Trooper74

My son John went missing.

The whole estate was out looking for him ...

We called the police .... 

After 3 hours he was found .... asleep under his bed.

We hugged him and after a few tears we all went to bed... In all the fuss and upset, for the first time ever, i did not put the locks on my Yamaha 350 YPVS.

In the morning it was gone !!

I’ve never forgiven him !!!! 

My new one ... Picked up from the Ribble showroom in Clitheroe yesterday afternoon;

Keep away from cars.

Keep away from Buses.

Keep away from lorries.

Keep as much space between yourself and other road users.

13 minutes ago, bonio said:

... as for crossing to the Republic, the requirement is waived only if you've spent the previous 14 days in the North.

Nonsense ... theres no hard border ... just drive across it like i did 4 weeks ago ... and back again the next day ... unless you wear your yellow star who would know ...

On 13/08/2021 at 19:05, Gerontious said:

 

Can't stand the risks involved with crossing to France, nor do I much fancy the idea of a 400+ mile ride across to the Black Forest and likely dodgy weather once we get there. Eifel is still a long way from recovered from the disastrous floods. There wasn't much enthusiasm for going to Scotland. So, I suggested we try Ireland for a change and the reaction was wholly positive, far more enthusiastic than I thought possible. There is a route called the Wild Atlantic Way and we will be following that from its start at Kinsale in Co. Cork as far as the Connemara national park in Galway. before heading to Dublin for the return ferry to Holyhead. The guys are all psyched up for this - despite the usual risk of rain. (Ireland). With any luck we will be able to spend a few days in Kerry as that's by far the nicest region.. before following the 'Way' north, through Clare and into Galway.

 

Biggest plus, under the current conditions. No need for any testing - either before or after. Just have proof that you are fully vaccinated. Don't even need to take a passport.

.

Also bear in mind that if you travel to Belfast or Larne from Scotland by ferry there is no jab requirement to enter Northern Ireland or to cross into Ireland .. for those unjabbed for whatever reason.

Child free this weekend, combination of sleepovers, hols with family and the Swiss cheese model has lined up !!

Started the weekend by call ing work and telling them i would be late in ... Monday!

At 0700hrs this morning i set off from Braithwaite to cycle to Selby, 31 miles of joy.

Front garden in Sykhouses ... really...

Snaith Bridge ... with Drax in the background ... green power in action .. NOT !

Give it 10 minutes and there will be bypass kits available on EBay .... 

There’s a fair bit of MZ in there i think ...??

Off to Belfast .....

Sunday morning 5am, bike packed up the night before set off along the M18 / A1 north bound. Warm, but cool air full of moisture and the smells of early morning sat around 65 mph ... no rush, 1530 ferry from Cairnryan, breakfast planned for the Rooster in Penrith. Filled up Scotch Corner then off along the A66 to Penrith. 

Got to Penrith a lot earlier than planned to find the cafe closed ....

Got to Carlisle a lot earlier than planned to top up fuel ....

Realised that even with my gentle progress i was going to arrive at Cairnryan just after 10.00hrs  !

THE 11.30HRS FERRY ...

Arrived at Cairnryan, went to check-in, explained i was early , the nice people at Stena sent me through onto the ferry ... result.

Off at Belfast. Ride 30 miles to sisters. Drink beer and eat food with her and her husband Steve. Bed for midnight.

2 meetings with railway companies on Monday morning then Janet and I went down the Ards peninsula to a small beach just south of Cloughy and spent the afternoon swimming. Home, beer, food, bed. Lovely day.

5am Monday.

Ride to the ferry port in Belfast ... empty roads and soft warmth.

8 other bikers on the return trip, including 2, 12 year old pillions, off with there dads touring around Scotland for a few days.

We pushed some tables together in the ships cafe and all had breakfast together chatting, sleeping and marvelling at people walking around the outer decks of a ship in the middle of the North Channel wearing masks ... must have been anti- mackerel masks we decided.

The ride home was hot, sweaty and uncomfortable .... 32 deg c air temp, engine temp steady between 39- 41 deg c, usually 24 - 26 deg. Glad to get home strip off kit and jump in shower ... 

611 miles of motorcycling pleasure .... made a change from getting rained on ...

Outstanding ..... 

When i first saw the post my reaction was “Really ! “ 

But it’s a human factors thing, most of us have minor issues when riding a bike after a period off it ... it takes a few miles to “ get back in the groove “ .

But at least most of have a groove to get back into ....

As a new rider that groove will be established and the anxiety will disappear.

I have to fully agree with the previous posting, “ I’ve loved every second being on the bike through my riding life.  “.

All 50 years of it ...

12 hours ago, dynax said:

Going to the Team Roberts Live Event on Saturday it runs from Friday to Sunday, but I am going for the ride out to the Peak District then staying for the live band

Is this at their place at Conisburgh ?

This weekend, on Sunday the 18th, I’m riding to Cairn Ryan from Rotherham and catching the ferry to Belfast. 260 miles. 30 miles to my sisters house at Strangford. Monday morning, 2 meetings with railway companies in Belfast and back on the 0330hrs ferry Tuesday morning for the journey home to Rotherham .. 600+ miles in sunshine on my Himalayan ....

I HOPE !

1 minute ago, jedibiker said:

We have found the 200 odd rides not too bad at all. Just know anything closer to 300+ will be really tough.. have fun on yours

I do monthly rides to Bristol, Salisbury, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh etc, for work, on my 27 BHP Himalayan

Those that go on about 400 - 500 mile rides ...... where are they getting the fuel from ... or they doing 3 - 4 150 mile rides, with fuel stops, leg stretches, toilet breaks, cafe visits  ... ? 

My experience is more towards the segment length rather than the total distance. 

In 2018 i cycled the LEJOG, 912 miles ( we got lost a lot) ... in 14 segments .. or night stops on campsites, near a pub, as we cyclists like to call them ...

Enjoy your adventure ...

I'm off to Belfast next Sunday from Rotherham ... nothing special, 260 miles ... I allow a 40mph average speed, mustn’t miss the ferry, and will stop at Scotch Corner for  a coffee and a pee and at Penrith for Full English Breakfast at the Rooster or the truck stop cafes.

I have a swimming float seat pad which is super comfortable and gives a decent seat rise ...

Aim to stop every 80 miles for a leg stretch, it’s not the “Iron Butt” event .... just enjoy the travel ..

Toilets .... 

As per the title ... trans .. fluid , binary .....

So we all pee and poop .... 

So why so many toilets ....

My girls say that when in clubs and pubs they don’t sit ... just hover .... and often miss the intended target ...
Personally I hate mixed sex toilets .. as opposed to unisex toilets .... 
When I was on deployment with the US Marine Corps some years ago the toilets where all sit down with no partitions !! Nothing ... you where sat having a poo with a girl sat next to you ... also having a poo ... Marines wipe back to front between the legs sitting .... Too Much Knowledge !!
 

So my Himma has the original c&s set fitted.

It’s done 8000 miles now mostly long distance day rides 2 - 400 miles ...

And the worrying thing is ....

Chain and sprocket wear is minimal ... worrying.

I’ve only had to adjust the chain once in those 8000 miles.

Checking the teeth on the rear sprocket shows minimal wear ..

I always spray a top quality chain lube on before every long ride.

I’ve been riding everything from MZ’s to ZZR 1100’s over the 45 years i’ve been riding and cannot remember a chain lasting so well.

Have things really got that better or am i sliding into paranoia ... ?

Green Flag every time ... easy, cheap and get to you quick. My motorcycle and campervan are with them. The Aygo and the Transit are covered by a business contract with the AA so I don’t have to pay for them ... which is nice ...

Many, many thanks... that was a surprise ....... all 4 children at school for 9 .... back to bed with Jules ... up showered and off for dinner in a bit ... disc lock and new tool box as pressies ... 

And the suns shining ....

Don’t suppose for a second that this is a BOT ...??

Just click on “View the full article” at the bottom and all is well ..

17 bhp ? Its the Himalayan engine with 60 cc removed ,,, why have they lost 7bhp ?

Put 400 miles on the Himalayan ...

Rotherham to Aylesbury ... then Aylesbury to Rotherham. Neither route direct but via Jacks Hill Cafe on the way down. 2 sausage, fried slice and beans, cup of tea (shark fin) ... sat in a cafe .... great !!!

Spent an hour at Chiltern Railways doing sander stuff ... so fuel and brekkie were on work and a grand day out .... 

I wear A2 flying jacket, T-shirt and jeans with bike boots in the summer ... You can spend thousands of pounds on motorbike clothing which frankly just keeps your remains in one place after the 27 Tonne HGV has driven over you .... 

11 minutes ago, Marino said:

 

Left the bike securely locked up with a neighbour watching the house on Friday. My wife and I took the 4 children camping to Haxey Quays campsite ... 17, 11, 9 and 3.

We had  great time, the middle  two playing out with hoards of other children until midnight Friday and Saturday nights .. The youngest girls teacher came wandering past on Saturday morning with his 12 year old twin boys and his 3 year old boy triplets ... !!

I cooked sausage sandwiches for all of us as his wife had a lay in ...lol 

Over 300 people on site and not a mask to be seen ....

But the serious thought Jules and I had on Sunday morning ... why was the campsite completely White ..... ??