Duggles

(From museum in Niagara Falls)

Unexpected Road Hazards

(Via: bikepost)

Winter Is Coming

A wee reminder that you don't have to leave your bike in the shed over the winter months.

 

Never mind, it will soon be summer. Right?
 

Weekly Roundup

From the pages of the Internet

Sheep Crossing

(Via: local paper)

Sidecar Dogs

SIT STAY RIDE
poster by lorenzo eroticolor for the documentary film of the same name.

Across America, there are dogs of all breeds riding in the open air of motorcycle sidecars, whether on short trips around town or extended adventures on the highway. Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs is a delightful and inspiring documentary film about motorcyclists and their beloved canine co-pilots.

Pillion Pet

(Via: ageofdiesel)

Bull Rider

Scottish drinks coaster

Bannockburn

Room To Swing a Cat

Billboard near my work

Russian Hog

(Via: Bikepost)

Over the Hedge

Photos taken of Musselburgh Racecourse on the way home on Saturday.

Something New, Something Old

I drove down to Moffat in the Scottish Borders to pick up our new dog this morning, a chocolate Labrador puppy my wife has decided to call Charley (there's a motorcycle theme going with our pets, dogs called Brembo and Saxon and a cat called Two-Stroke. This one is named for the MZ Charly electric scooter).

On the outskirts of town I caught sight of a strangely familiar shape through the bushes. I followed it up and discovered the strangest garden ornament I have ever come across.

Beats a garden gnome any day!

End of Year Landmarks

As it's nearly the end of the year I though that I'd bring this year's photographic challenge to a conclusion. If you were with us from the off, the idea was to take a photo of your bike next to a number items and post them up for the rest of us to see.

So far only fjstuart and bridgeclub have posted their completed lists on their own sites, although I’m hoping that some of the rest of you managed at least a few.

I did a dry run in March, managing to complete the whole thing without travelling too far from home. At the time I did say that I might do it again, but this time venturing further afield.

Here are the photos from a number of trips later on in the year.

#01 Castle - Carlisle, Cumbria

#02 Telephone Box - Ashkirk, Selkirkshire

#3 Mail Box - Hawes, North Yorkshire

#4 Flag - Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Site, East Lothian

#5 Animal - Tranent, East Lothian

 I have no idea why there are animal statues on the roof of this building.

#06 Bridge - Forth Bridge, Fife

#07 Body of Water - Irish Sea

#08 Religious Building - St Cuthbert's Church, Clifton, Cumbria

#09 Barbershop - Longtown, Cumbria

#10 Salvage Yard - Burntisland, Fife

#11 Railway Station - Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

#12 Sports Ground - Jed-Forest Rugby FC, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire

#13 Boat - Lower Largo Harbour, Fife

#14 Grafitti - London

 (I sort of cheated with this one as I wasn't on the bike when I took it.

It says, "Those that know don't tell. Those that tell don't know")

#15 Statue - Johnnie Armstrong Gallery (The Celtic Goldsmiths) at Teviothead, Roxburh - totem pole topped by a knight based on one of the Lewis Chessmen discovered on the Isle of Lewis in the early 19th century.

#16 Rust - railway carriage on Bellingham Moor, Northumberland

#17 Rain - Everywhere this year

#18 Petrol Pump - Tebay, Cumbria

#19 Roadsign - Kill, Co. Kildare, Ireland

#20 Memorial - Lough Melvin, Co. Fermanagh, on border between Rep. of Ireland and N. Ireland

I came across the above at the side of the road in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. I have been unable to find out anything about the who or the why, but assume it has something to do with 'The Troubles' as the road it is on straddles the border between the two Irelands.

 

Well, that's it over for this year. I might try something similar for next year as it gave me something to think about while I was out and about on the bike. Does anyone have any suggestions for some new things for next year?