Kent Coast Tour July 2020

Met up with Neil, Baz, Rick, Clive, Reggie and Marco at Pease Pottage services at 7a.m., then off to Clacket Lane for breakfast. Next, we went through the Dartford Tunnel, then back over the bridge so we could see the Stoneness Lighthouse and North Kent coast, and along to Gravesend where we saw a lightship

Then, a couple of hundred metres away, we had a look at New Tavern Fort, then off to the Isle of Grain for a cuppa,

and a quick ride past Cooling Castle

 then Grain town to see the Grain Battery that we couldn't get a photo of as it was too far away

As we had been doing a bit of faffing, and Baz's Triumph was unwell, we didnt stop to look for the Medway U-Boat, so here is a photo I took on an earlier trip

Next, it was down to Strood to see the Black Widow Russian Sub, but the road leading up to it was closed, so here are a couple of photo's from an earlier trip

Then, it was off to Gillingham for a snack

And we also stopped at Gillingham Pier to have a look at Hoo Fort and Darnet Fort in the middle of the Medway River, we could just make Hoo Fort out with Binoculars, so here are a couple of photo's I took when I canoed out there

We then headed towards Reculver to have a look at the towers,

and stopped in the pub nearby for a drink

Next on the list was Whitstable for an ice cream

Then off to the Holiday Inn Express just outside Canterbury, which does a lovely curry etc.
   Next morning, we went to Margate, and had a look at something unmentionable (Blue with caterpillar tracks), then I tried to get a video of the road into Ramsgate, but the camera battery went flat. Next, it was off to have a look at the Viking ship just South of Ramsgate

and we then decided to have a look at the Battle of Britain museum

And the last thing we went to see was a nearby memorial that I have forgotten the name of..

Then back to the hotel for another curry, and a ride home in the rain the next morning. Very enjoyable trip.

North York Moors July 2020

   Start mileage 47720, end mileage 48484 =764

I met Rob Davis at Birchanger Services on the M11 at 9am, and after a quick chat headed North. We stopped for fuel at Ferrybridge services, and after a few photos on the moors got to Aidensfield (Goathland) at 3pm.

   Fylingdales in the background

         
                                          The road to the campsite

                   
           

                     After the tents were set up, we had a wander into the villiage, unfortunately the pub was shut, but the shops were open.

       Next, we went for a ride to Rosedale Chimney Bank, the second steepest road in Britain

      It is marked up as a 33% incline, although there are other roads nearby, which are also marked as 33%

            We stopped on the moors for some more photo's

     Next morning, we had a ride over most of the moors, and found a toll road through Dalby Forest, which charged 8 or 9 quid for a car, but free for motorcycles, which was a real rip off.
   Back to the campsite for some beers and rum and coke, then next day, packed up and headed home. There are loads of mobile speed cameras in this area, although we were only bimbling along, so not a problem. We came back via the Humber Bridge and Peterborough, which knocked off about 30 miles and half an hour, and nicer roads.
   Great trip, thanks for the company, Rob, and the use of your photo's

America 2006

   We went to vegas for a night before picking up a Goldwing 1800 the next morning

W didn't stay at this hotel, as we had stayed there before. We headed off to the Grand Canyon, as we had not been there for a few years

Then we went to Meteor Crater, as I missed it last time

   Next, it was off to Monument Valley, where we parked the bike and went on a tour, as you are not allowed to drive yourself.

   

We then went to the far end of the Grand Canyon, where it is narrow enough for a bridge

   Next on the agenda was Lake Powell  and Glen Canyon dam

  After a few more sites along the way, we had to head back to Vegas, to return the motorcycle. Las Vegas in rush hour was amusing, The bike wheelspan crossing 8 lanes of traffic. We had a great time, done about 1000 miles in the week and wore out the back tyre.

Scotland 2020

 I had to take some holidays or lose them, so I decided to tour the Northumbrian national park, the Borders and Scotland. I was going to take my motorcycle, but as snow was forecast and gale force winds, I decided to take my car and camp in that.I drove most of the roads in the park, the roads were very quiet, and would be great on a motorcycle

My camp for the first night was down a dirt track (most of the campsites were closed) Unfortunately, after I had got comfortable in my "tin tent" I found my air bed had perished and deflated suddenly, then my sleeping bag zip busted, so fortunately I had a spare thin sleeping mat, so managed to sleep anyway.
   Next morning I went to a camping shop in Hawick, but it didn't have anything useful, so, after a breakfast in Morrissons, I carried on touring Northumbria and worked my way over to Go Outdoors at Berwick, and replaced my air bed with a sleeping mat. I then popped down to Lindisfarne as the tide was coming in

That evening I camped in the Lammermuir Hills

The next morning I headed to Edinburgh and booked a tour to the Edinburgh Vaults, I couldn't get a decent photo as the camera flash isn't that good

Next, I went to Scotland's Secret bunker near St Andrews, it has a small house on the surface, and a very large underground area

There is also a cat that lives in the bunker, it is 20 years old, but it is still classed as an "Atomic Kitten"

That night I went to The Royal Hotel in Anstruther, as I was in need of a shower, then next morning I went to see my lovely cousin and her husband, then drove home the next day. A surprisingly pleasant holiday