Coming soon...

Darrell's Great Road Trip across the USA....

Happy Birthday Shorty.

It's a little (no pun intended) early, but if I don't post this up now I'll end up being late with my birthday wishes. It's Shorty's birthday on Sunday everyone, he's the grand old age of.....naw, I can't say, well I could, but I'd better not....

The Grampian Classic Club threw a small (no pun intended) BBQ party for Himself last night, we had drinkies, food and a special cake that I didn't bake, but there was just a little (no pun intended) something missing....SHORTY! He couldn't make it, probably because he was a weeny (no pun...) bit worried about what might be planned.

So I've stuck together a short (ahem) video of the celebrations. Enjoy.

Wye aye man. Or something.

I estimated that it would be a 6hr drive to Wooler, in the great county of Northumberland (is it a county, can I call it that and get away with it?) for the VMCC Northumberland Gathering. So I thought if I was away by midday on Friday that would allow plenty of time to toddle down, set the tent up and head to the pub for a bite to eat. So at 1pm I finally drove away from Cubbie Towers, Cubbie securely tucked up in the van, got half a mile down the road and suddenly remembered that I didn't have my VMCC Membership card with me. Dratations. Turned round, back up the bumpy track, walked down the drive rather than opening and closing two gates, searched high and low for it, then remembered that it was probably still in the pocket of my riding jeans that I'd used for the Bracken Trundle. Tsk. Went back to the van, checked the pockets and there it was. The next delay was having to stop at the chemist that was closed, and then go to the post office in the next village to collect another free tax disc for Cubbie, and then yet another stop at another chemist (one that doesn't shut for lunch) to pick up some anti-crabbit pills. It's little wonder that the trip took longer than planned, as the next small holdup was from Dundee all the way south; torrential rain causing poor visibility and stupid numpty drivers forgetting to turn their lights on. By the time I reached Edinburgh it was Rush Hour. All I had to do was stick on the A720, the city bypass, yet somehow I ended up on the A702 - taking me right towards the city centre. At any other time of the day I could have just nipped off at the next exit, but every lane was chokka and it took about half an hour to get back on the right route. Finally arrived in Wooler about 8pm, found a nice secluded corner of the campsite, pitched the tent and was all ready to collapse for 40 winks when Mike from Scarborough turned up. He's not actually from Scarborough, but that's where I met him last year. So we walked the 'short walk' to the pub, enjoyed a nice couple of hours chatting to Martyn from http://www.cubsite.com/ and his friends 'n' family. He's the guy who tried to tell me that tappets aren't called tappets. And I still don't really understand his technical and mechanical reasoning, but I'm happy to refer to them as RATTLERS from now on, just to wind him up ;-) Upon returning to my tent, I was most perturbed to see another tent had grown right next to mine. Humbug, the whole idea of being over here in this corner is so that I can be all crabbit and grumpy on my own. Ah, but then, what should appear to my sleep deprived eyes but three sturdy (and only half clad) young rock climbers by the names of Steve, John and Danny. Maybe it isn't so bad after all...

Saturday morning, and it was an early start. Not from choice but down to the dear little mites in another nearby tent who are obviously full of youthful exuberance and thought nothing of running around screaming and playing at 6am. Apart from the kids, it's actually quite a nice campsite, with ducks and ducklings pottering around cadging crumbs from campers. Soon after the kids were up people starting to fire their bikes up so I joined them. Got Cubbie out, first kick, vroooom pop! Such a great feeling. The rock climbers didn't surface for a while, something to do with a late night session in the local pub, but they were really quite impressed with Cubbie, and I was really quite impressed that one of them produced his palmtop/Blackberry/mobile internetty thing and checked out the blog, there and then. Well, that's these young folk for you.
The older bikes set off a while before the 'moderns', and as per usual, I was one of the last to leave, despite being numbered as 69 out of 87. But it was a very informal thing and no necessity to leave in order. Just as well 'cos I hadn't even signed on 'cos I was busy talking to Ted Haworth, Chairman of the Stirling Castle VMCC section. He said Cubbie's rattlers didn't sound too tappetty, so I was happy with that and set off on what turned out to be a cracking ride of about 140miles (according to my dodgy milometer). Mike finally caught up with Cubbie at the coffee stop - he was riding an AJS Model 18s - the 's' being something that Cubbie doesn't have any longer. Next stop; lunch, where I met another member from http://www.cubsite.com/, Andreas who has a T20C at home. As it says in the programme, what's it doing at home??? We look forward to seeing it in Scotland one day...maybe next year...

Saturday evening was spent in the pub enjoying good food and banter - I tell you, these Geordie boys and girls have a fine sense of humour - also got to meet John The Vicar who visited Aberdeen a couple of years ago and met a fellow Grampian Classic club member, but never got around to meeting me or Cubbie. Jimmie Steel was on my list of people to catch up with, which I did, and he introduced me to some of the Border Reivers, a 'sort of newish VMCC section' - although I don't think they're a section yet, so I probably shouldn't say that, but they're a nice, enthusiastic bunch and I hope I've twisted enough arms to get them to come to the Plus1 in August, the closing date for which is Weds 15th July, so hurry up with those forms chaps! It was a late finish for poor old GBC and by the time I got back to the tent the snorers had started up. As a result of that and my shoulders hurting to the point where I couldn't even move an arm to adjust the sleeping bag, not much sleep was had. But I pride myself on not being crabbit on Sunday morning - and get this, this is the best bit of the weekend in some ways...the people camping just down the hill from me, Mark and Mary, had shown an interest in Cubbie. Over the weekend, we had chatted several times about Mary's desire to find a small classic bike that she could handle. Well of course, I offered her a go on Cubbie. Come Sunday morning, she turned up at the tent, kitted out in her leathers and ready for a go. I did a lap of the campsite to warm the Beast up, but it promptly stalled as she climbed on board. Mary must be a bit like me as rather than let me start the bike, she was already fiddling with the kick start. Well blow me down, she only went and started Cubbie all by herself. Ok, so she has a basic knowledge of the gears, clutch and brakes, but but but, she did good. With no tick over

Cubbie probably isn't the best bike for a beginner to begin on, but she gave it some revs, selected first gear and off she went. Hmmmm. That's a weird feeling. It's one thing letting an experienced motorcyclist ride your pride and joy, but someone who's only ever had a brief go on an Ariel Arrow is another matter....or so everyone told me...just to be on the safe side I kept an eye, and an ear, on what she was doing. Ooops, sounds a bit fast there....hang on...wheres she gone now....eeek, there she is! I'm amazed. Gobsmacked. The girl done good. Her hands were shaking from the adrenaline buzz , and the grin was testimony to how much she enjoyed her first Cubbie experience. If I can return the original favour, where someone let me have a go on their bike, and it helps to get another lady classic biker on the road, then it's all worth it.

Thanks to the organisers of the 32nd Northumberland Gathering, look out for the official report in Old Bike Mart.

Hang on, I've missed a bit. Ah yes, thanks for borrowing a picture from the blog to put in the programme Martyn, t'was a bit of a shock to see me looking back at me, and much as I don't want to cause any trouble, I would like a re-count on the answers from the second checkpoint - see the following picture...hehehehe...oops....trouble trouble trouble strikes again...

Look at that Cubbie Grin!

100% waterproof....hopefully

I've just received a pot of a new water-proofing product - all the way from New Zealand. Tis "Bone Dry Rub On", and although we seem to be in the middle of a heat wave (29degrees again today) I think I shall apply a little to my gloves and leather troos before heading south to the Northumberland Gathering.

Time now to pack the tent, give the van the once over, fettle Cubbie and load it up, then go to work and hopefully come home before 11pm so that I can get a good start tomorrow morning. See y'all next week.

Hahahaha, well I'm still sitting here doing paperwork and admin before I can get packing, but Shorty just emailed to say, and I quote, "You never learn, do you?" Hahahaha, well I wondered what he was on about - then it dawned on me, the latest issue of Old Bike Mart is out and my report on the VMCC Autojumble and new Intersectional Meeting must be in...along with a nice picture...well I thought it was nice, I do apologise if it offends you in any way Shorty.

Fun in the sun.

I have had the most fantasticaciously fundangling wonderful day. Tell you all about it later.

Woooohooooo hellllooooooo!!!!!!!! Right now, where were we? Ah yes, well on Sunday I was planning to go to the Stonehaven show to meet a few people and to buy Shorty lunch. But then Shorty was poooorly and I got news that it was dinging doon (er, I mean, raining) down there so I decided to head north instead and follow the sun. I ended up going to Captain Bill's to collect my *NEW* fuel tap for Cubbie and combined the run with trying out my two new helmets that I've had in the cupboard for about 18months. My instantly recognisable blue GBC helmet is about 8 years old, and although that doesn't really bother me, the fact that the seal around the visor leaks so badly that I get rain in my eyes and the pods over the sides leak so badly I get a draft in my ears, does. So I bought what I thought to be a good deal - a matt black Caberg, think it was around £90. Or it might have been just over £100, can't remember, I just know that I can't afford an ultra comfy / light one at closer to £400. Tried it on in the shop, wore bike gear and the salesman checked that it was a good and safe fitting, and he assured me that it is one of the quietest "cheap" ones. The first time I wore it on the bike it was so noisy, painful and drafty that I slung it to the back of the shelf. Then a friend gave me her son's Nolan lid, which he only wore a handful of times as pillion on his Dad's bike, but I didn't much like that either.

So I rode over to Captain Bill's wearing the Caberg to see if it was any better than I remembered, but after the first ten miles or so, it felt like I had 6" nails digging into the side of my head, and it was so drafty that my eyes were watering. I realise new helmets take a while to bed in, so put up with it for the rest of the way.

Anyway, got to Bill's, had some chocolate, got chatting about bike club stuff and then about something else, and then for some reason, he asked if I'd like a go on the Greeves Scottish he has tucked away in the shed. It would be rude to refuse, wouldn't it? So he wiggled it out from it's hiding place between the Connaught and his old racing bike - yers, he used to race regularly when he lived in Oz. The Greeves fired up easily and Bill pottered off on it to make sure all was ok. Then it was my turn, so I gave it an almighty kick, probably harder than was necessary, and we were off. Down for first gear, the little lever tucked neatly into the side, popopopopop up the grassy track and along the rutted road towards the woods. Spent a short while mucking around, practising turning in ever decreasing circles, found I can only go anti-clockwise these days! Must be getting rusty after not having ridden a trials bike for a few years. So that was all good fun, had some lunch, was just about to go, when Bill looked at me, muttered something, and then seemed to change his mind. Not being one to let that kind of behaviour go, I asked what he'd said. "Oh, nothing, I was just going to make an improper suggestion". Hmmm, it's a good job I know him well enough to know he wasn't really going to do anything of the sort! I finally managed to beat it out of him, and what he'd said was....."let's go and get the old racer out!".

Now you have to bear in mind that this is his 1949 AJS Model 16, which has been in storage since 1984. I assumed he must have been tinkering with it lately, but no, he pulled it from the shed, pumped the tyres up, filled it up with oil, and then fetch a drum of alcohol. Oh my dear sweet Lordy Lord of Racing Motorcycles, what am I doing? It's one thing going for a potter on a bike that hasn't run for 25 years, but quite another filling with it alcohol and blasting off down a bumpy track. Oh well, Bill isn't one to inflict unnecessary risks upon anyone, so I went along with it. He removed the bung from the air intake, which had attached to it a sign instructing the rider to "REMOVE BEFORE STARTING", quite good advice I think, and we wheeled the beast out to the lane. With the sun beating down, Bill put the bike into gear, pulled it backwards until it hit compression, explaining each move to me as he went, and then sprinted off down the track. Pinging the clutch out as he jumped upon the saddle, the rear wheel locked and the engine coughed, and then there was silence.

Hmmmm.

Back he came, did it all again, but with the same result. So I gave him a push, which did at least result in a puff or three of dirty looking smoke from the zorst. Time to clean the points, says Bill, so we push it back to base, clean the points and try again. Each time it sounded a little more promising, yet each time it just failed to keep going. So we returned to base and attached a light bulb thingy to check for a spark, which there was. Humbug. We were both too hot and exhausted to make any more attempts to get the old beasty going. But ya know, that was the most fun I've had in a long time. Some times the simple things of messing about with bikes and friends can be a most rewarding exercise. And had I not scoffed half a bar of chocolate, it may well have resulted in healthy exercise too.

Time had certainly flown, seeing as I'd arrived at about 11am, and it had gone 5pm by the time I left for home, wearing my Nolan helmet this time. Although not the quietest or most comfy lid in the world, it certainly beats the Caberg and I think once the padding wears in, it should be bearable.

So that was Sunday, and yesterday I finally got around to fitting new tappets to Cubbie, which was nearly as exciting, in its own way. What should apparently be a 10min job actually took me somewhere in the region of 4 hours. That includes time spent trying to fix the phone / internet that BT said there was nothing wrong with, but which miraculously cured itself within half an hour of reporting it to BT. Every time I set the gap and tightened the lock nut, the gap closed up, and then I got a socket stuck on the end of one of the tappets, which had to be removed using brute force. Finally gave up and accepted that they must be right, although Mrs BC said she thought the gap was too tight, yet I thought it too slack. Then moved on to re-fitting the light, bodging some more silicon sealer around the ammeter and trying to fit a not-so-new speedo, as the original one seems to be beyond repair. Ended up pulling the cover off the ammeter and having to take it apart and then rebuild it, with added silicon of course. Then when I was fitting the speedo cable, I inadvertently popped the speedo out because the silicon hadn't dried fully. Then the biggest challenge was the horn, which I'd forgotten about. The button had fallen off somewhere in Keith, on the way to Dornoch a few weeks ago. So I tried adapting the kill switch from the Bultaco, but that didn't work, and time was running out and I had to catch and dose a lamb before going to work. Whizzed in to the car spares place on the way to work and bought a two-pronged flick switch that I thought might do the trick - the fancy push button they had was £8. The other one was 75p.

So up early today as the MoT was at 10am, and then realised that I'd fitted the kill switch back to front - wrong wires to wrong terminals! Sorted that out and hey presto, we have a beep-beep button again. Fired Cubbie up, tappets are a bit noisy, and there's a good oil leak coming from one of the rocker boxes, but hopefully it'll get me to the MoT station.....

.....which it did...and I've just got back with a PASS!!!!!! So Cubbie lives again!!! Northumberland here we come...on Friday...if the insurance docs arrive in time for me to get the tax on the way....

Sorry these are as good as it gets, due to having a spare lid stuffed in my rucksack, there was no room for a camera, and I wasn't anticipating anything exciting happening that was worth hanging my camera around my neck for, so these were taken with my phone.

I know I have some other pics somewhere of the Greeves and Connaught, but which file they're in is another matter.

Here ya go, Bill at the National in 2007. Not a bad haul, eh?

What other people were up to on other weekends.

Well it's always GBC this, GBC that, Cubbie this and Cubbie the other on here. So I thought it would make a change to see what you lot have been up to.

First up is Shorty. He only gets to go first because I know my manners and I always let the short people go first. Although it almost hurts to post this photo of his multi-award-winning Ajay. Since the picture was taken, he has won yet another prize on this mighty machine.



Class winner at Fraserburgh
Best in show at the Angus Show
3rd in class at the Loch Ness rally in Inverness

~~~

Next up is Kawa. Can you guess where he went?
Ok, looks like no one is playing. Here are a few words from the man himself -

Friday morning and up early, got to be down at Cairnryan for the 8am ferry, stuff on bike and along to the local petrol station. Noticed it was 6am and thought 2hrs to the ferry(100mls), no problem. Think I got to around Ayr when the penny dropped, or more like woke up, but I've got to book in about half an hour before hand, at the latest. Arrived at the terminal at around 7.50am, not a soul to be seen in the usual places, so popped in to the main building and was greeted by a very nice lady. After a wee telling off for being late, in the school teacher sort of way, and don't do it again, I was through the gate and on to the boat. Crossing was fine, and no screaming kids as this was one of the Transport Cafes of the sea, one of the commercial vehicle only ferries. We arrived in Larne on time and for once was first off the boat (that'll be 'cos you were last on then eh!). First stop was just out of Larne for fuel, before the run over to Derry/Londonderry about 75mls. Uneventful run over, but did pass the highest Pub in Ireland somewhere on the road. Did I say it was raining the whole way there, must be getting used to the rain.

Arrived at my mate Davy's around mid day, caught up with things then headed out to give his early Kawasaki Z1 the once over. Early evening we headed over to Derry to have my guide tour of the City wall and a good bit of local history, very interesting. Was surprised how small the area in side the wall is. Saturday morning and Davy and his wife had left to catch a flight to London, where they were picking up an early Ducati Monster. A quick cuppa, plan my route for the day and I was off heading for Port Stuart. While up there I just had to have a wee ride round the NW200 course, but not at the racers speeds. I have been at the NW200 a few times and one of the reasons for this trip was to visit some of the places I never seem to have had the time to stop off at. So I headed along the coast route towards Bushmills, passing by the Whiterocks and the interesting remains of Dunluce Castle. While heading through the town heading for the Bushmills Distillery there was a fantastic smell of a full cooked breakfast, made a mental note to fine the source of it on the way back. Had a quick look round the visitor centre, took some pics then off down to the Cafe to have my Full Ulster (Ulcer) Breakfast, even got extra toast and tea. No rain so far, well not till I got about a mile from my next stop which was the Giants Causeway. I had this image of parking the bike and walking a 100yds and I was on the Causeway, more like park up and walk a mile an a half .There is a wee bus that runs up an down, £1 each way, so being tight I walked (I took the bus, it's a fun ride!). All I can say is it was well worth the visit, even better than the pics I'd seen off the place.

Next on the plan was to visit the Joey Dunlop Memorial in Ballymoney, it was a really good dry run down there taking about half an hour. In the town, eventually one of the locals had to point me in the right direction, think I rode past it a couple of times. The memorial site is nicely set out and is a fantastic tribute to a great man. The rest of the trip was down to Ballymeana, then from there about 20mls over to Larne. I arrived there with a couple of hours to spare so just had a look round the town , then took a run along the coast road for about 15mls before heading back to join the cue for the ferry. All in a good few days away. Heading to Orkney next month sometime, got a few things I want to see up there, anyone want to go?

~~~

Poor old Bantam Cub hasn't had much time to get out and about on this bike lately, but after our little excursion to the Lothians and Argyll, he did invest in a new tool bag for the back of the bike so that he can carry his 'proper' tools - ones that don't snap midway through a wheel removal job! Looks neat, don't you think?

~~~

Next up is Stu. Do you ever wonder who these people are who leave comments on
the blog, what they look like, what they ride? I do. So it's nice to get a wee
piccy from time to time. Only recently did Stu rediscover the joys of being out
in the fresh air, getting cold and wet, and the Bonnie is his pride and joy. Oh,
and meet Daisy and Wee Jock!

~~~

Ah, yes, then we have Graham. I was kinda hoping that my request for pics might result in some bike shows and rallies up and down the country, but no, I get photos of broken speedo internals! Graham, of Improving Classic Motorcycles fame, very kindly volunteered (had his arm twisted?) to fix Cubbie's speed measuring device. Upon closer inspection, he informs me it's all pretty bad news. Can you guess which bits are Cubbies in the following picture?



~~~

Oh yers, hang on, Kawa's cousin "JJ" races MZs (and other marques) over in New Zealand.

I was on a MZ as a bit of a joke at a local classic meeting. It was a bundle of fun and I raced in almost every class, over 9 races in one day! It's a standing joke in the pits. Eligible for almost every class it's a whopping 250cc and dates to some time BC (or atleast feels like it when you ride it), but still I finished 5th in the pre'89 open two stroke class on the tighter layout at Ruapuna.

The classic bike is a home-built bike from down south. It was built in 1966 (or '63, I can't remember exactly) and is two twin cylinder chainsaw engines joined together. It has a BSA front end. Anyone know anything else about it?

~~~

Ah! BigBob! Thanks for the link to your Photo Bucket page - hope you don't mind if I borrow a few pictures from the British and European Motorcycle day in Maryland a wee whiley back...




Saved the best til last...

They certainly have a fine selection of some nice old bikes over there.
~~~
Still on the 'other side of the world' theme, managed to talk Ol' Diggy into sending a couple of pics of his latest project, a 1939 BSA B25. We think the DVLA in the UK is slow and inefficient when it comes to dishing out registrations and paperwork for our projects, but poor Dig has spent three years working on the bike, and now he's been waiting over 6 weeks to get the legalities sorted. The only quote I could extract from his was "if it ever happens"... Cracking bike though.

Bracken Trundle. (Subtitled; Not bad for a Girl).

So there y'are. I'm back on Shorty's Suzuki. Tearing along country roads towards Oban on the evening before the Longest Day, and although it's been warm through the daylight hours, the clouds are brewing and the sun keeps hiding behind big lumpy hilly bits. I can't be bothered to stop and put my padded over trousers on, even though my legs are going numb with the cold breeze, but I'm nearly there. Just another fifty miles to go. No, can't be that close already. Ah, hang on, this thing works in kilometres. I know the thing that most, if not all of you want to read about, is the bike, but sadly I can't comment too much on it, because the whole purpose of having it on long term loan, is to do a write up for a magazine. So the best I can do, is to let you know when and where you can read all about it. Finally made it to Oban, grabbed a healthy take away meal and stuffed it in my rucksack. I don't know if the lady at Glenroy B&B could smell it or not, but she didn't let on. She was probably horrified at this frozen, stammering little girlie who'd stumbled into her house at bang on the time she had estimated (9pm), who had trouble signing in as her fingers wouldn't bend. Even after my smoked sausage and chips I was still cold, so filled the kettle and had a hot chocolate. And a Kitkat. And a couple of short bread biscuits. What? Well they're put in the room for people to eat, so I might as well oblige! Snuggled down under the duvet, piled the towels from the bathroom and my spare clothes on top of me and watched a very interesting programme about brain surgery while I thawed out. Deep brain stimulation and the pioneering lobotomists. Fascinating stuff. Up later than planned on Sunday, had a lovely breakfast, got chatting to the gentleman of the house about bikes - he used to have a Triumph, and a BSA, and something called a 'Onda I think it was. As a result, the B&B is ultra bike friendly, with a private car / bike park, and they even provide bits of wood should you need something to put under the sidestand. I apologise to them if Room 7 had a slight odour of stale chips about it! http://www.glenroyguesthouse.co.uk/

So back on the bike, finally found a petrol station, filled up, and it started to rain. On the with the waterproofs and track back along the A85 to Taynuilt and the start of the Bracken Trundle. By the time I arrived, most people were already gathered in the Bridge of Awe hotel, munching bacon rolls and signing on. Lots of faces there I knew, and some I didn't. Decided it was best just to follow someone - chose Peter Oram - who promptly rode off out of the hotel car park the wrong way up a one way system. Made an executive decision not to follow Peter! Tagged on behind a batch of bikes and once off the main road, the group settled into a steady chuggy pace, winding along a single track up and over the hill, dodging sheep and cattle. The views would have been stunning had it not been for the low cloud and intermittent rain throughout the day. As we came around a corner, a beautifully moody view across a loch spread out in front of us, so me being me, I had to stop. Waved the rest of the group past, took a few shots, and then somehow, got left way, way behind. Rattled on at a sharp pace on the Suzi - really quite a racy little number ya know, and then what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Ralph (from the Auld Reekie VMCC Section) on his Commando, awaiting my arrival in a lay by. He signalled for me to take the next left, so I did, and we whirled along more single tracks that twisted and turned down into valleys and weaved in and out of small pockets of trees. Playing catch up is fun. Ralph took the lead at the next junction, and within a few minutes we'd caught up, and tagged along at the rear of the group until the lunch stop at the Creagan Inn. Thank you to Peter and Chris for lunch and drinkies.

After lunch, I made yet another executive decision and opted to follow the rear end of Bill's Laverda Jarama. I don't know how we did it, but even stopping to consult Bill's compass several times, we ended up back at the Bridge of Awe before anyone else. *Note: never follow a man who doesn't have a compass. Peter came in just minutes after us, so I suspect he was waiting around the corner...not wanting to go in the wrong way on the one way system or something... Tea (but I don't drink tea), coffee (and I don't drink coffee) and sarnies and biscuits (I DO eat sarnies and biscuits) were provided and we noshed our way through about half a dozen trays of them. Had time for a good chat with a few people, and before I knew it, the hours had ticked by and it was time for me to head home. The road from Taynuilt to Tyndrum is simply divine, but overly decorated with signs showing bendy bits and instructing the rider / driver to slow down. Hmmm. Me thinks you'll have a hard time getting any biker to slow down along there. Although, having said that, I didn't feel the need to exceed any speed limits, it's simply a great road to ride in a smooth and easy fashion. Got some stunning scenery too, winding around the base of Ben Cruachan, known as the Hollow Mountain - Google it if you don't know what I'm on about, and on the other side is Loch Awe and more sweeping shale covered hillsides, topped with more low cloud! Heading east and the weather brightened a little, still not exactly my idea of the Summer Solstice but better than nothing. By this time I was getting more used to the revvy nature of the Suzuki - it's a GS450S by the way, and was able to make the most of all those beautiful, well surfaced corners. After a long weekend of travelling and eating, home is the main thing on my mind, so I opted for the A90 to take me north. Some five hours after leaving the Trundlers, I arrived back at GBC Towers, somewhat peckish and a little tired. Which I am now, so if you'll excuse me, I'm off to bed, will check the above for nonsense, and stick the pics up tomorrow after fence mending. Ta ra. Many thanks to Pat & Jim for a great run, shame about the weather, but that's half the fun, now we've got something to moan about!