A nice day here .Fiddled about with my dive gear for a bit,sorting out stuff for the long dive weekend forthcoming and checking gear was serviceable and so on. Having nothing better to do for the rest of the day thought I'd go for a run on the bike.Kind of 'round the block'but with the road system up here that means at least a 30 mile round trip.Think I did more than 60 miles though.A good excuse to get kitted up in full leathers and my old MX boots....But a nice chance to blow away some of the cobwebs and ameliorate the 'cabin fever' a bit.

I liked motorbikes from the first minute I rode one gingerly behind the local Suzuki dealer when I was 18.This was a cheerful little 100cc two stroker that at least had the benefits of simplicity.I took it up to Scotland the first summer I got it,overjoyed at the freedom,and learning the hard way about falling off.I had a CZ 175 for a bit,then my first new bike was a Honda 250N Superdream which I got when I was in my early 20's.This went everywhere,to Paris in mid winter,endless treks around the UK and to Ireland.Whilst working in the Middle East I got myself a Honda 750KZ which was shipped back to the UK.When that was nicked I bought a BMW K75.These two bikes were used extensively for touring around Europe,as well as from the bars to the clubs in gear late night in London.....Since 2000 I had no bike and have missed it a great deal,so when I got the chance I bought myself a Honda XL650V Transalp.I wanted something I could go touring on,as well as do the forest trails and the tranny seemed to be a good compromise,especially for the wallet.I tried the Varadero ['ratherdearo'] and the Africa twin[a brute]and even an old Tenere [tatty].I lusted over the nice expensive Triumph Tigers and BMW's.Sanity prevailed and for 3.5K I got a 2 year old model with about 5k on the clock.Runs very well both up the mountainside trails as well as 80mph on the motorways.To prove it,I took her to Prague in May....that was a nice trip.

So off into the Dumfries and Galloway sunshine up over the mountains.... roaring down the long straight main road alongside Loch Ken and into the sweet little town of Castle Douglas,devoid of most chain stores in its 1950's timewarp.A sandwich and a drink then on to Kippford,a little port on the river mouth with the tide coming in,boats bobbing and sunlight glistening over the water.Round the coast past Sandyford and Southerness to Sweetheart Abbey.The scenery glowing with Autumnal glory,berries on bushes,clear air,long vistas over the Solway towards the mountains of the Lake District..Glorious! Some nice leather guys on bikes also taking advantage of the weather....Then back home through Dumfries.There are still bugs everywhere...had to keep washing down the visor of my crash helmet...

One thing about biking, you got to concentrate,and it takes your mind off things.Roads round here are pretty good on the whole with very little traffic.They are not motorways but you can get up a fair head of speed on the straight bits.The winding bits and the gradients need some effort but that can be great fun to negotiate.The worse thing is that the small lanes and secondary roads are often rather too full of gravel from unswept roads and mud from the farmers activities.Got to be so careful on two wheels then.

Yep,a nice afternoon out....Reading an obituary to Tom Weir,a Scottish walker and climber yesterday. I noticed he had said that:

 "The secret of a long life is good health,good friends,and enough money to live at your own level.Always be doing something you enjoy doing.I enjoy it still.Every morning I wake up and there is something else to do".......

He lived to be 91.I think I agree with that.