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Now this is a blast from the past! It goes without saying that I'll be Styling and Profiling! And it's for the first time since the beginning of March! We're now into the season of early morning rides due to the temperatures, and it'll probably be like this for the next four months! Obviously there'll be a valid reason that I'm going to be in the area that I'm going (as per Government directives).......and I'll figure one out by tomorrow. There will of course be a Ride Report.......and it will have stunning pics and an inspirational video! It will also be in a very unusual location which has a history going back to the 19th century! So.......what are you lot doing?

Going to rain sat...hopefully it puts out the tractor fire...lol

I'm just sat here getting fatter. Not really allowed out because of my underlying health problems.

I have spent the day riding, and got pretty affected by polen clergies now at the end of the day, so am resting a little bit before going to dinner at a friend's house. On the weekend I think I will do very little, it's getting warmer and I don't like warm riding around here, plus my summer jacket is home, 300km away ? I think it'll be a weekend of playing with Costa and little else.

Now, as a forewarning, i have my mothers meatloaf recipe. It means im already rich Almost as rich as having her apple pie recipe Butt, and i am a big butt... I just made the best scotch eggs for mum...i used jimmy dean bulk sausage, boiled eggs (duh), baked in oven perfection...and i had a brain storm, stuff them into mums meatloaf... Then, get a food truck

Mac and cheese is plain wrong! I assume you’re talking macaroni. Meatloaf, then, if forced to choose with a gun to my head

I could murder a Big Mac!

Bikes have been free to cross the Severn bridge for years.

My DR650 is still my favourite bike, wether the T700 will overtake it remains to be seen .

There's a glaring omission there @MooN I don't think this image has ever been more fitting!

But, before we could ride the Trail, we had to traverse across Colorado by way of mountain roads. Rob had casually mentioned riding the same road several years prior with his son. So, of course i said "you lead", which he did. I did not know, however, how freaked out about it he was and which he later told me. It never occurred to me that he was already on edge joining up with a group of people, some he didnt know and some he only knew online. And, now he was being asked to lead the group! To us, it really didnt matter if it went wrong, or if it went right. It just had to go. We survived Rob's leadership, with only a couple of instances of people getting lost. But, that's normal for us. I need to stop down here and kind of explain who all is in this group. Especially since i cant figure out why in the hell they let me ride with them. So, first you have Jim. Jim had to have been borne on a GS as he rides it like its a small dirt bike. Then, you have Chad and Larry. They are no slouches either, especially considering they both come from the Harley world and havent been on GSs for that long. Chad, well he is a Marine and is just nuts. No fear (no brains?). Larry is a giant of a man, who can flat foot the tallest GSA and get it out of pretty much anywhere. Stephen Gregory, besides being a pro photographer and videographer, has taken to offroad like he was born into it. Several Rawhyde training classes and riding with Chad for a few years have brought his skill level way up! Blair and Ben were on the US BMW Trophy team that competed in Canada a few years back. Part of the Killer B's. So, you know them boys can ride! I've already told you that Gary (Bip) can ride, given his history on dirt bikes. His first trip on my GS to Colorado and once he "started riding it like a dirt bike" never looked back. Chris is the pro-rider, having competed for years in England. I still recall first meeting him at March Moto Madness in Tennessee and after riding the hills with Jim, came back with the assessment "that boy can ride". Yep, Jim is bonafide. (He wont admit it). Rob, well Rob owns probably 100 bikes. Has raced offroad, in dirt and sand, and has 100 million miles to his credit. But, the best thing i can say about these boys is that they will wait for me to catch up, everytime. ? Yep, i'm proud to carry their boots. Back to the RR. Thanks for the indulgence..... We make it to Moab, and our trailer B&B and get some rest for the next day's marathon. It gets warm in Moab, so we set out early to try and beat the heat. You ride the WRT in a loop, choosing to enter near Moab, or at the entrance to Canyonlands, some 25 miles north of Moab. You would think that smart people would ride it from north to south, so that they would finish close to their B&B and large supplies of water and beer. We aint smart. This is the second time for Jim and I on the WRT and both times we've done it the "wrong" way. Oh, well. This is partly due to a couple of climbs that, at least the first time on the trail, seemed to be pretty hard if you came from the north. Ben (the Cap'n), Rob and Chris Chris and Gary You dont see Chris smile in his online pics much. Unless he is riding. Stands to reason. We are about an hour into the ride and had already gotten separated. Maybe due to lack of directions that when you get to the fork in the road, go left, not right. However, when you get to this particular fork, the right is an incredible set of switchbacks called Schafer Switchbacks. And, you know, you just have to go see. Up on Shafer (on the left). To the bottom right, you see the correct road that makes up the White Rim Trail. These hills were all created by the two rivers eroding them away over time. Above us in this picture is a large mesa, known as Canyonlands. A few miles into the ride and we pull over for water, catch up, etc. The drop to the bottom right is probably about 600 feet. From where they are standing, they dont know they are on an outcropping ? Sometimes the only shade is that of your trusty steed. Here Chris is enjoying the girth of Flames. Several more miles of sand, silt, gravel, boulders, a nice long and steep climb and we find the shade of a bathroom. Aint many trees out here. These pics show you how tough WRT is. Those are some fine riders sitting there looking hagard. Except for the Capn. He is the youngster and appears to be in better shape. We make it off Hog's Back and down to a wide spot in the road. It is here that we find a group of Boy Scouts with shade, sandwiches and ICE CREAM!!! So nice in 100 degree weather! 135 miles, one river of 3 feet deep sand, another series of switchbacks and we are back in Moab, looking for liquids! Oh, there might have been some muddy spots, too I think we finally tuckered the little feller out

ok, I'll try and answer seriously: I don't for one instant believe that visas will be needed for schengen residents to enter the uk ( mostly cos the shengen area would reciprocate in kind, but also because it wasn't that way previous to the borders opening in '92. The Uk never signed or ratified the schengen agreement of 1985 but still didn't need visas there is no reason for that to change) It will be neccessary however to have a valid passport whereas previously a national identity card was sufficient, this is already in place. The insurance question will deend on brexit negotiations and agreements, there is no real need for this to change, it's just that the uk will have to negotiate with each individual country rather than being able to use a blanket "EU" agreement. but obviously one of the many details that we will need to ;ook into before comitting. Free mobile roaming... umm... I am old enough, so you certainly bloody welll are! to remember a time before mobile phones existed and I certainly don't need one, if the cost is prohibitive then we'll manage without. as for why they want to do a uk trip, the reasons are various; There is a certain fascination within the french psyche with Britain, and all things British. we are reputed to be a little odd, quirky, individualist, not to say bizarre and god forbid, gentlemanly! these are obviously stereotypes but the idea is there. This particular group find themselves with the possibility of exploring a foreign land in the company of a native, who will help them, or so they believe, avoid any "faux pas" or communication problems, who is used to riding on the wrong side of the road and all the other anomalies that make us "so British". the French are, on the whole not a very adventurous people, and don't need to be as they have beaches and mountains galore in their own country and if they feel the urge to go abroard then french polynesia or Mayotte enable them to get exoctic whilst remaing at home within their own administrative framework. Posibly more importantly thir language is not universal, where ours is. The pyrenees belong to them, as do the alps, the jura, the massif centrale etc etc and have already been done forwards, backwards and inside out. They have no interest whatsoever in going into Germany ( forgiven yes, but not forgotten...) other than to have a go on the autobahn. I have singularly failed to spark any interest in a run to the nurburgring for example. dunno if that makes sense

Chopped liver.

You silly man, you're forgetting that I live here, what could be more attractive

oh come on... cats are fair game... I used to know someone who even had some recipes...

Never liked Meatloaf much, but enjoyed his acting. Never heard of the other band.

I seem to have spent the day doing something but not too sure what. What day is it anyway?

Working.

None of that shite

Tomorrow is beer day, it's the only day I have a drink really so I look forward to it. Apart from that I may jack up my car to see if I can find an annoying rattle.

He has been in France too long. There are a number of words that come to mind but "pufta", "boner biter" and "turd burglar" are not PC anymore so let's not blacken the name of our old friend (and indeed the friend of any guy who winks at him in a public lavatory), Moon, the bum loving cunt.

I'd have to go for the meat dish.

Glad this thread isn't about the fat singer.

Your plan sounds doable Chris although I've no idea why you want to go to Brighton, it's just full of queers standing around on the beach with thongs on . Cheddar gorge is nice but might be a bit of a let down compared with the Gorge du Tarn, Verdon etc I would be more than happy to guide you around the Cotswolds and Bath.

and the bridge is free now ???????

Me and Mandi were riding to Bath to see the daughter when she was at uni. We took her and my son down to Cheddar Gorge on the bikes on the back roads. Well worth a look. Bet @boboneleg could point you in the right direction.

Is it made in Taiwan?

Fool me once, shame on you

Am I seeing the original news post after our conversation?

The Skoda is fucked before it gets to the Welshman?

They'd love this culture Chris.......

I've never been to wales, but "hard blokes" could have two meanings!

As the topic creator and idea giver, I think it's fair to say I'm not against a two or three night stay, but I'm sleeping in a hotel room regardless of weather season. I say this with warranted alarm, since I've been presented with pictures and video evidence of what you brits consider a "rally" and I do not wish to partake in winter sleeping in a muddy field with no access to toilets or complimentary breakfast, nor summer sleeping in a hot tent with no AC in the Andaluz summer. Adventuremotorcycles.net first meet must be a class act in which I drunkly stumble to my slumber in comfort. ?

I reckon you're right, but not in wool, he's more a man made fibre sort of guy.

dont have any road tax to pay here... no mot for bikes neither... just sayin like...

So, where was I? Oh, yes. After getting back to their respective homes, the AGALOS tribe finds out that Jim was successful in spreading Billy's ashes on top of Engineer Pass, on a little side point of the main road. This was after being knocked off Imogene by a thunder storm, with lightning strikes dangerously close by. Of course, we started planning the following year's trip, again to Colorado, with discussion on how many to invite the next time. Jim's trips seem to attract riders like flies on a KTM. ? Over that winter break, we find out from out good ol buddy and honorary pack leader Big John Davis, that he was having a sign made up to commemorate the location and the event. Some of you here know Big John and if you really know him, you know that the gruff ol persona he presents online is nothing like real life. In real life, this nearly 7 foot giant has a heart scaled to his proportions. We now had a theme for 2017 - erecting a sign in Billy's honor, named "Odom Point". Jim gets cabin fever during the harsh (?) winters in Tennessee, so long about Nov/Dec he starts obsessing over the next summer's ride. Each year has to be bigger than the previous year, in location, experiences, and whatever trouble we can get in to. This trip was going to be special for 3 reasons - 1. erecting the Odom Point sign, 2. our English brother of another mother would be with us, and 3. our long time buddy who has been fighting health issues, wanting to do "one last ride" with the gang. Now, if you know me, you know i hate planning things, but only to the nth degree. I usually start with "where are we going?". Followed by what's the curviest way to get there, coupled with "have we been here before" Out of that falls a sort of plan. Most of my enjoyment comes from riding with those OCD friends and being able to tell them "I dont know" when they ask what's tomorrow's details. I mean, its my vacation and i just aint going to toe any lines. Finally, July 2017 arrives, along with that Limey, Chris Jones. I pick him up at the airport late in the day, and head home. By the time we get there, we've already started changing the plan. Rather than get a couple of hours of sleep, then heading out across the desert in the heat, we pack up and head out after midnite. Not a problem for Chris as his body clock is 8 hrs ahead and its morning to him. But, it was challenging for me and after almost falling off the bike near Mohave, we decide its caffeine time (at 4 am). We make it to our rendezvous with the third Cali idjit, Bip A couple of stops out in the Mohave Desert The three of us rode to Flagstaff for the first overniter, finding a great campground north of town. Gary and Chris enjoying Valley of the Gods Both Gary and Chris can be considered Fine F*cking Riders! Chris has raced enduros in England very successfully. Gary just has years of dirt riding. So in Valley of the Gods, a 17 mile dirt road runs through it. Which means those two take off like bats out of hell, and i did my best to stay within an hour of them. When i was getting back close to the main highway, i cam around a corner that i knew was tricky, having been there before. Sure enough, looking at one set of tracks i can tell that a rider had come around the blind corner, not knowing that it was a decreasing radius. The tracks slid out to the edge of the road, before correcting and continuing. A 100 yards down the road these two stood laughing. I pulled up asking "who missed the corner?", knowing it was probably Chris. Due to the signs that an amazing save had been made! Gary (Bip) in his element The gang meets up in Lake City, CO before heading up into the passes to play. At this point it is me, Chris, Bip, Jim, Blair, and Larry. We head up into the mountains, headed west knowing we had to meet up with Chad and Steven in Ridgeway the following day. Jim then tells us that another rider from the east was going to be joining us. It was starting to look like a parade! Top of Engineer Pass We spend that night in a BLM campground (free!) between Animas Forks and Silverton. The next morning, our east coast rider shows up while we are packing, finds out we are spending that night near Ridgway and takes off for Telluride where he has a friend. The rest of us pack up, decide to head back to Lake City, then go play on some of the Colorado BDR before getting to Ridgway. Finally, everyone meets up at a campground north of Ridgway, as planned. We have Chad, Steven, Rob and Ben Proffit. We are up to 10 riders and JIm has a glazed look in his eye?. Its at this point everyone gets introduced around (we all know each other, except for Rob. He was the late arrival to the group. Turns out he had been speaking online with Jim, hinting around that he wanted to see what was so much fun. He had been doing the Iron Butt Rally (10 days of 1000 miles per day riding!!) and wasnt feeling it anymore. He figured that he could flush it out of his system by riding in the Rockies. Of course, he was back in Connecticut when he made this decision which meant doing an Iron Butt (1000 miles in one day) to get to us! Probably out of the whole AGALOS bunch, he shows the least intelligence. I mean who in their right mind would ride 1000 miles in one day? Personally, i wont do, and havent done, more than 950. We pop out of the campground the next morning, headed to Montrose. Why? Because there is a nice dirt trail that runs from Montrose over to Moab, which is where we wanted to ride the White Rim Trail. That is a 110 mile dirt trail around some mesas created by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Jim, me and my brother had ridden the Trail in 2010 and it was hell! High temps, sand, rocks, steep trails! So, of course we had to do it again. The video Jim did of that ride is the reason we all knew Chris Jones. And, Chris had always wanted to ride the Trial on the bike i rode in 2010. He was getting his wish. He maybe was also going to regret it. Jim's 2010 video -

That notoriously powerful UK sun puts most products to the test for sure.

At 5 minutes and 21 seconds in that video you will see a bloke in the 59 club who looks like Donald Trump in a leather jacket. That is Ted and today he turned up on his Honda Dullville and was showing me some pictures from old holidays we have been on as a group that he has dug out whilst bored in lock down.

Then it’s all good, Manson was just misunderstood. Me and “the family” are having a party this weekend and you are all invited. Helter Skelter yo!

Looks like a Pacific Coast Hit a late 80's Ninja up on a one night stand without protection.

Two weeks on bikes, traveling around the western states had hooked us, permanently. We couldnt wait for 2007 and our next vacation. Sometime after our Yellowstone trip, my brother started communicating with a fellow in Tennessee, who was either buying a jacket from him, or selling my brother one. I never remember. What i will always remember is the story of their face to face meeting. The TN fellow, Frijole (aka Jim Bean) had a trip planned to ride out to Washington State to see friends, take pics and just travel. Frijole road a 1200 GS, the newer model of Ewan and Charlie's bikes. So, that gave him instant traveler cred. As Frijole's route would take him past my brother's place near Missoula, MT, he was invited to stop in for a visit. Neither Nick (my brother), nor Frijole thought much about two strangers meeting up in the middle of a trip, but their wives had different opinions. Nick's wife was concerned that a mass murderer had been invited to stay with them, while Frijole's wife was petrified that the strangers in MT would cut his throat as he slept! Neither happened. Frijole showed up at my brother's, shared stories and swapped bikes and a lasting friendship was instantly created! At the time, the impact of this meeting could never have been predicted, but an annual tradition was created. One that only can be interrupted by famine, pestilence, pandemics, or larger plans. It was after this short meeting, Nick and Frijole started discussing a 3 man trip in 2007. If you know Frijole, you know that winters in TN drive him nuts as his riding days are impacted and being the excellent photog that he is, spare time is spent drooling over previous trip shots. The plan was hatched that he, my brother and i would get together the following summer and rider the west. Of course, being the big brother and an asshole, the winter comms between me and my brother always included questions about his internet lover he met on a motorcycle forum. Finally, July 2007 arrived and my brother thought it would be a great idea if he were to fly down, and the two of us ride bikes back to his place. Nick rode my Road King (a bike I had purchased from him several years before, neglected a little, and needing of some TLC) and i rode my new to me K1200S. We had a great time riding north, with stops in Sequoia Park, Yosemite Park, Lassen and Crater Lake. In MT, he switched the Road King to his K1200S, and off we went to meet Frijole in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Turns my stomach?