June 2025 First Half

 

June 2025

Glorious June has allot to offer, long days, balmy evenings and motorcycle gear to be cooked in. Time to be out and about but for me it has been a time of aches and pains looking at jobs that need to be done and not being able to do them but I have managed to do some. As usual I was at the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcyclists Observed Sunday for the shop and to take photo to record the event.

 It was also a special day as we are to inspect the alternative meeting place for Observed Sunday and the club base. It was Normandy village hall, much like Cobham with space to put our club storage sheds. This was a decent run from Cobham after closing the shop we had a convoy of three bikes. Me in the middle of John leading and Piers making sure I didn’t get lost. It was a busy run with detours to miss the traffic  to get on the A3 then  a blast down the A3 beyond Guildford taking the Puttenham turn off and wiggling our way to Normandy. The plan for the day for Observed rides was to depart from Cobham and finish with debrief in Normandy giving everyone a chance to see the possible new venue and enjoy more less restricted riding. 

There are allot of speed restrictions in the Cobham area and the grip of the Council by residents to reduce speed limits is increasing with the volume of traffic I feel that any advantage gained by being farther away from large towns will be short lived. I see the challenge for the Club in how to do progressive riding with these restrictions. It is also an interesting place having lots of parking and a cafe on site for other meetings.

 

I took lots of photos then made my way home via the Hogs Back. The A3 junction on the M25 was a nightmare and I hope the road works will soon be completed with the slip road not having traffic lights but I feel that may be too much for the planers.

The water at home has become almost unpalatable to drink. It smells so strongly of chlorine and has a very brackish flavour. Aviva is not doing a very good job for its customers. Privatisation was supposed to give us a choice. We have no alternatives with water and sewage and no control as there is poor investment and disregard for pollution they generate. What I have had to do is fit a water filter to the cold tap inlet side to get round this. It was easy enough to fit and the result was chlorine free water that no longer tastes of chateau sewage. The water has a lighter feel and is nice to drink. Success for me, I even feel better.

At the same time the tap was dripping. Was it hot or cold. The filter decided it. I replaced the hot side cartridge some time ago and the repair kit included the cold cartridge. I just had to fit it. That did not take that long except for removing the lime scale on the inside and outside to clean up the screw treads.

Other than greasing the kingpins and drive shafts and checking the lights worked on the   Burton I did nothing for the MOT. Always fraught as I have to pay ULEZ on it I set up the auto pay for it. I set it up to cover going away when I know it would be difficult to pay. This has its downside in any registration clocked with a G I get charged for. I get refunds but I feel I am persecuted by TFL for having a non compliant car. So much so when not taxed I remove it from the auto pay system. The Burton passed and good for another year. On the way home it had the feel of pulling to the left. This needed investigating. I had other things to do with my garden fence that was disintegrating and arranged with my neighbour to get it done. The preferred supplier had delivery problems in that their lorry had to have remedial works carried out and no orders were taken until it was back in action. It was delayed for three weeks. My neighbour did the appropriate cutting to size, painting and arranged with his brother-in-law to fit them. I would only have to refit the trellises and resecure the plants and shrubs. I agreed to dispose of the old fence panels. Trellises had suffered too and I had to buy two new ones. One I managed to carry from B&Q. It was not good quality so for the larger one a trip to a garden centre was needed. I measured up the car and no matter what I did it was not going to fit. So it was cut in half and it did fit. Cutting it with the saw I had brought specifically for this purpose. Gluing it back together when I got home. 

 Breaking the old panels down was easy enough, any rotten pieces of wood would be disposed of by burning in my chimenea. That was a good idea until picking it up was too much for it and it broke in the middle. Another repair job. It had three plates and six screws hold it together had rusted away. I only had that to do to  restore it. I made the three plates and drilled them. I had to drill out the existing screws as they were rusted in. I had 6mm nuts and bolts in my store of things and within an hour or so the chimenea was ready for action.

We had a plea from our daughter Ivy for baby sitting on a Friday. We went by tube and train to Hackney. The journey took about one and a half hours. Just as quick as the car but less stressful. While there I assembled the bench I had repaired the sides for. A quick, but awkward job of securing ten bolts and wood screws. Assembled it was stronger than ever. There is still half the month to enjoy.

 

May 2025

 

It has been a busy month with so much going on in between hospital appointments and visits to the dentist it has been difficult to keep up. It was added to by Gita finally having her cataract done and me being chief cook and bottle washer for a couple of weeks. It has been a motorcycling month starting with Observed Sunday not feeling quite right I went in the car even though I had prepared the Kawasaki in readiness.

 After making an effort to get up to date with the Blog I still felt it had got away from me a bit. I had been requested to do a presentation by Louise the Wey Valley Club social events secretary to do a presentation about my ride to Arunachal. A chance to share pictures and videos of the mud bath endured on the trip. It was a 1000km challenge and was a fete of endurance.

 A few days later a group from the LE club visited Sammy Millers Motorcycle Museum. A real treat with the new facilities adding to the experience. Reminding me just how much I miss the passing of the London Motorcycle Museum. We were there until they closed.

 Magic. That was the Thursday. Friday I prepared for the Kempton Park Bike Show,  built the trailer and loaded the Valiant and prepared the stand for the show. Saturday was show time and as usual the interest in the Valiant  was good meeting new club members and owners of Valiants all wanting technical assistance Even notable motorcycle journalist, Denis Frost paid us a visit. Talking about your bikes is what it is about but being the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcyclists stand there were few takers for becoming advanced motor cyclists.  I did not go to the LE Club National Rally on the Sunday although it would have been great to go I ran out of steam to drive for four hours in the car for a day out.

A few days later was the 75^th anniversary of the first LE Club run. This was to Newlands Corner. We arranged a club meet up from 11am. Being mid week only five people turned up. A couple together on their LE, and I can’t remember their names, John on his Valiant. Me on the Kawasaki and Anthony on his Honda. Even so it was a very enjoyable outing in the sun.

The following week was the Wey Valley AGM . I go to support the Club and vote for the candidates  that give their willingly to make it such a thriving club. It was a nice evening made even nicer as I rode the Kawasaki in warm conditions for the first time this year.

The sun continued as I did a repair job on a garden seat for my daughter. It came to me as a bundle of sticks and returned as varnished completed ends of a garden seat. A masterpiece in glue and screws. Amit , our son came over and helped me out replacing my 15 year old note book with a modern Chromebook. I have a presentation to do for Wey Valley and with a week to go modern technology has left me and my notebook behind. My version of Powerpoint is not supported anymore and the connectors for a projector are just as archaic.

Perhaps it is time to update but my notebook has been round the world supporting my holidays and adventures in my retirement along with numerous articles. It suits me but I will keep you posted with how my new piece of kit fulfils that role.

It was not until the day I was able to test out the presentation when I found some of the videos I wanted to use would not play because they were the wrong format. They would play on the laptop but not in the presentation.  I replaced the videos with pictures taken from the videos and had the videos on the desk top to be ready to play. I did the presentation at the club night and it was well received. There were a few glitches where things did not work as they should even my 20 year old laser pointer failed to co-operate and some slides did not play but as no one knew of them it did not really matter. As Gita was not able to attend I did a video for her and if you want to relive the night follow the link to You Tube

https://youtu.be/BpYC1u6Xdng?si=-2Bmxs59uXCvV2Qs

It is about one and a half hours and in mirror view.

 

April 2025

 

April 2025

 

Just back from another visit to India and documented in March 2025 postings. The highlight for ma was the 1000km bike to Arunachal Pradesh. I would not say riding for three days in the rain and mud enjoyable. It was an experience and an achievement at being the oldest man on a motorcycle to do that journey and can be seen by looking at jungle_jatri on the internet. Back to more mundane things and the Wey Valley Observed Sunday and barbeque not becoming an annual celebratory event for the club. It was a cold wind but the sun was shining making it reasonably pleasant to sit outside. I went on the Kawasaki testing out the saddlebags and discovered how wide the bike had become. Something to work on.

I did a little fettling over the next few days with the mounting brackets and gave the El Cid a once over for the trip to Bristol over Easter. Staying with my brother Adrian with the plan of going to the 2CV National Rally held at Martha’s Down near Salisbury in convoy. It is a good flat camp site albeit on the top of a hill which means it is open to the weather and can be cold and windy. On the way to Bristol I could smell oil and when the oil light came on it was panic time. I stopped on junction 17 slip road of the M4 and threw what oil I had in the engine. Continuing on to Leigh Delamare services a mile away I bought more oil and topped up the sump. Only fourteen miles to go I coaxed the car along just getting to Adrian’s when the oil light came on again. I breathed a sigh of relief arriving with the engine intact. But what was the problem? Oil appeared to be coming from the rocker box seal. An easy job if that was all it was.

Good Friday was a trip into Bristol by bus to visit the Old Duke for jazz. That was pre Covid now instead of every day it is twice a week  and not today so we headed to Weatherspoons for cheap beer and food It was raining most of the day and retired to Adrian’s for a takeaway. Barry, my eldest brother, came over for a bit of a reunion.

Saturday was another dismal day. We managed to find a car accessory shop open in Chipping Sodbury and bought oil and gasket sealant. When the weather cleared in the afternoon it was time to tackle the job. The El Cid parked on Adrian’s drive blocking his garage. Nice to work on but he would not be able to use his Dolly until the job was done. Front off to gain access to the heat cowlings and reveal the oil pipes to the cylinder heads. This showed the main cause of the oil leak. The oil pipe had broken next to the union on the left cylinder head. We did try to silver solder it but we could not get the silver solder to stick. Abandoning that , Adrian retired to a safe distance while I dismantled and removed the fan and the housing  to get to the oil pipe running between the heads. Oil pipe removed it was time to stop and get cleaned up for the evening.

Sunday  was our day to visit Martha’s Down and the 2CV National Rally. With our convoy left on the drive and in the garage we went in the Picasso. At the rally there was the meeting of old friends and ECAS to buy the spares I needed. There was a really nice selection of cars and vans to look around and talk to their owners. It was cold again and we left early along with many people decamping to go home. One time I will stay long enough to enjoy the evening’s entertainment, but not this year.

Monday was another rainy morning and I had to wait for the sun to come out to start the repair.  Fitting the oil pipe the copper washers were annealed by Adrian  to make the sealing easier and for the banjo bolts to bite. Filled with oil the engine started to test for leaks. A successful job. While things were apart the oil cooler needed a clean and so did most of the engine bay to remove the oil that had been distributed. Much engine cleaner and a spray bottle to get the cleaner into where it was needed. Even requiring a brush to get the muck off the oil cooler. That had not been done for years. When we were happy it was clean enough the fan cowling was fitted then the fan, fan belt and finally the front of the car. A successful test drive and we were ready for my journey home.

Tuesday return home with a stop at Membury on the M4 to check oil. There was something below the left cylinder on the chassis. I wiped it off and continued. There was some when I got home but no discernable change in oil level. A few days later I checked the oil level and engine bay and it was all clean. Job OK and no more work to do.

March 2025 Part 3 Finale part 2

 

March 2025

Part 3 Finale Part 2

Returning to Guwahati, the main city of Assam, was to be quite busy. Staying at the India Club was a central location for us to meet up with old friends. Joonjyoti had arranged for us to join up with a ladies group on holiday from Nepal who were celebrating two birthdays that day. They were ladies who were at school together and have remained friends even though a few have emigrated to America. Two of them had husbands and sons interested in my cars and bikes that helped to make a very interesting celebration along with the champagne and birthday cake. Joonjyoti being the excellent host he is arranged the venue, music, cake, champagne and transport to bring them to the club. What a group of ladies!

The next day we were whisked away by taxi to a Homestay location to be part of a comedy show. All arranged by Lakhu, Chinmoy’s sister, and TV presenter with  writer, director, actor Nisha Kalita. It took all day to do the shooting and went well into the evening. We did have to rerecord the vocals again as they were not good enough live. That was done the next evening at Deepa’s flat. The video appeared about two weeks later.

In You Tube type

Bihu Main Season 3 Nisha Kalita Comedy series

I had a meeting with Pikoloo Deka  while he was visiting Guwahati and good to reminisce and talk about the future of the Museum and received the plaque.

More efforts from Lakhu as we were taken to News Desk 24, ND24, for a joint interview. We were interviewed for over an hour and with lots of clips from our trip to Arunachal. The interview was published within two days under ND24 #tag interviews. Hosted by Manash Pratim Deka

In YouTube type this into the search box

lovestory#assam#britain#manashpratimdeka

Not to be outdone  by ND24 another TV company wanted an interview this was Asom 24 and it was done in Deepa’s living room, by Rajdeep Bailung. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F1vc91wAU/

 

Your comments please.

Having spent much time doing these things  an afternoon talking to Joonjyoti about future plans for a road trip was refreshing. In a few days were back in Delhi rounding off the holiday with seeing Omar and Roma with lunch at the Momagolo in Khan Market for a pleasant lunch with good company.

I thought the last visit to India was busy but this was a different dimension with the number of diverse things we did. So what is next? I have been promised a bike trip to Megalaya another one of the “Seven Sisters” and once again up into the hills like Arunachal Pradesh. I’m told it will not be muddy or rainy. Something to look forward to.

March 25 Part 3 Finale 1

 

March 2025

Part 3 The Finale 1

What more had this holiday installed for us. So far an Indian wedding in two locations a one thousand kilometre bike ride and now we are heading off on our return journey to Delhi via some interesting places. First stop is the largest island in the Bramaphutra river. Mejuli. Feels remote. Isolated with sporadic villages and roadside stalls selling petrol in water bottles and where people gather. 

Cattle are frequent but mostly stay in the fields. Roads are mostly straight and are on causeways above the fields and clear of the flood plain. People on bicycles going where they need to go. Nothing much for distractions but the only ones obeying rules are cows. Everyone else it is a free for all meaning driving requires full concentration at all times and necessary low speeds making journeys no quick jaunt. The remoteness is a must for prayer and Mejuli has more than its’ fair share of temples and shrines.

 It is also a place for industry among the places visited were a handmade pottery  and a theatrical mask company. The masks are made big, people size or small, monkey head depending on the character represented and what is required or the performance or parade. All made from traditional materials. Clay and cow dung. It doesn’t smell. They look real even more so when parts move like the monkey head with a moving jaw.

We stayed overnight in a Government run hotel then escaped the island on an over-packed ferry. One where the cars drove on from the side and were parked as they arrived on deck. It was the most direct route to our next destination and a couple of nights in Kazeranga National Wildlife Park.

 In Kazeranga are the rhinos Assam’s emblem a must to see. We took a safari drive to see the rhinos in an open jeep. We spent much of the time queuing to get through security to get in. 

Why am I such a security risk? There was an artistic performance at the Orchid sanctuary and not far away a Motorcycle Museum. 

The only one I knew of was just outside Guwahati that I visited in 2019 reported in Something for the museum my first blog. This one was called Treasured Wheels and new for this area. I had to visit. While Gita went shopping in the Orchid Sanctuary I went to the museum. It turns out to, be run by Pikoloo Deka and is the same museum relocated. It is being rebuilt with help from Kazeranga administration to promote tourism. He is doing a very good job at building new facilities for visitors to enjoy. I have the honour of being the first foreign visitor, the first entry in the visitors book, the first to buy an entry ticket and receive a commemorative trophy. He has still to complete the restoration of his Subeam S7 any help with distributor, alternator, and drive shaft will be much appreciated. It was a first to a transport museum for our driver Ghana who had been driving our support vehicle to and from Mechoukha and now continuing being our guide and driver.

At lunch time I had to extract Gita from the array of shops to head for Guwahati and take up residence in the India Club. We still did not see any orchids.

March 2025 Part 2 The Bike Ride Part2

 

March 2025

Part 2 The Bike Ride Part 2

 

After arriving the temperature at the Homestay bedroom was dropping with approach of darkness. Another day getting wet. Cold again and no heating the kind people running the Homestay let us have an electric blanket. It was just what we needed and after a warming shower we headed for the communal room where the stove had just been lit and I was hugging it waiting for beer to arrive. I had been on a remarkable journey and survived. I had no idea that I would have to do it in reverse. All I wanted was to sleep. Over the next two days Gita and I did little other than clean our bike gear. The mud was so fine it got everywhere. The best way to remove it was waiting for it to dry and brushing it off but it still managed to impregnate fabrics and leather. My bike boot zips seized with it and it took days to get them working properly again. On the first rest day we had a trip to a monastery restaurant and then to Dorjeeling to visit the heritage village. 

The second rest day was a bit of sitting in the sun and getting sunburnt then a trip around the valley by car. We were in a restricted area and were not permitted to get to the snow line and the crashed helicopter.

Day four was the return trip. The Homestay was good fun with the gang. Another early start at six am without breakfast. Once again there was notice of road closures. After a drizzly start the weather improved to glorious sunshine that stayed with us throughout the morning interspersed with breaks for boiled eggs and bananas. About eleven we were halted by the sound of a heavy blast. This turned into one and a half hours waiting as we watched to road being cleared.

 In the mean time the weather closed in and it was raining quite hard when we had to stop for two hours for road works. By two pm we were in a cafe for lunch and shelter from the rain. By four the road was open again. Three and a half hours of daylight lost and also my energy. There is no heating except a modest fire that only a few could get close to. We pressed on through heavy rain until my energy ran out and I had a “Holi” moment on a narrow track falling to the right this time and my leg hit a rock. Fortunately only bruised but it was a warning that I did not have the strength to hold the bike anymore. It was about five in the evening, Still raining and even thicker mud. I bailed out and took to the car before I could hurt myself. There were still three weeks in India to enjoy. The car was uncomfortable being rocked by potholes and I was wet. It did not bother me on the bike but unpleasant as you warmed up. In a couple of  hours we were at the Hotel West in Aalo. Glad to have got there but sad that I had to bail out, better to be with Gita in the car.

It was more of a leisurely start in the morning, time for breakfast with the sun shining. I could dry some of my gear and I was able to put on dry fresh clothes for the first time on a morning. What a change to ride in the sunshine climbing the hills out of Aalo. Sweeping bends  with reasonable roads and only a few road works to contend with. A real treat. I was still a bit tired so Gita was pillion for Chinmoy leading the way on his yellow Suzuki with me following close enough to use the communicators. Bikash followed me to pick up the pieces.

Lunch was at Pasishap at another noodle place at my request. The sunshine and warm at lower altitudes abled me to shed layers. Being dry and some confidence there would be grip it was a faster ride. Post lunch roads were better and we had long stretches of dual carriage way broken to rubble to keep the speeds down. I managed to get the Husky up to over 130kph according to Bikash as he could not get by me. The speedo on the Husky was fogged after being drowned the previous day. I could see nothing only the neutral indicator light, but it did wind up well. It seemed like no time at all before pulling in at the Bogiebil resort just across the big Bramaphutra bridge about four for afternoon tea and a snack. Fighting with unforgiving tea time traffic on the last leg as it was getting dark. We safely arrived back in Bamunbari at Chinmoy’s house about six. Making a nine hour journey some 273 km for the day. Most people went home to come back later for an evening of camaraderie. What an expedition covering some 1000km in six days recorded on Jungle Jatri web site in their videos. https://www.instagram.com/travelling_hipp0/reel/DHdYcpNBOyX/               and

https://www.instagram.com/jungle_jatri/reel/DHXN-jbyU8B/ if you have an Instagram acccount

March 2025 Part 2 The Bike Ride 1

 

March 2025

Part 2 The Bike Ride 1

 

Nazira to Bamunbari a welcome escape with Chinmoy, his family and friends to his home. We will be staying there a few days enjoying the delights of Rural Assam before setting off on an adventure. E had one glorious day of sunshine before the weather changed to persistent rain sometimes very heavy as the weather fronts moved through. It was the day to check out the bike, fill up with fuel and give Gita the chance to test the comfort of the Husky. When it did stop raining it was almost dark and no time to do a test ride. Chinmoy did all the preparations and fettling necessary for the trip.

We were up at six to have an eight am departure. Breakfast consumed, geared up, communicators working we set off in light rain with Gita on the back. We rode as a group to Arunachal picking up bikers on the way including some welcome breaks in the weather. There was a short delay at the border to check our permits to enter. It is close to the Chinese border and has a strong military presence. Shortly after the border we stopped for lunch at a hotel. Some spectacular views even though the clouds were low and around us and wet.

Some distance on we were on a very poor road that went from potholed tarmac to just potholes and rocks. It was hard work for me but very uncomfortable for Gita and I asked her to take the car which she was happy to do. I could manage the rough road without Gita on the back. We rolled in to Aalo at around 5:30 in drizzle. I did not know it at the time but we had covered 270km in about nine and a half hours. Google maps says a six hour journey time. I had arrived at the Reyi Homestay cold and wet. There was no heating only a hot shower and no way to dry my gear.

A very social evening around an open we retired early in preparation for a 5:30 am start. To do this we were was up at 4:45 into we gear packed and ready to go and did get away just before six. Gita was in the car again as it was raining. As we progressed to the mountains and into the clouds the rain became heavier with more standing water with mud lining the road. Through the clouds the rain eased and was on and off along the route. We had warnings of road closures at mid day for road works. The pressure was on to keep going. Short stops at small cafes on the way kept me going. The road seemed like a perpetual road work with miles of mud challenging my riding skills. Sometimes the mud won and I had a “Holi” moment. Holi is the festival of colour where it is distributed everywhere. Mine was mud on my jacket. I had problems with my wrist coping with holding the throttle and operating the front brake. I pressed on with frequent stops. In many place the road improvements had been completed and we had lots of miles on four lane roads but it was not continuous marred by Bailey bridges that had potholes and or mud to contend with before, after and on. I had had enough. We had lost touch with the car. It would not be coming back. I had to keep going. By this time we had been on the road for seven hours in the most difficult conditions I had ever encountered. We stopped at Tato for lunch where Chicken noodles sated my hunger. I had nothing much to eat other than fruit and nuts when the car was around. After eating our riders group was on the road again. Poor roads were a nightmare, potholes and mud seemed to be at every corner. My wrist problem persisted and more frequent stops. Finally we were dropping down into Mechoukha and pulled into GTL Homestay at about 4:30 pm. Ten and a Half hours on the road covering 184km. Google says it is a 6h 12min journey. It may be in dry conditions but not in mud.