Still here

Raining this morning but it cleared up for the practice. Another visit to the superb display of bikes in Tony East's collection at Kirkmichael then we watched practice. Really fast, not sure if the video will show it.

Some maintenance

Picture of me fixing the yellow norton this morning. Easy job, just a soldered wire. Another day of carnage on the roads, more deaths. Its not a surprise with some of the lunatics going about. Another great nighs practice although it was cut short due to mist on the mountain. Good photos will follow when i'm home.

Great day

So we made it to the isle of man and we have been basking in the sunshine all day. Practice was great to watch and even though its early in the week the island is busy. Jimmy storar from Perth , broke down where we were watching, I offered him a lift back on the Norton but he declined. Fiona's bike just broke a wire to the battery but if thats all that happens i'll be happy.

What a day.

So we left kilmack this morning and guided by mickey had a great run up towards dublin. The weather started not good but ended up great, the roads were good and quiet and we all enjoyed it. We arrived at the hotel south of Dublin i thought i'd booked only to find i'd booked it for last week allegedly. We decided we needed to be nearer the harbour anyway so we paid a surprise visit to micky's brother who lived 10 minutes from the original hotel to use his internet and finally found a place 10 minutes from the harbour. Micky guided us in and had dinner with us, a real star who went out of his way to ensure we had a great time. The only problems we had was my back light fell off at one point and it took a ridiculous amount of time to get it back on! Another first

Hot

A great day running around the area. Stunning scenery and apart from another speedo gearbox falling apart the bikes are going great. Fiona managed over over 70 miles to the gallon yesterday on one fill up. Weather is superb and company excellent.

Sunny all the way.

We had a great run today, after getting off the ferry in Larne north of Belfast we headed down towards the South. We stopped to have an excellent lunch with our friend Mickey just over the border where he lives, he then led us on some excellent roads to Birr in the centre of Ireland. We're booked in to a b&b and now looking forward to a beer in the sun.

En route

So we're at the ferry in troon, weather is excellent and we had a nice night at liz's last night. Al in all pretty good.

Why me

A nice day today, still cool but nice so we had a last shake down on the Norton's before we leave for Ireland and the Isle of man. The yellow bike was fine apart from the speedo reading 15 mph slow which led to some stress as I tried to catch Fiona on the bypass! I stopped at halfords to buy a bicycle speedo as a back up so at least we know what speed roughly we're doing. Then the black bike speedo gearbox fell apart. Honest you couldn't make this up! I had a new one in stock, genuine Norton part which meant it should fit, wrong! Half an hour with a file to get it on and i'm not sure if it'll last the trip. Total shite really, rewarding bikes but let down by some of the parts available! So if you want a Norton remember you'll also need to buy a file!

More Norton Photos

Made the most of Saturday with an evening run, ended up photographing the bikes against the Iconic Forth Rail Bridge. Glad we made the most of it as Sunday was back to being rubbish!! Now nervously looking at the weather reports to see if its going to clear up before our impending Ireland and Isle of Man trip in just over a week!!

Sunny day at last

The rain finally stopped so out for a run on the Norton's. Decided a haircut was well overdue so went to the barbers and got sheared, literally thats what it felt like, now I know what the sheep go through, I did ask the girl if she had any scissors and she said they'd be blunt because I had so much hair so the sheep shearer it was! at least I can see now.

Is it time to build an Arc?

Right, thats it officially fed up with the cold and rain, still like Winter here and we're only 6 weeks away from Midsummer. It's pissing it down today and therefore any hopes I had of going to the Garage for a while tonight have been put on the back burner (I need to put some of the bikes out to make room to work) .
I've got the Yellow 750 back together again so IF the dry slightly warmer weather happens tomorrow (more than 10DEG C) We'll get it out for a try.
Ordered a few things from RGM motors (Norton parts dealer) lately and I have to say service is excellent, next day delivery every time!
Hopefully tomorrow I can post up a photo of the bikes out in the sunshine (or at least dry.......please?)

Always something to do!

When we got back from up north we still had the Monday holiday to enjoy so I thought we'd put some miles on the norton's in preparation for the Ireland and isle of Man trip. Well Fiona started to try to start the 750, i took over only to have a strange sinking movement which transpired to be the centre stand breaking. Oh well another one for the list of things to do as well as my bottom oil tank mount on the mk3. With a Norton your never bored, with several your never out of the garage!

Great weekend but cold

A great weekend but as it says in the title, damned cold! The Scottish Six days trial pre 65 was excellent, a real spectacle in some of the best scenery in the world, a real credit to the organisers and the competitors. Some tasty bikes up viewing the event also, the pictures will hopefully tell the story! We had all weather this weekend, sun, rain, snow and hailstones! It certainly isn't summer yet!

 Nice Guzzi

 Our genial hosts for pre (and post) dinner drinks!

 Bikes AND scenery like this!

 This bike (and  rider) had just cleaned the section (only a handful managed it) and then got parked nicely into tthe bank!

Going Going Gone but still smiling!

 Concentration

My god, we have to go up where!

At the Scottish six days trial.

Up in Fort William , we were watching the pre 65 trial yesterday and got some good photos which i'll share when we get back. Very cold though, at the moment having tea with ian and ali before we set off to aberdeen. Snow forecast, not good.

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