Harley Road King….

Late last summer (2019) I bought myself an 01 Harley Road King twin cam, I have a real soft spot for the touring Harley’s, they are big, easy to ride, comfortable, and very cool.

2001 Road King

Marlborough coffee run

This one, was unfortunately dropped by the previous owner, and slid up the road causing some cosmetic damage to the tour pack, handlebars, and crash guards, it was enough for the insurance company to write it off due to the expense of replacement parts, so it has an insurance marker against it, NS for Non Structural.  This doesn’t bother me, as it made the bike cheaper to buy,  and to be fair, I am not precious with my bikes, they are to be ridden, not cherished and polished never to go anywhere.

Road King twin cam 1450cc

Loaded for a rally

First rally for the Harley, Solent 50.

2020 is just around the corner…

I have not done as much as I would have liked through 2019, my health has not been great, but I am sure things will sort out? well I hope they do. As we head into a new year, and a new decade, I have already booked into a couple of camps, the first being in January! Brrrrrr.

My last camp of 2019 was held at a fort on the south coast, a great event celebrating the Solent MCC 50th anniversary.

Solent 50, camping with my Road King

So it is time to start thinking about the new year, and new rallies, and trips on the bikes…

 

Notra De Espana

Guzzi – Fest 2018…

I spent the weekend in the rain in Devon at Guzzi Fest….

 

My Eldorado in Devon

VMCC Kent Rally…

Kent Shaun invited me down to darkest Kentland for the annual VMCC Sittingbourne summer camp, So of course I loaded up the Guzzi Eldo Friday after work, and headed East, a couple of hours dodging thunder storms later, and I pulled into Newnham village down one of those little Kent lanes, and was met with a beer, while I pitched my tipi, and settled back for the evening with fish and chips. (well Friday was national fish and chip day)

Loaded for camping

Fish and Chips, a British tradition.

Not everything went to plan though, on the run out on Saturday, I had a bad knocking sound coming from the motor, fearing the worst, I pulled over, only to find my recently installed alternator assembly had broken its support bracket. leaving the whole lot to bounce around! so out with the cable ties to do a roadside repair. But the day was saved by another rally goer, who brazed the broken bracket back together for me. He did a good job too, as I made it back home with no further problems, but I will pull the alternator down , and make sure all is tight in that area, before the next rally.

Mended alternator bracket

Clocks Back Rally…

I headed out to the Moto Guzzi clocks back rally all on me lonesome. So being a Moto Guzzi rally, I grabbed the Triumph Bonnie SE, loaded it it up with my camping stuff in the warmth of an autumn Friday, and headed out with a loose plan to be at Upton upon Severn, eighty or so miles west of me, by lunch time, and a date with with a traditional British lunch in the shape of a steamed, steak and kidney pudding! For I had found out that hidden in the backstreets of Upton was the world famous Pudding Shop & cafe.

Eighty country lane miles later, and I was pulled up outside that very purveyor of savoury goodness, and they were open for lunch…

The Pudding Shop

 

Steamed Steak and Kidney pudding

The camp site

That was pretty much it for the first day, just time meet a few people, drink a beer or five, and get settled in for the evening in the warmth of a country pub.
The next morning started damp with heavy grey cloud and light drizzle, although it did get a bit heavier during the day, it was not too cold or unpleasant. so after a full english breakfast, I decided to take a walk into town, and have a bit of a mooch about, first then was the river Severn, from where the town gets it’s name. Once a thriving market style town, now though overwhelmed with antique shops, but it does still have a few decent pubs to keep the thirsty traveller quenched.

Mmm

V7 750 Special in Upton

The Anchor Inn

Out On The Weekend….

The clocks back Guzzi Rally

I spent the weekend over at Upton upon Severn, at the Moto Guzzi club, clocks back rally. I took my Triumph of course, no need to be predictable in this world. I shall post some rally pictures later, but first I shall post a picture I took at Marlborough on my way home…

Street Art, Marlborough

Rabbit Rally 2016…

Over the past weekend I once again visited the Triumph OC, Rabbit Rally, held behind the excellent Robin Hood pub in the small Sussex village of Icklesham.

The weather was great, my usual group of rally friends turned up, a few beers were drunk, and a good time was had by all.

Here you can see, four Triumph’s, three different factories, and over one hundred years of motorcycling.

Triumph’s

My Bonnie SE, and Robens tent

1914 Triumph Model C

A Little Winter Camp…

With just a few short weeks to Christmas, and winter well upon us in the UK, Graham of G&D fame, invited us to a camp down in Kent. In the little village of Wickhambreaux (http://wickhambreaux.org.uk) just on the East side of Canterbury, and surrounded by those lovely little Kent lanes.
As you will see from the pictures, the landlord of the Rose Inn, hosted us by letting us camp in his garden (thanks Paul. nice pub, great staff, good beer)

So bike was readied, camping gear sorted, all loaded and ready to go on Friday, Kent here we come….

Camping at the Rose

Now Saturday was at best blustery, at worst, damn cold and real stormy, the wind at times almost dangerous, so plans had to be changed, we cancelled Grandad, it was probably best to leave him in the crypt, and we cancelled flossie. although we did call round to say hello, but that wind was no fun to be riding in.

Tent time

Classic Camping

Come the evening the weather worsened, with heavy rain, and reports of the possibility of snow!!! but the snow never showed, the wind blew through, and we ended up with falling temps, clear skies, and a good frost.

Frosty

Heading Out.

John Bull Rally, Belgium…

Last weekend, myself and a friend “Ed” attended the John Bull Rally over in Belgium, hosted by the BSAOC of Belgium, the rally was situated just off a quiet road within walking distance of the Tyne Cott war  graves.

ferry ride

The journey there and back was to the most part uneventful, but I got soaked through on the way to Ramsgate with heavy rain for the whole journey down, but then if you didn’t like getting wet occasionaly, you would never ride Motorcycles over here in the UK.

On getting to France we opted to take all minor small roads to get to the rally site, great roads and almost no traffic, and an hour or so later we were close enough to stop for coffee, and grab a picture or two.

Windmill

After a coffee at a small Cafe under this Windmill, and some supplies from a local shop,  we were once again on the road, and a few miles later at the rally site to set up camp for the weekend.

Triumph

Home for the weekend

Vincent Comet

Kent Shaun on “Uncle Albert”

Camping in Kent..

As the weather has been so good of late, I called a few friends, to see if they wanted to get the bikes out for one more camping weekend down in Kent, around Whitsable, and Faversham, yes was the reply, so that is what we did, I loaded the BMW with my tent etc, and headed for Kent.  spending Friday night camping at Whistable, and enjoying the nightlife of the town, and Saturday taking to the lanes around Faversham, ending at the Shipwrights Arms, up on the river.

Faversham shipyard

The weekend was great, good food, and drink, and just hanging out with friends, with the only downside being stung in the face by a Wasp that needed hospital treatment, oh well these things happen!

Camping in Whitstable.