So, having finally left around 10 o/c local on Wed am, (as ChrisG predicted, the 9am start was a bit optimistic!) I arrived home around 21.30 local the following day, 811 miles, and two ferries later. Turned out I could get lost without anyone else's help, after all, in Poitiers and later Bath. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]
I was tired but happy to be home, the bike didn't miss a beat the entire trip. Good to see old friends again and meet new ones. Some truly outstanding roads during the week, getting full value from the tyres.
Home ok aftter a disasterous start to the trip as those who were there already know.
Met up with Dannyboy and Big Dave at the bottom of the M5 and agreed to go across Dartmoor to Plymouth. I was leading and made a wrong turn so decided to do a U turn in road which, had the bike not been loaded-up would have been very straight forward. However, obviously leaned it too far, lost balance and ended up in the road with the bike on my right foot. I felt like a right berk and at that point my pride was hurting more than my foot and thankfully DB & BD lifted the bike and helped me up (many thanks guys you were brilliant then and throughout the trip).
After surveying damage to bike (scuffed fairing, mirror, indicator, handguard exhaust and engine bar) decided it was ok to continue riding but foot was now starting to hurt like hell but obviously I didn't want to miss trip so continued to Plymouth to catch ferry. Once aboard foot still hurting so went to see ship's doctor who banadaged it up and told me to rest it. At that point I thought: yeah right, I had roads to ride and corners to take!
Anyhow, apart from a bit of discomfort had a great week, did some great riding and met-up with a great bunch of people; some I already knew and some I met for the first time.
Got home ok on Friday night and went to A&E on Saturday morning to get foot checked. X-ray showed it was broken so it's now plastered up and I'm hobbling about on crutches and won't be riding for a few weeks [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tdown.gif[/img]
Once again, a big thanks to all who were there and hope you all got home safely [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drinks.gif[/img]
Saga by name and by nature,,,,, [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] Glad you got things seen to - here's to a speedy recovery. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drinks.gif[/img]
<!--quoteo(post=128709:date=Sun 12th Jul 2009, 01:20 AM:name=Pict)-->QUOTE(Pict @ Sun 12th Jul 2009, 01:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Saga by name and by nature,,,,, [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] Glad you got things seen to - here's to a speedy recovery. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drinks.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Many thanks Ian, hope I'm not going to get too doddery as age increases [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif[/img]
I'm back too. First chance to get near a PC. All well apart from a good soaking on the way home.
Bike was faultless. Seat was painful and the sat-nav irritating.
I'll do a longer report on Tuesday when I have more time to download pics.
Thanks to one n all for the last 10 days. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]
Took 3 days heading north with Tony, Kris and Poldark, meeting up with Chris and Syra in various towns on the way. One night near Poitiers and then one night at Mont Saint Michel and a wander round there yesterday morning. Split from Chris and Syra at Cherbourg last night, then sat on the sea wall with Tony, Kris and Poldark for a bit of dinner before our ferry. Had a bit of a scare on the ferry when my bottle of Calvados fell out of the top box and bounced on the deck, but fortunatly didn't break. Left the others at Portsmouth and got home about 11:30 last night. Not unpacked anything except the mosquito bite cream yet. Might take me a while to work through the 400ish photos and find some worth posting.
After 2000 mile son the bike it was a shock to the system to get stuck in a traffic jam in the cage this morning. currently sat at work with a large black coffee wishing I was still on holiday. Thanks to all for making it a memorable trip.
1992 Mk1, 76k miles, Hagon springs, MTC exhaust, 4½ gears Gone now
<!--quoteo(post=128772:date=Mon 13th Jul 2009, 01:44 AM:name=Hawmaw)-->QUOTE(Hawmaw @ Mon 13th Jul 2009, 01:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Far too many 900 riders on this trip obviously ! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]
Looks like a brilliant time was had by all.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sure was!
Got back in just after midnight last night, after rather chilly ride up from P'mouth, gotta say a huge thanks to everyone for making my first RTT such a great trip.
Especially D & Edith for all your efforts with food & entertainment, not so sure about Jack & Whisky (can Jack Russells suffer from multiple personalities), also Dandy for his on-the-spot suspension servicing.
And ChrisG I'll never forget our 2 nights together!
A happy 900 rider. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotflmmfao.gif[/img]
P.S. I forgot the obligatory cake shot!
[attachment=o1466]
<!--coloro:#4169E1--><!--/coloro-->'03 silver TDM 900 with V-Strom handguards, GS1150 bar risers, givi box, baglux tank cover, PC III USB with K&N air filter, S/S rad guard, crash bungs, Tigerscreen, iridium plugs, braided front hoses, OEM centre stand, 15W fork oil & 10mm yoke drop, tutoro oiler & sheepskin seat cover!<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> Gone but not forgotten!
we had a great time even with out the bike. E and meself were bit like the chuckwagon crew :-)
but took the bike to work today ... it hit me : i missed out on some good fun in france
T&K arrived home at 00:30 last night/this morning [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]
2200miles, TDM used 1litre of oil, TRX used over 3litres [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]
looks like the TRX needs a bit of TLC tho, rear wheel bearing squeaking while hot and C&S seen better days
still TRiXy did good as a last minute replacement for Kris' sickly banditto
was a fantastic 12days away, Santander, Barcelona, Andorra, Dordogne, Normandy.......
great to see some old faces and some new ones
lol @ paddy, good to speak to you again matey
theres a long boring story attached to the whole 'rooondabooot' thing, best summarised as "boring car journey with a norniron satnav voice leads to pisstaking"
well impressed with Kris [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif[/img] passed her test less than 3months ago then rode around southern europe in some of the hottest weather on a less than comfortable moto, rode on the 'wrong side' for the first time and kept up a decent pace
soooo......Portugal for the next RTT?
"Never argue with an idiot. They just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience"
My TDM
:
Black
1991 850 MK1, 160k+ miles(ish, best guess really, gave up trying to keep count after 3rd set of clocks and 3rd engine), PilotRoad2 tyres, custom stubby exhaust system, bluespot calipers & goodridge braided hoses with dunlopads, maxton forks, Ohlins shock, kedo handguards, stainless TDM grill, Scottoiler with lubetube & dual nozzle thingy, Givi Wingrack2 with E45 & 2xE36s, renntec crash bars, Autocom with blueteeth & PMR radio, TomTom Rider2, Optimate IIIsp, Bagster tank cover, anti-dazzle coating
to fit : led spotlights, heated grips, new braided lines and rear caliper that actually has bleed nipples
Silver-ish
2003 900, 70k miles, PilotRoad3 front tyre (new@65k) & PR2 rear(new at 69k), Renthal 755 bars with KTM handguards, oxford unheated grips, power commander 3usb, scorpion titanium exhausts, standard screen with vario winglet thingy, stainless grill, oem centre stand, bagster tank cover, givi monokey topplate mounted on grabrail with V46 topbox, Givi PL pannier rails with E21s, crash bungs, mirror extender thingys, Halfords Advanced Laser Blue brillance bulbs, 21w led spotlights, touring scottoiler with leehenty dual nozzle, Autocom with blueteeth & PMR radio, TomTom Rider3 Urban, winter style anti-dazzle coating
to fit : led brake light strip, replacement heated grips
current rides : TDM850 3vd/mk1=tourer&scratcher, TRX850=weekend twisty toy, 2003 TDM900=commuter, 2005Â
TDM900=unmolested. Gone but not forgotton : XTZ750=overland touring toy, GS500e, GS125
If a strange looking truck driver honks at you & gives you the thumbs up, its could be me :good:
<!--quoteo(post=128787:date=Mon 13th Jul 2009, 09:35 AM:name=poldark)-->QUOTE(poldark @ Mon 13th Jul 2009, 09:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->P.S. I forgot the obligatory cake shot!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You missed the shot a couple of moments later of me drooling at the window having opted for a baguette in the car park rather than a visit to the coffee shop [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotflmmfao.gif[/img]
<!--quoteo(post=128825:date=Mon 13th Jul 2009, 05:31 PM:name=Guinness)-->QUOTE(Guinness @ Mon 13th Jul 2009, 05:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->took the bike to work today ... it hit me : i missed out on some good fun in france<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yay, welcome back to wheels G [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]
1992 Mk1, 76k miles, Hagon springs, MTC exhaust, 4½ gears Gone now
cheers ChrisG ...
it felt good to mount her again [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img] more confident.
gonna have a look into a paintjob ... maybe red with the MK1 decalls :-)
soooo......Portugal for the next RTT?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->NO !! keep it for the RTT11 ... please? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif[/img]
I already know I wont be able to make next years RTT, not if its the usual date or anywhere during june till october
Looks like you guy's and girls had a great time, the write ups have been brilliant to read just wish I coulda been there. I promise I'll work hard until next time and i'll be dare. Mr G, pm on the way.
<!--quoteo(post=128874:date=Mon 13th Jul 2009, 09:12 PM:name=Hartside Man)-->QUOTE(Hartside Man @ Mon 13th Jul 2009, 09:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->-//-
I STILL FIND THIS THREAD HAS RATHER AN ABSENSE OF PHOTO's come on get the pictures up [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/good.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
well, you not being there must have somit to do with that absense :-)
and what you doing on the forum? go WORK!!!! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]