Sunny Sundays

Hello to everyone visiting here in the past weeks.days/hours. Still tends to amaze me that over 7000 viewers from across the globe have had a peek at my ramblings. Thanks again.

Next week see's the 'BIG' Bike Show in Birmingham UK, probably the largest collection of manufacturers, suppliers and businesses in the UK trade, showing their wares to us 'punters'.

It's a costly affair with entry fees, parking and 90 miles each way. last years show was just about ruined by heavy snow, so maybe this time it might get busy. I will probably turn up like a dud battery, I need some winter gloves anyway, and often there are some bargains to be searched out.

I have been having word a with the new North West Blood Bikes, a charity (in the making), that rushes about the country with supplies of donated blood and baby milk, for free, 24-7. Aimed at the health service and hospitals, Breast Milk banks etc, they do it for nothing, and even pay their own fuel (for now).


Find them on Twitter and Facebook, and LIKE/Follow their progress.

KAWASHAZY

I recently bought this little Kawazaki Z250LTD for Sharon (Mrs R2M), as a doer upper. Shaz took here CBT earlier in the year, so to encourage her to take a further test before heading out, the 250 will be just enough until she gets a few miles done. Keep looking though, as it will soon be 'Electric Blue'. Renamed Kawashazy too..

After my experiences on the big Honda Goldwing, and my own R1200GSa, the heavy work loads have become the norm, and I have added the task of carrying camera men to my remit, to get some more mileage in.

My CV now looks like a copy of war and piece, and as my standard fully loaded kerbside weight has been in the 390- 500kgs range this year and for some time, having a monkey on the back throwing a 30kg camera around makes things so much simplier. (Honest)

Visit my Facebook page and vote for the photo competition....please

www.facebook.com/roadtomanchester I am also trying to boost my twitter friends at

www.twitter.com/road2manchester

another new one. E mail road2manchester@gmail.com NO PHISHERMEN PLEASE

Phew, that was a long post. It's now 1am though as the clocks went back today it would have been 2am. We have this weird hour gain and loss each year, to gain a few more hours daylight in the winter.

It doesn't work, it's still dark when you get up, and dark on the way home from work by the end of November.

I'm singing in the rain

Wet Wet Wet, thats my weather report for today.

Started the day with a 2nd shower as a big 4x4 hit a "road-lake" just beside me, and manage to send 40 gallons of water straight at me. That was 1 mile from the hotel, so add wet roads, and fully 10 gauge rain by 3pm, it was a great start.

Despite the overnight rain, I left Boston at 7am and was in Man#1 by 8am. Manchester-By-The-Sea. Breakfast of easy over eggs, bacon and coffee for $7.94 cheered me up, and a long chat with a local chap, made my breakfast an interesting one.

M-B-T-S as the locals call it, had the "by the Sea" title added to make sure the town was not confused with the New Hampshire , Manchester. I am not sure when this happened, but I bet it was when Sateleite Navigation Units became available. (Tee Hee)

This part of Massachusetts is fantastic and shows signs of a certain 'wealth' within the North East. Some of the best houses I have ever seen..... ever. And I have seen some nice ones.

Here are` some pics taken today, but my battery went early on. (the only one I didn't charge).

Between Manc #1 and #2 in New Hampshire, I set the Goldwing sat nav to 'avoid highways', which I took for meaning Freeways ...... oops !

The advantage, some great backroads, but the rain was getting heavier by the hour, and by 2pm total deluge, so on the outskirts of Manc' New Hamps, I pulled into the Best Western, (I know , getting soft !). Tomorrow a skip around the town, more photos and video, and then off to Manc#3 Maine.

Thanks to all invites from www.advrider.com forum (Brit Passin Thru).

And if you find youself in Boston...... go see..... by the sea.

More stuff on my facebook/roadtomanchester page.

(Missing Shaz, Lexi,Harley & Ruby XXX)

The Beauty & the Beast

No comments which one is which, But here it is. My office for the next month.

Many thanks to Boston Honda (Victory) dealers in Foxboro, Boston. Who went out of there way to help and even asked me to join them for lunch and a meal tonight.

Thanks guys.

Goooooood Morning USA

http://youtu.be/5GClZJ5looY

Friday 13th 9am Manchester UK


Hello from Boston Massachusetts.
Well what a shock the last 48 hours have been. TV and Radio interviews, Newspaper stories. Over 3000 extra 'Red Dot' hits on my Revolver Globe. (see below right). Twitter followers up t0 1100. The Bennetts Biker Dream machine is really getting started.

After 21 hours on the go yesterday, I arrived in Boston around 10 pm local time (3am in my head).
I am collecting the bike today from Boston Honda, and starting the search for Manchesters just 30 miles down the road in Manchester-by-the Sea. (MA). New Hampshire, Maine then Vermont.

Over the next few days I will be adding photos, video and comments that can be seen here,or facebook/roadtomanchester or twitter/road2manchester or on facebook/bennetts

Thanks to all at then office for their help and support, and a quick hello to my friends and family back home.

LATER DUDES.... as no one has said around here. (yet !)

Bennetts video from MCN Live

http://www.bennetts.co.uk/Bennetts-News/BennettsLive-2011/Bennetts-Live-Photos-Videos/MCN-Live-2011-Video/ Yours truly is at the end..... last 2mins. Sunday. Fantastic weather with total sun, (unlike today, its raining again). I took the GS for a spin. Cat N Fiddle Nr Buxton. I passed an old chap on a 1960's Triumph about a mile from home, said hello at the lights in Timperley then an hour later whilst chatting to some guys at the Cat N Fiddle pub, in he rolls, a quick circle around the car park, then straight out again heading for Buxton. Hope I am still riding when I am his age. (+70 at least). After a great days riding yestersday (Sunday) a BBQ, a beer and a good nights sleep. I am getting 'stuff' ready for the trip. Then I will start to decide exactly what I can fit in the 'boot' of the Wing. Packing is always a choice of minimums but in the case of the USA, I guess I can always buy 'stuff' when I get there. Pants !!!! wash em or trash em!!! Hmmmn ??? Take a look at the Bennetts video.... I am the big ugly one near the finish. (James Toseland look tiny next to me, sorry Jimbo). Later World !!!! PS: Thanks for your RED DOTS on the revolver globe, I love this app.

Update

http://www.mcnlive.co.uk/

"We are off to Butlins, Skegness."

A phrase I thought I would never say to anyone, let along Mrs J. But it's true.

The 2011 Motor Cycle News (MCN Live) event, party, biker gathering is an annual 'Season' opener and with all the facilities that Butlins holiday camps enjoy, an ideal all weather location.

I have an invitation to trade stands including Bennetts Bike Insurance.

The party runs from 1st to the fourth of April.

We will get up there Friday evening and will bring along some Road2Manchester badges to give away.

Looking forward to the official launch of the 'BIG TRIP' and introduction to my 'celebrity' riding buddy. (I could tell you, but then ........ it wouldn't be a surprize).