Slowlycatchymonkey

What are the ‘friend’ apostrophes about?

Clutchless shifting isn’t alien to her, we discussed it, she was an enduro rider for donkeys but that was only the second time she’d ridden a road bike and wasn’t at all familiar with it. Epoxy and duct tape seemed a good move.

One bloke at the final destination who cooked a superb four course meal every evening. He was welcome to join us, sound as a pound he is, not an ounce of dickhead about him

After a restorative breakfast and to blow the cobwebs away a mountain walk seemed in order (transported by mini bus as who knows what everyones blood alcohol level was at that point). I dipped out of this walk as I’d accumulated too much work that wouldn’t wait and there was a mild threat of losing the flat in Bristol if I didnt act quickly - that just couldn’t happen! So these are not my pics. Knew I was missing out but damn! A vertiginous walk not for the faint hearted On a bear hunt, but they left no clues..

Some fine wine, hot food, good sleep and by the next morning most were raring to ride over the border to the Swiss part of Lake Genèva for a bit of lunch and snap a pic with Mont Blanc in the background. Of course it’s end of the ski season so a lot is shut and lunch turned into a vending machine affair Whilst enjoying the lake our ‘on the spectrum’ friend (there’s always at least one in every group isn’t there ) whacked out three different water colour paintings of my mates house in under two hours! It was gorgeous out there Still a bit chilly from the mountain air we opted for quick showers, warm jackets and Kir Royals to warm the cockles. This was followed by far too much wine, we were still laughing about what we couldn’t remember the next morning

The next day as my nervous friend has now warmed up about the whole road riding abroad thing we planned a mix of motorway and a beautiful gorge to ride through. However this was not to be, an accomplished enduro rider she is but looking down fumbling for your card at the motorway toll booth meant a quick slap down and a broken clutch lever. A side of the road bodge with some epoxy resin and duct tape and eventually we were away again, but we had lost a lot of time and the dodgy clutch lever meant a change from the scenic route to the most direct that required the least number of gear changes was needed. It was an odd ride and was a mix of these two routes which look similar but there’s quite a time difference so with the unscheduled break and fuel stops we again arrive much later than anticipated after a fairly uninspiring ride. We arrive on the French Swiss border in the Alps next to Lake Geneva as late as can be (although still daylight so thats a bonus) fortunately to a great host who’s wisely greeted us with beer and a slow cooked delight able to withstand random acts of extreme lateness He also has a workshop and ta da daa a spare lever

As we are all coming from different directions we met at a Greene King pub near Portsmouth Port on Sunday evening. There was a lot excitement, roast dinners and chat. We board seamlessly at 23.00, exchange cabin numbers in case of emergency (no mobile reception) and get straight into our cabins, we dock at 6.30am french time (5.30am uk time), my alarm goes off at 4.30am and I instantly think - who’s stupid idea was this South West Caen (Ouistreham) Port obviously not in 7hrs 33 mins as it was an overnight ferry. Off the ferry and five mins to a cafe right next to the port for a quick croissant, a chat about the route, riding in France and to allow the ferry traffic to dissipate. Glad I had my ipad on hand to show the priorite a driote signage as only one person was familiar with it and they appeared often on our ‘no-motorway’ cross country route! It’s grey, rainy, not the most fun for riding and no matter how hard I try the pace is a bit too slow to be fun but it takes folk time to warm up to riding on the other side of the road when you’re not familiar with it and I’m kind of glad I’m not dealing with any kamikaze riders. Quirky little house over three floors, surrounded by grape vines, as you’d expect in the Loire Valley. We arrive in Sancerre far too late to tour the vineyard which is a bit of a shame but after so little sleep on the ferry everyone is exhausted. The day has stretched out far beyond all comprehension and with a supermarket stop to pick up some steaks we only make it to the house after 7pm. Another friend joins us at this point ready to party and finds us all in zombie mode I may have avoided taking everyone into Paris but the cross country route was not without a price to pay!

FFS I have a lifestyle thats not maintained by fecking about on the internet in a fruitless fashion.. no matter how much I would prefer that option It’s on its way.

I will do. I’ve had to hit the ground running since arriving back so it’ll be a few days yet

Celebrating Charlie’s coronation of course..

Can't post any cos they were mainly naked and Pete has a bit of thing about google categorising him as an adult site

More projection by the resident nutjob

Tis true the evidence is not available to a bunch of grumpy old biatches on an internet forum The MOT mileage note is evidence enough. Been too busy having a feckin good time for recording shite.. remember that? Nope?

and there I was thinking fondly of this witches coven. I'd put my yearly moto milage up against at least half of the crumblies on here.

It's not even vaguely unwieldy, test ride one.

Soz been absent, busy riding a bike - for more than an hour to an unabandoned spot on more than the odd occasion it doesn't rain and isnt too hot or too cold..

Might be a bit absent for a min or two cos leaving for the Alps tomoz. Riding to Portsmouth with one woman and meeting the others for pub grub before the ferry. Forecast shite. Mr Slowly has offered to go to Brizzle n pick up a heated vest for me before I leave- won’t be turning that offer down Everyone seems very excited so I think we’ll have some fun. Stash arrived in time. The computer simulation pic doesn’t do the real thing justice but they turned out well. I’ll say HAPPY SUNDAY now, technically it is

I really do love Spain and their way of being. I’m very lucky to have landed in a place thats next to the sea and used just by the Spanish. I just wish I took Spanish at school rather than French!

For sure.

Umm yer on Sunday, but my heart is in chilled out Spain. The French are just a tad too… not Spanish

Correct, 10 points.

Thanks Oddly enough right at the outset I wanted to say what about converting or changing your existing place? Reckon that’s a great way to go Excited to see what plans are drawn up for you. As you know it’s a constant thorn looking for property in Bristol. You have to check what’s available everyday twice a day and then like you say they’re already feckin gone when you finally get hold of them. The only reason we have hopefully bagged this one is because they listed it and were refusing to show it (or post pics) because the last tenant had left it in a state and the vendor wanted to clean and to fix the kitchen before the photos. Fortunately for us her go to fixing guy was away for a week and whilst they delayed everyone else til next week because I’m away we had a preview. I honestly dunno what they were fussing about. It’s on at 10k less than another identical flat in the building and just needs a good clean and fresh paint. She’s agreed to do a ‘deep clean’ before we pay up, just a bit of this n that n bobs ur uncle

There’s a reason the mobile phone/internet service provider in Spain for expats is called ‘Lobster’