Vintage bikes and Vintage people

 The last couple of weekend have been spent in the main spectating at two different VMCC runs in Perthshire and I have to say I was impressed with how the guys and girls manage to get the older bikes round the 60 - 80 mile course. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves, I did consider entering the Blair run but I was too late and I'm glad to say they were oversubscribed. There are glimmers of hope as I noticed not just grizzly old boys with beards but a fair turnout of ladies and younger people too.

Speaking to some of the participants after there were some issues with the Lycra mob not paying attention and quite frankly being very selfish, why are they protected by various statues of law whist the poor motorcyclists are harassed and treated badly, discuss!

Great weather though, very warm and despite the storm warning yesterday it wasn't that bad in Perthshire, keep on keeping on, I'm not commenting on all the photos, there's too many...

Blairgowrie weekend

The S&T run

Well that was it then

 Trip over, 4000 miles almost exactly or 6500 Km's if you drive on the wrong side of the road, a very interesting trip taking in 10 Countries, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The great thing about travelling by motorcycle you can feel the nature (Rain & Sun) you get a feel for a country, how well they are doing, how people react to you and the roads.

Surprises? none really, we always knew that the Scandi countries would be expensive. What we didn't know before we went in no particular order: The number of traffic lights in Helsinki, considering half the population of Finland stays here how they all get to work on time confuses me. The Super efficient and very nice Ferries from Helsinki to Tallinn, DFDS take note. We stayed in the capitals of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, all very nice but all have a ongoing narrative about the Russian occupation and now we really understand why. Poland, the roadworks seem to be all encompassing, roadworks everywhere but give it a couple of years it will be brilliant, not just the motorways ( we only touched them and stayed mainly on the small roads)

Germany and Holland, suicidal drivers who don't realise the carnage they could and do frequently cause, euthanasia taking place on the roads daily. In general allowing HGV's do 75 or 80 MPH on most roads seems crazy.

And finally my opinion on the great EU project, apart from the Scandis all borders were actively manned and checked, we were waved through on our bikes but free movement in the EU is no more and I think that in itself will cause conflict between EU countries sooner rather than later.

A great adventure and a general indicator of the politics of the world, I was glad to be back in the UK but only because believe it or not in general our drivers are more courteous (and the beer and petrol is cheaper).

Oh and we should charge more for hotels, for camper vans and caravans for all visitors to Scotland from Europe, and one last thing, if you see someone with a Non UK plate obviously lost in a town or approaching a motorway junction, give them a good blast on the horn to let them know you care.

Keeping on keeping on but maybe not this week 😂

Reflecting on life

Reflecting on the lake

Reflecting on the Rain

Reflecting on the wine

The Baltic states and Poland

This is a quick update as we are a bit weary after riding every day in all weather. Hot, Sunny, cold and wet. You never know what the day will bring. We left Estonia and rode to Latvia staying in the capital Riga in a hotel, my Impression was the people were  not open and friendly. The Hotel was  overrun by coaches of Chinese tourists, very strange. 

We then rode through Lithuania en route we met a  nice local couple and we spent a while talking to then but we had to get  to Kaunas the capital, another capital and prices to suit. We met 3 guys from Inverness in the morning on 2 GS's and a triumph Scambler, good to talk Scottish pish with them.

Onto Poland and spent a night camping around the Wolf's Lair, the place where they tried to blow up Hitler, they could of left him outside for the mozzies to do the job.

Then via the small roads to just outside Gdansk including passing by the Russian enclave of Kalingrad , I was careful not to take a wrong turn, 
we camped again and got soaked and gave the mozzies another chance! A couple of days on the back roads through Poland, roadworks everywhere and miles of off road diversions, it was fun at first but after waiting for hours at traffic lights to get through it ceased to be fun. Into Germany now and we are staying on the small roads so far. 

waterproofs stop again

Rooftop Dining in Rija

The Hill of Swords in Lithuania 

our new Lithuanian friends

Kaunas 

camping at the Wolf's  Lair

one of the Bunkers

me Having a pee on Hitlers Bunker 

Raining 

Great for the mozzies  again

Leaving our hotel this morning 

And waterproofs again