Sunday 28 January 2018

Sidecar weekend

The weather has improved a bit, well its above freezing and the snow has gone for now so thats a bonus. A great time of year to get out on the sidecar (Kind off glad we didn't sell it now) Saturday a loop around the back roads ending up in Milnathort after finding the milk bar at Powmill was shut but all the better for it as the cafe in Milnathort is first class (Heaven Scent) well worth a stop! I piloted on the outgoing trip and Fiona on the return leg on the old main road passing through Glenfarg, she was obviously enjoying it as she got faster and faster!
Today (Sunday) a run out towards Crieff and then through the Sma Glen with a stop at the Wade bridge for breakfast. I couldn't find my petrol stove last night so just had a butane gas one to fry up the bacon, big mistake, I have spent a lifetime watching people on campsites failing to cook on these butane stoves, when its windy here and it often is and with single digit temperatures they don't generate enough heat so even though I know this I still had an optimistic streak. The bacon got slightly warmed to start with but not cooked, then an attempt to rearrange the bacon saw it fall onto the ground, now it was back bacon with some earth, road salt and no doubt dogs piss mixed in, a attempt to build a shelter for the stove worked and we were soon slowly cooking with gas, of course the earthy bacon was mine, Fi got the fresh bits although she reckoned the pan had still got some dirt in it, were no deid yet so it must have been ok. I have to admit to being a bit dis organised with the al- fresco cooking today, as always the first few attempts of the year show up a certain rustiness in preparation, must try harder! A final lap with a pit stop to see John and Lesley and we waited just long enough for the rain to come on so Fiona could hone her wet weather riding skills on the way home, braw!
Recommended!
Being piloted home, the view from the tub!
Waterproof stop this morning
Nice scenery and a great road
This is what Sundays were made for
Breakfast stop
Bacon cooking before I mixed in the earth
Fi eating her less contaminated roll
Wade bridge, built in 1730 by General Wades men to help the pesky redcoats get around easier so they could subdue the glorious Jacobites, I find it incredible to think that only 300 years ago this was a main route to the highlands

Sunday 21 January 2018

Guzzi Festive dinner

A run down to Moffat this weekend but sadly not on the bike for a meeting with fellow Guzzi owners and a night of insanity, hats were the theme (as if it needs a theme) but it broke the ice and ensured the abuse flowed even more freely than normal. Always good to meet our motorcycle pals in winter so we can all share stories of great expectations of the coming summer, a great night had by all and a scenic run down to the borders yesterday.
Fi testing the snow depth on the A702
Sheep doing sheep stuff
Me sporting the Guzzi jacket I won in a raffle about 10 years ago! (first time i've worn it)
Pretty
Freezing fog ahead
Sheep sending out an SOS 
Nice views en route to Moffat
Horses huddle round some straw for a Saturday afternoon chat
Nice but much Ice
Moffat is an interesting town with many interesting buildings
Old fashioned Bakery
Very narrow Hotel
Scotlands oldest Drug dealer apparently
The ladies warming up
Interesting hats
Derek with Norton Belt
Martin and his micro hat
Hats were the thing
I liked the colonial hat
Forced to be a Princess
Fat Robin waiting for us in the garden when we got home

Saturday 13 January 2018

Happy New Year and first run on the Guzzi for 2018

Happy new year to all, apologies for the lack of blogging but our house move has been taking all our energy the last few weeks, its done though, now officially residing in Perth (Scotland, not the pretend one down under)
To get a break from house moving and garage moving duties and taking advantage of the thaw we popped out for a short 50 mile run on the Guzzi today. It was cold but above freezing, the roads we took were covered with mud (although the Guzzi managed to avoid it pretty well)  but it was brilliant to be out on 2 wheels again, and on some of Perthshire's small roads. A bacon roll stop at Abernyte and a short blast on the Dual carriageway to Dundee for fuel before returning to the Fair City via Errol. A great day oot and even managed to use the Guzzi as a Goose scarer!
Work continues on the wee BM's in an effort to resurrect them for February so we can make sure they are OK before we hop over to the Pyrenees in search of adventure at the end of March, all good.
The Carse of Gowrie
Small roads
Geese scared by Goose
Sorry guys, passin through
Heated jacket time
And adjust mirror time