Yorkshire
19/07/07 04:42
Thursday 19th July
Another lovely drive with very little traffic over the A59. I made very good time and arrived at Karls house in Harrogate at just after 17:30.
We get a take away and retire early as there is a lot to do tomorrow.
Another lovely drive with very little traffic over the A59. I made very good time and arrived at Karls house in Harrogate at just after 17:30.
We get a take away and retire early as there is a lot to do tomorrow.
Lancashire
17/07/07 04:41
Tuesday 17th July
I had a pretty good run up the M5 and M6 with only about 10 minutes of rain and half an hour of wet roads. I left at 16:10 and arrived at 19:30.
My friend J had recently moved into a new house and the street signs had still to be put up. Sheld had cooked a lovely dinner complete with salad fresh from the new garden.
We caught up and had an early night.
Wednesday 18th July
There are some advantages to new houses. I was particularly taken with the blue button at the bathroom door. When pressed this started the shower and set the temperature to the setting previously used. Neat!
Spent the day helping out and having a look at one or two problems with the computers.
In the evening we went for a meal at the usual pub in a small village nearby.
Thursday 19th July
An early start followed by a full day continuing on from yesterday. Followed J on the Monster to work A lovely drive through rural Lancashire.
Got a lot done and left at 16:45 for Yorkshire via the A59.
I had a pretty good run up the M5 and M6 with only about 10 minutes of rain and half an hour of wet roads. I left at 16:10 and arrived at 19:30.
My friend J had recently moved into a new house and the street signs had still to be put up. Sheld had cooked a lovely dinner complete with salad fresh from the new garden.
We caught up and had an early night.
Wednesday 18th July
There are some advantages to new houses. I was particularly taken with the blue button at the bathroom door. When pressed this started the shower and set the temperature to the setting previously used. Neat!
Spent the day helping out and having a look at one or two problems with the computers.
In the evening we went for a meal at the usual pub in a small village nearby.
Thursday 19th July
An early start followed by a full day continuing on from yesterday. Followed J on the Monster to work A lovely drive through rural Lancashire.
Got a lot done and left at 16:45 for Yorkshire via the A59.
Gloucestershire 11-16 July 2007
11/07/07 04:39
Wednesday 11th July
I had an 09:00 flight to London which was too early for the airport bus. The tourist office had briefed me well and I got up early to catch a tram into the city where I caught a normal bus to the airport arriving at about 07:50 in plenty of time.
The flight was on time and so was the coach to Cheltenham where I was met and taken to Tranquility Base in rural Gloucestershire. After almost a year away there was a lot of catching up to do and a large pile of mail most of which was immediately recycled.
It had been a long day and I didn't stay up late.
Thursday 12th July
Got up and checked my Ducati Monster. The battery was flat as was the front tyre.
Off to Cheltenham on a shopping trip. Halfords for a battery charger, Maplins for some electrical bits, M&S for some clothes, the Post Office to road tax the Monster and Nationwide for some money stuff.
Back at base after several hours on charge the battery is failing to respond. It is a modern gel type. These seem a lot less reliable than the old lead acid types.
Friday 13th July
Online first thing to order several items for the boat. A small cockpit table, some special teak wax, some charts of southern Spain and the Canaries some Monel seizing wire and a waterproof Icom handheld VHF.
Then it was off to Gloucestershire to buy a new battery for the Monster. The dealer told me that once this type of battery goes flat it is dead and cannot be recharged. In future if I leave the Monster idle it will have to be kept on trickle charge so at least the charger I bought yesterday won't be wasted.
Back at base, as the plan is to sail further away from Europe I decided to have an MOT comprising a full medical and body scan. The medical was booked for Monday in Birmingham and the scan for tuesday morning in Bristol.
The new battery was put on charge and then it was back into Cheltenham to see if I could get some new reading glasses at short notice. I couldn't. I got a test at Specsavers but didn't like the look and feel of the place so the new specs will have to wait.
M's son Paul arrived from London and we returned to base.
Saturday 14th July
The battery has been on charge overnight and is now ready. I installed in the Monster and the engine fired up at the first attempt despite having been idle for over a year.
Now for the flat tyre. Paul borrowed a pump and after a few minutes activity the tyre was correctly inflated and we were ready to roll.
I took a quick test drive into Cheltenham, the Monster is running well, and stopped by the coffee bar located in my old shop. They seem to have settled in and are doing well. I tried again for the specs and again failed.
Spent a quiet evening at base
Sunday 15th July
Had a nice Sunday morning lay-in. Then off to a local country inn for a very nice lunch with M and Paul.
Spent the afternoon and evening packing and sorting through files.
Monday 16th July
It was medical day today. I rode the Monster up to Birmingham for my appointment at 12:45. I arrived at 12:47. The medical lasted for just over two hours and seemed pretty comprehensive although I was unimpressed with the facility.
Their initial findings revealed nothing nasty and this was confirmed in the subsequent written report.
During the ride back rain threatened but held up. Having thrown my old rain suit away I had wondered whether I could get away without one. I decided not and on the way back called in at a Triumph dealer to buy a new rain suit.
Back to base to complete packing. Several of the pieces I ordered last week for the boat have arrived.
Tuesday 17th July
I rode into Cheltenham first thing for a dental appointment. My checkup had revealed a broken tooth which needed to be fixed.
When I emerged from the dentist with a numb jaw the heavens had opened. It was time to christen my new rainsuit.
Then plan had been to ride down to Bristol for the scan and then head north. With heavy rain continuing M offered to drive me to Bristol.
The scan appointment was for 14:10 and we arrived in plenty of time. There was some pfaffing about parking which I thought was silly but the scan went smoothly if not particularly comfortably at times. Nothing of note was revealed but the full report will follow in a few days.
Then it was back to base to load up the Monster and drive to Lancashire.
I had an 09:00 flight to London which was too early for the airport bus. The tourist office had briefed me well and I got up early to catch a tram into the city where I caught a normal bus to the airport arriving at about 07:50 in plenty of time.
The flight was on time and so was the coach to Cheltenham where I was met and taken to Tranquility Base in rural Gloucestershire. After almost a year away there was a lot of catching up to do and a large pile of mail most of which was immediately recycled.
It had been a long day and I didn't stay up late.
Thursday 12th July
Got up and checked my Ducati Monster. The battery was flat as was the front tyre.
Off to Cheltenham on a shopping trip. Halfords for a battery charger, Maplins for some electrical bits, M&S for some clothes, the Post Office to road tax the Monster and Nationwide for some money stuff.
Back at base after several hours on charge the battery is failing to respond. It is a modern gel type. These seem a lot less reliable than the old lead acid types.
Friday 13th July
Online first thing to order several items for the boat. A small cockpit table, some special teak wax, some charts of southern Spain and the Canaries some Monel seizing wire and a waterproof Icom handheld VHF.
Then it was off to Gloucestershire to buy a new battery for the Monster. The dealer told me that once this type of battery goes flat it is dead and cannot be recharged. In future if I leave the Monster idle it will have to be kept on trickle charge so at least the charger I bought yesterday won't be wasted.
Back at base, as the plan is to sail further away from Europe I decided to have an MOT comprising a full medical and body scan. The medical was booked for Monday in Birmingham and the scan for tuesday morning in Bristol.
The new battery was put on charge and then it was back into Cheltenham to see if I could get some new reading glasses at short notice. I couldn't. I got a test at Specsavers but didn't like the look and feel of the place so the new specs will have to wait.
M's son Paul arrived from London and we returned to base.
Saturday 14th July
The battery has been on charge overnight and is now ready. I installed in the Monster and the engine fired up at the first attempt despite having been idle for over a year.
Now for the flat tyre. Paul borrowed a pump and after a few minutes activity the tyre was correctly inflated and we were ready to roll.
I took a quick test drive into Cheltenham, the Monster is running well, and stopped by the coffee bar located in my old shop. They seem to have settled in and are doing well. I tried again for the specs and again failed.
Spent a quiet evening at base
Sunday 15th July
Had a nice Sunday morning lay-in. Then off to a local country inn for a very nice lunch with M and Paul.
Spent the afternoon and evening packing and sorting through files.
Monday 16th July
It was medical day today. I rode the Monster up to Birmingham for my appointment at 12:45. I arrived at 12:47. The medical lasted for just over two hours and seemed pretty comprehensive although I was unimpressed with the facility.
Their initial findings revealed nothing nasty and this was confirmed in the subsequent written report.
During the ride back rain threatened but held up. Having thrown my old rain suit away I had wondered whether I could get away without one. I decided not and on the way back called in at a Triumph dealer to buy a new rain suit.
Back to base to complete packing. Several of the pieces I ordered last week for the boat have arrived.
Tuesday 17th July
I rode into Cheltenham first thing for a dental appointment. My checkup had revealed a broken tooth which needed to be fixed.
When I emerged from the dentist with a numb jaw the heavens had opened. It was time to christen my new rainsuit.
Then plan had been to ride down to Bristol for the scan and then head north. With heavy rain continuing M offered to drive me to Bristol.
The scan appointment was for 14:10 and we arrived in plenty of time. There was some pfaffing about parking which I thought was silly but the scan went smoothly if not particularly comfortably at times. Nothing of note was revealed but the full report will follow in a few days.
Then it was back to base to load up the Monster and drive to Lancashire.