Modern Vespa

is anybody riding out to canterbury tomorrow to visit spider?

It's the annual Memorial Ride for me tomorrow - I'm leading the 'slow' group from the Silver Ball cafe to Clacton.

I'm going regardless of any others but I ain't hanging around. It's going to be an early one because I may well go to the Scooter racing at Lydden Hill later in the day.

Bill X

I'm not sure my memories of the A2/M2 are yet conquered. I might be persuaded. It will need to be more than gentle persuasion though. The Medway Bridge still gets me in several ways... wind, height, width, slope - need I go on? Maybe I need to face my dæmons and exorcise them!

oh c'mon doug. early start? the M2 on a sunday morning? or some other route courtesy of bill? you and the shitty can do it

didn't i read a post saying you'd lost the fear?

go on doug. let genie and bill will take you on a fast convoy.

can't come along as i'm having lunch with friends in islington - it's been booked in for ages and i want to see them before i go away next week.

please give spider my regards.

I ain't riding with that fucking madman....

Besides... I would feel a bit of a fraud. I hardly know S and T. It's just that Northern Ireland Pesbyterian streak in me. (Worse than Catholicism.... ) Rather go to Islington. Methinks. Are you being a bit of lurker Kam?

Fucking Madman huh ? Well that's nice after all I've ever been is nice about you Doug.

If the roads are dry I'm going to go down the A229 and pick up the A20 then at Charing get on the A28 which is just full of fast corners and enjoy that as much as I can on the way to Spiders.

Any others ?

Bill X

Bill, you are a pussy taking the A roads.

The unclassifieds are much more fun.

Two insults in one evening huh ? Fuck it.

You're sweet. Really. x See you tomorrow

I think I'll make my own way there. And Jim what do you care ? You ain't even coming along.

I'm just concerned you aren't discovering the 'secret network' of wonderful roads that Kent offers. Mostly all NSL and good surface.

Jim I've lived in Kent for 44 years and that stretch of road is one of my favourites because it's fast and pretty safe plus I like to ride at speed which you can do on most of it.

I met enough tractors and idoits on the rural stuff to convice me that my this route for me is the most enjoyable if only the second quickest.

Having said that I'll probably get taken out tomorrow and end up in the same condition as Spider. Wouldn't that be ironic.

OI! We don't do irony on MV - most of the readers are reputed to 'not get it'.

So enjoy the fast ride - I'm totally with you on that.

PS - have you tried the Doddington to Faversham 'track'?

The one that swoops through the Valley and under the M2 ? If so yes. I have two friends who live in Doddington and one in Lenham which always nice to visit.

Jim you've followed me down the A28 and you could see just how much I was enjoying it. Surely you can see the benfits of that lovely stretch between Charing and Wincheap ? It's a bloody belter.

That reminds me to be careful under the trees tomorrow.

The last time I was wanking down that way I was just patting myself on the back for taking an apex quite well and out of the corner of my eye by the side of the road was a Kawasaki that had been destroyed in an accident.

I slowed a little bit after that.

Yes I agree with you, and yes, microclimates can be a bugger.

Happy swooping.

brilliant choice of road bill it was a bloody belter and i almost kept up with bill through the corners.

as well as a great ride down, we also had a brilliant visit with spider who is in excellent form - his sense of humour is undamaged despite being in considerable pain - he had us in tears of laughter with his hospital stories which can't be repeated here tracy is managing brilliantly as well and provided us with lashings of tea and little chocolate crunchy things to nibble on.

on the way back we visited kent honda for chips and a mooch about the showroom - we oohed and aaaahed over the stunning deep purple manga-stylee DN01. bill was troubled by the gold brake caliper on the front but apart from that it had our hearty approval, as did the new 'acid green' colour scheme on the SH125i

all in all a lovely day out

It wasn't bad was it. How Spider keeps in such good spirits I'll never know.

We must get a bigger visit sorted out for later on in the year.

What say ye all ?

You can see why I like that stretch of road so much can't you.

Bill X

There was only one nasty bit and that was that big patch of mud under a tree canopy and right in the middle of the road.

Nasty.

I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed the ride. Certainly on the way down. I think I was a wee bit tired on the way back... the wine last night, which made me a bit twitchy.

I could NOT keep up with Bill on corners. Need more experience I think.

Spider is amazing. Courage and resolve are words that spring to mind. And yes his sense of humour had me aching with laughter too. Tired now. Here comes the pizza....

D

I think that my ribs are aching as well Doug. As Genie mentioned we can't really repeat the Hospital Story in here but I'd love to hear it again and of course the being sick story as well. That's a classic.
Tracy and Spider - Thanks again for providing the tea and bisquits and making us all laugh eventhough both of you have been through Hell.
I honestly don't know how you've survived it but I'm glad you have.
Maybe tell the Gay Porn story another time as well ?

Yeah I do like that Honda/Manga/Auto/Scooter/Bike/Hybrid thing but Christ it's a monster isn't it ?
I'd have it just for the novelty aspect of it but I doubt the mainstand would last very long. Being purple do you think they built it with Prince in mind ?

Sorry Doug I'll slow it down in the corners for you next time shall I ?
Mind you having said that you do seem to have gained alot of ability sinse the last time we rode out. You are without question faster than before.
I don't expect you to go into the bends the way I do because I get a thrill out of going in maybe a little too fast and that gives me a sense of excitement and risk and I'm not sure that's your style.
Not all the time I'll admit but there are just some corners that beg big commitment and I find it really difficult to resist them.
It's not big or clever but to feel the side stand scratching into the tarmac but it just gets my juices flowing.
One day I'll push it too far and damage myself and the Hornet but the sense of control I get from dialing myself into a bend, hitting the apex just right and powering out just fills my boots.

Bill X

guys .. it was so good to see you all today .. glad we made you smile .. because you did me and tracy .. again thanks ...

I'm determined to make the next trip to see you Spider - thought of you both a couple of times today while getting a VERY SORE ARSE with seven hours on the Fuoco saddle.

I was leading the 'slow group' (Silver Ball to Clacton). In previous years this has meant merely strictly adhering to speed limits, but this time we had a wanna-be biker whose heart isn't really in it. He refused to go more than 45-50 in the nationals. Plus we had more than our share of stupid stupid Essex cagers who do a constant 40 mph regardless of any speed limit - 30mph or 60/70. The roads were lovely though.

The ride back from Clacton down the A12 was boring.

Count me in next time too. I was visiting my aging mum this weekend. She let me drive her car all the way back from B&Q. In a few months she might even trust me to take it out without her.

26th and 27th of September ? Maybe we could meet somewhere really obvious just outside London and make a lovely long ride out of it ?

Just a thought. Wot you all fink ?

I'd better contact Spider and Tracy to see they can cancel thier pilates lesson that day.

The more the merrier.

Fast crue / L plate crue ?

Bill X

I would join the L-plate crew but I think I may be off to uni by then

It's been a strange weekend. Working as usual Saturday, Sunday was Alfies birthday party (he was 6). We had the whole family round for a BBQ and kiddies games in the garden. The kids went to bed in the evening, leaving the lady folk in the house sipping a white wine* and the men in the garden, huddling round an esky. Obviously afte an hour or so (and allot of Corona) someone decided that the kids inflatable limbo was a perfectly acceptable way for grown men to spend a Sunday evening. So the conclusion of my weekend was spent laying on my back on the grass in the garden, not drunk but certaninly well along that road.

I am available on that Sunday and will join any fast group.

Marc

(sometimes my family cannot resist an Al Murray-esque stereotype)

i'll be in scenic durham for a conference ... which reminds me, i've got a paper to write

Oh Arse. Pick another weekend and throw it out to all of you.

We are just going to have to.......(puts sunglasses on)...... find another date.

Bill X

I'll probably be free that w/e - we don't want 20 folk arriving each time! Deffo fast group.

BTW - off-line for five days. Millau Viaduct and the Tarn Gorges and the rest of the Massif Central beckon. Going with a bunch of LondonBikers who are now good mates. A little GP800 full-bore romp...

Gawd help me, sharing hotel rooms with Ginger for those who know him.

Did that last Spring, unfortunately in a cage.
The Interpretive Centre should be finished by now, under construction then.
Be sure to do the climb to the top of the gorge, the view is breathtaking.

If you have time go back and take the old road the N9 through Solanes and Fouilles. The view again, is breathtaking.

I only wish that I had a PTW at that time.

Didn't get the Satelis 250 until we were in St. Chinian.

Doug and Genie - Did you hear that oik in the Peugeot ask me how fast the Hornet went soon after we met up on Sunday morning ?

Light Speed was my answer.

How does everyone else feel about that date to visit his Lordship ?

Bill X

Actually in my haste I forgot to ask Spider and Tracy if we can visit that weekend.

They maybe Rollerblading.

im free any weekend ... just ring first because i might be on the roof fixing a tile or out for a jog .. he he he he

im working on a new idea of how i can make bed pans bigger .. lol

That weekend's good for me - I'll be recently returned from Normandy. Too bad there's only so much cheese and cider storage on a scooter

If you don't get at least a dozen bottles, then you're not trying hard enough

We don't all have lardy-arsed X9s, y'know!

Telt!

Fair enough. You got me bang to rights there, guvnor : they're not so pretty, but they do hold a lot of cider.

But are you sure that you're not short on space (on your little scooter) just because of the huge quantities of cosmetics, random pink things, and copies of Hello! that all women are forced to carry by genetic imperative?

Well, there is this large bag of knitting paraphernalia - oh, wait, that's yours!