Catch up Blog from arrival

Don't know what happened to the missing entries. Arrived London. Left bags at St Pancras and on to the Euro Train to Brussels. Lesson #1 take coins........the Belgium toilets are pay to p. With no coins it was an issue and they do speak a strange language. Found the IBIS which is a half decent cheap hotel (costs 69 Euro) so stayed there. The morning was less easy. Getting from the town to the village next door was a bit of an adventure. I decided to go by bus. Finding the right bus took 40 minutes. Got off the bus to spend another half hour walking round trying to find an address that no one seemed to be able to identify so resorted to the old trick, ring up and in two minute down the road was a bloke in the street waving a hand. At least that worked. Spent that day re-acquainting myself with the bike and a whole lot of "stuff" I had left and forgotten. The usual problem with things missing and a good riding suit swapped with an old worn out one but when you leave stuff it gets checked out no matter where you are. Dinner of the Belgium special dish, a stew, was just OK. Early night then back to the garage loaded up and off about midday. Then the ole GPS kicked in again. Instead of going round Brussels, right through the middle. Traffic, people congestion and a glimpse of what is a pretty significant city. Found on the outside of town a BMW bike dealership. Nice guys that took the bike for a run, I was worried about a new rattling sound, which the mechanic determined was "normal" for these bikes ! So back on the road through what I believe to be a very pretty rural farming countryside. I was scrambling to get the Chunnel train and took a "shortcut" that was like most of my shortcuts, it was the wrong way but it ended well as I found a wayside Hotel that turned out to be rather pleasant. Stayed the night. Belgium special menu so I had Mushroom and Snail (escargot) pie....followed by a roast or casseroled pigeon, very nice too and would you believe they had a creme brulee so I again had the proprietor select a glass of wine, and again perfect, so I had a pretty good night. The next day was actually on to the Chunnel train. That was Wednesday. In to town. Parked the bike at a pub and then off to organise the bag I left at St Pancras. Took it to store near the Elephant and Castle. Back for the bike. Leave the bags in store and I am out of here. Through the 6 o'clock traffic but this time the GPS got me out nearly cleanly ( the second or third exit is something she or I have not co-ordinated yet) but out in the dark until I found a pub for the night. Pubs are expensive. I learned that 150quid plus is normal for London. Rural costs from 60 to 90 depending where you are and when. The Oxfordshire countryside is just splendid. I would be tempted to stay and ride here for longer however the weather is so much a consideration that Spain beckons.

Oxfordshire England 26 Sept

Headed out of London to explore the countryside. What a battle in rush hour traffic. Not a good choice of timing to get through the city. Found a place to stay as night closed in on me. Quaint old places English Pubs. Next day walked round Amersham before heading west. Nice riding and a wonderful bit of the country. Country lanes and villages that seem to have been there for ever. Got to see the lady on the white horse in Banbury. It was a terrific statue. Went through some terrific villages. Past farms stately homes and delightful countryside. Lunched at the Pickled Ploughman and yarned with a delightful old bloke from the local village. On to the Kings Head in Wellesbourne. It is such easy and enjoyable riding and with my rather conspicuous bike I get no shortage of people that stop and talk. It makes for a terrific bit of riding. Sorry about the pictures which I have not managed to up or download as appropriate.

Hooray hooray away today

In case I speak too soon I will add "fingers crossed" But from the departure lounge I am optimistic. The fluids are bagged a quaint and inexplicable procedure that creates jobs for those that can not find meaningful work. Whom it makes happier or safer I can barely imagine. Not me. So at last I am off. Too often delayed but in that I have learned that a perfect time does not exist and not just for taking trips but all human endeavors. So as they say watch this space. The flights were delayed but the joy of having no timetable is that one is never late. Flying is just that. Best done partly tired partly intoxicated and very tolerantly. The foolishness of the airline industry. We were told to leave the plane at Dubai in order to pass into the facility, and to then pass through the Xray, to queue to get into the departure lounge, to have the ticket examination redone, and finally after 40 minutes to end up back in the seat just vacated. Why we were not taken directly into the departure lounge is something that would have deprived 40 staff of their meaningful employment. Immigration at London was fine. It seems the US has a special place in world travel as immigration barrier to avoid. So London. It is an unusual and special place for sure. Special due to History. Unusual because it would be hard to determine from the occupants which country you were in.

Catching up.

I arrived in London. Arrivals at places is always stressful but hopefully manageable. I decided to take my excess bag to storage. There are no lockers at railway stations anymore. That business was sold as part of privatisation no doubt. And while on that matter the Government are sell shares in the Postal Service. That was most interesting, as even they see the future of mail as limited. So onward by the fast Euro train from St Pancras. Cost about 160 pounds. Fast and efficient. Arrived at Brussels needing a pee as you do and guess what they all cost -50 Euro and just arrived with no Euro.... Remember to take coins to Belgium. Anyway found my onward train, found the IBIS hotel, of the cheaper variety but still 69 Euro. I will deal with Hotels in one go. They range between expensive 50 Euro/pounds to 200 euro/pounds. Europe a little less costly than the UK. Cheap in London is 200 and elsewhere like the village I stayed last night 90 pounds. This will not be a cheap exercise. My Spot should reveal my whereabouts but it is having trouble with the smog. So two days sorting the bike and then away. The fun I have with my Garmin GPS is legendary ( well it is to me). It has a mind of its own so best enjoy it. It made me upset yesterday taking me right through the middle of Brussels, but two things emerged, it is a place to see, but not a place to go. Fortunately I got "lost" again as the day closed and I was fortunate to find a village hotel nearing the coast of Belgium. Had a memorable stay. Quaint but old, but the food, snail and mushroom pie; casseroled pigeon; and creme brulee accompanied by a glass of suitable wine selected by mine host. Cost 111E (euro). The fast train was the destination for Wednesday. Cost again about 114E. Left the bike parked in an accomodating forecourt and went for my stored bag. It took all day to collect and redeposit and cost 21Pd (pounds) and 63Pd plus insurance and a deposit (refundable) of 105Pd. Wow ! Message pack light and then take half out. Never take two when one will do. So approaching darkness I fled London. Up the A 413.......it was pretty good stimulating riding through the centre of London in the fast descending gloom, battling rush hour traffic (thanks GPS) got it mostly right, and out to the countryside when I found a Pub ( expensive but OK). It describes itself as " The Crown, a modern coaching Inn High Street Old Amersham Buckinghamshire. So here I am. Lets see what today brings.

17 September

Well for any of you that think I have been sitting round and not doing anything well here is the news, the 2013 ride is due to start. The plan is simple. Get myself to Belgium where NZL07 had been on holiday ( for too long). Take her back to the Lake District in England for the last of the summer sun and a good look round that part of England. Then head to London where I celebrated my 21st birthday and with a little bit of good luck will celebrate my next birthday at the same Pub. The Anchor on Bankside. Hope it will be fun. Then its back to EU and down the Rhine, visit some of the places I visited that long ago, and when I get to the Mediterranean turn right. Over the mountains into northern Spain, cross the Santiago de Compostella, and back along the Coast where Rick Stien showed some wonderful food in a recent program, and round the corner into Burgundy for the last of the summer wine (perhaps), and back to the garage for the bike in the UK. Well thats the plan. I will update as often as I can. S