Gratuitous Norton picture

Out this evening in the fading sun (unbelievable week) checking over the 750 roadster for its trip to the Norton meeting in Comrie this weekend (that is of course if we can get petrol to get there!!)
Decided the blog needed a Norton photo, compare the two bikes, hard to believe that they are basically the same bike.
I was going to go and fill it up with petrol but there's reports of queues everywhere due to the maybe petrol tanker drivers strike, the government has fuelled panic and the media as always are helping it along.
I think people hear about the queues on the radio and immediatley think "I better join that queue" idiots!!

Norton not happy

So at the end of the working day I thought I'd take the Norton out for a short blast, talk about being huffy cause its been ignored, it farted and banged all the way to the shops, cut out twice so I left it to sulk in the car park while I grabbed something for dinner. It started reluctantly and farted and banged all the way home. I gave it some attention (new plugs) and it seems to be happier, I was going to treat it to some fresh petrol (which is probably the issue) but thought I'd see if it behaves first. Question is, should I put my shiney newly painted steel tank on it for the weekend (its been in the loft since I got it painted) ?

Great start to the Day

Up very early this morning to take my brother to the hospital for a appointment with the surgeon (hopefully as I write this he's recovering) What a spectacular morning driving North, the sunrise and the mist rolling in the bottom of the fields was a great sight, hopefully a relaxing one for John.
On the way back I was held up a little by various items of agricultural machiney and unbelievably an immaculate E type Jaguar, they must have been taking advantage of the weather forecast and got the prized possesion out for the day. I don't think I would be held up by it back in the day, I stayed behind it for a bit to see if the (lady) driver would give it some gas but sadly not!

Fantastic!!

Well what a weekend that turned out to be weather wise, Saturday was a bit colder (and I spent most of that fitting new Panniers to the G650) but today was like summer. We ended up having a great day out, good run on the bikes and managing to push the tyres to the edge on the dry roads, some time soaking up the sun at the beach (although still cool enough to keep most of the skin covered!) then what better way to finish a Sunday out but a good chippy down at South Queensferry, eaten looking at the harbour. British Summer time started officially today and for once the weather remembered! Bob & Kate have managed to get this week off and seem to be touring Scotland, I hope they have the sun cream with them! lucky buggers!
Bikes out in their droves today which goes to prove the old adage that the sun not only brings out the flies and midges but bikers too!

Budget Day

So today is the day when our "leaders" the polititians (most of whom are lying "sleekit" low lifes only interested in lining their own pockets and those of their friends) announce the annual budget or to put it in simple terms, tell us how they are going to rob us of more money whilst giving the pretence they give a shit!
The reason for my anger is that I heard the VED or Road Tax is going up by the rate of inflation, its funny how when most "benefits" go up its CPI (which is a lower figure) when taxes go up its by RPI (a higher figure)
It means yet another hike in taxes for motorcycles, most of which will now be taxed at a higher rate than most small cars!! How is that fair, how does that make sense? Of course it doesn't, and in the same budget they tell us that our roads are to be improved with "private" investment" which will mean tolls, how about spending some of the motorists tax money on the bloody roads instead?
I was involved in politics a few years ago and got out before I had to buy the dodgy suit or bottomless pockets, how can these people stand up and talk so much shite?
I know I for one will be doing my best to minimise the money these scumbags will be getting out of me, anyone out there any selling pre 73 motorcycles (free tax!!)

Quiet

So a quiet weekend bike wise, a very pleasant run on Sunday past Knockhill, there is a farmer there who seems to be responsible for turning the road into a field, the amount of earth on the road is incredible, knowing this is the home of the most used racing circuit in Scotland its only a matter of time before somebody loses it in the gravel and muck. Why don't the police do something about it? I know farmers have to use the roads but this is quite frankly ridiculous. A nice run through Dunning Glen (pictured) and then after the obigatory mothers day visit back to Edinburgh. I saw 3 people yesterday using mobiles whilst driving, all women, one in a huge 4x4 on the Dunning Glen road where there is barely enough room for two cars to pass, a girl on the motorway then a bit further on another girl texting and paying no attention to the road in front. Problem is as motorcyclists we are the most vunerable group from this behaviour, I should have reported them but to be honest if you spent your time reporting bad driving to the Police there would be little time for anything else!!
A great weekend anyway, sunny but still cool, can't complain about the weather though!!

A grand weekend

The weather could have been better but then it is Scotland in early March so no complaints at all. Another brilliant weekend in Applecross, wildlife seemed to figure this weekend, Chickens, Deer, Highland cattle and sheep were all obstacles to be avoided, the Cow's especially, they seemed a bit bemused we were interuppting their Sunday get together, notice Fiona slipping quietly by trying not to annoy them to much!!