Author Topic: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)  (Read 845 times)

Neil955i

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Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« on: October 23, 2024, 06:25:18 AM »
Back in 2002 my old school mates from the class of '63 organised  a reunion for those that were interested.  About 12 turned up that time (out of a class of 30) and despite my better judgment and with encouragement from my wife, I attended.  Scroll forward 21 years to last year we held the next one! It was suggsted at that one we had better not wait another 21 years(!) and so yesterday was set as the next one and this time we had 9 there plus two last minute apologies owing to sickness.  One guy who couldn't make the previous two turned up and it'd been 54 years since anyone had seen him!

What has this to do with scooters?  Be patient & I'll tell you!  It was held in my old home town of Birmingham so would be a round trip of about 150 miles which by car would be 90% motorway.  On checking the forecast however, it bode well, with no rain forecast for the entire day and temperatures from 12 to 16C.  Take the scooter Neil!  So I did, after plotting a route which dodged the M/Way in favour of A roads.  The journey down took 2.5 hrs, while the return (no stops) was dispatched in 2 hours.  Roads were wet for the first half of the downward journey and dry for the rest.

Here's me getting ready for the 10am departure.



Then at the halfway point grabbing a bacon bap for sustenance.  (We have a lot of these mini catering units at roadside pull ins here in the UK.  The menu is basic, but they're a boon for lorry drivers and other travellers who don't want the more formal and corporate service areas.):




And finally, the destination:




On the plus side, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, the DTX performed faultlessly and I now know that a 200 mile day is perfectly feasible for me, even at my age - no aches or pains this morning!  The downside?  I now remember what a ball-ache rush hour is in big cities.  Even with 100% of the return leg on A roads I still had to navigate over motorway junctions with traffic flying around in all directions.  Man do you need your wits about you!  Would I do it again?  Sure I would and maybe will if next year is on offer.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2024, 06:31:27 AM by Neil955i »
Regards & ride safe,
Neil

Current garage:  Kymco DTX360 & Triumph Street Triple 675R
Past bikes: BSA C15. Honda S/wing (GL500). Kawasaki GPz750. BMW K100RS. Kawasaki GPZ900R. Yamaha FJ1200 x2. Sprint. Triumph Daytona 900. Kawasaki ZX-7R. T595 Daytona. Kawasaki ZX-9R x2. Triumph Daytona 955i. X-Town

Iahawk

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2024, 12:50:54 PM »
Great story, Neil. Glad you got to see your old friends as well as travel on your scoot!
2010 People S200 - sold after 8 wonderful years!
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Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2024, 03:10:54 PM »
Great post Neil - and cool pictures!


Kath made me attend my 30th reunion held in Wash D.C..
I went to school in Paris - where our dads were stationed, and many of my classmate's fathers returned to assignments at the Pentagon. Some settled there.
I didn't take many photos - but do have one of Katherine, standing in front of the White House, holding our son in her arms.
Many of my classmates were retired, while we were there with our toddler.....then a few yrs later along comes our daughter.
I was looking forward to seeing my old flame & prom date* - a gorgeous little blonde very fit tennis player - but Kath sat next to her (still gorgeous!) on the couch while I sat over there - and never got a word in edge-wise! Kath still apologizes for that, unconvincingly.

So, I'm posting on our high school forum, over half a century after we graduated, with pictures of my teenager photo bombing me.
Wasn't that long ago that I was shopping prom dresses - while my classmates were burying each other!

It was there, at the 30th, that I learned that our class president (all-everything in high school ) flew his Cessna A-37 Dragonfly into ground short the runway just 17 days after arriving in Vietnam.

Stig

* most kids from military families get yanked around a lot - but my dad's assignment to Paris was an amazing 4 yrs!
I took Patty to our prom - which was held on the second stage of the Eiffel Tower, in the Jules Verne restaurant. After - we all went to the Moulin Rouge or the Lido. The officer's wives booked that prom 3 yrs in advance for our class.
.....try that story on people....when they ask about your prom.
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Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me most probably too).
« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2024, 04:46:21 PM »
Seeing Neils posting, had to add my 2-Eurocents.
A friend and former colleague of mine lives on an croatian island and invited me, guessed hundred times already, to visit him.

Accepted that last week, asked my wife, got permission, packed the scoot with really necessary things like Parmigiano vecchiato, tartuffi neri, vino Tokai, pasta Barilla and some change of clothing.

Friday last week I started my trip, which led me from northern Italy to the island of Cres/Croatia.

This travel consists of about 240 kms oneway and takes about five hours, therein a short passage of 20 minutes on a ferry.
My XCiting 300 was the right vessel for this journey, even the weather was bright sunny.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2024, 05:22:34 PM by Ruffus »
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2024, 04:59:42 PM »
My pic compressor does not well...
Scoot with many others on the ferry, easy thing.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2024, 05:08:49 PM by Ruffus »
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Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2024, 05:02:02 PM »
.more...
Scoot and Motoguzzi on one of our island roundtrips.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2024, 05:19:44 PM by Ruffus »
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2024, 05:03:14 PM »
...more...
..temperature was around 24°C during daytime, shorts and T-shirt required.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2024, 05:13:56 PM by Ruffus »
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Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2024, 05:04:27 PM »
..more...
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2024, 05:05:41 PM »
...more....fine
We had great four days of relaxation. The trip was all over around 600 kms, which is not that much, but we had to go for fishing at two afternoons too,(hardship) to pep up dinner with octopus and branzino.
 Sun, sea and good food are essentials here, believe me.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2024, 08:46:13 AM by Ruffus »
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

Iahawk

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2024, 04:36:08 AM »
Neil, great trip... Stig - wow, prom in Paris in the Eiffel Tower??...and Ruffus, the scenery is breathtaking! Gotta love this silly little scooter forum!
2010 People S200 - sold after 8 wonderful years!
2014 Ninja 300
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Neil955i

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2024, 08:45:19 AM »
Wow, this has prompted some great stories so thanks for sharing Stig & Ruffus. Envious of your ride Ruffus, I’d love to ride in Italy again. It’s been 24 years…
Regards & ride safe,
Neil

Current garage:  Kymco DTX360 & Triumph Street Triple 675R
Past bikes: BSA C15. Honda S/wing (GL500). Kawasaki GPz750. BMW K100RS. Kawasaki GPZ900R. Yamaha FJ1200 x2. Sprint. Triumph Daytona 900. Kawasaki ZX-7R. T595 Daytona. Kawasaki ZX-9R x2. Triumph Daytona 955i. X-Town

Ruffus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2024, 11:09:55 AM »
..one more in this matter..
Biggest danger on this islands are wild sheep. They are wildered out since years and roam the scene, appear suddenly.
Good thing about, those are not earmarked, don't belong to someone and if you really get one it belongs to you. But have to fielddress and transport.
Happy and safe scootering, Ruffus

Neil955i

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2024, 06:31:29 AM »
…..Gotta love this silly little scooter forum!

Hawk,

I think that often. I belong to a few, but this is the only one I visit regularly. For all its structural quirks, the people on here make it a wonderful escape!  Not to mention the wealth of knowledge / experiences shared on here.
Regards & ride safe,
Neil

Current garage:  Kymco DTX360 & Triumph Street Triple 675R
Past bikes: BSA C15. Honda S/wing (GL500). Kawasaki GPz750. BMW K100RS. Kawasaki GPZ900R. Yamaha FJ1200 x2. Sprint. Triumph Daytona 900. Kawasaki ZX-7R. T595 Daytona. Kawasaki ZX-9R x2. Triumph Daytona 955i. X-Town

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2024, 04:44:43 PM »
And-a!

Where else you gonna getta this stuff-a!?



the boys are good talkers
Smoooth-a!


pow-a!
such a persons
Brooklyn Brothers Cooking - Papa P & Chef Dom
« Last Edit: October 28, 2024, 09:27:34 PM by Stig / Major Tom »
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And, I'm feeling a little peculiar.

leomagnus

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Re: Last long run of the Season? (For me!)
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2024, 06:48:18 PM »
Great pics guys!

Dean
Rome, Italy
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I have minor knowledge on basic maintenance based of many conversations with scooter mechanics in Rome, Italy.

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