Italia

So last week a short visit to Italy to catch up with friends and relations and to escape the colder weather for a few days. Some motorcycle activity as I helped my cousin set up his 3 1/2 Morini, really tidy 40 year old model and nice to ride, I've always admired them and after working on and riding one i'd be tempted at the right price, looks like UK prices are about twice Italian prices in their domestic market. Great time had, weather was mixed but in general very warm during the day, nice wine, nice views and nice people, whats not to like, now back in the land of single digit temperatures and will just need to toughen up, managed to break a rib while I was away, painful and very debilitating, still it was my own fault so just need to get on with life whilst moaning ouch ouch ouch all the time.

Bruno fiddling

Family photo

Sounding better now

Our hire car, ideal for the roads

Fi enjoying the warmth

Main square in Rocchetta

Looking out over the med heading to Finale Liguria

Lunch stop, stormy on Thursday

View of the church through the trees in Calice

Dolceaqua

Perinaldo, worth a visit

Med in the background

On a wall in Perinaldo

Main church in Perinaldo

Stunning views

Not sure who was guilty of the shite parking, my money is on the German registered car

Seen a few of these, assume they are Chinese

Path to the castle in Dolceaqua

The bridge

Castle in B/W

And in colour

water in the river after Thursdays rain

Naked bint with a goat.....no idea

another castle shot (no excuses, I like it)

The old home town (looks the same) 

Chillin in the sun

Isolabona

Isolabona

Looking down on  Dolceaqua from the Valle Rosa road (not for the faint hearted)

Castle from way on high

Menton, Sunday, 28 Degrees

Warm enough to swim

and it would appear get your kit off

Maltese falcon, now a charter boat, wonder what country or people these people robbed to be able to charter this bad boy

Perth Distinguished Gentlemans Ride

The DGR as its known has become a bit of a sensation, masses amounts of money gets raised each year for Mens Prostrate Cancer research and Mental Health, originating in Australia a few years ago its now a worldwide phenomenon, having never considered myself a Gentleman and by no means Distinguished I'd never given it a thought. Our friend Geoff Mumford was this years organiser and had been hassling us to take part, Fiona said she'd take part and then entered me as well using the excuse Geoff wanted a Norton along so that was it! It turned out to be a great day, met lots of old friends and met some new interesting people, maybe it should be re named the Interesting Peoples ride? Nice bikes, nice people, helping worthwhile charities and a gentle meander in the country, whats not to like, photos as always tell the tale, oh and our little group raised over £3000, thanks to all our sponsors.

Bikes looking good for the ride

Mooner looking dapper

Snibs looking like he's ate all the pies, he had his bike gear below the suit!

Nice Kawa

Very unusual

Geoff's weapon of choice, Heather was riding pillion! 

US import?

Gentlemen and Gentlewomen having a natter 

Robin Lamb's home brewed cafe racer, very nice

Robin on the right having a natter with a gentleman who's name i didn't catch

Geoff finishing his speech

Full marks to the guy who rode this!

Very nice Honda

Fiona scared a few by adding facial hair on the journey !

And finally, I take loads of photos but for the first time in a while somebody got their own back and posted this photo on social media, the Black and White over exaggerates my wrinkles and imho makes me look much older than 21, good picture though

Canada - USA Tour 2018 -part 5

We left Sulphur Hot Springs and headed to Sorrento, a place we'd visited before to the amazing Dreamcycle motorcycle museum, Website here owned and run by Mark Lane its a treasure trove of interesting and rare bikes, some very cool memorabilia for sale as well, I was very tempted by a Norton Globe light but shipping and taxes made it a bit steep for a miserable Scotsman and there was no room to strap it on the bike. Often when I visit bike collections they remain the same year after year but Mark through necessity moves bikes on from time to time and replaces them with different things keeping things interesting, the associated cafe is well worth a stop also. Just outside the Museum we were passed at a fair rate of knots by a V7 Guzzi (a modern one) only the 3rd Guzzi we'd seen in over 4000 miles.

The place to visit

Guzzi at the head of the Menu

Nice tea

Very Unusual 

Bert needs one of these

Fore and aft Douglas

Always wanted one of these

Hill Climb Harley anyone?

TZ 500 motor

CBX Motor in see through mode

A special year for me, a first finish on the IOM with a 13th in the Senior

And in that very race! 

Lovely

Rarer than Hobby Horse Shit  

We dragged ourselves away from the Museum and made our way to Kamloops to meet up with Neil, Liz Adams's son who has moved over the pond to make a new life for himself in the land of opportunity. A nice chat and tea in the garden, frightfully British then a trip to the whisky shop and down to Lac Le Jeune to spend three nights relaxing, I was reaching the mileage limit on the bike so had to stop riding the thing , it was good to chill out and have a couple of days not in the saddle, two days is my limit though! David and Anne rejoined us and we spent the two days doing not very much, some canoeing and walking for us and just taking in the nature.

The owner has a good sense of humour

Funny

Sunset

Our Digs

The Lake

Pretty

Wildlife

Funny

Messing around on canoes

No Bears to be seen

Fishing?

A fed Bear is a Dead Bear, remember that!

After our rest we headed for our penultimate night to Harrison Hot Springs, a resort town with would you believe Hot Springs and very pleasant they were! The final day riding into Vancouver was a bit sad, our adventure was over, a heavy downpour made it that bit more difficult but we returned the bikes without incident, loaded our bike gear into suitcases and we were civilians again.

The flight home was terrible, I will never fly Air Transat again, 3rd rate airline and cabin crew who obviously don't like their job very much. Touch down in Glasgow and its home again, ready to plan the next trip.........