2013 “Bring it ON!”

The Wandering Walton’s would like to wish each and every reader a prosperous and healthy New Year, may 2013 bring you all the joy and happiness you deserve out on the road.

Now “Bring it on!”

A quick walk-around video

Sexy Beast's

With 2012 well and truly behind us, the decorations taken down and packed away for another year. A quick once over of the house top to bottom re-arranging cupboard contents, cleaning, hoovering or should I now say “Dyson-ing!”  I ‘m now mentally ready to put finger to keyboard to share with you our riding agenda for 2013.

Now I purposefully have not added our names, I say our as either Jeannie or Ben will undoubted be joining me in numerous new adventures, plus for some reason this years planned rides all seem to involve other people. How brilliant is that, I’m actually “planning” to ride with fellow bikers for the first year ever.

Yesterday I applied the country flag stickers to Mr T’s Metal Mule Panniers in what turned out to be quite a nice “mosaic” pattern.  I used to have a row of stickers on the FJR panniers and they always got quite a bit of interest at Squires and were the starting point of some very interesting conversations.  There not everyone’s “cup of tea” but I like them. Ben did really well trying to name all the nations flags and only got a little confused with one or two.

"The Beast" Looking Resplendent at the

Lithuanian Boarder back in 2010

Looking Good! Now can you name

ALL the flags!

Answers below....

So what do we have planned so far? Well it all kicks off nice and soon with me already having spent a few hours on my beloved MapSource package plotting a tour with a difference of Derbyshire. The involves seeing my home county from a slightly different prospective that being “through Raymond’s eyes!”

Using predominantly back and single track roads throughout the county including two sections of unpaved roads. One section of unpaved road is just behind my old village of Temple Normanton’s through Sutton Wood and is predominantly gravel and small boulders with a little rutted pathway that connects  it to Sutton Hall. The tour is something I promised the Manc Riders I would do last year but the planned ride date was “gazumped” by LBK’s Welsh White Water Rafting day.

Still the guys are all keen to try again and as a number of them have gone “ex-military bike buying” and want to try out there new machinery it should make for a very interesting day. Taking in some well know locations like Matlock Bath, Buxton, Bakewell, Monyash, The Faybrick, Hardstoft, not forgetting Sutton Wood! The route will also include rideby’s of Sutton Hall, Hardwick Hall, Haddon Hall, Chatsworth House, Monyash Valley view to name but a few. Mid-morning  “brew & a buttie” will be at my favourite bike café/shop  CMC Motorcycles in Clay Cross, followed by lunch either in Matlock Bath or on the outskirts of  Buxton at a very secluded pub I know.

Touring Derbyshire, Raymondo Style!

I have had a bit of interest from @niksixoo and @teapotone on Twitter who are both keen to visit Derbyshire but fancy something a little off the tourist track. I know the locations visited are all land marks and main stay visitor attractions but it’s how you get there that will be 80% virgin territory to most.

16^th January  - will see me in Bonds Main for the 11^th year with flowers in hand. “I Love & miss you so much Mum.”

17^th January - Lefty, LBK & one other TBC will be in Blackburn Empire Theatre at the Foggy & Whit, "Giving it Gas Show."  I for one cannot wait!

19^th January – It’s the Third Annual IBA UK January RTE to be held at John & Sonia’s. I've not put my name down but Ben & I will undoubtedly be drawn to the excitement, involuntarily.

27^th January – The  Manc Riders, also, Third Annual RTE will take place at the Moorcock Inn near Littleborough. Something I’m proud to say I have arranged each year since joining the Manc Riders. (Sadly I’m unable to put up a link to the site as we are suffering administration difficulties at the moment but normal service will be resumed imminently).

So that rounds of a cracking start to 2013 in January.

February, March and April at the minute are all FREE! Shock horror. Still with the onset of May it all starts to get really interesting.

10^th April  -   Sees Jeannie & I going to see Mrs Browns Boys at Manchester Arena.

24^th – 26^th  May -  The IBA UK Britt Butt Rally takes place. As highest placed “Rookey” last year I’m giving it a miss this year but I do believe entries are still being take just take a look at 2013 Britt ButtRally

30^th May – 4^th June  - Horizon’s Unlimited Travellers Meeting (HUBBUK) being held at the all new location near Donnington at the Donnington Farmhouse Hotel.  I’m booked in again for the whole 4 days but it looks as if the family Walton holiday could wreak havoc!  Only time will tell.

Be there or be square!

7^th June – It’s off to Manchester to see Eddie Izzard with Jeannie. Now that will be a blast as Eddie is simply amazing “In my mind, in my mind."

21^st – 23^rd June –See’s Ben and I participating in the RBLR1000 (Royal British Legion Riders 1000 miles ride). Having ridden it twice, worked on it once this year I will be riding the 1000 miles in under 24 hours with Ben my 11 year old son as pillion. If successful, Ben will become the “Youngest EVER Pillion” to have completed the ride undercutting the current record by an amazing 5 years (to the best of my knowledge but I’m sure Paddy will let me know if I’m miss quoting here, won’t you Paddy!?)

As this is a sponsored ride in aid of the Royal British Legion, we have set up a Just Giving Page.

Ben & I would like to raise £500 towards for our chosen charity and would really appreciate it if you would drop by and make a donation please. “Well if you can’t plug your own fundraising on your own Blog where on earth can you?”

TheWandering Walton’s RBLR1000 2013

5^th – 14^th July – It’s adventure time! Bruce and I are off to NordKapp or North Cape as it’s said in English. Taking a leisurely crossing from Hull over to Rotterdam on Friday night we will then head up through the Netherlands, passing through the north of Germany into Denmark. Heading further north we will pass through Sweden and follow the Atlantic Coast Road up the West coast of Norway all the way into the Arctic circle to NordKapp.  “On the return trip I would like to call into Finland Bruce.”  All of which will enable me to add a further 3 flags to my panniers, “You see there’s method in my madness” LOL.

August is a free month, as it stands that is,  thus enabling me to ensure Mr T is full serviced and set up for a rather interesting end to September.

27^th – 29^th September – Roland & I will be taking part in the IBA Germany European Road Runner Rally,  a 36 hour touring event set across the whole of Germany & Austria. Roland competed in the event last year and so I will be looking to him for guidance and inspiration.

However, “there always seems to be an however with me, strange that!” The German Butt Rally is just a prelude to what we have planned for the following week.

30^th September – 5^th October – Ron & Ray Ride Again! We’re off down towards Greece (Flag Collecting Again) taking in some of the most stunningly beautiful Eastern European countries as we feel happy to visit. These will, I’m hoping, include Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, on the way south. Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia and Slovania heading back home. Followed by a quick dash for the  Channel Tunnel through Austria, Germany and France. Thus adding another 13 more flags to my panniers. “Now do you see why I went for such small flags?”

And that folk’s is the plan to date!

There’s a Biker Café I want to visit up in Stockton on Tees called the Pit Stop which is 103 miles from our house making it a nice mooching distance. Their first meeting is on Tuesday the 8^th January from 5.00pm till 9.00pm Full details can be found on my latest find of brilliant biker sites called www.KeepBritainBiking.com so take a look there may well be something happening in your area too.

I do have a couple of interesting propositions to discuss with other riders which include a Round Britain Coastal Ride with Oggy, “just a small mater of 3500 miles so no worries there then is there Oggy?

Plus I’m still struggling to tie up dates with my dear friend Thomas over in Germany who would dearly love to ride the IBA UK End to End Gold, 1050 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats via London in under 24 hours. As I've already done this ride on three separate occasions in 2010 it would be nice to do it on Mr T but hey who knows what else 2013 will have in store of the illustrious Wandering Walton’s.

Farewell 2012 

Welcome to 2013

Have a brilliant 2013 and if you spot us out and about please just say hello but be ready to talk about bikes, A LOT! 

The Wandering Walton’s 2012 Annual Review - Part 2 - The Close

Following  on from “The First 6 Months” it’s taken me quite a while to figure out, where on earth I have been to rack up 20,000 miles. Scanning through my Blog history it all came flooding back, rides with the Manc Rider, trips around Derbyshire (my beloved home county), a few IBA rides plus the Brit Butt Rally & a quick lap of the UK, a trip to Spain & back, a 1000 mile spin around Ireland, not to mention the rides I don’t feel warrant blogging about. Then the penny finally dropped!

July

Waking up to the sound of rain on canvas for the third morning in a row was not what I’d signed up for when I filled in the online registration form to attend the Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting back in 2011. Would I have changed it if I could? Not a cat in hell’s chance!

Did I mention it rained, A LOT!

Who would not want to spend a full 4 days in the presence of such “Over-landing Legends” as Ted Simon, Austin Vince, Sjaak Lucassen, Ed March, Matthew Cashmore, Paddy Tyson, Graham Field and not forgetting my good friends Bruce Smart, Sam Manicom & Birgit Schuenemann. I’m sorry if I have missed your name off my very short list of stars but you can rest assured, I have you all dancing around in my head. Screaming at me “just travel the world Raymondo!” Thanks’ for that!

Prizes on a postcard

if you know who's pannier this is!

In 2011 I had only managed to spend a day at Lumb Farm with my Dad, both of us having an amazing time meeting so many inspirational people. This year I was determined to soak up far more of this intoxicating mix of worldly adventures. At that time we spent quite some time speaking to a fellow Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200Z owner who also just happened to be called Ray. 3 Ray’s around on bike discussing travel, modifications and just getting on like a house on fire.

This year I really wanted it get involved so volunteered to assist Sam and the team, I was dully placed on “Recycling Duties!” I laughed to myself when I received the duty rota simply because low and behold who should be in charge of the Recycling Team, but Ray.

You've just got to love him

 Brilliant!

Been there, done that.

I had a fantastic time, if you’re reading this Ray (somewhere on the planet in your wonderful Land Rover with your home on the roof) I’d just like to say thank you for making the 2012 Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting  unforgettable. You’re the one who should be writing the book all about your life, from what you told me it’s a guaranteed “Best Seller” in the making!

I love travelling, just getting on Mr T and taking off all over the place. Europe now actually feels like my own personal motorcycling back yard however the folks who attend the Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting are in the premier league when it comes to travelling. Stories of ‘Around the World’ trips come at you from every angle. Travelling on bikes both motor and pedal powered, trucks, vans, Land  Rovers you name it they are all there to meet, talk to and be inspired by. I know I rode away just pleased my passport was well and truly tucked away in Jeannie’s desk at home.

Thought I'd just call in on our way around the world

Next stop, China!

If your planning on a trip, no matter where or for how long I can guarantee attending a Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting will give you more of an insight into “The Real Deal” than reading a library of travel books. Most of the authors of which will be stood around you in that very same meeting. One final word to end my Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting ramblings is, “Attend!”

Unbeknownst to me the next 4 months of my life where just about to be gobbled up in a blur of sheer commitment to one singular task! That task was inexplicably linked to “The 2012 Olympic Games”. If the truth be known, after watching the amazing spectacle that was the Olympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony on Friday the 27^th July 2012, I like so many others was just mesmerised by what took place. Danny Boyle pulled off  an absolutely World Class Ceremony follow by the most amazing Olympic & Paralympic Games I for one have ever seen. I know for a fact that both events will live with me and millions more for the rest of 

our lives.

August / September / October & November

Other than having a full Ohlins Rear Suspension System fitted to Mr T by Kais in Atherton, seeing my friend Bruce off from London on his own "Around the world journey" better known as www.TeaPotOne.com, attending the 5^th annual Ride to the Wall, RTTW with Jeannie & the Manc Riders, it was a quite couple of months, NOT!  I even managed to squeeze in three days of car washing, creating the second Wardle Wash which I do in aid of “Children in Need”. This year raising over £200 (which I’m quite proud of).

October 1st Bruce's Mum's Birthday

A day that will live with me for many years to come

However  my life was consumed by just one singular challenge. That challenge was to visit every single post box that was officially painted GOLD by the Royal Mail to honour our Olympic & Paralympic Gold Medal winners.

Initially the challenge appeared to be just a simple ride to visit and photograph Mr T at the side of the 29 gold post boxes, this was during the early stages of the Olympic Games themselves. I like many others never belived the challenge grow and grow to an unbelievable 110 Gold Post Boxes by the end of the Olympic & Paralympic Games.

The challenge was further intensified by me deciding to visit them all within 22 days of riding. Now I must stress at this point those days did not run consecutively due to the simple fact, “Life still had to go on in the Walton household”.

What I’m slowly coming to realise is that in achieving my goal in just 19 days I’ve surpassed all manner of personal achievement. My riding has changed, well not changed but reverted to what I used to be like 32 years ago when I first stepped onto my Suzuki 125 Stinger. Ride, stop, take pictures, visit interesting places and now to top off the whole experience, Blog the entire trip, that’s as long as it isn’t too boring, that is.

I’m very proud to say I rode 6739 miles in total, visiting every single one of the 110 Gold Post Boxes which are spread as far apart as Northern Ireland in the West, The Island of Sark in the South, Lossiemouth - Scotland in the North and South Belton near Great Yarmouth in the East, not to mention a trip to Wales and the Isle of Man and writing no less than 19 blog entries about the ride. Due to this vast amount of information  I decide to write a separate  review covering the whole of the challenge ride which loving became known as 

The Wandering Walton’s Quest for Olympic Gold ……. Postboxes “Obviously”.

I am delighted to inform you that www.KeepBritainBiking.com chose to publish my own review of the ride on their very informative site. The three instalments are already available to read and can be found at:-

How it all began 

Bagging my first Gold Postbox 

Midnight Rides, the Isle of Sark and BikerSolidarity

Goodbye to 2012 and My last Gold Post Box

Please take a little time to have a look at these and numerous other interesting motorbike related blogs by some very individual bikers. It‘s easy to join, log in, leave comments about the blogs and even post your own incredible achievements on site.

For now though here is a very poignant YouTube Video my great friend LBK put together for me, enjoy! Many thanks indeed LBK you did a superb job.

1 Man, 1 Motorbike, 1 Mission

110 Gold Post Boxes

19 Days Riding

6739 Miles

December

All this brings me nicely bang up to date. December has been quite a relaxing month give or take a the odd jaunt out and about in Lancashire or Derbyshire on Mr T. All I’ve done is carrying out a little more work on Trinity by fitting parts that have been sat under my bench for over a year. Mr T has had a new cam chain tensioner fitted on warranty, after he’s had his 24,000 mile service.

An Original Akrapovic

Carbon Fibre Exhaust Hanger 

Carbon Fibre Chain Guard fitted at last

Last Friday 21^st  I fitted Mr T’s Christmas present in order to restore the equilibrium in the garage. This was because I’d bought Trinity a full Akrapovic exhaust system last year I thought the least I can do this year was to treat Mr T to an Akrapovic Slip-On Exhaust this year which has finished off the “Farkling” process to perfection.

Mr T's Christmas Present

I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to visit my blog and read all my ramblings, I really do appreciate it so very much. Thank you so very much.

What a way to round off a perfect 50th

It just leaves me to wish each and every single reader the Merriest of Christmases and an absolutely wonderful and prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas Everybody from The Wandering Walton’s

The Wandering Walton’s 2012 Annual Review - Part 1 The first six months.

What's not to Love about Biking

So much has happened this year that it’s hard to sum it up without boring you and so I have decided to present the year in two 6 month “Bite Size” Blog’s.

I started the year wanting to visit Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Nordkapp none of which I've actually achieved. However, having recently written up Mr T’s 24,000 mile service (with 25,500 on the clock now 26,082) I realised to my surprise that I've ridden 20,000 miles this year, so all in all its been a very good year for Mr T & I.

January

I remember January being quite a mild one so I was out and about all through the month, visiting my Mum’s grave on the 17^th to lay some flowers. Then it was off down to John’s for the IBA January Ride to Eat (RTE) where Ben & I had a brilliant time on the Trike Go-Cart. Resulting in What a Great way to start 2012

IBA UK RTE Jan 2012

It was whilst at the  IBA UK RTE that I spotted the expanded petrol tank on Kevin & Lyn’s FJR. Adding this to the sighting of another huge petrol tank on a bike at Squires Bar earlier in 2011 all added up to me pondering, “could I get a tank fabricated for Mr T?”. It would sure put an end to the GSA owners “my tank is bigger than your tank” argument, that was for sure.

The following morning it was the Manc Rider 2^nd Annual RTE at The Moorcock Inn at Littleborough. I’d organised the RTE last year and so did the same again this year. All the guys arrived in one piece, no mean task being as there was 6 inch of snow all around. We all had a fantastic time catching up after the Christmas break over some really tasty traditional “Pub Grub”. Having a fair few new faces join us made the occasion even better. I’m  smiling as I write this as it all feels so long ago but having just organised the 3^rd Manc Riders Annual RTE for 27^th January 2013 really makes it a very special memory.

Manc  Riders 2nd Annual RTE

The Moorcock Inn near Littleborough

Sadly I quickly needed to get a set of new tyres after just 7,500 miles so chose to try the Continental Trail Attack 2’s which proved to be brilliant.

February

Following quite a bit of leg work on the internet regarding the petrol tank conversion, I eventually found someone willing to take the project on. As it turned out that person just happened to live in the good old US of A and was called Jaxon of www.RideonAdv.com . Now of all the bike projects I have undertaken The Tank Conversion Project 1  has been by far the most followed Blog I have written. The project from conception to completion took 3 months and spanned 6 Blog entries making it the most in-depth Tank Conversion Project 2  ever blogged (as far as I am aware).

How to make 33 litres fit into a 24 litres Petrol Tank

It was rewarding to see Trinity appear on the “Readers Letters” page of Fast Bike Magazine after I wrote in and told them about Ben’s 21^st birthday present. I had a play in the snow one morning on Mr T. the YouTube video of which received a few negative comments but at least I had a laugh!

Just messing about in the Snow 

Brilliant Fun!

Ben & I traveled to London for the Over-landers Meeting at the Ace Café where Ben met Sam, Birgit and Paddy. What topped the day off perfectly was Roland taking us on our very own guided tour around the city of London where Little Ben got to meet Big Ben. It was a shame that Ben’s heated gloves decided to burn him on the return trip home!

One very happy chap "Biker Ben"

The final week in February saw  Ben & I on the road again this time heading into Europe. This was Ben’s second ride abroad which and turned out to be a lot more enjoyable than our first attempt. We were heading to the first European IBA RTE of the year taking place in Belgium at the “Butte de Lion”. Ben had a fantastic time and it really got 2012 off to a flying start.

Ben "bag's" his first windmill

To cap the month off in style the Wandering Walton’s Blog reached 10,000 hits. I was absolutely delighted to say the least and had a small celebratory drink on 20^th February to mark the occasion. (I never dreamed at that time that by the end of the year, we would have reached an amazing 30,000 hits but we just may well do at this rate. 29,000 & counting).

March

For some reason I started to fall back into my old habits, the first example of this was riding an IBA “Leap of Faith” SS1000 on February 29^th. Just because Phil had posted a thread up about riding an SS1000 on the extra day in February as it’s a leap year, hence “Leap of Faith” I was the only person to rise to the challenge! Still it gave Mr T a good work out and was the first of three IBA  rides I would undertake in quick succession.

A quick spin around the UK before

Dinner out and a pint at my local.

I rode down to Spain a week later Blogging “Rochdaleto Reims in the rain and then some" on the way down and “The Road to Zaragoza”on the way back. Bagging an SS2000 Km on the way there and an SS1600KM on the way back in the process. Old habit die hard and the IBA Big Ride Bug was biting hard. The weekend in Spain with Jeannie made up for all the miles mind, we had a lovely time in and around Alicante.

One of my favorite photos of Mr T

In front of Castillo de Santa Barbara, Alicate

Mr T had his 12,000 mile service at the 8 months old stage so in Wandering Walton’s terms he was having and easy life. Unlike “The Beast” my FJR1300 who he’d replaced who had covered 20,000 miles in the same time period

April

As we all went on a family holiday to Cyprus April was quiet and other than getting things written up about the tank conversion project nothing blog worthy occurred.

"Where on the Road to nowhere Safari, Cyprus Style"

May

Now something happened in May which was to fundamentally alter the way I approach my  riding.

A  ride was suggested on the IBA Forum which in a nut shell composed of ridding an SS1000 in each of the 4 countries that make up the United Kingdom. On paper the idea got me all fired up. I spent time plotting 4 quality routes that would fulfill the “British Isles Saddle Sore Insanity Ride” criteria.

Arriving in Belfast I rode down, up, back down & back up again “Early in Belfast, Breakfast in Cork & Lunch in Letterkenny,Brilliant!” Sat on the ferry heading to Scotland for SS1000 number two I realised something, that was the first time I had ever been to Ireland and all I’d seen was the inside of 5 petrol stations. The seed of disillusionment had been planted!

Waiting for the ferry in Belfast at midnight

I called Jeannie and headed home via the Scottish coastal roads all the way back to the M6 at Carlisle. What’s more I look back on that ride & the decision to quit the SS1000 attempt and I’m happy! Knowing what I know now, I made the right decision for me, to take my time and just enjoy the road.

Still I managed to fit in a nice ride down to the Touratech Head Office in the South of Wales, only to find it closed! And just to add some spice to life my riding, I did no more, I took part in the IBA Britt Butt Rally 2012 for the first time and wrote “A Rookies Prospective”.

It was an amazing adventure only tarnished slightly by Roland’s unfortunate withdrawal due to a mechanical fault. 36 hours in the saddle is not for everyone but I can thoroughly recommend it. If you’re looking for a new and exciting challenge then give the IBA Britt Butt Rally a go, you will not regret it I assure you.

It's amazing who you meet on an IBA UK Britt Butt Rally

June

Well with the IBA BBR 2012 behind me it was time for Mr T to get his 18,000 mile service and a set of new tyres fitted. I chose to get a set Michelin Anakee 2’s fitted this time so I could do a direct comparison with the Continental Trail Attack 2’s. Other than an initial issue of slight slipping when they were first fitted, it took about 500 miles to bed them in as opposed to the 100 for the Continentals. I’ve been delighted with the Anakee’s and at 26,000 there still going strong with at least another 1000 miles of life in them.

I also bought a new tent a Redverz Series 2 Expedition Tent, ready for the RBLR 1000 where I would be helping out on the IBA side of life. As the best part of 16 months had been spent as the IBA UK ride verifier I had volunteered to help Paddy and his team. I’d spent many an hour in front of the laptop, sorting lists of names, bikes, routes you name it I had it in my spread sheet. Having done so much work prior to the event I felt it was a logical choice to issue the riders their certificates personally straight after the ride.

Camping at Squires for the weekend was brilliant and I loved every minute of it. Not sleeping through Saturday night turned out to be tougher for me than actually riding the 1000 miles. Still the RBLR 1000 ran like clockwork thanks to Paddy and the team!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug!

So folk’s with that I’ll sign off for now and get to work on Part 2 of the Wandering Walton’s annual review 2012 - The final 6 months!

My favorite photo of

Ben & I in London

"Little Ben meets Big Ben"

P.S. Please feel free to click on any of the links which will take you straight to the actual Blog or relevant Article.