Negotiations

Still very early stages of planning for Morocco trip next year, but we have some MS Society fund-raising paraphernalia on the way already. Nice bright orange t-shirts, some pannier stickers and sponsorship forms, which should help us do some good as well as just having an extended jolly on the bikes.

Having some slight negotiation issues with work still, longest holiday they've ever allowed was 20 days and that was for a honeymoon, so trying to get 30 out of them just for some hair-brained adventure is making them nervous. I'm sure I can use all my diplomatic skills to convince them it's a good idea though. Hell, it looks like I might actually have talked them into supplying me with a rugged, portable laptop to take with me too! Result!

I also figure that if we just go ahead and book the ferry tickets then that's another anchor placed in our favour. Looking likely that it'll be Norfolk Line over to Dunkirk for some WW2 memorial visiting on the outward crossing (£15 each) and Brittany Ferries back from Santander to Portsmouth on the way back (£130 each).

Forkin el!

Fork seals gone in the beemer...A BIG SHINEY BOOOOOOOO! oh and M's heated grips have fallen at the first frost BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
A weekend of TLC I think, and we'd better sort the bikes out too...LOL...

Revelations..

Paula washing the Beemer after finally figuring out that we can actually get the bikes down the alley and within reach of the pressure washer. However, with the mud displaced we discovered the tank plastics had cracked in two places - ouch. Not a happy bunny. Clutch cable was fraying too, so we're back on 4 wheels for a bit until the replacement arrives from Motorworks.

Left behind..

I seem to have forgotten to post this photo up on the Pasty Tour post. Nice Sunset over the sea when we were camped on The Lizard.

Also an opportunity to tag on the news that we may be investing in some totally un-necessary and frivellous equipment - a Kodak PlaySport - ruggedised, waterproof camcorder. The plan being that: when we're in Morocco wishing we'd saved our money for more nights in an air-conditioned hotel room, at least we can film a time-lapse of us melting! If all goes to plan, expect some highly embarrassing video blogs to start appearing in this space before the year is out!

Back on the bike kit front - my chain is feeling great and if the weather plays ball I should get the Scottoiler on tomorrow. Offroad brake and gear levers have been pencilled into the list of things to buy after last weekends battering. (Why just get your knee down when you can go the whole hog and spin around a 180 degrees in the mud instead!?)

Another wise investment of money has also seen us purchase tickets to next Junes Horizons Unlimited gathering, hopefully to gather a whole load of valuable info and meet fellow travellers too.

Paulas gear lever undergoes some cosmetic surgery, while I admire the complete lack of visible tread on my front tyre.