Going the extra quarter mile


It’s just dawned on me that I’ve been riding motorcycles for 34 years. It’s difficult to believe that it’s been that long or in fact I have continued to ride and love bikes for that period of time. It’s not that I grew up in a “Biker” environment, I do remember my dad riding a couple of small bike in England and in South Africa, so where my love of 2 wheels came from is anyone’s guess

Like many teenagers of my generation when I turned 16 I wanted a motorbike, “I suppose it represented Freedom and the fact that it made you look older in the eyes or the girls was a Bonus.

My first “boney”, Slang for motorbike was a red Honda SS 50 cc that I bought for the handsome sum of R50 way back in 1979. It was a frame with wheels attached and all the parts where either in a box or checkers packets. I truly believe that Bikers are born, many people may ride bikes when young, or see them as a cheap mode of transport but it is only those of us that love the freedom of the open road, the sheer power of the machine we happen to be riding and the high speeds that they are capable of achieving that ride for the love of it.

Let’s be honest riding a bike produces an adrenalin rush that car drivers cannot understand, when your that close to the elements everything seems to make sense, you concentrate more and that seems to block all the bullshit out of your mind all your focus is honed in on that piece of rode at that moment, nothing else matters. The bottom line is “if riding a bike influences your life, then you are a member of the biking community”       

I have owned various bikes over the years and there have been a few years where I did not own a bike at all and would look longingly at those bikers that rode past me, remembering the rides that I should have been having.
  
 Today, "thanks to my wife" I am the proud owner of a Triumph 1200 Trophy and a Harley Sportster as well as a 150cc Scooter that I use to commute…………………”yep I commute on a scoot”  so what have learnt about biking, bikes and my fellow bikers in general over the last 34 years?

·        If you are meant to be a biker, no one or nothing will stop you from fulfilling that obsession, biking is in my blood, “is it in yours” ?
·        After 34 years I still have no idea how an internal combustion engine works or how maintenance work should be performed on a  motorcycle
·        I am not the fastest biker in the world but I have over the years learnt that being smooth is the next best thing
·        Hands should be on your handlebars and feet on the pegs – ‘I know that this may sound strange, but many accidents or near misses have occurred due to those body part not being where they are supposed to be”
·        The hardest days on a bike are the ones you always remember, rain, wind, cold and breakdowns seem to stick in the mind.
·        No matter how safe you are or think you are there is always potential for harm while riding a bike
·        The road is a good listener
·        You need eyes in the back of your head when riding a bike, you have to be proactive and use all of your senses. Cars have bumpers, bikers have bones.
·        I find it amusing that the GS riders look down at the Harley riders who in turn think that the Superbike guy, my motto is “The brand of the bike is not important, the fact that u ride is”.
·        Every time I ride, I learn something new
·        Never judge a book by its cover, we may dress like hooligans and seem to be unapproachable but most bikers have hearts of gold, this is something that I had to learn.
·        Everyone eventually crashes, so wear the correct protective clothing (advice I sometimes forget myself).
·        Every day you can spend on two wheels is a good day.
·        Bikers themselves while complaining about “Cage: drivers can themselves be very selfish and take big chances when riding in traffic………….Note to self – “as bikers we need to set the example on the roads”.
·        Sometimes “Less is more” when it comes to biking
·        You will constantly be surprised at the goodwill of other bikers

Macdougal and Thomas the donkey
LAST Saturday we, or should I say Gabby rode Maccie D to his new home and while a number of people were very negative about his move from the farm to his new home, news is that he is settling in well, has made friends with the 2 donkey’s and likes the Shetland pony next door, he is eating well and enjoys the daily rides. Sad news however is that on Tuesday morning Tania and Gabby found Sweetie pie  - our pet rabbit dead in the pool, it seems that she was frightened and fell in the pool overnight, and with bunnies not making sounds, we did not hear her and she unfortunately drowned. I never thought that a rabbit could become such a huge part of the family, but she was a great pet and she will be sorely missed  not only by us , her human family, but Black cat and Mischief have also noticed her absence……………  “RIP  Bun Bun”.       

On Monday I was in Uitenhage at VWSA to do some training, this was also the day that NUMSA decided that they would embark on their 2 week strike over better wages and working conditions, arrived at VWSA with a crowd of singing and dancing NUMSA members (its South Africa, all events, ether sport, cultural, protest action or strikes are not the same without a bit of a song and dance). Was a little worried that I would be stopped from entering the plant but have to say there was no hassle and I fact I stopped for a moment to hear watch the dancing and singing………………. “The x factor Uitenhage style”

Is Nelson Mandela dead ?? well an article that was on news 24  from a Los Angeles newspaper the Guardian express (dated 26 June)seems to think he is, in fact the article says that he died in June prior to his 95th  Birthday, and believe that a huge cover up by the SA government as well as the cabinet is being perpetrated on both SA citizens and the world. They ask questions like why are his daughter’s wearing red blankets (a sign of mourning in the Xhosa tribe) or why both ex-president Bill Clinton or Barrack Obama where not allowed to visit him ?

The press seems to not be reporting on his state anymore, it was on the news 24 hours  a day and are family members still visiting the hospital, why had JZ gone to collect an award on his behalf and not one of his own family members ?.......................mmmm I smell a conspiracy theory.    

Rugby this weekend saw the EP Kings  thrash the Griffons 63 to 7 this keeps their season alive and they are now 2nd on the Log a mere 1 point in front of SWD but a huge 14 points adrift of 1st place Puma’s who have played 9 and won all of the games. The Cheetahs lost by 3 points to the SHARKS in a Currie Cup game on Friday night with the Stormers just edging out the Griquas 20/19 and to my utmost disgust the Bulls lost by a huge margin to the Lions . On the International front, The All Blacks beat the Australians 27 ton 16 and while the Aussies played better than last week, I have to be honest, The all Blacks look really good this year”. The Bokke played Argentina at Mendoza and scraped home 22/17 with the Puma’s playing the better rugby scoring 2 tries to the Boks 1 (last week the Boks crossed the whitewash 9 times) and deserving a win, it was only 2 penalties in the last 10 mins that saves the Boks embarrassment. The result was a far cry from last week’s 73/13 massacre. I am a little apprehensive about our chances against the All Blacks and Australia in the competition, yes we have won the last 8 in a row, but let’s look at the opposition Italy, Scotland, Samoa and Argentina, and please get rid of Ruan Pienaar, his service from the base of the ruck or scrum is mediocre to say the least. On a positive note it’s the Boks first win away in this competition since 2009.      
  
If you want a laugh then you have to go to U Tube and put in search Butter Blog…………………I had such a good laugh and I am not sure whether or not “Tommy” is for real or taking the piss out of himself and Norway……………….’You decide”  

Found this great book in a 2nd hand book store on Saturday called ‘The mammoth book of bikers” looking forwards to reading it.    

Fly to Richards Bay this afternoon for a couple of days, so got to get my stuff together.

Have a great week

Ciao

SPAD
      



   

"She’s always a woman to me"………


Billy Joel fans will recognize those words from one his most popular songs and seeing its woman’s month in South Africa, I thought that I would dedicate this Blog to a few special women in my life.
   
Drum roll please, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……………….  And in no particular order, so as not to upset one of the female species, My wife Tania, My mom, my sister , my sisters in law, my daughter.

I was scratching my head as to who could I use for this Blog that would embody the unique qualities of women and I didn’t really have to look far. Under my very own roof I have a wife who I am very lucky that loves me (sometimes, as she will jokingly tell me, “well I hope it’s a joke J) and that is a strong, clever, loving and amazing woman who has passed on these attributes to our daughter Gabby, who yesterday showed me that she is going to be a woman to be reckoned with.

For a while now Gabby has been battling with a decision with regards her horse Maccie and whether or not to find a new home for him or not. Financial as well as school and social commitments have weighed upon her and she decided that for Maccies best interest she should find him a new owner and a home. It was not an easy decision for her and the fact that “so called friends” in the horse community made her feel kak about  her decision to move Maccie from the farm he is at , the new home he was going to as well as the people taking Maccie.

Gabby has taken an old horse and thru exercise, love, hard work and vitamins made him look like a teenager again and she can be so proud of her achievement in that, I think she saw giving Maccie away as a failure, but nothing is further from the truth as this comment to Gabby on facebook indicates “Sometimes the right decision is the hardest one to make. True love is when you are prepared to sacrifice your own happiness so that the ones you love can be happy. We are proud of you Gabby! Lots of love xoxoxo”
   
I was so proud of the way Gabby stuck to her decision, even with the pressures that made a very hard period of her life even harder as well as how yesterday she did what she had to do and was strong for Maccie so he did not feel that there was anything to be stressed about (I can only imagine how hard that must have been for her). This is the post I put on facebook to tell her and the world how proud I was of her and how lucky I am to be her dad.  “Today Gabby rode Maccie to his new home, While it had to be probably the hardest thing she has ever done in her life, she did so with courage and dignity and I am very proud of her, August is Woman's month and Gabby today embodied what a strong woman is made of....................." I Love you monkey" xxxxxx
    
The 4 nations started yesterday and the All Blacks outplayed the Aussies and scored 6 tries to 2 beating them 47/29. It not that the Aussies played bad, the All Blacks played very well.  The Boks played Argentina and to my utter surprise beat them 73 to 13, surprising because I expected the Argentinians to put up a much bigger fight. So while the score flattered the Boks, I agree with Jean de Villiers (Bok captain) that there is still much to do before we tale on the All Blacks and Aussies next month, as well as the return game in Argentina next week. Having said that a much better start than last year, when we narrowly beat the Puma’s and drew with them at home, with many pundit s agreeing that we were lucky to get the draw.

Seems that Jooooolias and a delegation of his travelling circus has taken a trip to Nigeria so that they can  pay  TB (tuberculosis ) Joshua to receive blessings for the journey ahead. Joshua is widely known for his miracle healings and prophecies.

"We all seek divine intervention, we all seek blessings of spiritual leaders, and it happened that this time we came to TB Joshua… and it shouldn't be seen to be any controversial activities," he told the news channel. Malema would not elaborate on what counsel he received from Joshua.
However, Jooolias did speak of his desire to emulate Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, and congratulated the Zimbabwean people on the recent elections. (“Now why am I not surprised” ??)
"They have made their wishes very clear and we want to congratulate President Mugabe because we are happy that he has returned the land to the people and Zimbabwe will be one of the fewest African countries which is truly owned by Africans," he said.
The Economic Freedom Fighters announced the visit on their facebook page last week, saying Malema and fellow leaders would go on a "spiritual visit to meet and create friendship with this son of Africa and his congregation and ask for blessings for the journey ahead".

City Press reported that other visitors to Joshua have included Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, King Goodwill Zwelithini, Zimbabwe's Morgan Tsvangirai, late Ghanaian president John Atta Mills and Malawi President Joyce Banda. Joshua is listed as one of the five wealthiest pastors in Nigeria, and heads the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). He visited South Africa last year, according to City Press.

Have to say that I am loving the Harley, Tania and I went for a beer at a local restaurant/pub on Friday and I got a call from my mate Rob (also an ex Clarenite) inviting us for a drink at The old Cash store near to Sardinia bay, Tania decided that she didn’t want to go so I took a quick ride and as I came over the rise of the road that leads from Charlo and Lovemore heights the sunset was just incredible……………Love PE.    

The Oscar Pistorius dog and pony show will start again  in the near future and it seems that the “bladerunner” is having more charges brought against him and that an ex -  girlfriend has turned state witness as this article from news 24 indicates.
 Johannesburg - Oscar Pistorius's ex-girlfriend has reportedly turned State witness and has told police about an incident in which the athlete allegedly fired shots through an open car sunroof.

City Press reported on Friday that Samantha Taylor, who dated Pistorius before he started dating Reeva Steenkamp, told police that Pistorius "stood up and fired shots through the sunroof" while she was driving along a highway. It emerged on Friday that Pistorius could face two counts of recklessly discharging a firearm in public. The other charge relates to an incident in a Johannesburg restaurant in January when he accidentally fired a gun while sitting at a table. City Press previously reported on Taylor's break-up with Pistorius after a year-and-a-half relationship. She told the newspaper that "Oscar is certainly not what people think he is".

Its been cold this weekend, a reminder that summer is still a way away, seems that the cold weather makes “strange bedfellows”, as Bun Bun the rabbit and Mischief the “I don’t really like you but  will lie next to you and get warm” cat show

Well that’s about it for this week, have a great week ahead and to all the women out there, enjoy the rest of woman’s month.
CIAO
SPAD   


Jelly Bean



Well the news this week is that yesterday I became an Uncle again (5th time) with the Arrival of Jellybean (I am sure Nicole and Doug will give her a real name in the near future). So now we have two UK Nieces, and I am sure that Amber is going to enjoy being a big sister. Welcome to the World Jellybean, can’t wait to see you in December. 

So Currie cup started this weekend with the Griquas beating the Sharks , Province and the Bulls drawing 24 all and the Cheetahs beating the Lions 30/29 in a close game, real happy that the Cheetahs beat the Lions after they pipped the Southern kings by 2 points in a 2 match relegation decider as to who will be in the Super 15 next year……………..at least 4 of the Southern Kings players have abandoned Ship as has the coach Alan Solomon’s. I will be supporting any team from now on who plays the Lions, especially in the Super 15.

Talking about winning, Robert “the walking dad” Mugabe won a landslide victory to be elected as Zimbabwe’s president (read dictator) for a record 7th time. Seems while the OAU and his mate JZ are all crowing on how free and fair the elections where, the truth of the matter is that it wasn’t. I suppose if you take other elections and the shit that happened into account then this was probably one of the least un - free and unfair elections in Zimbabwe. The fact that up to 1000000 1mileeeeon) people were turned away (350 000 in Harare alone), that they found “suspect” voting booths or that scanners where not “available” to check that people who had been marked with indelible ink could not vote again or that Fucktard Mugabe boasted that the oldest person to vote for him was 135 and still serving in the army has seemed to pass over his friends in SA and the OAU. The MDC are challenging the results, but let’s be honest, nothing is gonna change in that country…………………….and yet they keep swarming across the Limpopo river because it’s still the land of milk and honey.


We had a long weekend this weekend, due to Friday being Woman’s day, hat celebrates the women of this country, we give them a public holiday, but the government don’t in fact (as far as I am concerned) give a shit about the violence that is perpetrated against our women and children, Rape is a sport and instead of getting to the core of the problem, we put a band aid on it instead and pay lip service to actually sorting the problem out and i suppose it does not help when your President is an "alleged" rapist as well. If you want to celebrate women then get hard on crimes against them, dont just play lip service. To all women past and present……………………..”Happy woman’s day”  
  
Well short but sweet this week, have a great week ahead.
Ciao

SPAD        
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