Sitting by the fire on a cold, wet winter's day watching the snow melt away from the garden I am suffering from cabin fever. We've been virtually snowed in for more than a week. I can't get out to do anything outside - apart from clearing snow off the driveway - and I can't be bothered doing stuff around the house. Time to resurrect the blog and prepare for the next long trip.
Since I last posted I have continued to enjoy my retirement. I did actually go back to work for Unilever for one month in August 2007. That was enough to convince me that it was time to stay retired. The workplace moves on when you are not there. It did not feel comfortable not to have a real role, so better to have no role at all.
Since then I have concentrated on just having fun. It doesn't always work. But then, I was bored sometimes at work too, so I shouldn't complain if I'm bored at home. Just do something about it.
I have done a lot of decorating in the house, but didn't think it was worth a blog as I had threatened. We considered moving to a smaller place as we don't need 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. However, we wouldn't find the privacy and space we have here. So I decided to get working on whatever might need done to give me a 10 year breathing space before I needed to consider moving again or doing more major work. Hall, stairs, landing, dining room, lounge, study, family bathroom, main bedroom and en suite have all been done. Family room will be done this year, maybe. The rest either doesn't need done, or I don't mind as I don't use it.
Recreation is still travel, golf and bikes. I've been to New Zealand, driven coast to coast across the USA and other shorter trips. Golf has got a bit better - down to 16 handicap - but I could do better. Bikes are even more of a hobby and I am enjoying riding them and trying different ones.
The California was sold in 2008. I loved it, but the reality was I didn't trust it enough to take on long journeys. It was replaced with a Suzuki V-Strom 1000cc which I bought just before my trip to Spain in 2008. I've also been to Scotland, France and Poland on it. It is effortless and comfortable.
I've always loved the styling of Triumphs, so in 2009 added a Bonneville T100 to the stable. I've used that mainly on local runs, but took it to Spain when I went with my son Graham in 2009. He has a Harley Davidson, but he is OK apart from that. My daughter is also on 2 wheels, being the proud owner of a Vespa 50cc for commuting to the station. I need to add photos of all of these.
Recently I was looking at various websites on how to do mechanical stuff on the bikes and decided it would be a good idea to have an old bike to practice that stuff on. So, I bought a 1991 Kawasaki GT550. It runs well and is in good nick, but Graham and I intend to put that right by dismantling it and reassembling it over the coming summer.
At the end of my 2007 blog I reflected that the long trip to Spain had put me off thoughts of more long distance biking. Well, my subsequent experience has been that I love long distance biking and want to do more of it, so the Alaska trip is back on the agenda.
I have now been to all the US states except Alaska, Washington and Oregon. I thought of flying to Oregon and buying a bike, then riding it to Alaska. However, I have a cousin in Florida, so I thought it would be fun to ride from there to Alaska. I've driven the States East to West, why not South to North. So, when I last visited my cousin in November I bought a Yamaha V-Star 1300cc Tourer, which is sitting in her garage. As Irene keeps pointing out for some reason, that means I now own four motor bikes, to which the reply is, of course, "so?"
We're going to Florida on 27th Jan for three weeks, so I will be able to ride it for the first time, get it taxed, fiddle with it etc etc. and make sure it is in shape for a 7,000 mile ride in May or June. I intend to sell it when I get to Alaska, but that is probably the loosest part of the plan at the moment. I need to work out how I can best do that.
This doesn't seem to be much of a post to have covered more than two years, but I suppose I'll get more verbose as I get into the swing of it again. There is talk of the golf course being open tomorrow, so I might be able to get out. If not, I may pay some attention to this blog.
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