A Biker's life - is sometimes not a happy one.

Did not realise how long since I wrote - just lots going on .

Steed of Steel, gave me a bit of a turn, thought it was due to expire on me, however, just back from a run down to see my friend Andy at "Border Bikes",  Duns,  who has given it the thumbs up and it will be sound as a pound after a little of his TLC - so it looks like I might be off to Ireland on it next month.

In the meantime,  thinking it was really poorly I had set about looking for a replacement and in my travels met a couple of car salesmen (also selling motorcycles) who were doing an excellent impression of Dick Turpin - so they know where to sick their "generous " offers.

Decorating now underway at the Mercat Grill, so all change,  even taking bookings for X-mas day already and X-mas lunches on the lead in.

Opening party on 28th September,  lots of things to see and do for those who turn up.

Missed out on Sunday's ride out with the IPA motor cycle section, they had a great run round Perthshire and had a number of sightseeing stops en route, including watching a mock rescue on the River Tay.

Was at the local Pubwatch last night, good meeting , AGM, with a wee buffet,  lots of interesting news about the politics around Scottish licensing legislation and proposed changes which our beloved caring Councillors  and MSP's are trying to implement.

Another one bites the dust.

Every picture tells a story.

So , today I joined the ranks of the "put the wrong fuel in the tank" eejits -  and worse still filled to the brim so that I could score off my 5p off a litre Tesco voucher - perhaps it was Tesco getting their  back on me for my features on"tesco diddles".     Filled up and a short distance down the road on came a warning light then the kangaroo effect until I pulled in and checked my receipt to see what i had done.    called the RAC - but as this was not a mechanical failure it had to be a pick up and drain.   Ended up at Brownlie's garage at Sighthill, where they were excellent, had me back on the road (at a price) within a couple of hours - thanks chaps (and chapess - lady mechanic).   They were saying that they average around three similar numpties a day, some days even more -  so perhaps we need some bright spark to design a new system for pumps and fillers.

North Berwick without the view.

Even found an excuse to have a day off  - Wedding anniversary,  so thought I should make the effort - just a pity that the weather did not play ball.    So,  we had thought of going up to Gleneagles Hotel for lunch, however heard on the radio that the Johnny walker golf was taking place there so change of plan and we headed for North Berwick.  Just a pity about the mist / fog - as we could not even see Berwick Law, let alone the sea or the Bass Rock - but a wander along the High Street, replenished the book supply by visiting the charity shops !!!     not impressed with the parking by some drivers there,   the City Wardens would have had a ball - cars parked about three feet from the kerb,  certainly would not have liked to see a fire engine in a hurry.

Back towards home, as as we had shopped for the Mercat grill, took their supplies in and decided that as their steaks were brilliant we would just stay for lunch - excellent.  A real treat.

Took a run up to  Carberry Towers to follow up on an invite for a look around the Hotel -  what a wonderful transformation from the building I used to visit when it was run by the Church of Scotland as a training venue -  the place has been restored to its former glory, perhaps even better.

Previous comment about Traffic Wardens brings to mind Edinburgh City Council's latest fund raising idea -  NO MORE FREE PARKING all day on a Sunday in the City,  they plan to introduce a scheme which allows two hours free parking with a sticker on the screen, thereafter you pay as normal.  What nonsense,  cannot have a decent browse or a good meal in that time,  back to clock watching and running out to feed ,meters.   Strikes me that they plan to drive all the shoppers out the City an any cost.

And our blossoming Wind farms are  proving to be a real disaster,  recent figures showing that during the recent nice weather and balmy days, there has not been enough wind to make the turbines work effectively -  so looks like a few candlelit nights, wrapped in the duvet and listening to a battery radio.   Looks like the "Greens" might well and truly have left us out in the cold.

What - no rain, but still got wet.

Busy day again, and fully recovered from yesterday's exploit with the IPA motorcycle section.    B&Q  first thing to get a replacement for a leaky tap.   Life is just one whirlwind of fun !!

Home in time for a quick swim, which was relatively quiet -  sorted a leaky rear tyre on the steed of steel then had a wee run out,  West Linton, Dolphinton, cut back via Blyth Bridge,  Lyne Station to Peebles and back up to Penicuik -  nice route, variety of roads, no traffic to talk about except a young lady who passed me on the Dolphinton Straight at about 100 mph,   to get held up a mile later then carry out an amazing blind overtake to get past all the cars in front of her.  Must had an angel looking after her.

Bike Section arranging a treasure hunt around Perthshire next Sunday,   need a few brownie points before I can sign up.

I note that Tesco fell foul of the law by putting items on sale at an inflated price for the prescribed week, then marked them as being half price -  big diddle and caught and fined - !!!  Power to the observant.

Saddle sore, IPA style, not quite how the west was won.

Been a busy few days, working at the Mercat Grill,  however, today I had a day off  !!  Not a rest as I headed out on the "steed of steel", with my like minded friends, members of the IPA No. Region Motorcycle touring section.
Left home at 9 a.m.,  met  Big Tom at Hermiston Gait and headed off to Greenock,  passed a couple of cruise liners berthed there with convoys of coaches taking the tourists into Glasgow.   Met up with more of the team at Tesco's for breakfast then onwards to the ferry at Gourock for Dunoon -   spied the paddle steamer  "The Waverly  heading down the Clyde ".

Back on Terra firma it was off northwards by Lock Eck, and eventually ended up at Inveraray for a stop beside the quayside where the well known puffer  "The Vital Spark" was tied up, having been moved there from its previous berth at Crinin basin.

From Inveraray we headed to Minard where we were joined  by another two of our team, and headed through Lochgilphead, and stopped off at Dunadd Fort,  where the ancient Kings of Scotland were crowned.    very strange to see the locals playing cricket within site of this ancient monument.

Next stop was the museum and churchyard at  Kilmartin,   another cuppa,  but service was very slow -  however it saved us from one of the extremely heavy showers which were  sweeping across the country.   Onwards to Oban - more rain -  so a fish supper was the order of the day -  just not the weather for the burgers on the BBQ.      Then  it was home wards, with a couple of stops en route - via Dalmally, Loch Awe,  Crianlarich,  Lochearnhead, Stirling -     kind of stiff and sore by the time I got home, at 9.20 p.m.  and 315 miles in the saddle.

Toppled trailer load of bales

Bit of a spill today,  RGB heading into Whitecraig when a tractor coming towards him, loaded with bales of straw, toppled and shed his load on a bend  -  this was always a nightmare of mine, the size of these bales would have done serious damage to a car had they gone the other way.

Took quite a while to clear the mess with a bit of traffic chaos,    technical insecure load.

 

Had a run into town this morning for some essentials,  but popped into Two Wheels for look at the bikes and give my mind a treat - plenty of machines with  "sold " tickets on them.

Looks like I might be joining the No. 1 Region IPA Motor Cycle Section trip to Oban on sunday - here's hoping for a nice day.

Quick trip "down South"

Feet up, watching "New Tricks",  just like the old days,  pity they are writing out most of the cast and bringing in new faces.

Had a wee day out, quick run to Runcorn via Glasgow and back -   weather was nice up here, but shocking down south with mist and heavy rain.  Lots of middle lane hoggers so it will be interesting to see what happens when the new Legislation to fine them comes into effect later this month.

New car is "quite quick", need to be careful or I will end up with another speeding ticket -   few changes on the motorway, new bridge and exits on teh M8 at Whitburn, and more speed restrictions on the M6.  The average speed cameras are a real pest.

Talking of pests,   TV tonight was making a big thing about the cycle routes around the UK, and getting more folks back on their bicycles -  however, it is time they got them off the pavements -  nearly got "whapped" by two girls (about 18 yrs) passing my house . on the pavement at high speed - and they rode all the way to the shops (3/4 mile) without using the road.  Came out the shop myself and another one scooted by.   Unexpected here,  but even worse and a major nuisance in West Maitland Street outside the Mercat Bar where they ride along the pavement rather than take the vehicular detour.