Overland Adventure Travel Day at the Ace
 

Overland Adventure Travel Day at the Ace Cafe London

Sunday February 8th 2009

9.00 - 5.00pm

More details as I have them

Glynn

I'll be up for that..

Actually, looks like I'll be back in oz by then.. haha

Sounds good to me... (being there, i mean - not the above post!):thumbup1:

Newby
 

Hi,
Do you have any more details about this Overland Adventure Travel Day??

I am new to this....

Cheers,

Scottie

bummer i will be working that day i might have to see if i can get there and back before work :scooter:

How about 4 wheels?
 

Are 4x4's welcome as well?:innocent: We will be arriving from Oz around the end of Jan...

Ace day + Russia maps
 

Thanks Glynn
I hope to be back and, if so, will come along.

I am currently in Moscow for a few weeks but due to return to London a day or so earlier than the meet.

Apart for a few maps of OS or 'Carte Militaire' quality of a few non contentious areas, Russian road network is covered in a series of about 6 or 7 map booklets - or in one bound heavy book for about GBP23. Each booklet is far less than the cost of a pint (in UK anyway!) and they are quite reasonable for itinery planning, showing roads, towns, rails, tracks, even fuel and workshops in remoter parts. No contours and not always highly accurate or up to date though!

If anyone wants a map or more please PM me with your details and which region interests you and I will buy them, carry them back to London and bring them along for you to collect

Hello Glynn

Any news on what we might expect at the Ace? And please promise me the exciting stuff won't all be over by 0930.. this is a Sunday we're talking about.

--Mike

Posters over on ADV are saying it'll be the usual suspects - Touratech, Metal Mule etc with stands but nothing beyond that.

The half dozen times I've been to the Ace before it's just been a case of turning up, grabbing a burger / pint, kicking a few tyres and passing the time with whoever you find. I'm happy with that but the Ace is only half an hour down the M40 for me. Those of you coming some distance might want a bit more but I've no idea who it would be down to.

Maybe HUBBers ought to work out some way of identifying themselves - wear a pink carnation, carry a copy of the Times, that sort of thing so we can put faces to names. I'll be there on the yellow CCM if my foot is out of plaster in time!

Ace
 

Only details on cafe's website are times: Cafe 0700-2230, meet 0900-1700. Linzi

I'm planning on being there.

I'll be there! just returned from india after tangoing with a truck so i'll try not to lookj stupid with a broken arm :p

We're working on more details right now - we - Grant and Susan - WILL be there. More as we know. :)

See you there!

Austin Vince and Lois Pryce will be there! :clap:

Austin will do a talk on the Terra Circa ride with a NEW presentation that should be a lot of fun!

Lois will have her books, so this is a great chance to get a signed copy of the new paperback edition that will be released just in time for the event.

I'll be there too
I guess we'll recognise the HU bikes by the HU stickers

Grant,
I know we have t-shirts to recognise each other, but for when the weather is not so great how about sew on patches for jackets so that we can recognise HU'ers when we're all kitted up? Maybe a small'ish sleeve size and a larger one for the back of your jacket? Bit like HU colours (that is tongue firmly in cheek BTW).
Certainly I'd get one of each.

Caps
 

A cap might be a better idea, kahki with fold down neck protector. Practical too. Linzi.

How about a kahki cap with badge and neck protector?

How to recognise each other ? what about the dreamy faraway look in our eyes ?

I hear on the grapevine that Sam Manicom is going to be there signing his books. He's not got it up on his website yet - do you know anything about this Glynn.

For anyone who hasn't read his books yet, they are brilliant. :thumbup1:His latest one, Distant Suns, is the most descriptive and down to earth motorcycle travel book I've read other than One Man Caravan. When Sam says 'Every day an adventure' he means it.

I hope his partner Birgit comes too. Shes nuts - rode a vintage 650 BMW and had only been riding a bike for a few hundred miles when they started!

Anyone heard anything about them being there?

Cheers,
Jimmy

Hi Jimmy
I was at the Ace last week talking to the owner and the guy in charge of the adventure bike day. They both told me Sam would be there along with some other Authors.
The Adventure Bike Day came about after Ace cafe owner Mark Wilsmore was so impressed by the turn out for Sams book signing a couple of months ago even though the weather was very bad.
I think it is going to be a very good turn out, I hope to get ther early afternoon after the Dragon rally in Wales.

count me in glynn

Sam Manicom WILL be there!

Also, Peter Henshaw from Motorcycle Sport and Leisure will be coming.

Sure - but you may have a challenge parking! It's all about adventure travel.

I'd be happy to do patches - find me a patch maker at a decent price and we'll do it! Probably not one back size though... ;)

Hi Bolla and Grant,
Good stuff!! I'm looking forward to meeting Sam. No word on Birgit though? Gutsy lady - hope she makes it.

Are there going to be any other travel writers there besides Austin and Lois?

Being tight and always looking to save a travel buck it's going to be a good opportunity to buy a book or two without paying postage! Told you I'm tight, but it's all gas in the tank eh. And anyway, I guess if we buy direct from the authors they get a bigger wedge? Anyone know about that?

Hope Lois is going to have her new book there. Read the first one - enjoyed.

Cheers,
Jimmy

Dont let the parking put you of bringing your 4x4
There is plenty space opposite the cafe up on the pavement off the road no problem
The Ace has had some very busy car days allways some where to park

Hi Jimmy,
I'm delighted to hear that you have enjoyed the books. Thank you very much for posting on them. :mchappy: I'm looking forward to meeting you at the Ace. If all goes to plan then we should be there pretty much from the start of the day.

'We'? Too right Birgit will be there. She's really looking forward to it.

If anyone hasn't been to the Ace Cafe before, it's well worth a visit. History oozes from the walls and the atmosphere in there is terrific. The staff are incredibly welcoming and the food is excellent value. They do a decent cup of coffee too. If you are planning to try one of their breakfasts - for the first time - look out, they really are a Break Fast! Huge!

All the best till the 8th.
Sam

Count me in....
 

Me - I'm coming too please, although it might have to be on my adventure pedalcycle if I can't get my Serow or Fazer sorted by then.

Belle:thumbup1:

Hi All,
I've had word from Les Madge that he and Jane from Traveldri-Plus are going to be there too.

Traveldri-Plus for those of you who don't know about them, they specialise in supplying motorcycle expedition kit.

Simon Gandolfi, author of "Old Man on a bike" will be there to give a talk! :)

He rode from Argentina to New York on his pension, broke a leg en route, and still made it. He's a real story teller, so be sure to be there!

Update

Presenting

Simon Gandolfi
Sam Manicom
Austin Vince
Lois Pryce
Grant and Susan Johnson


Motorcycle Outreach Charity

Trading

Above authors
Traveldri - plus
Planet - knox
James Cargo

Timetable to be posted nearer the date

Glynn

Wouldnt mind coming down but will depend on my bust leg.
never been to the ace before.

As has been said before the Ace Cafe is itself worth the trip

And with the line up we have for the day and no admission charge it'll be worth the effort even if you have to hop all the way...

Glynn

Probably!
Someone said it was oozing with nostalgia.

Apart from a fleeting visit on a Fanny Barnett in the late 50s, my nostalgia of the place relates to waiting 3 hours on a snowy morning for a new tyre being delivered for my 2.8i Capri. Much oozing that day!

For me it will be oozing with plans, ideas and inspiration.
And to finally put a few faces to names.

GRANT, what asking peole to simply wear name badges/stickers with their HU indentity? Solves the patches cost and logistics.

See you all there (flights from RUS permitting!)

Overlanders Mtg Ace Cafe - Glasgow to Kathmandu by Triumph Bonneville
 

I will be attending the Ace Cafe for the Overlanders Meeting on 8 Feb 09 from 11.00 to 17.00.

I rode from Glasgow to Kathmandu on a 2006 Triumph Bonneville from 27 Sep to 3 Nov 08.

I will be wearing a blue G2K T-shirt.

If anyone has any questions on riding from the UK to Nepal please feel free to ask.

Hope to see you on Sunday the 8th.

Fergus

PS If anyone wishes me to give a lecture to their motorbike club/dealer/rotary club.... Pse give dates. It is 45 minutes long, 65 slides and is about my experiences and adventures. Not really about bikes!

This will tie in with the charity I am raising funds for: Child Welfare Scheme Nepal. CWSUK.ORG

Hi Fergus,
good for you, and good luck with raising money for your charity and I hope you gets lots of offers for your presentation. See you on the 8th.
Rich

Adventure at the Ace
 

I'll be there, with Jessica.

The Ace is always good fun. :thumbup1:

Matt Bailey

I'll be there and look forward to catching up with some familiar faces, and others who I've only met online as posters here.

Easy to spot: I have HUBB stickers on the panniers like any self-respecting biker;-)

Fergus -- it will be good to swap notes on riding the Bonneville.

--Mike

If you're thinking of going....
 

..go!! The opportunity to meet and have a caht with Sam Manicom alone makes it worth it. Met him last year at BMAD in Paignton and he's sound as a pound, willing to spend time to talk to you about you (unlike people like me that likes talking about my favourite subject...me!).
Bought a couple of books, and even happier as they are as good, if not better, than their reviews!
I'm gutted I'll not be there!

I hope you're planning on coming to the UK Meeting and presenting for us? Register to present on the UK Meeting page

Grant

And I thought going to Nordkapp on a Bonnie was a challenge - respect Fergus.


Indy.

Myself the Mrs and some other friends form another forum are going to this, really looking forward to it

Great Day Ahead
 

I'll be there, definitely...:thumbup1:

Its in my diary :thumbup1:

Mate Chris and I will be there. if I get up early enough at the Dragon rally.
:thumbup1:

Touch wood
 

Fingers crossed I'll be there, I'm easy to spot I'm the one on the 125cc - unless I ride the Ruckus of course.

Old Man On A Bike
 

Sounds a good day. I'll be there - also with books and a thirst.
Cheers...

An Ace Day
 

We've had lots of interest shown for this and reckon it will be a really good day out. Remember its FREE!

A timetable will be posted here later this week.

Glynn

Me and Ms Wonky will be there.

Looking forward to it

G2K Glasgow to Kathmandu presenting at the UK Horizons Meet in June
 

Dear Grant,

Thank you for asking me to present at the UK Horizons Travellers Meeting 18-21st June.

We can talk at the Ace Cafe a week on Sunday.

I will also bring my lap-top along on the 8th in case you can fit me in for an hour to give my presentation.

Look forward to seeing you.

Yours,

Fergus

We will be there too! Although as we have new bikes we don't have HU stickers on!

Spot the spotless blue kwak Versys and the black with gold frame Shiver!

It will be nice to meet with few familiar faces and some new!

Simon Gandolfi, good you are coming! I read your book (loved it!) and looking forward to get it signed! :) It reminded me so much of my time in south america! It was so spot on in the description of people, land, events....

See you there everyone!

Franglais Riders
 

Delighted you enjoyed the book. Look forward to meeting up. Where next? I have begun planning a ride round India for next winter - the damp cold here does for my injured leg! And I need to meditate on prawns. Honda build the equivalent of the Brazilian built Honda 125 that took me trouble free through over 50000 Ks of the Americas. I'll be 77 by the end of the Indian trip - so possibly the final hurrah!! Of course I might snuff before or on the ride...:oops2:

Hi from a fellow truck victim - mine was in Tierra del Fuego. Good to meet you - especially as I'm presently planning an Indian journey for next winter! I am giving a short presentation at the Ace meet around 3.30 - otherwise will be signing copies of OLD MAN ON A BIKE. Let's get together...
Cheers from one :oops2: to another

Simon great to hear you have more plans. Next trip for us in 2 years time, London Sydney via Khazakstan, mongolia and Siberia... should be interesting!
I look forward to your presentation, we missed it at Ripley as we were doing ours at the same time, although we did grab few beers with you if you remember!

Cheers,

Mosquitoes
 

Maria, Siberian mosquitoes are ravenous and big as an elephant....!

Timetable
 

Met with Carl from the Ace today and the confirmed line up for the day is....

Presentations from -

11.00 AM Ian Mutch - Mali on a Harley
Editor of 'The Road' and MAG stalwart.

12.30 PM Sam Manicom - Distant Suns
Long time traveller and author

2.00 PM Austin Vince - Our resident after dinner speaker!
Veteran of many madcap trips and author too!

3.30 PM Simon Gandolfi - Old man on a bike
South America on a 125...

All presentations last around 20 minutes

Also attending -

Lois Pryce - Solo traveller and Author

Grant and Susan Johnson - Horizons Unlimited

Craig Carey Clinch - Motorcycle Outreach Charity

As well as the above signing their books and DVD's there are several traders attending.

TravelDri - Plus - Camping/Travel Outfitters

Metal Mule - Metal Luggage systems

James Cargo - Shipping solutions

The KTM Centre. Hemel Hempstead - Err KTM's...

Middlesex Advanced Motorcyclists

All the above can be googled easily. I doubt any of the traders will have their full range on board, I know they would be grateful if you contact them for anything you want to see/buy.

Welcome to the Ace Cafe London Home Page

Glynn

does anyone have a contact e-mail for the guys at Travel-Dri-Plus?
I've looked at the website and there's a phone number, but no e-mail.
there's some things I'd like them to bring along, and I don't think my boss'll be too happy if I call when at work :nono:

E-mail
 

Hi, can't give the address here due to spam risk. On their website, it's at the page bottom before you click on the picture to enter site. Linzi.

Thanks Linzi,
must've just missed it

See you there.
Chris

Sunday is pencilled in
 

I'm hoping to get down there for the day. :scooter:

Long Way Down!
 

Hi Jonathon :mchappy:

Long way to come just for the day. If you need a place to stay for Sunday night, you are welcome at ours, just south of Banbury.

A few of us will be leaving from Ma Larkins at the junction of the A361 and the A44 at Chipping Norton on Sunday at about 10.30 am.

Enjoyed your website and the GS looks ACE!

Cheers

Chris

Bmw F650gs
 

Hi Chris, I can't take Damien's BMW to London as it's SORNed but I'd like to have a chat to you. I'll be wearing a Moto Guzzi liveried jacket so should be pretty obvious. I am desperate to ride but must use the good old bus. Grrr. Lindsay.

Update: "Easy to spot: I have HUBB stickers on the panniers but my panniers will be in, err, Norwich. Along with the bike. Snowed out before leaving for London. So I'm not much of a self-respecting biker after all!

Hoping to be there in time to catch Ian Mutch's presentation.

Tim

weather update
 

any news on the condition of the roads today coming from Peterborough down to the Ace Cafe?
Around Huntingdon the back roads are pretty slippy.
Whats the A1 and the roads round London like?
Obviously we've got a couple of days to go, but in Huntingdon we're forecast more snow tonight, and while the Scorps are good, they're not that good!

Meet at the Ace
 

Hi Linzi

Hoping to get there on the bikes, but if not will take the 4x4, with a few of the lads on board.

You can mail me any pics and details and I can put the BM up on Biketrader straight away.

Cheers


Chris
chris@welovebikes.co.uk

Shots
 

Hi Chris, I've taken 24 photos of the bike. Should have them developed on Friday. Still using film! Lindsay.

A pretty good uk weather website is at Met Office: Weather and climate change I am still trying to work out the weather for south London - Anglesey- Ace for Friday to Sunday!
:stupid:

should hopefully be there on the TeDiuM
:thumbup1:

Should be there on 4 wheels rather than 2 with at least one of the kids in tow.

Tim - would love to catch up with you to chat Morocco routes.

Adi

Should be quite an adventure just getting there eh...:eek3:

Mon, nice to see your Union Flag is flying the right way up :thumbup1:

Ride Report
 

I hope someone has the foresight to take a camera!!! This meeting is a great excuse for an exellent ride report.Especially for those of us in the City of Eternal Spingtime who cant make it to north west London in February in the snow.
Al theturtleshead
I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!:clap:

All the roads in London are good to ride now, rain this morning cleared all the untreated back roads that where a bit icy, the main roads have been good for days.

Thanks Tonto,
I don't think that'll help the 'conversation' I've just had about the 'dangerous roads' I'll be riding and that I'll 'risking death' by going, but it's good for me to hear at least. Been looking forward to this for weeks, and I'll be really p****d off if the weathers going to ruin it for me. :stormy:

Lift to the ACE anyone?
 

Hi All :mchappy:

Will be taking the 7 seater, 4x4 :tank: tomorrow to the ACE so if anyone would like a lift down there due to the weather, I can offer one, as there are 3 seats remaining.

This is the route there and back:

Banbury - Chipping Norton (Ma Larkins) - Woodstock - Oxford - Wheatley - M40 jct 8 Oxford Services - then South past any junction on the M40 that you need a lift from to Uxbridge - Greenford - Ace Cafe about 11.30 am and leave at 4.00 pm ish.

Cheers


Chris

Its On! Update
 

I've had numerous folk contact me to ask if its still on.

It Is!

Some parts of the country have had more snow or haven't recovered from the last lot, but London is OK, so its a goer!

The only change to the timetable is Simon Gandolfi is now on at 3.00 instead of 3.30, thats if he can dig himself out of 'Gandolfi Towers' in the west:cool4:.
If he cant make it he will post a message here for all to see.

Failing that everyone else can make it and judging from the response, this will be a big turnout.

See you soon

Glynn

Gandolfi Towers
 

Definitely coming tomorrow. Gandolfi Towers is freezing. Looking forward to ACE CAFE central heating! Should be there around 11 am dressed in my Ushuaia beanie. Will bring books...:thumbup1:

Was an excellent day - HU even provided sunshine!

Thanks to Glynn, Susan and Grant - and the Ace
Thanks to the presenters and exhibitors.
Thanks the Mates I met, old and new.

Great day, I met some many people. It was like a mini Ripley.

Some interesting bikes, especially the diesel-engined Enfield.

Should be a regular twice-yearly meet (hint, hint).

Tim

Thanks from me too, to all involved. Especially those that set the thing up and kept it running. And absolutely this should be a regular thing [twice yearly would be fab]. A one day event like this is much is easier to arrange time for.

Likewise Tony. Was good to meet and catch up, and thanks so much for the Baltics info. I'll be posting soon [prob tonight] on the Baltic thread.

A fantastic day. I met loads of really great people and I just want to add my thanks and appreciation to everybody who had a hand in organizing today's event. :thumbup1:
The Ace was a good choice of venue and I just hope there is enough space in their schedule to arrange regular future meetings.

Although not a biker myself (4WD) I had and a great time and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Vince Austin was very entertaining:-) Many thanks to the presenters and all that played a part in the organisation.

Great event. Sorry Dave for getting you interviewed :mchappy:. May be in the market myself for a Diesel Bullet. The sound is great :cool4:.

cheers
Chris

Great day out, nice to have a chat with Susan:thumbup1:

I'm feeling the love in the room :icon16:
[generally that is - not only with Susan]

Great Day
 

Hi All :mchappy:

What a fantastic turnout and what a great day. Enjoyed putting a few names to faces, which surprisingly, were almost all as imagined, so I must be getting the hang of it after all these years.

Great speakers all, but I especially loved Simon's quip about fueling up his ever so economical 125, but only when his riding buddies were asleep, just to wind em up! Brill, my type of chap!

Did anyone meet Linzi there?, as I must have asked over 10 perplexed people, but to no avail.

Sorry if you were there Linzi, but I never thought it would be so hard to find you at the Ace!

Speak soon.

Cheers

Chris

cammo
 

Hi Chris, same here. I was there from about 10am till 3.45pm. I'll post the photos and negatives if you pm an address. I didn't realize a mobile number would have been an idea!
My first time at Ace Cafe and it is done really well. Loved Austin's presentation and got some ideas on the most appropriate type of bike from him. As small as possible if you want to have fun. It's not size, it's what you do with it!
In a really comical fashion this was my trip: Slept in and got later bus. About 50 police at Victoria bus station due to a scare. Messed up tube with much of it closed for repairs. Finally took a rail replacement bus, passing the Ace causing apprehension.
Met a charming Canadian couple and guided them a bit back to Cafe. Later realized----It was Grant and Susan!! My excuse is that I concentrated so hard on gettng up early that I couldn't sleep and was tired at the Ace. Linzi.

Get ya next time!
 

Hi Linzi

Good ride report as usual, even though you were a bus biker for the day!

Funny how you met the HU parents on your way there.

Look forward to seeing the pics.

Chris
chris@welovebikes.co.uk

Linzi, to make you feel better with the whole tube, bus, sleep thing.

Spotting the post about the Ace Meeting a good few weeks ago, I thought "I'll go to that if I can". A few days later, Brittany Ferries sent me an e-mail with €25 offers for day trips to Portmouth, arriving at 8am, leaving 8.30 pm, and further down that day's mail, an e-mail from the Ace Café reminding me about the Adventure Travel day. So, I click on the link for Brittany ferries and book myself on with the bike, total price €40 return with a bunk in a shared cabin both ways and the bike.

Friday night sees me indulging in a bit of frantic rummaging to unearth my passport, a bit of spanner wiggling to get the aluminium boxes on ready for filling with books, Marmite and tea bags (spot the ex-pat), and a look at the weather forecast revealing I'd probably need to pack almost as many clothes as if I was going for a month.

Saturday lunchtime and the weather's looking good so I set off for St Malo early, thinking I'd take the coast roads, stop off and get coffees on the way and then have a mooch round the old town before needing to get on the boat at 6.30. I had a great time round the coast, the occassional gust threatening to throw me into the sea aside, and got to St Malo at 4.30, parking the Derbi beside two British plated, Touratech'ed to death GSes. I like parking next to BMW's people come up to the Derbi, and ask me how far I'm travelling and their riders seem to think I'm on the new Tenere till I point out that yes, that is the whole engine they can see. To cheer me up even more St Malo had a fair so I mooched round the fairground, bought candyfloss (how do you get it out of Goretex?) and tried to avoid the inevitable 14 year old scooter boys and girls snogging each others faces off.

Then into the old town to go to the tourist tat shops to get a Breton flag for the boxes, they're just looking too shiny and new. What a huge selection of touristy rubbish, so much choice, well, I'll just have to buy a flag and a strange breton woman symbol thing. Hmm, a bit of drizzle, but not too bad and it helps me slide the stickers round to just the right place. And now off to the terminal to check in, get on board and stuff my face full of whatever they're serving, a beer or three and bed.

And here's where the plan starts slipping. I arrive at check-in, the nice lady in her little cabin accepts my passport, looks at my very pale, very badly printed off electronic ticket (I knew I should have bought new cartridges for the printer), and then asks me if I want to change anything on my booking. I reply no, I'm happy with it as it is, merci. And then she says "but monsieur, why are you here a week early?"

The ride home wasn't scenic, the drizzle turned to rain, sleet, snow, and one of the stickers pealed off.

So what should I do in Portsmouth next weekend?

Great event
 

I met some old faces, some new faces and some people I knew from various forums. It was good just to grab a coffee, have a chat and enjoy the sunshine. Nice to see some very interesting bikes and check out the farkles.

I've posted some photos here:

ACE Cafe Overland Adventure Tour - a set on Flickr

I didn't see any other riders from the North and judging by the snowstorm on the way home I can see why...

(I cant embed the vimeo vid as the forum is only geared for YouTube. The link is below though.

F800 GS in snow Storm on Vimeo
:mchappy:

Photos
 

Hi Alex, I can't outdo you I'm afraid but: I decided to take my heavy but effective SLR camera and took a spare battery and spare 36 roll of film-very thorough yeh? I took carefully composed shots of the bikes, cafe, inside etc and was happy with my work. Today I went to Boots to get them developed with their 1 hour service. First I had to ask if they could get it to unload or rewind as I couldn't. I'd also noticed that this EOS 50E didn't show number of shots used unlike the other EOS 50. I was told that it had no film in it. I knew this couldn't be the case as I had loaded it myself. "I'll show you the film then". I said politely. Yep it was empty! I can't understand how I did that. Maybe I remembered loading my smaller Trip 35 which I had been intending to take. Grrr! Linzi.

LOL.
Oh dear!

Alex, I don't fancy Portsmouth, but would be happy to meet up a bit nearer
London for lunch or tea and chat.
PM if interested.

My son and his friend were flying down to Toulouse last summer and I had to drive them down to Gatwick at 5.00am for a 7.00am flight. The auto check in machine took my son's details ok and issued a boarding card but kept rejecting his friends.
Eventually we had to go to the airline help desk to be told that his friend was booked on the same flight tomorrow morning (and no, they couldn't change either of the bookings!).
I took him home to find that his parents had just left to go to Toulouse by car and the house was locked up. He had to spend the day with us and I drove him down again the next morning. He's now a student at Cambridge!

Originally Posted by Alexlebrit http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s/viewpost.gif
So what should I do in Portsmouth next weekend?



How about checking out the Classic bike show and autojumble at Shepton Mallet, its a 2 day meeting.

Good day at the Ace
 

Had a good day yesterday-great seeing some real bikes who had been further than Box Hill... and great to talk with a number of you too. Planning my first real trip beyond said Surrey hang out this year to Morroco, and gained a lot of tips but beyond that inspiration to just go and get on with it. Well worth the visti. Thanks to all involved. Simon

coz of the snow around Oxford i ended up taking the cage instead of the bike
was great having a chat with Simon 'old man on a bike' Gandolfi
and the misses has taken a shine to an XT660 :rolleyes2:

Bugger - only just seen this. I live about 2 miles from that Ace Cafe. When and where's the next meet-up?