October 2008

A busy couple of months and no posts. Summers over though now and the bikes are under cover - its perishing outside and the weathers very wet.

Time flies by and the credit crunch is playing out over here as well as everywhere else. Most local businesses are feeling the pinch and trade is well down. 2009 will be a difficult year I feel.

At least the Democrats are in power in the US!!! After all, the sub prime mess was all their fault to start with due to the political pressure they bought to bear to "encourage" home ownership amongst people with poor education/motivation, poor credit ratings, poor work records and criminal records! (ie Democrat voters) so perhaps they need to feel the pain/get the blame whilst sorting it all out. Needless to say, though, it will be Joe Public who really feels the pain and foots the bill.

At least we can thank our politicians for selling us out to the Arabs and Chinese as they scour the world for money to borrow (.......like not!).

Whilst not out on the bike we finished off some work in the garden - a nice parking area and the beginnings of a veggie patch. This winter will see much tidying up inside and outside as we prepare the house after some renovation work. The appeal of some home grown food is to the fore now that we need to be careful about financial committments given the falls in stockmarkets and property prices. We already have apple, pear, plum, hazelnut, walnut and chestnut trees together with blackberries, gooseberrys, grapes and figs so some veggies will broaden the fare.

The Jeep will be doing some heavy hauling as we chop trees and prepare our firewood - having started out life as a Chelsea Tractor I'm sure it will enjoy its new role.

After 5 years of "resting" in France I have decided to work. After months contemplating self employment or a local job to occupy myself and develop my french it dawned upon me that having bought a farm I might as well work on that! - no boss, no stupid members of the public, no set hours and .................no commuting. 

For the past 3 weeks we have spent some time at a local Chateau, walking the dog and fishing in its lake - another excellent source of food!

I could get into this self sufficiency lark - its fun and a way of giving the finger to big government. I've added a couple of links on my new "A life lived differently...." page including one from a local English guy who has set up near me and the River Cottage project. 

 

 August 2008

The season for biking.

Well, the Porcaro event has been and gone - see links.

The weather was perfect despite the weather forecasts. Plenty of bands and booze though less going on away from the camp site than usual - perhaps last years wash-out dimmed the villagers enthusiasm!

We arrived about 4pm and set our tent up next to a lone van and two respectable looking (for bikers) campers. We set off for some beer and food, watched the first two bands and then went back to our tent for a sit down and chat.

Our quiet spot was now surrounded by about twenty tents and a static engine had appeared from the back of the van and was revved until 6.30 am (assisted by numeros bikers passing by on their mounts) after which the owner treated us to about 10 minutes of wretching and puking.

Got to think of a new plan for camping next time!

The Blessing went well - although amidst the 5000 bikes taking part I lost my bike! Only after many had left did we find it in the crowd.

The "balade", which is the french name for the ride out, was terrific. Overall 20,000 bikes took part and we covered about 80km. Only two accidents that I know of which s amazing considering the number of people and the speeds involved.

A french friends birthday party the next day followed by a fete took care of the weekend.  

As the rally took place on Thursday/Friday many bikers stayed around for the weekend so the roads ave been full of us for days now.

Before the rally we had spent weeks (on an off since December in fact) preparing for our medieval "Son et Lumiere" show about the chiralvic Battle of the Thirty which took place here in 1351. A local English couple have renovated an old manor house and we used it as the setting due to its beauty and historical connections to one of the participants in the battle.

Six nights of acting, supported by a professional director, lighting/sound crew and a few horses for the acion scenes were amongst the most memorable days of our lives. The crowds loved it, nearly 3000 attended - and we made many new french friends. Needless to say I played a drunken English soldier and Teresa a wench.

The weeks of July August and September are full of events and its tricky to see all the ones that you want to.

Next on the list will be the Chateau of Comper, the Arthuran Centre, where the Bretons celebrate their celtic British heritage with pageants and fetes.

May 2008

How time flies.

A lot of time spent back in the UK has cut into my leisure time quite a lot but we are back now, with business sorted and able to take advantage of the improving weather. God how I get to dislike the UK more each time I return. Overcrowded, rude, dirty. But hey its supposed be be more diverse and vibrant now we have mosques, gypsies and yardies speading across the land. Perhaps the last days of Rome were like that.

A few runs out have taken us to towns and villages around. We have mainly gone out with our neighbour Keith who has a Honda 750 VFR. Bike Club France is out of hibernation and planning a bash soon.

The annual Porcaro event is now planned and the website shows the events and route for the ride.

Last night after a run out with Keith we had a few beers and ate a meal in the local town. On the way home every bar we passed was shut so we came home for a few beers and put Wild Hogs on the DVD. I have to say I didn't like it at first due to the "Harley scene" but second time around I had a great laugh. It funny how bikers are always shown as violent loonies when in fact we've never met a bad one though some can be stuck up - but thats back to Harleys again.

Should have my brother-in-law Joe over around the anniversary of the D Day landings (6th June). He and his mates bike over each year and this time they will be coming over to Brittany - all things being well.

Ah well, tax returns to do today/tomorrow and then off on the road. Having seen Travolta et al riding through New Mexico I think next year a trip to Northern Spain is in order. following the old medieval pilgrimage route to St Jacques de Compostella. Lots of sun, vino and tapas. Must get planning. 

February 2008

How time flies. Months since the last posting due to spending 4 weeks in the UK and being very busy on family matters!

Back on the road again. The weather in Brittany has been most unseasonal and dry and warm enough to get out and about. Yesterday, 11th Feb, our house was "buzzed" all day long as bikes launched themselves up the hill and swept around the bend into the straight past our house.

Just had to get the cafe racer out. Started first time!.... and I set off around the local roads scaring the locals who were out for a sunny Sunday walk.

The night before we had a Moules Frites night (thats Mussels a la Mariner). Lots of wine and good conversation... rather spolit by my returning home and thinking a few glasses of absinthe would go dowm well. Oh how my head hurt!

Next summer we have a "son et lumiere" to celebrate the Battle of the Thirty, a famous chiralvic event from the 100 years War that took place about 2 miles from my house near Josselin. The clothes are being made, the lines have been rehearsed and taped and the event plans are well underway. Me? I'm an English soldier. I even get my own "wench". See the link to the website if history apeals to you.

 

     Josselin Chateau, Brittany - like it?

 

October 2007

The bike meet at Guehenno (see below) was a washout as one friend did his back in and another was a no show - his Royal Enfield probably broke down! 

Not daunted however, we got dressed and biked into town and had a great meal out and a "bit" of wine!

The weather has been truly great - more like August than October. Each day lately has involved a run out. The countryside here is so beautiful that I just go, turn down a road I haven't been down before, and get lost. The places you come across are just fantastic. Much of Brittany hasn't changed much since the Middle Ages. And arriving in a small hamlet usually gets someone popping up from behind a hedge and waving - its probably the only vehicle through that day.

The 750 Cafe Racer had a run out a couple of days ago and, if I were American, I would say it suffered a catastrophic retrievable incident. As I'm English I will just say the main fuse blew. No spare so we trailered it back home - thanks Keith for the help, coffee and lift on the back of your Honda 750.

A new fuse (being an English registered bike it has UK fuses which cannot be found in France so some hunting about called for) and out the next day for a blast. WHAT a BIKE. I only bought it in July and its only been out four times but for a converted 32 year old CB750 it really goes. The clip-ons give you a very pronounced racing posture and at low speed the pain in the wrists is quite bad after a while - so I'll just have to go fast then!

Had to stop off at a Cafe for a caffeine rush - this bike and beer don't mix!

Despite the weather Autumn is here and the bars are stocking Autumn ales which are a big improvement upon the usual EuroLager that they stock. One thing that most British miss in France is good old Real Ale. Home brewing is quite popular - see the CAMRA link on the links page. Soon the villages will be having fetes for apples, cidre, chestnuts etc - very rural but very nice - I dont miss multiculturalism one bit!

Postscript to October

A late visit to the UK saw me getting some extra bits and paperwork for my 750. Brother-in law Joe (who sold it to me) has invested the money wisely - in a brand new Hyabusa! O-60 in 2.4 seconds and about 190 bhp.

Wimp!

On my return to France the weather had turned decidedly chill but we managed a run out on 31st to the local brewery for the Samhain celebrations. The special Samhain brew had to be avoided however as it is 11.2% proof. A couple of white beers and visit to the Excalibur bar and Saxo bar, followed by a giant kebab and chips, finished things off quite nicely.
  

September 2007.

Well what a year! Crap weather but at least we've an Indian summer now!

Why this site and blog?

The website idea came after I decided I needed experience in setting up a site for future business reasons so what better subject for a bit of fun than bikes!

After moving from the UK to live in France (Brittany to be precise) I have realised an ambition to get on a bike and enjoy the beautiful countryside here as well as the company of the many bikers around. With such uncrowded roads bikers are very much in evidence and, it can only happen in France, are very welcome and respected  members of the community perhaps because for most French their first experiences on the road are as moped riders who graduate to motorcycles and have a affinity for the rest of their lives.

I just want to share my experiences and some pictures and music with anyone interested. If you have any, polite, suggestions please go to the guestbook.

Highlight so far this year was the Pardon de Madone des Motards (The Pardon of our Lady of the Bikers) a Catholic celebration held near to us where over 20,000 bikes (yes 20, 000!) gather for a night of rock and country music, roaring engines, beer and food followed by a very tired and hungover attendance at an outdoor Mass where we and our bikes are blessed and prayers given for those who have died on the roads in the previous year. See the website on Links page.

Last week a Harley Davidson meet at Larmor Plage with more music, beer and food with the added advantage of being beachside in beautiful sunny weather. Pics of some custom East Coast Tractors and Rhinstone Ploughboys on the gallery (only joking guys, please dont kill me!) 

Looking forward now to the first weekend in October when the local club at Guehenno follow the same format but with home made cider and calvados and they must be the only bike club that can boast its own medieval manor house as its base. Fantastic venue, about a mile off the road and you can get as loud and drunk as you like.

My bikes? - a Black Honda Shadow - great for running about the back roads with the wife on the back and a 32 year old yellow CB750 converted to a Cafe Racer - see Gallery. 


Discovered.......the secret of perpetual motion!...................


Ooh err missus.....