Still ticking along.

Been a bit of a time since this blog was updated.    No doubt now that Mr McInally has reappeared after his wonderful tour of the land of Oz, things might brighten up.    Uncle Dougz has been afloat in his boat,  following the route of the puffer Parra Handy through the Crinan Canal, flying the Jolly Roger, and no doubt sending letters home in his empties.
Steed of steel has been clocking up the miles, down to Border Bikes at Duns to see Andy Mimms and have a coffee and a blether-  home via Greenlaw, Soutra Isle, a nice run, no hurry no fuss.

Garmin are organising a replacement Sat Nav for the one which I lost in Wales, probaly a sheep wandering about with it round its neck.     Damaged helmet repaired under warranty by BMW and even had to replace a broken microphone on my Autocom,   but with no one to talk to an nowhere to go does not really matter at the moment.

Charity cycle run on 10th August with 2000 plus cycles taking part through the Borders so we may well be involved there.    Day before (9th)  we have thirty four IPA members from Rochdale comeing to see us at the Mercat Grill before they go to the tattoo.

From one minor hiccup to another

A sort of an update after my mishaps in Wales.
  New seat arrived within eighteen hours of notifing the supplier.- super , slick service
 My helmet is about to be fixed by BMW who have sent a whole front piece as a replacement - just going to take somebody a while to strip the helmet down and sort it.   In the meantime I snapped the flip top face panel down and chopped off the microphone from my Autocom headset -  at least I know I can get in touch with the supplier as they have already fixed my PTT switch which jammed after two days use.
 However, Garmin UK are a different ball game - lots of adverts all over the place, in garages, petrol stations, etc, but I have rung them several times, fifteen minutes on a premium rate line - who is the silly works here -   typical,  ring a sales line and get an immediate response, call a customer services manager - different game.    Many thanks to Steve Bolton, his wife and daughter who drove the road last weekend looking for the lost Garmin.
I would have hoped that if someone found it and it was working that the Garmin computer would have been able to identify it if they tried to plug it in !!   Bit like Sky TV.

Dougz popped up on the screen this week looking for chums to go for a ride out,  but I have been otherwise occupied. But there is another rally planned for Carlisle which looks interesting.

IPA British Rally to Welsh Wales

An IPA motor cycle section weekend in Wales

Winding the clock back to last weekend and I found a few photos of my trip to Wrexham with the IPA British Motorcycle section.

Here we are heading off on Saturday morning from the Premier Inn, Town Centre , Wrexham,
then it was off into the wilds of Welsh Wales . We did stop, as I reported earlier, at the Ponderossa on top of the Horseshoe Pass , where I spotted this unusual replical of a Ural Combination.

The car park was very busy, although the Police did tell us that there were a lot less than usual,

Really strange how we had no problems with our bikes in Europe, leaving them unattended, not a problem, yet in Edinburgh we had three knicked by the local yobs. In Italy Mr McIinally and the guys took the micky out of me when I was seated in the shade. Here we had our own security man who made it his business to keep an eye on the bikes , cheers Mr Foulton.

IPA Ride out 5th July 2014

 

The Steed of Steel has a collapse.

Another lovely morning here in Wrexham, so looks like another ride out into the Welsh countryside.

Yesterday,(Sat) we left in a convoy, fifteen bikes, and our leader took us out into the wilds,  we had about one mile on a dual carriageway and the remainder on everything from single track roads to the A5 - long sweeping bends, tight corners, through the mountains of Capel Curig,past the National Moutaineering Centre at Plas y Brennan,   the white water centre; mountain railways, copper mines, and some beautiful lakes and reservoirs.    Stopped at Lyn Brenig reservoir and visitor centre, then in the picturesque village of Beddgelen for lunch.
Only a few miles back on the road when disaster struck, my Garmin Sat Nav popped off the mounting on a really potholed piece of road, and I did not realise what had happened for a few minutes,  stopped had words with my following bike who had seen it but could not stop me due to the roads.    I went back and had a look but no trace ,it could have been anywhere and is likely to be in bits.     I had wisely marked up the route on a new road atlas so I knew where I was and how to get home, old style. So set off,  taking my time, admiring the views and at one point thought I had intercepted the group who were running a figure of eight route -  so sat at Betws-y-Coed for half an hour.  No luck so set off along the A5 towards Wrexham.
Had a "senior moment" and thought I was heading in the wrong direction - despite having the sun on my back !!  (heading east)   so pulled in to recheck the map - and like a friend of mine did recently, lost my footing and the Steed of Steel hit the deck (gently) no damage other than pride.  However I did have to flag down a passing motorcyclist who helped get it up again.  Thereafter a slow run, even saw the steam train on the Llangollen Railway .   End of the day made it back to the hotel about 25 minutes before the main group.
Headed out as a group for a meal - not a good choice "Frankie and Bennies" where we had three different tables -  place being busy our meal was eighty minutes in arriving and steak was "chuck" so it was not eaten.

Wrexham town centre was bouncing with activity, lots of scantily clad young ladies ,  semi drunk, police and bouncers at all the pubs.  We spoke to three Police who said that come midnight it would be wild with fights and drunks.   Bit too old for that so home to bed.

 

Just another days news

Panda monium in Edinburgh

Turned out to be an exciting day !!! maybe - there is a saying about not being able to get blood from a stone - today was my turn, and the plebotomist really struggled in her attempts, two arms, three holes and maybe not enough for the necessary tests.

But, later in the day I ended up at Edinburgh zoo and managed to drop in to see the two Panda Bears, who thankfully were neither hiding nor asleep - wonderfull to see them out and about climbing around their pens and then it was tea time - happy days.

Several changes in the zoo layout, new pool for the penguins, and the meercats have been moved into a new area near the entrance.

Cheered me up to watch the wee chappies for a while. Anyway, off to Ayr again early morning, need to waken the Steed of Steel.

Continuing and confusing saga of Scottish IPA hospitality

IPA get their dates confused (maybe)

Slightly duller morning with the threat of a shower late, which makes a change from the last few days, but it is a bit more comfortable on the motor cycle.  Certainly not dull the past couple of days at the World Cup,   listened to the USA game last night on the radio,  nail biting to the end, and at Wimbledon, the young Australian  Nick Kyrgios  beating Rafael Nadal has caused a real stir,  so Andy Murray and Co, of the top seeds had better pull their socks up.

Down at the Mercat Grill last night for an IPOA dinner when our guests were Russ Baker and his family over from Ontario,  and as a great coincidence they turned out to be friends of Ray Massicotte who we met at the Hackenberg battery, near Metz on 13th June.    Super meal, Scottish theme so do not think we have our dates confused when you see the haggis appearing.  Two goes at the haggis last night, haggis cigars ( not the smoking kind) and haggis, neeps and tatties as a main.

 

Must comment on the motorcycle theme,   I see that Harley Davidson have produced an electric motorcycle,  ( might need a hellish long extension cable)  named the  "Livewire",  top speed 90 mph with enough power to do 100 miles between charges ( then need three hours to charge) rather than fill the tank - sign of the times.

At least I can get 200 miles before the Steed needs to top up and my botty have a rest, so that will be at lest one stop on our way to Wrexham on Friday.

Mr McInally now in upside down land - no sign of him dipping in the ocean yet.