Beside the Seaside

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In Which I Take The Bonnie Home..

August 19, 2009 by Mike

Hello.

Sunny, isn't it? [Typical Brit.. always going on about the weather.]

I'm checking in here to say Hello.. to avoid doing any real work.. and to wave vigourously in the direction of anyone visiting the site for the first time.. having perhaps met me or the bike at The Bonneville Celebration -- the 50th birthday party for the Triumph Bonneville.

I love the fact that, having ridden around the coast of Europe, I'm taking the bike home to where it was built -- close to the the geographical centre of England.

I'm guessing there won't be too many three-year-old bikes with 50,000+ miles on the clock, and 50,000 miles-worth of dust, rust an' mud. I know.. I know.. I've been promising for months.. well, years.. to clean the bike after this weekend. Unless someone smart and forward-thinking at Triumph wants to buy the bike and stick it in their museum? ;-)

But as someone who rides alone, and certainly doesn't class himself as quoteunquote A Biker, I'm really looking forward to this weekend.

Anyhoo.. to any newcomers.. please pootle around the site. Follow the diary from the start of the trip to Norwich. Via several hundred interminable blo- I mean diary entries around the coast of Europe.

Or you might prefer to look at my photographs?

DSC02051

PS Don't forget to buy the book when it comes out.. if they're still printing books by the time I finish writing the danged thing.

Comments

By Sascha | August 26, 2009 8:50 PM

Nice to read from you and your good "old" bonnie. I have been started driving motorbike since 4 months and unfortounatly broke my leg. Not the biggest deal, but a little painful. Hope you feel well. Go to finish your book, I will buy one to improve my english and to dream about our times of freedom.

Greetings

Sascha + Melanie

By Steve P | September 12, 2009 11:21 AM

Hi
Saw (and photographed) your bike at the Bonnie celebration & just checked your site out.
Great stuff.
Just been Spain, France on my SprintST. Not as adventurous as you, but still great fun.
What's next for you then?
Steve

By Sandy from Leeds | October 11, 2009 10:25 PM

Dear Mike

So pleased to hear from you again

Best Wishes

Sandy

By BRIAN | December 6, 2009 10:06 AM

Very intrepid and brave but I never understand why the bikes are always left like shitheaps.We know it's a long trip etc but it would be great to see how good a bike could look after such a hammering.Sanders et all do the same and I've never understood why?
I hope to more trips as I do a lot of miles but as I still work,all my trips are tied by the week/10 days imposed limit.Let me know the next one you plan.Mine has done 31,000 in just over 3 years and the last one did 41,000 but nothing quite so imaginative as your trip.
Try the landmark challenge in the Nacelle magazine,that will cover the length and breadth of the UK and it's fun too.Ride safe,ride Triumph!

By James | January 31, 2010 6:20 PM

Hi there Mike. You replied to a post of mine a while back on the HUBB about a fuel tank (I bough a jerry can in the end). Im a bonneville rider based in Ipswich. Now planning a summer trip to Morocco. Any advice on mods?

By Mike | April 27, 2010 4:01 PM

Brian and James -

Sorry I didn't notice yr comments until now.

Brian: I always used to tell people I kept the bike dirty because I didn't want it to attract attention when I got to the likes of Albania. By the time I got there I was admitting to myself, at least, that it's just because I'm lazy. Oh, and there are so few bikes there, relatively, that anything on two wheels would stick out. in fact, anything that isn't an old Mercedes saloon would stick out. And more importantly, i didn't feel the bike was at risk there for a moment: a really friendly, welcoming country.

James: I'll try to track down yr email address. Sorry, I have been offline for a while. Are you still planning to travel?

--Mike
ps Everyone else: Hello.

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