Is it winter again?

I can’t help but notice the mercury has dropped a bit recently and the rainfall has taken an upturn. All this talk about global warming lulls you in to a false sense of security with the early warm spell we have had. I’ve just returned from a 3000 mile blast around France, Andorra & North Spain and can report that from Central France south all is well with the weather, hot even, with temperatures in the high 20’s.

Its even more of a culture shock when you get back into the North of France and the UK and heated jackets have to be turned on again where two days previously even the lining of the jacket had to be removed. That’s the beauty of doing big mileage trips, you can sense the air and temperature change, you can smell the rain and you can smell the early spring blooms wafting across warm fields, you can unfortunately also smell the manure being used on the fields which is an unfortunate side effect of being out there.

A return ferry crossing from Dover to Calais for £36 clinched the deal. The ferry from Rosyth to Zeebrugge was coming in at around £260 and I’m afraid for a week off that’s too high a price to pay, anyway I though, am I a motorcyclist or a sailor!

I must admit the thought of the run from Dover to home on Saturday didn’t fill me with great joy as I waited for the Ferry at 6am Saturday morning but at the end of the day it wasn’t so bad.

Highlights of the journey included the run into Andorra over the Pyrenees, a real spectacular mountain climb, from the intense heat in the lower reaches to well above the snow line. I had put the GPS on to see how high I would actually reach and I did see a reading of over 7990 ft ! Impressive and If I can remember properly this is well over a thousand feet higher than the figure I saw in the High atlas in Morocco.

The run out of Andorra is even better down into Spain and then heading along the other side of the mountains toward Montpellier. An excellent road with constant demanding turns and hairpins and spectacular views. The thing you notice as you come out of the mountains and into the plains heading to the Med is the wind, it appears this is almost always present and makes for a different type of concentration.

We headed up probably the best motorway in Europe the A75 (a motorway with enough tight turns and scenery to make it interesting ) and cut off in the town of Millau to view the new viaduct / suspension bridge, outstanding bit of engineering over this valley.

Then an stop at St Flour at a campsite 3000 ft up in the hills, warm while the sun was out and hard frost in the night. Before a penultimate stop at Alencon before hitting Calais and then home. On the Triumph I’m afraid as the Commando (and my mental health / body) would have struggled with the miles in the timescales required.

Shirley Fenner

It is with great regret and sadness that I have to advise you all of the death of Shirley Fenner on 26th April after a long fight against cancer. This is the second disaster for David in just a few short years, as he and Shirley lost their daughter to the same illness. It was Dave who was instrumental in getting this Branch on the road and he and Shirley have been true stalwarts and ambassadors for the club for many years. Shirley was a popular figure amongst the Norton Fraternity and will be sadly missed.

Our thoughts are with Dave at this difficult time,

At the family’s request, instead of flowers the Branch sent a donation of £50 to the cancer charity who helped Shirley in her last months

The funeral took place at Basingstoke Crematorium on Thursday 10th May

Forthcoming Events

As I got it wrong last month and as a reminder ;

National Rally 20th. - 22nd. Jul 2007

Isle of Wight

The NOC National Rally for 2007 will be organised by the Solent Branch at Atherfield Bay in the south-west of the Isle of Wight.

All the facilities at Atherfield are included in the rally price: swimming pool, private beach, clubhouse with bars and music, tennis courts and games room. The whole place has an old world charm; like stepping back into the 1960s!

A large area will be available for camping with fabulous views across the south coast of the Island. Showers and washing facilities are included. Alternatively, chalet accommodation is available.

The rally will run from Friday to Sunday and will include all the usual features

Book online at www.nortonownersclub.org

Ride Safe!

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not necessarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli

May 2007