Local (Devon) Classic Vehicle and Steam Rally.

We have just come back from Exeter R D & E Hospital visiting our Son Roy. Were pleased to say they have moved him out of the Intensive Care Unit. As far as the Pneumonia goes he is much much better and only needs a nasal Canula occasionally, they have removed all but two of his drips too (he had 7). The main problem though is there is still no feeling in the lower half of his body and of course Roy is starting to get very depressed about it. What can you say?...... the Drs are still saying they just dont know, so very worrying. Thank you all for your kind words and wishes.

So to occupy me for a while I have just put this blog together. Its about a Classic vehicle & Steam Rally at South Molton a fortnight ago. We managed to attend this on our Motorbikes too.
I'm afraid its not really one for you Ladies.
Below, Our friends Dave and Jean met us for the day, pictured here with Sue (left).
Please click on any picture to enlarge the detail.

A very nice 1940s-50s AJS, I'm not sure about the details though.
Below, a nice 1960s "Triumph" twin I'm not sure which model it is.
Below, This "Suzuki" a 1970s GT 750 watercooled triple was another real favourite of mine, I think I loved the fact it had 4 exhausts (even though it was a triple). It was one of the very few Two strokes that in my opinion sounded nice.
A nice example of a 1940s-50s "Triumph" twin.
Now then (below) what is it?, one of my criticisms of this show was the fact that not all the entries were listed in the programme.
Below, when I was very young the "Matchless" marque was the one for me, here is a nice 1950s model.
Below, A really lovely vintage "Scott"m'cycle here.
You certainly dont see many "James" still around but this was a good example (below).
I think this BSA was the 1970-80s 250cc Barracuda.
Below, This is a good example of a 1970s Honda 450cc, i think that this model was ahead of its time with a DOHC.
Below, one of the finest vintage machines on show this Early Douglas.

This bike is my all time favorite (below) a 1970s-80s Honda CBX 1,000 6 cylinder. I can but dream!!!!!.
Below, a fine 1980s Honda CX500 Custom, this bike uses the same engine as the one in my own bike.
A really nice model of the powerful Vincent HRD.
Below, another BSA, this was is in lovely condition too.
A lot more modern but still a classic this Yamaha 400cc (below).
Below, a fine example of a vintage BSA.
I really can't remember the make of this vintage bike but it says Triumph on one of the engine cases.
I did manage to take one car picture just to show it wasn't all bikes!!!!.
Below, Not quite sure what this set of Steam engines do but....they have loads of Plaques for shows visited.
This type of Steam powered engine, is used as a water pump there were several of these here,
This "John Deare" Tractor had only a single wheel at the front I had never seen one before and wasn't quite sure what the benefits might be.


Below, a little mini Tractor "done up" with decoration and hundreds of lights to amuse the kids.
This "John Deare" Tractor had double wheels at the front but ony inches apart (below), I had never seen one of these before either.
This picture shows an early Steam engine converted to a Logging Saw.
Couldn't resist putting our bikes in here too, after all they are now both classics.
Below, My 1979 Honda CX500Z, Lots of work done but lots more to do.
A closer picture of my "Zebedee", looking good.
This is Sue's "Baby", a 1981 Honda CM250T Custom.
This is Sue's baby again, (below), starting to get it looking right now.
For fairly obvious reasons there will be no Joke of the day.

Big Family Health problems.

Hi all, I'm afraid I havn't blogged very much lately, due to us volunteering to run the Honda CX-GL MCC SW (N Devon) Rally. As well as recently having our son admitted to the Hospital emergency unit, where a day later he had emergency Surgery to remove a large Cyst from his spine. Right after the operation he contracted Pneumonia and has been in the ICU unit ever since. On our visit today his breathing was much improved and staff were pleased with his progress. The biggest problem is since the operation Roy has lost all feeling from the Waist down, this is very worrying to all. Doctors are very non commital about the level of feeling that may (or not) return.
As soon as we know more I will post again.
Sue-Bob.

THE FINEST IN CORNWALL, POLPERRO.

So here we are again in the good old British Summer time. Holiday time is here again, so for those of you staying here in good old "Blighty" this season (recession and all that) I offer a couple of suggestions. A few of my favourite places to visit, in no particular order. A lot of these feature in previous blogs.
1. Obviously N Devon has to be high on the list, with lots of Campsites, Holiday Parks, Caravans available at sensible prices, if your flush endless B & Bs. Worth a look to stay are, Croyde Bay. Woolacombe, Hele Bay (nr Ilfracombe),Putsborough (Caravan), Watersmouth, Berrynarbor, Coobe Martin, as well as Linbridge (nr Lynmouth).
Anywhere on Exmoor (Fabulous)or Somerset in General.
N Devon going on into Cornwall, try around Clovelly area, one of my favourite places.
Here in S Devon around Dawlish and the Warren are great area's to stay and explore, also Teignmouth, Torquay (busy busy in season), Paignton, Brixham etc. Whatever or wherever you stay this side you must spend a couple of days exploring Dartmoor (off the beaten track) it is just so beautiful. Now, when down in Cornwall you have to see, on the one Coast Tintagel (home of King Arthurs Castle. On the opposite Coast the great busy Harbour at Looe and its neighbour the lovely, quaint Polperro. This blog is all about this little fishing village and its brightly painted narrow, almost traffic free streets. Here its still possible to stroll down to the quay (or old fish market) and if your lucky buy freshly caught fish, Crabs or Lobster straight from the boat!!!. The main area is virtually traffic free, you need a residents pass or have a pre made reservation to enter.A point here if walking is difficult this may not be the place for you, although Wheelchair access is good. All visitors must leave vehicles in the car park at the head of the village, then walk the 500 metres into th main village.The other option is to take this Horse and Trap the first part of the journey.
Do click on any picture to enlarge it.
This pretty Pub/Restaurant is right at the start of the walk, notice the Water wheel.
Pictured here one of several good Restaurants, also a few nice Cafe's too.
I also noticed (quite by chance of course) that there are at least three Pubs here, two are right on the Quay overlooking the Harbour.
Note the narrowness of these streets.
"No entry" hardly surprising really!!!!.
More of the same, in the village we noted 15 or more houses or cottages to rent, so if you fancy it, these places sleep 2 to 12 people.
Its easy to see why traffic is resticted inside the village, can you imagine the chaos if all were allowed in?.
Most of the cottages are very well kept, and nicely painted.
There was certainly some work put into this fishermans cottage.All the patterns/designs covering it are made with shells and pebbles.
Close up.
They must have taken ages to do but they are very effective.
All the cottages to the right here are for rent.
This is the other side of those previous cottages, with balconies overlooking the pretty harbour.
Another view of the Harbour.
This one was taken from the top of the sea defense gates.
This little stream runs right through the centre, alongside most of the properties.
This picture shows Sue on top of the defense gates, overlooking the outer harbour.

So to sum up a really lovely place, one of my top 5 must visit places in the West Country, so please visit and see. More here http://www.polperro.org/fishing.html
Joke of the day.

Job of a lifetime



TRUE STORY:(?)

Outside Bristol Zoo there is a car park for 150 cars and 8 coaches.

There also used to be a very pleasant attendant with a ticket machine charging cars £1 and coaches £5.

This parking attendant worked there for all of 25 years , then one day just didn't turn up for work...

"Ho hum", said Bristol Zoo Management - "better phone up the City Council and get them to send a new parking attendant" ......

"Er no", said the Council, "that car park is your responsibility" ...

"Err no", said Bristol Zoo Management, "the attendant was employed by the City Council, wasn't he?" .....

"Err NO!"

Sitting in his villa in Spain is a bloke who had been taking daily the car park fees amounting to an estimated £400 per day at Bristol Zoo for the last 25 years...

(Footnote, nice work if you can get it).