I an so jealous of the posts from you guys in England and Europe! So much history in one short ride. I destinations are endless!!! I guess that's the benefit of so many smaller countries (compared to the USA) so close together! You guys live in motorcycle heaven!!!
Yes and No. By your standards everything is reasonably close together but the policing of the highways is becoming increasingly more restrictive. What used to be speed restricted zones are now becoming average speed zones. There are even proposals in the pipeline for catching excessively noisy vehicles on camera.
Awww man, what a drag! I'd still trade your distances to cool places there than over here in the USA.
As a keen off road rider I reckon you must have it better on your side of the pond with the vast unpopulated areas available to ride in. Here in the UK we're public enemy No.1 with relatively few venues to choose from and even those remaining are under constant threat from the NIMBY's.
Yes, we have tons of empty land, but nothing in the way of history. I mean nothing here is much older than 4 or 5 hundred years. For you guys, a 1000 year old castle or 2000 year old Roman ruins or a classic WWII pub are less than 8 hours away at the most. We have nothing like that here!!!
Now that is freaking cool! How badass is that. And if you wanted to, you might be able to find where that picture was taken and go there...in one day. See what I mean? Lol
That is such a cool picture, I was zooming in on it looking for cool details! That's awesome to have a picture t like thst!
Baza, I was looking at that picture closer. Was your father an officer? He's got a Webley in a chest rig. So cool! what kind of bike is that?
Yes, he was a despatch rider. He only rode bikes while this side of the ditch. When in France the volume of despatches was so great that he drove either a Jeep or a 15cwt Bedford truck and had an armed guard with him. He’s the one on the right. A pair of mean hombres.
The bike is a BSA M20 500cc single, good for 55mph tops. He did also carry a Sten gun when in France.
I'd have to suggest that you are, perhaps, missing - or overlooking - some of the most important, beautiful and culturally fascinating history of your own land. One obvious example springs immediately to mind : https://www.cliffdwellingsmuseum.co...o-the-anasazi/major-anasazi-region-and-sites/ It's easy to think that our history and heritage here in the UK is 'everywhere' - it kind of 'feels' like it is because we live in such a (relatively) confined space ...... heck, California is not far off twice the size of mainland Britain! But don't let that scale distract or blind you to the wealth of history - some of it yet unexplained and barely explored - in the south west US. And if/when you go, take the camera and do a ride report, please!
I get what you're saying. Within 2 hours I could probably ride to a few 1000 year old castles (one within 5 minutes) but on the other side, we don't have any great lakes, the nearest desert is in Africa, our mountains are tiny and it rains a lot (its raining right now). My dream holiday would be a riding and rock climbing tour from Indian Creek, Utah to Squamish BC
I've never been to the States but if/when I do, the Great Lakes is on my visit list along with the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, made famous by many a Western. The giant Sequoia Redwoods in California will also be on the list. Living in a city I can't say I'm that bothered about seeing any others with the possible exception of San Francisco. A trekking holiday in the Yukon also has it's appeal.
Granted, we have fabulous natural landmarks, however not within a days ride in most cases. The redwoods are about 300 miles north. The grand canyon is about 1000 miles east, and the yukon...2500 miles. By comparison. You could visit Wales or Scotland of a couple in a days ride. You could take a ferry or a tunnel to France and then from there the sky's the limit. I don't know the mileage but from France you could go to Germany or Spain, Portugal. A bit farther north you could go to Amsterdam. I guess there's no changing my mind, it a classic case of "the grass is always greener!" Lol! The closest border to Canada from me is about 2000 miles and Mexico is about 900. To bad be can't ride to Hawaii! Lol.
Don't forget because of gas prices, 50 miles over here costs the same as 2500 in the US. We have much more congested rural roads as well. I'll be driving 180 miles to west Cornwall next week and I'll be lucky if I do it in less than 5 hours.
