Never done a blog before . Really enjoying your updates and photos The post card to the book club girls arrived today - next meeting is on the 13th. Missed you at the Mid Winter dinner. Much warmer this year and went really well. You were asked after. However France and Spain is much more exciting and warmer than Te Kauri Lodge. Glad you are having a great time Enjoy every minute
Gerald Hyder
Hiya Ros and Roy,
Enjoying your tales of eating and drinking your way across Europe! What is it about you Kiwis - don't you have decent food and wine in NZ? You'd better brace yourselves for GB then.
France is a stunning country - Gill and I celebrated my 50th (yes it's hard to believe) with a Eurostar/TGV few days in Avignon - would love to have had more time to see some of the places you've been.
Hope we can meet up for a few beers in London. Take care and enjoy.....
Lloyd
Some good lookin pics in France there Roy, didn't see any beaches. Looks like some nice weather too.
Lloyd
Don't forget to take your camera Roy........where ever you go.....
Terry
Hi Roy, all blacks play Ireland tonight so looking forward to that. Game is at cake tin and there is a horrendous storm due to reach there before the game starts so that sounds interesting. I havent been doing much just stripping paint etc. Have had some nice open fires though. Sounds like Lloyd's 250 might be heading to trademe. Eh Lloyd. Hard to imagine a nation of that sort of driving mentality. Makes you wonder how that evolved. Good to hear from you and catch you next time
Lloyd
Hey Roy, really enjoyed your latest write up on Como. Hi to David & Ros.
Lloyd
Hi ya R&R, Nick & I went for a test ride on two bikes today. A 1000 Vstrom & Honda VFR800. I liked the Vstrom the best, as the riding position was more comfortable. Both had approx. the same amount of power i.e 100bhp. the VFR was more revy being 4 cylinder and had a power band at 7grand when the other 2 v/vs cut in on each cylinder. Think the Vstrom handled better. Both good to ride, but was good to get back to the faithful....of course. I think liked the VFR more than me, I couldn't see myself going any great distance on it as the comfort level just wasn't there. The VFR was more refined and had a smooth gearbox and easy controlling brakes. The Vstrom was a bit notchy in the gearbox with a stiff clutch, but probably a more versatile bike for off road as well & had a comfortable riding position. Two quite different bikes, quite a good experience for the GN boys ! Didn't get time to go to Cambridge where there is a 2nd hand Yammy TDM900 to try out. Next time.
Lloyd
Hey R&R, we sold our house ! moving next week. I'll make sure you're bike is comfortable in it's new digs.
Crusaders won the Super 14...never in doubt of course.
Happy travels
Lloyd
Kewl M-Bike pics Roy ! Don't you wish you are doing it by bike? Thanks for the lengthy blog write up. Good beer? Christine will be able to identify with Ros's 'roadside drop-off worries'.
Christine
Hi,
I was interested to hear about your travels in Austria/Italy. Were you guys anywhere near a town called Brixlegg and/or two small alpine villages nearby called Alpach and Inner Alpach? Lloyd and I had a skiing week at Alpach in March 1984. It is a lovely part of the world.
Lloyd
Hey thanks Terry, may need to take you up on your kind offer, that beemer does go like the ol' preverbial 'clappers'. Just took it for a spin yesterday. Hamilton, TeAwamutu, Cambridge, Tirua & back home. It's going good Roy, isn't it handy to be able to pass somethin'.
Terry
Hey there R& R. Well i know you are missing night shift so thought i would drop a line at 3 am. Things are ok here. good weather. havent been fishing though so must do something about that. Hopefully lloyd wont just open the throttle wide open on the beamer. Give me a yell when you need bailing out of the cop shop Lloyd.