My first sight of the UK was the Isle of Wight in the distance. I am from Southampton so I know the area well. It was a real homecoming feel to sailing around the island and into Portsmouth Harbour.
Category: UK
United Kingdom
I am on the ferry from Santander in Spain to Portsmouth in the UK. The boat seems to be full of bikers who have been riding the Pyranees. You can tell they are bikers because they are all over the aged of 50, have beards and black t-shirts. Strangely many have Yorkshire accents.
After saying goodbye to Amy amd the boys at Cardiff, the flights were uneventful. It was nice flying over Spain and Africa and seeing the same scenery I had seen at ground level. When i get home i want to do a side by side gallery of shots i have from both air and ground.
Categories
Days 48-51: At home with Amy
Having spent the last few days relaxing at home with my future wife Amy, it is with mixed feelings that I start my journey back to Ghana to pick up my bike.
First off.. I am in the UK and have been planning this for the last two weeks. Don’t worry I fly back to Ghana next Friday to continue my journey.
Why? I hear you ask? …
Categories
Day 2: Isle of Wight and ferry to France
Distance: 40km, Start Southampton, end Porstmouth.
I had a great day today with Amy and the boys. We took the ferry from Southampton to the Isle of Wight and back.
This afternoon we went to my daughter Gemmas house and had a great time with my grandson Timothy in the garden.
I am now on the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen in France. Very tired.
Start: West Wales, End: Southampton, Distance: 240 miles. One refuel: £17.41
After a year of planning I am finally on my way to Cape Town. The journey was mostly along motorways and the weather was kind to me with no rain. The bike was a little twitchy at the front end at low speeds but felt really good at high speeds. Totally the opposite of the unloaded bike. The shift in the centre of gravity from high in the middle to lower and further back is the cause. This evening i went to visit my old Scout group the 14th Eastleigh. It was great to see faces I have not seen for many years and to explain about the trip to the Cubs.
One of the objectives I have set myself is to meet with as many Scouts as I can along the way. It is only fitting that first on the list is my local Explorer Scout unit here in Teifi district, Ceredigion
I have heard from several Scouts in Africa now including The Gambia, Morocco and Ghana. I hope to meet them all.
Final day at home so I have been packing and repacking the bike.
I have finally found a configuration that works and is as balanced as I can make it.
The spare tyres were a big problem and at one stage I decided to leave them
behind. But I eventuality decided it was worth the hassle for a week or two through Europe. I will probably change them in Southern Morocco.
My old school mate Pete has been in West Wales this weekend. As well as catching up and socialising, he helped me service the bike and have some tips on removing tyres etc.
We changed oil and brake fluids, new brake pads on the back, cleaned the brake calipers, removed the rear wheel to clean the chain and guides, removed and replaced the rear tyre, Removed and replaced the tank, put on a new aluminium sump guard to replace the standard plastic one, new spark plug, new K&N washable air filter, new oil filter and gasket.
As well as doing work that was needed, we did some jobs i am likely to have to do on the road. This means I have more confidence but also means I have the tools I will need. Pete has lent me his tyre levers and a spanner I had pretty much everything needed except a large Allen key needed to remove the front wheel. I need to pick one up, strangly it was not in the Yamaha kit provided with the bike.