Skype

Yahoo, managed to get skype working on my netbook but not on the phone as yet, so sort of a result.
Only problem now is that without a skype headset and mic everyone can hear both sides of my boring conversations, poor them eh!
Had a photo of Jed making his evening brew to put on the site but I have left my camera across at my tent and it is all of a 5 minute walk away, oh well, always tomorrow.
With all the riding today I had only had a Mars bar to eat till 6pm, then had a small hot dog from a garage. I have bought a tin of Goulash for my tea, could not get Heinz tomato soup, whatever next.
Must make an effort to eat, although I knew these first days were just a run up to Stockholm where the real trip starts, from there I start to spend 2 or 3 days in places, so no doubt plenty of eating.
Thats it till sometime tomorrow, night all x x

Into Sweden

Up nice and early due to a rabble of young girls running around campsite at 5am, dozed a little longer and up and about at 6.30.
Had a crap nights sleep as I found that my self inflating bed mat liked inflating that much that it developed a slow leak meaning that it kept de-flating just for the experience of being re-inflated. Well it did come from a car boot so I only have myself to blame I suppose. Will have to fork out for another one when I find a camping shop.
tried to leave the campsite at 8.15am only to find that reception did not open till 9am and I had to call in to get my deposit back on the shower room key, all of 10 euro's but that is nearly £10.00.
Finally managed to get going and within minutes it was pouring with rain. The spray was terrible and it was all i could do to see out of my visor. Traffic was moving very quick and it was safer to travel with the flow which was about 140kph, far too fast in the conditions but I was worried about being hit in the rear, so to speak.
Crossed from Germany into Denmark by ferry, a 45 minute journey that cost me 52 euro, steep or what, anyhow next stop was Copenhagen where I followed the GPS to the little mermaid, just like driving into London to see the eye but at least it was now dry.
Left Denmark by way of a tunnel and a HUGE bridge that took me into Sweden, that cost me a further 22 euro, its been all pay out today.
I travelled nearly 600km today and have pitched up for the night at a camp site (found via GPS) right next to a lake. The mozzies are out in force though but I have managed to buy some repellant as like an idiot, I left mine at home in the bag I use for marshalling. The camp site is near Almhult should you wish to see where I am.
Having mega problems with Skype, have not managed to use it yet so I dread what my phone bill will be when I get home, Oh well.
Right , its now time for a well earned beer before turning in, hope to be a bit nearer Stockholm tomorrow night.

from Rotterdam

Arrived in Rotterdam at 0900hrs and got off boat to drizzle, typical. Pulled up next to all the other bikes to don my waterproof jacket and start the GPS. All set and start off.

Stop again after 100yds.....forgot to fasten crash helmet, dork, gloves off, helmet fastened and gloves back on, off I go again

After 200yds, stop again, try to change instruction on GPS from statute to metric....fail, forgot how to do it, oh well, off again. 1/2 a mile this time, stop again, gloves off and fasten waterproof jkt at the neck to stop it flapping, what is up with me, can hear Jed tutting! At least this time I manage to sort the GPS, now reading metric, at last something is right,

Off I go and this time keep going. Believe it or not after 65 miles bum starts to ache a bit and I have to stop after 80 miles..needed fuel anyhow.I do have a plan B however. Over the winter I purchased a Airhawk seat, which is an inflatable segmented seat cover as used by Charlie Boorman, I have never used it so decide to give it a try......what a difference, rode the next 105 miles with no problems at all, then after a 5 minute break for a can of red bull, I rode a further 110 miles, brilliant, what a revelation.

Have come off autobaun, after finding the bike is rock steady at 145mph even with luggage, and I could still hear the music from my ipod through the Autocom, I feel this trip is going to work.

Anyhow, walked into a hotel in a small village and asked if anywhere had Wi-Fi and they said no problem, showed me into a back room and gave me a passwork, she even, the staff even offered a drink, bringing back a pot of tea and some biscuits, what could be better.

Just need to find a campsite for tonight now, will ask at reception, they may even do me a deal on a room for the night.

Today was always going to be a slog up the auto baun but tomorrow I should be through Germany and across Denmark and into Sweden, and off the Motorways, hurrah.

As you can see Jed is not a night owl...would rather go to bed with a nice cup of tea, such a toughie.

Day 1

Well I managed to get up at the silly hour of 3am and got the bike all loaded. Afraid Jed was fast asleep and missed the fun getting on the boat.
Myself and Rob met up at the sea terminal at 4am and were one of the first bikes at the front of the queue. After waiting in the cold for nearly an hour the signal was given for bikes to go onto the loading slip, well that was like the start flag at Le Mans. I have never seen anything like it as about 250 bikes all started and tried to outdo each other to be first on, it was crazy.
Myself and Rob actually managed to be one of the first 20 on so managed to bag the seats that we had reserved and get a nice early cup of tea.
I have never seen so many bikes on the boat deck, it was just bikes with 1 lone cravannette!
Anyhow, after waiting till 7am we were finally off, arriving in Heysham at 9am so not too bad.
I gave Rob my best wishes on the car deck and left the boat and although I kept an eye on my mirrors I did not see him before I reached the point where our routes diverged.
I had a great ride across to Harrogate where I stopped for lunch, the bike felt great and well planted with the new tyres. I am impressed with them.
I am at a little chef at the moment about 25 miles from Hull with plenty of time to spare.
Understand senior race is well delayed, so Chris will have had a lousy time as she has been in the grandstand since about 9am today and unable to get back to her car as it is parked at St John Ambulance....just been told Senior is now at 5.15pm.....Chris well racked off....oh well.
I will hopefully be on the boat to Rotterdam by the time it takes place, however the boat will not have sailed by then, will probably be getting a kip in before my evening meal, ha, thats the way it should be.
More to follow.

Nearly time to go.

Its now only 11 hours until I have to be down at the ferry terminal to check in for the 7am sailing to Heysham and the start of the trip.

Check in closes at 0415hrs - what an ungodly hour but I suppose with the TT races coming to an end I suppose there will be tons of bikes to load.

Racing was cancelled yesterday due to heavy rain around lunchtime, partway through race 1 of the day, and the programme was put off till today, that did not help us one bit as we had tickets for the Day of Champions which had to be cancelled.

In view of this, myself and Chris, went down the grandstand where Chris was desperate to get Guy Martins autograph and also to get her crash helmet signed by the great Mick Doohan, who was over on the island for a couple of days.

Managed to get the helmet signed straight after the start of the race, so that was a result, the only problem now is that Chris will have to "retire" the helmet and treat herself to a new one. Suppose that will be the thick end of £400.00.

Chris also managed to get Guys autograph just after the podium and before the press conference, although Guy was not a happy bunny following a spurious red flag that cost him time in the race, I don't think it affected the overall result and he must be pleased with another podium.....a win must be on the cards for him.

After the grandstand it was back home to make final arrangements for the trip, getting the packing done and check over the bike.

Jed is on a high and can't wait for the morning, he insisted on having his photo took on the bike again. He also wants everyone to know that he has a special flag that he has bought to put at the Joey Dunlop memorial at Tallinn where Joey lost his life. We will actually be in Tallinn a few days before the anniversary of the sad event, long may he live on in our memories.

Suppose the next entry will be made when I have sailed away from this sunny isle.

Thanks to Chris for the surprise gift of some money, Stirling and Euro's, and also thanks to Hils for her gift as well, they are all appreciated.

Thanks also to Chris, my parents, my in-laws and my daughters for the birthday prezzies, sorry I have opened them early!

That's it folks, thanks for reading.

19 days to go.

Well, its Monday 23rd May and I only have 19 days till I'm off on my trip, where has the time gone!

My new tyres are on the bike and they are now bedded in after a wet trip to the Northwest 200 road races in Northern Ireland. What a weekend that was. Wall to wall rain, cannot remember the last time I got so wet doing nothing.

We started off by spending an hour sheltering under the grandstand trying to keep a little bit dry before we moved up to our seats in the grandstand.

Rain eased for a bit and they managed to get race 1 off and and running, however, just before the start of race 2, and with the rider on the grid, there was a bomb scare in the paddock and everyone in the paddock was evacuated to a field for nearly an hour whilst the Police made searches. In the meantime further rains came over which meant more sheltering.

Nothing was found during the search so eventually race 2 was able to commence, however just before the end of lap 1, Ryan Farquhar's bike engine blew, spreading oil all over a section of the circuit along the coast road....further delays whilst oil cleared up, and yes, further rain.

Eventually the rider went out for another stab at starting race 2 but it was decided that, following a sighting lap, the circuit was still too slippy where the oil had gone down, so further delays whilst they made further attempts to clear up, and yes, more rain!!

In the end the organisers decided it was unsafe to hold further races, so meeting abandoned, and yes, it rained all the way back to the B and B.

So all in all the weekend consisted of 1 shortened race and 1 further lap, hope next year is a bit better.

TT starts on Saturday so fingers crossed for a nice dry 2 weeks.

As you can see from the picture above, Jed is getting all excited about his trip and is busy planning his route out. He says that he is really looking forward to it and has been busy practising the many languages that he will need in order to communicate for us both. He also promises plenty of photos providing he can find Wi-fi set ups.