What we did on our hols

It takes us a fortnight to do what SD can do in a day, but for those
who occasionally like to suffer other people's interminable holiday
tales, I offer the following.

http://www.colinandpat.co.uk/Bled/Bled.htm

 

The 'ace, that great tourer

Question: You say "After quickly loading our Thunderace with panniers".
What sort of panniers? Soft luggage or hard luggage?

 

I hadn't forgotten!

Soft. They're actually an old pair of Frank Thomas panniers - standard
sports throw-overs. We had to repair the stitching a year after we
bought them, and I managed to rip off one of the outer pockets, but
since then they've given us good service. There's not a lot of
clearance above the exhaust, but we've never had any trouble with them
getting hot, even in traffic.

 

Ok... there seems to be no standard solution for using hard panniers.

 

Super stuff, Mr I. I have suggested to madam that a tour of Europe
might be more within budget for our next holiday. Now I have some
pointers.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..87446../..22490.../..31893.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 84 Pts:1800 Miles:5704

 

Looks good - I'll have a proper read later. BTW next time you come
I'll give you directions to miss out all the roadworks and traffic...

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Nice, must trim mine down a bit

 

Champ wibbled:

<waves>

 

Now he tells me ...

 

Well youcould have asked. TBH I'm surprised it was that bad at the
weekend, but there are permanent[1] roadworks if you follow the main
motorway route through. Whereabouts was the worst?

[1] Until next year, at least, but they've been going on since I've
been here, i.e. six years.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

The queue started just before customs, so you rejoined it having
bought your carnet. It went all the way through the tunnel, where a
slip road came in from the left, and ended at some traffic lights the
other end, after a left-hander. I can't remember which road we were
on, though!

 

Oh yes, I forgot you were deliberately using the motorway to get the
vignette. Another time you could just get one at a petrol station.

Best bet would have been to turn off to the right immediately after
customs, just before going into the tunnel. Then follow signs for
'City' and go right through the middle, picking up the motorway on the
other side. Much less traffic on a weekend, and slightly shorter too.
You'd have pretty much gone that way last time you were there, looking
for an open Yam dealer for the gear lever bolt.

The main motorway route, which when finished will be tunnels all the
way through from the border and over the river, joining the current
decent motorway roads on the other side.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

I shall be thoroughly impressed if he can manage it with his new steed.

<fx digs out spare panniers>