Before tackling the shipping we took a weekend off at the bike club annual rally in Norfolk. What a laugh. Unfortunately I forgot the camera memory chip so will update this post when I've got pics from someone less forgetful.
Some pics -
Catching up with old friends.
Don gets shmultzy again, the old smoothy.
The dog eats the sparks......
Then chills out.
Andy was his usual elegant self.
A sweetie shop!!
And a fun run out to Cromer - even though it rained.
The bike had been misfiring so I decided to replace the carb manifolds that I should have done weeks ago.
The bits that need hoiking out are somewhere under that lot. Oh hell.
Anita walked in when I was trying to get the %@&*£"! carbs back on. Before she could open her mouth she was told 'Just don't say anything!' Bless her, she didn't either.
It all went together in the end and ran a lot better.
Then I had to strip it all apart again to clean it.
It was seriously dirty after weeks of abuse.
So I took off anything that could hide any dirt and Anita Gunked it until it squeeked.
Australia and NZ are very protective of their native species and won't have any foreign dirt, insects or grot brought into their country. Well, they wouldn't want any nasty spiders brought in would they?
I Put the bike back together and the next day we rode it to the crating company - and stripped it down again, drained the fueltank and disconected the battery...
The guys the did their stuff and caged it all in.
And there it'll sit peering out at the world until we see it in Oz next week, as long as the bods in Customs pass it next week.
The whole plan very nearly fell apart horribly this week. When dropping off the carnet (a sort of vehicle passport) with the freighters, they noticed that it was post-dated and so totally useless. A few phonecalls, 3 hours and a few years off my life later, a new carnet was in our hands couriered from Bristol thanks to Mellie at Godiva Rider. We love you to bits mate.
People have been incredibly kind to us since being back in the UK. Andy and Debbie have put us up and offered us everything from a garage to clothing. Vicki has surrendered her bedroom to us and Kim and Alan not only took us out for a 'cuzza and scoop' but loaned us a car for the weekend. Merv and Ruth fed our stomachs and spirts. James also even loaned his mum his motorbike. What stars. One day we'll be able to repay their kindness.
The three musketeers - Anita with her brothers Andy and Peter.
Andy's partner Debra with her mum and Dad at his 80th birthday party.
I'll add pics soon but apart from that, the next post will be from Oz........
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