Modern Vespa

I test drove an X10 today. Scootech's demo scooter was a bit battered, David having ridden it through the Olympic traffic yesterday evening and been doored by an American tourist

it's a lovely machine i really really want one now.

I've been making the most of the decent weather with a nice ride out into wales.

180 miles of fast country roads with a passenger is pretty tiring but very good fun.

http://goo.gl/maps/wi7Z

Have you tried the Beverly 350 yet though? Apparently a wonderful ride (if you can get past the name and slightly odd styling).

So today we "bitched" it down to Scootech on the Rhymes with Orange to show David the dodgy paint and to check on Lawrence's condition after an evening of heavy drinking.
All the paintwork will be covered by the warranty so it's going to get sorted when I drop it off for it's first service and this makes me happy.
It's not that terrible but for a perfectionist like me it's not right therefore it has to be rectified.
Later we rode down to the V and A Museum to gawp at a Thomas Heatherwick exhibition which was very impressive and then moved on to an wonderful array of ball gowns.
My favourite was made out of latex and for the life of me I can't figure out why.
The ROW got a little warm in the traffic but the fan kicked in when it got to 3/4 to boiling.
The traffic into the East End of London this morning was light to say the least but around Hyde Park it was rammed due to Park Lane being closed and my pillion verbally abused pretty much ever errant road user who had the audacity to be on the same piece of tarmac as us.
The entrance at our sneaky car park at Imperial Collage was blocked by the Police so we rode around the back only to be greeted by a lovely,jolly Copper who looked the other way as we rode through a pedestrian gateway that had a sign that said No Motorcycles.
He was a lovely guy and not at all officious which makes a refreshing change.
As we made our way to the museum we observed a crowd gathering so because we are nosey types we peered through the throng and there was Camilla Parker Bowles wearing a lovely jacket and skirt which was complemented by a pair of knackered court shoes.

A lovely day all round.

Birreh !

Edit - On the way back through Islington we saw a London Bus doing press ups. Yes you read that right.

Jim, coming to Bunga Bunga on Tuesday ?

Bill X

I doubt it - other things going on. But if it pans out that I can, I will. 18:30 I understand?

yeah, thats the time I've booked the table for but it would be good to see you if you can make it.

bill x

Yeah he was pretty shakey at the beginning anyway. Such a contrast from his halftime show he did here in Jacksonville.

But on the whole I loved the opening ceremonies. Better than Beijing in some respects. Very personally British.

WTF were those hats the American team had on. Black panthers? Special forces?

PMcC was very shaky at the beginning. It's about time someone retired him for good. Hey Jude? FFS. It's as bad as EJ "singing" Cande in the Wind...

Shirley Bassy was also decidedly shaky at the Diamond Jubilee concert. When will these people realise that when you're over sixty, you can't sing like you used to...

I don't have a Beverly 350.

I also don't own one.

So today we dodged the showers and rode the Interloper to Newham Docks (along an Olympic route on which there was no traffic at all again) to see a photographic exhibition by David Bailey who for the past 50 years has been taking pictures of the ever changing East End of London and these shots were the highlights.
Brick Lane and parts of the Docklands looked like a war zone in the early 60's.
Just brilliant stuff and if I had a better vocabulary I'd explain why.
As we approached the venue a huge shower emptied its contents on to our heads then threw down some bolts of lightening as we ran inside to spite us.

Later we took a walk along the dock side and watched the planes take off at London City Airport ( I know how to treat a lady ) then a gentle poodle back home.

The Rhymes with Orange stayed under it's cover.

Birreh !

Big7sc scooter rally.
3rd-5th August 2012.
Just outside Sevenoaks, Kent. (M25 jnc5.)
3 bands, loads of djs, rideout, raffle, trophies...
£10. for the weekend inc. free camping.
Free packet of crisps for the 1st scooter through the gate.
For more details find us on facebook or at our website. www.big7sc.com

Hope everyones well,
Thanks for reading.
Baz.

2 odd things happened to me today

1 A dozy pigeon bounced off my VW this morning in an explosion of feathers even though I did my best to give it loads of time to fly away peter.

2 While out on the mountain bike tonight a nice lady biker on a Harley Sportster stopped for me so I could cross a 2 lane highway.
I gave her a nod of my helmet and she smiled.

Bill X

erm .... you what?

Alright, it was a wink of my one eye under my helmet ?

Better ?


Bill X

That is pretty talented to do on a mountain bike.

I was born to do it baby. wink wink.

Bill X

Cautious thumbs up for my wilful GP800, which is performing much better since its 36,000-mile service. Not bad mileage considering it's been off the road for over a year!

HUSK glad to see you back on. Fingers crossed for ya.

Eleven of us made it to Bunga Bunga this evening, where we enjoyed excellent company and some really delicious pizza. Two enormous pies were delivered to the table (see pic below) for no charge which made for a lot of very happy Donks. Special mention goes to JimC for sashaying into the restaurant swinging my Michael Kors handbag from his arm like he was born to do it; to Louswheel (Graham) for riding almost 2 hours to dine with us, and to Ashbrook for having the biggest salami at the table.

We liked Bunga Bunga so much that we'd even consider paying to eat there next time

Oh what a lovely evening with such lovely people.

Would pizza torpdeo sum it up ?

Thank you all for coming.

Birreh !

Edit - actually pizza missile is more apt.

Wonderful company, great food, excellent banter top night all round! All who made it to Bunga Bunga contributed to a brilliant evening
Thanks to you all


Now where's the next meet?

I'm thinking that Cafe that Lawence was suggesting near Waterloo ?

That gets my vote.

All we need is a date. Maybe a weekend afternoon ?

Line them up people.

Bill X

If that venue has anything Vegan then there could be another special guest towards the end of August.

Bunga Bunga

Wonderful pizza, company, waitresses! and a surprise appearance by Frank Sinatra sound-a-likey.

Fair to say all def had a fun time

Thank you for the invite, much appreciated.

PS. Rumor has it that Bill Dog is looking to add to the stable... ssssshh did someone say Nexus!

Geebus. Thats one freaking big salami. I should be so . . . never mind.

Did anyone ride the BV 350 they neither own or have? Pictures please.

Big thanks from me! I finally got home about 11.30 after a very quiet ride up the M1. It was good to meet old faces and new! and I had a really good time! Maybe try again sometime?
Here's a few (fuzzy) pics of the night! Enjoy!
Graham

Even the lights were made from old open face helmets! Cool!

The scooters lined up outside the Bunga Bunga restaurant

Waiting for our grub!

Look, we're famous!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=60672245&l=5689215562&id=130038523742542

When I was telling Howard about it on the phone I couldn't remember who the eleventh attendee was, and remarked that they can't have been anyone particularly memorable. Then I realised it was me

My enjoyment of the evening was somewhat curtailed when I discovered that I couldn't get the underseat compartment open, as it contained my overtrousers - with my house keys in the pocket! Luckily my flatmate was in when I got home, and this morning I paid a visit to Dave Wilkins of Penge who was kind enough to provide a quick and dirty bodge until such time as I can get the cable replaced/shortened/whatevs.

This should definitely be a regular occurrence for as long as they're willing to provide free pizza.

Ashbrook should know by now that it is unwise to whip out your salami in public with Bill around. Did anyone keep track of the number of salami jokes? Looks like a great time.

On another note, because of the Olympics my wife has started making noise about visiting London. This is how it started before we went to Rome last year so it is probably going to happen at some point. Will be my first ever visit if it happens. Now I need to start learning the language.

There's a good picture of Kate and I playing "One of these things is not like the other".
It was wonderful to see you after your reproductive sabbatical and to make baby/firework noises at your flicker pad of assorted expressions.

So nice to catch up with friends old and new and I think we should do it again at the end of the month.

Funny how we found the only Italian waiter who didn't understand English but the upside was every 30 minutes our waitress shoved her ample breasts in my right ear which was a little distracting.
I didn't even want a starter !

Alice - a great choice of restaurant and I believe that Ashbrook has promised to return for the keyrings ?

Oh we got crooned by a crooner later in the evening.

Sticky - come to England you will be treated well but your wife will be sold to gypsies. Sorry.

Bill XX

Bradley Wiggins wins Gold and Froome gets Bronze in the Time Trials.

Very very proud of you.

Talking of which I think we are off to the Paralympics next month.

Bill XX

Edit - I'm sorry about being such a rotten tease last night about what I'm trying to put together for 2013 but I'm genuinely frightened that if I let the cat out of the bag it will all fall flat on it's face so if you like metaphors so when things are a bit more certain I'll run it up the flag pole and see if it holds water.
Two things are for sure it will be 1 involve at least 2 other people and 2 it's going to be a lot more painful than Cannonball.

Dammit, Bill! You've just spoiled this event for me (which has not been broadcast here).

Was looking forward to watching it.

That might actually work out for the best if I am fortunate enough to ride out with y'all since she doesn't ride or ride cupcake. Just make sure the gypsies understand "as is" and "no refund".

Jess did you hear about Bradley Wiggins ? He got the Gold in the time trials today.
Froome got the Bronze in case you were interested.

Sorry but we are really good at this cycling stuff so I just wanted to spread the love.

Did you hear that NBC dropped the ball with Evander Holyfield ?
Why aren't they showing it live Jess ?

Bill X

Pretty much all the events are being time shifted back to US time I believe.
One of the best bits about having it here is getting it all at a convenient hour.

If there's anyone in the US and you'd like me to ruin your evenings entertainment just ask.

More than happy to help.

Bill XX

Could you just send pictures of the women's beach volleyball players. . . I mean for Santiago?

Speaking of Olympic Bronze-

http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/164270996.html
http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/164497486.html

Neighbor of ours back in the US. Was a student of mine when I did substitute teaching, and her dad was a boating buddy of ours.

Well done, Marti!