Right, come on, let's go!

After a morning spent chasing a chain and getting it fitted to SGD's bike, eating bacon sandwiches and me faffing about with me luggage, we set off for a steady cruise down to Harwich. I said, "We've got plenty of time, so we'll take the pretty route through Norfolk". Steve said, " You sure we've got time?". The fact that he spent the last 50 mile on the red line, the missed phone call from DFDS (good attempt I thought), and the check-in lady's reprimand, "We've been waiting for you. You're the last two"' probably says it all. We did go the scenic route!

Nice boat though. Comfortable cabin. Only had to sell half an arm to pay for the evening meal too. No chance of getting pissed without a small lottery win, so it will be early to bed tonight where, hopefully, I won't be disturbed too much by the haggis scented aromas emanating from the adjacent bunk!

Steve with the two most expensive coffees in the world:

 

Arrival of the 'SGD'.

Today's the day!

We'll be off about midday, just as soon as we fix the 'Scottish Ginger Dwarf's' Honda Transalpbalticexpress. Yesterday I rode up and met Steve, as he is less affectionately known, on his journey down from Scotland. We met in WAGsville aka Knutsford (there's actually a McLaren car showroom there!) and after a quick pit stop......we cruised back through the Peak District, avoiding the pot holes, octogenarian drivers and, most importantly, several thousand speed cameras.

So, fixing the Honda: Steve bought it to do the trip on; nice and clean with 5k on the clock. Apart from spinning on a new set of tyres, he's not had chance to do much prep (he works in the offshore pollution...er sorry, oil industry) so maybe it shouldn't have been too much of a surprise when he arrived at Chez Pike with the drive chain trying to escape. Closer inspection revealed that it was, indeed, shagged. We, or rather I, will be riveting a new one on this morning.

His rear suspension also needed some adjustment.......

With the use of a rather large hammer....

 

Using the iPad app 'Blogsy'.

Having signed up with Blogger and then discovered that I can't post photos from my iPad without a lot of faffing, i gonna try this Blogsy app - reputed to overcome the posting problems.

So, let's see if it uploads the Practice Pack photo:

 

 

Trying to upload images from iPad.

Clearly not bloody working!

Bike's sorted. New tyres and crash bars.......just in case I need to lay the thing on its side to mend a puncture (tubed tyres).........but also there in case I have a, ah hem, mishap! Done a 'practice pack' today to see if/how everything is going to fit on. I particularly like the bright yellow dry bag that my mate Steve's lent me:-) Thanks mate. Just discovered that I can't post photos from my iPad.......

Why?

The idea's been with me a long time - born out of my travels as a kid, camping with my Dad in northern Europe and, perhaps most memorably, in Norway & Sweden in 1969! So, combine that with my love of motorcycling, time on my hands and a moderate lump of cash, and you can see why it has to be done.

Setting off on 29th May 2012 for 4 weeks. Harwich/Esbjerg ferry, then anti-clockwise around the Baltic Sea. Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Sweden, Denmark. Reckon on about 5k miles. Mainly camping, but doing b&b in Riga, Tallin & Oslo.

The bike's a Triumph Tiger 800xc. Got it last year (with this in mind) & proved it on a central European tour. It's now kitted out to my liking - a few functional additions, but nothing over the top.

Me mate Steve (The Flying Haggis) is joining me on his recently acquired Honda Transalp.

Should be fun.

Keep you posted.