To all those who are there this year, have a great time, weather looks to be wonderful. Safe travels and enjoy every minute of your time, wish I could join you. I'm guessing it will be 'fairly' quiet and relaxing this year.
I've had the French Resistance contact me, they've seen a few dodgy bikers around. these reprobates were seen in St Mere Eglise. It looks cooler than it is here.
Hi Rik...I had to cancel this time as my father was ill and died a week and a half back, so there were some other things to deal with. Another one of the 'old school' gone...He worked on aircraft engines during the war including work on some of the early jet engines...A talented Engineer..
As you say though, I could do to be in Normandy.....Ron will hopefully sort the issues out but if anything remains unresolved that requires 'face to face' arranging, I'll probably take a short trip over later in the year....Ian
Ron has had some starting problems with his M20 apparently...It just happened recently and he suspects a mag problem but didn't have time to work through it... Luckily he has 20 or so bikes to fall back on at times like that... ...Ian
After changing the oil last weekend, priming with fresh fuel she fired up after 6 months on the first kick. Burning a bit of oil, but thats as some was in the bottom of the engine, but it resulted in my new neigbourghs promptly closing their kitchen door..Like you Rob, a little run tonight will be the order of the day. Ian sorry to hear about your Father.
I'm going to take a ride over Dartmoor to look for possible 'rideout' routes from Buckfastliegh...and I'll call in on Colin H for a social and a cuppa....and all in the sunshine! ...Ian
A lovely run today, first stop Countess Wear Bridge where the practice was done for the assault on Pegasus bridge in Normandy, then across Dartmoor to Buckfastleigh where I met up with Ian and Colin, a quick look at a field full of buttercups and then back to two bridges trying to keep up with Ian and then Home.
115 miles I won't say without a problem, I did stop to adjust the rear chain and there was quite a bit of clutch slip on some of the steeper bits that I must sort out, but I feel that the 3 ice creams helped the day along.
yeah I also rode my royal enfield co to work and back today to make a change from using my bsa b4o wd the sun was out, what a glorious ride home
cheers michael
Rob, good day today, just right for the bikes, was it just the 3 ice creams, I thought the cheesebuger and chips may of helped, anyway, a great little (for me) ride out with you and Ian on this day of days
was out today on my M20 lovely run in the Kent countryside it ran like clockwork and pulled like a train when needed I wish it was a bit faster i.e. cruise at say 75mph rather than the 55mph it does can be a little bit slow for modern traffic
My pleasure Colin...It was good to catch up again after the Winter and have a ride out in virtually perfect conditions for once....I thought Katy looked a right tart in her new outfit...very nice.... ...Ian
Sorry couldn't be with you lot in Normandy, this week, still got to go to cut my grass, bet its two foot high, And as the banter is very quite Cos you Lucky people are away enjoying yourselves, and in keeping with the June the sixth WD theme we ,went down to wales yesterday and picked up my new WD flea, very original just a few missing parts when civilianised in 1946,still got the original canvas handgrips under the perished rubber ones, factory tool roll with original Enfield tools,miller head light and switch and one folding footrest, matching frame and engine numbers,to contract Found In OandM,s book, It has John bull tyres dated 1956 in nr mint condition but side walls cracked,This bike was built for the very last delivery from Enfield to WD,in 1944, any way you get the picture, very pleased, if I get the cosmetics finished in time it will be at the race to bridge in September this year with two other fleas my grandson Zac, son in law, and peter Skelton, if we can prise him away from his para bike collection LOL, on his very original wellbike Andrew.h.
Hi Lee, I will look out for you at Weymouth for a chat, I am always torn between taking the Katy or M20, anyway these once a year meetings cant go on, would be good if you make Buckfastleigh this year.
After bumping into the folks who organise the Isle of Wight 40's weekend I signed up for it only to discover it's the same weekend as Buckfastleigh! Shame as it's my birthday weekend and was looking forward to a ride across the moor after a slice or two of birthday cake. There's always next year.
I've also bought a 4-wheeler and have told the wife it'll be a better investment than my under-performing pension. That way, as soon as she says it's another toy I can say 'No Dear, it's for our future...'
Love the I.O.W. when you see simon and the gang please say hello from the Larkins, they will know who you mean, we used to take our Bedford OYD (my Daughter Abbie still owns it) over and always had a great time, I will see you at Weymouth for a chat
I wondered why my ears were burning. Back from Normandy at 11 PM yesterday. We didn't have a spot of rain during daylight the whole week, but the wind was awful and bitterly cold sometimes. As usual the skin is falling of my nose face and lips. Me and Horror were both feeling a bit ill all day yesterday, after an excessive night in the bar with a troupe of about 50 theatricals from Paris. One of the best nights I have had in years. I even tried mussels for the first time....Yuk! A bit like licking phlegm of a tortoise .
I got on extremely well with the new owners of the camp-site. There are several horses on our camping field.....But they assure me that they will have eaten them before next June Ron
I haven't visited Normandy during D-Day week and am looking forward to 2014. Just need to work-out whether I take the wife which would involve taking the caravan or do I go it alone and kip in the back of the van, saving a chunk of money on ferry fees.
Ps. Anyone know when the best time to book the ferry is? Is there such a thing as an early bird discount?
Firstly I'd like to say I'm sorry to hear the news about your Dad, Ian. I had my 50th birthday the weekend before we set off for Normandy and my Dad died that morning as well My family told me I had to go to Normandy as I'd been planing it for 2 years, and I told the undertakers they can wait until I get back, which they were happy to do. So I'm now sorting that out
Anyway, enough of that and back to the fun of Normandy
Here's Ron licking phlegm off a tortoise and a few more pictures.
Madame Gondree at Pegasus Cafe was very pleased that we parked our "Little Bikes" on the cafe forecourt, and when I reminded her that I once interviewed her for a news bulletin about the old museum.......She gave us free bear and coffee Ron
Another ride out of "Ron's Rabble" we met the little French bloke in the US uniform talking to Tim with the cowboy hat on. He was one of a group camped up in a church yard in a town we went to. He came out of there camp blowing his whistle like mad and pointing at us. We thought what does this Tw-t want.. Still blowing his whistle he got us all in the church yard and gave us free beer
It was terrible being forced to drink all the time
The desert colour was quite obvious in Normandy, maybe I was coming back from N Africa. Yes the coat did make me look very "happy" and I feel I added a bit of class to a scruffy bunch. I think it's the Gok Wan style to DR uniforms
I know you want it really John
Another ride out of "Ron's Rabble" we met the little French bloke in the US uniform talking to Tim with the cowboy hat on. He was one of a group camped up in a church yard in a town we went to. He came out of there camp blowing his whistle like mad and pointing at us. We thought what does this Tw-t want.. Still blowing his whistle he got us all in the church yard and gave us free beer
It was terrible being forced to drink all the time
I hope Tim told the French bloke to stock up on beer for 2014!