"one of those days"

Revisited a blog from 2007 as a result of picture posted on facebook, decided to post two days as they go together if you follow, 16th July "one of those days" So what have I done today? I went to White Sands and boy was that something else. On the way about 5 miles out of town I see something moving fast out of the corner of my eye and as it passes in front of me I see it's a stealth fighter, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-117.htm now I suppose they're common place around these here parts but I've never had the pleasure and to watch them flying is special. Anyway I turn into the visitors centre car park, go in and have a look around the store, bought a 2 pint of water for my camelback paid and returned to the bike I then realised I had left my neck cooler in the fridge back at the motel so return to motel to collect it, I could see it was going to be one of those days. On my way back to the sands I check my fuel and decide even though I'd only done 60 or so miles I'd fill up, I wasn't going to let "one of those days" get the better of me. So fuelled up I return to sands and let me tell you they are fantastic http://www.nps.gov/whsa/ I wish I'd have visited last night after checking into the motel, as it's the evening when they have guided walks and stuff, so if you get out that way by all means visit during the day and enjoy the scenery, but make sure your going to be around for the evening events, I was told they were well worth the price of another night in a local motel, and you know I believe them, they were something else and that was daytime. I will post pictures as soon as. So I left there having spent a little more time than I thought I might, and headed off on the next part of the trip. I'd punched Safford into the GPS and was merrily making my way there on my way to………..? You'll have to wait. When I saw a UPS store and being a sucker for a good UPS store I stopped. No really I had a parcel to send home, (dirty washing), there was a story when the parcel arrived in the UK, but you’ll have to wait for that. While that was being sorted I got chatting, like you do, and it was suggested that as I was so close to the border I might pop over, and I agreed. So given directions I head off in the direction of Mexico. I first stopped off to eat, I considered not doing and eating over the border but thought better of it, and am I glad I did. Crossing the border that way is no problem they take your money (for the toll) and away you go surprisingly very little traffic. So I'm now in Mexico! I head of in a direction and notice no GPS, now why do you think I thought I'd have GPS? Well you see in Europe they overlap the maps for a few miles, just in case, so you see I was shocked to find I was in the middle of nowhere so decided to return back to the security of the USA. I had a ride around town and found a road back over and joined the queue, and what a queue. http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=El+Paso,+TX,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image Finally arrived at the toll gate and paid $5 I protested that 20 mex whatever didn't equate to $5 US he threatened me with security and mentioned the now irate queue behind me so I paid up and moved on. An hour later I was at the top of the bridge, I'd been stopping the engine to hopefully avoid it over heating, so was quite relieved at the top and decided to free wheel down the other side. About half way down and half an hour into the descent I heard a pop followed by a hissing sound and remember thinking that sounded like somebody getting a flat, I reached the bottom of the hill and I was the 4th in line for customs so as the car in front moved I pressed the starter and got nothing. Pushed the bike throgh a gap and tried again, still nothing. It was trying but battery seemed flat. Nothing to do but push through customs; I needed to be on the other side for my AMA MOTOW assistance. As I pushed I noticed it was very heavy and sure enough it was me that had the flat. Got to the officer and the games started. Where you from, is that plate legal, is this your first visit to the USA, is it your bike? I tried explaining I had the green card in my passport but I guess he'd never seen one before; he made several calls on his radio, searched a saddle bag and finally said ok go, and kept repeating "boy that's a big bike". I asked if I could push it to one side and he said "yes down there" so I pushed it to the end of the search tables and parked. Tried again to start but obviously flat battery (fully discharged) I walked over to the office and in, and asked the several officers if there was any chance of assistance, the reply I got was no we can't intervene, fair comment, I fully understand and respect that. I returned to the bike and found the number for the AMA and gave them a call, there were 3 officers stood at the table next to me and I heard them comment on the fact I had a "busted battery and a flat tire". When I got through to AMA they needed a location so I proceeded back to the office to ask for the address to give, still talking to the nice lady on the end of the quickly discharging phone, I got a part address then this big fella comes out, (at least he thought he was big) starts shouting about people walking around and somebody should take charge, he then shouts at me to hang up my call and snatches the phone from me tells me to sit down and shut up and what did I think I was doing walking around and where was my car. I said my bike was over there and he started raving about it shouldn't be and who the… gave me permission to put it there. I said several officers knew I was there but he wanted to be specific so, I repeated what the officer said about parking over there, now that officer was stood behind him, and when I told him this he threw my phone at him and said "it's your problem deal with it or I'll report it to THE SUPERVISOR" first officer comes back over, I apologise for any trouble caused he says don't worry he's a prick or words to that effect, (it's my reckoning that the big guy was bullied at school) anyway, he asks me to move the bike on further down so I do, just round the corner. I'm now safely out of sight of the bully victim so proceed to call back AMA and confirm location and apologise for cut off. The nice lady informed me that a recovery has been issued for Manchester Canada? Yes that's what I said, I again explained the situation, put on hold several times, told there was a dealer around the corner and somebody would be with me shortly. 1 hr. 15 mins. later I decided to phone Charles (VRCC member I met after inZane), as his was the only number I had, and he got onto 1-800-4-BIKERS and phoned me back with a number, I phoned them and spoke to James who said he would try and sort somebody local to me to assist, he will get back to me. I decided to plug the tire while I waited. I'd just done that when a guy pulled up and said "you got a flat tire?" and proceeded to get a compressor from the rear of his van and inflate tire. I explained I also had a dud battery but unfortunately he had no jump leads. I offered him dollars to go buy some but he refused and left. James phoned me back to say he had somebody on the line and we could do a conference call and tell him my location, so we do. He said he'd be 15 minutes, so I wait, then a police officer comes over and enquires, nice as you like why I'm stood there with my bike, so I explain, did I mention the taxi driver? Well when I pushed the bike down there was a taxi driver parked up just behind where I'd stopped and he stayed to keep me company, even after he went off duty he took his car back and walked back to stay with me for another ½ hr. then he had to go home, apologised and left. Nice fella. Anyway back to officer, I explain he says he's happy and leaves; now that's how you deal with a situation Mr Bully victim. Next thing the guy in the truck comes back around the corner and tells me to pull down the road, there's his van and he's got jump leads, he'd only been home and got them. So we connect them to the bike and wait for a charge to register on voltmeter. As we're waiting a couple on a Harley pull up and ask "do you need any help bro" I thank them and say it looks like it's sorted, they leave before I could give them a card so probably wont read this but I thank them anyway. We start it and just as we do the contact from 1-800-4-bikers turns up, again I thank him and well, what can I say it's sorted. Renewed faith in mankind? Never lost it. I've had my first experience of bad attitude from authority in the USA, but can honestly say I don't think that's the norm at least not in my experience. I reset GPS for Safford and ended up here Butterfield stage motel Deming NM. http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Deming,+NM,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image after having cruised down some fantastic desert roads, that I had to just keep stopping on an taking pictures. I got stopped at a random border control point, the office asked my nationality and where I was heading checked my passport, had a quick chat about my trip and said "enjoy your time in America" now Mr. Bully victim that's how you deal with it. So again I say "where to tomorrow"? You'll have to wait. Watch this space. 17th / 18th July Well the wheels fell off someone's wagon! I read somewhere that the way to judge a good motel or a way to avoid a dodgy motel was to check out the neon sign. If all neon's are working, fine then chances are it's an ok motel, however if maybe one or two neon's are out then this might tell you that if they can't take care of there neon's, what else may they not be taking care of? So last night I stopped at a motel in (I don't know but I'll find out when I can be bothered to look at a map) called the Butterfield motel, it also had a sign up saying American owned, I did notice that part of the neon wasn't lit but thought what was looked nice. So went in got room (under $40) and walked across car park to said room. As I approached the room I noticed all the night life scattering as I walked past. Now one thing I must point out here, I've not been looking for motels in the dark before preferring to be booked in by night fall but in the wake of the events of yesterday at the border I had no choice, so I had never noticed this night life. Anyway I proceed to open door and…………the night life didn't stop at the door but one of two had made it inside. O K me thinks, no problem I need a bed, I've paid I'm tired, so I turn on computer, sort some stuff then think I'll have a shower and bed, it's now about 11.30. I went in bathroom and decided not to bother with shower, due to night life on floor but just to have a wash and shower in the morning, so I did that and went back to turn off computer and go to bed. I pulled the sheets back on the bed and there were one or two critters wanting to share the bed and given that I had paid rent and I was dam sure they hadn't, I wasn't happy so I evicted them from bed, got ride of sheets and went out and got my sleeping bag liner off the bike, in which I slept, for about 4 hrs. I left the place at 5.30 am having managed to evict the unwanted from the bathroom while I showered. Last night I watched the sun set over New Mexico and this morning I saw it rise, a photo you couldn’t take, a picture you couldn’t paint, a memory that will live with me forever. Well worth getting up early for. I was on my way to the Petrified Forest http://www.nps.gov/pefo/ but like always wasn't taking the quickest route, more the most scenic, and it was that. I went via the White Mountains, http://www.go-arizona.com/White-Mountains the trip through salt river canyon was another jaw dropping experience, kept stopping to take pictures and soak it all in, absolutely fantastic. You know I'm not usually out and about at that hour of the day and seeing the mist through the trees in the woods and listening to the sounds that aren't there during the day, I think I'm going to have to alter my clock and start these early to bed early to rise coz there's a world out there in a morning that knocks spots off anything you see later, and the thing is at that time of the day you have it (mostly) to yourself. So anyway I eventually arrive at the Petrified Forest and again I ask, what's that all about, awesome! I mean how did that happen yes I listened as the guy explained in the auditorium but, swamp?..............you'll just have to go and see, it's like space man, you know? Infinity, I can't equate, it's beyond me. The landscape in places was similar to the badlands, obviously not on that scale but I reckon the rocks are of a similar constitution to the badlands. Again took loads of pictures but they wont do it justice. I'd been closely shadowed for the better part of the day by some pretty threatening black clouds, but managed to avoid getting wet, however I decided the best course of action after the badlands was to head for my next port of call, Williams A Z http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Williams,+AZ,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image Why? I hear you say, well those that know don't say but for those that don't know, my name is Williams. Unfortunately the clouds that had been shadowing me decided to dump on me about 30 miles away from Williams so I arrived very wet and looking like a right plonker, why? Because I'd put my wet gear on just after it started raining and by the time I got there it had stopped and the sun was out. People are looking at me like "it looks like he's expecting bad weather, I bet he's hot in that" and do you know something I was, and again I was wetter than if I hadn't put the thing on. It was always a destination, Williams A Z, the last officially used section of route 66 before the interstate was completed. I did hear that for that year 84/85 it would take anything up to 3 hrs to drive the short distance through Williams so the completion of I 40 came as somewhat of a relief. I stayed in the route 66 motel had a steak in Rod's steakhouse, http://rods-steakhouse.com/ and very nice it was, and a long chat with the guy that owns the "traditional garage" opposite the motel, he's living his dream. (Pictures posted) I intended to return in the morning and buy one or two souvenirs from him, and get his name, but was up and away before the rest of the town woke. That is apart from the couple on the other Dragon in the motel down the road. I'd seen them ride past last night as I was unloading, we acknowledged each other but that was it, anyway as I was leaving town this morning I noticed they where loading up there bike so stopped by for a chat, curse me if you like but I forgot your name's, (short term memory problem, they'll come back to me later if you remind me) anyhow it was great to talk. Now the Grand Canyon http://www.nps.gov/grca/ I'm saying nothing…………………does it get better than that. Absolutely bloody fantastic (pardon my French) I booked a helicopter flight for the afternoon so spent the morning actually in the park, what can I say? It's probably all been said before and far more eloquently than I can say so I'll shut up. It's a must come back with meJulie place, take the helicopter ride again, breathtaking, maybe do some white-water rafting, hiking, and just soak it up. I left and headed to my next destination which is? No wait till tomorrow. So where am I? Kingman A K http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Kingman,+AZ,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image Again on Route 66, (but we’ll say nothing of that)

Sometimes it is about the destination

Usually it’s about the journey and not the destination, on this occasion both the journey and the destination were to be important, in fact it was for the first part about the destination, but we were as sure as heck, we were going to enjoy the journey, least I was…………… Maybe an idea to put a pot of coffee on if you’ll be sticking with this, not short As some will remember we were going to view a property we are considering buying on our way south, Julie finished work at 2pm and we’d arranged to meet the agents at 4pm in Newton le Willows, this should still allow time to travel south for our first hotel of the holiday. We arrived at the agent’s office where we were to pick up the key and had a quick chat, we said we were on our way to Italy from there so would make the viewing a quick one, picked up the key and rode around to the house. Wont say much, other than meJulie was just as impressed as me at the place and agreed we should firm up the offer, we returned to the agents. Offer on table, he said he would put it forward but was sure there would not be any issues, I again said we would be on the road so would phone him the next day as it would be easier, he seemed surprised and said he thought we were joking when we said we were on our ay to Italy, never met Mickmanchester before, but as we left he said he looked forward to meeting again when we get back, and more stories, fellow biker don’t you know. So, on the road again………………………. Again I was using this trip to scout a route for Belonga Mick in October, I had the route south just about sorted but wanted to show meJulie some of the sights and do it in “real” time, what I wasn’t expecting Julie to do was set off at 5 am to get the 11.20 train, so I’d booked a room at a Hampton near Luton, and very civilised it was, quite new hotel so nice and clean with a staff eager to please, we were happy. Next morning we set south for the train, England was basking in what was to become one of the hottest and sunniest periods for a long time and the forecast for mainland Europe was looking about the same, we made the train for 10.20am. Once in France I headed for my usual stop at the underground gas station to fill the tank(s), ahead we had about 375 miles, not much but we would be avoiding motorways so as to enjoy the beauty that is France. I set the GPS for Gerberoy, kickstands up and away. First stretch again against all I’ve said but we used the toll road, this was decided to assist the group in October make enough progress south as to enjoy the second days ride and allow enough time to take in some sights, me for the extra hour I’d sooner use the old road but never mind plans made, we stopped for lunch at a rest area just before the exit back onto the more favoured roads. Now I started to enjoy myself, with the sun high in the sky we took some beautiful country roads to Gerberoy

Spent an hour walking around this old village, took loads of pictures but to see more you’ll just have to join us in October. Then it was a steady ride down to Dreux (If you click these links, get directions previous to this, and set preference to avoid highways you’ll get an idea of how we travelled.) a Premier Class motel for the night, again I took the roads less travelled and enjoyed some twists and turns that make biking such a pleasure. We’d chosen this hotel because it was close to a campanile hotel (sister hotel) and there we would find a restaurant, wrong, the restaurant was now closed, another victim of the recent decline in the economy. That meant we had to ride into the town to eat, sure we would find a nice place but it meant I couldn’t have a drink so wouldn’t enjoy the meal so much. Also in October, I’m sure the lads would prefer to relax over a meal and a beer and not worry about riding back to the hotel. All that said, we found a cracking place so think I’ll put that on the itinerary for October and we can forgo the beer for one night, centre of town with locals and music, typically French, that’s why we’re here, great stuff. Ready for the road at 9am after a peaceful night I again kicked up the side stand and headed south, first stop Chartres

Only about 15 miles down the road but another must see Again got loads of pictures but none truly do this place justice, we’d hit the bypass many times and never stopped, we were sure glad we did this trip, meJulie was more than impressed with the gothic cathedral, absolutely stunning I think was how she described it. From there it was on to Chateaudun

then on to Vendom Where we stopped for lunch

Buffalo Grill, Recky ride thru the town

then on to Blois

Spent an hour here checking the place out

stopped for coffee

and people watched. And then onto Cheverny Taking the scenic rout via the château

From where I picked up the again familiar road to Bethines and our little place in France

Grass ready to cut we had a couple of days before we again would hit the road and head south towards the Alps and Italy. I got on with finishing some plastering and Julie had a tidy and dusted some cobwebs away. That done and we are back on the road south east, I’ve got lazy lately, with the GPS you just set the destination and trust it to get you there, and with this new tomtom I could set windy roads and have fun, I elected to set it to avoid motorways and just go, unfortunately it turned out the non motorway had been upgraded to a motorway and after 20 miles of boredom I pulled off and made a few adjustments to the optional route, and glad I did, we arrived at that nights hotel just south of Clermont Ferrand having

travelled some fine French roads

that I felt sure they had left empty just for us, and this the holiday season. We booked into a campanile and looked forward to the next day when we would be into the hills proper and enjoying the French Alps, next stop Grenoble We were now in the Alps

from hotel yes I should have taken more pictures but was too busy enjoying myself, Julie did her best from the back of the bike but said I was going a little fast round some of the corners and she spent most of her time holding on, me I was lovin’ it. Unfortunately the Restaurant is closed on a Friday night, I kid you not, so we ventured round the corner to the nearest, within walking distance place to eat, pizza or Chinese? Think we’ll go with pizza says I, big mistake, next day I was on the,,,,,, well needed the salt powders, not good, but it didn’t stop me from riding and we headed off on the final leg of this part of the trip to Italy and over the tops. I could tell you about the noisy Aircon with temps in 90’s and how disappointed we found that hotel and to top it all loo seat busted, but never mind, this isn’t a travel guide to hotels to avoid, on the road by nine and more awesome roads they were, biker heaven. Now, do a get directions from Grenoble FR to Cherasco Province of Cuneo, Italy Options avoid tolls and avoid highways, top route should be D1091, now drop down anyplace on that map and see the view, near enough the route we took, ab-so-bloody beautiful.

We made The hotel ilcampanile in Cherasco our base for the next few days while we attended a festival with some special people……………………………………..that’s for another time. The hotel is a converted monastery, built late 1700 and converted to this small hotel in 2010 or there abouts, http://www.hotelilcampanile.com/hotel.aspx Lovely place, retained many original features and although out in the sticks was well worth the travelling to and from the “event” On the last day we left about 4pm and headed back into the alps to Hôtel Restaurant Le Terminus, Fontan again I trusted the GPS and it guided us to a beautiful hotel high in the hills with a lovely outdoor restaurant and smoking BBQ, only problem was the name was different, I went in and enquired re Le Terminus and was directed back down the hill to the correct location. Now I don’t know if it was because the place up the hill was so nice but I was immediately under-whelmed and could see the disappointment on meJulie’s face, we booked in. the room was……………small, you had to climb over the bed to enter the bathroom, also small, it was over looking the river, we couldn’t see it for trees but we could sure hear it, also a great view of the side of the mountain. We went down to eat, the proprietor was also the waiter, his day job was operating the fuel pumps and small garage next door, boy this guy works some, and in fairness was a great guy, couldn’t knock him. We asked for breakfast at 7.30 as Julie had a flight to catch from Nice, he obliged although did say bread might not be here by then but will sort something. He was up to serve us breakfast at 7.30 and yes bread had just arrived, fresh as French bread should be. We slept and I say that reservedly in beds that, now, how could I describe them? If there was room on the floor I’d have slept there, lumpy, yes that will do. I asked how I’d managed to book a place like this then remembered, Julie had spotted it on one of my searches and suggested we book it, yes it was Julies fault and in fairness as a result she didn’t complain, much. We had another great ride down to Nice and the flight for Julie, I dropped her off, we said our good buys and I again headed for the highway and scenic rout back to Bethines, via a stopover at Hotel La Remise Lovely place, but the getting there was a story, go get another coffee while I tell ya……… I set off from the airport in Nice abut 10.30, this allowed me loads of time to get to tonight’s hotel with time to spare and allow me to enjoy the southern slopes of the French Alps. Solo these roads hum,

Julie says I go a little fast, when she’s pillion I take my time, solo I was rolling in out and thru every corner and curve, past lavender fields

Pine forests’ and lakes,

thru mountain passes that well some folks only dream about, I had arrived in heaven. On one of the mountain climbs I noted a number of cars speeding down the hill cutting corners and basically making me more vigilant than I might have thought necessary, I also noted they had bikes on the roof racks. When I got to the top of the hill the road was blocked, I shut down the bike and enquired from friendly French gendarme. Apparently it will be two hours, the tour de France is passing and I would have to wait, not despondent I saw this as another opportunity to see a spectacle that well is just that,

boy those guys shift, only problem was temps touching 100 degrees, it was hot and no shelter from the sun. When they’d passed I re mounted the Dragon and pressed the GPS back into life……….pressed the button a second time……..nothing, checked for power, that looked ok, jack light was illuminated so all looked ok, but no power actually at the GPS and it was dead. Now I knew I had to be heading in a North West direction, so checked the sun and headed off, problem with that is these roads switch back and it can be hard to judge the actual direction of travel, I made it about 30 or so miles and decided a map was required, stopped at a supermarket in Vaison-la-Romaine, France They didn’t sell maps; I went thru my gear and routed out my old very basic French map, shows major towns and cities along with larger roads, no mountain passes at all, oh what to do? Phone home, Julie got on the internet and together we pinpointed the hotel as being between Villefort And Mende on the D901 I was here Vaison-la-Romaine, I turned south for a stretch to join with the D980 that would lead me onto the D901, not Googles preferred route but sometimes you just can’t beat paper. Click on the link and take a look at another bit of biker heaven, that lake, lac de villefort the color, it’s one of those colors “that no one knows the names of”, a blue green turquoise sort of, anyway camera can’t catch that color so you’ll just have to go take a look yourself one day. I did notice that about the water up in the hills, how pure it was and the color, an ice bluey green sort of, well never mind, it was nice tis all I’m sayin. So, I got out a pen and paper wrote down some main towns on route and headed off, with memories of pre GPS and a smile on my face. This is what touring is all about, a map a few notes, road signs and land marks, memories of where you’ve been, where you are and where the heck you’re going. I pulled into a parking lot in pont st esprit And along side another valk, I was just getting my camera out to take a picture when the fellow rider arrived, we exchanged details, he wrote down his email and I gave him a card, unfortunately his email address is bouncing mail back so hope he contacts me, with Google translate we might be able to have a decent conversation, he was asking loads about my bike, his was standard pre 2000 (seat) and about the VRCC, I saddled up and left my new friend as again I followed road signs. You could do the same with Google on this stretch and drop down on some of the roads, biker heaven I kid you not. I arrived at the hotel at 8.20pm, they were due to stop serving dinner at 8.30 so just in time. The proprietor opened the garage for me to park my bike, I parked the bike had a quick wash and made the restaurant just in time to order a meal, easy option of set menu and at 18 euro it was very nice thank you very much, two beers later and I retired to my room. That night I slept like a baby. I plugged the GPS into the mains charger over night and it fully charged so guessed it was the charger on the bike that was duff, will sort when I get back to Belonga Mick, on the road for 8.30am and after enjoying the last of the foothills I settled in to a steady ride back home, occasionally I took a turn I just liked the look of, but for the main part stayed on the recommended GPS route, arriving home at 4.30. a quick visit here Montmorillon To pick up some provisions

That wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing by the way, after dropping Julie off I was supposed to be going round to Spain , into Portugal and up the west coast of France, but cut this trip short due to the house sale back in the UK, maybe next time…………. I had a couple of days rest at the cottage before heading north and back to the UK, again scouting the route for the October VRCC ride, struggling finding hotels at the right money further north, me, this time I stayed here LOGIS Moulin des Forges And very nice it was but at over 120 euro for dinner B and B well not sure that will be in budget, but then again, maybe I’ll ask them that’s coming in October, real nice place. I also stopped off here to say thanks,

Thiepval Memorial http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiepval_Memorial Again enjoyed the back roads, no highways or main roads, arrived in time to get train at 2pm and arrived home at 6.30 or thereabouts. Till next time Ride safe Mick

Moving On

Decided to start another blog page, haven’t yet decided what to call it, maybe Moving On or something similar?

As some of you may know we have recently sold our home of the last 13 or so years, this was a property that I totally remodelled, adding an extension and moving walls to create an individually designed property, described thus by one agent advertising it……………

“Pablo Picasso. Vincent Van Gogh. The owners of this home. The odd one out ? Well actually, there isn''t one. Starting with a blank canvas, they have all created a masterpiece. Quite simply, Reeds Rains are thrilled to advertise on behalf of our clients this stunning and thoughtfully extended/modernised four bedroom semi-detached home. With so many intricate details to note, where do we begin?”

Not a bad job, anyway we move on. We didn’t know what we were going to do once we sold the house, the children have grown and are now living independently away from home and we are again as free as we were when we were teenagers, only this time with life’s experience behind us.

That experience has taught me many things, but to stay on subject it has taught me the best place for cash is in property, so, after a great deal of thought and consideration of our options we have decided to put most of our money back into another house, and another project, (hence this bog) a record of how when and what the hell, from the beginning.

So with one house sold and awaiting completion of the sale we went looking for “another little place”. We needed to stay close to Manchester for work but with transport links reckoned we could look within a 30 mile radius. Having looked everywhere from Middlewich to Halifax and Warrington we stumbles upon a property in Newton le Willows, that I thought a first glance looked about right. From the estate agents pictures I could see it still had the original window to the front with the original stained glass, I’m estimating build date about 1928. still having original windows is usually as sign that it will need internally updating as well, so a rewire, re-plum and possibly new central heating if it actually has any, personally I’d rather it didn’t, blank canvas but again looking at the pictures there are radiators in some rooms.

We did notice from the description there wasn’t a picture of the bathroom, always a worry when they don’t show something on an advert I think.

So next thing to do is arrange a viewing, we visited the area over a weekend and sat outside considering the place and looking around at the surrounding area and property, it wasn’t as big as it looked in the pictures but that wasn’t a bad thing as we didn’t want big, just interesting. I have to admit that at this stage I think I was more interested than Julie; we went around to the agents.

Would you believe they don’t do Sunday viewings and only do during the week between 9 and 5, business must be good? Julie couldn’t get time off work to view until Thursday, when she was finishing early anyway, as we were away on our summer break Thursday evening on the bike, so we made an appointment for Thursday at 4.30 and returned home. Once back at home we chatted further re the possibilities. The agent informed us they had received an offer and it was/is being considered however they were still willing to show us around and maybe take an improved offer, I’m not into bidding wars but was prepared to go to the asking price, cash, quick sale no messin.

Monday morning I phone agent, both lines busy, all morning, property market must be picking up, decide at 11.30 to visit agent in person and see if I could view property during the day before Thursday, long one short, within 10 minutes of walking into the office I was parked outside the house officially viewing. (apparently they weren’t that busy, tattooist up stairs had cut thru phone lines)

FIRST IMPRESSION.

Yes the windows are 90 years old and need replacing, doing that sympathetically would be challenging, but I would have to retain that original leaded glass, all of which seemed to be in tact and good condition. Internally the layout was, well not what I expected but I could work with it, rooms downstairs smaller again than they appeared on the pictures, but for us they would work just fine, the kitchen was a good size and had fairly new units and reasonable appliances that would be staying, again do us for the time being. As suspected it does need a rewire, the consumer unit/fuse box is original though the fuses have been updated they were still some 20 years or so and out of date. The gas boiler had a service stamp of 2008, doesn’t mean it’s not been serviced since but does say it is getting on and again isn’t up to today’s specification, if I was to date the central heating system I would say, fitted early 70’s (boiler is newer than that) so again radiators were not the modern finned efficient types you get now, all this was expected and not a surprise at all.

Upstairs and the reason for the lack of bathroom picture was obvious, it is so small you couldn’t take a picture, I will try and post when we get in. the other rooms upstairs were, three good sized double bedroom and a box bedroom that would just about fit a single bed but that’s it no room for anything else.

So with the internal viewing over we moved outside, this is thru the “anti room”, basically boiler and toilet in a room just about large enough to house them, as we fleetingly passed thru I thought “I’ll have to do something with this waste of space”.

The garden is long and narrow, with a garage to the right side accessed thru an up and over electrically operated door. The agent informed me part of the garden was on a lease from the council but was longstanding and not an issue, note made to check when I got back home, I looked over the fences to either side at the other “leased” portions of neighbours gardens and noted they were not maintained, possibilities.

We went back into the house and I have to say I had a nice feeling about the place, it had obviously been well cared for and maintained without being overly modernised, I would guess the previous owners had lived here a considerable period of time, at a guess maybe 50 years if not longer, the garage door is a sign they didn’t scrimp when it came to replacing items, door would have been replaced when original door became rotten, also the fuse box under the stairs had had all the fuses upgraded, usually you see the ood one or two replaced with modern as most people thought it an unnecessary expense, obviously expense wasn’t considered here, no I had a nice warm feeling about the place, we sat and had a chat, I noted the original hard wood parquet floor at the sides under the rug that filled the dining room and was itching to lift all the furniture out to check and see if it was all intact, I’ll be surprised if it isn’t but not too disappointed.

I made a provisional offer subject to Julie viewing Thursday, this I believe was enough for us to secure the property for a week, Julie I’m sure will love it as much as me and am also sure she will trust me to get it to her desired condition in not too long a time.

And another adventure begins; I can just see a pair of Dragons in that garage as I type.

So, I’ll post on this regular, fewer words and maybe more pictures, wished I’d have blogged my previous projects, but never mind we’re her now, be great to have your company, stick around.

Away on holiday thru France and Italy for a couple of weeks on the bike, when I get back I’ll post that story first, don’t yet do this picture posting on the move from mobile phone thing, too busy enjoying the me time to share, sorry, but will give full story on return, and by which time we should know for sure the property situation, then this blog will move to it’s very own page, obviously Lost For Words will still be here and updated regular as well, just keeping things tidy tis all.

Now to enjoy some wind…………………see you on the road.

Oh and to all my readers across the pond, enjoy your 4^th July celebration

Mick

The roads you don’t know……………may become the ones you love the most

Decided to scout the Belonga Mick ride in “real” time this trip out, so I set off at 06.30, looking to arrive at the euro tunnel for 11.20, 276 miles and 4 ½ hrs, I’d booked the 12.20 train just in case but would hope to be able to get the 11.20 in October, gives us more time France side to push further south before we have to stop for the night.

Also you may remember from my last trip I’ve been suffering with my knees and wrist so wanted to make sure I could “go the distance”

I just made the tunnel in time to get the 11.20 but to air on the side of caution, think I’ll set off ½ hour earlier in October.

From Calais I was heading down the toll road and towards one of France’s “prettiest villages” France has a little competition and awards winning town with the pretty village mark (in fairness some aren’t so pretty anymore but the Marie must have influence)

Gerberoy

From there to Dreux and my hotel for the night, at £17 I wasn’t expecting much but it was clean and close to a Campanile for dinner, again had it scheduled for 18.30 arrival and got there just before six,, I took my time and enjoyed some nice roads. In October we’ll be meeting with some French riders around the Gerberoy mark and riding with them, this will add time to the trip, shaking hands to say hello and farewell when there’s twenty or so can take time but heck we’re in France what’s half an hour?

Got my usual 9 o’clock call from meJulie, this was not the usual chit chat about our day, this time she had some important news. We put our house on the market a few weeks ago and a couple had come back for a second viewing the day before I left, anyway long one short they put an offer in, 3 actually, until meJulie finally said yes” that’s the figure we’re looking for, we had only chatted the day before about what that figure would be and what it would entail re items left, we were happy to accept.

However, while yes we wanted to sell the house we didn’t expect it to be so quick (within 4 weeks), I had some decisions to make as I took a leisurely ride thru France tomorrow.

When I got up and went out to load the bike I had to do a double take……………..

Hadn’t drunk anything over dinner last night so it couldn’t be the after effects of a good night.

It had been recommended I travel “thru” rather than around some of the towns on my way down, it was just short of two hundred miles, I took my time and did just that, Octobers going to be a great sight seeing tour, beautiful tis all I can say, my fellow Valkers that will be coming down with me then are in for a treat, and you my friends, oh I won’t forget you, I’ll post pics and more then but don’t want to spoil it by doing that before the main event

Passing Blois I was reminded of my last trip and a story I didn’t tell, briefly I filled the tanks in Blois last trip and must have got some bad gas in there as for the next 400 miles the dragon would only run on full choke, problems stated about 5 miles out of Blois and continued, kept topping the tank every 100 and each time it got slightly better, then before I left for home I put about 4 gals in and she once again ran sweat, had me worried I’ll tell you, but that was then, funny how we forget life’s little hiccups, always remember the good time.

Valkyrie 400 mile range

I can now confirm that my Dragon will go 400 miles before I have to put gas in the tank(s). Yes got belly tank and it’s a standard with an interstate tank, but 400 miles and counting is a big ask of a six cylinder being fed by 6 individual carbs.

Way back in 07 I visited Mario moto down in Italy, this guy was modifying the standard gearbox and effectively making fifth gear into an overdrive, short and long, forth gear goes on forever, then whenever you like knock it into fifth and watch them revs drop. I cruise at 70 / 80 and turn 2500 rpm easily achieving over 40 to the gallon, (were talking UK miles and UK gallons so I think 1 UK = 1.2 US GAL).

Admittedly to get the best mileage and when I’m touring I usually meander along at the 60/65 mark, comfortable and economical.

There are a few bikes out there with this mod, some I’ll bet don’t even know they are riding it, maybe they are second owners, it does have it’s down sides and takes time to get used to, sometimes I wish I didn’t have it, especially on the twistyies but as soon as I stop to refuel I’m glad I do.

So you say you’d like a bike with a sixth gear or long fifth, it’s been done, might still be available, maybe someone from Italy could advise, is Mario still working his magic?

Been analyzing why I ride and had a thought was reading on FB or someplace people saying what they’d do if they won the lotto, me I’d ride.

Just ride, not to go anyplace not to see anything just ride, I had a choice this year, (lucky man) I could schedule my season anyway I wanted, rallies meets or just ride, I chose to just ride.

Why not rallies with fiends, they have ride outs, don’t they? Yes sure they do but it’s usually a short blast or parade some place and 2 hrs of sitting telling lies then another ride back to base camp, me? I’d sooner spend the lying time riding. Does that make me a funny bugger? Maybe, I just want to ride.

So if I won the lottery what would I do? Ride, safe in the knowledge that when I got hungry I could eat, when I got tiered I could sleep and when I needed gas I could fill the tanks, all without having to look for a cheap diner, a cheap gas station and a flee pit of a motel, that’s all I want to do, ride.

Was just thinking that’s all, different stroke for different folks, me I like to ride.

So that was my trip south to Belonga Mick, arrived to grass that was ready to cut and weather that was going to allow me to cut it, so I spent a leisurely evening cutting grass and grilling on the BBQ.

Next day it was decision time, I had booked to stay 14 days but now with the house sale I couldn’t afford to be away that long so had to return to the UK and start house hunting, we literally didn’t know what we were going to do, another adventure meJulie calls it, but we’ll still need a base.

I spent the next couple of days finishing the plastering in the end house and not a bad job it was when finished, then a quick visit to Paul and Rose to collect the van and I returned to the UK less than 6 days after going out to France, a flying visit.

Now where we at,

This weekend is East meets West, hope the rain stays off for that, got some friends staying at ours and will be picking some riders up along the way, be nice if we could see the 20 valk mark at a northern meeting reached. We only started organising local events three years ago, from a usual 2 of us on a meet at the barn, we can now sometimes get into double figures, important to know your fellow enthusiast, especially when the bikes are getting old, we can poll knowledge and resources should we ever have a problem, with continuing support the northern arm of the VRCC-UK will go from strength to strength.

First week of July it’s our annual holiday and although again we have cut it short we will still be touring thru France and northern Italy,

More to come, aint life interesting, been thinking about facebook as well lately, (too much time in the saddle), I think it will be the death of social groups, too many people across to many groups, spreads it all a bit thin, maybe I’ll explain more another time, but for now from a VRCC perspective I think the main boards, US and UK need our support, along with others more permanent sites such as VOAI, http://valkyrie-owners.com/SMFORUM/index.php

 And wolf clan,  http://www.timbrwolf.websitetoolbox.com/

 but I’ll save all that for another day, sure I’ve bored you enough for now, check back soon, you never know when I might have something else to share.

And remember

The roads you don’t know……………may become the ones you love the most

Just an update June 2013

Been neglecting me story telling so I’ve been told, so I thought I’d catch up.

So the year so far, as everyone knows the winter just dragged on and not just for me and my fellow island inhibiters here in the UK, it was just as slow to start stateside so I hear, but that’s behind us now and summer has finally shown its hand and it’s looking good.

My riding started if you remember back in March in the snow scouting the northern meet up in the Lake District and very successful meet it was, every year it gets bigger,

I got out to Belonga Mick in April on the bike, it was itching to get some good wind and I found it.

We had a VRCC event in London, guided ride around our capital by no other than our very own DaveMac, his day job is a London cabbie, you want to see London? They’re the best guides. We’d stayed the night before at a hotel just north of the capital with some of the guys before setting off on the Saturday on the tour

By about 12 ish it was time for me to drop meJulie off at Euston station for her train home, me I was off to France, after I’d had a quick ride back to the guys at the Ace café, was hoping to grab a bite to eat and chill for an hour before I had to go to the tunnel and the train to France.

But no, about a mile after dropping meJulie off the GPS went off, stopped, checked power, none, popped seat, melted wires, shoot, middle of London, no map, oh well lets see how we do. I headed off in the direction I was travelling prior to loss of GPS. Traffic was building up by this time and I made slow progress, I’d love to say I was guided by my navigational skill and sun position but, well put simply I don’t know how but I found my way to the Ace  and met up with the guys. With a little help we got power to the GPS and system working again, just in time for me to leave and head for the train south.

With temps in the low 60’s, steady ride south to the tunnel and a very enjoyable crossing, I found one of the quickest crossings I’ve had due to another fellow rider and the stories we exchanged. Arrived Calais and temps down to 50 F and I’m looking at a night of riding thru France.

I intended to part scout the ride for this years VRCC Belonga Mick ride in October, I got as far as Amiens and had to accept that at 53 though not old, with the punishment I’ve given my body over the years it wasn’t going to make it thru the night, already my left knee was aching and my right wrist was starting to burn, checked the temp gauge on the bars and it was now below the 50 and sure to get lower, I booked into a flee pit and got my head down for the night, sure tomorrow will be warmer and the ride more enjoyable.

Is that a big deal? Yes suppose it is for me, not that I’ve been beat or even that I have to admit defeat, it’s not a battle riding a bike, for me it was/still is the feeling of oneness, man and machine chopping thru the night, watching the sunrise, smelling the morning after a night ride is an experience,,,,,,,,,,, well it’s like the dog sticking it’s head out of the car window, if you don’t ride you wouldn’t understand, I hope you do.

I like to think/hope my discomfort was as much temperature related, maybe I was over tired, after all we had spent the morning touring London, whatever, I made the call and stopped.

The next morning I was up and back on the road by 7.30 and although the temperature was now only 38 F I knew it would be getting warmer as I headed south. Sure enough I arrived at the house mid afternoon, wall to wall sunshine and grass that wasn’t too long.

I had taken the opportunity to ride part of the planned October route and thoroughly enjoyed it, beautiful French country side and historic villages and no other better way of seeing them than from a bike.

I’d only been out 3 weeks earlier in the van to deliver some materials so had given it its first trim of the year then. Now that trip was another story I should have told you, stuck in a snow drift just north of Paris, cold? Boy it was so cold my camping gas froze, another lesson learnt. Will be sorting snow chains and other essentials for the van before next winter, cuda died.

I was hoping on this trip to get the plastering done in the new house, but I had managed to bring finish over last trip instead of basecoat plaster, so that was a non starter, however I did build the fire base up ready for the stove to be installed later this year. Also I picked up Neil (master chief and stone mason) who apart from his many other skills is a very good random stone pointer, he spent a day pointing the stone work either side of the fireplace and an excellent job he did.

Pic after

Pic (will get one next visit and post)

Can’t remember what else I did that trip, general tidy and ride, I did discuss with Paul the options for the new door in the end house, old opening is very small and a standard door wouldn’t fit, I could get one made but at over £1000 ($1540) I felt it a bit expensive. Paul suggested we make the opening fit a standard door, assured me it was a cheaper option and would work ????????? I had my doubts; you have to remember these cottages are over 2 to 300 years old if not older, and built from random stone held together with nothing more that mud, walls 3 ft thick and in filled with rubble and all sorts. No he insisted it would be fine, Paul is one of the few builders I would trust. I again put my trust in him and we ordered a standard door from suppliers and made arrangements for Paul (and Neil) to call on our next visit and do the deed, that was going to be in May, when I’d be accompanied by meJulie, her first trip out since Christmas.

I had to cut my trip short by a couple of days and return to the UK, decided to split the trip into two and stop at Abbeville, maybe when the weather warms I’ll be able to spend more time in the saddle before stopping, but in the damp and cold no, just not worth it.

I picked up a new GPS for this year TOMTOM Pro Euro, I like my TomTom, had experience of other systems and find TomTom the most reliable and this new system had a new feature “winding roads” oh yes, set your destination, then set the degree of “bendy roads” you want and set off, I did this a s I left Abbeville that morning heading to Calais, travelled some great roads, just have to put your trust in the GPS and go, I seem to remember it rained some of the way but when you’re enjoying the ride as much as I was that don’t matter, I’m glad I updated the system, (even more so when the next time I used the old one in the car back home it stopped working and hasn’t worked since) that was it for April.

Loaded the van again in May for another trip out, this time with the right plaster and well loads of stuff, every time I take the van out it’s fully loaded, in fact I’d say over loaded, back axle nearly on the floor, my old trafic has had some punishment and it just keeps on going.

This trip the weather was…bad….rain and cold and this was May, like I said winter dragged on this year, just when we thought it was all over it returned with a vengeance. We made the most of our time out there, me plastering and Julie cleaning, we did manage to spark up the BBQ a couple of time and had some exceptionally nice sirloin I’d bought back home, nice strip I cut myself, gave me 20 pieces of steak, not huge but boy were they tender, that’s what we’ll be putting on the menu in October.

Friday and Paul arrives to “make the opening fit the door”, he sent us off to collect the new door from Limoges, didn’t think my heart would cope with the stress, these things can and sometimes do go wrong, random stone is unpredictable, Julie and me, we enjoyed the drive south for the door, stopped off for lunch and made a trip out of it. When we got back they were just putting the finishing touches to the inner skin of stonework, and a very nice job they had done of it, they packed up about 6 and went on there way, now all I had to do was fit the door and light the BBQ.

Fitting doors in France isn’t a hard job, they come pre mounted in a frame, as long as the opening is square and the right size you can’t go wrong, and opening was bang on, raised door up ½ inch to allow for new floor clearance and I had it fitted and sealed within the hour, BBQ smoking we ate more steak at 7.30, life’s good.

Couple of days gardening and tidying and we were on our way home, via Paul’s new park and fly service, we'd decided to fly back and Paul was allowing us to park the van at his place, and Paul’s wife Rose would take us to the airport and we would fly back to Liverpool.

2 reasons, well maybe three for leaving the van in France, first it’s cheaper to fly than drive, flight tickets £28 each, with train ticket this end (UK) for £6.50, so 35 as near as dammit, where as to drive, train is £35 plus diesel at about£80. next reason we didn’t want the van on the drive at home as we have the house on the market so want it looking it’s best and although I love old faithful it’s not everyone’s cup of tea parked on the drive, can make the place look untidy.

And third, was there a third? Oh maybe yes next trip over I’m on the bike and have decided to bring it back in the van as I need to bring some other stuff back so makes sense that way, wrong I know, only time a bike should move is when it’s wheels are in contact with the road, but sure the Dragon will forgive me this once.

So that’s where we’re at, away again on the 13 June, I’ll be stopping at Dreux  scouting accommodation for Belonga Mick in October (someone has to do it) then scouting the ride proper, with coffee stops and site seeing down to the house, where I’ll be spending a week plastering, gardening and riding, oh yes plenty of enjoying that warm French wind.

Got to get back for the midsummer gathering another of our VRCC events up north,

just a days riding with friends, nothing much, no life doesn’t get much better than that, really.

This years road trip, July, we are off (that’s me and meJulie) to France then down to Italy and around to Nice, then along the coast to Spain and back into France, we will be avoiding tolls and using old mountain passes, pictures and story promised, keep watching.

I know I’ve said it before but I’ll do my best to post an update when I get back end of June, till then, this is where I am, can’t think of a better place, hope you’re in the right place also, enjoy

Mick

If you’ve got this far and found a link that isn’t working, let me know, thanks.