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After hosting our British buddy, Chris Jones in the US several times now, we thought it was time to return the favor and head over to Merry Ol and see what was so horrible about it that our forefathers snuck out a couple of years ago. First, it was time for language lessons, but the only ones offered seemed to be in English. We were confused as to how it was going to work out but soldiered on anyways. First order of preparation was to get some fancy stickers done up, memorializing the trip: These were especially designed by a buddy of ours so as not to irritate anyone still harboring hard feelings about that whole tea thing in Boston. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the English have airports and roads and things. However, we arent too sure why their cars appear to be manufactured backwards: (how do you all not run into each other!!) We arrived in London the day before the hottest temps ever recorded, 104 F, which is something like 40, or 50, or who knows in that whole C thing. Bet you now wish you were as addicted to ice in your drinks like we are! . It was interesting to see how everyone was reacting to the heat like we do when it finally rains in Southern California - no one knew what to do. The guy in the backwards driving van took us to Woking, where we were going to pick up the rental bikes from RoadTrip Motorcycle, UK. As that wasnt going to happen until the next day, we had booked rooms at The Station hotel and pub, our first time at a real pub. (couldnt find the air conditioner, unfortunately) Our buddy, Chris, who had ridden down from the Lake District. They dont look that heavy, even wrapped in plastic. Was sure glad you laminate your bills, especially when it was as hot as it was! small cars, small streets, buildings close together. it was time to find some countryside!

A break in the weather seemed like to good an opportunity to miss this morning so I decided to ride down to Lanner to have a look around Cornwall Kawasaki Center. It's a dealership I have never been to before and a decent 35 mile ride from my place. A joy to be out in the sunshine for a change, the road were relatively clear until I got to Truro which was gridlocked as is to often the case. I think specifically today was the last day of school for several schools and obviously the Christmas shopping factor. Once I was through that snarl up I headed down towards Falmouth, until I got to the Treluswell roundabout. As a side point I think they should change the name of Treluswell to what's that fucking smell because I don't know what it is and you can't miss it, stinking! At Treluswell you turn right and follow the road to Lanner which is the last bastion of civilisation before you hit the Zombie apocalypse that is Redruth. Go there on a Saturday night and you would understand. I have to say I was very impressed with the salesman at the Kawasaki center, he was very good at his job, after 10 mins or so of supposedly idle chat, he new I had no finance on my bike, where and who I bought it from, how much I paid and many other details about me before I even realised it. Don't mind but it struck me he was a very slick operator and very good at his job. Even after I finished looking around and went to leave he was keen for me to stay for a coffee. There were lots of nice bikes there, several I could have bought and been very happy with, even though I only went for a look and reason to have a ride. The hade a lovely old Z1000 but at £12K it was a tad spendy but I do recognise that is what they fetch nowadays. I was more surprised at the GT550, the despatch riders darling, for £3995, that strikes me as quite a lot for an old workhorse no matter how good. I can't see that it ever was a poster bike. They did have a Ducati Scrambler that took my eye, very nice looking bike. A very smart BMW1200GS. Respect to Pedro but that bike is just way to big for me, much as i like that sort of thing I could not imagine riding something that big daily. I had a long loving look at the new Z900RS, if I had the disposable cash and followed my heart I could see myself on one. Just the cut of my jib. Finally what would probably be the best upgrade for me was a traded in Versys 650, 6 months old with 3k on it and every extra. See how good matey was at his job I am even talking like I want to change and I genuinely don't. I know it's not popular here but I do like the soft friendly non intimidatory nature of my Himalayan. It has to frugal bimble factor which appeals. Its paid for and I can afford to run it, it is guaranteed for over 2 more years it would be daft to change. I blame Pedros brilliant Moroccan ride report for planting the seed of doubt that I need to do more long distance adventures. Now I am off to have a doze before work to night and think of anything but bikes.

Took my Eldest daughter out for breakfast. Dads not so bad sometimes.

Fitted some bar risers, Cnc machined and made in UK They were a bit fiddly to line up correctly but the bars are in a much better position now. I suppose the proof will be when I ride it but that’s not going to happen until April

After picking up the bikes, we headed out of town. At our very first roundabout, I was quickly reminded why we were glad Chris was there to lead the group. We have some here but have been trained to look left as we enter them, not right. . (I'm happy to report that in 9 days or so of riding all over England and Scotland, we maybe only had one or two "incidents" with traffic circles. And our whole time there, we only heard two car horns. Once at us, and once at someone else.) The first part of the day was on the motorway, thru Birmingham, as we had to get to Hagg's Bank that evening. Living in a desert area, it was really nice to ride thru all the green countryside, with large rolling fields. Stopping for drinks in the heat was an eye opener as most places claimed their ice machines werent working. And, what cold drinks we got were slightly chilled at best. Probably due to the huge demand by everyone, vendors couldnt keep the drinks chilled long enough to get cold. A little north of Birmingham, we finally got off the motorway and onto the fun roads. It was quickly apparent why European riders enjoy races like the Isle of Man and the Northwest TT. The secondary roads are narrow, curvy and have no sight lines! However, they have excellent tarmac and very well trained drivers. We quickly got comfortable enough to maintain our speed around basically blind corners, reminding ourselves to stay LEFT! I just love the fact that you all just paved whatever cart path served the little villages we rode thru, with no attempt to widen or straighten them. Definitely my type of riding! After our indoctrination to TT riding style, we finally stopped to do some touristy stuff: After stretching our legs, it was time to head up further into the hills to the site of the highest pub in England (I'm told). We then headed back down off the mountain, finishing the first day at the Haggs Bank Bunk House. It was a great first full day in England. Weather was very warm, but nothing we dont have back home. The scenery was incredible! The cold drinks werent , and we made all the roundabouts ok!

I went to the BMF show in Peterborough many years back on my old Triumph Trophy 900. It had been pissing down with rain for several days and for some weird reason they decided that the bike parking was on a grassy waterlogged field. I got directed to my space and put the sidestand down and leaned the bike over, but the stand just sunk into the ground! I was near the end of a long row of bikes and I could see the domino effect! Somehow I managed to haul the bike back upright, bearing in mind that my footing was on wet grass and the Trophy weighed in at 245Kg, and got the bike onto the main stand, but even that sunk into the ground a bit. Fortunately the bike was still upright at the end of the day when we left! I don't know which twat thought it would be a good idea to have the bike parking on that field!

no fucking way Sherlock

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFtKBgJ4/

When you've started watching a series and a family member see's what you're watching and says "Oh I'd like to watch that" and even though you're quite far into the first hour you go back to the beginning and dutifully sit through the first bit again. Then something happens and viewing ceases for it to end up in a pile of other half watched things you can't finish because apparently you're now watching them with someone else. Screw family TV time, long live individual screens and personalised content

That's because they live in water and we all know that you have an aversion to water don't you

Get her a washboard and a mangle, that shit will last forever.

She was off to do horse stuff so that will be burnt off When we got in the cafe I told her to take her coat off, she said no because people wouldn't know she was a proper equestrian, suppose part of being 17 is giving a fuck what strangers in the cafe think

I’ve been out in the garage, everything was wet from condensation, borrowed Ersilia’s blow dryer for the Sled

Now your getting the idea! I should be a marriage counsellor.

You don’t know what he had to do to get that spice mix.

Seeing as he's sadly just popped his clogs, two vids

Today was a super cold start again at -25c, but start we did. The 4Runner struggled today, but he got going, the van seemed to have it a bit easier. It was a beautiful sunrise as we started the day. The van looks like it is driving into the sun...

really... your in fucking Spain

My boy has dropped out of uni because he struggling with it, bit pissed off myself with him but that's his choice. he doesn't want to come home, for some reason he loves Bristol says he feels like he's been released living there and is laying low in his dorm until the contract ends next September.

If you end up trading, kindly ask for an address so I can send them my commissions invoice.

I was talking about your next likely suggestion stop after the Strom wasn't a hit. The sort of bike you meet the nicest people on, well until some deserted building rotting carcass chaser bought one.

Tis for an over thinker like me My Mrs knows, I was talking to her about it, her response was buy it, she knows which way the winds blows with me. We have been together 30 years.

March is a great time in Death Valley. Usually only cold at nite and very pleasant during the day!

That used to really piss me off! Fortunately it doesn't happen here no matter how cold or damp it gets!

That looks like a 3000 calorie breakfast , perfect for young 'uns

Not that you'd eat it....its got vegetables in it Not your usual turkey dinosaurs and alphabites

This is currently my favourite song to have pop up on my helmet while on the bike. On the very rare occasions I turned the music on in Morocco to fight a little tiredness this music started as I was stopping for a drink of water, and couldn’t help but do a little jig around the bike. Wasn’t aware I was being watched by a kid laughing so hard he almost fell of his donkey

if there was one of these closer she could beat our washing on a rock.

Michelle is in artic weather wright now... Funny how it works in Canada.. The west coast and the east coast are relatively mild... After you pass the mountains... Jet stream and cold air being denser it acts like a bowl and sucks cold artic air from the artic...

At those temp the snow behaves like... Almost like dust or talken powder.. If the winds pick it up.. You can run and a few km down the road and run in to a clowd... you loose sight of everything....

Shout that out loud as you try to wrestle a bloke to the floor in a bar and I guarantee he will run away.

I'm quite proud of myself. Woke up at 5am, busting for a pee, but managed to stay in bed until nearly 7am before I had to leg it to the bog! That was very nearly an entire night when I didn’t have to get up during the night for a pee! Gotta be some kind of record!

The big problem with uni is that the first year is fairly easy and it's all a big adventure, then it ratchets up a bit in the second year and the third year can be pretty harsh, depending on the course. My youngest had a real hard time in year 3 and was close to throwing the towel in several times! He stuck it out because he said that he didn't want that debt with nothing to show for it, but it really ground him down.

One of my nieces is renting a place in Bristol with her boyfriend. They had a hell of a job finding somewhere that would take them on, as her boyfriend works full time, but is technically self-employed! Costing them a small fortune for a pretty basic flat!

If you can aford one, go for a ride on a GS, post 2015, and see how you like it. Then ride a Strom 650 and see if that’s also a fit for travelling. I think a Strom 650 would be my choice for a cheaper bike compared to mine, the modern ones appeal to me.

As the aesthetics are important to him (ie he's not a fan of the plastic look) I reckon they won't be top of the list. Could imagine Saul talking himself back into BMW!

@Six30.....have you seen "Only Murders in the Building" with Steve Martin and Martin Short? Just started watching it on Disney and it's very good!

As in it not being some third world Parts Bin Special?

Yeah I don't really care if people like it or not, I do, but the point for me is that I think I would want something more powerful in the future. I want to start traveling a little and building up the distance in time and there is the seed to buy something more powerful eventually. To give the salesman I met today his due, he saw it I must be unintentionally giving off some sort of a I want a bigger bike vibe.

Because Robert Palmer was mentioned, And because someone mentioned a great bass track, merry Xmas.

Thats great news. Congrats to both of them. My eldest who is home for Christmas announced it was just easier for him to live here and as the landlord had increased their rent by £100 unless he reduced it back down he'd be moving back end of June. Love having my boys home but it's amazing how quickly you get used to not running around after everyone else... looking into buying a place in Bristol

They do those for the Monster models but i'm not sure they'd fit the Sled. Apart from that I wanted a vario type riser so that I could pull the bars back a bit as well as get some height. Plenty of room on the cables to do the job.

This is what it's like when I go into town.......Dagos legging it!

be ok till you wet the bed

Aways find myself wondering what they died of when it's deliberately omitted.

Just seen Terry Hall from the Specials died .... Rip wonder if he is in a Ghost Town ?

Annoying cunt!

Don't forget the £20.00 tax for invading Bristol from the Welsh valleys

Diner today was a vegetarian tagine sheppards pie combination, for vegetarian friends. Was nice!