Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Italia (again)

A weekend in Italy, no bikes this time but 3 days is suffer able without the bikes, a great weekend catching up with friends and relations and some sight seeing. Last night we were both seriously trying to work out if we had to come back to the UK, we were spoiled with a weekend of great weather (hot!) great food and nice wine, whats not to like? Some pics to give you an idea
The village from our balcony
Moi
Rustic charm
Apricots anyone?
View down the valley
idyllic
classic photo of Rocchetta
Fi enjoying the sun
one of the many church's
Lunch at Rio Barbaira
and dinner
Party in the square for a couple celebrating 70 years of marriage!
Perinaldo
Sunday lunch and this was the view
Random Perinaldo photo
Random Perinaldo photo
Random Perinaldo photo
Dolceaqua
Dolceaqua
Dolceaqua
Dolceaqua
Dolceaqua
I needed at least one bike picture!
Dolceaqua
Outside the bar California
and again
Dusk falling
Bruno & Luigi
Rocchetta
History lesson
A swim in Menton
Nice house
Menton
Menton
trying to figure out the benefits of Scotland....the scenery? the rain? the cold? 

Monday, 25 September 2017

A mixed weekend

Saturday morning saw a fine opportunity to get the oil circulating on the 750 Drum brake roadster, it was a pleasant morning, sun shining and almost warm. I had been abandoned by my dear wife as she was at a Yoga class probably learning the best position to kick start her Commando so I went solo to Queensferry, fine photo opportunity and a wee blether with some of the guys at "Biker Cove" one of the cafe's there.
Saturday afternoon we both went and got the sidecar outfit sorted out and its now for sale to anyone who crosses my palm with £6000.
Sunday and it was a bleak outlook, we donned the waterproofs from the off, I took the T3 with Fiona on the back as it was never going to be a pleasant run. Around Falkirk just past the Kelpies I spied George Martin and passed him with a wave just as the rain began, it turned quickly to very heavy and made riding the bike a dangerous hobby, because of the spray I could hardly see, why do cars insist on passing us then sitting in front at the same speed throwing up plumes of water to make us even wetter and make it more dangerous, some people need basic education out there.
I was surprised to see as many people at St Fillans and some nice bikes, the usual banter and met some guys I hadn't seen in a while, all in all a grand gathering of like minded idiots (who else would go out on a bike in that rain?) Eric Buick even made it from Arbroath, he must have been saving hard to buy the couple of gallons of petrol his BSA needed. Thanks to the Scottish Classic club for organising, unfortunately it clashed with the Distinguished Gentlemans ride so numbers were probably affected but it was good anyway despite the lack of anyone who was either distinguished or a gentleman! The ride home was wet, flooded roads, mental car drivers etc but we got home in one piece, not the best run I've had but I suppose its Scotland and our weather is crap so we have to put up with it!

Sidecar for sale
Could be yours sir....or madam
Commando at rest
Both sides at rest
Davids G5 Sans sidestand, somehow he lost it on the way, how you don't notice a 2 foot long sidestand falling off is beyond me.....
Our T3 with shorter but present sidestand
Matchless
Nice Ariel Huntmaster
Enjoying the weather although I think David is in some kind of trance trying to figure out when he lost the sidestand
George's trusty A7
Pretty pretty
Not sure why Denis is smiling, it was very wet, Oh and surprisingly his bike started first kick
Plunger BSA
Laverda Jarama, cooking version of the Jota but a beast nonetheless 
Bill and Jim discussing how much a gallon of petrol was in 1968
It was bleak!

Sunday, 10 September 2017

Yetholm Norton weekend

Another splendid weekend in good company, thanks to David for the organisation. We left after work on Friday for the shortish run down to the borders, traffic was hell on the Edinburgh bypass but to be fair most people made way for us so we could filter up the middle. The run down the A68 and then A697 was most enjoyable, the traffic all but disappeared and it stayed dry despite the ominous black clouds, we stopped in Kelso for something to eat and made it to Yetholm in time to get the tent up and give the midges something to feast on! Great to see everyone again and once again a weekend of talking nonsense and drinking, not a bad life at all. Waterproofs donned today for the run home but the rain wasn't too bad, just enough to get the bikes dirty again. Pictures paint the tale better than I can........



Fi decided to take the Guzzi
My bike ended up with ALL the luggage!
Enjoying a pre pub beer with the midges
Nonsense being talked
Rab finishes another
Norton talk
More Norton talk
Davey Johnson brought a Brough along
Not many of these lying around
Alans very nice ES2
Sandy arriving
Pretty town
A brace of Atlas's
Day visitor on a nice Triton with George probably asking why he spoiled a good Norton frame by putting a Triumph engine in it
Robin & Forfar John talk Nortons
George burning rubber
Interesting bike
All the way from Manchester area
Sun setting on John Powel's 88 
Forfar John's choice of weapon
Phils Commando
Nice campsite
Dinner
Rab and Alex on a blind date