is up at 7:30. shower, then off to the restaurant for breakfast and dawdle over that for up to an hour. then back to rooms, into bike gear and be setting off between 9 and 9:30. by which time (as its a normal working week) we will have missed all the morning traffic. As for the bike seats. I find it very telling that none of the aftermarket seat makers.. the quality ones that 'cost' - none of them use gel. or memory foam. what they do use is a much higher quality foam than the OEM use. add to that a little tweak in design and then a quality cover and boom. done. For many years i used a sheepskin as a cover for distant riding. But.. no longer, as I now have a "Sargent" seat on the current bike and that needs nothing extra.. obviously the seat doesnt have any gel in it at all. The sheepskin i used was one of these.. black. long haired. machine washable at the end of the tour. getting rained on has no bad effect, no does it flatten. its a cheap answer to a painful question. i sewed elastic straps to it so it was held in place on the bike. https://www.lambland.co.uk/product/genuine-half-sheepskin-seat-pad/

You mean progress. I remember seeing exactly the same kind of comments in MCN when Triumph reappeared out of Hinckley. or when BMW shifted over from Carbs to FI in 1993. The sportster was always aimed at first time buyers, that was its sole reason for existing, which was why in its primary market the deal was you buy a sportster and when it came time to move up to a 'proper' Harley the dealer would offer you exactly what you paid originally for the bike as part of the trade-in deal.

Good news today... it looks very much like our trip to the Eifel is back on track. There are a few hoops to jump through and these will become clear in the coming days. I'm going to leave it for a week or so for the dust to settle and hopefully everything made clear. Find out exactly what we need to do so far as leaving and returning to the UK is concerned.. as well as entry and staying in Germany. I had a quick look at the German side and there is a fairly simple English language questionnaire that needs to be filled in. I shall also speak to the hotel at some point and find out what they have to say. Obviously, there has to be one major caveat. While we are there I shall be checking the BBC every night and if there is any change of status, And we need to quarantine on return then we will leave the schloss to beat any deadline. I absolutely cannot afford to quarantine. And, I guess neither can any of you. Anyway.. if anyone hasn't booked crossings or Eureka, I would suggest leaving that for a little while, say until towards the end of this month. Unless you are feeling keen and want some sort of guarantee of a room, for instance. I have a double room booked at the Travelodge and am willing to share, just bring a sleeping bag!! I should also add that currently we are not allowed to visit Luxembourg, though riding through is fine. There are no border checks. So, there will not be a 'day in Luxembourg' this time round.

Which amused me no end...

These exciting things never happen to me... (sigh)

Nice. So welcoming.

Before you push that buy now button. See if Motobatt produce a battery for your bike. A tried and trusted brand.