I took the opportunity, whilst this side of the Irish Sea to visit some friends in North Devon and Cornwall (Monday was supposed to be 4.5hrs from The Rise and Crown to Bideford, but with half-term half-wits it was 7hrs) the run down to South Cornwall on Wednesday was lovely on the A388, but there are bridgework at Launceston which are causing delays.
The run back today got tedious with the M5 roadworks being a sub-optimal experience with a planned 7hr ride turning into 10hrs,
Furthermore I came over Dublin - Holyhead with no issues but was "kindly" informed by Stena at short notice, that I needed a PCR test to go go back, so a quick change of ferry to Liverpool-Belfast stopped that nonsense, however there were no cabins for the overnight sailing; notwithstanding that imbuggerance, I had the Stena Plus Lounge booked, and since bikes tend to get loaded first, I have secured a wee settee with cushions (aka. pillows) and with the free wine I should be able to recharge the sleep batteries.
There are three other bikes (all BMWs on board tonight) two GS and an XR 1000: each with points to mention:
1st. 1200GS travelled over from Dublin on P&O, which apparently was very not good. when I booked my ferries for the various IBA (UK) events this year I used Nutt Travel (
https://nutttravel.com/book-ferry/) they advised that Stena is the better of the two (CEO of Stena is a biker).
2nd 1250GS, is traveling over to upgrade to a 1250GSA, he is from Wales/Cheshire and has bought his last few bikes from Charles Hurst in Belfast, they are "opening" early to facilitate the change of bike so he can get the return day sailing back from Belfast to Liverpool; furthermore it transpires that CH are giving him £2K more than any local GB Motorrad dealers can stretch too; this may be because CH can sell into the Republic of Ireland and other European Countries where BMWs start at much higher prices so second hand bikes also command a premium; something to bear in mind if any IBA(UK) are looking for a new BMW,
3rd. The pillion on the XR was admiring the larger Vario Topbox on the 1200 GS, and was a tad underwhelmed with her boyfriend/pilot when it was explained that their topbox was of an expanding variety (RTFM - Read The Fecking Manual).
Off for more free wine and snacks
See some of you at RBLR/ABR/BBL/BBR or somewhere in the ongoing progress of the Galaxy