Just in time.

Servicing the Blackbird, that is.

1500 miles on two days.

Ow.

 

probably round the side of his house, like most people's.

 

yes. I Know.

 

In-laws. Funeral.

 

Nothing to do with vulnerable widows then?

 

Linda's dad?

 

I fucking hate them.
Maybe because my recent experiences have been a bit close
for comfort.

--
Jeweller
R100RT
Formerly: James Captain, A10, C15, B25, Dnepr M16 solo,
R80/7, R100RT (green!)
www.davidhowardjeweller.co.uk

 

No, that was last April. Mum this time.

Not a good 12 months.

 

Ubggre. Commis to Linda.

 

I wondered why it sounded familiar as I typed it.

Indeed. Commiserations to Linda from us both. Please tell her she can
buy us a drink in May to cheer herself up.

 

Down to Orthez last Wednesday, then back yesterday.

Not a bright move, really.

Last Wednesday was cold. Dry[1], granted, but cold.

Arrived at house at 01:15 local, having left here at 10am.

Took over 2 hours to get to Eurotunnel terminal due to Operation "fill
up the M20 with artics" - one poor sod had taken 6 hours to get there
from Reading.

On the train straight away, and out onto the A26, for the first
fill-up of the morning - I'd brimmed the tank at Asda the night
before. South onto the A1, and I give the Blackbird a small handful of
beans. Crikey. That's a bit lively.

Only option? Give it some more next time. Blinkin' 'eck, it shifts
when you tell it to. 145mph shouldn't feel *that* easy, should it?

Curse the fitting of a Givi Maxia topbox around now. At least the
weave is gentle, predictable, and only really noticeable over 120.

Paris ring road is easily dispatched, and as the day wears on, it was
a succession of stops brought on by a: cold; b: fuel and c: the need
to restore feeling to limbs contorted out of their usual comfort zone.

The trip down the N10 from Bordeaux was particularly cold.

I took a good hour to stop shuddering from the cold when I arrived.

Thursday to Tuesday were occupied with family matters, then I set off
on Wednesday morning at 09:15. Arrived here at 9:15 pm.

Journey up similar to down. Hit Paris round 5, and followed a commuter
to beat the jams.

No rain. Which was a pleasant change compared to the previous six
days.

The wind was awful, especially the bit towards Calais on the A26.

I got flashed by a camera at Tours.

Lessons learned:

Shoei full-faces are warmer than flip fronts.
HG Pathans work - but only up to a point.
Daytona RoadStars work - very well.
Tinted visors after sunset aren't that good an idea. (I did take the
clear one)
Blackbird fuel economy improves on a run. never saw the little orange
light come on.
March is not ideal "sport-touring" weather.
I'm not ideal "sport-touring" shape.
My HG Voyager kit shrank over winter.

A new record: from check-in to being on a moving train at Eurotunnel
Calais - 11 minutes.
From Check-in to opening the front door: 1 hour 58 minutes.

735 miles each way. I won't be doing that again in a hurry.

[1] A 3 minute hailstorm north of Paris excepted.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, SD

Bugger.

Give her a hug from me.

 

Ouch... Commiserations to Linda.

 

Indeed, commiserations, hope it gets better.

 

Indeed.
Commiserations to ye both.

--
Dan L

Too much time to think, too little to do.


http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Ah bugger. Commiserations to you both. Give Linda a hug from me.