iandouglas

the weather today will really freak them out

well, whether it was my fault not 'taking a joke' or not that's one place that I'll be avoiding in the future, it's a shame because the owner is fine.

ah heard of theTutti Pole tea room - it was closed when I thought of calling, slightly irritating as I took the bike down the pavement there and had difficulty turning it to get out.

foamy once I did stop there in the evening on the way back from lyme regis or similar, there was a do on at that classical building opposite and it was fun watching all the dolled up semi inebriated councillor types enjoying themselves other times there was a cheap restuarant open - it's now shut down I see - just along to the left out of the photo

serious? maybe - slightly crazed looking maybe hence the question yes perhaps I do take these things to heart when I should be more thick skinned anyhow it's put me off the place, wasn't cheap either plus I had to wait ages for her to sort out the previous customer moan groan winge and another thing, Anna who is the normal person serving lets you read the paper she leaves out when I asked the woman there the day before y/day she looked blank, we dion't do papers she said i thought yes I know you don't sell them but kept quiet

Aniother of my travellers tales, coming back from Bude I stopped in the town centre near this fountain looking round the people nearby seemed zombie like just sitting/standing staring, OK there's none of them in the photo (well I did't want to infuriate them did I) - combination of a hot day and squaring up to doing the shopping? who knows there's actually one sitting on the fountain edge behind the bike on a kind of recesssed seat, a farmer looking bloke in a trance, shame I didn't get him in the shot, didn't know whether to feel worried or sorry for him. Best to say nothing and move on methinks

haha - I'm not that quick witted. After I remembered that 16 people were shot back in 1986 there http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungerford_massacre perhaps that still haunts the shopkeepers I don't know

Some of you know that I like a cafe in Hungerford, well it's not a cafe, it's a Deli Call in two days ago on my trip to Bude for a quick snack and cup of tea, different woman there this time to the one usually All goes well, park up outside as per picture below, my mirror is slightly loose so I decide to put a bit of pvc tape on as a temporary method of holding it...but I haven't got anything to cut the tape to length as i'm paying the bill I ask the woman serving if I can borrow some scissors, 'you're not going to stab with them are you' she says I think is she joking? No not entirely I decide so I just say 'of course not, I just want to cut this tape, here - you do it' that's my hi viz jacket from work - can't miss it

I've got one of those, in bits down at the garage at present, I do like it, plenty of character and a nice relaxed ride

Thanks Bippo, hope your trip goes well, 330 miles or so, quite a hike. Thake a damp cloth, I was cleaning my visor regularly although I used A roads and less more than m/ways

actually I really appreciate that - I was feeling quite upset with myself being such a duffer and having to admit not making it down to Penzance after building that expectation

could have sworn that i replied to this but see i haven't, being a silly old duffer I must have forgotten to hit the post button, anyways I liked it and thought about the big scale of everything US as compared to the UK and how it looks odd seeing no helmet because we are so used to it here.

rudely interupting the dubious pictures discussion... I'm back, early from the planned trip got down to Bude OK and stayed in a B&B and ready to go onto Penzance this morning then...realised I hadn't got my phone with breakdown information on it and thought back when did I last use the phone? it was in the grounds of a filling station in Glastonbury... retraced my steps and yes they had found the phone, so good news there but bad news regarding the trip was cut short, however I did enjoy myself (thank you Bippo) and it was a good break, round about 500 miles altogether with a evening meal overlooking the sea picture taken in Devon, lost in deepest North Devon at the time, eventually got my bearings

good luck Bippo, I'm off shortly bit cooler than it was at the w/e I think. escapism is the absolute right word, it's what bikes are about imo.

is this a bike that only has 400 miles on it, not sure I understand fully? If that's right there can't be a lot to go wrong can there? wow looks luke you are the luickiest person ever - well as long as you are careful anyway.

cheers Cynic

gravel rash - horrible wounds those The great Cornish trip is due to start today, booked a b&b in Bude, quite pleased as I've got a double room for the price of a single and able to look out on my bike parked outside That should give me a good kick off point for Wednesday. I'd like to make Penzance if I can, intend using A roads rather than motorways going a ''crows fly' path as far as possible

Re; The main downside for me are all the arrogant summer riders who just blank your friendly acknowledgment. I think it's because they are so intent on 'progressing' along given some good weather, you waved, that's fine, if they are too ignorant well blow them - I just flash the headlight now, it's easier although it no doubt sets the car driver in front in a panic hehe incidentally, 400 miles is pretty good for a day, my maximum to date is 366 miles on a trip to Aberystwth, turned round after a meal in a seafront cafe, bought a few souveniers and came back.(they have a weird one way system there) should be OK provided nothing silly happens like a puncture or me riding into a hedge

re: Stop thinking and start preparing, I say!! It'll be great fun and you can take all the breaks you need. Nothing better than riding at your own pace!! thanks ttm

looking good

well done matey

that will be a nice ride for you when you're done

With the good weather....................and it seems to be a little cooler now, I'm thinking of doing a kind of 24 hr ride down to Cornwall on Wednesday at work tomorrow (Tues) and then again Thurs so it gives me a complete day Maybe set of 3.00 am, don't know, Wed morning and come back, 10 -11 pm I'm the Aylesbury side of Oxford, Oxford being 15 miles or so to the south west I'd aim for St.Ives /Penzance, about 300 miles there, maybe too ambitious? Polperro might be a better target at 250 miles there, 500 in a day should be OK The only thing that makes me hesitate is my poor bum, all my life I've worked in offices I think it has effected the blood supply there as I tend to end up with 'numb bum' just a case of taking breaks really.

I suppose slightly overcast is best for bikes or at least not strong sunlight - what with the clobber we wear Must admit that on Sunday the queues behind yet another caravan induced slowing which induced boiling that in turn means you are temprted to try overtaking when perhaps staying in line is the safer option...

good