.. and the prep goes on ..

All go on the tour preparation this week, with the garden waterlogged and DIY on hold for washing machine repairs we got a few more bits done on the bikes, grabbed a few more bargains and I've embarked on my own bike DIY project too..

Paula managed to pick up a bargain ally chain guard (below) to replace the big chunky - yet soft and flimsy BM original one (left). More metal and less plastic - always good in our book!

The perfect cure for the disappointment of the F650 failing its MoT for a leaking fork seal. Especially annoying since we only got the seals replaced about 600 miles ago!

Following the same mantra of metal over plastic, I came into possession of a large 3mm aluminium sign (perfectly legally I hasten to add). Which I hope to craft into a replacement to the pretty ugly, grey, plastic lump of a sump guard provided by Honda. Doesn't look much yet - and probably won't be catwalk material when finished either - but with a bit of luck it should at least be functional and add a bit more personality.

.. I also finally fitted my centre stand and Scottoiler. Stand was easy, took 5 minutes and just means I got better options in the event of any wheel/tyre problems. The oiler was pretty simple too, just took a while longer to route the lines and mount the dispenser under the chain guide. As much as I don't mind chain maintenance I like the idea of the chain oiler and once I've done a few longer rides with it, we'll see how it goes.

.. and finally a couple of phrase books (French & Spanish) from a closing down clearance shop, that contain a handy motorcycle section with handy - but hopefully totally useless - phrases like "the brakes don't work"?!

.. Mark

New Forest

Saturday was fantastic weather, so we headed off to the New Forest for the day. Paula was a bit hung over from the previous night out with the girls, so it was two up on the TA. Had a great ride down and always enjoy the forest roads, with their casual speed limits and wandering donkeys, pigs and ponies. Ticked off our first National park visit for the ABR Nature Rally 2011 and visited the Wildlife center there to snap some photo and watch the wolves for a while.

Ride back was a little chilly since we stayed until sunset, but still good to be riding and we soon warmed up after picking up a Chinese (meal) on the way home.

Check in..

Just a quick check in to show we've not totally hibernated over the winter. We've got 90% of the house move done, just a few more weeks of unpacking and DIY and we'll be back concentrating fully on the bikes and touring again.

Been back commuting on the bikes this week which has been great, just to get some of the rust and winter crud off my bike and dust off some wobbly skills after pretty much 6 weeks or so without riding. Bloody chilly out, but feels great on dry roads again today.

Kit wise, we picked up a couple of 5L petrol cans from Aldi this week at just £2.99 each. Knock ourselves up some Touratech style racks and we'll be sorted! ..

We signed up to the Adventure Bike Rider - Nature Rally 2011 too, see if we can't get to a few of the National Parks this year before the government sells them all off. Should be good practice for the tour and get to see some fantastic parts of the countryside at the same time. - Mark

.. oh and well done Si Pavey on another Dakar finish! Good job. Jenny and Craig too, amazing effort all.

Moving on..

Thoroughly enjoying the dakar rally at the moment, only a couple of stages left to go and Simon Pavey is still in there. Get well soon to Craig and Jenny, brilliant effort by both of them and great to be able to follow them on the ADV rider forum.

We are bang in the middle of moving this week, decorating every night and with needing the car to shift things back and forwards my bike is still sitting in a bit of a sorry state awaiting its first ride of the year. Once the house is sorted then it will be next in line for some attention and love, might even get round to some riding too! Still not had a chance to test my video camera onboard yet, so looking forwards to that.

Kit purchases have also been put on hold for a bit, but I did get my signed Sam Manicom book, a handy little survival kit and a posh Union flag sticker for the bike for Christmas. I also credit carded a pair of 80 litre security nets while they were in a half price sale (much less than half the price they were at Motorcycle Live) and some small union flag sew on patched off eBay too.

Another good Morocco trip blog - http://jonnybgood11.wordpress.com/

ps. Finally uploaded a swanky title logo thing too for your viewing pleasure.

Happy New Year

Well it's already 2011, the last few months of 2010 seemed to pass in a flash and Morocco is now only 8 months away! Happy new year to everyone, lets hope it's a good one.

Not much bike action lately, even though it's warmed up a bit lately we've been busy decorating through every scrap of daylight, so not had a chance to get the bike checked, charged, oiled, inflated and running again yet, but hopefully soon.

I have however been following the Dakar rally as much as possible:

Lots of Eurosport coverage being streamed live and archived here.. http://www.freewebs.com/chrizzzie/Dakar.htm

the main Eurosport website has regular video uploads too.. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/motorsport/video/

there are regular audio recordings from the race at Rally Radio.. http://www.rallyraidio.net/

and of course the official site... http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

For updates on the individual Brit (and resident Aussie) riders:

Si Pavey - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simon-Pavey/242186883825

Jenny Morgan - http://www.facebook.com/pages/JMo-Racing-Jenny-Morgan-Dakar/173711529317544?v=wall

Craig Bounds - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647686

Good luck to them all!

YEAR OF THE TAJINE!

Not sure what the new Chinese year will be but for Mark and I it will be year of the Tajine :) hence the new page background! not been out on the bikes due to snow, ice and a mountain of refurbishing to do in our new house over the hols but look forward to the count down to some before travel fundraisers and getting the web page sorted for that. Have a lovely last few days of the year and enjoy the coming of the new one...Very exciting!!!.......XP

With the Dakar not far off now make sure you check out the new free iphone ap that mark found!...I'm not lucky enough to be able to keep track that way but will be watching.

Mark checking out the new Triumph at the NEC

And some eye candy!
Have a great new year XP

Cleared for departure..

Great news today, the company I work for has finally confirmed, after much debate and worries, to allow me the extended time off work for the trip in September! All good news really, since the alternative would have been to just do it anyway and drop off my resignation on the way to Dover!

Since we seem to have bought enough kit to pack out a small camper van I think it's time for full steam ahead preparation.. learning languages, saving money, sorting bikes out, route planning and trying not to get too excited about it with still ..

.. to go. -Mark