Wednesday 6 May 2009

Big, Last Part.

August was a busy month in its own right, what with the Scottish Double - which as you know will be the Triple this year, with the new addition of the Plus1. I think I might have mentioned before that if you're interested in coming along to that, you don't have to go to all three events, all you need to have is a bike (or sidecar or 3-wheeler) over 25 years old. You can get an entry form by emailing me at cubbiescounties AT aultan.com but remember to change the AT to @. By the time September arrived I was getting a little anxious. Five months in and only 13 counties done. Time to crack on then, so another mammoth trip south took me to Lanarkshire, where I visited a chocolate factory. Mmmmmmm. It rained though. And I also sped across country to Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles-shires, meaning that most of the borders counties were now off the list. During this trip, Cubbie suffered a bit of a hiccup and lost all signs of charge, something it had been working on doing since our breakdown at the National. We were off the road for ages. Months. In fact, no more counties were achieved until January. You maybe thought I had given up, lost the will to do it, couldn't be bothered. But no, I was searching up and down the country to find a new ****** for Cubbie. And all the time I was doing that, I was testing things on the bike, trying this, and that, and t'other - all under instruction from afar, by club members, and guys on the various forums I visit. Grampian Classic club member Dr Jim finally solved the problem, and I didn't need a new ****** after all, just a bit of TLC. January offered a nice frosty sunny day when I happened to be in the area of Perthshire, so I took the opportunity, as one must do, to tick it off, accompanied by Shorty. A touch of frost wasn't a problem, but getting to Orkney proved a little tricky, when the worst snow that this country has had for umpteen years (that's only 'cos it snowed in Englandshire....) hit. A two hour battle to get down our lane meant that once we were down, there was no going back. Splendid blue skies and glistening snowy tipped hills greeted us on the island, and a visit to **** **** was awesome, not to mention atmospheric. That was number 19, if only I could get into the twenties....bingo, Kincardineshire and Angus were to prove challenging for Cubbie's oil consumption, and I have to thank Smokey Child for his company and moral support, and his wife too for her cooking and accommodation. It looked like we would be off the road again, due to a leaky ****** but after transporting and collection Cubbie to and from the big bike show at Ingliston, Edinburgh, Kawa kindly fixed the leak for me, so it was all systems go for a trip over the Lecht in Banffshire - sunshine when I left home, snow drifts on the Lecht and one very cold GBC sitting atop the hill waiting for the copper to wave her and Cubbie onwards. And onwards it was to Easter Weekend...and an absolutely epic 7 county 400 mile adventure, some of which was shared with Mr Bantam Cub who unfortunately, suffered a *****. Down to stay with Star from bikeshite.com who lives near Edinburgh, and I think I've run out of words to describe that weekend. The post isn't that far back if you want to find it. Are you annoyed by the *****s? Hehe, call it a teaser, you can either scroll back through the archive to find the missing bits, or you'll have to wait for the Cubbie's Counties book, which admittedly, probably won't be out until 2010, by which time you'll have forgotten! But I'll remind you.

Right, well, I hope that's you all caught up. The final four counties are planned for the middle of May, just after I get back from Skye. Regular blog follower, Kawa, suffered a wee bit of an accident on the weekend, so hope you're on the mend now min. Good to see you back on the comments button Darrell....and you Linds, and thanks everyone for following Cubbie's Counties. I wanted to raise £1000 to start with, then because of your generous support, I was able to achieve that and raise the bar to £2000 - we're nearly there. The money will be split between the National Association for Bikers with a Disability, and the ME Association, two good causes that I think will do the right kind of things with the money. Try not to miss me too much while I'm away...Mrs BC will be in charge of the blog, she'll even be able to OK any comments for publishing...so I don't want this place going quiet while I'm gone. Back in 10 days. And counting.... STOP PRESS GBC RETURNS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!

21 comments:

Shorty said...

As GBC returns shortly this comment may not stay on here for long so please all take note.
I can confirm that GBC will hit the big 30 on the 12/6/2009. Please remember this date for some micky taking. and to GBC dont worry 30 is not old....If you are a tree or a house, but it is old if you are GBC.

Mrs. B.C. said...

Hey Shorty, before I publish your rather controversial comment, you'll have to let me know if you've a spare room I can use when I get chucked out!! Actually, I think my computer is about to have one of its regular wobblies as it's making that strange chattering noise and putting up all kinds of weird things on the page, so it may not go up anyway. I may have to ask GBC to do it when she gets home!

By the way, do you remember the conversation we had about trailer insurance? Well, have you ever thought about getting one of those carrier things that fit onto the back of your car?

Anyway, I shall be pleased to see GBC., as hopefully, she can do the late shift now, and I can catch up on some much needed sleep.

Mrs. B.C said...

Am I kind to you, or what? I am making a list of favours to be called in!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

WELCOME HOME GBC, You have been missed!
Well done Mrs BC for holding the fort in the wanderer's absence,I bet it's been quiet on the farm without her!..lol
Stuart ;-)

Mrs. B.C. said...

Quiet! QUIET! Stuart, you have no idea. We've had births, deaths, the only thing we haven't had were marriages. Quiet, well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs!

Anonymous said...

Hands full with the lambing Mrs BC? I can only begin to imagine how you coped on your own, but the midwife's back now...GBC to the rescue!
Stuart ;-)

kawa said...

Shorty it was nice knowing you, lol

"As GBC returns shortly this comment may not stay on here for long so please all take note.
I can confirm that GBC will hit the big 30 on the 12/6/2009. Please remember this date for some micky taking. and to GBC dont worry 30 is not old....If you are a tree or a house, but it is old if you are GBC."

brave man Shorty

Mrs. B.C. said...

I think I coped pretty well, Stuart, but quiet, it wasn't.

Shorty ain't brave, Kawa, he's rash-or is it stupid? We will find out soon, nay doubt.

Anonymous said...

GBC's 30??? Surely not! She doesn't look a day over 18!

U N

Mrs. B.C. said...

Sweet!

Mrs. B.C. said...

Before GBC returns I am going to make a political comment (GBC doesn't do politics or cooking)
One of the best quotes I heard during the recent fiasco was:
Either politicians are totally incompetent at claiming their allowances, and therefore shouldn't be running the country,OR they are all crooks, and therefore shouldn't be running the country.
Apologies to the few who are actually honest. Perhaps there should be a list of these so we know who they are.

kawa said...

Somehow I think that might be a very short list Mrs BC.


Opened my big mouth this morning when I was on one of the farms an ended up doing ears,tails an bits
Think I'll stick to fixing machines

Mrs. B.C. said...

Gosh Kawa. How talented you are. If only I'd known last week!!!!

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

Shorty, treasure, you've got it all wrong. I was 30 a long, LONG time ago, and I don't care how many people know that on the 12th of June in this fine year of 2009, I will be 78 years old. Presents (specifically chocs and cash and Cubbie spares) can be sent to the usual address, and anyone who wishes to send a pressie but doesn't have the address, you need only ask.

I am sure, my little Shortness, that you don't mind people knowing that you will be a very young 63 on the 12th of July, 2009, Grandad.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back, GBC.

U N

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

Thank you UN, glad to be home, I've been out in the rain feeding the sheeps and fluffing up some straw for the lambies in the shelter. Just like I've never been away.

Shorty said...

Ouch

Anonymous said...

Hanging around all these vintage clubs with "vintage" people seems to be taking its toll on you GBC if you feel 78. Sorry people no offence meant.
You need to get out to some young peoples clubs maybe.

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

Oh I don't FEEL 78, I AM 78. Just looking jolly darn good on it, that's all. ;-)

kawa said...

GBC said
"Oh I don't FEEL 78, I AM 78. Just looking jolly darn good on it, that's all. ;-)"

Not going by the latest pic you've posted down the side of the blog

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

I thought that pic showed my good side Kwak.

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