Testing the on bike camera

Well, a great weekend was had by all in Southampton and the Isle of Wight.  Managed to clock up about 570 miles in total and the weather was brilliant.  The day in the Isle of Wight on Saturday allowed me to play about with the new GoPro on board camera and see what it can do (or more to the point if I can manage to get it to do anything).  After messing about with all the different fixings we decided to go simple with the stick on pad with the camera attached directly to it.  Looked at a number of different locations but decided on centre/top of screen which allows me to turn it on and off whilst driving!!! I promise to only do this while at junctions or traffic lights. Really........ (or maybe if I see a Moose)  Linked, I hope, is an example of the results somewhere between Sandown and Ventnor with Gary giving a wave at the end, pleased to see the camera still on the bike and not a few miles back down the road having fallen off.

Unfortunately I have failed to manage to upload.  Have been waiting for an hour and it just hasn't uploaded.  Will try again once I've done a bit more research...........

Bike Preparation

Thought I would give you a bit of a brief on the extras that have been required on the bikes for our trip.  I think this all came as a bit of a shock to us that so much was required but as everyone else is going on BMW's and the Tigers aren't really off road bikes, it really shouldn't ha:ve surprised us that much.  The bikes now look a bit like an advert for Touratech and to give you an idea of cost and parts added the list is as follows

Panniers and racking - £1000, bash plate £100, radiator/oil cooler guard £100, crash bars (SW motech and soooo neat) £135, scottoiler £90, headlight guards £20 ebay bargain, wider pegs (not yet arrived from Triumph on line) £80.  I think it all looks pretty good, we've gone with black rather than basic aluminium and it seems to fit the bike.

On top of this the bikes are going in to Wheelfit for the pre tour service in May which will mean new tyres all round, new chain and sprockets, new brake pads and a few other bits and pieces.  Because we both ride everything is doubled up but we keep telling ourselve its a trip of a lifetime, just hope we don't really get the bug.

Gary at Wheelfit has been brilliant with guidance and support and will be helping us out with some spare parts to take with us.  Check out his website from the link on our site.

Prize giving for 25 years served

Well, today is officially the day that Gary and I receive this trip as our gift to each other. 25 years married, it doesn't seem that long but I think we deserve the prize.  At least we can say that it is all paid for as we paid the last installment a week ago!  I am told by Jim Haines (see the blogs I am following) that we have less than 100 days to go.  He only knows this because he is counting the days until he leaves for California.

I thought I would attach a couple of photos from our planning trip to Wales a couple of weeks ago.  This was our final meeting with Globebusters before we leave and was great to meet up with most of those who will be joining us on the adventure.  There are 10 of us in total plus Craig and Barbara who are leading the trip for Globebusters..... oh and of course I shouldn't forget our van man, Ian.  He is a fellow member of the Royal British Legion Riders.  It was the first time we had met him and I'm sure he will keep up morale regardless of conditions across Canada.

Just a few things to sort out now before we go.  Getting our bikes to James Cargo and bike insurance for riding in Canada to name just a couple, but those are entries for another day.  Stay tuned....

Gary on the right and Ian, our van man on the left.  At a RBLR event, RAF Marham

Top photo shows Paul, Gary, Marion, John before leaving Globebusters office for our ride out round Brecon Beacons.  A stop for the view is shown in the bottom photo.  My beautiful bike is shown second from the right. 

I don't really know what I'm doing

Hi everybody (I hope somebody reads this)

As per our profile below, Gary and I are travelling across Canada later in the year.  It has been in the planning since December 09 when we first made contact with Globebusters (see link below).  It is now getting really close and I thought I would try and write a blog to keep a record and so that people that keep asking can keep track of what we are doing and how we are.  Any body else that finds it interesting then great, the more the merrier.  Gary and I are more and more excited as it gets closer, in addition to being a bit apprehensive.  I will try and keep you all up to date with the planning, trips out to get miles under our belts, bike maintenance/prep and repairs and of course once we are on the way any interesting travel stuff too.  The link below is the Globebusters page that shows the map of our journey and the 5 week itinerary which will give you an idea of the mileage and terrain.  My own biggest fear is the Labrador Highway, 900 miles of graded gravel.

http://www.globebusters.com/expeditions/overland/trans-canada

I'll leave it at that for today, those who know me well, know that IT stuff is not really my forte.  Hopefully I will shortly upload some photos etc.  I have bought an on bike camera/video so by the time I go I need to test that out too and try and post some of the results.