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On Tour

I am on tour in Germany and here is part of the log I am keeping.

Bike 20009

Trip both 00.0

Out the house by 05:30.

Stopped for fuel and at Folkstone at 07:43 also now on the 08:20 train.

Fuel £13.26. 10.62 litres @ £1.249 a litre.

Just 100 miles to boarding the train.

On the train only 4 bikes. 08:33 and still not left it seems as if there is a problem with the train ahead.

On the move at 09:06.

Off the train 11:00 French time.

Made a promise not to go to far without a brake so stopped at 12:00 in Belgium service area for ham and eggs.

20.97€. 13.98litres. Prepay.

End of day.

Bike 20367 miles. Trips 359 miles. Trip 2 now 00.0

Sat Nav Trip. 582.5km. 86km average. Trip B now 0.00

At the hotel just after 17:00 after some traffic jams.

18:00 having a beer and ordered dinner..

Mobile data 17.52

Wednesday 3rd July

Railway museum a walk along the Ruhr, tram rides to and from the museum, town centre for lunch and a beer then a walk back to the hotel.

22,301 steps. 9.98 miles and 14 flights of stairs.

The weather was warm, hot at times but with cloud and threatened rain but it never appeared.

Thursday 4th July

A little ride out on the industrial trail along the Ruer found a small industrial museum but

Even thought he gates were open while wondering round some guys, I think, told me they were closed.

Next stop was the Coal Mining Museum in Bochum and was well worth the visit then it was back to the hotel to get out of the motorbike clobber and then a short walk and a tram ride into the centre.

It seems as if it’s festival week with lots of stalls and stages set up with couple of bands playing.

Bike 29405. Trip 1 396 miles. Trip 2 37.4miles

Sat Nav

Trip A 644km Trip B 61km

Friday 5th July

Ready for the off at 9ish.

At hotel.

Bike 20725. Trip 1 717 miles. Trip 2 320 miles.

Sat Nav Trip A 1170km. Trip B 526 km.

Max speed 97mph. Ave moving 50 mph.

Another long day in the saddle with a few stops just to stretch my legs motorways most the way and pushing 90mph a lot of the time but still only an average of 50mph.

On arrival at the hotel I had mixed feelings as they don’t do evening meals and no internet which I missed when booking and also they want the payment in cash. On the upside I have a nice room over looking the railway and in the first couple of hours I have seen 3 steam hauled services.

I was advised that I could get an evening meal just round the corner in the Check Republic and so I went exploring and 3 minutes later I was in Chec........ and I found a nice bar and restaurant. 2 beers, chicken and chips for just under 10€.  

15.58 litres. €26.31

11.34 litres. €17.91

Saturday 6th July

Took the bike down to Johstadt for a ride on the line down to Steinbach. Down hill mostly there and then a good ride back with the engine working well. Next I took the bike and followed the route and took photos and enjoyed the ride all the way to Steinbach. A great railway and well worth the visit. My Nikon camera played up yesterday so left it at the hotel so the pictures were taken on the i

phone or with the Panasonic HC-V380 that I am still getting used to.

Back at the hotel and decided to stay in and sat and watched some of the trains come passed my balcony and read as well as drinking the beer I bought yesterday. A pleasant End to the day.

Bike 20772 Trip 1 763 miles. Trip 2 46.8 miles.

Say Nav Trip 1 1243 km Trip 2 72 km.

Sunday 7th July

Had a good look at the Nikon and gave it a clean and it seem a little better so will take it with me today as well as the other cameras. First time trying it out side t wouldn’t focus again.

08:20 train t Cranzahl. Damp, cloudy and chilly. This was a run to see what’s what.

Came all the way back on the Same to Kurt Oberwiesenthal and walked round the town and had a late lunch and a beer... yes only one.

Got the 15:19 train back to Hammerunterwiesenthal the station where the BB is. Took more cam footage of trains coming through.

It’s been cloudy most the day but no rain.

Monday 8th July

Cloudy with a chill, latte motorcycle gloves today.

Took a ride round and headed fie mother railways but it wasn’t running but some superb roads and came back via the Czech Republic nice villages one was almost a ghost town.

15.62 litres €22.48

Bike 20936 Tip 1 927 miles. Trip 2 164 miles.

Sat Nav Trip 1 1513km. Trip 2 269km.

I am now actually in Nuremberg and looking forward to looking round the Old Town this morning.

I am once more on my BMW 1200RT motorbike and I am visiting various railways and museums as well as riding some great roads.   

There are more pictures at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/charleslroberts800/

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Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 1

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Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

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Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.

A great day out with my cousin, Terry on the 20th of June.

This and the picture above are of the sound dishes on Romney Marsh built in WW1.

Dymchurch and if you are in the area the Inn serves great beer and food.

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Ffestiniog June 2019

Just been up to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways for the weekend. I went up on Saturday and came home on the Tuesday covering 431 miles on the bike in rain, spray and windy conditions. 

The Sunday and Monday were spent exploring the railways and weather was vastly better.

This is looking towards Tremadog and show the clouds lingering on the lover slopes.

This was Snowdon Mill and was put up for redevelopment that never happened. 

The first picture shows  Upnor Castle waiting for loco 303 or No.1215 Hunslet loco built in 1916 to be unloaded. This loco has been brought in for a gala event.

Builders plate.

NWR Porthmadog Station

Upnor Castle approaching Harbour Station

Welsh Highland Railway

Caernarfon

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The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Just a bit more...

My bike is a BMW 1200RT and I took it for a ride out to the The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Winchcombe Station and the first 2 pictures show 419 a loco originally built for the Caledonian Railway in 1907. It was on it way to Cheltenham. I had tea and a roll and waited for it to come back but unfortunately it failed and the next picture show what replaced it.  

Also out and about was Dinmore Manor.

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This video was taken with my Ghost 4K that I use on my bike once more at the The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

The loco is Dinmore Manor and is 2 years older than me.

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I went for a ride out on my bike and had a pot of tea at Winchcombe on the The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

This video was taken with my Nikon D5300.

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Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Run May 2019.

The run was in aid of the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and started at Welyn Garden City Police HQ and went to North Weald Air Base where they were holding a fun day.

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London

Just had a day out in London, London Bridge area to be exact. Terry my cousin came up from Folkestone and we had a nice wonder round.

Southwark Catherdal

A view across the Thames

The Golden Hind replica

Borough Market

London Bridge Station looking south

The Navigators

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Bike4Life Ride Out

The ride was in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance and was from Meole Brace Park, Shrewsbury to RAF Cosworth. They were expecting 3,500 bikes. It was 134 miles to Shrewsbury and by the time I got home I had covered 273 miles.

The police and highways agency closed off the M54 for our ride and lots of the bridges had supporters waving from them. 

Worked out at about 15p a chip .... rip off

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Thailand, Trang Province.

I make no apologies for some of these pictures as they show what I love about Thailand and its people

A number of years ago I made a very good Thai friend, Somporn, and when I visit I also visit his family, his mum, his brothers and sister who have sons and daughters who have sons and daughters and it that generation that you see here.  At least 3 of these youngsters weren't born when I first started to visit..

So I get to spoil the youngsters, take them on trips as well as treating them to new clothes and special treats one of there favorites being Kentucky Fried Chicken! 

Om and Em at Wat Maha That Wachira Mongkhom with Somporn.

Me, soaked at Songkran Festival, Trang Town.

Songkran and everyone loves a Farang.

This is me and Somporn’s mum who has the proud honour of being the eldest in her village. 

Part of Songkran just involves the ladies of the village and the Monks come to collect food and to wish them health and happiness. 

I’m on the left and Somporn is on the right.

Em and Om with white powder showing for Songkran.

I stayed at the Rimnatee Resort, Trang Town and when the kids found about the pool ... well they had the time of there lives.

Wat Maha That Wachira Mongkhon

Caves

Everyone loves a Farang. I thought they were local security guys until I noticed the guns.

Em dressed Thai style.

Feeding the fish

The smile of happiness 

Fish feeding and none of the fell in.

Don’t forget to have a look at my flickr site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charleslroberts800

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The end of a era

At 13:48 I stepped off the train at Harpenden so ending an era.

I retired.

I passed out at my first NWR signal box on the 8th March 2002 and then Fenny Stratford on the 27th March. Next came West Hampstead Power Signal Box in December 2003 and finally becoming a Shift Signal Manger at West Hampstead in December 2010.

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Phuket

More from Phuket

Dewa Hotel, Nai Yang Beach, Phuket.

A great hotel right next to Sirinath National Park by a lovely quiet beach.

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Thailand

Over the next few days, weeks I will be adding pictures from my trip to Thailand

Wat Chai

View over Phuke

Sirinath National Park, Phuket right outside the Dewa Hotel

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Wat Bang Tong, Ao Luke District.

Great temple but by the end of the day the kids were worn out until it was time for ice creams.

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Trang

The view from my room. Time for a swim then breakfast. Great hotel The Rimnatee, Trang.