Bogsmashers 2006
Friday 2nd June 2006
After failing miserably to pack Thursday night, I'm up about 9ish. A quick shower and start packing my stuff for the weekend away.
Managed to get away from mine for 12, had to do a couple of things and then I was on the road for 1pm. A quiet steady journey down, with a couple of stops along the way for food. Finally get to the camp site after trawling around a small rural village for what seams like forever and am pitched up for about 6pm. Time to have a wander and grab a beer. Talked to a few people I've never met before (this was quite hard going if you know me). Managed to find the only other person from Nottingham there quite quickly. A few more beers and it's off to bed quite early (midnight)
Saturday 3rd June 2006
I'm starting to get used to tendency to wake up early when I'm camping. Up at 8:30am and straight back to bed for another hour or so. Eventually emerge at 10am, time for food. A bacon cob and a few cigarettes later and I start to feel human again. Take some time to wander around the site and look at the bikes. Chilled by the tent until hunger struck again. No food van on site so I go in search of some, my homing ability leads me to the a Pizza Hut in Newbury. A fuel stop on the way back to the site was needed. The ride was nice but the country roads left something to be desired. A quick change and time to hit the beer barn again. Ended up with a small group from Milton Keynes (who if I remember correctly have LJ's but their moniker's escape me). They are part of the Barrel Bikers (Buckingham) MCC and a friendly bunch. Laughs were had, beers were drunk, karaoke was sung! A bloody fantastic evening, even won a prize in the raffle. Unfortunatly it had to end sometime, sometime being 3am.
Sunday 4th June 2006
Once again up at 8:30am. Definatly didn't feel like doing anything, so I sat in front of the tent watching people pack up and leave. Finally motivated myself to get ready for the journey home. Bike packed and ready to go for 11am. The sunburn is starting to hurt now, shouldn't have spent so much time in it on Saturday. Say goodbye to people and head off.
Stop after about 30 miles for a break, it's a lovely day for riding, wish I didn't have all the luggage. Set of once again, another 20 miles down the road I'm cruising at a steady 70 mph (honest officer) and the bike develops a problem. No acceleration, and it's sounding like a Harley. Time to stop at the next available place. Check all obvious causes, nothing looks wrong, hmmm. Decide to give it some time to cool down and see if thats the problem. Set off again and it's clear that this issue is not going away. Haven't got any acceleration and no top end, I'm having to stay in 4th gear to keep any sort of speed, 5th and 6th are just dead and the bike loses speed. Nurse it to J10 of the M40 and the Moto services there (these are the same services I had to recover a certain CG125 from, spooky or what). Time to call for back up, a few calls later and I have a few things to check. Turns out the left cylinder isn't firing, no chance of a fix with the tools I have with me. It's either the coil, HT lead or spark plug.
Rescue time, good job I have this included with my insurance (Carole Nash). They turned up when they said they would, I explained the problem to Ian (recovery man), he doesn't even get his tools out. Tells me he suspects the coil is breaking down. Loads the bike in the back of the van and we're off back to Nottingham. Chatting all the way, didn't even notice the journey go by. My baby is soon back in the garage awaiting repairs.
Fortunatly I have the parts for the fix, just not the time at the moment.
The weekend must go down in my book as one of the best I've ever had, so chilled out and friendly (wish I could have bottled some), even the break down didn't phase me, at no point did I feel stressed or worried, just took everything in my stride. I so need more weekends like that one, the only things that I would have changed are that I should have talked to a few more people (must try and be less shy) and that it wasn't long enough. I'm still smiling now when I think of it.
I did manage to take a few pictures -> http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Dukanmortis/Bogsmashers%202006/
After failing miserably to pack Thursday night, I'm up about 9ish. A quick shower and start packing my stuff for the weekend away.
Managed to get away from mine for 12, had to do a couple of things and then I was on the road for 1pm. A quiet steady journey down, with a couple of stops along the way for food. Finally get to the camp site after trawling around a small rural village for what seams like forever and am pitched up for about 6pm. Time to have a wander and grab a beer. Talked to a few people I've never met before (this was quite hard going if you know me). Managed to find the only other person from Nottingham there quite quickly. A few more beers and it's off to bed quite early (midnight)
Saturday 3rd June 2006
I'm starting to get used to tendency to wake up early when I'm camping. Up at 8:30am and straight back to bed for another hour or so. Eventually emerge at 10am, time for food. A bacon cob and a few cigarettes later and I start to feel human again. Take some time to wander around the site and look at the bikes. Chilled by the tent until hunger struck again. No food van on site so I go in search of some, my homing ability leads me to the a Pizza Hut in Newbury. A fuel stop on the way back to the site was needed. The ride was nice but the country roads left something to be desired. A quick change and time to hit the beer barn again. Ended up with a small group from Milton Keynes (who if I remember correctly have LJ's but their moniker's escape me). They are part of the Barrel Bikers (Buckingham) MCC and a friendly bunch. Laughs were had, beers were drunk, karaoke was sung! A bloody fantastic evening, even won a prize in the raffle. Unfortunatly it had to end sometime, sometime being 3am.
Sunday 4th June 2006
Once again up at 8:30am. Definatly didn't feel like doing anything, so I sat in front of the tent watching people pack up and leave. Finally motivated myself to get ready for the journey home. Bike packed and ready to go for 11am. The sunburn is starting to hurt now, shouldn't have spent so much time in it on Saturday. Say goodbye to people and head off.
Stop after about 30 miles for a break, it's a lovely day for riding, wish I didn't have all the luggage. Set of once again, another 20 miles down the road I'm cruising at a steady 70 mph (honest officer) and the bike develops a problem. No acceleration, and it's sounding like a Harley. Time to stop at the next available place. Check all obvious causes, nothing looks wrong, hmmm. Decide to give it some time to cool down and see if thats the problem. Set off again and it's clear that this issue is not going away. Haven't got any acceleration and no top end, I'm having to stay in 4th gear to keep any sort of speed, 5th and 6th are just dead and the bike loses speed. Nurse it to J10 of the M40 and the Moto services there (these are the same services I had to recover a certain CG125 from, spooky or what). Time to call for back up, a few calls later and I have a few things to check. Turns out the left cylinder isn't firing, no chance of a fix with the tools I have with me. It's either the coil, HT lead or spark plug.
Rescue time, good job I have this included with my insurance (Carole Nash). They turned up when they said they would, I explained the problem to Ian (recovery man), he doesn't even get his tools out. Tells me he suspects the coil is breaking down. Loads the bike in the back of the van and we're off back to Nottingham. Chatting all the way, didn't even notice the journey go by. My baby is soon back in the garage awaiting repairs.
Fortunatly I have the parts for the fix, just not the time at the moment.
The weekend must go down in my book as one of the best I've ever had, so chilled out and friendly (wish I could have bottled some), even the break down didn't phase me, at no point did I feel stressed or worried, just took everything in my stride. I so need more weekends like that one, the only things that I would have changed are that I should have talked to a few more people (must try and be less shy) and that it wasn't long enough. I'm still smiling now when I think of it.
I did manage to take a few pictures -> http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Dukanmortis/Bogsmashers%202006/