Happy Christmas everyone

 Happy Christmas, on the birthday of the baby Jesus or whatever you believe in. It appears that there are no wise men anymore just people intent on killing each other which is a sad indictment of modern times. Meaningless wars making rich people richer or more powerful whilst the poor serf's (you and I and) pick up the tab either financially or with their lives. 

We are all born the same (Thankfully mostly), the same brain with a blank canvas, the same number of limbs and organs and with a fresh brain to do our best in the very short time we have on Earth, some do better than others due to a whole range of factors and similarly worse, we are not born with hatred, that is something that comes from our parents, government, religion and the media. It appalls me to look at the mess of our world just now, corruption in Government (even in our own back yard) and it makes me wonder what these people who lie, steal, kill and enrich themselves think they have a right to do it. They will not be reading this blog but always remember who is responsible, I feel there is a giant reset coming where the people will eventually go against these people, a revolution maybe. I could go on but I will stop it there.

Remember to stay happy, keep motorcycling (if you can) and ignore the lunatics that are running the asylum, have a great festive period and hopefully 2024 will be a great year for everyone. We were out today just to keep us sane for a while, wet, cold but braw!

Santa never brought us another bike, just as well

Resting

Warming up gloves on the engine

Buchanty spout looking braw

The week (and a half) before Christmas

 Well, the weather has relented to let us out in the last week and we only have roughly a week to the shortest day, the day after that the weather will get better and the days will start getting longer. Time to make plans for next year, prepare bikes and think about the first evening run in the heat and sunshine. It's all positive as long as you don't pay attention to the news!

Sunday we had a wee run , no issues with the bikes but issues with electronics and a weird flat tyre led me to believe it was better to head home and fight another day. En route to home we spotted Budge out getting the miles in on his R 75 Beemer, well done mate, somebody has to get out and prove Bikes aren't just for Summer. 

Wednesday I met up with David T at the side of Loch Earn at the old Drum up spot where like minded motorcyclists used to meet

 40+ years ago when I was just a youngster. These days it was Vincent's Triumphs and Nortons along with BMW's and MZ's making up the crowd, yesterday it was one Norton Commando (which sounded great getting thrashed down the Loch) and myself on the Airhead BMW. We spent a while talking nonsense and the occasional sense drinking our tea (or hot water) before realising it was getting cold and going our different ways Home, a grand day out indeed.

Keep on keeping on......

650s at rest in the mist

In Black and white to make it Moody

Misty

Wednesday, cold but clear

At the lochside

David arriving, so quick I didn't have time to set the camera to "fast Norton Mode"

And slowing down

A nice bike being used as intended

The two bikes striking a pose

And David striking a pose ( It could be a pose for a 70's winter bike gear catalogue)

This weeks masterpiece

 I put together some memories from this year into this short video, left loads out but the main bits are here I think. It's always good to look back at the year and start thinking about next year, you can't let the grass grow under your feet!

George Martin reminded me this week that next year is a leap year so we all have an extra day to enjoy motorcyling, and looking on the bright side we get an extra days road tax for free, don't tell anyone or they will raise it even more if they realise it. Just as well Both the UK and Scottish Government can't count past 10, if they could they would maybe realise to stop wasting our tax money........

  

Nae Moans

 So December it is, the weather has been a bit Decemberish which is to be expected, as always at this time of year there are occasions where it isn't clever or sensible to take the bike out (Unless you are going on a long trip) So Sunday saw us out in the Transit, not quite the same, not at all in fact but it was warm and relatively safe. I knew Glenquaich would be dodgy so I decided to try and get over it, the first warning just before the top was when I saw 2 cars abandoned in the ditch, matter of fact the range rover was abandoned on its side with the airbags deployed! We started the descent just at the loch at the top and stopped to take some photos. A guy coming the other way told us that the road into Kenmore was blocked by two cars and they wouldn't be going anywhere soon so we turned round and went back. It reminded me of the time not long ago when we were on the bikes and tried to get over it in snow and Ice, at one point we were struggling for grip so I asked Fiona to watch and see if I could get any further , of course the laws of Physics and the coefficient of friction overcame my foolhardiness and I fell off, Fiona had to walk up to help me and the two of us struggled to manhandle my bike back to the point where we managed to make our way safely home. It just goes to show, idiocy has always been one of my traits and is sometimes encouraged by Fiona.

Looking forward to getting out on two wheels soon and not like the Range Rover who's driver thought that two wheels in the ditch would be good!  

  

At this point I thought, we should be on the bikes

Now I wasn't

There is a nice feeling when its like this, but better when its warm!

And with that it was time to clench the butt cheeks for the Descent

Highway robbery the modern way

 I know its November because our car insurance is due, as if November wasn't depressing enough it also reminds us that it's an anniversary of our return from our Americas Trip, in this case 10 years, really depressing. The title of the blog is because I renewed our car insurance online, it seemed like a good price and today I thought I would check up to see if the policy was ok, I couldn't access it online so had to speak to a person on the phone, the issue was that somehow I had put the Date of Birth down wrong (due to a moment of stupidity using the drop down box online) My birthday was down as May where as I'm sure you all know (take note) it's June. Now to change the date to the correct one I was charged £35 and £25 admin fee, so £60 because I hadn't got the date right (which I would have noticed well before the policy started if they had sent me a printed copy which they didn't) A very bitter phone call later and eventually they waived the £25 admin fee (Mrs R had to take over the call because my power of reasoning had been replaced with rage) So Bank of Scotland who I have banked with since I was 18, paid them thousands in Mortgage repayments in the past never mind about the thousands in interest with personal loans during my racing days and who have quite happily benefited from the cash in the past from my business account and my personal accounts and who as a taxpayer we saved them when all the banks got it wrong in 2008 cant see it as a mistake and still steals money from me, Highway robbery the modern way!

Thieves vagabonds and bankers should all be lumped together under the one umbrella! Oh and politicians!

Anyway despite the weather I got out on the R100 on Wednesday despite the rain and gale force winds, very refreshing it was too and Sunday we got the 650's out despite the near zero temperatures to get to Tullybannocher for lunch, it refreshes the mind and the soul  

Very wet and windy

Dreich even

Bikes looked surprisingly clean

And the frost lifted

Euro Tour part 2 video

 Posted this yesterday on Youtube, an escape from the coming winter and an excuse to figure out next years adventures. Enjoy and keep on keeping on.....

Sorry No dramas, no crisis, just touring about on our bikes.....

Escaping reality

 Saturday was hosing it down here, we fortunately managed to take the van to our favourite tearoom at Rait which thankfully was open, Tim the owner has been getting hassle from the landlord and he was shut the last couple of times we tried but thankfully that was because of the weather. So I got my breakfast after all, transpires the evil landlord wants Tim out so he now has until May to make some money and set up another venture, I will keep supporting him until then, if you fancy a cafe try the tearoom at Rait Antique centre, keep Tim busy until May and let me know if you can recommend other cafe's in Perthshire.

Mrs R suggested we do some painting since it was a terrible day, now painting is not a hobby of mine but I couldn't find an excuse to get out of it, fair play, Fiona done most of the work while I sulked in the corner. We were talking that evening (During wine time) about the number of Whales beaching themselves and I suggested it was because they had accidentally heard the news and were depressed about the total arse all the governments are making around the world so thought they would commit suicide to show how pissed off they were. (Either that or it was suggested they could paint the bathroom ) :-)

Sunday normal service was resumed, my bathroom did indeed look better after a coat of paint and even the weather was kind to us so we set off on a run over Glenquaich , at this time of year you are never sure when it will be passable so best to make the most of it. A bit of Drama at Kenmore when the Air Ambulance picked someone up and landed in the football pitch there. They flew up the loch but the mist obviously stopped them finding a landing spot so they landed in the village and waited for the Ambulance, even that looked dodgy enough to me. Why is this service a charity? We waste so much money on shite and yet this essential service is reliant on public subscriptions, answers on a postcard please. The run home was damp in bits but I really didn't care, this is reality, not the boring stuff in my mind , Fi washed the bikes when we got home whilst I gave the bathroom another coat, funnily enough I didn't mind, it's all in the mind.

Just remember to get your biking drug and everything is rosy 

Hairpin 1

Hairpin 2

Still bonny

Usual stop for photos

Very dreich heading down into Kenmore

And very Dull on Loch Tay. the rescue helicopter was trying to find a spot on the Ardeonaig

road , nae chance!