GBMCC @ Earby - Day 4

How time flies.  There were a lot of food left, so I encouraged a lot of people to take food home.  And because of that, I had to go straight home before going into the office.

I had a few things to do in the office, including a Teams meeting.  It was a long day!

GBMCC @ Earby - Day 3

On the second day, people were slowing down on their breakfast already.  I took the direct route to Devil's bridge and waited for everyone to arrive.  We then rearrange, and went onto Kewsick to meet up with the rest. 

I, rather, Cardo Ride, led us back from Keswick. Of course there were some holiday traffic, but we were on single track roads all the way from Windermere to Sedbergh.  It was tolerable that it has been dry.

From there, I thought about going on yet more scenic route, but I thought we could just do the direct scenic route instead.

We had Tawa for Four at the curry house, it was a meter wide Tawa with all the food on it, on a catering flame candle.  It was interesting.

GBMCC @ Earby - Day 2

Everyone was up early making bacon sandwiches.  The rolls all went on one day. 

I fired up my Cardo Ride to take us to Glasson Docks, but the road between Dunsop Bridge to Lancaster was shut, so we skipped Glasson Docks, we swam through the road works and went to Arnside.  On the way back, we stopped at the cheese shop, got myself a lung full of mould spores.

GBMCC @ Earby - Day 1

This is the second time I organised the Earby Weekend.  I went to Earby via scenic route, which is also congested on the Friday...  I got there early to take in the Sainsbury order.  I fired up all the ovens, got everyone settled and we all ate around the table, mostly supermarket pizza.  The salad was less popular than expected.  

Cardo Ride III

So I just worked out I can save planned route on Cardo Ride.  I have got all the rides programmed for Earby weekend, let see how it goes.

Puncture Near Miss

When I left the bike shop, I heard a funny noise.  I stopped and look and could not see anything.  Then I rode another mile or so, I saw a screw...  So I went back to the bike shop, and luckily, it had not punctured through...

Kirkdale Ford

Calimoto took us through a ford, Kirkdale Ford, quite a big one.  It has been very dry, so the ford was dry, but plenty of debris.  

Chain It

I had to park on the street, and all the signs say chain it, so I was moving my heavy chain around.  That is the price to pay for security.

Barton Bike Night 2026

Barton Bike Night is as impressive as I remember it.  It was a fairly dry day, and the England has minimal effects on people turning up.  Rebel Curves are there also.  I got a high vis strap from the Humberside Fire stall.

I navigated it there with my iphone, and it nearly killed it, so I managed to buy a snack.  I really should get some cash or cards with me.

MAG Farmyard Party - Day 3

I planned to wake up early to take down the tent before clocking in for my shift.  I woke up at 4 am and saw the sunrise, but I wasn't ready to get up, so I went back to bed.

I overestimated how fast I could take down my tiny tent, so I clocked in a little late.  And my last shift is also traffic management, so watching bikes goes and be a lollipop lady for the morning.

We had some lunch buffet before I rode home.  I am glad I have ticked Farmyard Party off.

MAG Farmyard Party - Day 2

The music did not stop till 2 am, and earplugs are useless against heavy bases...  We were so close to solstice, so the light were up early.  It rained a little, and I was a little cold at night.  Welcome to camping in England.

I wandered around the stalls again, chatted more about bikes, and then clock in.  Stamping people's hands and ask them to get off the road, whilst watching clouds past in a gazabo's shade.  

After work, I caught the back end of the comedy show, then I had my dinners, and went to walk down to the river, it was a long way down, and I did it twice...

I turned in early again, this time I was wearing earphones with podcast, much better.  I did wake up slightly around midnight, but I wasn't about to get dressed and go to watch the adult entertainment...

MAG Farmyard Party - Day 1

I went up again after I finished with work.  I went on the road I knew, again, I didn't know how they look exactly, so I am glad I can see it now.

I pitched up and clock in for work, which is traffic management, watching bikes coming through, and chatted about bikes all afternoon,

MAG Farmyard Party - Day 0

I have been meaning to check out the Farmyard Party, this year worked out perfectly, just.  I had to pop up for an induction on the Thursday.  I also take the opportunity to take in some scenic roads.  I really like being able to see where I actually went on like this, thanks Cardo Ride.

 

Ireland Motorcycling Day 4 + 2

I rang up AA Ireland first thing to confirm she is being moved.  And I was told the job has been accepted and in progress, so I gathered my stuff up and went to the bike shop.  The bike shop has free coffee, which was very nice.

And Unthank turned up, finally!  She was straight on the bed, it took a little while to find the broken wire, and once that was jointed and everything put back together, we were on our way!

I went to the Howth headland for a little ride.  I was tempted by their seaside fish and chips.  At the end, I opted for a supermarket lunch box. I fueled her up so I can ride straight home without stopping.

I fueled up and went straight to the port.  Whilst waiting at the port, I start putting together my travel insurance claim...  I also emailed everyone else that I should be back at work the next day.  It was a resounding sound of relief for all.

Home at last!

Ireland Motorcycling Day 4 + 1

I decided to go to the first motorcycle shop early to get an early answer if they can look at Unthank.  I took a bus there with all my luggage.  They said they don't really have time to have a look.  So I called the other bike shop, the other bike shop said it is possible, so I called to get the bike recovered to that bike shop, all assuming Unthank will get there.

I made my way onto another bus, for a long bus ride to the other side of the city.  I got to the bike shop.  Sofia was so nice, and let me leave all the luggage and helmet behind the counter.  So I went to get a breakfast before I chase them again.

As it turns out, AA Ireland cannot find a tow to move a motorcycle by 9:30 in the morning, so the bike won't make it till the next day.  And they only let us know after I chased and it was by then a little late to get her moved privately.

I found somewhere else to stay, nearly.  I grabbed a few essentials and went to the lodging.  I was lucky that I was allowed in before official check-in, and I even used her washing machine.  I emailed everyone to update and amend my Tuesday plans.  I went to Aldi to get some food and settled in.

Ireland Motorcycling Day 4

Most of us are on the same boat, some of us find a different route.

I went to a few castle ruins using Cardo.  After lunch at a Mount Usher Gardens, I was going to go to Sally Gap and see Lough Tay, but Unthank had other ideas.

We stopped right near a junction, and there was a shaded farm entrance.  I called AA recovery, and by the time we tracked down the recovery time, it was not possible for me to make the ferry.

He had a go at wriggling the wires but no joy.  The tow kit at their back can also tow motorcycle, at least I don't have to wait for another recovery.  He drove through some small roads with Unthank at the back, which is quite impressive.

I was dropped off at a service station where I reorganized and planned the next steps.  From that point on, I had to carry all my luggage.. I found some last minute lodging, went and settled in for the extra night in Ireland.

Ireland Motorcycling Day 3

I did not bother with breakfast this time.  I saw a windmill earlier, but it was marked as closed.  I went to have a look anyway, Cardo did well navigating,

I went to join the group at they first stopping point.  When we broke into two groups, the group riders in front of me lost us.  And Mark's maps were playing up, so we got there very late.

The lighthouse restaurant has seafood chowder, so I ordered one, and Mark saw it and wanted one too.  Whilst everyone earlier all had sandwich or scones.

We took a little ferry across the bay, and I part way with the group, I went to do some shopping.  I got some steaks and some chocolate.  We went home on the Cardo curvy, which were pretty good.

To complete the food shopping, I stopped at a local strawberry van and picked up some Wexford strawberries.

I had steak and chips for dinner, and the others learnt their lesson, found their own food earlier, only a few ordered the pizzas. Irish Sirlion is not like the one we call Sirloin, they are called strip steak, like the American.  They were pretty good. Strawberries were in varying ripeness, but in generally pretty good too.

We said goodbyes to people on a different boats, and went to pack and rest.

Ireland Motorcycling Day 2

I had some sausage and hashbrown, ie smashed up chips, for breakfast.  I had a look at the local beach, there were horse riding at the beach.

We set off for a ride.  It was a mountain ride.  The Cardo tracked my ride well. It was fun until we got a bit tired. The final stop, I got some local soft serve ice-cream.

I had a bath and more sausage and chips, whilst everyone was down at the restaurant waiting for their food.

Some of them were up for some board games, way past my bed time, so I passed.

Ireland Motorcycling Day 1

It was forecasted rain, and it came.  It sounded bad at the caravan, but it was actually very bad.

We woke up early.  We put on all our waterproof and rode down. In hindsight, we should have waited till the last minute.  We were drenched in that short 25 minute ride.  And there was no waiting room, so we stood in the rain for another hour.

We took off as much as we can when we got on the boat.  We slightly dried up when we disembark.

I was volunteered to lead the ride down.  We decided not to take the toll, so the city centre traffic jam had not been kind to us.

We stopped for a coffee and some cake, and by then, we decided we want to take the motorway to go straight down. 

When we got to the petrol station, we bumped into others, they said the on-site restaurant was not open, so I better get something.  I got sausages, chips and milk!

We settled in for the night and I had some sausage and chips. 

Ireland Motorcycling Day 0

I made my way to Anglesey the night before the sailing.  It was a long ride, and it was quite rainy, so it took a while.  I was tempted for a diversion of Welsh Food Centre, it was just about closing time when I arrive, so I just had a quick bite and a cup of tea.

We had some wood fire pizza by the coast, followed by some ice-cream.  They were okay.  The ice-cream was so hard that she cracked the cone, and I nearly dropped the whole thing, I caught it with my bare hand.

The caravan was fine, we were surrounded by cows.