Slowlycatchymonkey

TLDR Check what they’ve marked by making a template before drilling. The last thing I had to adjust was a Givi tank lock ring listed by them as fitting my bike, but no it didn’t and neither did the surprise supplied ‘drill here’ template. Problem is they’re usually only slightly out so if you fuck it up you’ve removed too much material right next to where you really want the holes and then your in total PITA territory. I always check with a paper template first.

Nice That is so good it really belongs it what you made making bodged. On the hoof repairs are always so cool to see. It’s just satisfying, don’t know why. Maybe because it requires gumption.

Going for a walk (first one since this manky illness Pete sent). Then Torrox to the Brit supermarket because I’m hankering after some real Brit shit. Back to Motril to pick up normal food supplies and a laminator that will hopefully have made it into an Amazon locker by then. Then I have a lovely recipe for Coquilles St Jacques au Provençal (scallops in a shallot, cream n white wine sauce) inspired by Hopkinsons ‘The Prawn Cocktail Years’ for a full blown retro dish. Might not go as far as piping mash potato round the edge of the shell but then again it just makes it a kind of mini fish pie then

Went ahead and ordered duplicates of what I have here, will save a lot of mucking about wondering what bike I left what thing on and a lot of those tools have come in handy so I think I’ll regret thinning it down. It should all arrive at home in Blighty on Friday. I have some old JB weld. How long does it last?

Yer you could try him, he likes a bit of gif combat

I think I got banned right at the beginning, shame I had a great pic for this month

Good idea, I will but have you seen how much crap (including part of the bike frame) they have running over the side of the battery? It’s ridiculous.

If you’re in the same country as your van and don’t mind the time or the spends that’s dandy. If not waiting for breakdown in another country while the RAC fuck about for hours and hours because the call centre doesn’t speak the lingo means you’d happily have a go. Especially if your breakdown only covers towing you to the nearest workshop (that’s most EU cover that comes with insurance). Last time it took the 6 hours to turn up, 6 hours in the blazing sun. Then the pickup drove Mr Slowly an hour back in the wrong direction and insisted they wanted to put him up in a hotel because a taxi would have been £20 more to get back here. It didn’t happen (because he is good at making people do what he wants when he has to) but breakdown cover really ain’t all that.

Sadly I’m so desensitised to America’s constant mass shootings and mad gun laws I haven’t even looked at the news on this one.

For the record I usually drink alcohol less than once a month and that’s usually due to not wanting to spoil the party. Some folk can get a little nasty when they imbibe.. Fingers crossed your conflict driven ass finds a fight soon. With someone else that is.

Yerp he’s got nothing on you.

But will anyone notice any difference?

I’m staggered you’ve added a knob to your bike and that hasn’t caused a cascade of nob jokes. Allow me to kick things off. Three men are marooned on an island desperately seeking a way to get off. A cannibal approaches them and flops his penis out. 'If the length of your three penises together is as big as mine, then I'll show you how to get off the island. Otherwise you'll be killed and eaten.' The native's nob was an incredible 20 inches. Getting off to a good start, the first man shows off his impressive 10 inches. The second man produces a 9-inch dick. Feeling confident, they urge Buck to get his tackle out. Buck does and reveals just one inch of manhood. After some nail-biting calculations the cannibal says, 'Okay fellas, you've managed to come up with the goods: I'll let you use my boat to escape'. As they were sailing to safety, the first bloke mentions how lucky they are that he's so well endowed. Likewise, the second bloke suggests that they are truly blessed at the length, of his schlong. Buck pipes up ' ... and you're damn lucky I had an erection!'

If you’re stranded but have a mobile reception it’s amazing how fast you can learn how to do something via the marvels of you-tube and real world pressure Plus other motorcyclists will stop and ask you if you need help (at least they do in the UK and in Spain), it’s then embarrassing to have someone competent offering to help but not having the things that are needed to do the job. That hasn’t happened to me motorcycling but it has on a bicycle, because they’d stopped they felt they should stay until the problem was resolved which it couldn’t be so I wrecked my day and theirs for the sake of an inner tube.

Two?! Not keen on that.

Blimey is Brad Pitt really tall?

Like a spare split pin but for a belt driven bike? Is this something that might commonly be needed?

I like both of those brands. I’ll have a look at Victorinox first because when I was a child Victorinox was the one we all wanted Victorinox make some cracking stuff for touring. The teeny nail clippers I have of theirs look like they’ll break in no time but they’re super sharp and have lasted years so far. A midget sized vegetable peeler, occasionally useful if you cook your own dishes but not worth carrying a full size one. Anyway I digress. I have duct tape, cable ties, metal putty, electrical tape and a tiny tube of flexible sealant in a bag back in Blighty. It’s more the spanner’s/socket set/pliers/Allen keys/wire cutter stuff I was thinking how much should I really carry. Over here I have the usual plus a 16mm socket, a spare split pin, a split pin remover, spare sidestand spring (a well known fault on the Himalayan) and a spark plug (probably crushed to death by now

An excellent suggestion. I have one in my touring kitchen bag but they always seem to go missing, can’t think why

It’s just dawned on me my reasonably comprehensive bike tool kit is sitting in my panniers here in Spain and I’m not going to be able to take it back with me on the plane unless I pay for checked luggage which I’m not going to do (such a rip off). Unless I do something I’ll be leaving for France tool-less which isn’t something I can countenance. Re-buying stuff I already own doesn’t appeal at all so pump, bulbs and puncture repair aside what’s the minimal stuff you’d tour with?

Ah the imaginings of a future self containing a different more enthusiastic, energy filled person Never catch me doing that..

You don’t need an excuse, you can just declare it’s boring and you have better things to do with your time.. like nothing