MotoGP fan
Why I’m a fan of motorcycle grand prix racing as well as a rider of my own sportsbikes on the road - why watch when you could be riding?
Watching motorcycle grand prix racing isn’t the same as riding, it’s true, but watching enlarges and inspires my own riding. I can’t ride as fast or as accurately as a racer and I wouldn’t want to: every time I’ve ridden in a track day I’ve gone with the experience to improve my skills but I’ve longed for the open road, the thrill of the scenery passing by and the challenge of dodging the obstacles a road throws at you.
More than forty years on from gaining my full motorcycle licence, several spells in plaster and walking on crutches then with the scars and aches you get left with, watching racers is a safer substitute for the real thing, but of course I still ride my own CBR600RR when I can. Watching with others has become possible even at home with online chat; GBMCC now has a WhatsApp watch group and I also enjoy a text-fest during a race with my French friends from time to time.
Treetops after the storms
Looking upwards: there are still leaves on the trees but not many remain. A set of images that are hopefully inspirational.
YALoPP - Stainless steel
A stainless steel artefact is both a product of our metalwork factories and a reflection of our use of it
YALoPP - Yet another lockdown photo project: my photo study of the textures, surfaces and shapes of stainless steel things
Between the Waves: AndroTechne at Kunstmatrix 3D gallery
My reworking of the exhibition’s poster with screengrabs of some of the artists from the guided walkaround
AndroTechne present their debut digital exhibition this autumn in a three dimensional online virtual space of three connected rooms, each having a different theme and feel. The advanced technology creating the virtual exhibition space makes it possible to “walk” around the exhibition, stop and browse where you feel you wish to. Meanwhile some exhibits animate and some play music. This gives quite the best integrated feel to media such as video or abstract virtual images along with traditional paint and flat images. There’s immediately a “wow!” factor, the technology is not off-puttingly clunky and it presents well this exhibition which is very rich in ideas and innovation.
Read more: Between the Waves: AndroTechne at Kunstmatrix 3D gallery
Haddon Hill (355 m.), Exmoor National Park, Devon
Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor
Haddon Hill sunset , Exmoor
Peace and calm out on Exmoor: my last stroll before going home for lockdown
More photos: Haddon Hill (355 m.), Exmoor National Park, Devon
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Wembley Arena - 5th June 1981
My photo today of Wembley Arena (née Empire Pool) where I saw Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band play in 1981; its once-proud and innovative construction is now submerged amongst the redevelopment of the Wembley Stadium area
Read more: The night I saw Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Wembley Arena - 5th June 1981
English Sparkling at sunset then Fine French Claret with dinner
The wines we enjoyed this weekend:
Denbies Hampshire English Sparkling Brut 2015
St Julien 2002, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalonde, 33250 Pauillac
Terrazza d’Isula, Niellucciu Merlot 2017, Île de Beauté IGP (Corsica)
Read more: English Sparkling at sunset then Fine French Claret with dinner
Faversham to Deal: Kent roadtrip
Oare Creek, Faversham
Faversham Brewery
Faversham is one of the Cinque Ports I’ve heard about but never before visited. It’s famous for the Shepherd Neame brewery, the umbrella factory and the abbey but infamous for its pirates. I could have lingered in Faversham but my schedule needed me to move on. Next, I drove across Graveney Marshes to Seasalter, then Sandwich and Deal on my roadtrip round the Kent coast.
Col de l’Iseran: 2770 m. Alps rideout August 2020 - 2
Col du Lautaret (2057 m.)
Col du Galibier (2642 m.)
Ride to the Alps day 2: aiming for the Col de l’Iseran, at 2770 m. it’s said to be highest paved road pass in Europe.
