On Friday I was this close (places fingers very closely together) to taking the 'Blade up to Birmingham. The weather was pretty good and by the time I left work, all resemblance of rush hour traffic has disappeared so the bike would have been brilliant, however, I'd elected for the car because the forecast said the weather for Sunday (today) was going to be iffy. Well, this morning it chucked it down, but by the time I left, the roads were dry and the riding would have been pretty good. Maybe next time. Saying that, the last time I rode to Birmingham, some scumbag nicked my Kawasaki.
Anyway, with the iPod (other MP3 devises are available) playing away on the motorway home, I saw loads and loads of bikes, all luggaged up, possibly, or more likely probably, heading for two weeks on the Isle of Man. I really must commit myself and get over to the Island, but next year could be quite crowded as World Ducati Week returns to 2016. Not too sure how work would feel if I took four weeks off, over two months. Oh well, don't ask, don't get I suppose.

I'm starting to think that watching three seasons of TT races, effectively back to back..with a bit of Game of Thrones in the middle for good measure, isn't probably the best thing to do, especially when my ride to work looks like Quarry Bends, all lovely curves and trees. I left work late yesterday after fitting in a decent gym session and the roads were actually, for once, reasonably empty. So I riding, head down through the tree lined national speed limit roads, with thoughts of TT riders in my head. 
When they race the TT, these, frankly crazy crazy, but oh so talented men and women would, if it were the TT, be covering the same type of ground at over three times my speed. That my friends, is bloody frightening. Amazing, awe inspiring, but utterly frightening.
Now where that 2012 Blu Ray?

Yesterday was a good day, despite a kit issue. I arranged to meet up with a few friends at the refurbished Hilltop cafe on the A30 just outside Salisbury for a run down to West Bay in Dorset.
Now called the Haven I can highly recommend it. The food was brilliant (The Sunrise breakfast hits the spot), the staff friendly and the inside extremely tidy and welcoming. Give it a try.
In the end there were seven of us heading out, but the group split itself along the way with peoples natural riding speeds.

After a brief stop at the Hardy Monument we heading along the coastroad into West Bay, which is a lovely route with smooth tarmac, bends and crests....ruined by camper vans and people not looking where they are going! I'll head back there after summer, when the holidays are over and ride it early in the morning. Could be fun.
You'll notice from the picture that I'm still riding the FireBlade (I've cunningly hidden it being Alistair). The 1098s is still in the shop and when I popped over to see it on Saturday, was slightly disappointed to see that in the last two weeks, nothing had been done. It's by no means the end of the world, but still, I'd like to know progress is being made.
As the Isle of Man TT is just around the corner, I've made a point of watching my Blu Ray editions of previous years racing. So, over the next two weeks, I'll have all those reviews updated, the 2009 season review is already there. Annoyingly, all my DVD copies are back in London, so you'll have to wait for those I haven't reviewed yet. Hey, it will give you something to look forward to.

So my new A-Star Gp Pro gloves turned up yesterday and if I'm being honest I was 100% sure that they would. You see, whilst on the FireBlade owners Facebook page, I saw an advert from a company based in the Midlands called Section 8 Moto Gear, offering cheap kit. I normally think if its too good to be true, then it probably is, but for some reason I took a punt. The sealer was extremely helpful and the signs were good that the offer was genuine, so two payments later and a few days wait and these landed on my door step. I'm very pleased and glad I took the 'risk'.
The gloves themselves are really nice and a few generations newer that my old Alpinestars Gp Pro gloves and the only main difference is that the thumb is a little longer, but that's nothing to worry about given the amour on the glove, especially around the wrist. If it wasn't for my old GP Pro's, I'm convinced that I would have smashed either one, or both of my wrists up fairly badly in last years Silverstone crash.
So, finally, it's another Bank holiday weekend, so riding a plenty is to be had. If you're out and about, have a good one and get back safe.

Sorry I've been quiet over this last week and if I'm honest not a huge amount has been happening bike wise.The 1098s is still in the shop and I've just been going to and from work on the FireBlade. Fairly boring really. I did manage to get to a somewhat chilly Poole bike night on Tuesday which was nice. Always a good chance to meet a few people, drink some decaf and look at a few bikes.
I have a feeling that these last few weeks have been the calm before the storm as during this next month there are a few things happening. As always, I'll try and keep you updated with anything vaguely interesting.

After a week of not riding thanks to a mixture of extremely high winds and, well, feeling a bit shit, I took the 'Blade out for a spin yesterday, meeting up with my friend Alistair in the process. Before I did that I had to make a quick trip over to Conquest Motorcycles in Three Legged Cross to get an update on my 1098s.  As I expected, the frame is indeed bent; its about 10mm out to the left, caused by the impact at Silverstone, but this is being addressed this week.

The team at Conquest come highly recommended and clearly take an interest, unlike the 'team' at Road and Race Performance, who frankly, couldn't have cared less.  With a few questions answered I headed over to Winchester to meet up with Al, who I've know for a few years, meeting him a few times through Ducati Forum meets, but until yesterday have never been out riding with him. 
By the time we got together, it had been raining for about an hour, soaking everything as expected, but as it was forecast to dry up, we stuck with it. 
Following Al to Loomies in Hampshire, on the junction of the A272 and the A32, it was clear to me, just how good a rider Al is. Even in the rain, he was quick and smooth and appeared totally in control. It was great to watch.
So we get to Loomies, grab some food and just chat about everything from jobs to garages for about an hour and from there he took me over to Snells Performance in Alton, but as the roads were now dry, the blast up the A32 was a great blast. Snells is a great looking place and I've only ever heard good things about them. For me, it sucks as they are still the best part of a 45min fast ride away. Great as a destination, rubbish if I need a service.

After exploring some more great roads around Alton and Petersfield, we turned for home. It was agreed that Al was going to head off at Eastleigh, leaving me to head home at my own pace. I didn't really want to go home, so instead headed down through the New Forest to grab some food and read my book in Lymington. 
Its such a lovely little place with a lovely harbour, which just gets far too busy in the summer. Victim of its own success I guess. They're building some additional flats by the looks of things down by the harbour and railway line, which are already an eyesore. 
After a horrible ride back through Christchurch I got home utterly shattered. The last time I felt like that was after my first day of riding across France. I'm not sure if was the distance, the cold I've still bloody got, or a combination of both, but it still felt great to be out exploring.

I will readily admit, but today's blog post is lazy. So with that in mind and without any further ado, here's a picture of my FireBlade glinting in the Bank Holiday Monday sunshine.

Today was the first Goodwood Breakfast Club of the season, which was Supercar Sunday. In the past I've met a few of my mates from around the South East down there and despite terrible weather forecast, I still wanted to go. 
I got up early enough to be there just after 08:00, but the weather as expected was dreadful. Never the less, I suited up, pointed the FireBlade East and rocked on over. It took me about 80-90mins to get there and I was still able to find loads of grip on the sodden tarmac. Traffic was exceedingly light and I very nearly managed to ride along the A272 between the A31 and the A3 without being stuck behind another vehicle. A horsebox half a mile outside Petersfield sealed that one to the scrapheap.
By the time I reached the A3, my Alpinestar 365 gloves were soaked through, but thankfully the temperature was high enough that it just made it unpleasant rather than painfully uncomfortable.
I was genuinely concerned that it would be a bit of a bust today, but approaching Midhurst I joined the back of a convoy that included a Zonda and three Ferraris. Good to see that they don't mind being driven in the rain either.
After arriving, I made a beeline for the coffee/organic porridge stand. That porridge is bloody amazing, and mixed with fresh strawberries and honey, its superb. I will admit that I was a bit cheeky and asked the lovely people in the hospitality if I could leave my helmet and gloves with them, so I didn't have to carry them around and they took pity on me, probably because they saw how wet I was. You have my massive thanks as just this simple act of kindness helped more than I can say.
The crowd numbers were good. About 400 display cars, 6000 spectators and 8, yes 8, motorbikes. Don't know who had the right idea.
I had planned on taking a few snaps, but despite being tucked up in my Rukka jacket, my phone got wet and would barely work properly. It's still not best pleased with me now for that matter.
I didn't stay too long, just an hour or so. By the time I left the rain and stopped and the roads were still empty enough that I could ride how I wanted and when I reached home, the sun was shining down on dry roads.
Getting back, the bike was filthy and thinking about it, I should have probably taken the car. I would have probably been dryer, but the adventure wouldn't have been half as exciting.

Since the middle of January my life has been in a bit of limbo. I left London and moved to the South Coast and moved in a small room at my 'in-laws'. The house is tidy, warm and not too crowded, so it could be a whole lot worse. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, six weeks at most, but life is never that simple and my planned living arrangements got rather scattered. The plan was to rent for three months or so and then buy somewhere of my own, but problems with rental times and the purchase have resulted in that original six weeks, spreading to an uneasy sixteen. Three quarters of my stuff is still in boxes and I haven't even seen my CD's since December.
I was sat in the car today, off to get some oil for the FireBlade, waiting at the lights, watching the wind play with the daises on the roadside when I really started to really understand a few things.
For the last few months I've been feeling really lost, like I don't belong. I'm finding my new job harder than I had expected and if I'm honest, a little difficult to find my place. Don't get me wrong, it's full of some great people and my department has some serious talent running through it, but I still feel like an outsider. Those who really know me, will know that I have no problems speaking and interacting with people, but it whilst waiting at those lights today, that I started to see. I don't have a place at work, because I don't have a place that is really mine at home. 
While I  sit here writing, I look up and see pictures of people I don't know, books I have no interest in and objects that aren't mine. The one and only place I feel home is when I close that visor on my helmet, lean forward, grab the bars and let out that clutch. Since January, the road has really been the only home I've had, the only constant from my life before. It sounds like a bit of a cliche I admit, but its honestly, at the moment anyway, the place I feel most at peace.
Once the house situation is under control and I have a place that is mine again I'm sure I'll start to feel at home again and finally get the chance to break out some Dylan.