On the Road Again!

Didn't go. Sadly I was needed to fix an IT problem for my aunt. That it was lashing down with rain when I set off to drive to Maidstone, plus the spray on the M20 was horrific. By the time I got finished it was too late to get home and get out on the bike. All the more annoying was by then it had changed for the better. Still about 6°C as the highest temp of the day, but at least the roads had started to have a dry line. Instead,  I was walking the dog in Hythe when they were arriving at the hospital. Looks like the Lego will join the bears with the other charity at the Salvation Army.

Only week away. This weekend it is bitterly cold. I went to the football at Arsenal yesterday and it was cold and wet. On the way home Storm Alwen had hit further north with snow and the usual traffic and rail disruption. We had high winds that trimmed trees if their dead branches. So it's 🤞 for next week. I have already  bought some Lego toys and today added a couple if teddy bears. Kids love a teddy 🐻 don't they? With the amount of salt and grit on the roads the Kettle will remain garaged. So it will have to be Vera Strom on the road. I'll need to get the hose out to wash the corrosive crap off the bike when I get home. The forecast for next Sunday is for an 8ºC high and a low of 4ºC.  No sun just murky, cold and cloudy. Need to wrap up warm and give one of my base layers a go! Monday 29th Bears are ready to be collected from Argos in Hythe. The weather forecast has changed slightly and the chances of precipitation have dropped but temperatures still the same 8ºC to 4ºC...

Working from home ought to be a doddle. Work a bit, loaf about a bit in my lay-z-boy chair drinking coffee and in the evening moving onto the beer.  Sadly, it's not like that at all.  It does mean that when the shops are open I am stuck in the house working on the laptop. Although I do have the occasional coffee during the day! So I tend to use online shopping.  This is no different. I thought as we are a large group of bikers from all backgrounds that come together twice a year for Easter, when we collect eggs to be distributed to sick and deserving kids, and at Christmas when we have the Toy Run, that a toy that was biker themed would be a good idea. And so enter the Lego Stuntz bikers.  I ordered two from Amazon and once again helped Bezos build another rocket to fly to the edge of space.... His name is Wallop! https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W5FWLYV/ref=pe_27063361_487055811_TE_dp_1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W5FWDRT/ref=pe_27063361_487055811_TE_dp_2...

So after a disastrous 2020 when so many runs were cancelled, even ones collecting for charity, the Whitstable Toy Run is back. This year it is December 5th. For me that doesn't clash with work or football at the Arsenal. weather (of course) depending I expect to be there. I doubt I'll go on the actual run, preferring to go to the meet, hand over the toys I have bought and then retire to a café for a coffee before the ride home. I have put it on The Meldrews FB page and have yet to see anyone saying they are going to join me. I hope this isn't another Billy No-mates event....

After a day on my own in Belgium yesterday, I thought I'd chivvy Claire into getting her gear out of the wardrobe and get ready and come with me today. It was quite chilly when I pulled Dora out of the garage. I left the panniers on as the toys I bought a few weeks ago needed to go somewhere. The plan was to go to the Blue and White and meet other Kent Centre members. After yesterday's no show from anyone, I wasn't expecting much!  In the end when we pulled into the parking Graeme came out and we parked alongside his SV650. So at least there were three of us.  Graeme led us the Faversham route and we dropped onto the M2 and then Thanet Way to get into Whitstable.  We were quite early and the parking gradually filled up.  Someone later counted 242 bikes on the run, There were about a dozen left after they had left. Me and Graeme I didn't take as many photos as usual as I had the Sanyo digicam rather than a proper still camera. I did get one or two. The Vintage Club ha...

Things have been very quiet lately. I haven't had much opportunity to get out for a ride and hopefully that will be resolved tomorrow if the weather holds off. Forecasts are for half a month's worth of rain in a weekend; so not looking too clever. On the horizon though are two regular runs I go on. Sadly, they are always the same weekend! So about of a double header!! Firstly,  the Sinterklaastreffen. I have been most years since 1984, missing a few due to being in Czech working or bike breakdowns and last year snow. We used to go for the weekend, but once our favourite (and quirky) hotel, the Polaris,  closed, we started only going over for the day and sometimes, not even joining in the run itself! So what does the St Nicks Rally (as we call it in English) entail? For the day tripper it is an early ferry across to France and then a ride along the coast to Ostend. It's about 60 miles from Calais to the parking up place in Ostend. It is usually either very cold or simply w...

After a year off last year when I couldn't be arsed to chivvy the rest of the Kent Centre into action I am suffering from bike withdrawal symptoms! So. Meet at the Blue and White Cafe on the A20 for a 1230 departure for possible scenic ride to Whitstable. The WTRA organise one of the largest runs in the South East and every extra rider that turns up swells the numbers greatly and increases the coffers of local charities, plus of course the main aim of collecting toys for under privileged kids. Go on. Get to the shops and come and join us.