185 miles. Wirral, Beaumaris, Llanberis, Betws-y-coed and back. Weather, roads and Guzzi in a good mood. Makes you realise why you ride a bike.
Took the day off work (no work no pay, the joys of being self employed) to build my T3 RHS, new piston and cylinder from Stein Dinse and new exhaust valve. All going well until I realised the new cylinder doesn’t fit into the crankcases, bugger! Now a visit to drop off the parts to my friendly engineering shop tomorrow. And I thought this only happened with Norton parts! (Standard bore BTW) 
Its looking unlikely the T3 will make the Scottish Rally but I’m still hoping…
It was a stunning day anyway so happy not to be in the office
I handed mine over to dealers in Vilnius to be shipped back to the UK on a truck 
Now I’m doing the only sensible thing and drinking myself silly.
Took ours over to our 3rd wednesday meet…at the Harrington Arms Gawsworth…where guzzis outnumbered the Jesters…the home club…
Perishin when the sun went in…good evenin tho. Watched a local farmer move a punter away from his gateway…simply popped a strap around the axle of the offending vehicle and snatched it with his landrover. Leaving said vehicle in the middle of the lane ! Class…
A few minutes later a yoof shambled out and moved said vehicle into a less troublesome spot… 
Decided it was a bit of a long trek to Gawsworth so spent the evening refitting carbs and air filter to the Spada. After 3rd attempt I found the right sequence to get it all to go back in. Just got the electrics to work through now and then put the bodywork back on.
Yesterday a quick run to M and P’s at Swansea and today a steady run via Brecon, Builth Wells to Aberystwyth. Faggots and peas from Morgan’s and a coffee at P D’s, on the front before a “steady” run home via Newquay.
Brings a smile to me face everytime 
Aaahhh…I too call at MnP at Swansea on occasion…
Will shortly be givin my lemon a spruce up…then riding over to Stafford showground where he is going on the VMCC stand…any guzzisti visitin who spot me on the stand…come and say ello and I will make you a brew…
Bike all fettled for the Bristol Auto Italia tomorrow, in the new garage and out of the rain.
Rode the X10 to Surfleet Cafe for ham egg and chips. F.lippin’ nippy tho had to get dressed up as if for Winter!
Restocked with milk and orange juice on way back home. New fridge delivered tomorrow so a good chance this milk will last longer than previous…
Curses, set out for Bristol and had a throttle cable go in Wilton, found out on the way home it will still do 65 on one pot. Ho hum.
Finished prepping the Spada ready to head up to the Scottish Rally next week. Looks like thermals may be in order
Looking forward to a good crack though 
Took the 1200 over to Belgium this week. Left work 5 pm Tuesday, straight to Folkestone from Avonmouth, 198 miles in 2 hours 50 including some filtering through rush hour traffic on M25. Really easy what a fab bike. Stayed in Folkestone for the night, nice town really, found the British Lion which is a pub I would recommend.
Nest morning up reasonably early and went up to the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel-Le-ferne. Museum was closed that early but well worth while visit anyway. Then off to the tunnel and through to Courtrai . I was attending a meeting of the International Society for Respiratory Protection of which I have been a member for over 25 years. As part of it we visited the Ypres area in the afternoon to mark the century since the first gas attacks on the Western Front (actually 101 years ago but we could not get in there last year). Really good tour hosted by a current Belgian army officer who is also a historian, visited the area where the gas was set off (168 tonnes of chlorine gas released over a 6 km front onto unsuspecting French colonial troops -an Algerian division in fact,) but also affecting Belgian and Canadian divisions on either flank. Visited German, French/Belgian, Canadian and British cemeteries/memorials too, finishing off at the Menen gate. Then off to Lille for a meeting yesterday morning. Got stopped by the police in Lille just near the railway station when moving the bike to the hotel car park, little illegal manoeuvre they didn’t like but let me off. Seemed surprised I wasn’t carrying my log book but let me off in the end. Security in the area is very noticeable. Lille seems a good place to visit too. Back home after the meeting. Others attending the meeting had hassles getting there as the railway station at Brussels airport is still closed. Bike was faultless once again.
A friend of mine has a pub in Courtrai (Kortrijk) next to the railway station (Norton owner), worth a visit if your there again.
I took the V11 for a run around the borders, bloody cold but dry. Due to issues with Luigi machining my new T3 Barrels wrong, I’ll be on the V11 next week at the Scottish rally (My wife was going to tale it but has been reduced to a lesser bike)
Pity was just staying opposite the station.
Interestin tale Jim…
Hard luck. You were missed. Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Best wishes. Maggi n Phil
And are you followin the bike home Ivan…? X
+1
Steve
Travel bt LandRover rather than bike and yet…
Grand day at Stafford Show.
Weather fine all day. Wide range of more/less interesting stuff.
Clive from NStaffs branch had a VIP pass which meant free tea & biscuits and a chance to have a chat with some intersting folk. The ‘boss’ from Mallory Park gave an update on the circuit; the locals are appeased and the one most vocal family have now left the area. Future’s rosy as can be expected. Some interesting history of the circuit and village too. Top man and a motorsport enthusiast.
Auction room was busy but we didn’t stay too long. Interesting (high) guide prices on the Guzzis in there. Have attached a couple of pictures. The 1970s V7Sport (from France?) had a guide of £15-£20,000. The bitsa ‘race bike’ (hacked Tonti frame, square barrel, lock wired, road registered and with lights, rough around the edges) had a guide of £5000+
No major purchases unlike Kate but a good day nonetheless.
Have fun
Steve