Stags and things.

Paintball..... not my normal choice of entertainment.
BUT as father of the bride to be, I did my duty and went to my future son in laws STAG-DO. a tradition that was once based around lots of beer, a pub crawl and dressing the 'Stag' up (or down) before chaining him to a lamp post or even better, a plane to some far off land.

Nowadays , the simple stag do is not so acceptable as an array of activity based 'stuff to do' isall a part of the last day of freedom. Many, as this one, are also done weeks or months before the wedding so as to give the groom some time to get over his ordeal.

I am not going to add intimate details of this event, other than to say Le Stag, got very very drunk, slightly scarred, but kept his clothes on for most of the day.

Paintball....... that is the reason for my blog post today.
As mentioned above, the thought of dressing up in used Camouflage  boiler suits, donning a Moto-Cross mask and running around a forest play solders, was not me idea of a good day out.

BUT ! it was a real eye opener.
Despite being shot at by 10-12 opposite team members , getting some proper bruises, and exhausted after 7 'games', the real shock to the system is the feeling helplessness when stuck behind a 12 inch tree, when on is 30 inches wide.
Even popping a head up to see where the 'balls full of pink stuff' were coming from, resulted in at least 10 or 15 bullets either hitting me or getting too close for comfort.

Apart from the sting and the mess the 'sport' creates, there was a real moral tale as far as guns, shooting and those involved in the 'real' world of shooting.

For my American friends whom enjoy shooting anything that moves, flies or hides away.

Consider having a day out at a paintball centre. get shot a few times. Try and hide from the armed masses hell bent on hitting you as many times as they can with a 3/4" plastic ball travelling at 60mph. It ain't gonna kill ya, but boy it smarts, and most of all it gives you a different aspect to being at the receiving end of macho madness.

For those that decide on the benefits systems doled out to ex-forces who have done their time in the middle east, or places around the globe where unrest means real guns being emptied in your general direction. When you are sat behind a barrier in some English woodland and  had the opportunity to see just how easy it is to be shot, I can guarantee that your mindset will be changed.


Paintball as a sport or hobby is a good release from the real world. A stress buster, not something I will be taking up as my weekend happy pill, but I did have fun, I have the scars to prove it and my respect for those who do carry out their work with real guns, in real danger has grown 1000%.

Thanks to James who organised it, Matt for being the rabbit (sorry Stag) in the headlights of 13 mates.

                                               No I haven't shrunk.... I was just crouching.

With my new 'hat' as general manager for www.farruk.com  I have had little use of my bike this month. As the main UK importers and distributors for Linhai and Hisun Quad bikes and utility vehicles, we have over 60 dealers across the UK. Watch out for a FARR as many are sold road legal. @farr_ATV
Shows and promotions rule at this time of the year. Facebook FARR_ATV

This weekend however, I am off to the Horizons Unlimited (see below), HUBB UK meeting (Twitter@HUBBUK)the annual meeting of all things ADVENTURE TRAVEL.
Meeting old friends from the world of long distance motorcycle travel, and maybe learning some new skills.
Camping in the recent weather is a gamble, as each day it rained this week despite a great weekend of sunshine. The great British weather (again).

If I don't see you in the week, I'll see you on the wode.. sorry Road........

My Facebook Avatar 

This is in fact a helmet that I saw in Dallas.

Fantastic bit of glassfibre work.

I sit in the office from 6am each morning. The traffic outside starts to increase as the recent changes in the clock ensures that mornings stay darker but evening will become lighter. British summertime is late as an Easterly wind brings freezing Artic winds from the Pennine Hills.
Here in Manchester (well south of the city), we have missed out on the chaos of regular snow,that much of the country has suffered.
The guy on his Green Kawasaki, and matching leathers comes to a stop at the traffic signals each day, and I shiver in support. I too have stayed true to the cause and ridden through freezing air and sudden snow storms.
The weather is unusual considering this time last year we had a mini heat wave, though today the dry and bright sun tried its hardest to fight the wind, and the Kawasaki man was not alone.
A steady stream of sports bikes, nakeds and the true sign of a good day to ride a couple of Harley.s pop popped by.
Some offering a scream as they showed the drivers just how fast they can leave the spot, others just bimbled by as they caught the lights on green.
Sat shuffling papers, pushing keys and loading files, I looked up as each one came within ear shot. Mixed with the constant drone of traffic on this 'main' road between the M6 and Manchester, the A56 shares its lanes with screaming sirens as the local Police, Ambulance and Fire services test their volume at every passing.
Summer landed in Sale, on a week day, and I am sure this Saturday and Sunday will see many more Weekend Warriors taking their steeds out of the garage for the first time this year.

Watch out for bikes from now on, the riders are rusty, the roads are still dusted  with salt and the sun is still low in the sky.
As the man said:

THINK ONCE>>>>> THINK TWICE>>>>>> THINK BIKE

Before I go, thanks to Triumph, but in't this cute ????

Couple of knobblies on that and Bobs your dirt track.

Ian Coates. RTW legend.

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2013-01-13/biking-great-grandad-back-home-after-14-years/

I have had the great pleasure to accomodate Ian Coates (facebook/iancoates) who I have had on my facebook friends for a number of years.
Ian arrived back in the UK on Friday and asked for a place to pitch his tent in Manchester whilst he visited the Manchester Motorcycle Show.
I asked him to stay here with Sharon and I, and not in his tent but in our spare room.
Arriving in Friday in Hull, he rode the 110 miles to Sale, and arrived looking fresh and certainly not showing his 69 years on this planet.
Leaving home 14 years ago, Ian has been just about everywhere, and despite being back on occasion, his last visit 3 year ago was to see his new great grand son and his family. Mrs Coates has seen Ian 7 times in 14 years, meeting him occasionally with spares, and a holiday.

Ian is a character, and has lots of tales about his self financed trip during which he helps out, works for free bed and food, and only asks for help when he needs it.

From 8 months on a ship between Argentina and New Zealand to getting lost in the Sudan for 2 weeks and almost meeting his maker, Ian and his trusted Honda Africa Twin have travelled 245,000 miles (400,000km) on the same engine, only 4 sets of brake pads, and no major breakdowns.

Not resting too long, Ian is off to Portugal soon to drive back a Landrover he bought a year ago, then plans to be in Mongolia by April if he can find a replacement bike.

I suggested his Twin should be saved and maybe put in a museum.

If one RTW rider needs some corporate support this guy is the one.

With his Fred Dibnah look on life, Ian is a cult figure in the XRV, Facebook and RTW sector, and deserves to be added to the long list of British Eccentrics that become household names via TV.

Ian Coates is on Facebook,

I managed to get Ian and his bike on a stand at the show, Thanks to the organisers, but no thanks to Honda who showed no interest in this record breaking Grandad,

Many people came to meet him and his bike was a great attraction with its fully loaded, dirty and 'well used' gear still strapped on.

Stay safe Ian, and travel long and safe. 

Google / Ian Coates Honda, for lots of stuff.

 

That was a year...... well I guess it was a full one. It seems like the last twelve months went far to quickly. Plans made never seemed to be remembered after a few weeks but as they say;

A man with no direction, will get lost, A man going nowhere  normally gets there, and with that in mind I never got more than a few rides out and about in 2012.

2013 has a few 'ideas' in mind.

Job interview early Jan. Fingers crossed ,

Italy with Sharon taking in the Alps, Lakes and a long awaited trip to Positano.

A few Adventure Bike Rider meets (camping weekends and rides).

But the biggest PLAN is to get my booked finished and then read , re written and hopefully published which would be nice.

Can U thank Ride Magazine for the recent mention, Overland for the Feature, Motorcycle Sports and Leisure for their feature, and over 16000 page hits from across the globe.

Most of all I would like to thank these two ladies in my life. Sharon my wife for putting up with my 'grumpy old man' antics for 32 years, and Alexa my beautiful daughter who will become Mrs Moores in 2013. I love you both and wish you a great New Year.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Overland mag issue #4

With thanks to Paddy Tyson  and the Overland staff for a great write up in the latest  issue. (No 4)
What a classy mag this isand I assure you that if you buy it , you will keep each issue safe.
Apart from excellent stories , the quality of the paper and photo reproductions is second to none.
go to www.overlandmag.com  buy on line and get a new coffe table , cos thats where it will live.

 

 

After a week of bad weather and fog on Thursday, winter is here without doubt. Riding to work each day has become a bit of a chore, but needs must.

 

Christmas is not far away, and the usual huff and stuff that that brings. On a good note Sharon is 51 years old on Monday, and thats nice.

Looking more beautiful each year babe. I loves ya !

 

 

 

That it for December 1st 2012, and if I don't see you before, have a great Xmas.



 

 

Viva Las Vegas

 

Guns n Roses , Las Vegas, Nov 2012

 

Its not eveyday one gets invited to Las Vegas, so it was a pleasant surprise to be asked to fly there from Dallas to train a new gang of stonecoat applicators. Not only another first, but staying in the

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino was another good reason to pack my suitcase yet again.

DFW to Las Vegas is just over 1000 miles and a little over 2 hours on a plane. With a 'problem' before we took off, the delay was explained as the Coffee machine leaking. Hard to believe but an extra hour added after we had boarded is always a pain.

Vegas is a sprawling place in the middle of nowhere and the red rock mountains are quite stunning as you fly in. I missed the Grand Canyon fly over as the guy in the window seat was asleep and the blind was down.

Next day, a quick guide around the offices of CLM and we were underway. Classroom stuff and a quick run through the who, what, where.

After a run through and practise wall day two and three were practical and re-finishing the exterior of the building.

 

The red stone of Nevada was the plan.

 

Later that night, I managed to blag a ticket for Guns and Roses in the hotel. Not a bad end to my Vegas visit.

 

 Front row.... not bad !!!

 

 

By Friday I was back in Addison TX, and spent the last few days relaxing before flying back to the UK.

Saturday saw me attending the Progressive Motorcycle Show in Dallas. A small affair with a good turn out of manufacturers. Some lovely customs and vendors to talk to.

A few hours to myself, and a nice break from 'work',

16 hrs on the go, I arrived back just as Mrs R2M was going out to work.

 

The Motorcycle Live at the NEC Birmingham starts today, So maybe another show by the end of next week.

Take one Honda Goldwing, and start again.