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Made mum a lemon cake, its nice i still can.

Thought i dint have any found this one, i ran from the ohio state patrol in that blue wagon when i was 16,dint get away butt, made the second page of the dayton daily news i did. Loved that little red Toyota pickup, it would do 100 mph all day didnt matter how much shine was in the back.

We have been having some strange weather here, one day of sunshine then two days of rain and then three or four miserable overcast days. I was in shorts and tee shirts last year by the beginning of March...oh well last Wednesday 5th May the sun shone bright the temperature hit 32 degrees in the mountains and I must remember to find my Summer riding jacket. A couple of weeks back I had one of those days you try to forget but the wife wouldn't let me so for my birthday she bought me a new Go-pro, so last Wednesday was a good time to try it out, Got to learn a whole new stack of settings LOL. Getting fed up with You-Tube they have now decreed that my sampled bit of music that I have been using one way or another for some time is now covered by the copyright laws all 7 seconds of it and they even stuck a ban on one of my vids as the camera picked up a bit of music from a parked vans radio grrrr. There must be free alternatives somewhere out there. Anyway another 300kms was clocked up last week the video is from the first part of the trip as I only had a 32g memory card in it at the time.

I asked her this: "Did you get much resistance from family and friends when you said you that were going to attempt that journey? Cos something like that was unheard of......particularly for a young woman on her own! Not to mention the Bantam factor! The only thing it had in it's favour was it was very light to push!" She replied: "A BSA Bantam was recommended by the police motorbike mechanics in Chichester Police station, 1967 and CMW in Chichester had one, 2nd hand. So I bought it, never having ridden a bike before; sat once pillion and was petrified! I got the bike to enter a travel competition in a national newspaper, whether I can find it amongst my papers which I have just salvaged from storage I don't know, and my eldest sister and my Mother's best friend suggested I entered the Adventure category, since I was very experienced at hitch hiking. But that I realised would not be permitted, so the next best thing, and what I could afford was a motorbike, and to take it to Russia, who were just opening up to tourists, but not individuals on a motorbike it would seem. Everyone said I would have to have a KGB officer riding pillion so they knew where I was!! The Russians refused me a visa, on the grounds that the distances were too great, and I threw their letter on the kitchen floor, unfortunately infront of a witness, a school friend, and said: I'll show those bloody reds what distances are, I'll go to India!! And everyone, me included, decided I'd make it to Venice and be back in time for Christmas. I made it to Paris, I was in floods of tears and wanted to go home, but there is such a thing as ... PRIDE! so I continued, and continued, and continued. Watch this space and wait for the possibility of a book. My Father had died so I only had my Mother to contend with when I said I was off to India. Oh no you are not! Oh yes I am! I then very petulantly stated I would sell the bike, make a loss, blame her and I would hitch hike to India. At which she picked up a cloth and said: Right, darling, which part of the bike can I polish up for you! And thus began the saga. A Bantam was recommended as being light enough to be picked up and put into a truck by two people, as I found in Australia. and it was the original meccano set, so even I could look after it"

An 80 year old lady has turned up on Facebook with an amazing story to tell.....her name is Mary Sievier. She was unknown to the overland motorcycling community and her story has never been told. A woman going RTW in 1967 on her own on a BSA Bantam 175cc! As someone who owned a Bantam it was touch and go whether it would get you into the next postcode......let alone the other side of the world! And she still has the bike! Here's a brief summary in her own words: "Left UK October 1967 on BSA Bantam 175cc bound for who knows where, but wiv a bit of luck, India. 3 years later made it to Bombay. Worked Istanbul 6 months, saw a lot of Turkey, across Iran and into Afghanistan. Offered 3 admin jobs, took one with an American Foundation and stayed 2 years. Fantastic life! 1970 drove a landrover back to Dublin and picked up a Peugeot 504 from the French factory and delivered that to Afghanistan. On with m/cycle to Bombay, across Pakistan. Shipped to East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Belgian Congo, Zambia, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) South Africa. Shipped to Australia. Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, (somersaulted over handlebars and bruised leg badly, rode on to Darwin and on Doc's orders told not to ride for 6 weeks so got work in lawyers' office, on the strength of having been a Court shorthand writer) Alice, Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney back to Melbourne. Canberra to Sydney and shipped to NZ after 5 months in Oz. 9 months all over NZ, working living in looking after children. 1973 Feb? shipped to Singapore, rode all over Malaysia, Thailand, into southern Laos, offered work but saw trouble brewing, back into Thailand and shipped to Hong Kong. Running out of funds. 3 years later 1976 shipped bike to Los Angeles, flew over later, and rode in a straight line to Charleston to ship bike back to UK, where bike took up squatters rights in my Mother's garage in Selsey, unfortunately to rust with age and a lot of salt in the air. RIP Bike awaiting a lot of tlc in a motorbike shop near Chichester. Bloody Sore Arse worn off, scarred shins and piles, a lot of fading memories, a book to be written perhaps. All part of life's rich pattern". I've been speaking to her and she's still full of life.......and planning to get the bike running again in order to ride it to the Oxford Overland event in September. @Slowlycatchymonkey @Grasshopper's Ride @Sofia.......this is someone you need to check out on FB! You can follow the conversation on the Adventure Bike Riders group page.

so, probably should go in Second Weekend in May thread, but i did mention checking out the new Harley Pan America here. Couldnt wait any longer, as the local dealer got two on Thursday. Friday, took a long lunch to go drool over new bikes (even if they are HDs) The first one in was a black Special Edition (includes ride modes, center stand, and other things i forget for now). That bike had a deposit, but the dealer never got an answer from the deposit holder, so as of yesterday (Saturday) it was available to anyone. Salesman took me and my buddy in the shop and showed us their demo, the orange and white one. In pics, those colors never looked appealing. In person, everything changes. The front doesnt looks a wonky and the orange is a great color! Went back yesterday (saturday) and got a quick pavement only ride on the demo. Very impressive effort, considering this being a entirely new genre for HD (ignoring Buell for the moment). They should be proud of their efforts. Motor is good and i'm looking forward to riding it again in two weeks, in sport mode. Initial thoughts: Cracking up on the HD labeled Anakee Adventure tires. Like that the wheels are same size as on the GS, so tire options are plenty. Engine noise is throaty and pleasing. Lots of buttons on the handgrips, will take a while to learn them all. Fonts on digital display are a little small, but you can use of the buttons to scroll thru the info, with is showing in the center of the display with each push. Quality seems really good. Handle bars remind me of a KTM - narrow than a GS. It feels lighter than a GS, especially when sitting on it and rocking it back and forth. Suspension felt soft, but i wasnt allowed to mess with many settings. I'm sure the Sport setting is nice and firm. The auto-lowering suspension was interesting and a great feature for height challenged. Dealer staff seem out of their element in trying to sell it. (Understandable, and not a complaint). We spent more time educating the salesman about why some features are on it. HD will use Revit gear, which looks really good. This is another point where the salesman was lost. During training on the bikes, gear and accessories, he was shocked about the price of the adventure gear. He is used to selling $200 -$300 jackets, and whatever assless chaps go for. I assured him that us Power Rangers generally dont have a problem spending $1500 to $2000 on good, safe riding gear (pants and jackets). overall, i would say the Pan America is 90% of a GS. That could change after the factory ride in two weeks.

That's an option......because obviously he isn't tied up in the Photographic Department like the rest of us!

Spoiler alert, the Cardinal did it. Only kidding, not read it.

lemon cake who said LEMON CAKE

Went for another drive this morning for the dog walk. This could become a habit. Learning more about my 4x4 all the time, which is good. Even though I live in the forest with endless land around me, it is really nice to see different trails and trees some days. Lucy also seems to be enjoying the new smells she finds on the fresh trails. A happy dog makes me happy!

Brilliant. Thanks for posting this even though it means I have to go on facebook and find out how to follow someone?! Got tickets for Overlander but dunno if im gonna be here cos its also the Eiffel trip date. She sounds like a character and a half! What a find, someone like that turning up is like finding buried treasure!

The internet never closes......it's not a case of closing the door and leaving work.

This woman has taken the stupidity of politicians to a new level. Hope that wasn't too political.

Charlotte in the Spring I have really been enjoying my new bike this Spring. Having the two worlds, gravel and street, has made it so I am on a motorcycle several times a week now. Charlotte, my 2020 Honda CB500F has been all over the Sunshine Coast now and April just flew by. Here are a few highlights of our Spring rides.

Internet rumour!

Looked like a flounce, smelled like a.....low tide to be honest.

Incomprehensible warning PM on the way! What you say Clive? Clive? Cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!

you fooking idiots .... im not flouncing

ahhh, thanks Mum! A big hug for you today and hope you enjoy your lemon cake.

Is it me or does @Grasshopper's Ride look really nice in that pic, mum agrees, 5 stars on the cute meter!

It takes a special type of lady to notice the hidden headlights of the custom fury option package on the plyMouth. Points off to Pa for going with the 360 instead of the 440, like the StateTrooper had.

OMG a flounce from six??? Come on man toughen up. You and extreme suit each other. Not in a bad way, in a comedy gold type of way. Dont be silly. If you hang around for the banter Ill show you my tits. Sorry I’m so lying but you get the sentiment.

xtreme ... thats all he banged on about on other forum , Labour this , Corbyn that ... Diane Abbot is a breath of fresh air ..blah blah blah

Wow, a journey of six years. But there again I suppose that's about right for a Bantam

Some people are amazing.

Thanks Pete, the hppy part will be hard, butt, at least i can give her a hug when we need it.

work whats wrong with you man ..its Sunday

You can go anywhere you like but the difference is now you choose not to instead of being told not

Had fun editing these, going for the old faded photo look, if that is a thing.....

word is they flew a new nurse in to inject the expats .... good luck

72 76

they were on bluey's in quadrophenia

76 a proper year for biking weather (it's been going downhill ever since)

1976.....in Babbacombe when I was touring the south coast!

I'm currently reading the Mondo Enduro book (got the dvd second hand as well last week), The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell (re-reading, about my 10th time) and finally trying to read The Perpetual Astonishment of Jonathan fairfax by Christopher Shevlin, but I am getting bored with that. I usually have a few books on the go and swap about.

Sounds like a Human Resource issue, Buck is good at HR gigs.

Those roads look amazing to ride. Beautiful landscape! There are lots of free music options out there for YouTube. YouTube even offer a whole bunch. In YouTube Studio if you are on your Dashboard on the left hand side you will see all your channel "tools", at the bottom is Audio Library with free stuff. Have fun with your new GoPro!

Someone asked her if she still rides motorcycles. She replied "Well I'm not really a motorcyclist". Incredible! I don't think she's really understood how groundbreaking this was. Same with Elspeth Beard really......cos nobody knew about her till 10 years ago or thereabouts. But Mary was 15 years before Elspeth.....and the world was a very different place in 1967 compared to 1982.

Nice one Tym

Spain is on amber at the moment so if Brits go they will have to self-isolate when they return (I think)

Another excellent vid. You really do walk the walk. Reeeespect

Went home for the first time in ages, stopping by my favourite hilltop cafe, bikers were quite happy to be allowed out. I left as they started to arrive: Then stopped by a local vineyard to try a few bottles of local wines: The bike was properly dirty, gave it a wash and rode it dry:

Today fuckall but talking to you, and staying dry

Are you calling me and Fred women

I'm not a woman at least i don't think. Now you know i have those boots and on my second pair after 5 years of off road abuse so not just a woman with them

Lol the only person I know with those boots is a woman

Why do you insist on such Gay footwear, get some mens boots ffs...............