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Fladdem |
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Fladdem World Chat Champion
Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 23:15 - 15 Oct 2015 Post subject: When The Fladdemir's Did An Hollingday! |
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Wednesday, the seventh of October, I went to Cornwall/Devon. I apologise in advance for the terrible photos taken with my phone, half of them were taken where I couldn't even see what was on the screen.
The rough idea was to come in the top and follow the coast round before getting to Falmouth, where my mates live, mid-trip and using that as a base to head out from.
Like all good adventures, we began with a breakdown, 19km's away from home near Moreton Morrell.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0182_zpscopmiw3b.jpg
I took the long walk home, where I began stripping her down. The plugs weren't great, the pictures don't do them justice really, and the main fuel pipe was all perished and cracked to death, with a nice bodge over the end to seal the gap around the tap.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0183_zps28olx6uf.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0184_zpslx0ydaee.jpg
Jumped in the Jimny and went to Halfrauds to get some new pipe and plugs, I managed to get the last four plugs.
Built her up, went for a quick blast round the area, called in to see my old college tutor before setting off for Cornwall from Leamington Spa at about 3pm.
Jumped on the Fosse Way and headed south, she was running like an absolute champion. The only issue was that muggins had drained the battery in the process of repairing so I'd resorted to bumping her, loaded up, every time I stopped.
Anyway first night I pulled in at a Days Inn near Bristol, I really have no idea how I got there, and paid stupid amounts for somewhere to kip, first day was a bit of a disappointment.
Now, day two, Thursday gets a bit more interesting. I jumped on the M5 and went down to J23, I think, and bombed across to Minehead. The A39 was so good, just narrow enough to be twisty, but just wide enough to get past cars!
Stopped for chips opposite Butlins.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0185_zpsocv0ea3s.jpg
I drooled over an MT-01 at this point before being distracted by this.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0186_zpsdbf6yvyd.jpg
At which point I met a very nerdy man that knew everything about this particular model of train and even runs a website, I'm afraid to say I can't even remember the model of train, but apparently he has pictures of it's resto up there.
I followed the A39 up Porlock Hill, beautiful, and a lot of fun, I love going up-hill, but have realised coming down again leads to nervousness.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0187_zpsulb6t7rv.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0188_zpsk6rvlkcz.jpg
About thirty seconds after those pictures, I carried on down the A39, where a pheasant flew out from the left side of the road, clearly startled by me, flew across in front of me, proceeding to be punched by me while on the brakes. The fingers on my right hand were hurting for the next couple of days.
I stopped in Hele Bay next, to try to figure out where I was on the map and how far it was to go, I was booked in at a B&B near Port Isaac. I saw this next to the petrol station, a nice little creek.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0189_zps1xwi7h3y.jpg
After the short stop, the bike proceeded to argue with me. It wouldn't bump any more, and if I finally got it going, it wouldn't tick-over for much longer than a few seconds.
Still, worse places to break down I suppose.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0191_zpsaikea3ve.jpg
I immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion, I think, when I saw that a breather was missing from the air-box. But the filter was clean.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0190_zpswoaybsfh.jpg
The plugs still looked fresh, the fuel tap was letting fuel down, when I sucked on the vacuum pipe, the petrol came out at quite a rate of flow. I couldn't work it out, so tried pushing it to the top of the hill, to bump it again. Eventually, a chap came out after about the fifth time I ran past his house.
He gave me the number to a local chap in Ilfracombe, this was about quarter to five, he told me to give him a ring quickly, he'll sort the bike out. The bloke turned up, took my bike away and left me at the side of the road.
I must admit to panicking for a bit. I was in a strange town, with no way of getting out, I'd ran out of money, I don't like paying by card because I don't like the powers that be monitoring where I've gone and what I've bought, so I needed to get to a bank, luckily there was one up in Ilfracombe, and had nowhere to stop that night... the caves on the beach were starting to look tempting.
First things first, cancel the booking at the B&B, no way I was getting there today.
Now, did I see a pub at the top of the hill??? I did! I'll just go to the pub and wait for it all to blow over. Damn, no money. I asked very nicely if I could dump some stuff, my saddle-bags, tank-bag and motorbike jacket and lid, in the Hele Bay pub and walked to the high street in Ilfracombe in search of cash. What a palaver!
Anyway, after making it back to the pub, the guy behind the bar knew a guy that manages a youth hostel, Ocean Back-Packers.
Moral of the story, always go to the pub!
Woke up at about 10 on day three, found a pub, had a fry-up, still stranded with instructions to ring in the afternoon about my Honda, and went for a wander around Ilfracombe. Found a tall hill, went up it. Those turret things are the tourist information centre and theatre.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0198_zpspuqt5run.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0192_zpsrf1ukfpv.jpg
View of the other side, just to the left of the picture, is the bay I broke down in, I think. I don't know what that statues about, I never took notes.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0193_zpsmyhxqrow.jpg
I stopped next to the church.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0194_zpsmxt4ujxf.jpg
Something weird by Damien Hirst, Verity, down on the Quay.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0195_zpsez3yypgp.jpg
Went up to St Nicholas's Chapel, I believe it used to be used as a lighthouse too.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0196_zpsoumbswxr.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0197_zpsvacgmflr.jpg
I went to Tunnels Beaches, Victorians washed there and there was instructions on the walls on being gentlemanly. This was some sort of heater.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0199_zpshnasxqta.jpg
The ladies pool, it was invaded by a massive thumb that day, mixed washing became allowed in 1906?
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0201_zpsjrhggxgn.jpg
The blokes got the sea!
I then went to the aquarium, originally just for the cafe to get lunch, but then went in because I fancied the emo tour guide, where despite my t-shirt telling me to do so, they wouldn't let me feed the mantaray.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/mantaraywhitet_1_zpszyxfvwvg.jpg
Anyway, that filled from 11-3, so time to ring up about my bike. Flat battery. D'oh!
Charged up, not a problem. The thing is, it must be so dead, it can't even produce enough for a decent spark at tickover.
So I tanked it straight down to Falmouth, I had a promise to keep! Set off about half four, made it there at about half eight, with a stop off in Bude for a petrol station picnic, to re-fuel both the bike and myself.
I got there and beers soon began to flow, I'm not sure really what happened but I remember collecting flowers for a girl I didn't know from peoples front gardens at silly o'clock in the morning. I'm not sure what happened to the home brew bouquet, but it was all battered on the front door step of the student digs I was stopping at.
Anyway, it was the Oyster Festival that weekend. So I was dared to try an oyster. It touched my tongue and was spat back in the shell. I was then re-dared, the oyster went in my mouth and I tried to swallow it but couldn't. I spat it out and it was exactly as bad as I thought it would be, salty slime.
Anyway, in the late afternoon I went to Pendennis Castle.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0204_zpscfzxfejt.jpg
Then Lizard Point, at which point I rode it down the ramp, and had to do a 30 point turn where it turns to steps.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0205_zpsgf0dheyf.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0206_zpsaxbg1bpt.jpg
Some sort of lighthouse
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0207_zpskagayvwh.jpg
Next Day I visited the End of the Land!
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0210_zpsqn7cz1te.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0208_zpstbmui6jl.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0209_zpsmkztct0n.jpg
Where I had a tea at the last bastion of tea.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0211_zpsjxkgsary.jpg
That was a hell of a ride out. I raced an Audi A3 1.9 TDi Bag-Head edition on the way there. That was the weird thing, some drivers/riders would pootle along and get in the way of everyone else, others, presumably mad locals, were absolute maniacs, but always up for a game of chase.
I met an Aussie on a Tiger 955i all loaded up and pottering around the place, he seemed OK. I then tried to keep up with a Gixxer 1000 and a ninja of some sort on the way back, that lasted all of thirty seconds.
Day 6, Monday, I went to St. Mawes. What an absolutely cracking ride that was as well. There castle was a bit under-whelming I thought, but then, I have Warwick castle just round the corner from me.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0213_zpswvyseq1q.jpg
I've never had arm pump on the road bike before, but those corners were something else, a few nearly caught me out, but all's good.
Looking at Falmouth
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0214_zpsmxa6lbvo.jpg
There's Pendennis
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0215_zpscfngy31v.jpg
It then turned out Monday is Cheap Monday in Falmouth, excellent.
MOAR BEERS!
Unfortunately, I wanted to head home on Monday morning, to recover on Wednesday before going back to work on Thursday, today, but the alcohol saw the end of that idea. I just hung around with my mates all day.
We rescued this from a three legged cat and two wasps in the garden, I'm not sure what they've done with it.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0216_zps6u1gi8as.jpg
So on the way home, on Wednesday, I set off at about 11. I headed through Dartmoor
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0217_zpswgobl5ge.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0218_zpszyvhjfd3.jpg
Animals everywhere, all over the roads. I intended to head through the moor and come out North of Exeter, but took a wrong turn somewhere and came out on the South side.
I then went to Plymouth for a Maccies, I don't know why, I wasn't looking at the map properly.
So had to do a load of that again. I jumped on the M5 to Glastonbury and decided the motorway was boring. Went up to Frome, then instead of following to Trowbridge, I for some reason got lost and went up to Radstock.
I headed up to Bath, made towards Chippenham, then up the Fosse to Cirencester. Now, I'm not sure how this happened, but I lost the Fosse Way at this point. I went through Barnsley, up to Burford. I'm a bit rubbish with directions and it was late and I was achey, hence the most long-winded route home ever.
From there, up through Shipton Under Wychwood, Charlbury. Looking at the route I took now, it's no surprise it took so long
Chipping Norton, Bloxham, Banbury, I then jumped on the M40 at J11, stupidly headed south Had to turn around at junction 10 before finally proceeding in the correct direction finally getting back to Warwick.
I rolled up at home at about half eleven. 12 hours I was on the go for.
12 HOURS.
TWELVE!
No wonder I was seized up this morning. It's taken nearly as long to type this up.
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0181_zpsi3xbbyfc.jpg
https://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag134/Fladdem/Cornwall/DSC_0219_zpsiijiwrqc.jpg
That's 1458.1 KM's.
Not too shabby.
Thanks for reading. ____________________ Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget. |
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P. Red Rocket
Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 07:42 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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So I assume the moral of the story is...
Honda, y u so unreliable.
Very good read sir, enjoyed |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 09:36 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Some people can turn a trip to the shops into an adventure
Told you that St. Mawes road was good
Nice one ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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recman |
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recman World Chat Champion
Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 10:27 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Good read.
I need adventures. |
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Just_James |
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Just_James Could Be A Chat Bot
Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Karma :
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Posted: 18:55 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: Re: When The Fladdemir's Did An Hollingday! |
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Great little adventure and write up, really enjoyed that
Was there a sign there saying Oil Leak Parking Only? ____________________ Current Bikes / Projects: 1999 Rieju RS1 50
Previous bikes - 1986 DT125R (field bike), 1989 KX250, 1980 KX420 (with 500cc big bore), 1992 YZ250, 1988 KX500, 1989 XR250R, 1988 VFR400R NC24, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 2008 Rieju RS2 50 , 1993 Honda NSR 125 |
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stevo as b4 |
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stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 19:08 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Excellent read, less so on the directions though!
The doing Dartmoor bit and then U-turning to Plymouth for Maccies made me Lol!
I'm fairly sure I recognise your locations on Dartmoor, I drive through it 4-6times a year usually. Retard alert here though, as I've only just thought that it would be a hell of ride on a bike too. |
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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 19:54 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Now that's a proper adventure, full of hurdles and good times.
Thanks for a good read ____________________ Yamaha MT-09
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Fladdem |
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Fladdem World Chat Champion
Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 21:29 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Well, thanks guys.
I have absolutely no sense of direction whatsoever. I don't appear to be tuned in to the pigeon section of the brain very clearly.
Your ride out helped a lot Mr. Strip, very handy to see what's what.
I want to take the TTR down one day, if I ever sort out the gear box. ____________________ Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget. |
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stevo as b4 |
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stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 22:00 - 16 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Nice to see someone else appreciating the awesomeness of the steam locomotive too! I love them, but also have a secret hidden fascination with the early age of petrol and Diesel loco's too!
I have to say that the female alien statue with the sword through the skull has freaked me out though, and id never want to see anything so horrific again! |
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mentalboy |
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mentalboy World Chat Champion
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Iain. |
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Iain. Could Be A Chat Bot
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Posted: 01:02 - 19 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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pepperami |
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pepperami Super Spammer
Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 17:22 - 19 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Good little trip and impressed Pepperami is impressed that you did not let the problems defeat you ____________________ I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now! |
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KnuckleShot |
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KnuckleShot Scooby Slapper
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Posted: 21:15 - 19 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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That was quite a good read.
I guess directions are not your thing |
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P. Red Rocket
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Pigeon |
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Pigeon World Chat Champion
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Tinkz |
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Tinkz Nova Slayer
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Posted: 23:24 - 19 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Great write up, really enjoyed it, ____________________ I can resist everything.........except temptation! |
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Fladdem |
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Fladdem World Chat Champion
Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 21:06 - 20 Oct 2015 Post subject: Re: When The Fladdemir's Did An Hollingday! |
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Pigeon wrote: |
Wherever you go, you manage to break Honda's and attract strange men
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It must be my irresistible good looks and witty charm. Honda's are quite notorious, though, for their unreliability at least that's what I tell myself.
I like to think I am the perfect mix between unlucky and lucky. I'm just unlucky enough to make things interesting, but lucky enough that everything works out OK in the end. ____________________ Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget. |
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Fladdem |
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Fladdem World Chat Champion
Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 21:54 - 20 Oct 2015 Post subject: |
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Thanks man, I didn't intend to stop there, but it was about 9 at night and I just needed to find somewhere to stop. The basic plan was to stop at Minehead for the first night, get there for about five-ish and have a nose around then head down near Port Isaac for day two, but both breakdowns lead to making it up as I went along. I still got to Falmouth by Friday though, as I promised my mates. ____________________ Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget. |
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DJP |
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DJP Crazy Courier
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 8 years, 178 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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