Happy Christmas everyone

 Happy Christmas, on the birthday of the baby Jesus or whatever you believe in. It appears that there are no wise men anymore just people intent on killing each other which is a sad indictment of modern times. Meaningless wars making rich people richer or more powerful whilst the poor serf's (you and I and) pick up the tab either financially or with their lives. 

We are all born the same (Thankfully mostly), the same brain with a blank canvas, the same number of limbs and organs and with a fresh brain to do our best in the very short time we have on Earth, some do better than others due to a whole range of factors and similarly worse, we are not born with hatred, that is something that comes from our parents, government, religion and the media. It appalls me to look at the mess of our world just now, corruption in Government (even in our own back yard) and it makes me wonder what these people who lie, steal, kill and enrich themselves think they have a right to do it. They will not be reading this blog but always remember who is responsible, I feel there is a giant reset coming where the people will eventually go against these people, a revolution maybe. I could go on but I will stop it there.

Remember to stay happy, keep motorcycling (if you can) and ignore the lunatics that are running the asylum, have a great festive period and hopefully 2024 will be a great year for everyone. We were out today just to keep us sane for a while, wet, cold but braw!

Santa never brought us another bike, just as well

Resting

Warming up gloves on the engine

Buchanty spout looking braw

The week (and a half) before Christmas

 Well, the weather has relented to let us out in the last week and we only have roughly a week to the shortest day, the day after that the weather will get better and the days will start getting longer. Time to make plans for next year, prepare bikes and think about the first evening run in the heat and sunshine. It's all positive as long as you don't pay attention to the news!

Sunday we had a wee run , no issues with the bikes but issues with electronics and a weird flat tyre led me to believe it was better to head home and fight another day. En route to home we spotted Budge out getting the miles in on his R 75 Beemer, well done mate, somebody has to get out and prove Bikes aren't just for Summer. 

Wednesday I met up with David T at the side of Loch Earn at the old Drum up spot where like minded motorcyclists used to meet

 40+ years ago when I was just a youngster. These days it was Vincent's Triumphs and Nortons along with BMW's and MZ's making up the crowd, yesterday it was one Norton Commando (which sounded great getting thrashed down the Loch) and myself on the Airhead BMW. We spent a while talking nonsense and the occasional sense drinking our tea (or hot water) before realising it was getting cold and going our different ways Home, a grand day out indeed.

Keep on keeping on......

650s at rest in the mist

In Black and white to make it Moody

Misty

Wednesday, cold but clear

At the lochside

David arriving, so quick I didn't have time to set the camera to "fast Norton Mode"

And slowing down

A nice bike being used as intended

The two bikes striking a pose

And David striking a pose ( It could be a pose for a 70's winter bike gear catalogue)

This weeks masterpiece

 I put together some memories from this year into this short video, left loads out but the main bits are here I think. It's always good to look back at the year and start thinking about next year, you can't let the grass grow under your feet!

George Martin reminded me this week that next year is a leap year so we all have an extra day to enjoy motorcyling, and looking on the bright side we get an extra days road tax for free, don't tell anyone or they will raise it even more if they realise it. Just as well Both the UK and Scottish Government can't count past 10, if they could they would maybe realise to stop wasting our tax money........

  

Nae Moans

 So December it is, the weather has been a bit Decemberish which is to be expected, as always at this time of year there are occasions where it isn't clever or sensible to take the bike out (Unless you are going on a long trip) So Sunday saw us out in the Transit, not quite the same, not at all in fact but it was warm and relatively safe. I knew Glenquaich would be dodgy so I decided to try and get over it, the first warning just before the top was when I saw 2 cars abandoned in the ditch, matter of fact the range rover was abandoned on its side with the airbags deployed! We started the descent just at the loch at the top and stopped to take some photos. A guy coming the other way told us that the road into Kenmore was blocked by two cars and they wouldn't be going anywhere soon so we turned round and went back. It reminded me of the time not long ago when we were on the bikes and tried to get over it in snow and Ice, at one point we were struggling for grip so I asked Fiona to watch and see if I could get any further , of course the laws of Physics and the coefficient of friction overcame my foolhardiness and I fell off, Fiona had to walk up to help me and the two of us struggled to manhandle my bike back to the point where we managed to make our way safely home. It just goes to show, idiocy has always been one of my traits and is sometimes encouraged by Fiona.

Looking forward to getting out on two wheels soon and not like the Range Rover who's driver thought that two wheels in the ditch would be good!  

  

At this point I thought, we should be on the bikes

Now I wasn't

There is a nice feeling when its like this, but better when its warm!

And with that it was time to clench the butt cheeks for the Descent