Sunday 23 May 2010

1 month to go....

Wow. It is now just about 1 month until I start my tour of the USA.

I have been somewhat busy recently and travelling a lot so I haven’t been posting much on my blog.



The big thing we did recently was Jackie (my wife) and I drove a car to Spain. It was an open top sports car with no roof. By “no roof” I mean just that. I don’t mean a convertible – I mean no roof. This would have been ok, except it rained. It hailed. And it snowed. It was -2 degrees Celsius which is 28F. Ok for me, but for Mrs F it was a little cold! She did really well and didn’t complain and just got on with it. Despite the cold, it was a fun journey. The one thing I did learn was when it is raining, the fastest you drive, the drier you stay…… Here are a couple of pictures of the car near our house in Spain (no the boat is not mine….)







































So, with just 1 month to go, am I ready for the USA tour? Yes, just about – I have a few last things to do, including getting the bike serviced and shipped. Oh, and I am going to Thailand for 10 days for my Brothers wedding. Thailand? – that place that is having all the riots (and deaths) at the moment? Well, yes, but we are not going anywhere near where the troubles are happening. At least I hope not.

The weather here today was getting us ready for Thailand. Wait for it….. it hit 86F (30C) here today. In May! In London! Very nice, but crazy weather for this time of year here.

Tomorrow, I am attending a “Bike Safe” riding course with the London Metropolitan Motorcycle Police and I will take some pictures and write something here about the day.

Later this week, I will try to do some more posts. I am aware that the new paintwork on my Road King has been finished for a few weeks and I still haven’t showed you, dear readers, what it looks like yet……

10 comments:

Mike said...

Wow, Gary! When you said sports car you weren't kidding. Is that a Cobra? That must have been a nice trip!

Gary France said...

Mike - Well, sort of a Cobra. It is a replica Cobra by a company called Factory Five. It is quite a car and it goes pretty quick. It sounds fantastic with it's V8 engine. So yes, it made for a nice trip....

Geoff James said...

Wonderful Gary!
If I had a choice of kit cars, it would be a Cobra or GT40.

Looking forward to your USA reports!

Gary France said...

Geoff - I would love a GT40. Drool. A guy who lives just along the road from me (who has a very famous F1 motor racing son) has a small collection of very nice cars and he has a GT40. I would love to take it for a drive!

SonjaM said...

A vintage car, and two sweet bikes... What else are you hiding in your garage? A plane? Kudos to the wife for hanging in there.
I will be counting down the days with you, and wish you a safe journey to Thailand.

Rob said...

Gary, Wow I may be more excited about your trip across America then you. In the mean time make sure you stay safe over seas at the wedding.

Gary France said...

Sonja – I have some other wheeled toys which are mainly older cars, including a Mini Cooper and a Beetle. While my first love for vehicles are motorbikes, I also like small second-hand cars. No plane though! Thanks for your good wishes about Thailand. I am sure it will be fine….

Rob – Nope, you cannot possibly be more excited than me….

mq01 said...

fun cobra! i would have done the rain/snow as well, just be sure there's blankets. :) bravo to Mrs F! gary, let me know if time allows and you'd like to meet up in the San Francisco Bay Area during your tour. enjoy Thailand!! i would absolutely love to visit chiang mai sometime.

Unknown said...

Gary:

I've always loved those Cobra Replicars & I have a friend who owns a GT40, and A Viper. I only have a lowly C5 Corvette Roadster, but at least the top can go up when it rains.
My favourite car used to be the 356 speedster, but I would take a 550 Spyder in a pinch
. . . an I like your Yacht too. I know you're being modest.
Only 1 short month before your epic ride.

Take care in Thigh-Land. It must be hard work globe trotting and driving around whilst the rest of us have to work and read about your adventures on a tiny screen

and yes, we are getting excited for you too

bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin

Gary France said...

mq01 – Thanks. It is a blast to drive! Mrs F was well wrapped up in a big coat and a fur hat from Moscow! Chiang Mai is where we are going – that is where my brother lives. I will contact you when I get nearer to SF about meeting up - I would like to meet as many bikers as I can on the tour and the west coast seems like one area where there are many of you!

Bob – In the bad weather, I did wish I had a top, but I soon forgot that in Southern Spain. No, I am not being modest, it isn’t my boat, but I wish it was…. I agree with you about the 550 Spyder….very nice. Globe trotting? – it is a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.