Another day of awesome D roads but sadly another day of rediculous temperatures, 38⁰C and very sweaty. Apologies again, no pictures ...... CBA 200+ miles tomorrow but to a hotel that sells itself as a gastronomic experience Andy
A strange brew for me yesterday, it all started well with that early morning walk plus afterwards with motogp on in the background for 30 odd minutes before i said let's get the 996 out for a quick dash before temperatures rise. With the usual teenager tantrums it eventually started up and i didn't think twice about it until i'd switched it off at the next property stop and it just wouldn't start again. I've a battery trickle charger located there so that was plugged into the bike for 30 odd minutes and hey presto. Right do i return home or take a chance at the petrol station one mile away feck it let's do it as i can get back as opposed if i get stuck right in the middle of no man's land miles away, filled up and yes you guess it no starting again, so pushed it back with all the kit on including the helmet. I'd overtaken some lazy pavement pedestrians and started feeling heat exhaustion setting in fast, so took a rest for a few moments and then a further three stops throwing the jacket off before i arrived at the gate entrance. Immediately removing all the kit off down to the shorts & t.shirts and i thought i'd give it one more go, shit i'd dropped the ignition alarm key somewhere up the road, so i retraced my steps and there it was still sitting where i threw my jacket off earlier after 20 odd minutes thank christ i said as that would've been £30/50 for new one. The next move was let's get a 30 year cycle out of the shed with 30 year old tyres & inner tubes, yes you guess it as the front tyre went down after 20 odd minutes cycling, so a hour later with the front tyre just hanging on the front rim and feet hurting like mad i was back at square one again. Right with no friends or family available today for help and i don't do public transport for love or money let's walk the distance, well one hour into the walk the feet were gone and the pants were eating into the thigh area then luckily my mum responded to a sos text message sent earlier. 20 minutes later she scooped me up & rewarded me with an emergency ice cream in time for that all important rugby match.
I was 5 minutes short of a pub visit which was plotted beforehand and a pint as she phoned me, but that wouldn't do as your gonna need two or three pints with that warm weather.
I had similar with the 888 a couple of weeks ago... pushed the fekker fully clobbered up from the end of Queens Road to home (1 mile approx.) in near 30 temps... by the time I got up Old Avenue you could have seen the veins on my forehead from outer space...!!! Which makes me wonder if we could have sort of localised contact list of members (name, pcode, number - in whats app or something) who may be available to help at short notice if this sort of thing happens... I know I woud be willing to try and at least help push if someoe pinged me and I was available... just a thought...
Planned to spend most of the day lying in the garden drinking wine & g&t’s, stocked up on bbq food from the butchers, had some music lined up, but it’s pissing it down, so I washed the bike and am now watching only fools & horses.
Opened the garage door, looked at the bikes, thought about going out on one of them, went shooting instead
Arrived in Périgueux..... eventually. Another, ridiculous scorcher, just clicked over 1000Km and 4 days still to go Unfortunately our first mishap today, 1mph topple for our oldest (79) rider. Bike broke a hand guard and rider was a bit shocked but continued to the hotel. Still no photos but someone else took this of me and my BFF. Andy
Was going past in the camper after a few days away and had to pop in . Not sure the wife was so keen .
not great bud, lost on points, first pro defeat! I couldn’t attend after so haven’t spoken to him but I’ll get a debrief when I see him! Gutted!
