England 2006
This page shows the casual rides we have made in 2006.
Planned tours abroad or with clubs will be put on separate pages
in an attempt to keep the file size down...

We have loads of riding planned for this year not only riding together we have joined the "Rocket 3 Owners Club"
and continue to enjoy many rides and meets with friends from the FJR Owners forum.
So these pages should be jam packed with photographs
 

January 06
Bloody cold very frosty and lots of salt on the roads...
We did ride the FJR up to Warminster on the 2nd Jan to visit fay and Jason but we didn't take any photographs.
So the first photographs are from a casual ride up over Corfe to Swanage and the Purbecks following the regular bike routes
to Bere Regis Bovington and a stop for tea and cake in Dorchester before riding up over Blandford and back down to Poole on the 7th Jan...

Made it up to Marlborough on the 14th Jan to meet up with the Turkey crew (rode the FJR of course).

Me, Wendy, Jim, Mary, Aileen, John, Stuart, Pete (now not coming)

the weather was so bad and the roads so dirty I spent the Sunday washing the bikes.

21 Jan headed out to Bridge met up with Steve from the R3OC.
really nice to see Ray, Billy and Ryan accompanied by Sophie and Becki.too.


22nd Jan We rode up to the Ace Cafe on the Great Northern Road London.

February 06
Still bloody cold, frosty, salt on the roads and now torrential rain to boot...

I bought a set of panniers from the states and Randy kindly brought them over for me (Thank you Randy)
saved me 50% of the cost to ship them I fitted them on the 18th Feb had to take the rear protection bars off to fit them though.
But if we are going to be able to go any distance we will need somewhere to stow our kit ;)

March 06
even bloody colder, frostier, saltier on the roads and now hailstone and snow squalls to contend with...
But when the chance arises we are out on the bike ;)

11 March I was able to get out for a blast on my own for a couple of hours and then pick
Wendy up from home and go for another hours spin. Went to Southampton via Ringwood (3X motorcycles) and of course the
scenic route through the New Forrest, even popped in to the HD dealership to show them all what a real bike was about lol...

3X's 06 demonstrator the new yellow for 06 bit Goldie

Parked in amongst the HD's - do you think anyone noticed... ?

The Corbin seat arrived on the 13th March which is much more comfortable for those long trips I fitted it quite easily
and on Saturday the 18th we took the Corbin for a spin It was freezing early on but once the sun came out at 14:00 ish
we soon warmed up and covered 150 miles on the back roads,
Wimborne, Camborne, Ringwood, Salisbury, Blandford, Dorchester, Studland, Swanage, Wareham.

Sunday 19th was forecast to be sunnier and so warmer then Saturday so we planned a ride to Warminster the long way round... 172 miles

Note to self (articulated by Wendy) "The Rocket isn't a racing Bike!"
Well someone should tell those blokes on the "Pocket Rockets" then.;)

April 06

Whilst it was really nice on the 1st April we didn't get out on the bikes because we had Bethany & Sophie for the
weekend to see Sugababes at the BIC - but I did polish it prior to our France trip on the 3rd...

Sunday 9th Was too nice a morning to waste even after doing 1000+ miles in France the week previous...
We headed down the coast road to West Bay (an old favourite route)

Easter Sunday saw us on the FJR and headed over to Bognor Regis to meet up with John & Aileen

Burry Hill & the Hikers Cafe a Regular Bikers Meet off the M29

Saturday 22nd April
a ride round quiet roads the New Forrest area and Bransgore to get some nostalgic photos for my Dad
of where they lived in the late 70's and the pubs he frequented, purely medicinal of course.

1st stop 3X motorcycles saw another 4 Rockets - They were having a Yamaha Open day to mark the opening of a new Showroom..

Back view of the Crown Inn

Front view

The Carpenters Arms

Poole Quay was throbbing at 16:00

I had to wipe of some bugs from the bike on our return home a sure sign that the weather is improving...
We also started and rode Wendy's CB500S for the 1st time since October last year.

Sunday 7th May
Usually I collect and drop Bethany off for the weekend in the car which can be time consuming on the A35
in the summer due to it being the only road west out of Poole and along the coast. This weekend saw a
milestone in history of this trip - I actually took Bethany home today on the bike and she enjoyed every minute of it...
And so did I

Wednesday 10th May
There is a new meeting place on Wednesday's Compton Abbas Airfield
so we went along to see what it was about... It seemed like a good idea and place to meet.

18th May
checking the room up front prior to going to Turkey...

30th May
Poole Quay Tuesday

Saturday 24th June
Beauliea weekend we showed up to give our support to the Dorset Freewheelers.

Its okay I am not going to buy one really ;)

Tuesday 27th June

Guess where Wendy was at 13:22 today

Poole Quay again we showed up to give our support to the Dorset Freewheelers.

Way to go but I would prefer to be riding...

29th June
Wendy is out riding almost daily now...

30th June good weather so Wendy and I rode over to West Bay
Wendy on her bike and I rode the Rocket...

Monday 3rd July
Another opportunity to get out and for Wendy to ride her bike around the local roads I followed on the Rocket...

West bay is becoming a popular location this year 8th July saw us ride over with Bethany
I also picked Bethany up from her place the night before which makes a pleasant ride for us both... a 200 mile round trip for me.

Wendy got me to test ride her bike to see how painful it was (No Power)
So we booked her test so she could start using the Honda CB500S.

12th July Wendy and I rode over to Compton Abbas Airfield for the Wednesday meet

15th July brilliant sunshine so we rode for Brighton stopping at Burry Hill to meet Wobbly Fellow R111 rider

we met "toofastouch" on the A272 and he rode with us to Burry Hill.

Arriving by the peir at Brighton (Wobbly)

Looking for a spot to park at Brighton (It was Sport for life day) so packed

found somewhere and headed for a buttie

These pocket rocket jockey's crowd you if this is your bike give me some space next time
Sorry for snapping your mirror back but at least I didn't do any damage...

We met an ex-pat (Tim) with his rocket when we stopped at Burry Hill on the return leg.
Where we compared rockets and parts...

Tuesday 18th Poole Quay and the R111's turned up...

19th July and there is no stopping Wendy

Lulworth Cove

The 8th August was a big Day for us Test Day for Wendy who Passed with riding colours.
To celebrate we took Bethany and Sophie to the Quay.

30th July saw us headed over to Barnstable the scenic route.

An old Haunt Norton Manor Camp home of 40 Commando RM

The 15th August Bobby came over to collect his 125 now that Wendy had passed her Test.

Getting some practice in before the long first ride home to Barnstable tomorrow.

Bobby's first ride - Wendy & I rode to Barnstable with Bobby 16th Aug
I have to say Bobby rode very well and considering the 135 mile trip was his first
He he showed he had it in him to become a died in the wool "Biker"

Tuesday22nd Aug and on the Quay with Keith and Loretta who were down for a visit.

Wendy's' first ride on the CB500S - 25th Aug
200 miles to Oswestry Powys in one day

Tintern on the A466 (Wales)

Oswestry overnight.

Bikers Cafe Sunday on the return Leg on the A449 between Kidderminster and the M5

5th September and another great biking night on the Quay

9th September
and we managed to get out and about weather was a bit rough but we did the local coast road and stopped at Dorchester for a tea break.

10th September
Was the Ace Cafe Reunion at Brighton many more photos from the menu...

8th October
The forecast was okay so I took my camera to get some action shots of Wendy riding her bike.

Saturday 14th October
We rode over to Dock Gate 20 to drink some Hardley Davidson Coffee riding the A35 through the forrest...
Stopping of at The Sammy Miller Museum on the way home, cost £6.65 for 2 Tea's and a Dorset apple cake and a bit of Cheese Cake.

Sunday 15th October
We rode over to Crediton (Devon) to meet up with Bobby and rode to Bridge Motorcycles...
Wendy rode her bike and we covered 210 miles round trip. A35 to Honiton A30 to Exeter and A377 to Crediton.

The route back took us the scenic route A3052 along the cost to Bridport (West Bay) for a cuppa
then the b3157 to Weymouth and the A354/A353 to Wareham and home

Saturday 11th November

We rode and rode today the country was beautiful in its autumn leaves the sense of freedom was strong...
we did stop at £ X motorcycles for an egg banjo and a Wet of Tea. & Met up with Mondo.

Saturday 9th December
with tornados in London and Southampton this week and torrential rain which flooded even our street
The chances of a dry day were slim but Saturday whilst grey was a fresh day for a ride...
We covered 120 odd miles around the local lanes which in the summer are crowded with bikes.

Sometimes you have to pull over to let the traffic pass
that chopper was tailing me all the way from Wimborne.

Sunday 17th December
Wendy had been suffering from fatigue when riding her bike so we decided to try some Bar Raisers
an additional 50mm in height we took a test ride on the bars today to see if it made a difference - It did.

Boxing Day Tuesday 26th December...
The boys and my gorgeous Grand-daughter (Emily) had left to return to Devon so Wendy and I hit the road to clear our heads
and enjoy some fresh air.  The temperature outside was 3 Degrees so we wrapped up warm.

Saturday 30th December...
The said torrential rain with gale force winds gusting up to 80 MPH sweeping across the UK from the West.
So we went for a ride to West Bay in the Sun but as predicted we were caught by the rain and wind on the way home.