Laughlin 2015

Oh What a time we had!

Laughlin has such wonderful views.

It looks like there are a lot of guys here this weekend.

Of course we had the usual sustenance for the problems one finds in Laughlin!

We saw many things that we would really like to take home,  if only...

More soon from the beach.

Ciao Bella,

Norm

Back in The US of A

The ride home was uneventful, apart from the road to Newcastle airport being closed.

The usual detour signs were in place, just enough to get you lost and then leave you to you own devices.

I had a great time met up with lots of people and  spent some memorable nights out.

One in particular worth mentioning was the night at the Monument, thank goodness no one was taking pictures.

Once back home, I related the story of kitchen cabinet climbing. It seems that this is a sport engaged in by several women who should know better. I won't mention names but you know who you are.

A  short Health snd Safety review was sent to then from the safety department of Hotel Ameri-Cain.

Note the appropriate use of PPE, hard hat, work gloves, safety glasses.

Most importantly, the use of the correct access equipment.

 

Having arrived home on Sunday, I immediately started planning my next trip.

We left on Wednrsday morning for Laughlin.

The  weather looked like it might be a bit rough in places so we dressed accordingly.

This time it was just the two musketeers, Jeff Lidwin and yours truly...

Once in Laughlin, the rewards awaited.

 

We met up with Barb and Leon for one night and then they headed for home.

It was a great night, it's always good to meet up with people you know.

More soon from Laughlin.

Ciao Bella

Norm

The Final Days

I have met up with just about everyone on the list, some of them twice.

Here we are in the Fat Buddah with Eileen, Neil, Diane, Callum and Marjorie.

A very extensive menu and all traditional Asian food.

 Ready to go out for the night.

There is an unwritten rule in some restaurants the UK that all meals must be served with french fries, even totally inappropriate ones like chicken curry.  

Of course if you go to Pukkah restaurants that is not necessarily the case.

I had dinner in this really rather nice Italian restaurant one night, not a french fry in sight. 

North Eastern Humor!

I went to look at this splendid piece of machinery, unfortunately, no deal.

Oh well...

At least I have a new hat for the OC vintage bike meet.

Tonight is my last here in Durham, I am going to a Spanish themed restaurant, called El Coto with our friends Dianne and Jose.

I wonder if they have french fries!

The Museum and Stuff

We headed out from my buddy Richards house about 7:00 AM to embark on the first part of the trip.

First stop to visit my niece Susan in the same general area as the museum.

The trip was totally cool apart from the never ending road works, 50 MPH speed limits and the ubiquitous friggin traffic circles. I went round one 3 time whilst Ms. GPS figured out which way she wanted to go.

Here we are in her new pad with a little gift from Madame.

Man that hat's got a lot of miles on the clock, not to mention the guy underneath it!

Then, after a quick stop we headed for the Plage, no that's a line from a Jimmy Buffet song.

We headed for the museum.

Motorcycle Valhalla, except these are not dead heros, just resting.

Acres and acres of classic motorcycles of every possible design concept, some great some not quite so.

However, they all have one thing in common, they were all made in the UK.

 This island contains some of those which  fall into the category of the greats.

In fact these are giants in the rarified air (not to mention rarified price) of classic motorcycles.

The one in the foreground is a Brough Superior 100 SS.

 Made famous by of Lawrence of Ariabia. Lawrence owned seven Broughs over time was killed riding the seventh when he swerved to miss two boys on bicycles.

Lawrence named all of the bikes George, from I through VII, he should have called them Henry then he may have gone on to Henry the VIII.  

Another NUT made in Newcastle. (Yeah! I know, there are lot's of NUTS from Newcastle)

About a Kazillion $ worth of Nortons of every shape, size, color, and design type you could think of.

 After looking at motorcycles for a day, we set off for home with one detour planned.

To check out, you've guessed it, another mototcycle.

We stopped off in Wakefield to take a look at a Norton Dominator 88 which I had seen on a classic bike website.

  

  

This one is owned by a guy who has just retired and is making space for a diffrent toy.

The owner is a hardcore biker with a Harley Ultra Classic as his everyday ride.

This guy has ridden Route 66 from Chicago to L.A., TWICE! 

More soon from the other side of the pond.

The First Couple Of Days

I arrived in Durham on Saturday afternoon; I checked into the hotel and unpacked all of my stuff.

Then I decided to take a walk around the city for a bite to eat and perhaps a beverage.

What I did not know, was that Saturday parties start early.

I went to one of the pubs nearby, a one where I happen to like the grub. 

It was about 4:30 when I got there an it was obvious that some people had been there since it opened at 11:00 AM.

There was no way I was going to get a table and something to eat, the place was standing room only and that was elbow to elbow.

So off I went to another place nearby, plenty of room as it was more of a cafe than a pub.

They had Stella which ws pretty good, I ordered the French sandwich Croque Monsieur , it was more like that's a crock Monsieur, but at least the soup was good.

     

It never ceases to amaze me that I'm there with my pea coat, scarf and gloves. The locals are wearing tank tops, or backless, frontless, topless, bottomless dresses.

And most them seriously in the bag by 5:00 PM.

On one side of the street, the party girls.

On the side the City Pikemen or whatever.

I was freezing my butt of so I headed back to the hotel.

The bar in the hotel was jammed with geriatrics very politely waiting in line for a drink.

I stood behind this guy who would have waited in line for the Guillotine.

Eventually, I had to just butt in otherwise the bar would have been closed before I ever got a beer.

On Sunday lunchtime I met up with my cousin Elizabeth and the family for lunch at a pub called the Rosedene in Sunderland, man it's a long time since I was in that pub.

On Sunday evening I met up with Richard the UK biker from the Durham area and we went to a pub (do you see a theme here) I had not been in before, the Angel, it was kind of a funky place. Some strangely dressed kids, but also some who were way more formally dressed than I was.

Go figure.

Still being pretty jetlagged and off the pace, I was awake some of the night and looked out of the window.

Reminded me of that old song, 

"She stood on the bridge at midnight throwing snowballs at the moon..."

I'm off to Birmingham tomorrow to the National Motorcycle Museum.

More after that visit.

Headed For Jolly Old...

MN I set out on Friday afternoon for a quick visit to the UK.

When I got to the airport, I checked in and went thorough the usual security drama, once through that you are in the beautiful new terminal extension.

That is until you find that it is called the Villaraigosa Pavilion!

Next time I'm flying from John Wayne...

I bet you can't guess where these guys had been.

Eventually, we got on the big aluminum tube and headed for Amsterdam.

We left right on time and once we were at cruising altitude, we were given a couple of treats from Holland.

The Jetstream was quite a way south so the route was a little different than usual.

More miles, but very fast. The driver put the hammer down and we were zipping along.

This was the fastest speed that I noticed.

When I got to Newcastle, I was given the third degree about where I was going,why I was there, how long was I going to stay, etc.

If I had been from Timbuktu i would have been greeted with open arms, free money and a council house.

Headed Out

Getting Ready For The Trip

I'm setting off this morning, Friday, at about 10:30 for LAX.

The flight is scheduled for 1:45 PM, we'll see how well that does!

Amsterdam has been having delays due to poor visibility today, let's hope tomorrow is better.

I've got a pretty full schedule including a trip to the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

I have my specialist Old Guy travel equipment packed and ready to go...

There will be updates as the trip progresses.

Just Kickin' Back

Being Retired Takes Planning

It really does take planning, not only financial planning but life planning.

       Jim Cairns ( who has been retired very successfully for a long time) told me that when you retire you need a routine just like when you worked. His message is so true.

If you just retire with no plan and nothing to do, you have a recipe for disaster.

My exercise is walking, I walk to the bank, I walk to the hardware store, I walk to the bar (that's my favorite walk) if possible, I walk for a reason.

If there is no reason, I just walk, you need to keep active, sitting in the chair is not an option.

Enough of Pontificating!

Anne and I took a trip out to Arizona to meet up with Barb & Leon.

What a wonderful time we had together.

Just when you think that you are safe, here comes this Bison crashing through the wall!

Remember people, there are no Buffalo as indigenous species in the USA!

All of those big four legged hairy things are Bison!!!

Oh! and by the way there are no Antelope either!!!

From my nephew Steven;
What's the difference between a Buffalo and a Bison?

You can't wash your hands in a Buffalo.

The old one are the best Steven.

So, moving on from the cowboy bar we headed for the Ball Park.

Barb and Leon had bought these wonderful seats ahead of our visit.

The view from our seats.

What fun it is to be out at the Ball Park on a weekday afternoon.

This is what being retired is all about.

Ball Park Dogs Are Best.

How sweet it is.

We had a great time, thank you Barb and Leon.

Except next time try to arrange a win for the Angels.

15-8 down is not good!

Come on Mike...

Moving on, here we are back home at the beach.

Yesterday was Monday but today was Saturday, so life is good.

I went to the plant yesterday making it Monday, and any day that I don't work is Saturday.

Get the picture?

A view of any Saturday in H.B.

Today, Saturday on a Thursday, we decided on a whim to take Missy to the beach.

So here we are.

The guys at the plant ask "Hey Norm what's it like being retired"

Well this is what it is like.

You are at the beach in front of good old number 27!

Remember what I said about walking?

Well this is the Rainbow's End

Here I am at The Hangout with my reward.