Check-in/OK message from SPOT IPA Scottish MC Touring Group

IPA Scottish MC Touring Group
Latitude:54.99433
Longitude:-1.45789
GPS location Date/Time:05/31/2014 14:49:55 GMT

Message:Finished for today. See our location on the tracking map.http://tinyurl.com/c7nlkt9


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IPA Scottish MC Touring Group

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Ready for Adventure
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT The McNeills are here.

The McNeills are here.
Latitude:55.98593
Longitude:-4.58762
GPS location Date/Time:05/31/2014 09:28:49 BST

Message:Everything fine. Off the air until tomorrow. This is a SPOT Check-in/OK message update.

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The McNeills are here.

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Work horse or steed of steel

Just wondering what will happen when we hit the first hill en route, hope the bike is not like a diesel and fades on the incline.   So much stuff rammed into the assorted panniers and boxes,  but I am sure that the Tesco trolly hitched behind will come in handy.
Did consider adjusting the rear suspension, but a bit late now to go on a diet.

Just thinking now that this time tomorrow we will be manning the oars, life jackets on, and working to the beat of the drum !!! or was that Ben Hur ?  On our way with DFDS seaways weaving past the multitude of offshore wind farms and oilfields in the North sea.  Maybe not, especially since we have already paid for the buffet dinner - without drink of course -  and I doubt that they are duty free !!!!

My thought for the day - only twenty four days till midsummer.

That is one less night's sleep till the off

So much for hoping for two nights sleep in a row -  3 am, wide awake so had to get up and take to my chair in the living room,  At this rate I might have to learn to cat nap during stops on the bike. If I had had the house to myself I would have been able to get on with some packing - or being indecisive -  will I take this, no - yes - maybe it will be handy, no point- well maybe I should - what have I forgotten, will find out next week.
Cannot even have a cup of tea till after my appointment with plebotomist this morning (blood sucking young lady).

So much for being on the search team,

Just had a go this evening at wiring up my Autocom system,   managed to get everything into the box beneath my botty, where it can be locked away, and the Kenwood radio ( not food mixer) either in the glove box or, if fitted in the tank bag.   Will power it up under supervision in the morning when the Steed of Steel gets it's MOT and safety check at Border Bikes.  BUT, I was standing holding a bracket, put it down, and then, I have searched and searched and can see no sign of it - certainly a sign of old age, and if it was not the case I was getting a blood sugar test a.m.  it would have warranted a glass of something to calm me down.  Just need to wait now till we set sail from Newcastle for the land of no mountains and deep ditches.
Garmin Sat Nav all 16 Gig loaded with maps of Europe, and also loads of Golden Oldies songs so by the time I get home I should be raring to have a bash at karaoke.

Nearly there!

First proper day off in weeks,

Bike washed, Sat Nav installed, thanks Stu for pointers last week

Chair fitted, cargo net fitted, one or two minor jobs done

Scala headset fitted, thanks Iain, managed to get them all tuned in eventually, rang Iain to talk it through, whilst using mobile phone, could hear it ring in my helmet on nearby table and Iain talking back to me through Garmin, lol!

Money exchange Wednesday and check and repackage then meet with Ron Carolyn and Sharon on Friday for a curry, then to Geordie Land Saturday, after all this time it's rushing up now!

Looking forward to finally meeting everyone and getting cracking

Stevie B

Sent from my iPad

All Systems Go

Great meeting at the pub on Saturday and confirmed we are good to go. Meeting at 1515hrs precisely at the DFDS ferry at Newcastle. The weather has been booked at no extra charge and the bikes are being packed. 

Day 1 - Home to DFDs Ferry at Newcastle Sat 31st May 2014.
Day 2 - Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) to Bad Lauterberg - Germany - 1st June 2014

more to follow.........

A few sleepless nights to go

Yup,  only seven more nights to go before we hit the road, and unlike the wire men who came from the East, we will all be heading off in that direction !!.

Spent some time with the "Steed of Steel" last night, which is bedecked with flags and looks like a mobile advert for the SNP, which is not how it was supposed to appear - however,  once we get south of the Border and onto foreign soils I am sure my efforts will be appreciated.

Fed Ex were playing silly so and so's with me,  driver alleged that he could not find the delivery address for my Autocom package, so it eventually arrived twenty four hours later than expected which is no use to me as I am still ten miles away.

Never mind,  the troops will be gathering at the Mercat Grill at 11 a.m. for a final blether and I am sure that between us all we can get communications up and running (maybe).

Bacon rolls already ordered.    SB  aka PC

My Steed of Steel

On a recent Radio  Forth morning programme the presenter lost a bet when he suggested that guys do not have a name for their cars / vehicles,  but he was proven wrong by lots of chaps  One I remember had called his car "fanny"  so when his mates asked what he was going to do after work, she could honestly say he was going to "wash his F****y" !!!

 

Me, I refer to my K75RT as being the "steed of steel" and irrespective of its age, it is taking me around Europe with the IPA group.  Several months ago I was in a swither about changing it, however I went over to Dundalk to meet the Irish Section lads for a ride out along the Border, and  many were recalling the times when they had owned and ridden one.

 

More recently I had considered a change, however, my plans were kind of upset due to four unplanned residences in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. So,  obviously, things were not meant to change, so the "steed of steel" is now making the trip, fitted with a nice new sat nav to save Tom leaving a paper trail for me, and hopefully a nice new Autocom system so that my carrier pigeon does not have to fly back and forth with notes to Steve and co. 

   

But worse still,  I have been shamed into leaving my yellow (faded yellow) twenty five year old high viz waterproof jacket at home -  but not disposed of.

 

So, bedecked with carrier bags tied on with string, bungee cords and sticky tape  ( that is provided I manage to find all the things I need in time) I will be part of the next epic voyage of the Region 1 - IPA Scottish Motorcycling Touring Group.

 

Stuart Blaikie  aka "P.C."  ( which does not stand for being politically correct).

Patches are here! 10 days left to Take Off

10 sleeps to go and today is MONEY DAY. I know there has been a debate in Scotland about what currency we will use or be allowed to use…well…we will be mostly using the Euro from the 1st June. If you have not already sourced some Euro notes then I suggest you do so at your bank, travel agent or Post Office. When we get off the ferry we are being met our Dutch colleagues who will guide us through the maize of peripheral motorway that adorns the outskirts of Ijmuiden and Amsterdam before leading us to breakfast. We will all be chipping in for breakfast which is set so plaease have some dosh (dont do the €50 euro trick).

You will also need euros if you are taking the trip with Greg in the Harz (€15) and beer is not free. So all in all take a stash and have a debit card too. Some take pre-loaded Credit Cards (which you can do yourself), some take a good credit card for emergencies and others take the risk and do cash. Our exchange rate is very expensive so get your own!

Check out your phone tarrif and get it set for Euro Land. A phone is an essential so make sure it is working and you know how to use it without running up a small nation’s national debt! "Naw ye canny use mine”! There…I have said it before you ask. Do not do a Davy Coull and ring me a couple of times then hang up so that I will be intrigued and call you back at my expense…..you will be waiting a long time !

Finally, I use the hole in the wall but some skinflints will spend more time and cash looking to save 2 cents here and there by adopting all sorts of tricks shown on moneysupermarket.com …..make your life easy…you are on hols.

Use some more of that leisure time you have so much of and be ever so moneysupermarket.com and visit the ‘Euro Bureau” today. (I like that one too)

Whisky Galore!

The latest give away from the Group

Looking Forward

Looking forward to catching up with our Dutch IPA friends on 1st June.

All Mouth and no Trousers.

Yes…some of us are bringing the national dress so that we can get some attention for once in our lives. Stuart will be wearing a very fetching combo of Tartan Troos with matching belt rounded off by a bottle green tour polo….big in Paris at the moment! Ian, Dougz and Tom will be complimenting Stuarts choice with full kilt, sporran and belt, set off by a pair of knitted trad socks held up by swanky flash garter. Ian will accompany this enseble with a pair of woolen kegs as he will be centre stage playing a few numbers on his accordion and tends not to cross his legs. A warning will be issued to the International audience. Please feel free to join this festival of haute couture but remember rule number 4….no Morris Dancers!

The Final Meeting..before we go!

For those who are attending the Italian Job and for those just interested or want to join us. We will hold the final meeting on Sat 24th May, Will let you know full details but it will be at:
The Mercat Bar & Grill
10 Whitecraig Road
Musselburgh
East Lothian
EH21 8PG

This will be to check everything is done and anticipated and to address any snags etc. Please let us know if you want to attend.