Gino's Travels

Saturday, 17 October 2026

Normality ?

So my mood has changed, I suppose that means I have settled down for a while I suppose. We haven't been enjoying our bike rides since we came home but all of a sudden the Nortons put us in a happy place.

The Tattie howkers meeting at the Horse shoe cafe put the smile back on our face, a braw ride on the back roads with Fiona and I Norton mounted and Budge on his airhead and a good turnout of Nortons and other bikes , good crack and a fine run there and back, we both said afterwards we really enjoyed it. I suppose you have to go back to the future and realise what makes you happy.

The weather has been OK as well and I suppose that helps, a few runs out on bikes and I can say we are back to enjoying life again.

Always after a big trip you can't get used to day to day stuff after months of being on the road and escaping reality but eventually you have got to come home and take part again. We are pondering a euro trip next year so that's something to look forward to , the V85's are fully serviced and ready for next year, the 650 BMWs are being readied for winter, new tyres and a good service then a mot and hopefully they will be good to go. Then it's the winter projects time, it's all happening and no time for slacking, keeping on keeping on......

Solo ride through the sma Glen

Where I met Alan on his T3 (and Bert and Laurenne passing in their car!)

Hectors Alloy tank looks braw

All the Nortons looking good

As was Budges BMW

Very shiny award went to Pete's MK3

Photo break

My Roadster enjoying the view

Two up last Sunday

Great view

Posing

Monday, 14 September 2026

Not enjoying normality

Fiona is back to work, taking up where she left off and I am back working on bikes and more importantly trying to build a foundation for a Shed. Like I said in the title of this post I'm not enjoying normality. Since we got home we have both been very busy doing what I would call "Normal Stuff" which to be honest I haven't got used to normal stuff yet.

The last time we went away for a big trip we didn't want to come home because we were having a fantastic time on the road but finances meant we had to come home and luckily I got a job almost immediately which took my mind off travelling for a while and eased me into "normal " life again. This time after 9 months away its been different, I think Asia was hard on the body and soul with little respite, Europe was as always a extended vacation rather than a true adventure in my opinion. I have the feeling that we missed something, perhaps we both need a rest.

When we got back to the UK we were glad to be home initially, sleeping in our own bed, back with family and friends but then the nagging doubt we should have done more. Unfortunately times have changed since our 2012/13 trip, health insurance is crazy now (especially since my Stroke 5 years ago) they want your money but don't want the risk, I see now when travelling in the EU they ask if you have health insurance, never used to be a thing but I have heard several stories of the prices charged in Europe for emergency health care so you would be crazy to take a chance. Of course nobody wants to take on the risk of extended travel, I struggled to get 2 months health insurance in Europe because I ride a bike over 125cc. Even cover for your bike is now an issue, our Insurance company were taken over so the small print in the renewal was instead of 3 months Euro cover it was now 30 days, we had to negotiate at a price the extra month.

So not enjoying normality means having to deal with the crooks on a daily basis, the Council, the Government, the Banks, Insurance companies etc etc, they all collectively have stolen our freedom. So maybe its just that which is making me unsettled, anyway we are still lucky to live in a nice place with good friends and wonderful scenery , getting out on the bikes helps to settle my mind so just keep on keeping on .... and I will try to stop moaning and put on a smiley face, winters coming but shortly after that it'll be spring time again

Test run

Some fettling needed

Really enjoyed being out on this again

Camping on my LeMans

Fiona used my T3

Making space, bike chess

Thursday, 20 August 2026

Wee Smokey

We have been busy since getting back home, settling in to life again in Perth where the weather has been cooler and wetter and duller than it was in Europe (or Asia). I am kind of torn between cooler and the extreme heat we experienced, the coolness lets you do more stuff but I think I was more used to the heat. Apart from settling down (and tackling the jungle that is our small garden, we have caught up with family and friends. Last weekend was one of Eric's Wee Smokey events held in the bustling metropolis of Arbroath (famous for its smokies as well as being the home toon of Eric)

Of course it was cool and damp when we left, we decided to take the Guzzi T3's and had a nice run up via Forfar and then cutting towards the sea to the event in Arbroath, it was a ride of reflection, happy to be home with pleasant scenery and driving that was acceptable but the road surfaces are awful, our Scottish government have been in power far to long and they have presided on a long list of failures one of which is the state of the roads, our neighbours in England have the same issue. Why is it successive Governments thinks its ok to head backwards in time, taking more and more cash from us in the shape of taxes and providing less and less (Unless of course you are on the dole or come from a Third world civilisation illegally)

I digress, the meeting was fantastic, we caught up with many people we knew and the food was great, bacon rolls and pork sausages, a favourite of mine. I will let the pictures do the talking but one more thing, when we got home and I complained about the roads, Fi thought the same, on Monday I noticed a pool of oil under her Guzzi, closer examination showed that her rear shocks have divested themselves of all damping oil, ah well normal service has been resumed, the bike spares businesses will be back in profit soon.....

Keeping on keeping on