Diary Update 16 - 08/03/2006
Pleased to advise that I just about made it back - bike now sounding very poorly - off to the garage on Friday to get it put back together! VERY tired now, trying to catch up on sleep!
Diary Update 15 - 05/03/2006
After further minor mechanical problems in darkest rural Ireland, which involved a bit of roadside repair, I made a hasty retreat from the emerald isle back to blighty (well Wales at least!). Arrived in St Clears at 2am this morning. Woke up a few hours later and met the old man in Mumbles. Tea on the seaside preceded a very exciting service with the extremely generous people of Mumbles who have swelled the coffers substantially. Then on to Hereford for a quick session on the fine recently restored instrument, before a quick visit to Kilpeck and a fast run to Great Barr and a quick drop down to Birmingham. Pictures here
Diary Update 14 - 03/03/2006
Arrived in Ireland having had an eventful journey through Cheshire and North Wales - had a very odd noise coming from the chain which we'd tried to adjust last night - subsequent to my jump on the road between Edinburgh and Berwick, there's a very bad tight stretch on the chain. Had to call into a garage for some emergency patching - many thanks to Colwyn Bay Motorcycles - helped me out for a fiver with a bit of expert adjustment and lubrication. Caught ferry to Dublin where some very friendly folk were ready to greet me at the cathedral before riding through the FREEZING cold midlands of Ireland for an overnight stop. Photos here
Diary Update 13 - 02/03/2006
All done - bit late updating tonight! Stunning scenery as we rode down from Carlisle to Penrith, then a great ride through Ullswater and the Kirstone Pass. Streams and rivers petrified in ice on the way to Kendal as a result of the bitterly cold winter nights. We arrived Kendal at 11am, to a splendid welcome at the 'friendly church' - which truly lived up to its name. Cake and tea were gratefully received, before riding on through the dales and past the brutal rocky backdrops of Whernside and Pen-y-Gent. Then a quick pause by Hollingworth lake before running down to Marple. The LRF representative even managed to join us, and it was brilliant to find Mum and Dad plus an old college friend came along to meet us too. Lots of pictures today here
Diary Update 12 - 01/03/2006
Woke up bright and early in Newcastle this morning after a splendid night in student-infested Durham! A very quick play of two of Elgar's vesper voluntaries before a quick ride to Cullercoats where I met the organist and some of the people of Cullercoats - a fine instrument indeed, with a very crisp and sharp sound in a great building on the North East coast. Then up to Edinburgh, took a little detour over the back roads of the Lothian borders, and took to the air briefly, losing part of my number plate (oops again!) - 'twas good fun though. Found Edinburgh and was met by some very friendly people, including the director of music, Michael Harris. Then a fast run down to Carlisle, arriving at the Cathedral at exactly 3-30 - timing to within seconds of my estimated timetable! Picked Sarah up from the station ready for tomorrow's run to Stockport via Kendal. All today's pictures can be found here
Diary Update 11 - 28/02/2006
Skating - do I not like skating on a motorbike - came off the ferry this morning, to find that the good people of PandO had deemed it unneccessary to grit their ramp. This was a tricky manouvre for the cars - and they've got four wheels. Not impressed. Weather V. cold this morning - reminiscent of Inverness last year. Also suffering from a slight hangover (sorry Mum!) from the bar on the ferry last night. However, managed to get to all my destinations on time - organ of the day: Durham - what an amazing experience - and a 32' reed!! Pictures here.
Diary Update 10 - 27/02/2006
Getting a little tired now - rode down from Amsterdam and met Simon / Jenny Wattel, who must rank among the nicest people I've ever met! They met me, fed me, watered me, and guided me around a number of fine Dutch organs - the Dutch being famous for their love of all things organny! We played organs in Catholic churches, Protestant churches, and even a museum - which seemed to be more of a shed than a museum, but housed a fine instrument with beautifully crafted casework. I'm hoping that I will be able to upload today's diary and pictures with my mobile phone - if it doesn't work apologies!
Diary Update 9 - 26/02/2006
Early start with tea and toast (including marmalade - very important!) then off to Harwich. Played at 8-30 in Harwich, then caught the 10-40 HSS across to Holland. Got lost somewhere near the Hague - saw the place where they do all the war trials though. Have forgottened my adapter for these darned European plugs - however, only a few pictures today, which are here. Still cold - started snowing when I got to the colourful and illustrious city of Amsterdam - truly a place of infinite variety! Riding round here is a bit wild and crazy - upset a few cyclists here and there...ooops.
Diary Update 8 - 25/02/2006
Arrived Wivenhoe in the cold (but plenty of sunshine) - had a great time, helped by Lucy, Graham and Karen, and supported by the very friendly and kind people of Wivenhoe town. Thanks to all - see the pictures here.
Diary Update 7 - 20/02/2006
Good news! The weather's turning cold - latest from the Met Office for next week... high pressure will predominate over Scandinavia, bringing cold, north-easterly
winds to much of the British Isles. The wind will be most noticeable in exposed
eastern counties, so you'll really feel the chill here. Showers are likely, chiefly affecting eastern districts...there may well be some falling as snow before the rain itself sets in. - EXCELLENT - must get those snow chains!
Diary Update 6 - 18/02/2006
Collection in Brentwood - from the rail station and then at an RSCM event in the Cathedral raised £38.31 for LRF and £26.11 for Bullying Online, making the overall total collected so far £1273.24! Thanks to everyone who helped out and all the good wishes received. Only seven days left before the start in Wivenhoe next week.
Diary Update 5 - 11/02/2006
Collecting on Epping High St this morning raised a total of £95-51, split between the two charities as follows: Bullying Online: £31.16, LRF: £64.35. Not bad for a few hours in the cold! Thanks to the good people of Epping.
Diary Update 4 - 10/02/2006
More money in the bank from Last week's trip to Manchester in the HUGE Mondeo - nice wheels! Good to see all the old faces and places. Tomorrow we're off to Epping high street first thing in the morning for a collection of cash from the people of south west Essex. Autocom headsets fitted to helmets now, so conversation is crystal clear. Hopefully a few more donations from Hackney on Sunday.
Diary Update 3 - 30/01/2006
Good news, another few hundred pounds sponsorship on the forms, and about another £100 in the bank from yesterday's visit to the kind people of Finchley - thanks to all in Finchley for their support. Now creeping gradually towards the first £1000. I'm currently trying to get permission for a street collection next month in Brentwood and Epping - just trying to decide whether to wear choir robes or biker clothes - what a dilemma!
Diary Update 2 - 28/01/2006
Following dinner with the vicar last night, an early start this morning for St John Ambulance course - Murray Mints were duly issued, and I learnt how to take someone's helmet off if they've come off. Good course, but couldn't help thinking of sketches from little Britain! Finchley tomorrow fundraising.
Diary Update 1 - 26/01/2006
GOOD NEWS! - All venues now confirmed, even a good (maybe even hefty) collection of organs in Holland to play. Concert details confirmed for the opening in Wivenhoe, off to Finchley this weekend. Article in Woodford Guardian last week, trying for further coverage in press during the coming weeks.
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