Europe Questions the Role for Motorcycle ‘toys’ on our Roads

A leading EU transport “expert” has questioned whether there is any place for motorcycles on Europe’s roads.

Norwegian Rune Elvik says: “In Norway, I believe all the most cost effective measures have been implemented – mandatory helmet use, strict licensing, engine tuning ban, daytime running lights for motorbikes. The question that needs to be raised now is whether there should be any place for these motorised toys in the transport system at all.”

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) says that Elvik’s comments, which are contained in a recent report from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), are biased and anti motorcycling.

There is a real danger of these so called experts’ opinions and motorcycle safety reports being accepted without question.

On 21st December 2007, the Flemish Parliament in Belgium was presented with the ETSC report as a basis for legislation on motorcycle safety.

However the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Belgium, with the support of MPs, defended the riders’ position by using the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations’ (FEMA), European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety which highlights the importance of finding real solutions to improve the casualty rates for motorcyclists.

As a direct result of MAG Belgium’s action, the ETSC report was rejected and instead, MAG Belgium’s motorcycle friendly programme was adopted.

MAG’s General Secretary, Trevor Baird, says, “Motorcycling is under constant threat from the European safety agenda. The introduction of this agenda has been thwarted in Belgium before it spreads further like a rash across Europe. MAG will continue to protect motorcycling and defend riders’ rights from whatever quarter the threat comes.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. FEMA’s European Agenda For Motorcycle Safety http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/docs/EAMS2007.pdf

2. ETSC report can be found at http://www.etsc.be/PIN.php

Issued by

Trevor Baird
General Secretary MAG UK

MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR

Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065
Fax: +44 (0)1788 570052

Email general-secretary@mag-uk.org

The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation

www.mag-uk.org

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Urban Art

Cheered me up for some reason - just a bit of random graffiti, but it made me smile.

DfT ‘Think!’ Rural Speed Campaign

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) supports the new Government ‘Think!’ campaign to raise motorist’s awareness of the dangers of speeding on rural roads.

The campaign highlights that in rural areas accidents often involve single vehicles suggesting that drivers are travelling in excess of the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions. In 2006 325 car drivers were killed on rural roads.

As vulnerable road users motorcyclists are often the victims of dangerous, careless and aggressive driving which is exacerbated when that driver behaviour takes place on narrow roads with high hedgerows and limited visibility.

Motorcyclists too need to recognise that roads are not race tracks and that having an accident in remote rural areas is further complicated because of access problems and distances the emergency services have to travel. It is a sobering thought that you are three times more likely to die in an accident on a rural road than an urban one.

MAG’s Campaign Manager, David Short, says “ Motorcyclists are often branded as using rural roads as race tracks but it is clear from the Governments own evidence that it goes much wider and that this is as much a problem with dangerous and careless car drivers.”

“I would advise all motorcyclist’s to heed the campaigns advice and drive within the speed limits and at an appropriate speed for the road and traffic conditions. Unlike race tracks which have huge run off areas with marshals and medics on standby the rural roads have no such immediate support by the emergency services and dry stone walls and trees offer little ‘give’ in the event of an impact!”

“Advanced training courses or assessments such as the excellent police run Bike Safe courses will give riders a better appreciation of hazards and improved riding skills.”

1. Think! Campaign http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
2. Details on Bikesafe can be found at http://www.bikesafe.co.uk
3. DSA's Register of post-test motorcycle trainers http://tinyurl.com/3xg4n2
4. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) "Skill for Life" http://www.iam.org.uk
5. RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders http://www.roada.org
6. Motorcycle Retailers Association and Motorcycle Riders Training Association (MRTA) http://www.rmif.co.uk
7. David Short can be contacted at:
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

Issued by

MAG UK
PO BOX 750
Rugby
CV21 3ZR

Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065

Revised Highway Code Launched - Read It!

The first revised Highway Code in eight years has been unveiled by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. The updated Code offers the latest road safety rules and advice, as well as promoting greater courtesy and understanding among all road users, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK)) says that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users and often bear the brunt of inattentive drivers who are more pre occupied with trying to light a cigarette, fiddling with CD's, trying to read road maps, not to mention the omnipresent mobile phone users who persist in using their phones despite increased penalties. All these activities result in distractions from driving and present a very serious danger to motorcyclists which are now categorically defined in the new Highway Code as activities prohibited whilst driving.

In addition the code outlines the dangers caused by overfilling fuel tanks, in particular Diesel, which if spilt on the road causes serious danger, especially to motorcyclists and cyclists. Advice is given for motorists to be especially vigilant when manoeuvring, such as turning right or changing lanes and being aware of their vehicle blind spots.

The code recognises the benefits of motorcycles in beating traffic congestion and advises motorists to look out for motorcyclists who are legitimately filtering between lanes of traffic.

MAG has been involved with the Department of Transport throughout the consultation process from which the new Highway Code has evolved.

MAG's Campaign Manager, David Short, says, "Motorcyclists everywhere will be all too familiar with having to dodge lit fag ends, chip wrappers and drinks tins hurled out of vehicles by their irresponsible drivers."

"Diesel spills are a further curse which motorcyclists have to deal with as well as drivers who fail to look properly for motorcyclists at junctions or whilstmotorcyclists are defeating traffic congestion by filtering through lanes of stationary and slow moving traffic."

It is very encouraging to see the new Highway Code taking into consideration all these issues on which MAG made representations in the consultation process."

"The Highway Code is basic, simple advice which could save countless lives on the roads if people took the time and trouble to read and act on it."

"All road users would be well advised to read it!"

Notes

• The Code is available for free at http://www.direct.gov.uk/highwaycode
• The Official Highway Code is published by The Stationery Office Ltd (TSO) and is priced at £2.50. Visit http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/highwaycode or call 0870 600 5522. Copies are also available from all good High Street and online bookstores

David Short can be contacted at:
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 82221
Mobile: +44 (0) 77389 48080
E-mail: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

Teaching Motorcycle Travel Literature by Steven Alford

Teaching Motorcycle Travel Literature

Steven Alford

http://ijms.nova.edu/July2006/IJMS_Artcl.Alford.html

The literature of motorcycle travel can be taught at the university level in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions.

Unlike other subgenres within travel literature (e.g., travel by women, religious travel, etc.), motorcycle travel literature is circumscribed by the existence of the internal combustion engine. For convenience sake, we can point to 1894 as the potential beginning of motorcycle travel, the year in which the firm of Hildebrand & Wolfmüller in Munich, Germany established the first national patent for a motorcycle and began production and commercial sale of the machines. This gives us an active period of approximately 110 years. By 1903 people were already using motorcycles as tools for extended travel, such as one Dr. Herzog, a German doctor who used the vehicle for his professional travel, logging 8620 kilometers in eight months, colliding with only two horses in the process. Two early adventure travelers were G. Schwarz and W. Glöckler, who traveled 1600 km through the Black Forest and Switzerland, crossing passes of over 2000 meters. Take that, Ewan McGregor!

As well, people began writing about traveling by motorcycle almost as soon as they were able to do so, as evidenced by W. H. L. Watson’s 1915 book, Adventures of a Dispatch Rider, and Lady Warren’s Through Algeria and Tunisia (1922). Every year the shelf of motorcycle travel books grows in both quantity and quality. How is one to go about organizing the literature for pedagogical purposes?

Two general directions suggest themselves. First, one could use historical, geographical, or technological information about the motorcycle itself. Second, one could use theoretical concepts already in play in scholarly discussions of travel literature and apply them to motorcycles. Let’s look at the first option:

A simple approach would be to look at motorcycle travel literature historically. A sample list would include the following currently available texts:

Fulton, Robert Edison, Jr. One Man Caravan. 1937. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 1996.

Simon, Ted. Jupiter's Travels. Covelo, CA: Jupitalia, 1979.

Culberson, Ed. Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan American Highway's Jungle Gap. North Conway, New Hampshire: Whitehorse Press, 1991.

Noren, Allen. Storm: A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance, and Transformation. San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, 2000.

Haffar, Rif K. Away From My Desk. Seattle: Ameera, 2002.

McGregor, Ewan and Charlie. Boorman, et al. Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World. London: Time Warner Books, 2004.

Note the large gap between Fulton and Simon. Many books during this period are either out of print or otherwise unobtainable. There are, however, books in French, Spanish, Italian and German, for those who could use them.

Another approach would be geographical. For example, one could write about African travel. Among such books would be these:

Bausenhart, Werner. Africa: Against the Clock on a Motorcycle. Toronto: Legas, 2002.

Bealby, Johnny. Running With the Moon. London: Arrow Books, 1995.

Scott, Chris. Desert Travels: Motorbike Journeys in the Sahara & West Africa. London: The Traveler's Bookshop, 1996.

Smith, Jerry. Into the Heart of Africa. Kearney, NE: Morris Publishing, 2002.

Wallach, Theresa. The Rugged Road. London: Panther Publishing, 2001.

These are all fine and entertaining books.

Given the prevalence of certain motorcycle marques used in traveling (e.g., the Yamaha XT; various BMWs, most recently the 1200 GS), one could also organize one’s reading around a specific marque.

A second approach, as noted above, would be to take theoretical concepts from scholarly work on travel and then apply them to motorcycle books. For example, Paul Fussell’s notion of exploration, travel, and tourism (found in Abroad: British Literary Traveling Between the Wars [New York: Oxford University Press, 1980]) provides a way or organizing one’s thoughts around the historically evolving ideas of what modern travel signifies. Or, one could use a concept that is not strictly travel-identified, but quite useful, such as “speed.” Such a general concept would allow one to bring to bear the ideas of writers from Marinetti, the originator of Futurism, to Virilio, a prolific contemporary French author on the significance of speed.

The sociology of travel and tourism might also be a useful approach, although it obviously focuses on the political and social, rather than the literary realms of motorcycle travel, as suggested by the following sources:

Alt, Alan. "Popular Culture and Mass Consumption: The Motorcycle as Cultural Commodity." Journal of Popular Culture 15.4 (Spring 1982): 129-141.

Barrell, John. "Death on the Nile: Fantasy and the Literature of Tourism." Essays in Criticism 41.2 (1991): 97-128.

MacCannell, Dean. The Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class. New York: Schocken Books, 1976.

Olszewska, Anna and K. Roberts. Leisure and Life-Style: A Comparative Analysis of Free Time. London: Sage, 1989.

Pearce, Philip L. The Social Psychology of Tourist Behavior. New York: Pergamon Press, 1982.

Pred, Alan. "Structuration and Place: On the Becoming of Sense of Place and Structure of Feeling." Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior 13 (1983): 45-68.

Rojek, Chris. Capitalism and Leisure Theory. London: Tavistock Publications, 1985.

Urry, John. "The 'Consumption' of Tourism." Sociology 24 (1990): 23-36.

---. The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies. London: Sage Publications, 1990.

Finally, one could also take historical understandings of the meaning of travel and, using them as a contrast, tease out what it means to travel by bike. Here are some texts that describe, in different ways, the relation between history, epistemology, and travel:

Casson, Lionel. Travel in the Ancient World. Toronto: Hakkert, 1974.

Campbell, Mary B. The Witness and the Other World: Exotic European Travel Writing, 400-1600. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1988.

Newton, Arthur P. Travel and Travellers of the Middle Ages, 1968.

Brundage, James A. The Crusades: Motives and Achievments, 1964.

Penrose, Boise. Travel and Discovery in the Renaissance: 1420-1620, 1962.
Adams, Percy. Travelers and Travel Liars: 1600-1800. Berkeley: U California Press, 1962.

Greenblatt, Stephen. Marvelous Possessions: The Wonder of the New World. Chicago: U Chicago Press, 1991.

Todorov, Tzevtan. The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1984.

Batten, Charles. Pleasurable Instruction: Form and Convention in 18th Century Travel Literature. Berkeley: U California Press, 1978.

Van Den Abbeele, George. Travel as Metaphor: From Montaigne to Rousseau. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota Press, 1992.

Franklin, Wayne. Discoverers, Explorers, Settlers: The Diligent Writers of Early America. Chicago: U Chicago Press, 1990.

Parks, George. "The Turn to the Romantic in Travel Literature of the Eighteenth Century." Modern Language Quarterly 25 (1964): 22-33.

Buzard, James. The Beaten Track. New York: Oxford UP, 1993.

Withey, Lynne. Grand Tours and Cook's Tours: A History of Leisure Travel, 1750-1915. New York: William H. Morrow, Inc., 1997.

Feifer, Maxine. Tourism in History. New York: Stein and Day, 1985.

I hope this brief excursus is sufficiently provocative. I will append a by-no-means exhaustive list of books on motorcycles and travel. Some authors, such as Werner Bausenhart, have multiple works not listed here. You will see many of the titles above duplicated below.

Baker, Christopher. P. Mi Moto Fidel. Washington, D.C.: The National Geographic Society, 2001.

Barr, Dave. Riding the Edge: An 83,000 Mile Motorcycle Adventure Around the World! Bodfish, CA: Dave Barr Publishers, 1999.

Bausenhart, Werner. Around the Americas on a Motorcycle. New York: Legas, 2000.

---. Africa: Against the Clock on a Motorcycle. Toronto: Legas, 2002.

Bealby, Jonny. Running With the Moon. London: Arrow Books, 1995.

Carlstein, Andrés. Odyssey to Ushuaia. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2002.

Carroll, William. Two Wheels to Panama. San Marcos, CA: Auto Book Press, 1995.

Culberson, Ed. Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan American Highway's Jungle Gap. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 1991, 1996.

Dautheville, Anne-France. Une Demoiselle sur une Moto. Paris: Flammarion, 1973.

de Mandiargues, Andre Pieyre. The Motorcycle. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1965

Drutt, Matthew, ed. The Art of the Motorcycle. New York: Guggenheim Museum Publications, 1998.

Evans, Paula. Kiwis Might Fly: Around New Zealand on Two Big Wheels. London, Bantam Books, 2004.

Frazier, Gregory. Riding the World: The Biker's Road Map for a Seven-Continent Adventure. Irvine, CA: Bowtie Press, 2005.

Fulton, Robert Edison, Jr. One Man Caravan. 1937. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 1996.

Haffar, Rif K. Away From My Desk. Seattle: Ameera, 2002.

Heggstad, Glen. Two Wheels Through Terror. Center Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 2004.

Holfelder, Moritz. Motorradfahren. Muenchen: Deutscher Tashenbuch Verlag, 2000.

Hollern, Susie. Women and Motorcycling. New York: Hollern, 1992.

Hunt, Christopher. Sparring with Charlie: Motorbiking Down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. New York: Anchor Books, 1996.

John, Erika. Motorrad-Amazone: Strassen bis zum Horizont. Berlin: Erijott-Verlag, 1985.

La Plante, Richard. Detours: Life, Death, and Divorce on the Road to Sturgis. New York: Forge, 2002.

Larsen, Karen. Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through America. New York, Hyperion, 2004.

Liska, Danny. Two Wheels to Adventure. Niobrara, Nebraska: Bigfoot Publishing, 1989.

McGregor, Ewan and Charlie Boorman, et al. Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World. London: Time Warner Books, 2004.

Miyake, Notch. Purple Mountains: America From a Motorcycle. North Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press, 2001.

Moore, Peter. Vroom With a View. London: Bantam Books, 2003.

Noren, Allen. Storm: A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance, and Transformation. San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, 2000.

Paulsen, Gary. Pilgrimage on a Steel Ride. New York, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997.

Pedersen, Helge. 10 Years on Two Wheels. Elfin Cove Press, 1998.

Perreault, Celine. Partir . . . J'avais peur. Je L'aimais. Je l'ai suivi. Quebec: Libre Expression, 1980.

Philipp, Christine. Motorradreisen durch Americka, Finnland, Sri Lanka and Rumaenien. Muenchen: Sonnentau Verlag, Christine Philipp, 1984.

Pierson, Melissa Holbrook. The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles. New York, W. W. Norton & Company, 1997.

Pirsig, Robert. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values. New York, William Morrow, 1974, 1999.

Reynolds, Tom. Wild Ride: How Outlaw Motorcycle Myth Conquered America. New York, TVBooks, 2001.

Rogers, Jim. Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation, 1994.

Scheib, Asta. Schwere Reiter. Muechen: Nymphenburger Verlagshandlung, 1982.

Scott, Chris. Desert Travels: Motorbike Journeys in the Sahara & West Africa. London: The Traveler's Bookshop, 1996.

Shannon, Alyn. Women of the Road. Minneapolis: Shannon, 1995.

Sheridan, Clare. Across Europe with Satanella. New York: Mead & Company, 1925.

Simon, Ted. Jupiter's Travels. 1979. Covelo, CA: Jupitalia, 1996.

---. Riding High. 1984. Covelo, CA: Jupitalia, 1997.

Sobolev, I. S. K. Nansen Passport: Round the World on a Motor-cycle. N.P.: Bell, 1936.

Steiner, Elfriede. Ein Maedchen sieht Europa. Wein: Weltfahrten-Verlag, 1956.

Symmes, Patrick. Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend. New York: Vintage, 2000.

Thomas, Peggy Iris. A Ride in the Sun. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1954.

Thye, Keith. MotoRaid. Seattle, WA: Elfin Cove Press, 1999.

Tin, Hjalte and Nina Rasmussen. Traumfahrt Sued-Amerika: Auf dem Motorrad mit Kindern von L.A. nach Rio. Muenchen: Frederking und Thaler, 1983.

Wallach, Theresa. The Rugged Road. London: Panther Publishing, 2001.

Warren, Lady. Through Algeria and Tunisia. N.P.: Cape, 1922.

Watson, W. H. L. Adventures of a Dispatch Rider. N.P.: Blackwood, 1915.

Autumn is starting

The turning of the seasons is starting now is the time to get the maps out to start planning for next year.

Blue skys....

But for how long. This is proving to be a pessemistic summer. Sun is shining and no wind , warm and comfortable. But when will the cloud and rain come back, they are due soon as it is nearly Autumn.

There are places in the UK that could flood at any moment as the soil is too damp to allow the rain to drain away, and here we are contemplating Summer ending. Not looking forward to a mild wet winter.

Summer thoughts

Sunshine at last ! First shadows I have seen this week , but does it have to be so windy ? The Jetstream is well knackered this year , and they say there is no Global warming yet...

Summer ?

Another grey august day

Morning Thought

Today is another summers day turned to autumn by Global Warming ?!?

Testing e-mail from phone....

Just testing the ability to blog from my mobile via e-mail. Interesting to see if this works

Derby Peregrines

As residents of Derby we take great delight in our Peregrine Falcons nesting on the Cathedral.

Okay pigeon fanciers may not agree but the sight of these beautiful birds in the city is fantastic.

The only other place nearby we have seen them breeding is the quarry at Breedon on the Hill.

Go to http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/ for more info on this years brood and what has been found since they fledged.

Countdown to Cropredy

Off again on our tours, this time a quick trip to the 2007 Fairport Cropredy Convention.

Here's too keeping an eye on the weather for the weekend using our fave Weather site!

Technomadics

Many many years ago I joined the Technomads mailing list, I dreamt of being able to travel with all the cool tech that was part of the then blossoming Personal Computing era.

The list was started by Steve Roberts who many see as the doyen of Technomadics. Joining this list drew me into the world of GPS,wearable computing and a whole new Cyberculture.

in 1994 I left this list and joined what is now a place I consider to be my real home on the 'Net , Future Culture. A place where we once discussed the future of the internet and now just have left it to those younger than ourselves... but occasionally a bit of tech from our past dreams and discussions appears.

I can gladly say I can endorse this product whole heartedly, it is exactly what we once wanted! Look at the pic, a portable solar energy source combined with a Li-Ion storage battery. Can be charged with a USB cable from your 'puter or gets a full charge from being left in the sun for a 5-6 hours. A full charge is reputedly kept for up to 3 months, but so far I have found a couple of weeks storage before use is sufficient.

Of course you need to know more so go to Solar Technology in the UK or WaveMaker for the rest of the world. It rocks, I love it and it can charge up my GPS,phone, and camera !

So keep dreaming folks, one day some of them will come true!

Rok Straps Work!

Need I say more, these wunnerful straps from Oz just work.

No hooks, just loops, no stretching around and around objects, just locate connect adjust! For securing motorcycle luggage there are no better straps. We lurve our Rok Straps so much we even bought extra sets. We keep converting others that we know and meet when they see how easy they are to use and how secure they are. In the UK contact the luverly peeps at TravelDri-Plus.

Just one of the beauties of motorcycle travel, we find out so much by talking with other travellers that we meet. There is a mutual bond between riders , and amongst long distance ones even more so. The further you are from your own soil, the easier people find to talk to you.

Always be a traveller and never a tourist.

Pulling the Pin

I am a great fan of cheap and cheerful Russian photographic gear for creating atmospheric images.
A couple of years ago i bought a Zenitar 16mm Fisheye from a German company on eBay, and initially thought it was great until I realised I could not make it stop down using the adaptor mount on the EOS film cameras.

A quick poke around on Flickr in the Zenitar Group Discussion turned up this handy fix it involves junking some of the hardware, which is worth keeping in a safe place if you want to sell it on.

I can now step down through the f-stops from 2.8 to 22! Hurrah.... will post some pics up quite soon.

Tar Barrels Ottery St Mary 2005

Been having some issues sending posts from Youtube... hmm all Google owned but cannot talk to each other ... So embeded this.

This is a "folk tradition" in Devon , that appears to havce started in the late 17th Century. The real reason for it has been lost in antiquity , so to speak, but makes for a great Bonfire Night.

Sadly it has become very popular with the "backpacker" crowd and students. I got to know about it as Jules is from the next town over and went when she was a child. You cannot take children into this crowd now.

Sadly the event is in peril every year as the "safety nazis" and "nanny government" try to stop people doing things tio harm themselves. Humans love danger, and this is the closest you could ever get in this country to running with the bulls in Pampalona.

People often ask us why we prefere to tour Europe rather than the UK, and the reason is , it's more fun! Bikes are given respect on the road and are allowed to be reasonably parked anywhere. Businesses welcome bikers, and events are not regulated to the point that the fun is drained from them.

So this year the tunnel tickets are booked and our second trip to Europe will be to the Stella Alpina Rally on the French/Italian border.

Convoy - Strawberry Fayre 1988

Convoy - Strawberry Fayre 1988
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

So what ever happened to that great "second summer of love" that ran for most of the late Eighties ?

Did it all implode into Heroin and cheap cider and Special Brew as the crusties went mainstream, or has it all become mainstream ?

Eco warriors now wait outside school gates and feed organic food to their offspring , all while wearing designer combats and hemp jumpers.

Did it take the CJA to make people stop and realise that the people they reviled were right after all. That raping the planet could not go on forever ?

Too many questions and no real answers. Me I wish it was 19 years ago again, and I could once again lose myself in that innocent hedonisim, that I learnt so much from and took so much pleasure in.

If you go down to the woods today...

Not The Major Oak - Sherwood Forest 2007 - GC2024
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

be sure to take your GPS if you venture into Sherwood Forest to see the Major Oak.

Not far away is a rather wonderful geocache , which is better than being surrounded by gawping chavs expecting Robin of Sherwood to pop out of the Major Oak.

The entire park is a wonderful place, almost magical in the stillness you can find as you wander through it. Recommended as a great place for a quiet day out.

Poppies near Elvaston June 2007 - Revisited

Poppies near Elvaston June 2007 - Revisited
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

Sometimes you need to go back again... first time we only had the cheapo emergency digi cam - went back again with the better digi cam , and a film camera.

Hope the "analogue" shots turn out as well as the digital.

Poppies near Elvaston June 2007

Poppies near Elvaston June 2007
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

No matter how far you travel, sometimes things you find on your own door step can fill you with joy and wonder.

Complaint against police – Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom, North Wales Police

As a keen members of MAG we get regular e-mails about campaigns and issues affecting us riders. Check this out and sign the petition if you ever want to stay able to ride a bike to tour North Wales.


Dear Sir,

I am the campaigns manager for the Motorcycle Action Group, (MAG), which represents the interests of approximately 50000 motorcyclists in the UK. On behalf of MAG, and the wider motorcycling community I wish to make a formal complaint against the actions of the Chief Constable of North Wales Police, Richard Brunstrom.

The compliant is in relation to a media briefing, given by Mr Brunstrom, on Thursday 26th April 2007. At this briefing Mr Brunstrom showed journalists photographic images of one Mark Gibney who had been fatally injured in a motorcycle accident in 2003.

The images concerned included the decapitated head of Mr Gibney and was so graphic as to include views of his wide open eyes staring out from the visor of the helmet which was still on his head. Richard Brunstrom also showed images of Mr Gibney’s mutilated torso.

It is accepted that in some circumstances the use of shock tactics to drive home a powerful message can be legitimised if the family and loved ones of the deceased have been consulted and are in full agreement that such images can be shown where it might be considered in the public interest.

However in these circumstances no such consultation or consent had been given by Mr Gibney’s family. Indeed, the first the family were aware of it was when news broke of the press briefing.

I have no idea what Chief Constable Brunstom was intending to achieve by such a crass, insensitive and wholly unethical shock tactic.

In subsequent press releases he appears to blame the media for ‘leaking’ this information as though the private showing of such gruesome images without the consent of the family somehow legitimises the decision to show them in the first place. Clearly it does notI am in receipt of well over 100 e mail letters of complaint at the time of writing this letter to you and should you wish I can provide these as written evidence supporting this complaint and the strength of feeling against the actions of Richard Brunstrom.

I cannot emphasise enough the sense of outrage and abhorrence which Richard Brunstrom’s actions have caused. One cannot begin to imagine the distress he has caused the family and loved ones of Mr Gibney which includes his young children who had hitherto been unaware of the traumatic circumstances surrounding the immediate aftermath of his death.

I am aware that the North Wales Police authority have referred this matter to you for your investigation and that you will be receiving representations from Mr Gibney’s family’s solicitor, Mr Paul Beck of Quinn Barrow Solicitors, Liverpool.

I trust that this matter will be fully investigated. The breaches of the deceased family’s human rights and the dignity of the deceased has been brought about by the totally unethical conduct of Richard Brunstrom. His actions bring into question his suitability and judgement for such high office in the British Police Service.

Yours Faithfully

David Short B.Sc, MIRM

Campaigns Manager

Motorcycle Action Group



I have forwarded copies of this letter to;

Mr Kelvin Dent

Chief Executive, North Wales Police Authority

Glan -y-Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW



HMIC Wales & Central England Region

165a Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 ODJ



Mr Peter Hain MP Welsh Secretary

House of Commons, London, SW1A OAA



Mr Martyn Jones MP Clwyd South

House of Commons, London, SW1 OAA



Mr Paul Beck

Quinn Barrow Solicitors

15-17 Stanley Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 6AA



MAG Campaign website : http://tinyurl.com/2q2ssm

Includes link to Petition: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Remove the North Wales Police chief from office as soon as possible.”

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RichardBrunstrom

Perverse Beemers...

DSC_6820
Originally uploaded by RockBurner

We love 'em , this one in particular screams out to me...ride me like you stole me!

Hmm... instead of a travel blog may have to dedicate this blog to the revival of Heinz... Jules' "big boy" half R100RS and half Yamaha SRX600 ... keep watching this space.

Here is the old version , prior to the clutch seal going and a rebuild.

Clean it up...

Found a tool called Neat Image that cleans up noise on digital camera and scanned images.

It can also be used with Photoshop , will be playing with this and will update with a review as and when.

Yellow Spider

Yellow Spider
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

A bright bright yellow spider was on the washing line eating greenflies. Now it seems to be hiding in the spring in the middle of the peg, so maybe it has turned spring coloured....


We think it is a Chameleon Spider

Belper East Mill - from inside the Belper Nailers football ground

Belper East Mill - from inside the Belper Nailers football ground
Originally uploaded by Mark Berthelemy

Crawled out of a tent in the grounds of Belper Football Club this morning. We spent the night at a wedding reception in the football club.

Was more like a mini rally with the bikes dotted around and the "undead" staggering to the toilet block.

Pity it was so close to home, only managed to get us lost once on the way :)

The Crying Lamp

The Crying Lamp
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

Took up geocaching last week , this was my first find... now if I can just get Jules interested , after all it is just another form of trainspotting :)

Or was it which Right ?

Welcome to our travel blog! As a quick explanation, I , Scouse, have an issue with my left and rights, despite owning two GPS's and having an obsession with mapping software and maps and navigation tools of all kinds.

Jules is often heard to heard to call out in desperation " Which left do you mean?" when I am navigating.

So there you go... a concise explanation, which is also a bit of a first for me.