Wow, what a lovely weekend we have just enjoyed! Saturday dawned bright and sunny so Harley and I just had to get out on the road.

First off, a swift ride into the Plymouth Harley dealership to meet up with Three Cylinder Greg and chew the fat with fellow Chapter members.

Next we did battle with the city’s traffic and boarded the Torpoint Ferry for the short trip back to Cornwall. The crossing is worked by chain ferry, one of only 12 in the UK. Now figure this out: To cross from Devon to Cornwall is free for cars, but costs motorbikes 30p….however, in the opposite direction cars pay and motorbikes don’t!!! It’s pretty good value, which ever way you look at it!

Some of the Royal Navy were moored at Devonport as we crossed, this is HMS Somerset, a type 23 frigate.

Next we took a spin through Polbathic, Landrake and Callington to arrive back at Dookes HQ in time for lunch…many thanks Mrs D!

Suitably refuelled we headed to the former RAF airfield at Davidstowe Moor, about five miles away. This was a base built hastily during the Second World War for the use of aircraft from Coastal Command on anti-submarine patrols. It also played an important role in destroying German naval forces in Western France during the D-Day operation. After closure in 1945 the place enjoyed brief fame as the only venue in Cornwall to host Formula One motor races, where famously Lotus won their first race. Today the place is largely deserted, save for sheep and moorland ponies. There are still some old buildings standing and the mile long runways are largely intact. When the sun shines it’s nice enough, but when the mist falls it’s as bleak as anywhere you can imagine. There are definitely ghosts here.

The old control tower stands silently waiting for missing planes to return…Leaving the sheep and ghosts behind we set off westward crossing the Camel estuary at Wadebridge and picked up the coast road through Bedruthan Steps, Mawgan Porth and Watergate Bay to Newquay. This is a brilliant stretch of tarmac, not über fast but great fun and just the place to go and practice hairpin bends…hmmm, like you get in the mountains, now that gives me an idea!

The surf resort of Newquay was quite buzzing, when isn’t it? We parked up at Fistral Beach, famous for it’s surf, and hunted out the ice-cream parlour. Then shock horror, Dookes had left his wallet back at HQ, doh! Oh well Greg, looks like you get to buy the ices !!! Sorry mate…my turn next time!The water looks great, surf OK as well, but trust me it was ‘kin cold! I’m quite partial to a spot of surfing, but not at this time of year…the old blood/oil mix is far to thin these days!

Anyway, great to blow some more cobwebs away and rack up the two wheel miles. I’ve got a great idea for quick break before the summer harvest as well; let me just hint that it’s solid gold…more soon!

I hear that highway callin’, oh feel the breeze!

Dookes

Today dawned bright and sunny here in Cornwall, if a tad cold! It seemed too much of a nice day to waste and not be on two wheels, so Harley and I hit the road and headed for Mid-Devon to visit my mate Greg, who has been a trifle poorly of late.

Well, to be honest that’s a bit of an understatement, the poor chap has had a bad dose of pneumonia (Is there such a thing as a good dose of it?) that has lasted a month. As a cheerful addition he has also gained two cracked ribs with all the coughing. No-one can call this guy a shirker either, he runs his own cleaning company, GME Cleaning Services, which specialises in high level work and though he tried to keep going eventually the germs finally won and sent him both to bed and hospital!

Worst of all he still can’t ride his motorbike, this is serious!!!

Harley and I headed east amongst all the retreating Emmetts on the A30, it was not fun having to second guess some of those idiots in (probably) company cars flying about like they never passed a driving test. Anyway we went cross-country from Whiddon Down and things got a whole lot nicer, quieter roads, lovely bends and dry tarmac all the way to Greg’s gaff high in the sunny Raddon Hills.

After about a gallon of tea and a splendid lunch Greg suggested we did a spot of astronomy….Now I’m quite partial to a spot of star-gazing myself, but at two in the afternoon, in bright sunshine?

No worries, out came my mate’s latest toy a P.S.T., that’s Personal Sun Telescope to us mere mortals, which was duly adjusted and pointed towards our nearest star, the sun.

At this point I need to emphasise a really important safety matter. DO NOT under any circumstances try this with anything you may have at home, that includes binoculars and ordinary telescopes, because IT WILL BLIND YOU!

The device that Greg owns is a scientific instrument made specially for observing the sun. I had never used one before and was blown away with what we could see. Clearly visible were a number of sunspots, these are turbulent magnetic fields that appear as dark spots on the surface of the sun which often lead to solar flares and coronal ejections and today we could see examples of those as well! Wow!

I’ve found a couple of photos on the net to show something of what we saw. First Sunspots and bear in mid that these spots are about six times the size of Planet Earth.Next Coronal Ejections, even bigger than the sun spots! Go Google for more info.After all that Solar excitement it was time to head back to Cornwall. Harley and I had a cracking ride towards home, but near Okehampton the sky over Dartmoor was blackened by a tremendous column of smoke. I found out later that a massive gorse fire was covering about 1500 acres of the moor and that smoke could be seen from 40 miles away. There were 12 fire engines in attendance with loads of volunteers helping too. Photo BBC.

Great to get out for 150 miles of head clearing freedom, magic

The sirens are screaming and the fires are howling, way down in the valley tonight….

Dookes

Hello Blogs Followers!

I’ve just got back from a nice little 50 mile jaunt, just the thing to blow the cobwebs away, get the new tyres fully scrubbed in and finish bedding in the brake pads. All of which I think we achieved!

The silly season appears to be starting here in the beautiful South West, traffic beginning to get busier and out of area number plates driving like they can’t wait to get to the scene of the accident!

I had a bit of fun in a petrol station earlier, I’d just finished filling Harley and was about to move off when a BMW squeezed, and I mean squeezed, past me to get to the front pump. Unfortunately for him, as I pulled off I just had to adjust my gloves and stopped right next to his driver’s side door. “Sorry mate, didn’t see you trying to get out….!”  Hee, hee, hee!

Bodmin Moor, two miles from Dookes H.Q.

Ride a white swan like the people of the Beltane, wear your hair long, babe you can’t go wrong!

Dookes

Ever get that feeling that things are not going to plan?

Well just lately it’s been hitting me big time!

This year I had plans for two road trips; a Spring jaunt to the Somme with my mate The Crimson Avenger (Get well soon mate!) and later an Autumn trip through Spain and France with Vifferman. Unfortunately the best laid plans have been dashed aside by developments in my non-riding life. We had to cancel the Spring trip and now with heavy heart have had to pull out of the Autumn jaunt as well…on account of being asked to project manage a rather expensive development, which may begin later in the year…..and I don’t know exactly when/if; so can’t commit to things with other people, argh…!
So now I have two mates who are fairly p****d off with me and a burning need to get something planned, cos I’ll go stir crazy if I don’t!

I think I will try to fit something in before the harvest period, domestic negotiations now commencing……watch this space.

The open road….calling loudly!

Dookes

Hello everyone!

I’ve just got back from a pleasant little ride to Plymouth Harley Davidson to participate in the global Harley Davidson Open Day and to look at some of the new models for 2013. It was a bit chilly earlier so I was glad of my heated under-jacket and gloves and arrived in Plymouth nice and toasty! First though was a cup of coffee and a splendid rib eye steak sandwich for breakfast, excellent!

There were a number of new bikes on display including the 2013 Street Bob, which I think is very nice. The dealership had two on display, one in blue and red, the other in Hard-Candy Red Flake. I liked the red bike, but the other did not do much for me…the red and blue looking too much like an old Fordson Tractor to my eye…..but each to their own! See what you think.

First the “Fordson”

Then the red.

There were a quite a few other 2013 models, all of which were nice, but this little 1200cc Sportster caught my eye.

As a bonus and as part of the global celebration of Harley Davidson’s 110 year anniversary everybody visiting was given a commemorative H-D110 pin badge, on the back of each is a unique number to giving a chance to win a trip to Milwaukee and the home of Harley Davidson. I haven’t checked my number yet, but ya never know!

Milwaukee music, the sweetest sound!

Dookes

Wow! What a climax to the Six Nations rugby tournament this year!

Unfortunately, I was unable to go to Cardiff today and had to settle for watching on television, but I was there in spirit and heart!

30-3 to Wales, best ever win over England and took the Championship in style!

Well done boys, you’ve made a nation proud!

My mate Bledd, was at the game in Cardiff and took this super picture, which kinda says it all really!!!!!!!

Sorry about the poor quality, but you’ll get the drift!

Cymru am byth!

Dookes

In my last post I showed you all the cut in Harley’s rear tyre.
What I didn’t say was that I thought that the front was looking a bit “tired” as well…sorry, pun just had to be done!

So the other day it was about time to get something done about it! I also thought that I should treat the old girl to a service as well and then just at the right time my friends at Plymouth Harley Davidson offered a special deal on servicing! Excellent timing, so I booked Harley in.

Then the deal got even better, included in the service was that Harley would be collected from home and delivered back afterwards, that alone saved me a fifty mile round trip, deal definitely on!

Ok so yes; a 10,000 mile service, a pair of new Dunlop H-D tyres, new brake pads front and back, you could say I was spending serious money, but hey that collection thing impressed me!

What’s more, when she arrived back Harley had also been washed and polished. I was very impressed, not just by the bells and whistles, but by the whole customer service experience and the work undertaken which is all very neat and clean. So thank you Plymouth Harley Davidson for a job well done and for being nice people to do business with, quite a team! (And usual disclaimer) http://www.plymouthharley-davidson.co.uk/

Some of you regular blog followers will notice Harley is looking a little different than when on a road trip. The touring screen is off, as are the panniers, making her look quite sleek and ….well, sexy!

The only trouble now is that with new tyres and brake pads I’ve got to be really careful for the next 100 miles or so, in order to make sure that I keep the rubber down and the chrome up! After that the round black things should be scrubbed and the pads nicely bedded in, then we can really ride!

Yeah, it’s motorcycle porn and I love it!

Never ridden? Never lived!

Dookes

Simple little word isn’t it? …and it just might save your life, if you ride on two wheels!

It’s an acronym that we two wheelers use to remind us what to check before getting on the bike and riding. It stands for:

Petrol – check you have some in the tank and it’s not leaking. It’s also a good idea to turn the tap to “open”!

Oil – check your engine and gearbox levels, cos things break without it!

Water – Check you cooling system levels. Not applicable on Harley as she is air cooled, but I use it to check her wheels as she has nice wire spokes, lovely, but can work loose and go all wobbly!

Electrics – All working, lights good, no blown fuses.

Rubber – Tyres, correct pressure, tread OK, no damage……and that was where I was glad of the checks!

I fancied a little ride at the weekend as the weather was getting sort of, well, nice. There I was in the Dookes Man-Cave doing my pre-flight checks and I found this in my rear tyre…..

Obviously the yellow arrow is not what I’m talking about and the smear is where I gave the tyre a wipe to see what was going on! The nasty bit is a pretty deep cut/split right in the tread, about an inch and a quarter long and also bang in the centre of the tyre, trip out cancelled! What a b****r! Mind you, it’s better that waking up in hospital after the thing goes bang at 70 mph!

So remember, whatever you are about to give a good hard ride, always check your rubber!!!!!

Ride it hard, ride it well!

Dookes

Hapus Dydd Dewi Sant!

Tonight, golwythi cig oen, cennin â chaws, celeriac a tatws (lamb chops, leek gratin, celeriac and potatoes to you!).
Oh and a drop of red wine!

Iechyd da!

Dookes

The technical term is “Countersteering”!

Now this might make sense to some of you other two-wheeled pilots, but I’m sure to anybody who has never ridden a motorbike, at least in the front seat, you may be thinking that the big D has finally lost the plot!

Let me explain….

As many of you know, I have for a long time been an “Advanced Motorcyclist”. By this I mean that I have completed the RoSPA Advanced Motorcyclist course and passed the assessment. Then subsequently I have regularly been assessed to ensure that the correct standard is maintained…and you think that this motorbike game is just about throwing your leg over the machine and off we go?  Think again!!!

One of the mantras of the Advanced Riding approach is continuous improvement and revision. The other day the latest copy of the Harley Owners Group magazine dropped through my letterbox and near the back was a very interesting article about Counter-steering that got me thinking. OK, you are now saying; “Come on Dookes, what the hell are you on about?”  Well to put it simply, it is about the principle that to go round a bend, you have to turn the handlebar in the opposite direction to the bend.  Honestly, you do!  Yeah, I know, it all sounds screwy and by now you are convinced that I have totally lost it….bear with me, whilst I explain. In fact, anyone who has ever ridden a motorbike or even a pedal bicycle has used counter-steering without even realising it.

It’s all about physics really. We all know that a bike, motor or otherwise, goes round a bend a whole lot better when it is leaning into the curve. To get the thing to lean, you actually do two things; one is you slightly and probably unconsciously, shift your weight to the inside of the bend and in addition you then counter-steer. To put it another way, you actually push the handlebars into the bend; turn right, push right; turn left, push left. For the vast majority of people on two wheels this is achieved without too much input, if any, from their brain. There are times however, when it all starts to go wrong, that it can be very helpful to have a clearer understanding of the principle, ‘cos it can get you out of trouble!

One of the most common causes of accidents people have on two wheels, excepting the “Sorry mate I didn’t see you” pillocks, is through not successfully making a turn. Sometimes this leads to an excursion into what the late great James Hunt used to describe as “Going Agricultural’ i.e. into the grass; or worse still drifting into oncoming traffic!

So, last Saturday morning, with the temperature at Zero degrees and a trip to the Plymouth Harley Dealership beckoning, Harley and I hit the road. As it was nice and quiet, I took the opportunity to practice my counter-steering technique. What I discovered about my own riding was quite interesting too! Firstly I rode as normal, but made a mental note of what I was doing. After about ten miles I stopped to turn the temperature down on my heated jacket and gloves, cos I was a bit too hot, at the same time I had a think about what I had been doing. I was surprised to discover that my counter-steering seemed to be less of push right, go right; more like pull left, go right! It all adds up to the same thing in the movement of the wheel after all… For the next 20 miles or so I tried a few different takes on the theme and soon I was in the groove.

It’s amazing really how just a small amount of thought and revision can assist your technique immensely, not to mention that with physics doing the work it’s a lot easier to negotiate the twists on a big bike like Harley!

One thing though….DO NOT try this in your car…it won’t work!!!

Harley amongst friends.

It’s all Counterintuitive really!

Dookes

With thanks to Becky Tillman of Rider’s Edge for the inspiration to get out and revise!