Been a bit busy recently so haven't managed out on the bike much, although I did manage a quick run down to Moffat in the Scottish Borders to meet up with some friends who were holding a rally there.
Met up with some folk I hadn’t seen in a while and caught up with what had happened to them over the last two years or so.
As I wasn’t staying I headed home again just as it was turning dark.It had been a pleasant enough ride down, but turned cold as the sun sank. Glad to get home and warm.
Staying with the military theme, on the way home I came across this stone marker with the Royal Air Force (RAF) logo and motto on it on the approach to a nearby village.
It celebrates the former military airfield which used to be located nearby.
For details click the LINK
Maybe because of the coastal defences that I mention in an earlier post, war was on my mind.
Which might explain why I felt inclined to stop off at a small, neat cemetery on a back road near Dirleton in East Lothian that I don’t remember seeing before.
The sign outside read “Commonwealth War Graves Commission”.
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| Photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission |
Inside, amongst the normal mix of headstones of local people you’ll find a neat row of 23 headstones for servicemen from the British Commonwealth who died during WWII and are buried far from home.
Each is marked with the arm of service of the deceased, their name and some relevant details. Unsurprisingly most were navy and air force personnel, as we are on the coast here and there were wartime Royal Air Force (RAF) airfields nearby.
They were all so young, they range from 19 to 26 years old, an age at which I was finishing University and trying to work out what to do with my life. These lads never got that chance.
For more information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission click the LINK
Since the sun was shining, and I had a rare midweek day off, I decided to go for a short trip along the East Lothian coast on the Triumph, avoiding the motorway and staying on smaller roads.
Being a Monday traffic was virtually non-existent and I could bimble along at whatever speed took my fancy just enjoying the rare peace and quiet.
Following the coast road, I stopped to take some photos of some of the concrete WWII tank barriers sprinkled along the shoreline.
These can be found all along the coast, running from the shoreline back to the road.
After the war most of the other coastal defences, the emplacements and buildings, were eventually removed over time, although there are a couple still to be found here and there if you look carefully.
The tank traps have mostly been left alone, forgotten and overgrown. Remnants of a not so long ago conflict.
The ones in the forested area are particularly eerie.
After a winter of inactivity, I decided that I wanted both of my big bikes on the road this year.
First up was the Triumph Speedmaster. This was simplicity itself. Gave it a bit of a once over, blew up the tyres, freed of the brakes which were binding a bit, and toddled off to see about an MOT (annual inspection ticket).
Passed with no problem, much to my relief.
The Aprilia Caponord needed a bit more than that as it hasn’t been on the road for a few years now. Intermittent problems with the hydraulic clutch saw it overlooked in favour of the Triumph.
Time to sort that out.
Same as the Triumph, blew up the tyres, and freed of the brakes. However, this one needed a full service before it can be used, and I needed to address the niggling problem with the clutch.
Easiest option was just to fit completely new clutch plates and some heavy-duty springs, which I’m hoping should stop the hassles I was having. This was relatively straightforward and required an oil and filter change as well.
A bit annoyed that the brake and clutch fluid didn't arrive when it was supposed to, so doing that is on hold right now. Although, as they seem to be working well enough, I may actually leave off doing that for a bit.
I have had to order up a new battery as the present one isn't holding a charge. On checking the paperwork, it was fitted in 2016 and has spent the last two years on a trickle-charger, so I guess I can't complain.
So, one down, one still to go.
