& Then a Dash out, O yeh.....Not

Well what can I say but 'BLOODY RAIN', got woke up this morning @ approx 5.30am by Heavy Rain (not the wife) LOL.
By the time I was due to go out the rain was still coming down but not as hard, so off to the Dealer to get the parts fitted.
While I was in there waiting for the Bike to be sorted out I had a wonder around the shop, Well it would have been so Rude not too.
I purchased a nice little number for the tank, not too big not too small, just about the correct size to chuck all the bits you might need and also easy to take off & use as a bag when not with the Bike.
I also got some Cables for my Tom Tom to connect to the Battery so it'll be a bit easier with the Sat Nav instead of directions on a piece of paper.

To up-date this post, the connection to the Sat Nav from the bike Battery has been a success, Yippee.

29-5-11------30-5-11

Today was not a day for biking here, the weather seems to be getting worse, every weekend at the moment we seem to have lots of bad wind which as you know ain't nice to bike in.
Last Monday after the GT/ST Sprint trial I was Lubing the chain up, the bike was on the Paddock stand & the next minute the Bike was leaning on the concrete fence post with one Smashed Mirror & a bent R/hand brake lever.
Phoned up the Kawasaki dealer & ordered the parts 115.00 English pounds OUCH !!!!
They are fitting the said items 2Moro Bank Holiday Monday at 10am then if the weather is OK it might be a dash out, last time before the French trip....

Test Day ST vs GT

The arranged day came and went.
Set off this morning to go to York after having the Bike serviced, and was having second thoughts as the wind was well let's say Very Strong, we nearly turned around about a mile away from the house (it was bad).
Any way in to York, sorted the paperwork out, Jill & I got on the ST & shot off towards Stamford Bridge for the test ride, it felt very strange at first but after riding this bike I settled down in to it's riding position very quickly, Jill on the other hand was not too impressed as she had problems getting on to the bike and also holding on was an issue, the Pillion grab handles are at the rear above the exhaust which holding on made her arm's ache. It rained hard on the way back to the shop also.
We was going to get off then I said I would return another day to test the GT & Chris the salesperson said that I could take one out NOW if I wanted too.
Woosh gone for 15 Min's on my own, GREAT ride like the GT better.
We are going back after I come back from my little tour to France & have a good ride out on the GT in better weather.
So Roger it's a yes at the moment to a Triumph.....

The Triumph Sprint 1050 GT



And the Triumph Sprint 1050 ST



My Bike in the workshop having it's service.


Just a snap of the workshop in Doncaster

So, to the ACE CAFE we went...

So the Triumph test drive has been put back until the 23-5-11 at 13.00hrs.
So not to be Rude, Gareth(my eldest) & me was Wooosh off to that there London for a little trip.
I left my humble abode @ 6.50am up to the local Supermarket for fuel then pick Gareth up & off we went.
1st stop was down the A1 at Grantham for a Mcadees Breakfast, 45 Min's later we was tramming down the A1 non stop to Brent Cross off the A406 North Circular in London & stopped for fuel.
On the way to the Ace Cafe we went to get a closer look at Wembley Stadium (photos Below). After getting stuck in some traffic at Wembley he then headed off for another 2 mile to the Ace Cafe.
Upon arrival, took a few photos and had a chat with some one then inside for a cuppa, had a good look around then ordered a something to eat & another cuppa.
We we're just about to leave when a few Harleys rolled in, so we had a chat with a bloke and took some snaps of his bike.
Time was cracking on so we departed the Cafe @ 13.05hrs heading back North & stopping off at a services on the A46 for a cuppa, 2hrs riding sends ur Ass Numb.
Bish Bosh and off again & back to Doncaster, dropped Gareth off at home then back to my house it was. Got back at 17.20hrs, I'll let you work out the Maths on this one.
We we're very lucky with the weather, had a few spitting drops of the wet stuff on the return journey but not enough to get you wet, yet again we had Wind(from the weather & no where else)but good God it was a bit chilly, thought it was Mid Novemeber here. Total miles today was 348.2 Yahoo......

Mean Machine at Wembly Stadium.


A little bit closer to Wembley



We got to The Ace Cafe.


Gareth looking at ?.


These next 2 snaps are of what you see and it was from Italy, in good nick also.



A few snaps from inside the Cafe, this place has some great history & stories behind it from the Mods & Rocker era.




Back outside, the front of the building.


Custom painted Harley D = SWEET. Some more Harley snaps are to follow what Gareth took.



Todays Route.

View Ace Cafe 15-5-2011 in a larger map

I've got my eye on something !!!!!

Ummmm and if the Insurance comes in at the right price next weekend I could be part Exing the Er-6F for this little beauty, 3yrs old at a good price with only 8000 on the clock.
It also comes with other toys and Hard Luggage to the side, roll on next weekend then. The Ace Cafe trip might be put on hold....

Caribbean Feb 2011

Just thought I'd pop a few snaps on the Blog from our Trip to the Caribbean in Feb2011. We had booked up Jan 2010 for the cruise on P&O Venture this was Basically our Honey moon as in 1985 we never got one, so we treated ourselves on our 25th Wedding anniversary.
We flew Manchester to Barbados then set sail for Bonaire, Aruba, Jamaica, Grand Turk, St Maarten, St Lucia, Antigua, Domonique then back to Barbados.
Honda Shadow on Bonaire.

Yes & we had rain but it soon dried up.

Me & the Tour Bus on Aruba.

Our little ship at Grand Turk, sorry Big Luxury Liner LOL.

The wife & I posing on the Beach, then not long after this shot, Yes it rained...again.

Woooosh I managed to get out !!!!!!!!

Well I would not have believed it, after it rained all night at home, we (Ashley & Me) managed to get out today and got wet only by the Spray from other cars on route.
Left home at 8.30am ish tank up then headed off to Squires Cafe again Via Selby.
I had not actually planned a lot of miles as I was supposed to be playing a round of Golf at 1pm with some mates but upon getting to Squires looked at my mobile to see a few missed calls (the Golf was cancelled) that's a shame coz then I had to spend all day on the Bike YAHOO...
So unleashed to the roads we set off for Kirkby Lonsdale again, but this time we went up the M1/A1(M) to Boroughbridge, The City Of Ripon & then along the back roads to Leynburn. Picked up the A684 (not the best road in the UK) for Hawes, stopped for some pic's the in to Sedburgh before the Dark Clouds caught up with us.
Once we got to Devils Bridge @ K'Lonsdale, just ordered a cuppa & the rain came, sheltered from the rain with the Bike and took some more pic's some of a Biker Group called 'Satans Slaves' England' make of that what u like.
The Sky still looked a bit Iffy so we decided to make a Dash for the A65 back East passing Skipton,Ilkley,Otley then back on the A1(M) at Wetherby to make a Dash for the Hein Gericke shop in Doncaster before they closed at 4pm, arrived just in the Nick of time to purchase my new Leather Trousers that I had ordered last week, O yes they fit & handed over the C/Card and then off home 234 miles approx today.
Roll on next Sunday, Me & my eldest son Gareth are going down to The Ace Cafe in that there London weather permitting.
Today's route can be seen at the bottom of this post.....
Ashley & ME at Squires.

Triumph Speed Triple, Looked quite nice if I might be allowed to say.

The Blue Machine on the A684 looking back East.

Ashley Posing.

Ashley Posing Again..

The Satans Slaves.


And The Devil's Bridge Itself.

Todays Route.

View Larger Map

Too Be or Not Too Be !!!!!!

Well, the forecast for this weekend here is, well lets say not very clever.
I don't know, you work 65 hrs in the week then get ur rest period (mine being Sun/Mon) and the weather does not look very good.
Supposed to be going out for a little thrash around in the morning up to Squires Cafe at Sherburn In Elmet with my youngest lad Ashley (20 yrs soon) and then to a shop in doncaster to collect my new leather Trousers I've ordered that match the Leather Jacket i bought last May ready for last yrs TT.
So at 8am I'll sus the weather out & if it's ok Wooooosh I'm of out for a few hrs..

1.May.2011

And another nice day, April was brill so lets hope May & June are as good.
Met up with Phil again today on a Pre-France tip out, I ended up clocking 297.2 miles in total, you should be able to see the route on the map @ the bottom of this post. We had good weather all apart from the wind which seemed to get Stronger & Stronger as the day went on, I must admit I was glad to get back as the Wind was starting to make riding very uncomfortable.
Phil worked out that we had been in South Yorkshire,North Yorkshire,West Yorkshire,Cumbria,Lancashire,Cheshire,Derbyshire loads of different County's.
After we met up in my town of Doncaster, we headed up to Squires Cafe then on to Kirkby Lonsdale where we had breakfast & took some snaps.
Next we headed for Lancaster then shot down the A6 to Preston where we joined the M65/M61 which took us down towards Manchester on to the M60 ring Motorway then that led us over to Macclesfield and on to our final destination The Cat & Fiddle (a pub at the top of the world).
From here we rode down the big hill in to Buxton then Ashbourne, we separated there & Phil went back to his home in Burntwood near Cannock, I headed over to Derby, Mansfield and back home.

At the petrol station early Sunday morning.

Phil at Squires Cafe.

Phil in the back ground & another rider thought he'd get in on the shot LOL.

2 shots of from the The Old Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.


Spot the balded headed rider or the Bikes ?.

Well what can I say 'Triumph Rocket'.


At the 'Cat & Fiddle', or is it the top of the world ????

Phil pointing at ? whatever!!!!!

And me, well just posing...


Our route....

View Larger Map