tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73954780196227701762024-03-05T22:23:40.275+00:00Biker Ted Diariesbikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-64603482569141003642015-02-07T16:23:00.002+00:002015-02-07T16:23:34.015+00:00Is There Anybody Out There?bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-37925021626595464362013-01-15T10:41:00.000+00:002013-01-15T10:43:13.727+00:00Staying Local 2008 - A Sombre Time (Part 1)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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We have a date. Our next destination is less than 100miles
away, so with no rush, Ian prepares a route while Guzzisue starts packing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To reach our destination we had to travel
near a place named Belsen. Ian was not sure if this was ‘The Belsen’ and
Guzzisue thought that the place has a double-barrelled name. With all day on
our hands, and paws, there was only one way to find out.</div>
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Down a traffic free road we travelled, not a sound except
the Guzzi’s rumble, Ian managed to overshoot a car park. Turning round he had
success the second time,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmYRP3zVbWZoqRvlaFiAlSFg5-R8mCbGUKOmbk76J_aFKteeUkjGHi7PbuwcYQazGCnnvWDeixNoHfiANf6sTt_E1HO45BlDR68KmhSsEdTqgpjf65X1iddV2DE_yuFcsE1PzmjFp89M/s1600/pic+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmYRP3zVbWZoqRvlaFiAlSFg5-R8mCbGUKOmbk76J_aFKteeUkjGHi7PbuwcYQazGCnnvWDeixNoHfiANf6sTt_E1HO45BlDR68KmhSsEdTqgpjf65X1iddV2DE_yuFcsE1PzmjFp89M/s320/pic+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The camp of Bergen-Belsen was used as both a prisoner of war
camp, mainly for captured Russian soldiers and a concentration camp. I will
return to this later, for our first stop was at the Learning Centre. Here there
are detailed information boards outlying the liberation of the camp and an
exhibition room.</div>
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Within the room, devoid of people, a slideshow showing the
transporting of people to a railway station and their embarking into cattle
trucks for their journey, complete with the recording of a locomotive. The
recording stopped when the entrance to the camp became the last slide.
Unnerving and very moving at the same time.</div>
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The exhibition taking place was titled ‘Banished From Warsaw
1944, The Plight Of The Children’.</div>
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The main objective of the exhibition was to encourage
decussion on the topic concerning deportation, which took place in Warsaw
between August and October 1944.On August 1<sup>st</sup> 1944, poorly armed
units of the underground Home Army beganthe struggle against the German army
stationed in Warsaw. The uprising began. The German army mobilized special
forces to suppress the uprising. Both Hitler and the commander of the
Schutzstaffel (SS) and the Police, Himmler, gave the following order: “<b>Every
inhabitant is to be killed.</b>” And then the atrocities began. </div>
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Carefully laid out in aisles were hanging cloths, some with
a child’s description of the event as they remembered it.</div>
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This is how Halina Lewicka Paszkowska, aged 12, remembers
some of the events from the time and how they affected her life:</div>
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<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When on August 1,
1944, at 5pm, the Warsaw Uprising began, I was at home. We stayed in our house
until August 13 (Sunday), and then, during the pacification of our street, I
took shelter with my parents in a cork insulation factory, which was across the
street from our home. During the pacification of Wola, on August 20, as the SS
formations forced us to Pruszków, we miraculously escaped being shot on the way
to the outskirts of the city. As I went, I saw murdered people on Bem Street,
burned infants. I saw a burning horse (restrained with a wire and surrounded by
wood). On Bem Street, SS Officers were standing next to tables that were
covered by white paper, displaying trays of cake, which they offered to us,
while we were forced to move by the butts of guns. It turned out that they were
trying to make a film; unfortunately, it did not work out according to their
plan because as we walked by the table, everyone turned their head in the
opposite direction. Nearby however, they were shooting people (but obviously,
they did not film this).</i></div>
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<i>In Pruszków, they crammed us into cattle wagons and locked
them shut, and then for the next couple of days they transported us to Germany,
to the transit camp in Bittenheim, where we went through a month-long
quarantine. Next, after splitting us into groups, they transported our group to
Stuttgart. Upon arriving in Stuttgart, we were forced into a peculiar, slave
market, where we were groped, patted, and our teeth were looked at. These kinds
of inspections were carried out by the directors of companies, with the
assistance of Gestapo officers. All of this took place under torrential rain,
on the platform of the railway station. In Stuttgart, I worked (as a twelve-year-old
child) in a factory of weapons, Kugellageefabrik “Norma” (a factory producing
ball bearings) in Kanstadt (a neighbourhood). The work conditions were
horrible; all of the handling of ball bearings took place in kerosene. My
mother had her palms and forearms eaten away to the bone by the kerosene, and
after six months of work there, she weighed 38kg. I developed a rash on my
entire body and horrible wounds developed in my armpits, and I had abscesses
the size of nuts on my legs. We could not cure ourselves; we were slaves. The
factory was responsible to the arms industry, and the conditions were like a
camp. Hunger, terror, as well as continuous carpet-bombing by the Allied
forces.</i></div>
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<i>Before liberation, which took place on April 19, 1945, our
“Guardians”, commanded us to sit in a shelter that was hollowed out on the
slope of a mountain: it was cold, wet, and there was no food. We were not
working there, so we did not get food! There were rumours that they were going
to kill us there, and only a quick Allied invasion impeded their plans.</i></div>
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<i>After liberation I stayed in a camp in Ludwigsburg; the
camp was named after Washington, and I was cared for by American doctors while
I was there. In November 1945, I returned to Poland by the first possible
transport. There was nothing in Warsaw; everything had been burned down, so my
parents settled in Lódź. My parents lived separately; they did not withstand
life’s test. In Germany, their marriage started splitting. I tried to continue
with my education, but I stopped after the third semester of middle school,
which was ninth grade. My nerves were worn out; my whole life was in ruins. My
beloved city burned to the ground, my family broken, inhumane conditions while
at the camp, malnutrition, work – they all took a toll on my health.</i>
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<i>In 1950, I got married; I have two children who are
already adults. I was under the care of the Psychological Health Clinic. I do
not work; my husband supports me financially. Living through the war and the
occupation left me with permanent trauma, anxiety, repulsion and apprehension
with regard to Germans. I cannot even listen to the German language without
having my heart race and without becoming jittery. I will never visit the GDR
(East Germany) or the FRG (West Germany).</i></div>
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<span style="font-style: normal;">I would suggest that this
interview was completed some years ago, the last sentence stating that she
would never visit the GDR or the FRG again. The Berlin Wall came down in 1989,
quickly followed by reunification in the following year. Does she still feel
the same? What are the thoughts of her children? I understand that these
questions would digress from the main topic, just wondering, that’s all…</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: normal;">As always, within all the
atrocity that takes place, there are the stories of kindness and compassion</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RXlz_ADJZiRgl_sEuG_hPFUUPmwSugymbnfTkmNnDv5L7ztQ8pd3k_Wbo3USGtIHy_f6N6SG2vpfSKq8m0sos36tFT03dfu0OoumUWFVox4iavxsWFg6SUnWDBhSgdjqsqCcf2drLSw/s1600/pic+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RXlz_ADJZiRgl_sEuG_hPFUUPmwSugymbnfTkmNnDv5L7ztQ8pd3k_Wbo3USGtIHy_f6N6SG2vpfSKq8m0sos36tFT03dfu0OoumUWFVox4iavxsWFg6SUnWDBhSgdjqsqCcf2drLSw/s320/pic+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV340m0-1YyXeGQ26hbUuUOBOlK5zdQFmLMVM-1k613asGKLXUGS0dpzI1jq5tQYpzrWFQeCWubem3OEg9p3QmdcPMtTVTtibUSPRm-h9LzT6dQX0DsLCJH3Mjnv0mFp8AqkxFTQfM-OA/s1600/pic+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV340m0-1YyXeGQ26hbUuUOBOlK5zdQFmLMVM-1k613asGKLXUGS0dpzI1jq5tQYpzrWFQeCWubem3OEg9p3QmdcPMtTVTtibUSPRm-h9LzT6dQX0DsLCJH3Mjnv0mFp8AqkxFTQfM-OA/s320/pic+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: normal;">and those that are left
waiting at the train station, patiently looking after family suitcases, for
their return….</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VUncrfLyKcRLFQn0m_INhhhaBkCh0_8OrZsu_jDlvNO7umuXtjb52Z3Pp1nnmUyf7Alkh3o8Ff6_R6LI8n_eJ08iniiFC65FpvinagcsSzGIX6CEnGYsWM80HJB7X_3LsBSOwybbwW4/s1600/pic+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VUncrfLyKcRLFQn0m_INhhhaBkCh0_8OrZsu_jDlvNO7umuXtjb52Z3Pp1nnmUyf7Alkh3o8Ff6_R6LI8n_eJ08iniiFC65FpvinagcsSzGIX6CEnGYsWM80HJB7X_3LsBSOwybbwW4/s320/pic+6.jpg" width="320" /></a>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-37144424562545205222012-11-30T14:22:00.002+00:002012-11-30T14:22:59.555+00:00Mud, Sweat & Gears.The turkey has been stuffed, Lizzie has finished her three o’ clock speech and James has saved the world again. All the hype has been and gone like a blown up and burst balloon. What next?<br />
<br />
On Boxing Day at 11.00am, practise starts for the Northampton Motor Cyclists’ Club Ltd, Wild & Woolly Charity Scramble.<br />
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This year the event was held at Airfield Farm, Market Harborough. The conditions were perfect and the only things missing were the World Of Sport cameras and John Banks. Fortunately, I was there, camera in paw, to capture the event. Time to sit back, relax and enjoy the mayhem, mud sweat and gears.
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IJSpcRrIKnQ" width="420"></iframe>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-28533944690990851882012-11-27T09:50:00.000+00:002012-11-30T14:23:52.775+00:00Au revoir à La Grande PommeHello. Remember me?
Is it really nearly eight months since I last did a post?
Life has been so hectic during this period.<br />
<br />
First of all, Ian's father suffered a stroke in April and he has been kept busy with looking after him for most of this time. All is well now and he is making steady, solid progress. This must have something to do with the stubbon streak that runs in his family.<br />
<br />
I too also suffered a major life threatening problem. On our travels this year, which I will write about after I finish the current series, I was nearly decapitated and had to spend a while at the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/teddyrepairs/">Teddy Bear Hospital</a> here in Nottingham. I was well looked after and I'm fit to travel again after my rehabilitation.<br />
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Right now, I'm in the final stages of editing a film that I took last Boxing Day and assuming we don't get too much more rain here in the Midlands, could be something for you to get out and enjoy this year.
So, for now, it's goodbye to The Big Apple and hello blogland.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafD1ntAIZjlPo_iiH-q5O5-I5dvgqlSa4-8c4S8odt1U_bItrjIiRSXxFq28FI5OVZGV_hF7K5x86q5LI35wuUD28PKan7tH1xnr1m38mKdl8GlanYPdjQQaRMJ9LnnjC7SlixY1TrAw/s1600/Holiday+2013+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafD1ntAIZjlPo_iiH-q5O5-I5dvgqlSa4-8c4S8odt1U_bItrjIiRSXxFq28FI5OVZGV_hF7K5x86q5LI35wuUD28PKan7tH1xnr1m38mKdl8GlanYPdjQQaRMJ9LnnjC7SlixY1TrAw/s320/Holiday+2013+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
.bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-82829398266444721182012-04-04T08:54:00.003+01:002012-05-04T18:54:07.925+01:00Staying Local 2008 - End Of The Rats Tail/Tale<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->There has been the myth, the book and many adaptations on film over the years on the tale of The Pied Pier. All that is left is the play. <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Throughout the summer months, on Sunday at midday, by the side of the Hochzeitshaus, in the centre of Hameln, the people of the town perform their adaptation of the events.</p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JroILP9IP9dWWWoKqzP7VJeFFniZhDLJEYx-K1noRBvegKhrSlN5AKTEa8ByxMatvd2NrXlHwKynM7vsA1ZB7_o5QRWY0fbvD9iN17cFc8XCtoWREt2-ifOqhnfzOii4Qk-quGJjZhs/s1600/pic+060.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JroILP9IP9dWWWoKqzP7VJeFFniZhDLJEYx-K1noRBvegKhrSlN5AKTEa8ByxMatvd2NrXlHwKynM7vsA1ZB7_o5QRWY0fbvD9iN17cFc8XCtoWREt2-ifOqhnfzOii4Qk-quGJjZhs/s320/pic+060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727451570285936178" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-X7SAIGWvREvrEmtfpujUWkbXmg75jFh7oX30xvlHUarupbz-IV_Ft_M0gMgnI9wj26W_ZfVxyZ4h8XHuHUaTeNBD-s0eCSWZaA-Wjqt3EreUkvMcWWwt4c2Rr-K7jGXxKhJRUaj9fQ/s1600/pic+062.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-X7SAIGWvREvrEmtfpujUWkbXmg75jFh7oX30xvlHUarupbz-IV_Ft_M0gMgnI9wj26W_ZfVxyZ4h8XHuHUaTeNBD-s0eCSWZaA-Wjqt3EreUkvMcWWwt4c2Rr-K7jGXxKhJRUaj9fQ/s320/pic+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727451573655472466" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkGH1xeV-SHhTxeAsnP0P8U3J9nc5jRpb_juYAoIB7HAM14JO42eKYxTotOjvVI1cy9fFNty3q0l2okSDbV7wEKPkU8j5gv06KOG0ntlBWQtXgkRoiTcn5NyUpPiGqwlmsO0iQttEJj4/s1600/pic+063.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkGH1xeV-SHhTxeAsnP0P8U3J9nc5jRpb_juYAoIB7HAM14JO42eKYxTotOjvVI1cy9fFNty3q0l2okSDbV7wEKPkU8j5gv06KOG0ntlBWQtXgkRoiTcn5NyUpPiGqwlmsO0iQttEJj4/s320/pic+063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727451584996299714" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1HuPIw0WIj4JJK_sv0fGvLHV8KSMczTlWtKVzFQZ5saFhxQGuhMW359uPe1gktWY46_2j1Hfw22mv3MIQCmC3_20JD4xytb6peEE-uf9pkBFH6iP3yEE8bqzzieDQQJuaRSvszitjtI/s1600/pic+064.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1HuPIw0WIj4JJK_sv0fGvLHV8KSMczTlWtKVzFQZ5saFhxQGuhMW359uPe1gktWY46_2j1Hfw22mv3MIQCmC3_20JD4xytb6peEE-uf9pkBFH6iP3yEE8bqzzieDQQJuaRSvszitjtI/s320/pic+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727451601365798994" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JroILP9IP9dWWWoKqzP7VJeFFniZhDLJEYx-K1noRBvegKhrSlN5AKTEa8ByxMatvd2NrXlHwKynM7vsA1ZB7_o5QRWY0fbvD9iN17cFc8XCtoWREt2-ifOqhnfzOii4Qk-quGJjZhs/s1600/pic+060.jpg"></a></p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The play is approximately half an hour in length and I recommend that you get there in good time to secure a good viewing point. Strange how the Piper plays the oboe and near the finale manages to play Wooden Heart.</p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PWuzOXwp7zA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">I’m sure there must be grain some truth in the story. Could the children have been a generation taken away by an army? Could there have been a plague? Or a nearby crop failure? Throughout history there have been many events to start the exodus of people. A few years ago, Nottingham’s Robin Hood, went to Hameln to help celebrate the 750<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the event.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> And here concludes our trip to Hamelm. Guzzisue and myself leave Ian alone for a few minutes for quiet contemplation before we depart tomorrow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbS9miPKlvSa6KixAM1UGMslbN2u8Y-7OzqKDlG9tm_s5M8AMNMlGJK0jFW_gDTGk0ISE1P4jbIECCJgJN6Lk2JhO4SjUy2iTMd3zHlwa6V33iyuK07R_1ds15YJuFWzcbeTlmcldAldY/s1600/pic+091.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbS9miPKlvSa6KixAM1UGMslbN2u8Y-7OzqKDlG9tm_s5M8AMNMlGJK0jFW_gDTGk0ISE1P4jbIECCJgJN6Lk2JhO4SjUy2iTMd3zHlwa6V33iyuK07R_1ds15YJuFWzcbeTlmcldAldY/s320/pic+091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727451607565972706" border="0" /></a></p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-39286265036331801752012-03-09T12:06:00.008+00:002012-03-09T12:40:54.888+00:00Staying Local 2008 - Finding RatsSunday is certainly tourist day. They arrive by the coach load. Surprisingly, the only shops that appeared to be open were cafes, restaurants and bars along with the occasional souvenir shop. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hameln has a story to tell and does so at every opportunity. In amongst the statues around the centre is this little girl</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5ICSHcZ7AhH22upybLW8j9lwC3M1JJ9_jk6aQ5WVQq8hnbBSMyd_Nu25K5N0L8fK-GwBN0LHgqxWLjsAfE-JS7eNIXYC0PdSFnGbDk6TX921pqWWlZs0z_8HPwdUUa-DFy0Bg7k47qY/s1600/pic+040.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5ICSHcZ7AhH22upybLW8j9lwC3M1JJ9_jk6aQ5WVQq8hnbBSMyd_Nu25K5N0L8fK-GwBN0LHgqxWLjsAfE-JS7eNIXYC0PdSFnGbDk6TX921pqWWlZs0z_8HPwdUUa-DFy0Bg7k47qY/s320/pic+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717869059144893618" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And a piper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQLzW9GpDlbbGVB5n9tg1VDtmQagfxaAoWlC28UKE6lv56m_FZxJA_oV6AdNavKKdsVjiB-VVHxe_YtelQDf5Ah8TbDG960efiDDg1BK-61QDhQlUSrARSDomxPM1B98DyOtlwGd_yGc/s1600/pic+013+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQLzW9GpDlbbGVB5n9tg1VDtmQagfxaAoWlC28UKE6lv56m_FZxJA_oV6AdNavKKdsVjiB-VVHxe_YtelQDf5Ah8TbDG960efiDDg1BK-61QDhQlUSrARSDomxPM1B98DyOtlwGd_yGc/s320/pic+013+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717869094994139410" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Along the ground, there is a trail of white rats to get people onto the tourist trail.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNAvHWDWeW44bWWptJicE2hFLIJCV2lGREC0r0IXfT7sl_1e3AN3KqgyM-tjI7c7VjCW9wEABUPH7ejXBw9U7GG2riqmUbX0inMg9MYp18FrjCvD1XNeHmAHmcXKtVPkt0QizZ2epxh4/s1600/pic+029+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNAvHWDWeW44bWWptJicE2hFLIJCV2lGREC0r0IXfT7sl_1e3AN3KqgyM-tjI7c7VjCW9wEABUPH7ejXBw9U7GG2riqmUbX0inMg9MYp18FrjCvD1XNeHmAHmcXKtVPkt0QizZ2epxh4/s320/pic+029+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717869516096654034" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the tourist with impaired vision, there is a model of the town’s layout, thus giving an idea of the local topography.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AOrusrAMJviOCf6-5VXrLUq1OBN0bValgBp4LYKrqY9lKJpp-okAvNyZbh7qWSZd9rqIA4mHgbh8CQktlPgV11k368MXWDZSTpP8I4nDERCjHns2GM6RdXbeGfOhEDqs5l6B7hAtyu8/s1600/pic+098.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AOrusrAMJviOCf6-5VXrLUq1OBN0bValgBp4LYKrqY9lKJpp-okAvNyZbh7qWSZd9rqIA4mHgbh8CQktlPgV11k368MXWDZSTpP8I4nDERCjHns2GM6RdXbeGfOhEDqs5l6B7hAtyu8/s320/pic+098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717869101907921122" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The story about the <a href="http://www.indiana.edu/%7Elibrcsd/etext/piper/index.html"><span style="color:#FF6600;">Pied Piper of Hameln</span></a> is known the world over and Hameln certainly goes for the overkill.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I shall start at the Rattenfängerhaus, pictured in my previous post. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd_KmUnc9DG_dceCkuCJZ-uv3zt-0MnsPcsFtN0AKOJHvEGS5fHxbrAsVwF_XBXqpEUR0k7CZsnzr07cBmh6uW6SK9DDx9XUuq_9fPlzbDRvvcXZO1pAP0TvRFORnEmkqqnbXqQhx2FE/s1600/pic+007+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd_KmUnc9DG_dceCkuCJZ-uv3zt-0MnsPcsFtN0AKOJHvEGS5fHxbrAsVwF_XBXqpEUR0k7CZsnzr07cBmh6uW6SK9DDx9XUuq_9fPlzbDRvvcXZO1pAP0TvRFORnEmkqqnbXqQhx2FE/s320/pic+007+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717869107566696786" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although this was built in 1602-3, it was not until around the turn of the 20<sup>th</sup> century that it became known as the Pied Piper’s House. What connects the two is that there is a plate on the building. This states that on 26<sup>th</sup> June 1284, 130 children were led away from Hameln by a piper, wearing multi coloured clothes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="display:none;mso-hide: all"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>H</span>Today, the building is a restaurant, its speciality being ‘Rats’ Tails’. Many homes and business have rats, real or toy, in their doorway. The Rattenfängerhaus is no exception.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqtBTtzX6n2sZWDWVzHrSZL4IImNNeoYl6N7VexQ34xfkVjxBIdL1ss6e-WvAxH4cOMSCXtOyG69RiiNlfJl9JKOZvWc_LxnO-ZEvbe8dbYxeE54144WSvHix74XG7cFrEFOXbwhnWk0/s1600/pic+008+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqtBTtzX6n2sZWDWVzHrSZL4IImNNeoYl6N7VexQ34xfkVjxBIdL1ss6e-WvAxH4cOMSCXtOyG69RiiNlfJl9JKOZvWc_LxnO-ZEvbe8dbYxeE54144WSvHix74XG7cFrEFOXbwhnWk0/s320/pic+008+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717868009323658770" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The other building previously mentioned is the Hochzeitshaus, or Wedding House. Throughout its life the Hochzeitshaus has been many things, ranging from a courtroom to a tavern, an armoury and also a pharmacy. The Board of Pharmacy were located here in the 1800’s and <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hochzeitshaus_%28Hameln%29&ei=SpsvT97JGJGh8gPhnbSdCA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDoQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhochzeitshaus%2Bhameln%2Bgermany%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DpA1%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26prmd%3Dimvns">Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner</a>, </span>the discoverer of morphine worked here until his death in 1841.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Above the third floor of the Hochzeitshaus there is a glockenspiel with 37 bells. This chimes twice daily, during which the bronze door centre of the second floor opens. This brings to life an automation of the Pied Piper story. The automation was severely damaged during WWII, but repaired in 1964.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3iXsxSBkH7XtGjTvwtM0MzxYftKN0adW98bAP84nv12BCyJ1e63HtgqHH9VEbVH0_IsOyDjRMtxqqYrb9kY_qMrIHf916OELYJKCa6-TLPGsdjOlTJI2IzEKHWbdPpd1QXYdB8aPSYc/s1600/pic+068.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3iXsxSBkH7XtGjTvwtM0MzxYftKN0adW98bAP84nv12BCyJ1e63HtgqHH9VEbVH0_IsOyDjRMtxqqYrb9kY_qMrIHf916OELYJKCa6-TLPGsdjOlTJI2IzEKHWbdPpd1QXYdB8aPSYc/s320/pic+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717868001638462034" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmbw_9MeanL6u19DvP6Fl4RQrpJpa0cnizGJvGdoqW61RSaqMJo9IQ8Ny-kSEnUAKumShfKIxvP0SNEZyIx1GVQ2iL1ts5vHee_mdfnUBKIZCKTsG89LvLU1_JLdbRxF5hoGUt4l6-Xk/s1600/pic+071.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmbw_9MeanL6u19DvP6Fl4RQrpJpa0cnizGJvGdoqW61RSaqMJo9IQ8Ny-kSEnUAKumShfKIxvP0SNEZyIx1GVQ2iL1ts5vHee_mdfnUBKIZCKTsG89LvLU1_JLdbRxF5hoGUt4l6-Xk/s320/pic+071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717867998101594338" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59zvp6xHhFDInAdDR2GteZZMntglMVn73RI5hjYJG-6elKG2xUAQM8yUcnqE43vWW0lWCSFUJEfNPO_MO0VlkVvFGpPZmak1QJ8i7QfJqDbzS2ECeeOVxs6qi09ZNlO8ACU9HtBg6ZTM/s1600/pic+074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59zvp6xHhFDInAdDR2GteZZMntglMVn73RI5hjYJG-6elKG2xUAQM8yUcnqE43vWW0lWCSFUJEfNPO_MO0VlkVvFGpPZmak1QJ8i7QfJqDbzS2ECeeOVxs6qi09ZNlO8ACU9HtBg6ZTM/s320/pic+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717867986132918850" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqAXiNMxisOZ2rWecYvsqBnEVi_W-3K4xBjESue1suDqnZyBuhHwA71DybcAHZwknN5abhkp9z5LuWDj0uGxr4p7FfAQ3ZgGP-KnaMGNG39_ziKM_LwkCD6K31YNqDr6e3yUj8_Y0y7k/s1600/pic+077.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqAXiNMxisOZ2rWecYvsqBnEVi_W-3K4xBjESue1suDqnZyBuhHwA71DybcAHZwknN5abhkp9z5LuWDj0uGxr4p7FfAQ3ZgGP-KnaMGNG39_ziKM_LwkCD6K31YNqDr6e3yUj8_Y0y7k/s320/pic+077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717867979964187458" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">To get a good view of the show it is recommended to arrive a few minutes early to avoid the tourist guides armed with umbrellas. Our vantage point was from a shop doorway, balancing on a small step.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Finally for this piece, I will leave you with a short film of the automation and glockenspiel.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-1XH6x5-k4s" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-60373526156009293852012-02-19T09:23:00.009+00:002012-02-19T10:01:13.354+00:00Staying Local 2008 - Searching For A RatHameln, Hamelin in English, has been an important settlement for centuries. It first became a (civitas) town in 1200AD. Traders were frequently troubled by highway robbery, thus from 1426 until 1572, Hameln joined <a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/%7Ebaronfum/hansa.html"><span style="color:#FF6600;">The Hanseatic League</span></a>. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">During the 16<sup>th</sup> century, several buildings were constructed in the Wesser Renaissance style by the merchants and landed gentry. Features of this style of architecture include subdivided façades with scrolls, pyramids, obelisks, decorations of globes, fine chiselled stones, ornamented wooden friezes with coats of arms, masks and envy heads.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Leisthaus was built on behalf of a wealthy corn trader, Gerd Leist. Today, it houses the Hameln Museum. Although there were no English explanation cards for the exhibits, an informative guidebook was purchased at the end of our visit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Leisthaus is the building on the right in the photo below, with the Stiftsherrenhaus, or Canon’s house to the left.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtklEn19c1ZemDPZhTUX04TgEvO2xHhWBSdur8HJktdWDaoVBH4wnhTl1ozGx458CVT-2W_BMw2IHJm3R_5dxoC1a5dgch9LFum-1w3dYU3kXDOJvN4IM1beJyi1kpv_cwAyWhS9pTxF4/s1600/pic+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtklEn19c1ZemDPZhTUX04TgEvO2xHhWBSdur8HJktdWDaoVBH4wnhTl1ozGx458CVT-2W_BMw2IHJm3R_5dxoC1a5dgch9LFum-1w3dYU3kXDOJvN4IM1beJyi1kpv_cwAyWhS9pTxF4/s320/pic+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710776200873268434" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Frederick Poppendiek, the mayor and a businessman of Hameln, built Stiftsherrenhaus in 1558. There are several biblical figures depicted between the floors and under the eaves. These include God the Father, Christ, the apostles, David and Samson.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEupUIDmesQIW9oycpeOrQEWiXvzOZB5NiJ49NFH8kI6JzNWD6w8XfZ7289bnibV1UkDRlv5MMbMwFrzTaxPjskwNoQ7v_ve0UTOFPCNNH3rFL8g3mD-zVn4i0YVBtm4kezFgCyhHyeQ/s1600/pic+016+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEupUIDmesQIW9oycpeOrQEWiXvzOZB5NiJ49NFH8kI6JzNWD6w8XfZ7289bnibV1UkDRlv5MMbMwFrzTaxPjskwNoQ7v_ve0UTOFPCNNH3rFL8g3mD-zVn4i0YVBtm4kezFgCyhHyeQ/s320/pic+016+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710776209750114578" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYolE1EI7xIf6IRRO71Wb35enS_FQmiWaq4_yDSIgjNzCJDemSaHoP6lwqYJTf9jbtQZdXwfBzqNg_OieESIwLqSosyjz4Cdxknj8tYA9wqKg51VKPKJV3ak4ez_5Q_kVVV0JdeWjyBGQ/s1600/pic+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYolE1EI7xIf6IRRO71Wb35enS_FQmiWaq4_yDSIgjNzCJDemSaHoP6lwqYJTf9jbtQZdXwfBzqNg_OieESIwLqSosyjz4Cdxknj8tYA9wqKg51VKPKJV3ak4ez_5Q_kVVV0JdeWjyBGQ/s320/pic+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710776222162924290" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another two prominent buildings in the Wesser style are the Hochzeitshaus </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4H5QiITj5eUIcHklPG3wmetWVgBDWiqzfPSCWJbc3AbJWNSAPvfVuS4dhsmDgW2AU6GzzXZT9noU3C3EGYmXcraqp_u6Hcxi7X51KGVfFt2UZHc0QHQbwohALTETRSHRL81HaUREumfk/s1600/pic+067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4H5QiITj5eUIcHklPG3wmetWVgBDWiqzfPSCWJbc3AbJWNSAPvfVuS4dhsmDgW2AU6GzzXZT9noU3C3EGYmXcraqp_u6Hcxi7X51KGVfFt2UZHc0QHQbwohALTETRSHRL81HaUREumfk/s320/pic+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710776241025881954" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">and the Rattenfängerhaus.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wu5oZ1quJ8h527RXDV7UHlXRX4CNwAxqIl_KJ0tmxeutGkKhFMtO-EtCH9YHTdTD7RPGbeqgw2sEkbfULshZwRKAJMWMlLEB18ReaQI4B1OJ7-BsV76LJgebAZDDIvp25_OxeT3d9Bk/s1600/pic+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wu5oZ1quJ8h527RXDV7UHlXRX4CNwAxqIl_KJ0tmxeutGkKhFMtO-EtCH9YHTdTD7RPGbeqgw2sEkbfULshZwRKAJMWMlLEB18ReaQI4B1OJ7-BsV76LJgebAZDDIvp25_OxeT3d9Bk/s320/pic+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710776244097546050" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I will return to these later, as they are integral to my next post.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the 17<sup>th</sup> century, Hameln started to be developed as a fortress and with the River Wesser as a natural defence; the town became the strongest fortress within the <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Hanover">Hanoverian principality</a>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The two drawings of Hameln, the first from 1622 and the second dating from 1741 show the transformation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_oUUR5W35IBcKNg0tFkWzA0kO67fLmu41TL3zYM2EiuM697H-oNCArEDOFBAzVMPhO7urBr34EUsWDdpPS_TrZSPQhTXjAwi10mcmDqnhCA9beclqNCjZtrRAFrQDTqS1xcsNoO0x7I/s1600/608.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_oUUR5W35IBcKNg0tFkWzA0kO67fLmu41TL3zYM2EiuM697H-oNCArEDOFBAzVMPhO7urBr34EUsWDdpPS_TrZSPQhTXjAwi10mcmDqnhCA9beclqNCjZtrRAFrQDTqS1xcsNoO0x7I/s320/608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710777998876978178" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJtLZK3igkx2WIZEFirHYXj9Addvqb43OxtgM7fvcHLEzwGvqY2xuyIJEOL-NM4v7vbJTCeGeCK4jgeIKsuZNWhxaZovg8Gzx-GfZVtkvv1wMkfJngAAtmsbgNPlzSUSbU31pEPCgT4s/s1600/614.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJtLZK3igkx2WIZEFirHYXj9Addvqb43OxtgM7fvcHLEzwGvqY2xuyIJEOL-NM4v7vbJTCeGeCK4jgeIKsuZNWhxaZovg8Gzx-GfZVtkvv1wMkfJngAAtmsbgNPlzSUSbU31pEPCgT4s/s320/614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710778027010047490" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hameln’s next stage of development started in 1808 when Napoleon ordered the fortress to be destroyed. In doing this, the town was able to expand into the surrounding area. Later in the 19<sup>th</sup> century, Hameln came under Prussian jurisdiction. Rail links and a carpet weaving factory soon followed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">During the Second World War, Hameln became a target for the Allies bombing raids, destroying much of the town. In 1968, a total restoration of the old town was started and subsequently completed in 1992. Hidden away, it is still possible to find unrestored buildings of the old Hameln,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWafL8a5okZZZkHq0eOtea49ICsbFhaz5baYauBx4T1rkqVgAM0HVomo1JZj06Ev4cWVkph5GzS0L_O3W7xQHtGCU9iY9yvPL1a5Id1CZtaVK8LhSGm-nXnOlXr6_SKZEmRWtI6_DXJBw/s1600/pic+087.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWafL8a5okZZZkHq0eOtea49ICsbFhaz5baYauBx4T1rkqVgAM0HVomo1JZj06Ev4cWVkph5GzS0L_O3W7xQHtGCU9iY9yvPL1a5Id1CZtaVK8LhSGm-nXnOlXr6_SKZEmRWtI6_DXJBw/s320/pic+087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710778038811739410" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">While the modern day centre looks like this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml0qVlzkOrRR1wQ3shxRWw2BpONr_2OVU43i5iCuwASZxrjDnT45tDL0i54Po9Z8PxzaEzPzoSa4qs3SA1FrYSZ4aUXUJNpLEmIlB15jWn_fd6HmbVWgA0Cg2wSbu4JV_IhAlHaVD1ks/s1600/pic+028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml0qVlzkOrRR1wQ3shxRWw2BpONr_2OVU43i5iCuwASZxrjDnT45tDL0i54Po9Z8PxzaEzPzoSa4qs3SA1FrYSZ4aUXUJNpLEmIlB15jWn_fd6HmbVWgA0Cg2wSbu4JV_IhAlHaVD1ks/s320/pic+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710778047608839986" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiLq0WdCurIev2OD9cpRzJmrHcRmvRI9kXtMjtfAFfK-al3Pms6Rf5JE4_uKj0EzCGDJP_mGQgjahtub7w3G88dmt4nbG1y3d4IuG2djpf4lBGHTHCBlFCtZ8g2T2m02xdJb9Fpw_7Mk/s1600/pic+056.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiLq0WdCurIev2OD9cpRzJmrHcRmvRI9kXtMjtfAFfK-al3Pms6Rf5JE4_uKj0EzCGDJP_mGQgjahtub7w3G88dmt4nbG1y3d4IuG2djpf4lBGHTHCBlFCtZ8g2T2m02xdJb9Fpw_7Mk/s320/pic+056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710779312208574466" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CLFujb_xtu06T-bB7-1JwXfUZjTHGmbDS9GSolsooBYeMasnuuXeWVgDIEZLi18K0daDqhW1B9vxImYlfAPwvgkeZuMwvPL0kOB5f-6mRdWLS5-v3fWEl1eEVdIokeUlK3X7ZlE28Us/s1600/pic+057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CLFujb_xtu06T-bB7-1JwXfUZjTHGmbDS9GSolsooBYeMasnuuXeWVgDIEZLi18K0daDqhW1B9vxImYlfAPwvgkeZuMwvPL0kOB5f-6mRdWLS5-v3fWEl1eEVdIokeUlK3X7ZlE28Us/s320/pic+057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710779321174728338" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Throughout the town, statues have been placed on main streets to add further interest.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTcn_rKM8PjmxaCkwQzv_YAmBBB9eM4CrIoF3Xv91Gw5C3LFO9JjNbTS9kCSkIM6sJ_2XYoudfgf4OzBSuANDuymk1kYxTYAOKP29VqEvQMO9EGmyz6pt0uOR_l6W8PIZCn4KfGfu9O0/s1600/pic+103.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTcn_rKM8PjmxaCkwQzv_YAmBBB9eM4CrIoF3Xv91Gw5C3LFO9JjNbTS9kCSkIM6sJ_2XYoudfgf4OzBSuANDuymk1kYxTYAOKP29VqEvQMO9EGmyz6pt0uOR_l6W8PIZCn4KfGfu9O0/s320/pic+103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710779329597663090" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsPznrJPT1QnOpcO7vRJQVzhRRb52-c8fZWCMyV50KvumQRNyCwWbDf3TvfkUI_V1sX6RUzk6UKRXPYcqmRXCiQnQABGNmgjlyV_PWPQi7S4bmBnCV_EC0xqAjjkyl9wk022DU6PmWlA/s1600/pic+081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsPznrJPT1QnOpcO7vRJQVzhRRb52-c8fZWCMyV50KvumQRNyCwWbDf3TvfkUI_V1sX6RUzk6UKRXPYcqmRXCiQnQABGNmgjlyV_PWPQi7S4bmBnCV_EC0xqAjjkyl9wk022DU6PmWlA/s320/pic+081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710779352227775922" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many alleyways need to be investigated, as you never know what you may miss.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8f3ArAzXW9JRNT6iWFoeX1jmmZvztzf3ZHSjeBeNvFBAXP-4OxcwC0bXG31842DaDPQ-cLEC5KAv-WkeCanRPcxcnNczmBIBo1bsxoVdHY_Pw0fSgvo8vRjpKAXF4UnLXnQrsLm-Q3w/s1600/pic+017+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8f3ArAzXW9JRNT6iWFoeX1jmmZvztzf3ZHSjeBeNvFBAXP-4OxcwC0bXG31842DaDPQ-cLEC5KAv-WkeCanRPcxcnNczmBIBo1bsxoVdHY_Pw0fSgvo8vRjpKAXF4UnLXnQrsLm-Q3w/s320/pic+017+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710779367072264402" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwO2Wv5WI4PGqfr9RzSIhXubm4-vn0a6GG1ub0fjJgDsCx0mB7EX0qJ35SezAKySMIVqJG-9h6VKjNQYz8gb9YoDgt0zQ1ZRCWUvecpoKl57on1TnnJnRW4osEVrTdJJtUyVRF8xluBc/s1600/pic+045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwO2Wv5WI4PGqfr9RzSIhXubm4-vn0a6GG1ub0fjJgDsCx0mB7EX0qJ35SezAKySMIVqJG-9h6VKjNQYz8gb9YoDgt0zQ1ZRCWUvecpoKl57on1TnnJnRW4osEVrTdJJtUyVRF8xluBc/s320/pic+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710780512657338082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even the local park directs us back to England!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRBFKXs-6hUDQhgb4pDe7CeGcN5SiwO0eyCAdW9juN8aaWa_bcmrHYP4HkfYMcYKSSj3IPRbjXail8K860jxwfdq4_eA6QOpFn7PtG7VKVOYajmPKcKUf51FrokjJKjBIhiOmckF6spI/s1600/pic+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRBFKXs-6hUDQhgb4pDe7CeGcN5SiwO0eyCAdW9juN8aaWa_bcmrHYP4HkfYMcYKSSj3IPRbjXail8K860jxwfdq4_eA6QOpFn7PtG7VKVOYajmPKcKUf51FrokjJKjBIhiOmckF6spI/s320/pic+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710780517387856050" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, we are still reminded of the past.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa-V-5zlREqb1yQgUhPG7f1PDst9-QjtqkdSOGg4dOVivagsZ6CAbFJ1O7_iASauCfZ9Qrg5mWnOm5rM2YONM430bz2Ohh_x9kmuvMuVRQip3x9EugfBE2xh2_0TFSj2zBbZXn4dny3M/s1600/pic+025+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa-V-5zlREqb1yQgUhPG7f1PDst9-QjtqkdSOGg4dOVivagsZ6CAbFJ1O7_iASauCfZ9Qrg5mWnOm5rM2YONM430bz2Ohh_x9kmuvMuVRQip3x9EugfBE2xh2_0TFSj2zBbZXn4dny3M/s320/pic+025+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710780538184148562" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">For now, let’s sit back and relax.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V-Os0mkWnKSAHzmIJCGkvnMhgqPF6pMLygHzCkWIzbFgdEqlkNwHEwmy9pUu79raH69PckAeV60DaXPDrHBPXCqDmabYsvsvi2NIPfsAhyphenhyphen1dkIVUVUEolwQPJPuH-NLA-g-55ZxkJA8/s1600/pic+038+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V-Os0mkWnKSAHzmIJCGkvnMhgqPF6pMLygHzCkWIzbFgdEqlkNwHEwmy9pUu79raH69PckAeV60DaXPDrHBPXCqDmabYsvsvi2NIPfsAhyphenhyphen1dkIVUVUEolwQPJPuH-NLA-g-55ZxkJA8/s320/pic+038+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710780543125131490" border="0" /></a></p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-69500408983331176972012-01-10T09:27:00.005+00:002012-01-10T09:35:13.954+00:00Staying Local 2008 - I Smell A Rat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->We had plans. Never before had we been to the southwest of France. Never ridden through The Pyrenees, criss-crossing the Spanish boarder. This year was going to be no exception. Two weeks before our departure Guzzisue came down with a virus and not wanting to keep it to herself, passed it onto Ian the week before we left. Feeling tired and weak, my fellow travellers decided that staying local would be a better option. Staying local insured that we were never more than 450 miles from home, as the proverbial crow flew, still giving us many new locations to visit. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Disaster was averted on Friday, when loading up the Guzzi. Ian managed to break a strap on the <a href="http://www.baglux.co.uk/"><span style="color:#FF6600;">Baglux</span></a> harness. Panic was setting in when he went to a local cobbler who could send the harness off for repairs. It would be returned within six days! A customer in the shop recommended <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.timpson.co.uk/store.php?id=828&searchterm=ng4&radius=25">Timpson’s</a> </span>in Arnold, approximately three miles away. With nothing to lose, Ian headed Timpsonwards. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">‘Leave it with me for twenty minutes’, said the very nice man behind the counter, so he did. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Twenty minutes later and one harness had been repaired. The cost? Just some change into the charity tin. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Guzzi packed, Guzzisue managing to leave work early, we were heading for Dover by18:30, arriving at the hotel by 22:00. Our indoor picnic of biscuits, chocolate and service station sandwiches helped us to sleep.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next morning we were woken by the sounds of other residents departing for the early ferry. We decided to follow their lead and made our way down to the port terminal, only to find a long queue. Ferry times had been altered due to a damaged ship; therefore two into one will go! The saving grace was that it was September and not the height of summer. We joined a group of bikes waiting to board, on their way down to the Alps.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A good advantage for crossing the Channel on a motorcycle is that we are first onto the ferry and first into the restaurant, where a ‘Full English’ was on the menu. Breakfasted, it was time to stretch our legs and have a walk around the ferry. This year saw a new innovation – <a href="http://www.ibizaangels.com/aboutus"><span style="color:#FF6600;">7 Minute Massage</span></a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Arriving in Calais we picked up the signs for Dunkerque and headed off through the Low Lands. Belgium came and went without us noticing, Holland would have been the same, except that Ian took a wrong turn, confusing the Dutch word for exit as the next place we were aiming for. A quick about turn and we were back on the correct road and heading for our destination in Germany.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Upon reaching the town we were staying for a couple of nights, signs like this were very helpful.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4gG8ltAZwjmgawGm9sNVYF7eJw9ZDcYeEQgSPOvA6JkuUeEDEDMm7emtfi_iS70ZdXOEKkjgw05EafRjGRwcVWCJY1flymrCeQ_ZlPKk2pVEWshF42_pyANqv9bRJhBEWWV-X2_UsdY/s1600/pic+028+BT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4gG8ltAZwjmgawGm9sNVYF7eJw9ZDcYeEQgSPOvA6JkuUeEDEDMm7emtfi_iS70ZdXOEKkjgw05EafRjGRwcVWCJY1flymrCeQ_ZlPKk2pVEWshF42_pyANqv9bRJhBEWWV-X2_UsdY/s320/pic+028+BT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695932938034674674" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Hotel found, Guzzi unpacked, into town for a meal and drink. Our first impressions of the town were that for Saturday night, things were very quiet. Perhaps we were in the wrong part of town. The weather forecast for Sunday is promising, but a chance of rain on Monday. We are on a new adventure, so who cares?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4gG8ltAZwjmgawGm9sNVYF7eJw9ZDcYeEQgSPOvA6JkuUeEDEDMm7emtfi_iS70ZdXOEKkjgw05EafRjGRwcVWCJY1flymrCeQ_ZlPKk2pVEWshF42_pyANqv9bRJhBEWWV-X2_UsdY/s1600/pic+028+BT.jpg"></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" ></span>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-2360745569583879322011-12-13T09:36:00.006+00:002011-12-13T10:02:06.274+00:00Round Britain Rally 2011, What Goes Around, Comes Around<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->Windmills were another collection on the landmark list for this year and Ian and myself visited three different types. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first one is <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk.btck.co.uk/StevensMill">Stevens Mill</a> </span>in the village of Burwell, Cambridgeshire. At one time, Burwell had four operational windmills, the Stevens’ Windmill being the last on standing. It was operational until the 1950’s but is now in need of repair. As the windmill is a <a href="http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/node/155"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">listed building</span></a> it was saved from demolition and the long task of refurbishing it is in hand. The windmill can be operated with only two sails, these were built in the 1980’s at a cost in the region of £15,000. To put another pair of sails in position today, the price would be doubled!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t-B0bR9DDlTDki0I9lOX0kFRpAQdbCFA8lcnrk0xorV_4qfibD58pd4yNYWy51djnDLnrvv3lIzDEErJp0gcDf9BefNoC_PHsYT2uQw2XHQp5JTDuJLhsmcAO1sg5rnjBi9PIDPSIAk/s1600/%252805%2529+Stevens+Mill%252C+Burwell+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t-B0bR9DDlTDki0I9lOX0kFRpAQdbCFA8lcnrk0xorV_4qfibD58pd4yNYWy51djnDLnrvv3lIzDEErJp0gcDf9BefNoC_PHsYT2uQw2XHQp5JTDuJLhsmcAO1sg5rnjBi9PIDPSIAk/s320/%252805%2529+Stevens+Mill%252C+Burwell+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685546150678484450" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Situated on the Lincolnshire Fenland, eight miles, as the proverbial crow flies, from the coast, Sibsey is ideally situated for the location of a windmill. Originally built in 1877, <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.historicbritain.com/vendor/sibsey.aspx">Sibsey Trader Windmill</a> </span>is one of a few six sailed windmills remaining in England. Due to a shortage of time, we were unable to have a look around or sample the fayre in their tearoom. This has been added to our ever-expanding ‘To Do’ list.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAbC_zTrlq49hTK1MmPoBj0jkCzJV6TQhZJ97igDcZ2BGr0k_w-Cdxrm_ZDwbjcKECmtDnIA3XRVTFWpgnSEXTos1foyuIinbUuki22TU431Wio5Vu9iEVyzZXrVxQ6UW7PP79JxuAgM/s1600/%252826%2529+6+Armed+Windmill.+Sibsey+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAbC_zTrlq49hTK1MmPoBj0jkCzJV6TQhZJ97igDcZ2BGr0k_w-Cdxrm_ZDwbjcKECmtDnIA3XRVTFWpgnSEXTos1foyuIinbUuki22TU431Wio5Vu9iEVyzZXrVxQ6UW7PP79JxuAgM/s320/%252826%2529+6+Armed+Windmill.+Sibsey+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685546180852084082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kcBWrXFYwKIuEsYkY_h-0EV1VJeenxSqsOca0FWRd2eSpXHSWN7iUjq_yxmlAtgX9savD6kcZNTgf7q1AqIWd1SrJkXKllD_8h7hjFEDY962zjQwLX4BsSBciIffXRitwUC-qkpxvZc/s1600/%252826%2529+6+Armed+Windmill.+Sibsey+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kcBWrXFYwKIuEsYkY_h-0EV1VJeenxSqsOca0FWRd2eSpXHSWN7iUjq_yxmlAtgX9savD6kcZNTgf7q1AqIWd1SrJkXKllD_8h7hjFEDY962zjQwLX4BsSBciIffXRitwUC-qkpxvZc/s320/%252826%2529+6+Armed+Windmill.+Sibsey+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685546186670429666" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many s are only too pleased to have RBRers visiting their location. One landmark was on private property this year, clearly visible from the road. They requested for photographs to be taken from the roadside. This request was observed by all that visited to my knowledge. This leads me on to our third windmill.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the north of my home county, Nottinghamshire is the village of Tuxford. The windmill, situated near the village was the landmark for this year. The proprietor did not take too kindly to his windmill being used as a landmark and tried to charge entrants for taking a photograph! Needless to say very little money exchanged hands! Many photographs were submitted from the roadside with the windmill in the background. I’m sure his tearoom could have served a few thirsty and/or hungry RBRers, thus helping with the upkeep of the windmill. I can only assume that in this time of wealth and prosperity extra finance was not required. Upon this reasoning, dear reader, you will notice the lack of a link to this enterprise.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPrAGbkJoUFwV5B4h-o7QzaLwBUfRoEtz_2Z6Lj9b3sCs0ZcRMdfGkndM1d6JbYTE8HDlKsURavoerWKgxKm450QML8VT64yeGothsFxxyyX-TK2lFjfEl9BuRxQPzsXY9uVp35X3Ssg/s1600/%252834%2529+Windmill%252C+Tuxford+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPrAGbkJoUFwV5B4h-o7QzaLwBUfRoEtz_2Z6Lj9b3sCs0ZcRMdfGkndM1d6JbYTE8HDlKsURavoerWKgxKm450QML8VT64yeGothsFxxyyX-TK2lFjfEl9BuRxQPzsXY9uVp35X3Ssg/s320/%252834%2529+Windmill%252C+Tuxford+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685547337577111378" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There has to be a first for everything. The first man on the moon, first flight, first locomotive, first car and even the <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.motorcycle.com/events/the-first-motorcycle-45982.html">first motorcycle.</a> This brings us to a tranquil suburb in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, to locate the first ROUNDABOUT in the UK! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgvn6Xw_MzsyDxAR5PgW8wDtR07EWlc0PBxxKKws17qwtLUoe5OdBTQ_VB8IFwv6vfnhsoTD2IUnHU1pFEhOSJwZvruzd1guoEZWUlR4orsNoCzEW3Uo-VkMVFmxnSknpPJtKyx1eT2I/s1600/%252821%2529+First+roundabout%252C+Letchworth+2+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgvn6Xw_MzsyDxAR5PgW8wDtR07EWlc0PBxxKKws17qwtLUoe5OdBTQ_VB8IFwv6vfnhsoTD2IUnHU1pFEhOSJwZvruzd1guoEZWUlR4orsNoCzEW3Uo-VkMVFmxnSknpPJtKyx1eT2I/s320/%252821%2529+First+roundabout%252C+Letchworth+2+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685546154198973202" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpffyQyXhClOlcYggKbeuEbRbkfB2P9Lo4FCOYnmA7XhRGrARtSvxjzIT4tNjiHjrZyAAcc5CXskRnRJV4nrUNZRGr1JkonTR_nTUetdHvSlm1aTQfrXD_agWVI-s6Q1w6kjquZQ__AU/s1600/%252821%2529+First+roundabout%252C+Letchworth+3+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpffyQyXhClOlcYggKbeuEbRbkfB2P9Lo4FCOYnmA7XhRGrARtSvxjzIT4tNjiHjrZyAAcc5CXskRnRJV4nrUNZRGr1JkonTR_nTUetdHvSlm1aTQfrXD_agWVI-s6Q1w6kjquZQ__AU/s320/%252821%2529+First+roundabout%252C+Letchworth+3+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685546169391547106" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Built circa 1909, we can only imagine the confusion this may have caused. In Portree on the Isle of Skye a few years ago, a mini traffic island was built in the centre of the town. The islanders had not seen anything like it before, thus resulting in a few accidents before it was replaced with a one-way system. I’m not suggesting that this would have been the case in Letchworth, but to come across something so alien…and what sort of traffic flow would there have been in this area in the early part of the last century. Could it have been an experiment to try out before being unleashed in the capital? Whatever the reason it works well as a traffic flow solution, unless you want to get through part of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2005/11/22/pwaod_roundabout_feature.shtml"><span style="color:#FF6600;">Swindon</span></a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">To end, by turning full circle, another roundabout was a featured landmark. This particular example at Thornaby on Tees, Teeside has a Spitfire in the centre. This replica was built in 2007. It seems a little ironic, as the roundabout is located at the junctions of Thornaby Road, Bader Avenue and Trenchard Avenue. Ironic in the sense that<a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Bader"> Douglas Bader</a> flew in a Hurricane.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvunU-sBoNAhUaYOPhiLW3bThFyNFKTeZdK0YmyNr6rYfP3afx-oMjCfAFmTJrAElFgX6jpuOazmX8M9AvWzWRc1_k1tWbIr007LAzT30TsDW6nmx2NM4hyphenhyphenIKjeFq6oqBn47cr6ayKAU/s1600/spitfire+roundabout.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvunU-sBoNAhUaYOPhiLW3bThFyNFKTeZdK0YmyNr6rYfP3afx-oMjCfAFmTJrAElFgX6jpuOazmX8M9AvWzWRc1_k1tWbIr007LAzT30TsDW6nmx2NM4hyphenhyphenIKjeFq6oqBn47cr6ayKAU/s320/spitfire+roundabout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685547342229139394" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The reason for mentioning this unvisited landmark? In all honesty it’s just so that I can finish with this film clip. No matter how many times I watch it I still have a smile on my face.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gPdyyjV8cwU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-25226423159011304382011-11-25T10:14:00.008+00:002011-11-25T10:45:39.682+00:00Round Britain Rally 2011, Planes And Boats And Trains<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->Well the RBR has finished for another year. The usual ‘adjustments’ having to be made during the course of the event. One landmark was sold and moved piece by piece to another location, another, a Roman Milepost was hit by a car and had to be removed for running repairs (groan). Repair work also was required for a statue of <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2175537">John Perry</a> </span>so we took an exciting picture of his plinth. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As has become the custom, the RBR season kicks off with the ARSE, the Annual Rally Starting Event. This year’s gathering took place at the <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.canaljunction.com/museum/national_waterways.htm">Ellesmere Port </a><span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.canaljunction.com/museum/national_waterways.htm">Canal Museum</a> </span>where over 50 entrants met for the obligatory group photo. The object to photograph was the anchor sculpture, situated near the café. Yes, one or two people did snap the wrong anchor.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBI8lyZFNT5pmDMGo6NY7qXi_GyWaonOjB8hkc5le2Ep4DWV_UQ5rlr00PvoUd99t5Vw_B_aA9VnVVLvUyFqmThPXlwny5yn0S0v7kwbGFaIDv_p8wIXgx8F9XqsFIbcJ0bFFZLkFqB28/s1600/%252801%2529+Canal+Museum+Large+anchor+Sculpture%252C+Ellesmere+Port+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBI8lyZFNT5pmDMGo6NY7qXi_GyWaonOjB8hkc5le2Ep4DWV_UQ5rlr00PvoUd99t5Vw_B_aA9VnVVLvUyFqmThPXlwny5yn0S0v7kwbGFaIDv_p8wIXgx8F9XqsFIbcJ0bFFZLkFqB28/s320/%252801%2529+Canal+Museum+Large+anchor+Sculpture%252C+Ellesmere+Port+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678879290426056082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.timmonet.co.uk/html/body_beeching.htm">Doctor Beeching’s</a> </span>axe saw the closure of many rail lines in the UK during the 1960’s, however one line that closed before his hand gripped the shaft was the <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/history/index.php">Southwold to Halesworth</a> </span>line. On this local line, at Whenhaston, Suffolk, a plaque depicting the site of the local station has been erected.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbnZc7fPZlYpzC_Ruwf90kFQhGmQE1kdTKhSNTuh5nwMSGQ3Z_Y122lvKG1gfFL-TZCD_jf0zQXvQ4jLK-3DpCenZ9uMTDc4uByGfforDUof0uws9FscVjsQ0oZillLil6B2ozZ5SY7Q/s1600/%252840%2529+Monument+%2526+Plaque+Old+Railway+Station+Site%252C+Wenhaston+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbnZc7fPZlYpzC_Ruwf90kFQhGmQE1kdTKhSNTuh5nwMSGQ3Z_Y122lvKG1gfFL-TZCD_jf0zQXvQ4jLK-3DpCenZ9uMTDc4uByGfforDUof0uws9FscVjsQ0oZillLil6B2ozZ5SY7Q/s320/%252840%2529+Monument+%2526+Plaque+Old+Railway+Station+Site%252C+Wenhaston+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678879847622988898" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxpxlpPay4CXtBbxDWNVXJNNxXErH83AwZJdvcpnsvs3TrEueTtYUcp74S5e2_ce5-AqFrZsEIrSGWNlisFGiXcQffB-JS3T4rtYuHaFDoPaG-5N_eOqUhLJsp4cObSVe4onFkI5ApUQ/s1600/%252840%2529+Monument+%2526+Plaque+Old+Railway+Station+Site%252C+Wenhaston+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxpxlpPay4CXtBbxDWNVXJNNxXErH83AwZJdvcpnsvs3TrEueTtYUcp74S5e2_ce5-AqFrZsEIrSGWNlisFGiXcQffB-JS3T4rtYuHaFDoPaG-5N_eOqUhLJsp4cObSVe4onFkI5ApUQ/s320/%252840%2529+Monument+%2526+Plaque+Old+Railway+Station+Site%252C+Wenhaston+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678879863611471042" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">To some extent this phoenix looks set to return, as there is a<a href="http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/wordpress/?p=177"> </a><span style="color:#FF6600;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/wordpress/?p=177">project</a> </span>to reinstate a small section railway, complete with a heritage centre.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There was one type of railway that Beeching could not get onto his report, the cliff railway. This year’s event saw the inclusion of several of these, two of which we visited on the weekend of our motorcycle club’s rally weekend.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the way down to the rally site we stopped off at the <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.funimag.com/funimag19/Lynton04.htm">Lynton and Lynmouth Railway</a>. Lynmouth is on the A39, a road to Devon and Cornwall that is often by passed for the dual carriageway of the A30 and M5 motorway. Built in 1890, this water balanced funicular railway works in contrast to other water operated railways. Often water is released from the lower carriage until it is lighter than the top one, whereas on this railway, water is added to the top carriage from the West River Lyn.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tYhU2aaP6j9582OaNLEOpF5KM_Xsx2ro4X74Mu2QxBnniVUvDm1iETG7-qg78mmgTII6Jh_qVHFSxjpyUNJftQueCu83Upi8wN7Ryh0SWar2wA9nl3htfttAnLGjTPno6Xyk2oZ3OKs/s1600/%252812%2529+Lynton+and+Lynmouth+Cliff+Railway+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tYhU2aaP6j9582OaNLEOpF5KM_Xsx2ro4X74Mu2QxBnniVUvDm1iETG7-qg78mmgTII6Jh_qVHFSxjpyUNJftQueCu83Upi8wN7Ryh0SWar2wA9nl3htfttAnLGjTPno6Xyk2oZ3OKs/s320/%252812%2529+Lynton+and+Lynmouth+Cliff+Railway+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678880459595935010" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CBeX9M8bdF0zup1ST9Yw6WMLW2edm29Tzl6PEgwJIlUNail__cbawyP0CQYRCedUtUfdhDDv1lEUzKZoluziafnuky71Ct46l6j_fFavosMOUuxb7NFtopaWDN-y1Hf9CjdMak87D08/s1600/2011-10-04+Holiday+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CBeX9M8bdF0zup1ST9Yw6WMLW2edm29Tzl6PEgwJIlUNail__cbawyP0CQYRCedUtUfdhDDv1lEUzKZoluziafnuky71Ct46l6j_fFavosMOUuxb7NFtopaWDN-y1Hf9CjdMak87D08/s320/2011-10-04+Holiday+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678880466622657058" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH2fhE-k_TTpgE_hiB6_2M1SsKlhwBncawo4xEEvktgLEBdX8ulw7st1WMdCr3Z8_daVrgpdHK8lZqzD38bU9UGETXRGZl5vWHH0h2GjQfU0fBNiB8Ig3bfnHuCDsIECiz49lL31k0cM/s1600/2011-10-04+Holiday+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH2fhE-k_TTpgE_hiB6_2M1SsKlhwBncawo4xEEvktgLEBdX8ulw7st1WMdCr3Z8_daVrgpdHK8lZqzD38bU9UGETXRGZl5vWHH0h2GjQfU0fBNiB8Ig3bfnHuCDsIECiz49lL31k0cM/s320/2011-10-04+Holiday+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678880484061232162" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Having stopped for some ‘Traditional’ fish & chips, we got into conversation with a local biker, resulting in a rather longer stay than anticipated. We vowed to return here for a longer stay in the future. Little did we realise that it would be sooner rather than later.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">‘This one will be easy to find’, said Ian about the <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://babbacombecliffrailway.co.uk/history/">Babbacombe Cliff Railway</a>. ‘We just head for the coast and follow it round’. Reaching the coast and following it round took us all the way around the headland and into a housing estate! When in doubt, ask the local postie, who put us on the right track. The plans for the Babbacombe Railway were put forward by Sir John Newnes MP, the man who built the Lynton and Lynmouth Railway. Sadly they were not approved until after his death. The line was completed in 1926.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzwHJG8WBVI_oI9DcK79O6Lhyphenhyphen97ryDsHnCe9jLKkHKzD635LqdZ0Ek1EU5sDYjVvel8vupk4DYNpI566wA58c2H6eNX3aiC8ieBU6oHsJINRKZmUIhafxWBj6ZEbU1aCmrunHD7SbogQ/s1600/%252813%2529+Babbacombe+Cliff+Railway+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzwHJG8WBVI_oI9DcK79O6Lhyphenhyphen97ryDsHnCe9jLKkHKzD635LqdZ0Ek1EU5sDYjVvel8vupk4DYNpI566wA58c2H6eNX3aiC8ieBU6oHsJINRKZmUIhafxWBj6ZEbU1aCmrunHD7SbogQ/s320/%252813%2529+Babbacombe+Cliff+Railway+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678881088085348162" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89yr7NjMoIVve_QQvd0SNzS4ft-mUU4Ai3PWvaAfgDm3AoqS_Q7LYUA1KYPrk7m0IIwkZkHozZQqAAMTeFAJemUg5im8o5h19lFHQmjcF-OdSlNUpUnIinoUgHp3Eq_AJteY4bri8C0s/s1600/%252813%2529+Babbacombe+Cliff+Railway+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89yr7NjMoIVve_QQvd0SNzS4ft-mUU4Ai3PWvaAfgDm3AoqS_Q7LYUA1KYPrk7m0IIwkZkHozZQqAAMTeFAJemUg5im8o5h19lFHQmjcF-OdSlNUpUnIinoUgHp3Eq_AJteY4bri8C0s/s320/%252813%2529+Babbacombe+Cliff+Railway+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678881092668958802" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The railway took us down to a secluded, almost deserted beach. Well it was mid May so that could have been the reason. The beach bar was deserted and the snack bar did a roaring trade in tea and coffee, with ample choice on where to sit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Grove, Oxfordshire, was the destination for the ‘plane’ part of this post. And that is where we found this <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Venom">De Havilland Venom</a>. Although Grove was reputedly the busiest airfield in 1944, there remain only a few derelict buildings around the area. This particular aircraft once belonged to the Swiss Air force and then <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Venom">Aces High</a>. Not surprising is the fact that part of the airfield has now been turned into a business park.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPSFN1k8UbEPPTNFU6IRpkG4J0YYZTPDy1JefIlutRKRQZqydmTFKKvxFiXHWE-D09DRk6VyOgtY50XQJwJAd2f6QokhY7du404Syn1861Het_MYWfQLIV-M1Dj-nQQgaWc7AZUPhxek/s1600/%252835%2529+De+Havilland+Venom%252C+Grove+1+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPSFN1k8UbEPPTNFU6IRpkG4J0YYZTPDy1JefIlutRKRQZqydmTFKKvxFiXHWE-D09DRk6VyOgtY50XQJwJAd2f6QokhY7du404Syn1861Het_MYWfQLIV-M1Dj-nQQgaWc7AZUPhxek/s320/%252835%2529+De+Havilland+Venom%252C+Grove+1+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678881508002560130" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKKmI_jBMjOZEtUXNOXf86jKOh9KKB_Y80sZ2jqZvYXhpI3d0zRMwO3idsGY9_jPD35JycgxBRRXkjrrsYFSv0WHVKM0B8kI36y9-G2Ec-Er9Dpg_6I07Gs9jyazzDZR7CvzpQw5i4bk/s1600/%252835%2529+De+Havilland+Venom%252C+Grove+2+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKKmI_jBMjOZEtUXNOXf86jKOh9KKB_Y80sZ2jqZvYXhpI3d0zRMwO3idsGY9_jPD35JycgxBRRXkjrrsYFSv0WHVKM0B8kI36y9-G2Ec-Er9Dpg_6I07Gs9jyazzDZR7CvzpQw5i4bk/s320/%252835%2529+De+Havilland+Venom%252C+Grove+2+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678881506824681410" border="0" /></a></p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-67057728040863361612011-10-22T17:11:00.002+01:002011-10-22T17:21:28.694+01:00Round Britain Rally 2010 (Part 3)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->Due to the nature of the Round Britain Rally, landmarks are open to various predicaments. They can be uprooted and moved to another location, removed for repair, damaged by being run in to, or in the next two cases being vandalised! <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">To the side of the A140 there is a monument dedicated to the pilots who were stationed at RAF Mendlesham as the 34th Heavy Bombardment Group. Although the air force base has long since been returned to farmland and industrial units, with very few of the buildings and runways intact, the memorial reminds us of our history. In its prime the memorial looked like this,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1wn_7FT93mSnQcJ55gzaeZFRutXe1_1lkJXF4n4VtwZePzIanTE6qiWIY4tfnjH8h3Hw30-cfhuBM7WFCgaXUF4APVEhUqdugpz9eXAUtFjWrdytySnZUPHNQ6vwjgC42K3cr_W1oIc/s1600/mendlesham.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1wn_7FT93mSnQcJ55gzaeZFRutXe1_1lkJXF4n4VtwZePzIanTE6qiWIY4tfnjH8h3Hw30-cfhuBM7WFCgaXUF4APVEhUqdugpz9eXAUtFjWrdytySnZUPHNQ6vwjgC42K3cr_W1oIc/s320/mendlesham.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666350429667314866" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">however, by the time we arrived part of it was missing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YxnVUlT4YpQGnhkJhtRjNIPLdj4Awl4zVDKSbx0kHCBdobmiAXdKX8eQYZ-0ediUmz58aZ3MA4BbhaYqgxfTzpD9rJPd1_eqjE5MO1-bABHfXqWxg8xcok00BgBdLoscoeAM31asEuA/s1600/%252843%2529+RAF+Mendlesham+Memorial+34th+Heavy+Bombardment+Group+070.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YxnVUlT4YpQGnhkJhtRjNIPLdj4Awl4zVDKSbx0kHCBdobmiAXdKX8eQYZ-0ediUmz58aZ3MA4BbhaYqgxfTzpD9rJPd1_eqjE5MO1-bABHfXqWxg8xcok00BgBdLoscoeAM31asEuA/s320/%252843%2529+RAF+Mendlesham+Memorial+34th+Heavy+Bombardment+Group+070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666350417542604594" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The copper plaque had been stolen! Details about the crime can be<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/disgust_at_memorial_plaque_theft_1_216544">read here</a></span>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This was a memorable landmark for me as I was able to tease Ian about dropping his phone here. The caretaker’s partner found this when she went to inspect the cut grass. How a lime green mobile survived the onslaught of a large mower, I’ll never know, it did return unscathed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">From Suffolk we headed north to the county of Norfolk and the seaside town of Cromer. Here we had to find the bust of <a href="http://www.maritimeheritageeast.org.uk/exhibitions/heroes/henry-blogg-his-life-and-times"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Henry Blogg</span></a>, a man that can be classed as a true hero. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Henry was coxswain to the Cromer lifeboat from 1909 to 1947. During this time the lifeboat was called into service 387 times, saving 873 in the process. For his services, Henry received the George Cross, 3 Gold Medals and a VC and bar of the lifeboat service amongst his honours. How did a person or persons unknown treat this brave man? <a href="http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/vandals_deface_statue_of_cromer_lifeboatman_henry_blogg_1_478601"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Like this!</span></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately Henry was back in situ watching over the sea that he spent many hours of his life fighting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRGh2MQI6fa4ONqQPVcMwTJCV9Gi7JbjyBVstMouiFl6Ymjq5nr_aJAIKtjl3G8HNl4t688ORQ5wK6-_Mbwpri174uyRmpM0Z7eyiy5-iENZ8lswlnZEIMQHAKBZpsFwloKk0Z96hZbM/s1600/%252833%2529+Cromer+Bust+Of+Henry+Blogg+6+074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRGh2MQI6fa4ONqQPVcMwTJCV9Gi7JbjyBVstMouiFl6Ymjq5nr_aJAIKtjl3G8HNl4t688ORQ5wK6-_Mbwpri174uyRmpM0Z7eyiy5-iENZ8lswlnZEIMQHAKBZpsFwloKk0Z96hZbM/s320/%252833%2529+Cromer+Bust+Of+Henry+Blogg+6+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666350412346463298" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My final choice is a landmark that took some researching. The clue was listed as “Roman Bridge”, Lyn Ogwen, near Capel Curig. Looking on the usual websites that I use produced no information, however eventually I came across a site that gave the location but no picture. With this information off we went. How many times have we travelled on the A5 in Wales and like thousands of others before us never knew of the bridge’s existence? We cross over the bridge without the motorcycle’s tyres coming into contact with it. How? Take a look.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0U5czhjVC6l-3PVTuA3eIIouwcGLQBxi2UTDfFOKTgbLDIqzYjss18yTZqhi9pHR_3va8jvRtIHO6ZFUk7KMOzF0XjH24x1uyvNlsX_jTMthJQBsZunGjdgep5znLX_4R6F_J9h1Knck/s1600/%252882%2529Lyn+Ogwen+Roman+Bridge+4+979.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0U5czhjVC6l-3PVTuA3eIIouwcGLQBxi2UTDfFOKTgbLDIqzYjss18yTZqhi9pHR_3va8jvRtIHO6ZFUk7KMOzF0XjH24x1uyvNlsX_jTMthJQBsZunGjdgep5znLX_4R6F_J9h1Knck/s320/%252882%2529Lyn+Ogwen+Roman+Bridge+4+979.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666350418998973202" border="0" /></a></p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">The bridge is sheltered under a modern structure from the onslaught of today’s traffic. The downside to this is that a strong wind was created passing through and Ian’s rally control card was nearly lost and his helmet almost landed in the water. Does the bridge really date back to the Roman era? The jury is out on that question.</p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-49918711357246266642011-08-14T08:18:00.002+01:002011-08-14T08:27:10.916+01:00Round Britain Rally 2010 (Part 2)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->There appears to be a WWII theme going on at the moment, so I will continue on with the next landmark. Our clue for this landmark was ‘Guinea Pig Club plaque, South Rauceby’. Nothing too difficult here then, ho hum. Having convinced Ian that this was nothing to do with little furry meals for myself, research started. The Guinea Pig Club is a group of servicemen, predominately from the Allied air forces that were treated for burns during WWII. They were the first group of people to be experimented on for plastic surgery, hence the name Guinea Pig. Early research showed that there was a mental hospital situated nearby that was transformed into a burns unit for the war period, however the building had been left to decay and had been set ablaze by various people. It has now been demolished and in its place is a housing estate. <p class="MsoNormal">Our journey to the landmark was entertaining as the Guzzi decided to cut out at a set of traffic lights in Grantham. There were several changes of relays and fuses before she fired up again. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Reaching South Rauceby Ian rode through the village, out the other side, turned round and did the same again. He then stopped, switched off the Guzzi’s engine, checked paperwork and tried starting the motor again. Nothing. Once more fuses and relays were exchanged, but to no avail. A slow push up a slight gradient followed, ending outside <a href="http://www.thebustardinn.co.uk/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Bustard Inn</span></a>. Across the road there was a public telephone box, from where Ian phoned <a href="http://www.carolenash.com/insurance/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Carole Nash Insurance</span></a> for breakdown assistance. There was nothing else to do except grab a bite to eat and a pint until help arrived.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Food ordered and beer poured, Ian enquired about the Guinea Pig Club plaque. A local customer knew exactly where it was and gave us directions. It was still early on in the year’s event and we were the fifth to ask for advice!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When the recovery van arrived, the driver offered to take the stubborn Guzzi to the landmark but Ian declined it. Ian decided to phone a friend, <a href="http://www.italiamotoltd.co.uk/italia-moto-meet-the-team.asp"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Italia</span></a>, who would look at the stricken Guzzi between jobs, so off to Lincoln we travel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At Italia, Steve and Phil tried several things before changing a crank sensor. This appeared to do the trick and the Guzzi was wheeled out of the workshop and onto the street. Ian got ready for a quick test ride. Nothing. Back into the workshop. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">‘How did the road test go, Ian?’ asked Phil.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">‘It hasn’t’ was the reply.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eventually the problem was solved. The previous year the oil pipe taking oil from the crankcase to the tappets burst, pumping the engines blood all over the motorcycle. Although Ian had thoroughly washed the motorcycle a small amount had got into an electrical connector, shorting pot the throttle sensor! Phil got some cleaning spray and we had had no problems since. Having never come across a problem like this before, Phil was pleased to have solved it. The time taken?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Two and a half hours. Cost? Nothing! When you have a good relationship with a shop, loyalty is repaid in kind and we have had excellent service over the last 16 years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Returning to South Rauceby, we found the plaque, in the centre of a developing housing estate on the outside of an NHS building.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAgYuJY8ki069l5NdEls8rS6oum6enOopP1OoO75DjHpZY4DgC3iHpDTyxkkOOuKX3mEaP1GxXEq_XFbnoLfbj3xOaQBTbIZAZtDnaAas6UzqSJtTc2GYiiMJKVqhGGXoHJ8sTp_tEGg/s1600/%252830%2529+Guinea+Pig+Club+Plaque+South+Rauceby+2+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAgYuJY8ki069l5NdEls8rS6oum6enOopP1OoO75DjHpZY4DgC3iHpDTyxkkOOuKX3mEaP1GxXEq_XFbnoLfbj3xOaQBTbIZAZtDnaAas6UzqSJtTc2GYiiMJKVqhGGXoHJ8sTp_tEGg/s320/%252830%2529+Guinea+Pig+Club+Plaque+South+Rauceby+2+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640608066713998994" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">An eventful day for us but at least the problem was sorted before we went on our travels abroad last year.</p> bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-61062394528499372662011-07-10T21:00:00.007+01:002011-07-10T21:18:19.407+01:00Round Britain Rally 2010 (Part 1)For the Chinese it was 3<sup>rd</sup> February, the Gregorian / Western / Christian diary it is always 1<sup>st</sup> January and for the Round Britain Rallyists (RBR) it was the 27<sup>th</sup> March. What am I rabbiting on about? With apologies to the Chinese, the New Year. RBRers congregated at the 5<sup>th</sup> Annual Rally Starting Event. As with many peoples’ behinds, the RBR’s ARSE just keeps on getting bigger! It is a social gathering at Landmark 1 on the entry list. Friendships are renewed, photographs taken, certificates and patches that had been pre-ordered are handed out and paid for. <p class="MsoNormal"> With this year’s event now in full swing, I can belatedly share some of my favourite landmarks visited from last year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Last year’s ARSE was held in the county of Avon, approximately 5 miles from Bath, at the <a href="http://www.claverton.org/"><span style="color:#FF6600;">Claverton Pumping Station</span></a>. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNVFePYPijY2e3b8nKd-0CxIMXhFlOJ_137jXCAf35hulodJTC3MSB_U8_DnfGBQrJqfEew82KMnFlRwTYpgw0LdQNCG-yYH7RQCfusOkSXukHdWomevFMfxYZX-OoFcoX_T8ebou7Is/s1600/%252801%2529+Claverton+Pumping+Station+01+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNVFePYPijY2e3b8nKd-0CxIMXhFlOJ_137jXCAf35hulodJTC3MSB_U8_DnfGBQrJqfEew82KMnFlRwTYpgw0LdQNCG-yYH7RQCfusOkSXukHdWomevFMfxYZX-OoFcoX_T8ebou7Is/s320/%252801%2529+Claverton+Pumping+Station+01+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627817331513317906" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> The station was built in 1813 to pump water from the River Avon up 48 feet into the Kennet and Avon Canal. There was a small admission charge to get into the station’s grounds, which were taken over by many two and three wheeled machines. We were given a guided tour of the stations workings by one of the volunteers, making for an enjoyable event. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After leaving the gathering Ian and myself managed tick off a few more landmarks on the homeward journey, bumping into small groups of rallyists .</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Higher Sutton is a small hamlet just off the A54 between Axe Edge and the junction with the A523. The landmark here is the Greenway Cross, also known as a Plague Stone. Originally the stone may have been used as a wayward marker and becoming a Plague Stone in the 17<sup>th</sup> Century when England succumbed to the disease. There are many similar stones across the country, their purpose being that supplies could be left here and the townsfolk would come, leave payment in a container of water and thus hoping not to spread the plague further.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I selected this landmark, not for the <a href="http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=5432"><span style="color:#FF6600;">Plague Stone</span></a> itself but for the view across to the historic town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macclesfield"><span style="color:#FF6600;">Macclesfield</span></a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOyFWuuz2cSWN1cYZsZ_CCI6GQOWA4WRoRPjgymYNrvOcPBYgogeqD2hQ0_h0VUX2ocyR4CCISXAmOYtQoR6fSg8XbMSdmrUa50l56-XxPf_GLLqqohmPX5huYxgc1p3V40RX-XT0wbg/s1600/%252806%2529+Higher+Sutton+Greenway+Cross%252C+Plague+Cross+1+036.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOyFWuuz2cSWN1cYZsZ_CCI6GQOWA4WRoRPjgymYNrvOcPBYgogeqD2hQ0_h0VUX2ocyR4CCISXAmOYtQoR6fSg8XbMSdmrUa50l56-XxPf_GLLqqohmPX5huYxgc1p3V40RX-XT0wbg/s320/%252806%2529+Higher+Sutton+Greenway+Cross%252C+Plague+Cross+1+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627817337836727938" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> There is a saying within the RBR group that if you want to find a landmark, don’t ask the locals. This could have been proved correct, only in that the person Ian asked was not a local! We were on our way to find the memorial at Hunsdon Airfield. Having ridden around the area, to no avail, Ian noticed a security man on a small industrial area. He tried to give us directions for Gatwick Airport! Eventually, outside the village shop we struck lucky and a local person pointed us in the right direction.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hunsdon Airfield is private land and has an active microlight club. We proceed up the loose chipped roadway and found the landmark. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOomLMilgmnYYPWhzBg0KmbgjN_-kIFc6ThPVMKOAZjK-T1fqbkrsdYAZ0fVwAJ3so22jlUjhSk11n-Gm1t1gBe3tqCL_uFrQOrgo2S_jcNET6mqD_DHWiXVqzPTzX7LRjL2sAlgp3XM/s1600/%252825%2529+Hunsdon+Airfield+Memorial+RAF+2+071.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOomLMilgmnYYPWhzBg0KmbgjN_-kIFc6ThPVMKOAZjK-T1fqbkrsdYAZ0fVwAJ3so22jlUjhSk11n-Gm1t1gBe3tqCL_uFrQOrgo2S_jcNET6mqD_DHWiXVqzPTzX7LRjL2sAlgp3XM/s320/%252825%2529+Hunsdon+Airfield+Memorial+RAF+2+071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627817349305649410" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> There was a group of men around the memorial and we got into conversation with them. Ian gave them a brief rundown on the RBR and they were pleased that <i>their</i> monument had been chosen. It can be a rare event to meet another entrant at a landmark, but to be in the company of the builders…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were informed how the monument was built, with extra reinforcing given to the engine. This was due to there being a similar style monument somewhere nearby and the engine was not secured, resulting in the engine deing removed, possibly for its scrap value. Details of the construction can be found <span style="color:#FF6600;"><a href="http://hamg.co.uk/Building-the-memorial.php">here.</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">An enjoyable afternoon was spent in their company talking bikes and the history of the airfield. Slowly we went our separate ways, them back home whilst Ian and myself headed for a motorcycle rally, only after taking another photograph.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sapEiuBdQaAxCL5oWqIvdRN0ehoJcq_xMKCkL4iuRKeFGquJPZ-GPUZAmpk_0bwkdHcbVGRl45rknguh4dMpl-VMzbzgEAHPES_w4z_xNq8d8XbeqPbccy0drY7CWDxFBz8u4ri4gys/s1600/%252825%2529+Hunsdon+Airfield+Memorial+RAF+6+077.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sapEiuBdQaAxCL5oWqIvdRN0ehoJcq_xMKCkL4iuRKeFGquJPZ-GPUZAmpk_0bwkdHcbVGRl45rknguh4dMpl-VMzbzgEAHPES_w4z_xNq8d8XbeqPbccy0drY7CWDxFBz8u4ri4gys/s320/%252825%2529+Hunsdon+Airfield+Memorial+RAF+6+077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627817358620994178" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Monuments can commemorate many different past events. The Hunsdon memorial represents the bravery of the pilots stationed there in WWII, however the next one I have selected deals with a tragic disaster.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Freckleton is a small town in Lancashire, midway between Preston and Lytham St Anne’s. It’s the type of place that has a by-pass, thus there is usually no need to stop and look around. Indeed by-passes tend to make small towns invisible. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">At 10:30 on the morning of 23<sup>rd</sup> August 1944, two American Liberator heavy bombers took off from nearby Warton. The aircraft were soon in trouble as a vicious storm swept in from the Irish Sea. One of the aircraft was able to head north, however the other flew into the storm.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> With the aircraft’s wings almost vertical, its right wing hit the top of a tree and then was ripped off as it impacted against the corner of a building. The remainder of the wing ploughed along the ground and through a hedge. Unfortunately the fuselage continued on its way, partly demolishing three houses and a snack bar used by servicemen. Momentum carried stricken aircraft forward across the road and then it burst into flames. Part of the aircraft hit the infants’ wing of the local school and fuel from the ruptured tanks ignited producing an inferno. The time was 10:17.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> In the school, 38 children and 6 adults perished, the snack bar, 14 died and also the crew of 3 on board the stricken aircraft. A horrific day for Freckleton. More information on the disaster can be found <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8189000/8189386.stm"><span style="color:#FF6600;">here</span></a>, including an account of the day by one of the surviving children.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> For the RBR, we were given three locations and could select any two to find. The two I have chosen, I believe, tell most of the events of the fateful day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcZaVc19APllIZ-AMW-Y0ayY9fWWdzUP5YN84CkVahGVTc3RPHVyL9qQ2UGzIcLiQz8HVl5t3-hkH5aVOPKqPtvLJk6Znc1NR-IKHtyXHlwMorkNoOaYQNx7EGnk8U90nQRUTD-mZzds/s1600/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+1+051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcZaVc19APllIZ-AMW-Y0ayY9fWWdzUP5YN84CkVahGVTc3RPHVyL9qQ2UGzIcLiQz8HVl5t3-hkH5aVOPKqPtvLJk6Znc1NR-IKHtyXHlwMorkNoOaYQNx7EGnk8U90nQRUTD-mZzds/s320/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+1+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627818926159548498" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxih5xzAQZw9o2LjYLebbbKmn88en1dPvUI-pQjNmKnzR7YgP8yR8QMD0h4WEuuIFzBJzJpyzRvfW4pFx1kSbuveNO1aIO_rRmfYMEdxDJLkoRdWaL3h8dP17Zrm7kUjPiIucFLsHIc0/s1600/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+2+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxih5xzAQZw9o2LjYLebbbKmn88en1dPvUI-pQjNmKnzR7YgP8yR8QMD0h4WEuuIFzBJzJpyzRvfW4pFx1kSbuveNO1aIO_rRmfYMEdxDJLkoRdWaL3h8dP17Zrm7kUjPiIucFLsHIc0/s320/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+2+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627818933020379202" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8sJawh_pdvn-JDv52MpG_qJNrEzx1H1HA2-RkLQhwT_4AMOHh45N_0W9HZxoV3DMMVBN7YwDzzYDRYNtTJagHAK4HO3LfiZ4874y0hrYFfDBN_Jk5QowWeo9GXFstSX78buNTAkgLbo/s1600/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+6+059.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8sJawh_pdvn-JDv52MpG_qJNrEzx1H1HA2-RkLQhwT_4AMOHh45N_0W9HZxoV3DMMVBN7YwDzzYDRYNtTJagHAK4HO3LfiZ4874y0hrYFfDBN_Jk5QowWeo9GXFstSX78buNTAkgLbo/s320/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+6+059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627818939060994930" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepno9kog7y2g9AV-qZm_BKE6Y5MRlybEURZUAckvgbGoQSBwTkeMoaGUfevl0GM3Mo9Ugf10faSDlNModqTANKckXjOduaKBl9IsdL0DmfvhtIPBTEv9SL6JGb-OD0ckEEt70kl8NKJc/s1600/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+8+058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepno9kog7y2g9AV-qZm_BKE6Y5MRlybEURZUAckvgbGoQSBwTkeMoaGUfevl0GM3Mo9Ugf10faSDlNModqTANKckXjOduaKBl9IsdL0DmfvhtIPBTEv9SL6JGb-OD0ckEEt70kl8NKJc/s320/%252827%2529+Freckleton+Air+Crash+Memorials+8+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627818945918861842" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-56058612880949202212011-05-31T20:36:00.008+01:002011-05-31T21:11:55.094+01:002007 It Had to Happen Sometime-Smoke Gets In My Eyes!Up, breakfasted and packed. All we could do now was wait for our taxi to arrive. We spent a little time with the hotel manager, conversing as best we could. Finally it was time for our departure. Farewells exchanged, we loaded up the taxi with panniers, tank and roll bags, motorcycle clothing and leaving just enough room for ourselves. <p class="MsoNormal"> With no idea where we were headed all we could do was admire the scenery, making a mental note to hopefully return one day. Our chauffeur pointed out several things of interest, including what the French speed cameras look like. They are now on the increase, with as much resentment for them in France as there is in Blighty.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We arrived in Aix-en-Provence, approximately 30kms north of Marseille. The taxi’s sat-nav directed us to a street with no sign of a motorcycle shop. We were all looking a little confused until Guzzisue noticed a small sign pointing down between two works units. With nothing to lose we proceed down the opening. Lo and behold, there was the bike shop, situated in a large open space. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> All of our belongings were removed from the taxi and gathered into a pile whilst we found the Guzzi. She was hiding in a throng of motorcycles, along a wall by the side of the workshop entrance. A mechanic approached us and informed us that </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Everything is OK. No parts needed.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Ian did enquire if electrics are OK, to which we had the same reply.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Everything is OK. No parts needed.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We looked around the vast showroom until the paperwork had been completed and the bill settled. All that was left was to bring the Guzzi to the front of the shop</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Ll8B4UPkd2tZaHwT-KGrzJstDEsRWE8t-fBAnbyeGD8nW7YAgdPUT3UgzQzeIY276H8IMvnQpB-YtwL_0uYSvgOoXEkss9Bi6rZ5t6-SEUmAebJDkjNdCfcMm9j17iuuIugfoMtUHk/s1600/2007+holiday+425.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Ll8B4UPkd2tZaHwT-KGrzJstDEsRWE8t-fBAnbyeGD8nW7YAgdPUT3UgzQzeIY276H8IMvnQpB-YtwL_0uYSvgOoXEkss9Bi6rZ5t6-SEUmAebJDkjNdCfcMm9j17iuuIugfoMtUHk/s320/2007+holiday+425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612968507986000002" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> and load up. We are very close to the southern coast of France on a hot Wednesday afternoon with a ferry to catch on Friday morning. All that we can do is start heading north.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We did not want to travel the same route back and so we headed for the A8 to Salon de-Provence, where we continued north on the A7. It was in this area where we had our first flight on the Guzzi. A car cut across three lanes of traffic to exit on a slip road, hitting our left pannier and Guzzisue in the process! The Guzzi was momentarily airborne, landed, shook her handlebars and carried on! We still have the impact mark on the pannier today. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Stopping the night in Valance, we were making good progress, leaving the city of Lyon until the morning when we all would be fresh, having had chance to soak away any aches and pains.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Next morning we awoke with the sun and were on our way. The timing was good and we defeated the traffic in Lyon, hitting the city after the rush hour. Onwards we travelled, stopping at a service station for fuel and food, briefly talking to a girl motorcyclist who was singing the praises of Central France and its scenery. We make a mental note to consider this for the future. It was after leaving the service area that things went rapidly downhill.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We were over 300kms from Calais when the warning light came on again. Ian had no choice but to carry on. I’m sure that “Everything is OK. No parts needed.” Was going through his head at the time. Guzzi electrics have been a standard joke for many years, so why should ours be any different. Ian was just overtaking a couple of lorries when I first smelt something very close burning. Trying to attract Ian’s attention he finally looked down, just after we had passed a slip road for a service area. Quickly pulling onto the hard shoulder he shouted to Guzzisue to get off. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbVhajmGBHjG-lhZ2tsAGVc9oJ2NB-1pmYn21W2h5QC6Kyfr_oyaQMKuzP-hgWqd2pasRouItcLpzDPTqK6nIh4cazf9bFaAgPUo3UMPW_35yWMEgMMa94pg2E3zIIugwWqxPqA9RXCU/s1600/2007+holiday+430.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbVhajmGBHjG-lhZ2tsAGVc9oJ2NB-1pmYn21W2h5QC6Kyfr_oyaQMKuzP-hgWqd2pasRouItcLpzDPTqK6nIh4cazf9bFaAgPUo3UMPW_35yWMEgMMa94pg2E3zIIugwWqxPqA9RXCU/s320/2007+holiday+430.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612968515534037442" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> To make things worse a police car pulled up right behind us. They were not helpful as they refused to get their extinguisher out in case it was needed. One of them helpfully poured some water onto the smoke! Ian’s expression says it all!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7nSINKYtOmvLQEGnxOK0JcJIXX84HBQrmaRXg6S8_lJUgcmkPkU0XyB_U-8DVFUhslXICsNTyQEOk6ahz9HnWfk5Ioa0ys5oQDrO0iE96pQauUidprM5DebejFDQO7hsDc69w9ciTJQ/s1600/2007+holiday+431.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7nSINKYtOmvLQEGnxOK0JcJIXX84HBQrmaRXg6S8_lJUgcmkPkU0XyB_U-8DVFUhslXICsNTyQEOk6ahz9HnWfk5Ioa0ys5oQDrO0iE96pQauUidprM5DebejFDQO7hsDc69w9ciTJQ/s320/2007+holiday+431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612968539446462962" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWRH_xBdnNHXqOMmQ0P66XFa4lA7dB-tUHFHX8dx0bRD2qt2AUnpqeOwXDaV2YXu_2f_aHTY2oyGiL2jzPs7STjat5jg1v9IyLRs5fxJ_vsG6e0cp4-T-FVv2tt67MSzgLgTYiaKf9Qg/s1600/2007+holiday+432.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWRH_xBdnNHXqOMmQ0P66XFa4lA7dB-tUHFHX8dx0bRD2qt2AUnpqeOwXDaV2YXu_2f_aHTY2oyGiL2jzPs7STjat5jg1v9IyLRs5fxJ_vsG6e0cp4-T-FVv2tt67MSzgLgTYiaKf9Qg/s320/2007+holiday+432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612968544095320098" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Here is the damage. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2cxRUzL6jDFVat51ZtuZ0qzzxRlXnpzI3tKJ10ImRx44pGI-qfKrhFCFJYN1wffkjr8aUTagUeEFVazqfpISeOuMF-Ep8AsTD70WjYO5EY8WrPVNpazJ1rNDp3RQ2cbFdiGzLKVyqz0/s1600/2007+holiday+433.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2cxRUzL6jDFVat51ZtuZ0qzzxRlXnpzI3tKJ10ImRx44pGI-qfKrhFCFJYN1wffkjr8aUTagUeEFVazqfpISeOuMF-Ep8AsTD70WjYO5EY8WrPVNpazJ1rNDp3RQ2cbFdiGzLKVyqz0/s320/2007+holiday+433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612968554075561026" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Everything is OK. No parts needed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As Jim Royale would say ‘MyArse’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> To their credit the police did message for a recovery wagon, however they would not let us push the Guzzi up the slip road so that we could wait in the shade and get something to eat. Away they went leaving us to stew in the sun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> It was over an hour before the recovery wagon appeared, waiting at the top of the slip road from the services! Ian had to then do what the police would not let him do earlier, push the bike back up the slip road!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I was getting a sense of déjà vu here as onto the back of the wagon we go. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP-AbqrIclWaAwnw1e6oeVDpvCe_Zoims8MBhanoEyXmbtCQI1tMTpNLAsfdZq74JlVZ-amEz6oPjHynRD7NuBRZCez7Qt7iouQIV-7WpL-D15yVwFSfi6BEzNWl8ON4Kh8ptSPJwsBk/s1600/2007+holiday+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP-AbqrIclWaAwnw1e6oeVDpvCe_Zoims8MBhanoEyXmbtCQI1tMTpNLAsfdZq74JlVZ-amEz6oPjHynRD7NuBRZCez7Qt7iouQIV-7WpL-D15yVwFSfi6BEzNWl8ON4Kh8ptSPJwsBk/s320/2007+holiday+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612973619271859218" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Not knowing where we are, we are dropped off at a Moto Guzzi dealer in an industrial area.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UE9nxBqLIKsf7jNGbRiPNPsT7qu6MTJfmaiGxKa2rOkg1LUmWcYtL6REIuWYr-9ZRYdBQcM5j-kTP1sR1Qc7RPMGJfSbrSt4GZxhTg_AaCFTPbpp-r9lHL5ebD7_U8ia06bf-izWbQc/s1600/2007+holiday+436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UE9nxBqLIKsf7jNGbRiPNPsT7qu6MTJfmaiGxKa2rOkg1LUmWcYtL6REIuWYr-9ZRYdBQcM5j-kTP1sR1Qc7RPMGJfSbrSt4GZxhTg_AaCFTPbpp-r9lHL5ebD7_U8ia06bf-izWbQc/s320/2007+holiday+436.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612970906101391794" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The unit is closed for lunch so to pass time we look next door at the Ducatis. Lunch finished and we stroll into the shop. They have very little in the shape of spares, even less for our old Guzzi. Bottom line is that they cannot help us but they do talk to the wonderful Carole Nash help desk. Eventually things are sorted and we are going to be taken, with the Guzzi to another garage. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhj8oZoJJBszf68lwpABuzQyJECImEF1YMwb9vaFBrQVGuYeZ5DXK7pPy_6wQVxN5S8BPNEJifB4KQfvIhtqDFyy-4D1IY6P9ZBRtbixAx98T1ynfsPQT5TF7Npu0fAGHicnEP7F5P4c/s1600/2007+holiday+439.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhj8oZoJJBszf68lwpABuzQyJECImEF1YMwb9vaFBrQVGuYeZ5DXK7pPy_6wQVxN5S8BPNEJifB4KQfvIhtqDFyy-4D1IY6P9ZBRtbixAx98T1ynfsPQT5TF7Npu0fAGHicnEP7F5P4c/s320/2007+holiday+439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612970908011790722" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVZ_INA06NmkdaZDb8Gp60jXwaCxwLnDPMXA9Zf8TU1J0tdCcuqehEgOU9fNYYEIajclG3Nsyyfac-0JQWOXCi35kRhNb57lQH-hfDo1PdSMtTa0-2gJzZKLAo2cbe4PA0oF0G10fh0M/s1600/2007+holiday+443.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVZ_INA06NmkdaZDb8Gp60jXwaCxwLnDPMXA9Zf8TU1J0tdCcuqehEgOU9fNYYEIajclG3Nsyyfac-0JQWOXCi35kRhNb57lQH-hfDo1PdSMtTa0-2gJzZKLAo2cbe4PA0oF0G10fh0M/s320/2007+holiday+443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612970918906416578" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Guzzisue books the last room available in the local Campanile Hotel, from which a taxi will pick up Ian and Guzzisue in the morning to a car hire company for them to get home. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JnWVjJFzXs9t9Tn1s_ZY878n1J1InS1hI3LIC2gxC1a11-29-q7HiRRfJsXQAt6l3o4yFSfXsoxKbT8MQGL53ZdoMCiVMCKp8RbrvQgmrir33Lf0ITGHfYWHkzWM5jdlFigciPaYIpM/s1600/2007+holiday+446.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JnWVjJFzXs9t9Tn1s_ZY878n1J1InS1hI3LIC2gxC1a11-29-q7HiRRfJsXQAt6l3o4yFSfXsoxKbT8MQGL53ZdoMCiVMCKp8RbrvQgmrir33Lf0ITGHfYWHkzWM5jdlFigciPaYIpM/s320/2007+holiday+446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612970932808509346" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDN7ZrGjlzO4Oz-1aLJ7zmKnK0k2rm2402siJNyFfdlBrY-4h-PEadJ410y87flFxbKD1Goh_RdE6srko-GKod1jedOxcPc68lwIlB__gjSpBFIO7BV7DvvzfnU20cMdCSVTaSD0E0ks/s1600/2007+holiday+449.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDN7ZrGjlzO4Oz-1aLJ7zmKnK0k2rm2402siJNyFfdlBrY-4h-PEadJ410y87flFxbKD1Goh_RdE6srko-GKod1jedOxcPc68lwIlB__gjSpBFIO7BV7DvvzfnU20cMdCSVTaSD0E0ks/s320/2007+holiday+449.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612971561589537026" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Me? I decided to stay and keep the Guzzi company.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <b>What did we learn from this?</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b>Ian got so involved in trying to get an injured motorcycle home that forgot how to relax and let things take their path, also to have more faith in the people sorting out repatriation of the ailing motorcycle. Incidentally this was taken to our friends at <a href="http://www.italiamotoltd.co.uk/italia-moto-meet-the-team.asp"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Italia</span></a> in Lincoln where a Ducati rectifier was connected and is still in place today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Having googled Digne looking for links for the last few posts, we could have seen much more of the area just by catching the local train. A fine example of ignoring our own advice!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Guzzisue, due to the nature of her work, finds things difficult when she does not learn about things first hand. She must learn to take the chill pill sometimes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And me? After my near death experience with the rectifier going up in smoke so close to me, I was humbled after Ian told me when we were reunited, he was asked by the <a href="http://www.carolenash.com/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Carole Nash</span></a> representative:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Is there anything of value on the motorcycle?’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Yes, a bear, Biker Ted’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘A toy teddy bear?’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘No. Biker Ted. He’s our travelling companion!’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Are you serious????’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Very!’</p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-30473937443350789012011-05-02T10:03:00.005+01:002011-05-02T10:23:30.009+01:002007 It Had to Happen Sometime-MaroonedWhilst travelling back to our base in Dignes, Ian glanced down at the warning lights console and noticed that the charging light was illuminated. Still 35 miles away from our base we decided to press on. The Guzzi managed to return us to the hotel, but the warning light stayed lit. Ian was concerned about this, in fact he was that concerned that he phoned <a href="http://www.carolenash.com/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Carole Nash</span></a> Insurance stating that he was certain that there was something wrong with the charging system. It was agreed that the Guzzi would be picked up the next day, Sunday, and taken to the local Moto Guzzi dealer to be checked out on Monday.<br /><br />Sunday and we had to stay at the hotel after breakfast to await the recovery vehicle. Eventually the transporter arrived and Ian helped with the loading.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJMRpfGqOFk-u3rJ1xQGfjK7m4fYUUnJeEp3GoZMVbjxdkXu3nKcvPNC9OcH-acFTZNqVUYocegTDDRqFbMDMsVAWxQT-oQ5CAxvtS2T7KjpjtYRSRGYLEA7VjvP7Y8toMmLiSt_neG8/s1600/Photo+01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJMRpfGqOFk-u3rJ1xQGfjK7m4fYUUnJeEp3GoZMVbjxdkXu3nKcvPNC9OcH-acFTZNqVUYocegTDDRqFbMDMsVAWxQT-oQ5CAxvtS2T7KjpjtYRSRGYLEA7VjvP7Y8toMmLiSt_neG8/s320/Photo+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044189937128082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQb5rUCpuP7Vw_amHkpan_Hc832CHIapQ9VoztpFDfVGUZoSrCq6u5gfMnvNE4EpLKuESprSKvyHdEdV9eu9NSBiI_rU1NjpDvY8TuSS1AJp9vraO0BLw8-YXmyCz7YTHt1ri1sziNGQ/s1600/Photo+02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQb5rUCpuP7Vw_amHkpan_Hc832CHIapQ9VoztpFDfVGUZoSrCq6u5gfMnvNE4EpLKuESprSKvyHdEdV9eu9NSBiI_rU1NjpDvY8TuSS1AJp9vraO0BLw8-YXmyCz7YTHt1ri1sziNGQ/s320/Photo+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044193707245314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Watching the Guzzi disappear around the corner, realisation hit us. We were marooned in Dignes! Throughout the following days Ian received phone calls on the Guzzi’s progress. Monday, Ian was informed that the motorcycle shop that the Guzzi was being taken to was closed. Tuesday, the shop had not got any time to look at our motorcycle. Ian informed the insurance representative that we had a ferry booked for Friday morning and could they pass this information on to the repair shop. Later in the day Ian received another call informing us that the motorcycle would be ready for collection on Wednesday.<br /><br />The above events meant that we had a prolonged stay in Dignes. The manageress of the hotel took pity on us and we were transferred to a larger room for the same price for a couple of nights. We were leaving, then not. Ian was becoming like a bear with a sore head! Guzzisue was getting irate because she was slightly out of the proverbial loop, having to rely on second hand information from Ian. I had the job of keeper of the peace during this period. The holiday must continue.<br /><br />Monday, Guzzisue and myself decided to leave Ian alone for a few hours and went for a walk in the surrounding area. Selecting a road that gave us a view over Digne.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6te2xOpvGnWr1Mx7CcUyZsFpv_HRqT5KIdFgEljzKSMM-FSePnbA4r9etmDfLmqzoU9aUpBuhUE0fRe_3rRsqKNmKUu1H1_vohGKVca9PWWhZ3mqo8hxC5ScEw6EZm6bdoHCZy2IchN4/s1600/Photo+03+380.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6te2xOpvGnWr1Mx7CcUyZsFpv_HRqT5KIdFgEljzKSMM-FSePnbA4r9etmDfLmqzoU9aUpBuhUE0fRe_3rRsqKNmKUu1H1_vohGKVca9PWWhZ3mqo8hxC5ScEw6EZm6bdoHCZy2IchN4/s320/Photo+03+380.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044199471217890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Without realising we had discovered <a href="http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.resgeol04.org/Musees.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmusee%2Bpromenade%2Bdigne%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DzwO%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26channel%3Ds%26biw%3D922%26bih%3D548%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhiwsQBk62eZX6e-CS9RBdzh5luPUg"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Saint Benoit Park</span></a>. This can best be described as a discovery park. We had already passed a Japanese styled pagoda and several water features.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4k26qhcWjNxOSiTpx5NXCBd7h9VpL6UR5lmK7vnDevrqFD3VtBqV5Q1Ec-UF31WngMrccK6GKBwT63C1svOIpJjxsrqebWWCtk2vFuh_ATv6U4YoUJA52u1YpRS4HMT4nYyfs8JCZ5c/s1600/Photo+04+370.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4k26qhcWjNxOSiTpx5NXCBd7h9VpL6UR5lmK7vnDevrqFD3VtBqV5Q1Ec-UF31WngMrccK6GKBwT63C1svOIpJjxsrqebWWCtk2vFuh_ATv6U4YoUJA52u1YpRS4HMT4nYyfs8JCZ5c/s320/Photo+04+370.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044204253478818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0bWDQGN99RCq63-JTSRfgMDUBaiZbaZE1mZPjRjHgSdYhVgW3Z94GnsmGlGhMhH-c9v4qsggp3xAs5XVdiKz6OgriuWeb1cOQHnSMdOokuhKHjJ4JnnkzFH24Ohf2FJSQC7omddHmtg/s1600/Photo+05+376.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0bWDQGN99RCq63-JTSRfgMDUBaiZbaZE1mZPjRjHgSdYhVgW3Z94GnsmGlGhMhH-c9v4qsggp3xAs5XVdiKz6OgriuWeb1cOQHnSMdOokuhKHjJ4JnnkzFH24Ohf2FJSQC7omddHmtg/s320/Photo+05+376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044209075381986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfGxK0x2uPvMmiPSNWU_T9VjatjPCQnUrhWb_7jfi9I-DCvqj1930B5XBaNs-V3dqE8vtUJz-BDrqtsvfPwJsOXXYEuAqgUCfxYdL53vsvwjthqJDDWlQK0fP4aYRAV_328Z0_PtSCLs/s1600/Photo+06+378.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfGxK0x2uPvMmiPSNWU_T9VjatjPCQnUrhWb_7jfi9I-DCvqj1930B5XBaNs-V3dqE8vtUJz-BDrqtsvfPwJsOXXYEuAqgUCfxYdL53vsvwjthqJDDWlQK0fP4aYRAV_328Z0_PtSCLs/s320/Photo+06+378.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044985668444018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Along the way we had seen an information sign giving detail of the region. Although neither of us could translate much, one name that stood out was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Goldsworthy"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Andy Goldsworthy</span></a>. By chance we stumbled across a couple of his five cairns at the centre.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaouKCdrCj7Vmwl54iy5qRxnPSsvftWc5QqSFT1fP_1BOQpEZpwNBEsciczcK1kw6f4mT_AOfdKnumBl0HpUOEkxxRjFDQGFk6aK9mUaLo-Y-49iIRAVR0wluntWdWWD4SDz3r11d0ek4/s1600/Photo+07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaouKCdrCj7Vmwl54iy5qRxnPSsvftWc5QqSFT1fP_1BOQpEZpwNBEsciczcK1kw6f4mT_AOfdKnumBl0HpUOEkxxRjFDQGFk6aK9mUaLo-Y-49iIRAVR0wluntWdWWD4SDz3r11d0ek4/s320/Photo+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044984791672194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNNAUXT9YLJv3P_CIWvdYrHUZSs5HKjt4V_R5o6QBau-Fwd7d2uimcS5YqxrGE-nzwc6x_MVNBB9M7kaaWmqQ1HQHnCfX2z7XZjNEtkQz9MIoimelpjhEeaFVVlKS5Pczhz21XiCTE2g/s1600/Photo+08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNNAUXT9YLJv3P_CIWvdYrHUZSs5HKjt4V_R5o6QBau-Fwd7d2uimcS5YqxrGE-nzwc6x_MVNBB9M7kaaWmqQ1HQHnCfX2z7XZjNEtkQz9MIoimelpjhEeaFVVlKS5Pczhz21XiCTE2g/s320/Photo+08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044993906180834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had an enjoyable time at the park just walking round and looking at the fossil collection in the museum before heading back to find Ian.<br /><br />After Ian had received the call from Carole Nash that the Guzzi would be ready for collection on Wednesday his mood lightened enormously. Guzzisue had discovered that a famous French traveller/explorer had lived in Digne for a long period of their life and that their adobe was open to the public for guided tours, she just had to go, towing Ian and myself along.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.alexandra-david-neel.org/anglais/fonda.htm"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Alexandra David-Néel</span></a> was a strong willed woman with a desire to travel, especially to India and Tibet. This was more extraordinary as her adventures took place from the late 1800’s to the 1940’s! Her last walking trip was concluded in early winter of her 82nd year.<br /><br />During her latter years, Alexandra wrote several books on her travels and adventures. Reaching her century she had her passport renewed ready for when the urge to take off again became too strong. However this remarkable woman died just short of her 101st birthday. Her ashes were scattered on the waters of the Ganges.<br /><br />Inside her house there are many artefacts from her journeys. Guzzisue was not permitted to photograph anything inside the building. If you happen to be in Digne at any time I can recommend that an afternoon be spent with a guided tour here. There are headsets available, handed out by the guide, at various places where necessary.<br /><br />Please do have a look at the link on Alexandra’s name to find out more about this amazing woman.<br /><br />Walking around Digne one last time, down this narrow street<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_IogTrcQcz6wd9lymkx5WcdxvDO8tkiCrrgmnq44is4DN1YpWlZ5MNuFJj8MJH6jIYEN_ZX8-2R_AV5xW_-U9yOZ9UzRosESBGcEUFC1WfzNiIEfVMKAzp0PQNvHGlLl4YCGv6KD90s/s1600/Photo+09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_IogTrcQcz6wd9lymkx5WcdxvDO8tkiCrrgmnq44is4DN1YpWlZ5MNuFJj8MJH6jIYEN_ZX8-2R_AV5xW_-U9yOZ9UzRosESBGcEUFC1WfzNiIEfVMKAzp0PQNvHGlLl4YCGv6KD90s/s320/Photo+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602044998939467650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />upon a wall is this plaque.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtgqAvzvJoaWLsKGMkSEqujB7psy-MZ2lsgH2OZbkkxmUhKAQyPK4BugnCJ6vbjx0OwOWuIesBSHMuB004pfjHkrdJay4QPZIq0PHY7d7qd6PwuuT_EggJHKgMrXtIaF_stCWRBwL9Jo/s1600/Photo+10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtgqAvzvJoaWLsKGMkSEqujB7psy-MZ2lsgH2OZbkkxmUhKAQyPK4BugnCJ6vbjx0OwOWuIesBSHMuB004pfjHkrdJay4QPZIq0PHY7d7qd6PwuuT_EggJHKgMrXtIaF_stCWRBwL9Jo/s320/Photo+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602045002377355138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our prolonged stay in Digne was a little longer than Napoleon’s and tomorrow we will be reunited with the Guzzi. For now the future is looking brighter.bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-9874006686482840752011-04-04T10:29:00.000+01:002011-04-03T15:45:33.618+01:001st Monday Music Movie - Todd Miller & The Joe Loss Orchestra<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Is it possible to rebel against rebellion? Since the invention of the gramophone, rebellion in music has been available to the masses. In the fifties, with Elvis rockin’ jailhouses and Bill Haley rocking around a clock with his Comets the scene was set. The mantle was taken up by the Animals, who just had to get outta this place, whilst the Rolling Stones had to get off their clouds before having a 19<sup>th</sup> nervous breakdown. Into the seventies and punk rebelled, until to look punk became fashionable, thus going against its aim. And so through musical history there has always been rebellion, be it Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg or the Sex Pistols.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">How does this get us to Nottingham’s Market Square on the final Sunday of May last year? The answer starts over eighty years ago when <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www.toddmillermusic.com/index.html">Joe Loss started his orchestra</a>. He became well respected in his field, with Dame Vera Lynn giving her first broadcast with the band in 1938. In 1990, Joe became too ill to travel with his band and entrusted Todd Miller with the leadership. Todd had joined the orchestra in 1972 as a vocalist and enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Joe. With over twenty years at the helm of the orchestra, Todd is as much of a showman as a leader of the Joe Loss Orchestra.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Back to the question I posed earlier, is it possible to rebel against rebellion? Any form of entertainment has walls. These walls take the form of generations. Parents cannot understand how their little angels can listen to ‘that infernal racket’, as they find their own identity and rebel against the older generations. Todd and the Joe Loss Orchestra had the Market Square singing and dancing, young and old side by side, playing music from Glenn Miller through to soul, the Beatles, Abba and disco, thus breaking down the walls. I could be inclined to say that they made the younger generation rebel against their rebellion, even if it was only for two hours.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Orchestra’s encore took then past the nine o’clock deadline. Rebels indeed!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V1enOlwrKJ0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-69704652702500391412011-03-13T15:24:00.004+00:002011-03-13T16:45:11.498+00:00Abba Reunited!Abba reunited! Yes that is correct and remember you read about it here first!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI62xSggqQ7eRzIa1L9XDMCgVaBJ2ohxO8Zi1R3KsMkyPG9hlDw_NqYV5GmddXh0Vu3jWbAkIO2W17XBRFaEm-4QRaZXIknrVwSxRWwz72CQijHtKd7L1SUdoYQFBRIgd1kXjM4syhXY/s1600/Abba_1234.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI62xSggqQ7eRzIa1L9XDMCgVaBJ2ohxO8Zi1R3KsMkyPG9hlDw_NqYV5GmddXh0Vu3jWbAkIO2W17XBRFaEm-4QRaZXIknrVwSxRWwz72CQijHtKd7L1SUdoYQFBRIgd1kXjM4syhXY/s320/Abba_1234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583586904886881330" border="0" /></a>People of a certain age can remember back in 1974 when Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog won the <a href="http://www.eurovision.tv/page/dusseldorf-2011/sitemap"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Eurovision Song Contest</span> </a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">with <span style="font-style: italic;">Waterloo. </span>Mega stardom </span>was soon at their fingertips.<br /><br />Often while sleeping <span style="font-style: italic;">I Have A Dream </span>that they would reunite and <span style="font-style: italic;">Knowing Me, Knowing You</span>, I<br />just have to spill the beans! <span style="font-style: italic;">I Do,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I Do, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">I Do, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">I Do, I Do.<br /><br /></span>I would not like to speculate as to whether <span style="font-style: italic;">Money, Money, Money</span> is a key factor in this reunion or not but that's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Name Of The Game</span> and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Winner Takes It All.<br /><br /></span>All this has came to my attention when out for a ride with Ian on the Yorkshire/Lancashire boarder, going to take a photograph for a potential Round Britain Rally landmark, <span style="font-style: italic;">One Of Us, </span>well this <span style="font-style: italic;">Super Trouper</span> happened to spot a tell tale sign.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiRwEF7i881mpEW3bNuOkDFyTwTKNA_N12EBeYsQnUjm5LGZdcOMcUEDmt2mfwYtTa4x37XPFVTX83rSGTnso0sIr5z9uvkVO4Obl9mMvD79M3reVUU9UKyDksqhRQ4-Px_EXl2GUQc0/s1600/2011-03-12+Singing+Ringing+Tree+011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiRwEF7i881mpEW3bNuOkDFyTwTKNA_N12EBeYsQnUjm5LGZdcOMcUEDmt2mfwYtTa4x37XPFVTX83rSGTnso0sIr5z9uvkVO4Obl9mMvD79M3reVUU9UKyDksqhRQ4-Px_EXl2GUQc0/s320/2011-03-12+Singing+Ringing+Tree+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583604825226718210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">When All Is Said And Done, </span>all that is left to say is <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank You For The Music</span> and I had better finish this post before I come <span style="font-style: italic;">Under Attack</span>.bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-64545124574154676122011-03-07T10:00:00.000+00:002011-03-07T10:00:07.695+00:001st Monday Music Movie - Nottingham Ukulele Club<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">An easy choice for this month’s music movie. Ukuleles have had an upsurge in popularity in recent times; this may be helped by the ever increasing number of people discovering the <a href="http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com/main/Home.aspx?SessionKey="><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain</span></a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the 17<sup>th</sup> February, Nottingham had its annual Light Night. I will not go into too much detail as Guzzisue has posted about <a href="http://travelfibreandthread.blogspot.com/2011/02/nottingham-light-night-2011.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">this</span></a> and I have done so in the <a href="http://bikerted.blogspot.com/search/label/Nottm%20Light%20Night"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">past</span></a> a couple of times. Last year the Labour council seemed to put much of our Council Tax up in smoke, with firework displays over the castle and more street entertainers. This year seemed to be a much more subdued event, however that could have been down to the cold evening and my friends being a little tired from their respective employment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Exchange Arcade, to the rear of the Council House, sheltered a little from the cold were Nottingham’s own ukulele musicians. This month’s movie is the <a href="http://www.nottinghamukeclub.com/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Nottingham Ukulele Club</span></a> playing Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Sound of Silence’ and Prince’s ‘Kiss’.</p> <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JgGya06-D-k" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-34495921012648636162011-02-11T12:00:00.003+00:002011-02-11T22:47:15.194+00:002007 It Had to Happen Sometime-Reaching New Heights<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->Saturday. The centre of Digne is a hive of activity. Saturday is market day. <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDY-neAPzxxDXp0DQ2xsuxyJeZ1F6dFwUmSkal9D4yrYoHwGevpZxrTXksV3lr3RlW8kMOUvmyCd-y0EMb_nHOQ8XbEF1Phx6EDJ85w7lB4nN3-kyuwRk_U8WJVvROYFDtXSpYeTuzgk/s1600/Photo+01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDY-neAPzxxDXp0DQ2xsuxyJeZ1F6dFwUmSkal9D4yrYoHwGevpZxrTXksV3lr3RlW8kMOUvmyCd-y0EMb_nHOQ8XbEF1Phx6EDJ85w7lB4nN3-kyuwRk_U8WJVvROYFDtXSpYeTuzgk/s320/Photo+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571062934076743682" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are traders from the surrounding districts selling their wares. Everything was available from fruit and veg to wooden kitchen utensils, to clothes. There was an area allocated for the locals selling their bric-a-brac. Guzzisue was stopping at many of the stalls to have a look with Ian and myself getting restless. The weather was good and the mountains were calling.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today’s challenge is to climb the Col de la Bonette, sometimes mistakenly called the Col de Restefond. The Col de Restefond is a gravel track, located off the D64, close to the summit of the Col de la Bonette. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are claims of the Col de la Bonette being the highest mountain road in Europe. These claims can be argued with good cause. Although the actual Col de la Bonette rises to 2715 metres, there are three other passes that go higher. These are Col de l’Lseran (2770 metres), Stelvio Pass (2757 metres) and the Col Agnel (2744 metres). There is also a no through road in Spain, reaching 3392 metres to the village of Veleta, Sierra Nevada. Col de la Bonette’s road reaches an altitude of 2802 metres, but cannot be described as a “pass” because it is merely a loop road around the Cime de le Bonette. There is no argument that it is indeed the highest asphalted road in Europe.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am not too sure of the route we took to arrive at the northern side of the Col de la Bonette, but it was an interesting journey nonetheless. One of the buildings we passed was this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxsIkUSSZlmI9o0RFwLK_qMjqxtznWplgnQ2_ehxGwpmWQYrtFgVD2Wp8XdzhHjsIFEV_z8I1fLsEdHFX8Dny5g3IAu67_ew8W0B_2Bbs1ooZiHeOAugZtfZPBslY_Sg0F9_ooq07mlI/s1600/Photo+02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxsIkUSSZlmI9o0RFwLK_qMjqxtznWplgnQ2_ehxGwpmWQYrtFgVD2Wp8XdzhHjsIFEV_z8I1fLsEdHFX8Dny5g3IAu67_ew8W0B_2Bbs1ooZiHeOAugZtfZPBslY_Sg0F9_ooq07mlI/s320/Photo+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571062941350729922" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It looks like it may have either been a prison or military building in an earlier time. I believe it could now be a tourist information centre. If anyone recognises it I would be interested for future reference.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Having passed through a village,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pgim1kkFgfBqv6xrDxNFt-kfL5ni0H4ysrJqZAopf1srUEdxL_JjMYI5HMv28womCg8kxpcNY911BuxM8mAh12Te12rfiseDIx6gRTdkmA7uxStnPGbKnArouNQG4mnzqwEYQSS02yI/s1600/Photo+03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pgim1kkFgfBqv6xrDxNFt-kfL5ni0H4ysrJqZAopf1srUEdxL_JjMYI5HMv28womCg8kxpcNY911BuxM8mAh12Te12rfiseDIx6gRTdkmA7uxStnPGbKnArouNQG4mnzqwEYQSS02yI/s320/Photo+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571062949018155458" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">we caught up with a local taking his trials bike for a spin.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UotVxowr3Wr8AAEf6ZekWm32GY3UHRF75QPjVS8dSERaqYlC65T_RyFNt7egHo7y5SqH8O7ZoJUmcFrddWCu1wlYjBGPbUFcHTnIbbNh41ElVv4DkfsVCO0DR21UGofbKck1-UGEhWI/s1600/Photo+04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UotVxowr3Wr8AAEf6ZekWm32GY3UHRF75QPjVS8dSERaqYlC65T_RyFNt7egHo7y5SqH8O7ZoJUmcFrddWCu1wlYjBGPbUFcHTnIbbNh41ElVv4DkfsVCO0DR21UGofbKck1-UGEhWI/s320/Photo+04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571062957766752242" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Leaving behind a holiday resort that is in the process of being expanded we began to climb into the mountains.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPXsvaozuNEERYKAffzoySwrlPyf-PLda-9vezATGXRTaPCQD7RyO2v8dm0jYqvHMT3bcibRvbUD0m2ukfg8a-Y7PzDETEIqc4TzPh9q2q4Sf7A7vPCCRo6HhL4Qx6JNGqHS5irvZpTg/s1600/Photo+05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPXsvaozuNEERYKAffzoySwrlPyf-PLda-9vezATGXRTaPCQD7RyO2v8dm0jYqvHMT3bcibRvbUD0m2ukfg8a-Y7PzDETEIqc4TzPh9q2q4Sf7A7vPCCRo6HhL4Qx6JNGqHS5irvZpTg/s320/Photo+05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571062968754351634" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eventually we saw the ski lift, some distance from the resort.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqGLjX6CAlsZQpLQHqewO41gRvuzB737w_9lO9tHC8ZAhaO-eRVcyWLtuGnFZajz6WsEbG9mFSIm1l2dkPCsij_FmnZNd-fJwSyyrKdKeqAsD30dv2QZFBIwNsrU0whyphenhyphen3r0Q9L9BvPUc/s1600/Photo+06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqGLjX6CAlsZQpLQHqewO41gRvuzB737w_9lO9tHC8ZAhaO-eRVcyWLtuGnFZajz6WsEbG9mFSIm1l2dkPCsij_FmnZNd-fJwSyyrKdKeqAsD30dv2QZFBIwNsrU0whyphenhyphen3r0Q9L9BvPUc/s320/Photo+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571064227003901234" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And still we climb.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL73bhXljDGjaipzxM3Ecx3_vPmiSoSTOCiguF-jFmMMr40yS8qa-a5V1OJBH4whXrBJ5csl33QFNacDw5CEJy6aPOUyEnPGjvdDKQZvN24WA9HvRH_0PP8w9-XBsEM_ItT9pBOXIsbM/s1600/Photo+07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL73bhXljDGjaipzxM3Ecx3_vPmiSoSTOCiguF-jFmMMr40yS8qa-a5V1OJBH4whXrBJ5csl33QFNacDw5CEJy6aPOUyEnPGjvdDKQZvN24WA9HvRH_0PP8w9-XBsEM_ItT9pBOXIsbM/s320/Photo+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571064233541610418" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eventually we reach the summit and have to refuse the welcome sight of a café due to the time. Guzzisue continues taking pictures on the decent.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWuBvMs0qfYdNPoVC95d4Y69-z3y2lR2OuGhkFt6Ow5DfIPTrP5Q4K9QA9i5aTPqKVr9KirS9n7GIqsKCFKPCtMy04zAaOnygwcQdjVjcH4Kp5dBJWrE34qWlMDN0LqQLlV0apueI3qM/s1600/Photo+08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWuBvMs0qfYdNPoVC95d4Y69-z3y2lR2OuGhkFt6Ow5DfIPTrP5Q4K9QA9i5aTPqKVr9KirS9n7GIqsKCFKPCtMy04zAaOnygwcQdjVjcH4Kp5dBJWrE34qWlMDN0LqQLlV0apueI3qM/s320/Photo+08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571064241689655890" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first pass of the day completed, refreshment is taken in Jausiers, prior to turning onto the D64 and the Col de la Bonette. O n the climb we pass an old military building, Casernes de Restefond.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ScV11uZv2CcHt7R8Omqqchh2jiqYGLAPXYY_iLQIb5KPV9hsgRGcR0jDSb2ycNTNBxitFo3N5aUa2ar5ZYwBuEW6Y8SsvI2NHEobBRiMh32x2eVWT0dgm6Ko5ee6ygAHsYe6JIjrgw/s1600/Photo+09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ScV11uZv2CcHt7R8Omqqchh2jiqYGLAPXYY_iLQIb5KPV9hsgRGcR0jDSb2ycNTNBxitFo3N5aUa2ar5ZYwBuEW6Y8SsvI2NHEobBRiMh32x2eVWT0dgm6Ko5ee6ygAHsYe6JIjrgw/s320/Photo+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571064250203143138" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Close to the summit there are some bunkers by the roadside, dating to the Second World War.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDnVUJzzrhYQlywqqL3_LPkJtpO0qpm6y8GHZcd4EL9qeiiHb0OtNH0-BRDXqLRZpjlOOUKXWYX7XxrTia3-LBwaVAWc_-nqd6YdACycjNbZqFuErV1RlopOOKANt9Y1IvWdGbOiDM1I/s1600/Photo+10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDnVUJzzrhYQlywqqL3_LPkJtpO0qpm6y8GHZcd4EL9qeiiHb0OtNH0-BRDXqLRZpjlOOUKXWYX7XxrTia3-LBwaVAWc_-nqd6YdACycjNbZqFuErV1RlopOOKANt9Y1IvWdGbOiDM1I/s320/Photo+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571064258633216290" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Deciding not to take the circular road to the highest point, Ian pointed the Guzzi to start the descent. Negotiating the mountain’s rush hour,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTrkAw0p50d3UOyyRG-FH83QHJcj_VNHyLejwE4ZdHNXQWyekGb7ubNZaWJpOyaxMyFExgiVmayD9z9vSjvXOcOAlrZOAdzvrZEXETTV68EABx1P1_D2mcMh46CTY5zcheBOJZgjx6HM/s1600/Photo+11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTrkAw0p50d3UOyyRG-FH83QHJcj_VNHyLejwE4ZdHNXQWyekGb7ubNZaWJpOyaxMyFExgiVmayD9z9vSjvXOcOAlrZOAdzvrZEXETTV68EABx1P1_D2mcMh46CTY5zcheBOJZgjx6HM/s320/Photo+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065112428383682" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">8kms from the Col de la Bonette, well camouflaged from a distance we came upon this little ‘settlement’.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSP5LMeXwj66_xxSgBsE5xFnXBM2chYeQ0up3C79y4PadXL3s2eX6CH9jva2ewjFx13oDhNBEnxWbjVG9m3dSx9Ft7IczsBf2J5cqEHVr9nZOf8ew2IM7UADol09JhlZF8v3oAUDB_yI/s1600/Photo+12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSP5LMeXwj66_xxSgBsE5xFnXBM2chYeQ0up3C79y4PadXL3s2eX6CH9jva2ewjFx13oDhNBEnxWbjVG9m3dSx9Ft7IczsBf2J5cqEHVr9nZOf8ew2IM7UADol09JhlZF8v3oAUDB_yI/s320/Photo+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065120225396322" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The settlement is Camp Fork, built between 1896 and 1910 with additions up to the Second World War. There are a total of 26 buildings, built to look like cottages but included stables, kitchen and a bread oven. There was a cable car built in the 1930s, giving contact with the village of Pra, thus a supply route was built. Unfortunately the building was destroyed to widen the road at the forts entrance in 2006.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When at full strength the fort was manned by 150 guards, less in the winter months. Although there was fighting in the area around the fort in 1939 and 1944 there are no records of the fort being damaged in conflict.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcdt57N-cwmINQiRNXDQbM7OvWpJisZzX_fDbDrUUMspSxWr93ZVwp-ZsDp6yQkcGfZ-DwA2UE_RcOC2gSonTBqQrPSklepQDSwFqyrEHTxzngUySnCmudYLUePx4fZ32P8n5UqG6QWk/s1600/Photo+13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcdt57N-cwmINQiRNXDQbM7OvWpJisZzX_fDbDrUUMspSxWr93ZVwp-ZsDp6yQkcGfZ-DwA2UE_RcOC2gSonTBqQrPSklepQDSwFqyrEHTxzngUySnCmudYLUePx4fZ32P8n5UqG6QWk/s320/Photo+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065122437973202" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_CJNxfYb0aOA8tQeu3RQsFe-nm5glAo-igOTx7kywiJhGDys_jzbRdpgwAg4aKkGMHY6VufHtu8FzE0L3qHAR97Kn5qnIfVmKcjeJvStZtmMMEjs07egQi9ZyOVe3axNkUulZZ7fkgI/s1600/Photo+14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_CJNxfYb0aOA8tQeu3RQsFe-nm5glAo-igOTx7kywiJhGDys_jzbRdpgwAg4aKkGMHY6VufHtu8FzE0L3qHAR97Kn5qnIfVmKcjeJvStZtmMMEjs07egQi9ZyOVe3axNkUulZZ7fkgI/s320/Photo+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065137775472674" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDM2ZOnSC8hru3LNwD575bhTLWW3iXT3icbI5eoHuAH9Ld5NcOK7zXDZroAvdJB8sdhjV0niRB7tTHyQrAimq_3oETZHpYquaGu1de-h1UuFExzooRr0_Y7r9i3JUPfg7wHHHcied7Pg/s1600/Photo+15.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDM2ZOnSC8hru3LNwD575bhTLWW3iXT3icbI5eoHuAH9Ld5NcOK7zXDZroAvdJB8sdhjV0niRB7tTHyQrAimq_3oETZHpYquaGu1de-h1UuFExzooRr0_Y7r9i3JUPfg7wHHHcied7Pg/s320/Photo+15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065140066232770" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Inside the command post there are some murals painted, along with some in the other buildings. These are slowly crumbling away, like the buildings themselves.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZGfu-1rdviNST95ASqlWL8_GzjC_l4EN7FYxQ-o6OYK853lDJ5iI6UAsozkqggsMy9WQzHaOsizyWyBRTVz85S23g42WxJOJ45TFBSHU6yXWszvy13sFDlgIz9sJn_KAf2RMAgQSrBo/s1600/Photo+16.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZGfu-1rdviNST95ASqlWL8_GzjC_l4EN7FYxQ-o6OYK853lDJ5iI6UAsozkqggsMy9WQzHaOsizyWyBRTVz85S23g42WxJOJ45TFBSHU6yXWszvy13sFDlgIz9sJn_KAf2RMAgQSrBo/s320/Photo+16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065426696285410" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Having spent some times wandering round the camp it was time to head on down the pass and back towards Digne.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHpWvbpAfYiLn1FHDfnNxCI6T63IjkoZAT2kwWm08tUNPJ7uRkLSAaXOlXrGcXdhyM5QwzeFEsVBqXHQcWxJ-hZRYzBWqhfmEYPB2-bXZmwZZZNIk99PBY4-rk_YmAd1otQnuhdwMQxQ/s1600/Photo+17.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHpWvbpAfYiLn1FHDfnNxCI6T63IjkoZAT2kwWm08tUNPJ7uRkLSAaXOlXrGcXdhyM5QwzeFEsVBqXHQcWxJ-hZRYzBWqhfmEYPB2-bXZmwZZZNIk99PBY4-rk_YmAd1otQnuhdwMQxQ/s320/Photo+17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571065435672314946" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >It was on the return journey that the mountain pass was not the only thing to be heading in a downwards direction.<br /><br /><br /></span>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-18246963890307033122011-02-07T13:15:00.002+00:002011-02-07T18:21:30.467+00:001st Monday Music Movie - Imelda MayBorn in Dublin, the youngest of 5 children, Imelda was influenced by her elders music tastes. At 14 she made her professional debut on a Findus Fish Finger commercial singing 'Betcha never put your finger on a crunchier crumb!'<br /><br />She began singing in clubs at the age of 16 and was occasionally barred from her own shows at Dublin's Bruxelles clud for being underage!<br /><br />Forming her own band in2006 her popularity began to grow and in 2009 she became the first femail Irish artist to top her home country's chart for 20 years.<br /><br />Here we see Imelda performing 'Train kept a rollin'' and 'Go tell the devil' at Nottingham's City Pulse in 2010<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lqr77ubLHeA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-28432850956329387612011-01-09T17:02:00.007+00:002011-01-09T17:38:45.887+00:002007 It Had to Happen Sometime-Bucket & Spade RequiredOver the years we have been spoilt. As long as I recall, every breakfast in France has been a feast. The breakfast room has been filled with breads, various meats and cheeses, an assortment of fruit juices along with hot beverages, amongst other delights.<span style=""> </span>It was easy to see the disappointment in Ian’s face when he saw a <i>traditional </i>French breakfast. Jam, croissant and some dry bread. Not being a caffeine drinker, Ian managed to obtain a bottle of cold water to wash everything down with. A large mental note was made by the three of us to grab a large bite to eat later. We were not the only travellers to be disappointed as we saw a couple taking food up to their room! <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As Ian had never seen the Mediterranean we all agreed that would be a good ride for today, so departing Digne we soon picked up the N85, Route Napoléon and enjoyed a steady ride south, unlike the Emperor himself who headed north and ultimately to his defeat at Waterloo.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Stopping briefly for our first view of the Mediterranean </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgh5O-RNgrd9AQTWTG86yo4R6Cu_DSPPZALpZ-CZ78QX-TRSVviOj_w8iATdtwTV8BoacGWRYGABaaF1SsyKgOGDi3AiebPacYZ965bCbL2NMDursFxxIuMuX56T9rGvqCW7kNXa7Ajk/s1600/Photo+01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgh5O-RNgrd9AQTWTG86yo4R6Cu_DSPPZALpZ-CZ78QX-TRSVviOj_w8iATdtwTV8BoacGWRYGABaaF1SsyKgOGDi3AiebPacYZ965bCbL2NMDursFxxIuMuX56T9rGvqCW7kNXa7Ajk/s320/Photo+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560234597553329362" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We started down the mountain road, reaching Grasse, where the French perfume industry is centred.<span style=""> </span>Grasse is a mere 9 miles northwest of Cannes, our destination, however due to traffic lights stopping us at regular intervals, the final stretch took a long time. The temperature was hovering around 28°C, Ian was getting somewhat overheated in his riding gear, I was wishing I could remove my jacket and cut my fur as my perch on the left hand front indicator was getting rather warm.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eventually the coast was reached, the Guzzi parked up to admire the Med’s horizon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FntsN1F_JffJbdcCMXe6ztwGpFfjAPfN-Nm1mcDSAbnsZuuSiC0se_etKXZswrz8Gsnmg06IUZ2xf5ybZ20qC7U83MjhUb1PMhEPOKsnyzq0TM59pTZF3CcoCG6DVb3KAwzd7jN4COc/s1600/photo+02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FntsN1F_JffJbdcCMXe6ztwGpFfjAPfN-Nm1mcDSAbnsZuuSiC0se_etKXZswrz8Gsnmg06IUZ2xf5ybZ20qC7U83MjhUb1PMhEPOKsnyzq0TM59pTZF3CcoCG6DVb3KAwzd7jN4COc/s320/photo+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560237644588330642" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was rather a windswept day but it did not deter guests from various hotels making the most of the midday sun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwvnDfdjbwxzgOV_HgtS30OlviulBquQNTgKlpGYBPIGgGli4bnq3xhQyu-t6RmuA-Tov1sqZhRIAP5G2SkHOTeaxAI0n5tEBgXBQLATMf_HJOnwSVcUguxND7Jw7XXNvR8qNIxnqRqE/s1600/Photo+03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwvnDfdjbwxzgOV_HgtS30OlviulBquQNTgKlpGYBPIGgGli4bnq3xhQyu-t6RmuA-Tov1sqZhRIAP5G2SkHOTeaxAI0n5tEBgXBQLATMf_HJOnwSVcUguxND7Jw7XXNvR8qNIxnqRqE/s320/Photo+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560234608516416114" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In fact the wind must have been around force 9 or 10 due to the amount of boats seeking refuge in the local harbour.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Frbqxll03I3kUtJ0xqDHM8D1nq-OZeAlEfvLkWQGC5XHo4NGRdKPFqVCFAllBnND3UgJBT86UEyr-lOj7-KT7ngX3ofZ5eIDL1M5VVnlgsRSzTPzSwPk-cqF9JEa8Vt9KoJGz8478oc/s1600/Photo+04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Frbqxll03I3kUtJ0xqDHM8D1nq-OZeAlEfvLkWQGC5XHo4NGRdKPFqVCFAllBnND3UgJBT86UEyr-lOj7-KT7ngX3ofZ5eIDL1M5VVnlgsRSzTPzSwPk-cqF9JEa8Vt9KoJGz8478oc/s320/Photo+04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560234609914971826" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The natives are used to these local weather conditions, undeterred they continued on their promenading along the palm tree lined Promenade de la Croisette.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aKFMrSuwlc644cOoUGYc-1BHAqa8iV5VqT04UaEFbaIWmcXZz8PhtTeIU6Zpfugs3RPu7y0irP_W68N8ur_hkclCIytL2LmDHcrgOgDOiZwO5XA_ZPK17vGe7x0Fkdp0k2OuZ403xvM/s1600/Photo+05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1aKFMrSuwlc644cOoUGYc-1BHAqa8iV5VqT04UaEFbaIWmcXZz8PhtTeIU6Zpfugs3RPu7y0irP_W68N8ur_hkclCIytL2LmDHcrgOgDOiZwO5XA_ZPK17vGe7x0Fkdp0k2OuZ403xvM/s320/Photo+05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560234618843236514" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mingling with the locals we also sauntered along the Promenade and found this movie camera statue situated near the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_des_Festivals_et_des_Congr%C3%A8s"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Palais des Festivals et des Congrès</span></a>, which surprisingly none of us took a photo of!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XReiOnIzAI0yEHwM7RLpWb6Ue7D6PjacSIGwmh9x-3SWLZ5wHlqHP8iUF87GkO7rzG_oZdpfvzjAcj52hE_2byOtluTaU4rEyciGdeCdD6Tw-y7p7TojpwM83wWj14jWKB5FxAv_F00/s1600/Photo+06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XReiOnIzAI0yEHwM7RLpWb6Ue7D6PjacSIGwmh9x-3SWLZ5wHlqHP8iUF87GkO7rzG_oZdpfvzjAcj52hE_2byOtluTaU4rEyciGdeCdD6Tw-y7p7TojpwM83wWj14jWKB5FxAv_F00/s320/Photo+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560234630338544610" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had very little time in Cannes, but did manage to break an (almost) unwritten law and went into a nearby McD****d’s. Well nature was calling. I could escape into some shrubbery but not Ian or Guzzisue. A walk round some of the local shops, down some narrow streets, shoppers tottering on high heels whilst balancing designer labelled carrier bags in their hands and too big sunglasses on too small noses. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ice creams were required and had to be consumed rapidly before they melted. This was successfully accomplished sitting on a bench, looking out to sea.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Two hours in Cannes was certainly not long enough to give an honest opinion of the town. We did not have any idea that we would end up there on this holiday as our original break had been scuppered by some unseasonable weather, therefore we had no idea what to look for. Also due to limited time there may not have been long enough to look round any place of interest. A return visit is necessary in the future.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Riding back the same way gave us the opportunity to notice previously missed stopping off places, for example, there was a small local Citroen Museum and a Resistance Museum, both of which could have been visited if we had the time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7ZmbLC7GDxV6pSfLJdCy5wBhESb4b721YR4-0CROIHC4eXxcAeJn1sghMT3a0mBlD0mHZTWy6A90iXmd2IaJn_CQLgeEVAfwJW5vhXJWuPKuWeG1UvJcrEr6iKmBVkqn8oemmK6j5Cw/s1600/Photo+07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7ZmbLC7GDxV6pSfLJdCy5wBhESb4b721YR4-0CROIHC4eXxcAeJn1sghMT3a0mBlD0mHZTWy6A90iXmd2IaJn_CQLgeEVAfwJW5vhXJWuPKuWeG1UvJcrEr6iKmBVkqn8oemmK6j5Cw/s320/Photo+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560235814753119634" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The course had been set and we had 83 miles to cover along interesting roads to return us to Digne for the evening.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl9SU9lRuQAU6_3DNAPAGrcDOXdkKEDvILOuqnvli9XUrD4lzfOU6EfBk4DBEQYg2b66TDGcIneJLDeP1U6Mf8_cQiFPxCbXGLBLB12qsct-U-k2mTBs0ZtmA01snx5Wx7ejkXz9cn10/s1600/Photo+08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl9SU9lRuQAU6_3DNAPAGrcDOXdkKEDvILOuqnvli9XUrD4lzfOU6EfBk4DBEQYg2b66TDGcIneJLDeP1U6Mf8_cQiFPxCbXGLBLB12qsct-U-k2mTBs0ZtmA01snx5Wx7ejkXz9cn10/s320/Photo+08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560235819276382178" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBB_nWIPP7b5RPTKMI-EyrSBDT9vc9IM_40_L2oEaVg9RDMP5X84Wx8FqEeNUnyXx3Mi_qTg_yIJ0yX5uzmRf1RYfBOWxyZ8G-E0zMRb-ZSCV3PrbWVQluDw30c44-4CY2Ht2g5LQJFI/s1600/Photo+09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBB_nWIPP7b5RPTKMI-EyrSBDT9vc9IM_40_L2oEaVg9RDMP5X84Wx8FqEeNUnyXx3Mi_qTg_yIJ0yX5uzmRf1RYfBOWxyZ8G-E0zMRb-ZSCV3PrbWVQluDw30c44-4CY2Ht2g5LQJFI/s320/Photo+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560235827914057634" border="0" /></a></p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-45273057926253197942011-01-03T13:01:00.002+00:002011-01-03T13:01:00.407+00:001st Monday Music Movie-Seven Little Sisters<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Named after</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Willis_%28traveller%29"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">William Willis</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">' raft, on which he sailed from South America to American Samoa in 1954, the</span> <a href="http://www.sevenlittlesisters.com/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Seven Little Sisiters</span></a> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(SLS) also have their own story.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ian and Guzzisue first met the band back in 1993 or 1994 on their tour of Scotland. Ian had noticed a poster in the tourist information centre in Portree, Isle of Skye, advertising a concert taking place down at the</span> <a href="http://www.sligachan.co.uk/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Sligachan Hotel</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> that night. Upon entering the hotel, as the band were setting up their equipment, they were asked the question "How many are in the group now?" The band members were taken aback as they had not realised that their fame had stretched this far north. And so began a friendship that would last for some time.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In 1995 SLS released their album Cow Trousers, with a small gig in Nottingham's Virgin Megastore. Below is the poster advertising this gig.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizf24zze4sWRNMGnY90eVjjZqPGgmIuth9t3yCWwtIggoacF70EkEMD3zzBUADY8WFSUvLVD9iw_aMbE9CESFgwPHs46CNC23XqJ4UIfSaVLpxNfQuP6bU0wQeGR1xsSxKha4HOJNn9c/s1600/poster+002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizf24zze4sWRNMGnY90eVjjZqPGgmIuth9t3yCWwtIggoacF70EkEMD3zzBUADY8WFSUvLVD9iw_aMbE9CESFgwPHs46CNC23XqJ4UIfSaVLpxNfQuP6bU0wQeGR1xsSxKha4HOJNn9c/s320/poster+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544596237273229090" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Slowly the band were getting a reputation for being a great live act with their celtic, folk rock, bluegrass style. They had even supported the</span> <a href="http://www.oysterband.co.uk/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Oyster Band</span></a> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">on several occasions. Things were really on a roll until the fateful day when their van, including all their instruments and equipment was stolen.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">From that fateful moment the band just fell apart and the boys all drifted apart. Ian and Guzzisue bumped into Jon Harris in early 2010 and there was no mention of the band reforming, so how did this come about?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The tale starts one day when a friend of Jon's mentions a website, the</span> <a href="http://www.azbushcraft.com/index.php/d/dance-series-2"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A-Z of Bushcraft</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. This site has many short videos on Youtube, with SLS's song When The Wind Blows as theme music! There are many comments about the theme music, who is the group? are they playing anywhere? etc, etc, etc. One of the older comments was from a band member saying that they had split up some years ago and that a comeback was unlikely.....</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ian receives an email every week giving information about events, gigs and films for the following week in Nottingham. One that caught his eye was for a gig by SLS at the Salutation on September 25th! Well it would have been rude not to go.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ian had already mentioned the gig to his friends and Guzzisue had informed her knitting companion. As we approached the pub several Sisters were outside having a cigarette and talk when they saw us. They were surprised and pleased to see faces from 12 years previous.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Understandably the band were nervous about their return, but the packed upstairs audience was with them all the way.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The reformed band have now played three times and have been well received at each venue. Gigs and festival bookings are now building for this year and a follow up album is being recorded.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Although the film clip is of poor picture quality, the sound makes up for this. Recorded at the Robin Hood Hotel, Sherwood, Nottingham. I give you the Seven Little Sisters!</span><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6P1mpXDpqU?fs=1&hl=en_GB"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N6P1mpXDpqU?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-2870038919011989832010-12-06T12:15:00.001+00:002010-12-06T12:15:00.417+00:001st Monday Music Movie - Wee Willie Harris<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The legendary Wee Willie Harris, as mentioned in Ian Dury and The Blockheads song Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3. He was the second act on the stage in the Old Market Square on Saturday 29th May, still going strong in his seventies.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">He came to fame in the 1950's when he became known as Britain's wild man of rock 'n' roll. TV appearences on BBC's Six-Five Special leading to concerns in the national media as the BBC was promoting "teenage decadence". Rock on Charles William Harris!</span><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FieAiyffMdc?fs=1&hl=en_GB"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FieAiyffMdc?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-21889005593767974622010-11-28T12:42:00.006+00:002010-11-28T12:59:49.396+00:002007 It Had to Happen Sometime-Drivin' South<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Breakfasted, Guzzi back out of the garage and loaded, farewells farewelled, we were back on the road. Playtime.</span> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal"> Today’s route included some of the roads that had recently been recommended in Motor Cycle News, a weekly paper in the United Kingdom. The route we took had excellent scenery, married with the local wildlife and paragliders. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> We first headed for Briançon and followed the D902,</span> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_d%27Izoard"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Le Col d’Izoard</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" >. This road is often part of the </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_horscourseTDF.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Tour de France</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" >. The day could not have been better for motorcycling and the scenery was breathtaking.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHki5as4uge1CFjPxODu95mw9_a-MhxwblnKiBQiarSL_2KCbGmOnsP_8NcMXdf1d1NhN1Fsy6rFT16XaCMCh9kbD7EpptnZKu8KJAlqWjqyL2yd79dduXGEzFbThr8kOFkgiD6OVrBwc/s1600/2007+holiday+01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHki5as4uge1CFjPxODu95mw9_a-MhxwblnKiBQiarSL_2KCbGmOnsP_8NcMXdf1d1NhN1Fsy6rFT16XaCMCh9kbD7EpptnZKu8KJAlqWjqyL2yd79dduXGEzFbThr8kOFkgiD6OVrBwc/s320/2007+holiday+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544581294172145314" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelj2-8cbP1aB3Bc-E_VWEe_7A4J3wXdRUTGPRf33X9TnCTBoj8569n7z-NPJTs9ufOteNjdAJfhGS0DLostMO5IqcVYKgNTx9pfw-b7s65OBSzaT-60lnWoCTSbMP23__6Glm_NskG7g/s1600/2007+holiday+02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelj2-8cbP1aB3Bc-E_VWEe_7A4J3wXdRUTGPRf33X9TnCTBoj8569n7z-NPJTs9ufOteNjdAJfhGS0DLostMO5IqcVYKgNTx9pfw-b7s65OBSzaT-60lnWoCTSbMP23__6Glm_NskG7g/s320/2007+holiday+02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544581289752855890" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf4WRNZouEzqtcSwFpQtUlTA1xFtMXlt9BfRZGzkrG_-P_bwGQtIRS6C1kFsvFTO8LpvCCaVPSXHqtRK2G1U8c0aGLFLbgQ8pmAv_S-Wb4AHzVCfENYaZsfZ3k4FJG7ZD3srj_MZQdFY/s1600/2007+holiday+03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf4WRNZouEzqtcSwFpQtUlTA1xFtMXlt9BfRZGzkrG_-P_bwGQtIRS6C1kFsvFTO8LpvCCaVPSXHqtRK2G1U8c0aGLFLbgQ8pmAv_S-Wb4AHzVCfENYaZsfZ3k4FJG7ZD3srj_MZQdFY/s320/2007+holiday+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544581264328603650" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As we were in no hurry today Ian let the other road users pass,</span> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-CAD_9uAO_iPUWkTXcmj7gxZ1Y46xYowLrPZ8N3T9RWZ2Jg2mquEqTqAd4DXy_U8TQ3esXWaABmgZeEwItNDTNmbKbNcCxRQOV-sGi6VfsDxDbj8LTTga1RyrGupzEC_AIU5JSH8xL0/s1600/2007+holiday+04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-CAD_9uAO_iPUWkTXcmj7gxZ1Y46xYowLrPZ8N3T9RWZ2Jg2mquEqTqAd4DXy_U8TQ3esXWaABmgZeEwItNDTNmbKbNcCxRQOV-sGi6VfsDxDbj8LTTga1RyrGupzEC_AIU5JSH8xL0/s320/2007+holiday+04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544581257686552306" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal">thus letting us enjoy the views in peace.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp-B5v39QmLso3BzkVo7t8p7YGLKrS9M9PsEYyl2zn0X0Ro7iKWxKpCeQraSgmo3UjrYHCWqsK9n-tvdDhLiN0VDbeGBCLZ4L0GBiZk5fpJM1Vhoo-eOxMSf9vNFyDyWb49jtPAFgyYY/s1600/2007+holiday+05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp-B5v39QmLso3BzkVo7t8p7YGLKrS9M9PsEYyl2zn0X0Ro7iKWxKpCeQraSgmo3UjrYHCWqsK9n-tvdDhLiN0VDbeGBCLZ4L0GBiZk5fpJM1Vhoo-eOxMSf9vNFyDyWb49jtPAFgyYY/s320/2007+holiday+05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544581251499948770" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHP3Vhcfj_NINP98yHwGzauQw3_f_aENvA7dsWTImvieSwrRSWonpS_tAlyHo3HxX8pFr0P8bcf7q-9fMkwkpAqd5-K2Re8VQUJbbjBs4fJ87O_JpLzNXkBksV81GOpCWUw_-fcQOqiA/s1600/2007+holiday+06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHP3Vhcfj_NINP98yHwGzauQw3_f_aENvA7dsWTImvieSwrRSWonpS_tAlyHo3HxX8pFr0P8bcf7q-9fMkwkpAqd5-K2Re8VQUJbbjBs4fJ87O_JpLzNXkBksV81GOpCWUw_-fcQOqiA/s320/2007+holiday+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544580861480018434" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEmmnntk5pNdW-bEUSBHXwwc6ycPACbVyjkyvo1riBX1Rx9T_s1ShtuSFllbcwIKhjMoV508rbZSzpzHJgE2qHeOIWlN81Mr1lDEJAuWQ3qwxCTcZIxQ5_R3ZBNEqhZCVgwryaLyaeLo/s1600/2007+holiday+07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEmmnntk5pNdW-bEUSBHXwwc6ycPACbVyjkyvo1riBX1Rx9T_s1ShtuSFllbcwIKhjMoV508rbZSzpzHJgE2qHeOIWlN81Mr1lDEJAuWQ3qwxCTcZIxQ5_R3ZBNEqhZCVgwryaLyaeLo/s320/2007+holiday+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544580857124791810" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYisUq5dhKaRXsoMVYF1BKrri_zf0PE2gdD4SYAWneYmOv6eSPL0JoKNolvl8ENKzzbp9C9Rup5oWsSKZEqRnCAEqU6BSeGhzLQ8IlEiS5wW89HBSyUemMP1RKkU5DmbHDBTKLNLm8Q4/s1600/2007+holiday+08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYisUq5dhKaRXsoMVYF1BKrri_zf0PE2gdD4SYAWneYmOv6eSPL0JoKNolvl8ENKzzbp9C9Rup5oWsSKZEqRnCAEqU6BSeGhzLQ8IlEiS5wW89HBSyUemMP1RKkU5DmbHDBTKLNLm8Q4/s320/2007+holiday+08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544580835316112626" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal">If my memory is correct all of the photos were taken on<span style=""> </span>Le Col d’Izoard, however there are many similarities between that particular pass and the Col de Vars. Like </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal">Le Col d’Izoard, this mountain pass has also been used for the Tour de France, 33 times in total.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdcCX1ULmis4Pb8unyh8Hp9bgr05AxXtG2obzs6FoQeb0Qj8LDtEmhW8D2SPKOSwqJanve2CPiWdE_YmpF0Vbna9YcQ2h0-fppJr4TpApixdpnIqD-86DNv9hAhB7Ex6wsrk3ZLBwpc4/s1600/2007+holiday+09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdcCX1ULmis4Pb8unyh8Hp9bgr05AxXtG2obzs6FoQeb0Qj8LDtEmhW8D2SPKOSwqJanve2CPiWdE_YmpF0Vbna9YcQ2h0-fppJr4TpApixdpnIqD-86DNv9hAhB7Ex6wsrk3ZLBwpc4/s320/2007+holiday+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544580824008669858" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN08t459YobFpku2lt5p_NmTuvnBHhLkZJF2TfTevBj-i1TqIL40kR03blCVviaVdXTNVochgYADOUoHQvPGE1QaGvv3LtP0F3cSsh9VWO3Sn2xjjqGXL37DfhypQev-juP9kYf3s0EKM/s1600/2007+holiday+10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN08t459YobFpku2lt5p_NmTuvnBHhLkZJF2TfTevBj-i1TqIL40kR03blCVviaVdXTNVochgYADOUoHQvPGE1QaGvv3LtP0F3cSsh9VWO3Sn2xjjqGXL37DfhypQev-juP9kYf3s0EKM/s320/2007+holiday+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544580823578115858" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Completing our ride over the Col de Vars we headed west on the D900 at St Paul before adding the</span> </span><a href="http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Labouret&ei=5vXwTMXDC8uyhAfAn5ioDw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ7gEwAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcol%2Bdu%2Blabouret%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D922%26bih%3D548%26gbv%3D2%26prmd%3Div"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Col du Labouret</span></a><span style="color:black;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">to the collection of completed passes. This brought us to our destination, Digne-les-Bains.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" > With a short visit to the tourist information centre the </span><a href="http://www.hotel-alpes-provence.com/index2.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Hôtel de Provence</span></a><span style="color:black;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">was selected as our base. The hotel had an area off road at the front for parking, which is in short supply for the town centre hotels. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Relaxed, showered and ready to hit the town, however, something is missing. It was almost like boarding the</span> </span><a href="http://www.maryceleste.net/part2.htm"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Mary Celeste</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" >. Many of the town’s restaurants were open for business, but the hungry hoard consisted of Ian, Guzzisue and myself. Digne, where the action isn’t!</span></p>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395478019622770176.post-2218260274057868572010-11-01T11:49:00.000+00:002010-11-01T11:49:00.170+00:001st Monday Music Movie -The GrinnigogsBelatedly inspired by <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://teninchwheeler.blogspot.com/2010/10/you-probably-didnt-see-it-here-first.html">Ten-Inch Wheels</a> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">occasional series entitled Lazy Blogging, I bring my version of this. The one difference is that the musical interludes will be filmed by yours</span></span> truly.<br /><br />Bank Holiday in Nottingham, the rain comes down and we are getting ratty with each other. Doing our, what was to be final lap of the stages, we come across the <a href="http://www.grinnigogs.co.uk/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Grinnigogs</span></a>. Medieval music with attitude! Despite the weather they had a pretty good crowd and a great sound. Medieval electric rock with a hammer dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, fiddle and drum. The tune being played is the 8 step trance.<br /><br />The Grinnigogs were one of many bands playing over the holiday weekend as part of the City Pulse event. The Robin Hood Pageant was drawing to a close at the castle and it was fitting that a medieval music event drew peoples' attention to this.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R9HnMHe1X1k?fs=1&hl=en_GB"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R9HnMHe1X1k?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>bikertedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16787908890609485075noreply@blogger.com0