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After a week of very rainy weather, today it was sunny and very nice. Riding over to @Sofia’s for a few days there I got a call from a client who proceeded to complain and complain and complain, and my helmet’s communication system has had better days so had to stop to give him some attention. Here is where I stopped. No ride report as there’s been plenty of them on these roads and views.

The MulletMaster....

& handcuffed

Just got back from a trip to North Devon on the Hornet. Ride report and pics to follow.

Audio system...

I have to say that was epic.

Come on guys, he was busy showing Pecco Bagania how to win Moto GP

I had 4 weeks off work on leave and I had great plans about trips to Wales and other destinations in the South West. Fate as always has a say in my plans. I had a chest infection for the best best part of the first two weeks so they were a wash out. Then my younger teenage daughter, who has ADHD and is struggling with her raging hormones had a massive melt down so that and the weather put the kibosh on the third week. Of course being a dad always comes first. Now I am entering the last week having done very little and only had a couple of bimbles out on the Hornet. Finally today I managed to get a day out with decent weather so headed for North Devon at 8:30 am. I have wanted to go to Westward Ho! for awhile, the last time I went was in 1997 for work. Its funny when I got a bike again I was waxing lyrical about the freedom of just being able to pop out for a trip when I wanted to. Didn’t feel like this morning, by the time I got thermals, normal cloths, boots, helmet, gloves and Rica riding suit on. Then got the bike out, put the top box and tank bag on it was a good 40 minutes. Bit more involved than a pop out. Anyway with a full tank I headed over to Bodmin to down through Dunmere then took the junction at Trevenning Cross on to the B3266 to Camelford. The road from Trevanning Cross to Camelford is 12 miles of biking gold, fast sweeping B road with plenty of vision and some great corners. I enjoyed it but had to have my wits about me as the farmers are busy this time of year and there was shit all over the road in places. Not moaning we wouldn’t eat without the tractor pilots. Once you get to Camelford, very old and pretty little town, you join the A39 which is a great biking road. It was renamed several years ago as the Atlantic Highway which does suit it. Wide A road with lots of faster sections and passing places. Again plenty of vision but it can get busy especially at rush hour. Luckily for me everything seemed to be going the other way. I headed for Bude after Camelford out through Otterham Station, Wainhouse Corner and Poundstock. All scenic places but not my destination today. Lovely clear road nothing in front and nothing behind. Great place to let the Hornet go a little, I love this bike. It handles and stops so well and for me is plenty quick enough. A joy to ride, especially now it feels properly run in with 1200 miles on the clock. Gearbox is sweet and precise and to me it sounds awesome. I am not a fan of noisy pipes for the sake of it and the Hornets not, but when you get on it, there is a satisfying exhaust note and induction roar. Before I knew it I had past the Bude turning and was in the small town of Kilkhampton, whose only claim to fame that I know of is that the Rugby World Champion Phil Vickery comes from there. I took the opportunity for a slash break and a photo. Off again and past the turning for Morwenstow and across the border to Devon. This is where the road get truly epic loads off straights and tight sweeping corners. I know the road well, I used to travel it often to go to South Molton and the BMW Specialist based there James Sherlock. I have got to say it the Hornet is a far better more dynamic bike than my old Beemers I used to travel this road on. Much as I loved them for other reasons the comparison is chalk and cheese. But then again the newest of them was from 1993 so not really a fair comparison. Anyway before I know it I hit the roundabout I was looking for, first exit for Appledore and then Westward Ho!. I ignored Appledore today and went straight for the prize. I rode straight through the outskirts to the free carpark or the far edge of Westward Ho! I parked my bike up locked away my stuff and walked into the village. Again this places has a story. This picture tells a sad tale. I love these old beach huts, there were 100 or more of these on my local beach of Par when I was a kid growing up, of course long gone now. Locals not wanted in Parbados any more. Certainly a stunning bay and huge beautiful beach, I can see the attraction and I wouldn’t mind paying £300 for a week here this time of year. Loads of lovely walks and stuff to find. I can imagine this place would be overpowering in the season. There are 1000’s of holiday apartments and caravans. You get the feeling you could solve Devons housing crisis in this place alone. So many places empty and used for holidays. Another place with a story behind it’s condition. There is a feeling that there is a lot of hidden poverty in this place. Sad really. I had a look in the estate agents window and you need a quarter million to buy anything here. The flag of envy. Devon was envious of the Cornish St Pirans Flag (which dates back to Henry 5th) so following a campaign on BBC Devon in 2003 they came up with their own flag. Which is a St Pirans Cross with added green bits. Cool shop though After my walk around the village of westward Ho! I headed back to my bike and headed home. I had to stop in Camelford to stretch my legs and did chuckle to myself when riding through the villages of Bucks Cross and Fairy Cross for some reason reminded me of this place. Got home around 2:00. Here are the trip stats. Good day, poor show for 4 weeks leave but it is better than nothing.

There has to be a three month Poll first you impatient git

blindfolded

Fed up with chores and work and to do lists, fuckit, I'm off to Cenarth Waterfall, just 50 miles away but all tight twisties, well nearly Over Betws Mountain to start, fuck they've ruined that with these shithouse wind farms, was just a tiny bit chilly on my finger at 7-8c getting there, warmer days on the horizon now. No more stops til Cenarth, not much in the way of photogenic scenery and roads kept me occupied Pulled up right in front of the falls then spent some time trying to get nice pics, annoyingly I had left my ND filters at home, still I did what I could with what I had This one shows the old Flour Mill too (no not the Yamaha you wankers): Headed into the little bistro/gift shop before setting off, had a cup of tea and a couple of Welsh Cakes A brisk ride back home just over an hour away a balmy 11c all the way Lucky Pete didn't notice my scoot is covered in saw dust from my woodworking in the garage LOL All pics taken on my tiny little Sony RX100 V, a very capable camera

Reminds me of @Sir Fallsalot , can't think why

The views you can see from a chairlift....

And won the World Video Games Championships in the process!

My CVO side cases arrived today, quality looks very good, they are unpainted as I will get the painted when I get the bike redone later in the year. No assembly instructions though and there are lots of parts, so I have to hunt those down. I can fit rear speakers to these to enhance the audio system, which is always an important consideration.

Well I'm glad that's all done.

And I was hoping to see pics of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Lost City of Atlantis!

Sniffing and sneezing, that’ll be my day today. Came back from the UK with a cold. Of course, it’s proper man-fu so I expect loads of sympathy and care from my wife.

One of mine. Horsehead nebula.

The Leo Triplet, only got about 45 minutes exposure time on it though, so not the most detailed result, fucking South Wales, wettest place in Britain

I like this one, mainly about Italy and the Alps

Another chinky special.

Poll incoming?

Hmmm......you'll have to wait and see! I could start a poll!

Indeed, sometimes I forget how nice it is to be able to do that.

Nice office.

Cos there were more foreigners there than here?

perhaps not ... you twat

Off to court we go.

The best number plate.

Highside - A French version of Top Gear on 2 wheels.

As you probably know I traded my CB500F for a Hornet. I agree with the light looking a bit odd. I bought a small screen that improves things in my opinion. Ride a Hornet if you can I am confident you will be impressed, very much like the CB500 just better in every way. I love mine and the only downside for me was the higher fuel consumption, but that is the only thing I can think of and not a big deal in any way.

I saw the new Hornet 750 in every colour available last Saturday. I'm not a fan of the headlight. It looks a bit weird with the screen's shape. In my opinion they made it look better on the CB500F. This being said, I still like my bike too much to look for another one.

It is quite tall. Im just ball if footing it. Its been lowered and has a low seat on it. Id like more of my foot on the floor tbh but it is what it is and i will just have to see how we get on. i did have my very thick armoured winter trousers on and lose a bit of height and the seat on these bikes is very narrow. I could get a bit more taken out of the seat too if needed.