Driving France

[Oldred_V8S]

This is turning into the best travelogue ever. I wish there was a camera crew following you around Alun, this is far more interesting than Billy Connolly or Michael Palin traipsing around the globe.

Good luck with the musical career, don't forget your PH chums when you hit the big time.

[ClassiChimi]

I'm pleased I'm making someone laugh as I'm laughing my gonads off at this barmy holiday.
Ok I'm wearing a crisp white T shirt and jeans, a few African Joolz I picked up for my kids,
Joolz ,, old bits of wood by the looks of it
And I'm looking goooood baby,,
I'm just about to rip off over to Grimaud village on the loud bike to see a guy with big hair, thinks he's JK or someone,, it's good to stay young I reckon.
Unfortunay his girl friend,, though Italian looks like Shreck, weird massive jaw,, hey I'm being cruel she's lovely
I look like a crash victim so who am I to speak,,

It's odd as yesterday I posted pathetic song lyrics and bongo,d, is it fate or just another silly moment of madness on an already mad holiday,,

One serious note,, well not really but I rode my bike at no more than 3000 revs today and I adored it, I've been wondering if I have a bolt loose,,,,,,,,,in my brain because I rode that bike with some insanity at the Gorge,, and I've been upset about it since.
Maybe it's Carma as I put my heart and soul into that ride, never ever again will I try that stuff,,,,,

I nearly st the bed that night,, waking up in a cold sweat,,

Ok let's go and have some fun,,,, actually it's because I can't order the food very well!
I asked for Steak tartar for lunch the other day,, thought it was like beef pie,,,,

This beautiful waitress comes over and puts down what looked like uncooked,,,,, human brains,, honest it was raw,
I left it for a moment and I'm sure the fker moved it was so red and alive looking.
I ate it but boy I wasn't sure if they were in the kitchen laughing at me.


It was actually quite nice but raw food and blood,, I heaved every mouthful.

Thanks for the encouragement you bleeders,,
Yeah I'll still say hi when I'm on a massive boat and can't find a relay for the Maserati,,,,,
I do have a real good laugh on here so I hope someone enjoys my effort.
Alun

[ClassiChimi]

Just woke up,,,, hungover,,,! Why do I swear so much on these threads,,my working class roots maybe! Sorry.

What can I say,,,Grimaud village/town,,,wonderful old place, with a couple of bars and a very special restaurant with a joyfull owner and food that explodes with taste in your mouth,, Manu has a cousin who's a master woodworker,,we got on very well,,, 8 of us had a fun filled time,,
The girls,,,oh the girls, you know these provocative French do romance and love like few others,,
Beautiful olive skin and eyes that shine like diamonds wearing classy dresses and all of them stunners,,,
It's all kissing and touching eachother including me,,treated me like a king, wonderful manners, seducing me with their eyes and beautiful smiles,,, these people all in their late twenties living the dream, they know how lucky they are,,
I acted like I didn't notice which just makes them do it more,,,I'm not stupid you know

French girls are so full of love and passion it was a joy to be around them,,
Legs like silk, slim beautiful bodies and perfect vital statistics,,, I'm a drummer,,,,it always has women seeing something in me that don't actually exist but I play on it anyway,,,

I'm a gentleman and I pride myself on it,, they loved my English accent,, find me cute for trying to speak French,,,nothing untoward but I was warmed and showed them all great love and respect in return,,,
What an evening,, warm and the clouds had disappeared so the stars were out, it's a Cirtain type of light and just lends itself to all this romancing,,,I'm in love after that night,, not sure with what, just beautiful people treating me with that youthful joy of life,, invigorating.
So I was careful as to what I was drinking(bike ride home) and then Manu tells me he wants a beer in the local Irish bar,,,2 mind from my campsite so we ride back to the port,,his girlfriend on the back of his Honda, I really enjoyed that steady ride back together,,
I park up at the campsite and we spend the next few hours drinking beer and discussing his music project.
I'll help him,,, dead end st but hey I like drumming, and this is what memories are made of.
I'm close to being to old to drum now so a week or so in Brittany getting drunk and playing music,,,if you could you would,,,I payed my due's leaning the drums over decades,, it's a skill I never use anymore so to help out a very intelligent lad who's also successful in his own profession seems like a good idea to me. I said cruel words about his girlfriend which was very unfair,, she has jet black hair and very beautiful really,,
Half naked and I'd marry her,,, lovely lovely girl,, bells bella bella,,
We talked about Vallentino Rossi,,,her eyes lighting up and as with all people allover the world,,she loves him like family,,,we shared cuddles and lovely cheak kisses over him,, hahah.
Manu thinking I'm English kept ordering me pints of Blond,,,the beer here is like the water,,pure,,,
I drank with him and now I've woke up to a perfect sunny day, I'm regretting it!

I'd contacted my eldest some who is also 28 years old and a fine musician himself,,asked him to check out the music before I went over and he said go for it dad,,,that's why I went,,, he's a great boy and he's doing great things with his life so if he supports me I could knock a brick wall down with my fists to get what's needed.

So what do I do today,, eat bread, water and enjoy the
warmth that's flowing from my body,,,let alone the warm sun on my back.
Wish you were here,,,,

One other moment we enjoyed last night,,,his friend wanted a pic of me and Manu with out helmets on together,,,, standing toe to toe like two boxers,,,it was very amusing,,,I asked him to send me the pic but he was drunk so I just hope he remembers.
Finally,,, I forgot to mention arriving on my bike,, the French all adored it,, men walking out the bar just to look at it,,,Manu's friends took me as a like minded brother from the moment I got there. This Triumph is a special bike.

[ClassiChimi]

Just an idea of what it's like to wake up to a sunny day,,,look at the deep blue,,
That alone was worth the trip here.
I want to ride today but my heads pounding, son of a gun!
I need coffee,,,, lots of coffee.
67fox,,,thanks for your words of encouragement,,,it takes hours to load up so I hope I havnt missed someone's comments, if I have I appologise.
I'm looking forward to getting home so I can read this thread,,,I just hope I won't be to embarrassed ?!?

[2OOM]

Was it Monroe's you went to? I rather like that place ..

[ClassiChimi]

YES,,,,,,hahahahah, are you sitting on my shoulder Graham,, 4am I left the place,,, just me Manu/ Rebecca and the bar owner and his friends,, a blond woman kept smiling at us three, eventually came over,, Irish girl,,, told us we looked like lovely people,,, more kissing and sexy cuddles, I'm sure she squeezed my arse but maybe I dreamed that

Just had lunch at a locals cafe,, lovely,,,I have to get this out my system,,
The waitress, about my age I guess,,, a combination of Tina Turner ( big hair with blond hi-lights) and a Brazilian beauty,,,
Curves that are like the Tvr, not a straight line on her, brown as a Berry and heaving perfect breasts,,,,, no bra and a see through top,, full of confidence and pure beauty,, I think she could tell I was in love with her I've been there a number of times and they seem to like me,, well,,,,,,,,,,,,
I order dinner after a few glasses of water to clear my head,, she's full of conversation and was looking at me with those dark come to bed eyes the girls all seem to have,, I'm happy as a Sam boy,,, anyway she brings me my Beof de ,,,,can't spell it so won't even try,, I'm say at the table,, she's playing games with me,, I'd been bending down to scratch my ankle so hadn't seen her arrive at my table,, puts the food down and almost pushed these huge nipples in My face,,,,mm away,,,
Mama Mia, I appologise as I feel it's my fault,, she just said enjoy,,,,,do what, stone the crows, that was twenty minutes ago,, I'm still shaking hahahah,,, this woman looks firm fit and very strong but still very feminine,,, shed fk me to death man,,, I almost ran out scared as a cat!
Suffice to say the hangover has gone and I'm feeling really good.
I've been trying to ignore the women,, but how can you,,, they love compliments and I told her she was as beautiful a woman as I've ever seen,,, more kisses as I left and I felt like sucking the tongue out if her mouth,, errrr, to much information,,,, it's this perfect weather it does things to people.

Right that's that done with, I can't resist so shorts and T shirt,,,I'm off to find a secluded beach and do some snorkelling

[2OOM]

It sounds like you've pulled!!

A couple of years ago I met a half english half french girl down there .. she spoke perfect english and perfect French .. perfect combination ..
We went into st tropez one evening and ended up in the Irish pub there.. at about 2am I asked the a girl working there what time they closed.. she told me when the last customer leaves .. i was riding so didn't drink and riding back as the sun came up was an amazing sight .. it was all so tranquil .. enjoy the fish ..

[ClassiChimi]

Nah,,,she must have men or a husband somewhere,, to beautiful not too!
I can't be doing with a holiday romance,, got the T shirt and all that.

I need to stay focused on my life.
I'm getting that sinking feeling of the holidays nearly over and still have so much to see and do.
I've got to stop writing on here as I waste all my time trying to entertain you boys,,,,,,

If I don't respond much now it's hopefully because I'm sharing more great experiences and not falling off my bike!
Don't tempt fate Al so I'll say knowmore.
Manu wants to meet me for drinks again,, I've made my excuses as getting pissed is t really my idea of fun but riding my funkie sounding bike is
I'll take pics and post them but I just want to suck in all this life joy because it will likely stop abruptly when I get home as I face more bills. I'm spending money now like it's going out of fashion,, payed the bill last night,, 200 bucks
Divvy !!!!!!

[phazed]

I read your update this morning as usual at my desk before I went out, almost spat my coffee out over the keyboard!

You have the wrong job Alun.

Plan another holiday, take lots of piccies, notes, anecdotes etc, bike heavy and flog it as a story to one of the shiny bike magazines, readers digest or some rag. Gotta be a winner!

Enjoy the last few days cos it's Autumn here and you won't like it!

[ClassiChimi]

F
The mountain roads,,,D93,,,there's a lovely windmill only a few hundred yards up the road!
Peter I've got a huge smile on my face,,
What job, I don't have one!




That's about as straight as it gets,, heaven,, I tried counting the corners,got to 83 and lost count,,,that's at about a third the way!




You wouldn't want to fall down there !




This is the beach cafe I met my musical friend at.
Plage du herculle,,, spelling?
I went there again today and swam for a few hours,, warm sea and a gentle breeze to cool you,
Bit choppy so didn't snorkel
I'm enjoying everything in my eye sight now,,
The trees and huge grasses and paradise plants,,,
What you don't get is the silence up on those mountains,, it's so peaceful and relaxing,,,
Some of the connected corners I'd like to take shots of but there's not often a good place to pull over.

Some if the riding on this bike,, it's so like the Tvr,, loud roar as you blast up hills for a few gear changes,, popping and banging as you shut off and down change as you brake,,,look for the apex,, stay away from the inside line right now, after rain there's often sand sitting there and I had a nasty moment the other day as I didn't see about four ft of sand at the deepest part of the turn,,front end went and I slammed my foot down to help correct it, bks ,,,
I've taken to dragging my foot in the floor when I'm not sure of grip levels,,gives me a feel for the grip available and it's a big big help.
Your riding in hot weather so sometimes it's warm and nice on the skin then your into tree sections with the shadows and it's all really great great fun,,,
After so many years denying myself this pleasure it's such emotional stuff for me,, dabbing the brakes, one finger braking and blipping the throttle,, slinging the bike from side to side, slingshot ting out of the burm corners, tight tight hairpins that go on for ages,, never flat, down into a corner or up into them, just amazing to be honest,,,
I'm really riding well now,, carefull but still using all those skills to manipulate the bike,,,
The trees roots pushing the Tarmac up so it's also like motocross as you get out the seat to allow the bike to jump about and buck around,,,I really enjoy those bits,,, I remember being fking good on a bike now, and it fills me with deep pride at my ability,
You don't need to be on it,, it still feels just as good,, I've got my braking sorted, you must give yourself sometime to stop,, I'm a bad lad for going in to hard and having to hold my breath to sort it out,, that seems over with,, thank god it's not a good feeling at all.
I kept thinking I need to go off for miles to find these roads,,,, no there everywhere and only minutes away from camp,,,
All I can say is it would feel and provoke the same feelings of pure freedom and joy in the Tvr,,,
It's strange but I've got a bike that's just the same,,,this thing feels quick on these twisties, accelerates as hard as you'd want and stops really well.

I felt bad about putting Manu off earlier so I'm meeting him tonight around 10 ish in St Tropez for a beer,,,I don't like the place but it's fantastic at night with all the boats, the lights, the people, the smell of food and sound of the rigging,,, I really love the artists and stuff like that,,
Happy people with an access of money spending it,,, if you've got it flaunt it I say
I wasn't going to write anymore,,,,
I usually walk around with my head up my arse, not really taking things in but now everytime I see something wonderful I think of this thread and I remember stuff!

There's lots if other things I've not covered which are all worth a mention but where do I stop!

Michael Palin,, I enjoy his travelloges and it is a fab thing to do for sure,
I did think of taking a one and paper today to write notes but I was already on my way!

Finally a word about last night which filled me with joy,,,,,
The chippy cousin of Manu,, talked about Guy Martin,, I feel a warmth towards Guy like I do Barry Sheene,,,(let out a big sad sigh)
Well Antwon and me laughed for ages over Guy,,,he loves him too,,,,
What a boy,,,in my Guy Martin voice,,, he's a fking comedian that lad and as hardcore as they come,,,,
Reminds me of me,,,,hahahahah yeah in my dreams

Thanks a million to all who posted on here and took the time to read my stories of should I say essays!

Edited by ClassiChimi on Saturday 19th September 01:35

[ClassiChimi]

Look at those leathers,,,forget the ugly bloke,,,
Mean mean look when on my glorious bike.

You can't fail to get noticed,,,other riders are my favourate,,, they really appreciate the effort I've put in
Thanks Alun

Edited by ClassiChimi on Saturday 19th September 01:37

[phazed]

Nice one Alun and I thought that the bike was the star

Every day bikes are boring. Here's my favourite bike, never failed to have questions asked.


Cagiva Elefant . Ducati 2 valve 750cc V twin engine.

[ClassiChimi]

What a bike that is,,,you've had some of the best by the looks of it Peter
I've nick named my new muso friend Simmo,,, big hair reminds me of another fantastic rider who sadly lost his life,, it's a serious business riding these bikes.



Glamour !




One from the The Ferrari stable,,,my bike looks better though



This girls real hot,,, see what she can do in a mo,,,,,,,,,



Wait for it, wait for it,,,

Edited by ClassiChimi on Saturday 19th September 01:38

[ClassiChimi]

That's a bit impressive,,

So just to recall,, nice evening in St Tropez,, the usual stuff but as if by magic when I arrived and parked the bike I hear Brazilian drums,,, it's my favourate syle of drumming,, highly technical and the most enjoyable to play,,
They call it the music of life,,, it's to do with the timing,, a pick up note before the major note,,,
Liken it to the heart beat of a human being,,,your heart doesn't beat 1-2 1-2
It beats a split second before 1 ?
In drumming you often use 1e and a 2e and a and so on,,,so if you want to put a beat in before 1 you go a1,,, a3 a5a7 then back to a1 again there 16th notes if anyone cares,,,
That's how Brazilian music timing often works,,,
So when you do it in practice you are now playing like the beat of a heart,,,,
Learn that and you can get inside peoples bodies and take control of their minds,,,,
Santana early stuff from the late 1960's early 1970's is a perfect example,,,
The music of life itself,,, the back beat I'm talking about,, if you listen to his guitar playing he often plays notes that seem off beat,, really hard to catch it and play in time with him,, he's just doing the first note what seems like a split second before the major note or beat 1
Christ were did that come from,,,,anyway
I arrive and soon as my helmets off I can here this sound and look over to see these three playing a big Conga and tamberines etc,,, one of them doing an Olger Corbit down the st, gambolling and huge spins in the air like a gymnast,,,
The beautiful people in the restaurants clapping and whooping,,,joining in the with the beat,,,
You know me I ain't missing this chance,,,when they stop for a moment to take the applause I walk over to them,,,still leatherd up,,,put my helmet on the floor and ask if I can play with them,,,
No Brazilian will say no so moments later I'm jamming with true Brazilians speaking and singing in Portugese,,,
Oh that stuff about the timing it's the essence of the Samba,,,,
So I'm ripping out a samba with the Conga player,,,then just to take the mickey because they can't quite believe I can do it I then grap one of their tambourines and shake and hit the skin of that too,,,
I'm boring you now but I'd just like to say try playing a tambourine in time,,,you'll find to get the little bells to be in time you have to do it a half note early so the bells react and hit the side at the correct moment,,,it's basically the same as the notation I mention above,, it's a real ski that takes months to perfect,,

After 10 minutes we stop to huge applause,,
Little white kid from England grooving with these cool suckers,,
Quite a shock to some maybe!
I enjoyed every second and as with must thjngs that's happened here I can't quite believe these guys are here let alone me go and Jamm with them,,,I've wanted to do that with the real deal Brazilians for many many years,, even thought if going to the Reo festival just to have a go,,, amazing experience for me this was.

We all laughed and I personally felt like I was glowing with all these super cool sexy beautiful people watching us,,,
It's something when a bloke off one of those huge boats looks at you with envy,,,
I might be poor but I'm richer than most inside some days,,
I promise with all my soul all that is absolutely true,, you can't make it up I tell ya!

Anyway Manu turns up with his girl,, we have drinks in the bar above the st which you won't get into without loads of mash (cash) or local knowledge and friends who know you,,,

We have a walk around,,, they have to go back to Paris tomorrow so I could see they were a bit sad, after more kissing and shaking of hands I leave them to sit on the rocks looking over the harbour to enjoy a romantic moment together.

It's all a form of bliss

I go off kind of relieved I've left these two young people to eachother and go for more of a walk which is when I see the girl playing with fire.

I've got to tell you this story,,
Years ago I did a gig,,,,I organised a support act,, couldn't get a band that sounded any good so we new this hippy freak of a guy who had talent,,,or so we thought,,,
Harry the fire eater,,,,
Big hippy beard,, never wore shoes and always looked like he was sleeping rough,
He smashes glass and lies down on it and you walk allover the prat,,,
He was a very funny and intelligent guy infact!
Ok I'll get to the punch line,, so he goes on stage to huge applause,,
It's not often things like this go on at 2am in a night club,,the croud are loving it,,,then,,,,,,
He gets out his fire stick things,,,puts to much petrol on them, light them up and holy hell the club goes bright white and the flames are ten foot high,,,sets the fking place on fire,,,
Fire engines the lot,, we didn't play that night, hahahahahah I'd had to talk the club owner into it in the first place,,,
The fire wasn't that bad really and it was out long before the fire engines arrived,, my vintage drum kit is wood isn't it,, I was on that stage in a flash getting them out the way,,
What a bloody dick that guy was,, he was off his head on drugs and ruined the night but I still laugh at it,,,,
Life's about memories and that's one I treasure to be honest,,
The band went home in the van rather upset,, no wages that night,,,,
When we practiced the following week we all laughed our sides out at it,,,
Great great memories of my younger life in a brilliant band that did have a big following.
This was all long before the internet so I sadly don't have much stuff from back then,,,not even the videos we did,, I found a demo tape once but it was behond repair.

Hers my new Brazilian buddies,, I'll never meet them again but we were like brothers for awhile tonight.

It sort of tops off all this music nonsense Manu has talked me into!
Great fun or what,, music is a higher level of conscience and when you reach it it's a special thing,,,,,
Just like driving our cars fast,, your above what you normally do in life





I'm no David Bailey so you'll have to excuse the poor quality!

After a that I had a cold but enjoyable slow ride around the coast road back to camp,,,
If I hadn't got this bike I'd never have done any of this,,,riding gives me a false sense of invincibility and a passion for life I'd almost forgot I once had.. If your gonna do something do it and be a winner.
Alun

[Tyre Tread]

Alun, could you stay away on holiday a bit longer please as I'm really looking forward to each day's new adventure.

Please keep them coming.

You should start a daily online blog even when you return home as you lead an interesting life my friend
.

[67Fox]

This is bloody brilliant !!!
Every time I open my computer this amazing journy of your's Alun just get better and better.
It's like you say, you could not have dreamt this if you tried.
You are an inspiration to us all that you have to make everyday count. Like the well known saying goes:-

"You've only got one life, so live it!!"

[V8 Junkie]

Inspiration Your the man Alun keep the post,s coming

[ClassiChimi]

Oh lads, what kind words,, if I hadn't had the odd reply I'd have stopped days ago, it's your replies that's inspired me to do it.

For all these experiences,,which are bloody amazing I've been very emotional the whole time, sometimes really difficult to lift myself up and go out on that bike,,,whatever I've said I don't trust myself on the barking mad thing and so my nerves are constantly on edge,, sometimes that's a life changing feeling but it's also full of big danger!

All those other things that keep happening are nothing compared to riding the bike,
That's a massive challenge, going off on my own on roads I have no idea about,, stomach tight as a drum..(bum bum)
And my brain saying this is a step to far,, it's only because I'm on my own with it,,,
Sometimes I'm thinking things like,, if I go off here and disappear into the canopy below I'll never be found again, shocking!

I think it's why I make light of all these other situations, stops me freaking and hiding in a corner.
I'm honestly stting myself every time I climb aboard,, I don't actually think like that when I'm doing it but it's always there in the back of my mind!

It sounds like I hang with the stars but I've met Henry cole a few times now,,
Last year at the bike show at the NEC it was late in the day on the trade day (less people)
I met the lad who travels with him when he does those
Best rides around the world shows,, I've watched loads of them and that was my inspiration to get back in the saddle,,,,
Well Henry comes over and my friend and I spend a good few hours with him,,,
Cool bloke that Henry Cole,, really interesting and very down to earth,,
I talk about his drug habit when he's younger and we get very personal,,
He's also an emotional soul and I tell him about my history with bikes and how I'm still in two minds as to what to do about it,,
He's no speed king and just tells me about his life,, his bike business and how he came to do these great rides, he was very honest and you can't kid a kidda,, I've watched him, he ain't no Valentino
It was his attitude and sense of self preservation that helped me take the plunge..
Biking changed his life from being a heroin addict to someone who has a great life/wife and children,,,
Showed me pics of his favourate bikes and his lovely home in Oxfordshire,,
I have to thank him and then 200M for giving me the confidence to take this journey of discovery on,,,,
My hearts pounding and I'm having to hold it in,,,, fksake!
So fking emotional and I can't understand why,,,
All those years I wouldn't ride,, both my sons did,, I let them for a few years as young boys and my youngest son could ride a little thump bike like a pro,,,at ten years old I just said we can't afford it and got them into less dangerous sports,, my nerves couldn't take watching him do massive jumps and falling off,, he was really quick on the poxy things.

I might sell the bike because riding in the uk doesn't really appeal to me,, going to cafés with loads of other bikes around is great fun but other than that I'm struggling to see what the point is,,,
I dohave a great Tvr
Thinking about it now I remember thinking what can I buy that will give me the thrill the bikes did all those years ago
I bought a Tvr !!!! See where this has all come from,,,
The Tvr was a way to remind me of glorious fast machinery that tests me,, no car has ever frightened me and I wanted to feel alive again,,the Tvr does that for me in spades, I'm not as emotional over it and thank god for that because this bike and having this road trip has pushed my emotional state to the edge.

Anyway sorry to hark on about how I'm feeling,
A line from the Blues brothers film,,,,
We've got a full tank of gas,,,were wearing shades ,,,,let's go,,,( screeching if tyres and I'm about to burn off into the sunset because the truth is from the moment i start rolling non of that gets to me and I just become one with the bike and she makes me feel just fine.

I think I'm a butty short of a picnic some days,,,,
I once felt invincible,, that's a long time ago and now I'm well aware of my frailties

Maybe that's just what it is,, I ride exactly the same but feel scared!
Don't reply feeling sorry for me, I don't want that,,,
Give me confidence maybe but I never want sympathy

Oh do I go on,,,

A day at the local beach today doing nothing but swimming and sun bathing,,
My nuts are burnt hahahaha,,,,get my drift

I have a few of those great sayings too
Your a long time dead
Live for today because tomorrow may never come
Your here for a good time not a long time
It's better to have loved and lost than never love at all.

Indeed to come home because I miss my family really bad.
Tyre tread,,,I was on the beach today and invested some money on the stock market,, I did contemplate staying here I can tell you.
Manu's friend the chippy,, I really liked him, he's a work aholic and needs a bloke like me to help his business,,,mainly decking contracts etc,, piece of piss,,,I could work with him easy but I can't stay away from my family for long without feeling lost.

I'm sitting here,, it's Saturday night and all I can hear is Harley's, bikes galour rumbling about but I'm going to chill,,,,,,maybe????!!!!

For gordsake the chippy has just sent me a text asking for my email,,,,fate, coincidence,,,it's just getting stupid now!
Alun

[2OOM]

Alun .. I'd like to add to all the great comments about your travels and I also look forward to seeing what you've been up too each day and night .. I have the feeling you would probably get up to a lot of that stuff where ever you go ..
Your write ups have really made me miss the enjoyment of travelling in a foreign land so much so I've just booked the chunnel for a day trip to Belgium on the bike tomorrow to visit the war graves, something I've been meaning to do all summer but kept putting it off and reading all your stuff has made me pull my finger out and go for it .. Thank You very much ... Graham ..

[ClassiChimi]

Graham,,,great great great great, wonderful. Stop you'll make me emotional again !!!!!!!!!
So last night,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I went to bed! I'd been writing my last post at Mc Donald's as it's cheap and chearful and on the little ring road near camp, I've been there a few times now As I can hear the sportscars and bikes blasting off the lights towards St Tropez,, it reminds me I'm not the only nutter out there.
I find it's writing these posts that bring my emotions to the surface,,,I've never writen in my life, I'm not a learnid man,,, don't read many books and it's probably something to do with my boring life at home which does not contain much fun at all,,
I've always been a people person and so being in a part of the world with all these wonderful women and loads of blokes who aren't shy in coming forward to tell me they enjoy my bike has took me back to when I was someone.

I don't socialise much at home,, I've become depressed as hell because nothing inspires me anymore, I can't get up for anything,,,this has pulled it all up and out of me,,
I went to bed at 8.30 pm last night Saturday night!!!!
I'm like a baby,,,,just over tired.
A place like this, it's a reminder that anythings possible,,,people are working hard and playing hard here and that's an inspiration in it's own right.
I'm not like this at home,, I have an anger in me that's never far from the surface,, that's just all this power I have not being tapped into and so my direction goes pear shaped. I like to help people but it often feels like no one appreciates it so I get upset.
My family are welsh, it's a nightmare being this emotional sometimes but it also installed bravery and a hard nosed attitude into me from a young age,,
6 years ago my life took a really bad turn,, ex missus took me for tens of thousands using my credit cards,, I might not have much of an education but over the years I'd come to understand how to use these credit facilities to create an illusion of wealth,, I had like nine bank accounts and tonnes of credit cards,,,
For years I'd use them to bounce money around,,,, the same money would just go from account to account.
Put simply if you say use a grand and put it through a number of accounts in dribs and drabs say four times a month each account looks like your banking pretty serious money, playing banks off eachother,
Now I did this for a few years and my credit rating become sky high,,,so then your offered better deals and more credit cards and higher and higher credit facilities,,,
I kept my eye on the money and never used it to buy junk just keep moving the same money around.
That's where my ex comes in, I had a physical job that was also very dangerous, I used to out glass in tall buildings for a living, long hours in London mostly and then long travelling times home for the weekend etc,,,, it was burning me out so I slowly let this bh of a woman take over,,,she was a con artist,, I'd met her and for the first time since my kids mum did I thought I might marry her,,, trusted her,,, as time went on I bought a few cheap houses to rent out and give me another excuse to fool the banks and create another income stream,,,,
I also had this girl who slowly I realised was a lazy st and I got fed up with her,,,,
She sussed me and so took the piss out my credit cards,, it had got to the point where she'd took over a lot of the banking duties,, oh if you want to do stuff like that with banks it has to be cash moved around or they also suss out what your game is,, I had three houses that I pretended were multi let,, upto 7 rooms a property etc etc , when the banks would ask me where all this money came from I'd say my job, private jobs and the houses,, before the crash in 07/08 they all wanted my business so wouldn't question it much,,,,sounds really dodgy I know but in fact it was a banker who taught me, the banks move money about in an hourly basis looking for a point here and there in interest,, if your doing that with millions it's big profits for doing little!!!!
I'd bought shares and stuff like that so it all worked very successfully,,,
The key here is not to spend the tens of thousands of pounds of credit on cars or stuff,, you've still got to pay for it,,
So my ex was good at the day to day and kept on top of it for about 3 years and solely I stopped checking some of these accounts,,,
Long story short the stupid cow could see I was loosing faith in her,, she started spending and drawing cash from credit cards which is horrendously expensive in interest payments,
I was getting older and I couldn't keep up with all these things because I loved my job and that was always important to me,,
I'd come home and check the accounts at weekends until she had fooled me into thinking everything's going well,, I trusted her and that was my only real mistake.
Any fking way she ripped at least 80k from my accounts right under my nose,,,
I've been skint ever since.
Police were useless and after doing g my own investigations found she's turned over her ex husband etc,,
It all sounds rather pathetic but she was a beautiful woman and I just came to trust her with all this finance until is not check the accounts much,,sometimes she'd get upset because us want to check,, she did love me that's a fact so me feeling bad just slowly stopped checking,, that's when she struck,,,,,
She gone, left our house I'd bought for us and I've never gotton hold of her since,,,
Its a good job because I would and I mean would have strangled her.

What a fked up situation, after all I'd done in life and gone through it crushed me,,I've still not mentally recovered and I've not had a serious relationship since,,

I don't work on the windows anymore because it's massively physical and I'm only a light weight, my shoulder and neck carnt handle it either so I'm just trying to find a way that I'm happy with?!!!
That's where the car came in,, that's also been a piece of st but she's coming good now!
The bike was this final piece in my personal jigsaw that fullfills me and gives me some confidence in life again.
I raced so I learnt how to be very very aggressive as a kid,,this was a power that helped me succeed in life after but now it's a hinderunce because I get pissed off easy and go off the handle,,,
I'm getting g better slowly,,,

This trip has caught me out,, I never thought I'd write all this in a million years
I just wanted to ride the bike,, have a break to re focus and get better,,,
It bought I'd ride it here then sit on a beach,, the Gorge Graham,,,changed all that!!!!


Go the the war graves and pay your respects and I two will be on your shoulder paying my respects,, I've been to Belgium with the band years ago and we all went,,, we owe our freedom to those lost souls,,,
I hope you enjoy the ride
Thanks so much for helping me in France,,
Many regards Alun