My first real number! When I get it, anyway. All the others, as you can see, have been pillion or not bike related. You would not believe how excited this makes me. So I meet Katryn OK - in fact, we both turned up at the exact same time [1] and we stop off on the way to Bedford to pick up a pal who, after hearing about my recent biking exploits, decided to get his arse into gear and MOT and tax his bike after all, in time to join us for some of the route. Meet Lozzo at Bedford, said pal goes off in 'tother direction, and we head off to Aylesbury. Following Lozzo, I couldn't help but notice that those leathers of his don't half accentuate his pert bum. But I *so* wish I hadn't told him. His leathers might fit perfectly but there was a point in the afternoon when I seriously thought he might have trouble getting his helmet back on his over-expanding head. After dispatching what seemed like most of Beds and Bucks, we arrived at the Horse and Jockey. So far so good, so I did what I did at the EOSM and parked out of sight by a car.Wouldn't want to spoil a top morning by dropping my bike in a car park in front of a load of UKRM-ers now would I? Loo stop number 1. Staff toilets at the Travel Inn (pub still shut). Meet up with Petrolcan, Paul C, Sweller[2], Nosher and Jill. Katryn helpfully points out a noise on my bike, which duly gets ignored, as i can't hear it. Remember that bit. Starting to get int the BOTAFOT [3] when Lozzo comes screaming past indicating me to stop. Park up, look down, the bloody exhaust had come off!! Saturday's MOT "quick, get the road legal can on" has now reached the height of idiocacy [4]: all three nuts had come loose, end can flapping i the breeze like a flasher mac. Spend 10 minutes looking for a suitably sized screw. Many thanks to Lozzo for a) noticing and b) stopping and c) furnishing suitable screw from the depths of his fairing and also to Petrolcan for the tools. Tightened, checked, happy, off we go. Regroup at the Little Thief uup the road somewhat (at this stage, I have no fucking clue where we are). Well, I say regroup. Minus Petrolcan, who *was* behind me [5]...and then he wasn't. So, 1 down, we head off for the erm, pub past the England's Rose, have lunch, meet dwb, head to the Rose, meet Beelzebub, drink coffee, head home [6]. What a hoot. Though I had to pretty much stick to the posted speed limit on those corners, I had an amazing ride, really enjoyed myself. Top roads, no idea where they were or what any of the scenery was like. And top folks to ride with, fixing my bike not only en-route, but also 'in the comfort of their own home'. [1] which is more than could be said for Lozzo. [2] That Guzzi: what a bike! [3] well, once I had gained my rightful place towards the rear of the pack [4] sleeve fell off on the motorway on wednesday, having clearly not been tightened up properly. So this is a new sleeve, which doens't quite fit, clearly... [5] to be fair, I only got ahead of him on the dual carriageway, as he was somewhat resticted by the top speed of the z400... [6] Via "Pixie-Fit" [TM] to add the remaining 2 bolts to the exhaust, and gaffa tape the indicator [6] and have Will and his lack of 'wife's bike maintenance' skills joked at. [7] which is hanging loose because the rubber perished where the fairing screws have fallen/come out and the fairing's rattling around.
