Touring the battlefields of... Great Britain....

sirhrmechanic

sirhrmechanic

Command Sgt. Major
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 23, 2010
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The Snobbiest Town in The Snobbiest State in the N
#1
So my trip from last fall is now deleted and history after the changeover from Scout....

But I am on again for this fall. In Sept. touring England and Scotland and seeing a lot of interesting history sites. I'll have a commentary again... assuming that the airlines let me bring my laptop. If not, It'll be after I get home... and whatever I can post by phone.

Starting in London in early Sept. Riding to John O'Groats and back. Lots of interesting visits along the way, including researching a gun carriage at Royal Armouries at Leeds (Thank you Martin Pegler!!!!). And giving a talk in Paulersbury. And riding through Scotland, where the Sirhr Clan has deep roots. And yet despite all the time I spent in England visiting and living... I've never set foot in Scotland! I am looking forward to seeing my Clan homelands.

Anyway, if there are any two-wheel-enabled 'Hiders in England... PM me! I'll be there about three weeks. And doing another commentary as I find interesting things that appeal to snipery folks. I guarantee that the Royal Armouries will not disappoint!

Stay tuned...

Sirhr.

P.S. If you want to book a cheap flight to UK???? Do it two days after the Durka Durka Jihad Mohammed types blow the shit out of a bimbo-concert... because tickets for a round trip, direct flight, business class seat... were $600. Try that any other time! Sucks to have your pedro-Grande-concert-shit blown up. But I scored a cheap airline seat. Thank you Ariana... for your lousy security and pro-Mullah blather.
 
#2
If you were gonna be anywhere near Dublin.....we do have Our Man In Ireland there.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to do a European trip such as this. (ain't never been over the pond) Alas, I'm trying hard to sell my scoot, so I can put the focus on the boat, with My Lady.

I toured Western Canada some years ago, and planned on going through the Southern States as well. Unfortunately, my mind was changed for me, against my wishes.
(that's the politest way I can convey the accident)

Be safe on your travels, my friend. They drive on the wrong side of the road over there, and I hear they fly on the wrong side of the sky, too.

But your posts and updates about pertinent stops and sights, etc.... is definitely appreciated.
 
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#3
Yeah shame about that loss of content , your journeys are worth reading about ! Hopefully
we are ok til someone turns up at LL's house with another wheelbarrow of cash ....

Some friends paid near to $6 k for two return flights to Vegas from London for Shot Show
earlier this year ; you got a bargain !
Whats your clan ? Stewart of Appin here ....
 
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#7
Seems like a lot of fun. Things I did too many years ago.
What are your plans for a scooter? Years ago there were shops in London that had "schemes" where they had a bike ready for you when you arrived and when you were done they shipped it back for you.
I did that a couple of times and managed to get 2 bikes home, one on a tourist scheme and one sent home by Uncle Sugar. Those Brits had all of the angles and dangles all figured out and after a tip of a few Quid and a trip or two to the Pub they managed to make it quite cheap for me.
I have no idea what is going on now. Back then the exchange rate was about 3+ close to 4 Pounds per Dollar. Made Brit bikes cheap to us if you bought them there.
Have a great time and I hope you have as good a time as I did. Regards, FM
 
#8
Hey FM... I have a bike over in Europe. Been there since about 2011. This past winter, it's been in a storage garage in London. I'll bring it back to U.S. in a couple of years, planning on coming 'home' via Iceland and then Labrador. Bike is a 1990 Dakar. No computers. Bing carburetters. Tricked out for outback riding.

18814548_1163598227120156_3475534999436604558_o.jpg

Up in the Stelvio Pass last fall. Riding between Berchtesgaden and Italy. That was a long day!

Clans Robertson and Ross, depending on which side of the family. Crazy Uncle Ross... was the guy who created the Ross Rifle (great uncle? Or Great Great Uncle... can't recall.) So sniperyness is sort of in the blood. I am going to be going to the 'homeland' so to speak.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
#13
Sean the Nailer said:
I thought theya'll did that sort of thing side-saddle? :D
Click to expand...

Having ridden both motorcycles (FZR600) and horses (thoroughbreds in eventing) I can tell you it takes a bigger sack to throw your leg over the horse.........

You know you can control the bike. You're never quite entirely sure about the horse.

The equestrian equivalent to the Isle of Man TT
cottesmore_leap.jpg
 
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#14
I am starting to recall last tour stories.
Nice scooter. Everything to haul all of your shit. I did it with packs and wet gear that Uncle Sugar lent me. He liked me and let me borrow whatever I wanted, Bless his heart. FM
Bought a Barbour suit and fine gloves etc. while in London.
 
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#15
I love my Barbour jacket. But their sweaters are even better.

Pirate... I grew up on a horse farm. I was riding before I could... ski. I hate horses. I had to feed and muck and put blankets on the over-sized rodents when it was 20-%$##@ing below.. Yeah, horses are less predictable. And downright mean in some cases. But I never had to hit a motorcycle over the withers with a fuc**ng farriers file because it tried to kick me while shoeing its worthless nag ass. Growing up on a horse farm, I had to shoe the useless crap-factories before I had a drivers license.

Motorcycles don't kick. They don't bite. You don't have to feed them when you leave them in London for 11 months. They don't crap in their stalls making you have to get up 2 hours before school to muck out 24 stalls.... Anyone who wants to ride these "French Food on-the-hoof" nags vs. a Bimmer... be my guest.

I hate horses. The only benefit growing up was that I had access to an endless stream of teenage girls, all seemed to be named Megan, who wanted to play horsey at our farm. That was a benefit.

%$#@ing horses.

Sorry buffalowinter I know you love your mount. But try it as a teenager.

Cheers,

Sirhr

PS. My 'own' horse growing up was named Adjutant. 17.2 hands. Former dressage horse. Only horse I ever liked. I never needed reins. Just had to say 'go left adj. Go right adj.' Bastard horse died in his stall at 20 years old... You know how hard it is to get a 17+ hand dead horse out of its %$^&#ing stall? Yes, chainsaws were involved. %$#@ing nag. Loved that horse.

 
#16
Just tell me how you really feel......LOL

No doubt, horses = slavery.

But there is no rush like galloping a thoroughbred.

Anyway, sorry for the drift.
 
#18
Sirh we are going to differ a bit here. I was raised around horses also and they were a needed tool on the ranch. They have their place there. I hated them all as you did and for the same reasons.
I had a fine BIG Black stud that was given to me that was ridden ONLY by me as he would buck off anyone else that even tried to get on him. The guy that gave him to me only did so because I was the only person that could get close to him, let alone ride him. That horse and I got along well and I never had a minutes problem with him. I could shoot from him or across him as long as I let him know what was going down. Let him sniff the rifle then go for it. He would stand stock still. Lightning took him out as he was headed towards the barn and I cried like a baby for weeks afterwards but my Old Lady was glad the vicious fucker was gone. I guess that he and I were when two assholes met and got along. I still miss him.
Now,--Motorcycles don't kick? where you been??? I have a couple of old flat track bikes in the barn. Both single cyl. big bore hot machines that have seen their better days but I still ride them once in a while. Let's get them started up and go for a spin around the track.
What's that,?? start them up? Now get ready for the lesson on Motorcycles don't kick. Starting those MFers is a kick in the ass literarily, No electrics, just you and your leg. Now tell me that G80 doesn't kick back. Didn't kick hard enough, let's get that Rotax out of the stall and teach em how it is done.
In short, put in a new battery when you get to London and I will not tell you about how when I got in the wall my motorcycle kicked my ass.
Have a great trip. I hope you get to see some Speedway or Grasstrack while you are over there. It is worth the time and a kick in the ass.
Regards, FM
 
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#19
Foul Mike said:
-Motorcycles don't kick? where you been???
Click to expand...

Fair enough... I had an XT500 Yamaha in High School that didn't have a compression release. I weighed about 120 pounds. I went over its handlebars a couple of times. My first bike was a Honda CL175.. with electric start. So totally civilized. But I rode that 200 miles (and back) to a Jethro Tull concert in Worcester, Mass in High School. I swear I was buzzing like a chainsaw for two weeks afterwards. But I made it! The XT 500 is a bike I wish I still had. Used to go snow riding with it in the spring. A blast riding through the woods in hard pack.

Jethro Tull was a wicked good concert, too.

I still hate horses.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
#21
I'd suggest a Harley full dresser with a frame mounted fairing.......much more controllable when running down knife wielding hajji. They will glance off the bat wing without adding steering input.
 
#22
or.....

if we add one of your Maxims and some ballistic glass we will take mine and share the riding and hunting.....



In its current configuration after a ride along the Cabot Trail a few years ago....




Sadly the coming of the kids has made the bike a statue but its loss has lead to my rifle addiction.
 
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