Stats, don't you just love statistics .... over 10,000 hits to my blog from over 50 countries from where someone has viewed this ..  rubbsh.
MERRY CHRISTMAS (and/or seasons greetings) TO ALL OUT THERE.

Ian Coates. That's worth a search on Google.

After a short stay at our place last March, Ian and I have become regular contacts and he recently asked if I could help get him a spot in the up and coming Motorcycle show at the NEC. Birmingham.

The Motorcycle Live event has become the UK's premier bikers show as it is easy to get to and has free internal parking for bikes (needed in November). 

Ian spent 14 years wandering around the globe and with his good humour, self reliance and ability to fix most things mechanical , he survived by being a nice guy.
Search Ian Coated Africa twin on Google then wonder why he is not that well known in the UK.


When he asked me to help get him and his trusty bike into the show, (on someone else,s stand), I was too busy to do much, but put out an all point bullitin on my internet 'places' and he is now going to be there.

well done Ian

Sorry its been so long since I blogged. In June I started my new job and since then been sooooo busy and tired.
The bike scene has changed with me selling BEKU and getting a new R1200GSA 90 year anniversary model which I have only covered 2200 miles on so far.

I have been involved in quad bikes and utility vehicles on a 24-7 basis and though I did get a chance to go camping in West Wales with the Adventure Bike Rider forum guys. This was a rare chance to ride around the coast in the Cardigan area which is a great part of the country.

Onwards and upwards:

Paul Holroyd our friend from Takoda Campsite in Kirkby Stephen Cumbria has just returned from a ride to the Artic Circle, and I look forward to reading the book his second one (see Road to the Sahara).

Winter draws on at the summer ends and the cold winds and falling leaf carpet covers the ground. Christmas next...... crickey !!!!

Later ,,,, though sooner folks,

Its hard to believe that over 23000 views have been made of these rambling notes from people around the world. I guess thats the power of the internet.
After a ride into Wales on Sunday on the new R1200GSa, I find myself once again harking on about the weather. The UK is enjoying 30 degree (80+) temperatures which are rare here.
Riding in France and Spain (and of course parts of the USA) it is normal, but seeing hundreds of bikers out around Llangollen, The Horseshoe Pass and over towards Shropshire in their normal UK riding gear brought it home.
We are not used to nice riding weather here.

Often in the US I saw riders in T shirts, Shorts and no helmet, of a big bike doing 70+ MPH, sound in the knowledge that they have the constitutional right to spread their body parts all over the carrageway and hope the insurance covers all the rebuilding work.

Here riders wear the same clothes that they rely on to keep all their bits in the right place should they have a spill, despite the heat. They also don the regulation helmet that ensures good hearing is maintained and flies stay on the outside of ones eyes and teeth. Once owning a summer vented jacket, I nevefr wore it in England as most nice day ride outs ended in cold afternoons, or rain. Sunday was HOT HOT HOT and with luck, next weekend will be as warm. Over the years I have discovered that cold air is harder than warm. Its a fact and comfort is better when keeping cooler than trying to get warm.....

British Summer 2013.............. its a classic

After a phone call from my BMW dealer about BEKU the name I gave to my R1200GS Adventure, I found myself a few days later in the showroom talking new bikes,
The deal for a brand new 90 Year anniversary model Adventure was stuck as it gave me a new machine , saved my losing £4600 and cost £40 less per month than the old one....
Not bad for a bike that has 3 miles on the clock.
A week later I collected KKU and rode home (about 45 miles) from Southport Superbikes to Manchester.

After a test ride the following Saturday (Yesterday) Sharon and I set out for a pootle to see the difference. Warm enough to remove the quilted liner from my jacket, we headed off towards Skipton over the Pennines.

As the odometer sneaked towards 100 miles total on the clock, I was on the motorway (freeway) so for a SHORT moment, twisted the volume control to 10, and tipped 100 MPH  for about 1/2 mile. Not bad with two overweight middle aged peeps sat on board.

The last of the air cooled boxer engined models, the 90 yrs 1200 GSA is smoother, louder, and carries all the bells and whistles but the gold and black livery is not a pleasing on the eye as the red and black 58 plate bike it replaces.
Tow up is different and once I get time to go and play a little, the smooth gear change and slightly odd exhaust tone will be the norm.

Time to plan some more trip I feel. Working full time now gives some well earned income, but saps free time to a few free weeks per year. The plans have to be worked in around Sharon, The dogs, the up and coming wedding of my daughter, and a bike all needing my attention

3 to 156 miles and  have only been out once..... happy daze 

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.