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

Test run

Some fettling needed

Really enjoyed being out on this again

Camping on my LeMans

Fiona used my T3

Making space, bike chess

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  

David T back up bike

Eric and Amy

Phil, Budge and Tom

An award for Paula who rode a 1920's Royal Enfield from Blairgowrie

An Award for enjoying ourselves on our 8 month tour

Robin with his tin of Sardines

Ali and Jake

Dr Don

David and John gassing

Hame time

Sandy leaving

Boss Hog leaving

Davie from Alyth, funny how everybody eventually gravitates to old bikes 

T3's

Norrie and Ian

Tom used his Dads XT

Whilst phil used his Commando

Tridend special

Jakes Loop

Sandys ES2

Nice

Hectors cafe racer

Erics flash Helmet

And Bills Ducati, always worth a mention 

Back Home

 We left France and headed into Belgium to see an old friend, Geert Callens, en route we met a French guy who asked where in Scotland we were from, when we said Perth he said he stayed in Crieff and Carnoustie for a while when he was doing his degree in Golf course design and he now owned a pitch and putt course nearby. He insisted on buying us a coffee and even offered us a place to stay! Amazing when you meet nice people!!

Onto Geert's house  which is a home from home, we met Evelyn for lunch and afterwards helped Geert set up for a dinner party the next day!! A very pleasant evening indeed.

Our new French pals

Geert, Fiona and Evelyn

At Ease

Ricard for pre dinner drinks

We left Geert on Sunday and headed to Guy and Karin's house near Gent for lunch and to nosey around his Workshop. Then onward to a hotel near the coast in Holland for the night in Noordwijk

Commando in for a service

Total rebuild on this one

Guy, Karin and Fiona

Nice Hotel

Strange

And then into Amsterdam to spend the night with another Norton Friend, Pamela, another brilliant night before heading for the ferry and back home

Pamela's Flat

Surrounded by water

We think this was a protest

On the ferry, the last supper

Even had a sweet

Welcome to Scotland

So thats it another Epic adventure bringing our total countries ridden in by Motorcycle to 63. It was hard sometimes, extreme temperatures and sometimes the food was challenging but we kept rolling on, next year we may stay closer to home as despite the many amazing things we have seen, ye canny beat Scotland.....dinnae tell anybody

Keep on keeping on