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Got some piece of crap on the dyno today

My advice to Pedro his friend is to stay away from Brighton unless he wants a nice man to show him a room.

Think I've caught some sort of cold, feel awful, have had to go back to bed, annoyed cos I have a lot to do. Might wade around the internet spending money on stuff I dont need

Hours?

Busy eating pins.

No idea, it kept crashing the dyno computer as the exhaust was so fecking loud. Chris couldn't get a full power run done properly, I went home before the final outcome.

it is , nice area , found some nice tea/rooms cafes ... on old farms , all of em had campsites on em ... so could be Dorset van action .

Its that old saying if you take it you won't need it, hopefully

Yes it did

I dont think this Septembers weather is forcast to be bad as theres been talk of a scorcher at some point soon, but as we all know that can change in fairly short order in to a deluge. If you're 'friend' is about in the northeast let me know and I can lead the way on some very nice roads we aren't short of a good road up here

Well riding in the pissing rain is definitely annoyingly in my wheelhouse so brace yourself September is completely variable, it is the month we can have a second summer or freeze in the pissing rain. If your friend would like to wear jeans and waterproofs it is completely doable but they would be wise to also pack a merino wool base layer (which can be worn under normal clothing) and a mid layer like a north face Thermoball. Thermoballs whilst expensive are quite remarkably as warm wet as dry which is a fantastic bonus if you’re in a downpour for too long. The combinations available of these items layered together allows for the different temps you may well find in September and will make riding in normal clothes comfortable. As for the boots yes you definitely need decent waterproof boots but as it can be hot make sure they are also breathable or it can be uncomfortable when the sun makes an appearance. As for the type of waterproofs you use that depends on how much money you want to spend but the most important part is that they give a close fit around the neck so water pearls off your lid onto the waterproof and not inside it, that your gloves fit well and easily with the cuffs and most importantly they seal particularly well around your boot as this stops the upwards creep of water that invariably finds it’s way back down into your boot. I carry a very long piece of string and midget sized embroidery clips (link below) to use as a make shift washing line in hotel rooms for clothing that cannot be tumble dried, I tend to try and tie it across a radiator to speed up drying. Ideally if in no rush and the forecast is crap I just stay another night in the same place so my clothes dry thoroughly and the weather has passed. Putting on wet clothes in the morning if it’s cold is not a great feeling. It is sensible to carry a second pair of gloves as once soaked they don’t dry out easily. Sometimes time constraints give you no option but to ride in torrential rain (like having to get to a ferry for a particular time) but a lot of the time so long as you don’t plan to cover huge distances in a day then you can simply check the forecast and plan your departure around the least % chance of rain. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Redamancy-Quilting-Coloured-Binding-Suitable/dp/B09FY3J32Z/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?adgrpid=51981171983&hvadid=259083097916&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006886&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6646502311475529478&hvtargid=kwd-354482821807&hydadcr=28149_1724799&keywords=quilting%2Bclips&qid=1692175946&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1 edit- it is helpful if your waterproof trousers can be put on without taking your boots off, it’s almost guaranteed when the ground is sodden you end up tapping your foot on the floor mid waterproof tussle. A simple carrier bag over your boots lets the waterproof slide on very fast rather than sticking to the non slip sole.

Look fine once you've got a top box on.

My friend needs to stop by a proper wine merchant before sleeping in the garage. He's not great with knives either, except to make sandwiches or cut prosciutto.

Have been looking at routes to Brighton next week. Thinking of taking the BSA as Mr Slowly wants to try out a new luggage configuration meaning for the first time ever I will be carrying nothing except a bank card and my phone. Whoop whoop. Have even scouted out a pub with a view so if the weathers good (fatal words I know) there may even be a picture or two! No promises, pigs might fly

Or he's had a power cut and drowned in a tsunami of melted strawberry ice-cream

Said arsehole pug engined Mini was sorted today and yes I was supplied the wrong thermostat. Now I can concentrate on getting Mandis Cmax ready to sell.

Did it arrive in a van?

The cafe at Langham Wine ?

We would be reasonably comfortable with the possible rise next year, but my wife does not get a (fuck know why ) full pension, she is about £150 down on what I get. I wouldn't hold my breath about £ rising against the €

Could push me up to around €1000 a month.......so I'm fine with that. If the Pound can get stronger against the Euro then that would boost it even more.

It will be a help.......but everything goes up and swallows the pension rise...................... even Greggs sausage rolls are now £1.45p

Seen this @Clive? State Pension Increase 2024?

Next you'll be saying you saw Noah's arc

No van involved

Luggage is back at hotel , don’t ride round with it … only there and back home , not a drama to be honest can’t feel the rucksack once on bike

Great stuff Bob, could be a BOTM in there too.

I've spoken to a few plod at cafes and petrol stations and can only think of one arse. Very reluctant to talk and then started reciting rules of the road rather than talking about the covert R1 he was on.

Finally @Pedro, I mean, his friend, is going to be educated in the best things in life and see the light!! I have recommended @Pedro, oh bugger, did it again! I mean, his friend, takes waterproofs, boots and all the rest, but there is a slight reluctance to accept the inevitable, it will rain!

I knew that, why do you think I drive a jaaaag? Now don't mind me whilst I help myself to your bike

I was doing a double visit last weekend, Friday, Saturday at The Wiltshire Motorcycle Rally at Salisbury Rugby Club, followed by riding to north Devon on Sunday morning to visit my son and his family. I packed light (for me) and tried to cram everything into a top box, roll bag and tank bag. I was determined not to use panniers. I seem always hit super rush hour traffic whenever I have panniers and I was determined not to be stuck and unable to squeeze through gaps due to being wider than usual. I made the right decision. I left home and an hour later I arrived at my mate’s house to find that upon hearing that I was staying narrow, he was going to do the same so he could follow me through those same gaps in the traffic. He was right to copy me! We set off, first thing we crossed the Thames on the Dartford bridge straight into our first queue. The bridge has a 50mph average speed camera zone on it. As we were filtering between very slow moving lorries, 50 was not an option anyway, so not having to try and maintain a slower speed than you want to travel. The motorway opened up and after about a mile we hit the first 70mph section and it had just normal traffic in it. It was a warm day so this at least meant we could cool off a bit now. Anyone who uses the M25 will know it is filled with speed cameras on the overhead gantries and the ones that don’t still have the road markings as if they have to fool people into sticking to the limit. Very soon we saw a reduction on the overhead limits, a sign that there is a queue ahead and sure enough we were back to squeezing between vehicles for mile after mile. I made use of personality, hooter and headlights and most drivers moved over when they saw us coming through. When we finally got off the motorway we hit some beautiful and deserted country roads. I had only had my breakfast so far and I wanted to get some food in me before we pitched tents at the rally. I’d had a look before leaving and knew there were a few roadside cafes on the A30 near the rally site and we pulled into one. My mate ordered a bacon, egg and black pudding baguette, no style or finesse. His arrived instantly, my all day breakfast took ages, I suppose the clue was in the name. A man, who may or may not have been the cook stood telling us that Wednesdays was bike night. He said this while standing next to the sign that said the very same thing, so he was probably right. The site was in a rugby club field within walking distance of Old Sarum, the iron age hillfort that went on to become a Roman camp, a castle, a town complete with cathedral and finally deserted when everyone pissed off and built Salisbury instead. Some sort of argument with the castle guards I read somewhere. I said to my mate that when he saw a green volcano in the distance we would almost be there. The site is right on the edge of Salisbury, housing estate on one side, countryside on the other. We gained entry after me not finding the entrance gate first go and riding round the block. This was because they didn’t have a gate, just a section of fence they removed when they noticed you pull up. I just said our name and numbers, no paper tickets, a large man put a lime green paper wrist band on us both. One each I mean, not the same one like Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtiss in The Defiant Ones. We then had to ride through the stalls around to the other side of the marquee where another large man was waiting, camping was where they told you, no free-for-all as they were worried about how much room they had. I pulled up next to the man and I swear he pointed at the lines of tents and asked if I could see the bike. I replied, with, ‘What, the bike next to that other bike by the bikes?’. This went right over his head, so I asked which one and he named a colour this time which narrowed it down to 3 or 4. We parked up and I started putting my tent up, slowed by the fact my mate pinched my mallet when I wasn’t looking and used it himself for his own tent. I noticed that we seemed to be the only people in the whole place not wearing a leather waist coat covered in top and bottom rockers, must be a local fashion in Wiltshire. My mate's latest main bike, some sort of Triumph. We headed over to the rugby club and got some drinks, I was melting from trying to push pegs into tock hard ground with my bare hands and needed the fluid. My Guinness looked a bit off, but perhaps they use different water here. They had those special glasses that flex when you are carrying them. I don’t think I got back to my table with full drinks once over the weekend. Then we heard the first bit of music, so headed over to the marquee, we got the table right at the front. Everyone else seemed to have to sit together based on club membership and bicep size. I have to say there wasn’t one bad band, they were all cracking. I did worry about all the houses surrounding us, but not to worry, all music stopped at 10pm which was weird but understandable. I had a wander off between drinks into the car park to look at Old Sarum as the sun was going down. I decided I was going to walk up to it in the morning and have a wander around. The next morning I was awoken about 6:30am by the firing up of an open Harley pipe a few inches from one of my ears. Fuck it I thought, I didn’t want a lie in anyway. I got up and walked to the coffee stall and bought a cup of coffee and chatted to the stall owner. I asked if he was local and was he there when the Russians left the nerve agent lying about (Novichok). He said he had been, they had all had to be lined up and be tested by men in hazmat suits and then wash all clothes and bedding a few times before they got the all clear. I wasn’t worried about any left over nerve agent though, my pants would protect me! I drained my coffee add walked up to the ‘non-gate’. Someone on the front tent shouted at me to just lift it out of the base and put it back afterwards. I walked up the road towards Old Sarum, it is small looking when you have no scale to judge it by, there are no people, vehicles or houses nearby as you walk towards it. My tents is somewhere there near the caravans. I soon got to the main entrance and started walking around the outer rampart. I met quite a few dog walkers, so watched where I stepped. Soon I realised this thing was bigger than I thought and walking right round the outside was beyond my hung over but beautifully marked body. I got to the back entrance bridge and decide to cut across the inner part of the fort and the castle and go back out at the main entrance. There was a paper sign saying some rights of way weren’t available due to an event, but I figured that they would be marked up or taped off and headed in anyway. Once inside I saw how big the place was. The foundation stones of the old demolished cathedral are showing in the turf, and the Norman castle mound dominates the centre of the iron age hill fort. I walked around it and found a few white tents for the event which turned out to be some sot of jousting shindig. No one was up though, so I quietly took a few pictures.

They must alert me and I'll meet up with them. Can you get rid of the 'friend' and just send Sofia

You might be ok as you have a cylinder in front of each foot keeping them dry LOL

Tank museum then pool quay to see how my boat is coming along .. nearly ready .

It was then I noticed a man walking towards me. Another early riser I thought, but no, he was wearing a sort of security/doorman type get up. Apparently I wasn’t supposed to be in here, the footpaths were closed. I said I was leaving now anyway, but there were no closure signs, just some dodgy and vague paper notice. He said that was it. I said that one thing I know about is how to close a footpath properly and that wasn’t it, but he didn’t really pay attention as he walked me out of the main gate. More to follow.

@yen_powell spotted this morning?

Go on, inform this ignorant twat what that will be?

I don't know, two days ago it was all "September's great in the UK", the ferry's booked and suddenly it's all about the sure rain now. Luckily I have my yellow rain pants to try on.

I don't know about wine merchants but he'll have no trouble finding fucking winos!

Pinky under the bottom of the glass to provide support, remaining fingers serve only as an anti tip-over with minimum squeeze.

Tidy mush!

I'll translate for you @XTreme , that'll be loveleeee butt

Yeah bruv innit………

Good old road side burger van … breakfast bap , loads of red sauce .