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.

Wild wiltshire

Hey, I know its been a while since I've posted but I needed to find something to blog as Mark has had much more going on equipment wise and he gets all day behind a PC monitor to boot :)

with that out the way I have to first say thanks to Melvin and Martin who we met up with at the weekend for a play on the wiltshire byways, after meeting them on Adventure bike rider forum and decided to meet as we all lived so close.
 Melvin showed me how to drop my bike in style ;) I then did it several time on various serfaces, what uterly fantastic fun, I even stood up like a pro (til I offed that is ) only one slight damaged bit to confess to, bent my gear leaver but was bent back in no time to a more suitable position. The bema stood up to it no worries....could get addictive, may need a little scrambler ;) LOL A few photos of the day.........How coool!

Chain grief

Bought a replacement chain this week, after getting a siezed link in my old chain that appeared immune to all efforts to free it. Fitted it yesterday with help/tool lend from Wheelers in Shaw - angle grinder, wire new chain through, link, rivet and adjust. Sorted.

Co-incidentally I managed to grab a used Scottoiler off eBay for £20 this week too! Just needed a trip to Stevens in Trowbridge to buy a vacuum line t-piece for £3 and all ready to fit that too at some point. Happy days.

Off out on a blat today, so be nice to spend some time on the bike not just fixing it and commuting!

Numb Arse Solutions..

Looking at seat padding today, after our rear end issues over the Cornwall tour. With Airhawks just looking too expensive for what they are, I did some more web trawling again and figured on two options to try out..

First off is the tried and tested, old school solution.. sheepskin! haha I've ordered a pad from Lambland and I'm hoping the comfort and benefits outway the joke magnet effect it will carry along with it. We will see..

The other option in the running was the Putnams Inflatable Stadium Seat, working on a similar concept to an Airhawk. Sold by a company for people with limited mobility for about £10, it looks like a bargain, gets a few good reviews on bike forums, but has a few bad reviews on Amazon, so I went for the sheepskin instead. This also has the dubious advantage of doubling as a pillow too, but with the amount of baked beans we consumed on the tour, I think I'll give that feature a miss!

If all else fails, then I might have to DIY something from the works bubble wrap/cushion machine, possibly in combination with the sheepskin. :)