Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Brilliant weather for April

 Despite the whole world trying to get us down, people arguing about this and that, the constant threat of conflict,people killing each other (normally innocent people on one side), politicians trying their best to wind us up (20K wage rise for the complete cretins in charge of the Scottish government as an example) Road closures everywhere whilst people do minimal work to prolong the closures! Despite all that some good weather puts it all into context and has a calming influence on me for one. We were back in my former village in Italy for a few days, meeting family and friends and generally chilling out, avoiding driving as the driving there is a bit manic. The weather was great and when we got back home to Perth the weather was excellent as well.

I got Fiona's LeMans taxed as a historic vehicle which was great and got a wee run on my LeMans to check all was well, Fi's bike needed the linked brakes sorted but some teamwork saw that fixed. We missed the smokey meet, we both had a cold and didn't want to infect anyone (we probably caught the bug on the flight!) But we managed a wee run anyway, the weather held up very nicely.

It's amazing how the weather lifts your spirits and I hope that is not our summer over.....

A few photos to remind me of the last week.....

Keep on keeping on 

Outside Maura's takeaway
Best Ravioli in the world
Nothing changes
apart from the flowers
The village in Black and white
Out for a walk
I'm not happy with this
But now I'm happier
Fiona enjoying a beer
artistic shot
Gelato in Dolceaqua
I love this place
Guzzi ready
Stopped for a cuppa
Enjoying the view
Despite my Cold, still happy

 

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Huntygowks 2025

 We have been blessed with a little bit of good weather, the Huntygowks meeting which is ostensibly based around the first of April has been in the past a mixed bag but normally wet. This year because we lost Tullybanocher (another cafe closed probably never to open again) we had the meeting a week earlier on the last weekend of March at the Horseshoe Cafe just off the A90 Perth to Dundee road. The day before (Saturday) we had heavy rain and winds but the Sunday was brilliant, sunny and mild which brought out a few very polished Commandos. Full marks must go to our secretary David and his wife Anne for bracing the Saturday weather for the run over from the west coast but at least it looks like they had a good run home and even Alex made a slightly later appearance from Edinburgh, well done to all.. Some photos from the day...

BTW, the rolls and tea were good and very reasonable, well worth a stop...

Ready for the off
MVD
Hector has been out with the Solvol
Fionas Norton
Nice bikes
The Horseshoe
Arty shot of Hectors bike
And again
Ians Mk3
Budge checking his tyres ??
Yellow peril
Phils bike in Roadster trim
And Davis bike
What is called a used Commando, and very well used, full marks
Fiona's attempt at artistry
Talking nonsense
Once again, Fiona trying to capture the blinding speed of the mighty Norton

And David put together a wee video of his weekend, well worth a watch

Thursday, 27 March 2025

No Blogging for a while

 It's been almost a month since I figuratively put pen to paper, there's been a fair bit of motorcycling going on but other circumstances has left me a bit fed up with the interweb world. Mostly every time I read the news online it always seems depressing, even youtube has more than its fair share of crap content these days. Nobody seems to put anything on line without having a "disaster" and "is this the end" or "please buy me a coffee or I won't be able to post content anymore".

Some people I used to like following for their content come into that category, the answer to those people is "Get a F***ing job" Motorcycling is a brilliant hobby and I have enjoyed it almost all of my life (the first 14 years of my life were the only times I didn't enjoy it because I didn't have a bike) So why do people have to try and be influencers (it's a thing a believe) are they motorcyclists or are they media stars? I will leave it at that before I get into a proper rant.

The good news is we have had some good weather, the sun is getting stronger and warmer and hopefully the Cooncil have used all their overtime budget pouring salt over the roads. Bikes are ready for Spring and three Nortons have been prepared and have had a wee run, Fiona's MK3 LeMans is waiting for April 1st when I shall be applying for historic tax, it's all looking good for 2025, lets get out there and enjoy it. 

Various photos taken this month in bonnie Perthshire


MVD Ready
BMW at a telephone exchange
eyeing the scenery
The Tay the silvery Tay, flows from Dundee to Perth and back every day (McGonigal, Scottish worst poet)
Glen Quaich
Loch Tay
Fiona doing Drone Maintenance
  Airheads at Glenshee
Nice
Braw day out with Budge on a couple of Airheads
Glenquaich

My 750 out for a run

Thursday, 6 March 2025

BMW Airhead day out

A wee run last Sunday at the beginning of March just to blow the cobwebs away, Mrs Rondelli on pillion taking care of the Video angles. A nice stop in Muckart for lunch , the only downside is the road was closed between Gask and the Kinkell bridge due to roadworks necessitating a small detour towards Auchterarder. A good day out! 

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

Managing some motorcycling

 Saturday was good as we left Perth, the sun was shining but as soon as left the City limits heading westward the ominous dark clouds revealed themselves in the background. Just after Glenalmond the road was slippy with debris and caused a couple of loose sphincter moments for both of us, the Sma Glen was looking great although the usual potholes are starting to reveal themselves in parts of the road, just after the bridge we passed a tour bus coming in the other direction, that's what causes the potholes, green travel my backside. 

We took the Glenquaich road, quiet and stunning in the sun but always the threat of rain, stunning rainbow at the top and then after that very heavy rain, the run down the hill was tricky through the hairpins, like riding in a river bed, running water and the debris making sure we had to concentrate fully , the plan was to stop at Kenmore but the rain was heavy so we carried on through the village and turned left past Drummond hill, I notice this road isn't signposted with a road number and is on Google as National Cycle route 7, that is a worry, I will use it more in future although a boat would have been a better option than a bicycle on Saturday as large parts of it were flooded .

A stop in the nice layby overlooking Loch Kinardochy for a cuppa and our lunch (Which we had prepared earlier) and then on past Tummelbridge and Loch Rannoch and a run down the A9 from Pitlochry. A grand day out, some wind, some rain but on the bike whats not to like. 

Keep on keeping on.......

Rainbow, never found treasure though
Lunch
More rainbows 

In the wrong order, but going up the pass
Heavy clouds and sunshine 

Monday, 10 February 2025

Are we free?

 That used to be a catchphrase on a well known UK television comedy program and lately I have been wondering "Are we free" certainly not free to say what we want, the socialist government have put paid to free speech in just months in office, mind you the left of the right were slowly taking away the freedom of speech anyway. Any comments on your concerns will have you labeled with a whole range of titles you wouldn't be proud to have pinned on you. The state sponsored Stasi will question you if you put anything "they" don't like on Social media and have arrested recently some well known people for saying it as it is. Its very sad that the UK have sunk into this quagmire of filth so quickly and with nary a quiver of protest.

As motorcyclists we are at risk from non elected think tanks who would like to see us off the road or onto electric bikes as a minimum whilst the obscene spectacle of overweight Lycra warriors who pay not a cent for road tax or insurance continue to use our roads as a personal race track. Because of the Green lobby we pay more for energy in the UK whilst India and China keep churning out coal powered   polluting power stations daily.

Anyhoo, the good news is that at the moment we can do what we want (almost) and so I did manage a couple of days out on the bikes last week, Thursday a day out on the Airhead and Sunday a wee run on the 650 BMW's, its a great thing for clearing your mind. Thursday I stopped in to see an former colleague and friend who has just signed up for a 2 year lease of a new Norton Commando at a price that is scarcely believable. A brand new bike for £100 deposit and then £68 a month, hand it back after 2 years or buy it for £12K and that on what should be a £17k motorbike. I'm not sure what the scam is here, just like the abundance of Turkish barbers springing up in various town who never seem to have customers, anyway, rent a cheap bike and get a cheap haircut it seems like a no brainer, nobody can lose.......can they?



Loch Earn, cold but sunny
Glen Ogle
Glen Ogle (again)
And with a filter (Maybe I should get a filter for my brain?)
Sma Glen
Icy layby
Out of my depth