We recently opened a bottle of wine which we had laid down some years ago. Age had improved the wine, a McClaren Vale Shiraz giving an enjoyable drinking experience. I wish the same aging process applied to the various electronic components that we travel with.

In 2014, some 9 years ago, we purchased our Garmin GPS, a Gopro 5, the newly launched Sena S20 headsets and a subscription to WordPress. We are still using the same equipment and tools today with a few cracks, and sticky tape holding them together.  One has to wonder how long  everything will last and that includes us, and Streak and Storm.

I have noticed other blogs are using the latest techniques, multiple cameras, edited video etc, but for this trip we dinosaurs will soldier on in the same old fashion, so no modern approach from us, sorry.

With Annes’s mystery affliction, an enigma according to the specialists who treated her, now receding into the past, we are ready for a new adventure.  I must say that based on my previous experiences I prefer to visit the patient in hospital rather than be one.  Anyway onward we go. 

We spend our first week seeing Anne’s sister Diane and, once over the jetlag, Anne’s mother in Kent. Good laughs, good food, games of Canasta and Scrabble, revisiting old haunts – it is good to see family again.

After 2022’s week long (not!) motorcycle adventure to Cornwall, we thought that a slightly longer trip might be in order. With the increases in travel costs including car hire, could we link together visiting family and friends with some motorcycle riding?  Well that’s our excuse anyway.  This year’s ride will have a Celtic theme as we travel through Brittany, Ireland and a little of the Scottish lowlands.

One would think that, with all our “experience”, packing and loading Streak and Storm would be a simple hour long exercise.  Alas no – we have travelled with two bulging suitcases, the contents of which will in no way fit into the panniers, plus we could not exactly remember what we had left behind last time. Oh well as they said at school, could do better.

Off we go with the usual nervousness I have when getting on a motorbike I have not ridden for some time.  All the controls feel different but as we head out towards Southampton I become more comfortable and the enjoyment of being on the road again rises.  The weather is perfect high 20’s Celsius: as long as we do not stop too often in traffic the airflow keeps us cool.

After a comfortable night at the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl overlooking the Hampshire cricket ground, we are off for some last minute shopping.  With Brexit requiring a change from “GB” to “UK” stickers on our number plates, the ones I had ordered as replacements in advance were found to be tiny and did not cover the existing ones!

In addition, my helmet of 9 years is looking the worse for wear and all the articles say they should be replaced every five years or so. I am pleased to report that both items were acquired and I am the owner of a new Shoei Neotec 2 in “red white and blue”, words from a Neil Young song.  The helmet will return with us to Australia where I have a similarly aged helmet awaiting replacement.  I did try a number of other brands but have returned to Shoei which has saved my head in the past.

Queuing to board the ship seems so familiar, wait in line, talk to other riders, move forward to the next stop.  Just like flying with Easyjet where you are shuffled from pillar to post before boarding.

I was blissfully unaware of the obviously insidious problem of knife smuggling by motorcyclists from the UK to the continent. It seems that many motorcyclists, well the suspicious looking ones anyway, are pulled over and searched. Anne fell into that category,  I of course with my honest face was waived through the security checkpoint.  Anne had to translate for the other french rider pulled over with her.  The English security official kept saying “kawtoo”?  Anne suggested “couteau”, French for  knife, pronounced “kootaw”.  “Kawtoo”? repeated the official.  After a couple more attempts, us saying no,  both were asked to open one bag for a useless glance then were waived through.  Can anyone explain why what appear to be mostly middle aged men would be smuggling knives on motorcycles from the UK to Europe? Is there a shortage or high tax on knives?

I am first to board so we are off on another adventure. Hopefully my prose will improve with time like a good wine.

– Anthony