Back to Blighty

Hi everyone. Well, John Boyle and I made it back in one piece - the first pic shows me chatting to a Hull biker at Zeebrugge (John's Volvo is the second car back). Being back in the saddle after 25 years was awesome. I have vivid memories of my two outrider cops switching from lane to lane in perfect unison (comeback Chips, all is forgiven) and John's back up Volvo shadowing me and keeping 130mph+ outside laners off my tail.

The Martin Conquest 1200R performed perfectly - a real joy to drive, even in the howling cross winds in Belgium. It is by far at its best between 50mph to 90mph, delivering a lovely throaty growl when you open the throttle. Out of interest, I got 110mph on the autobahn against a slight headwind just before a Porche squealed past me doing God knows what speed.

We had a great time all round – scorching sun, torrential downpour, lots of beer (Chinese, German, Russian, Italian, Belgian, French and even Australian (I don't know where the Fosters came from - oh, yeah, the two trays in John's boot along with his bottle of Ballantyne). I must mention the Hadrian and Border 'Newcastle Pioneer Bitter' - two cases of that also accompanied us all the way to Berlin in John's boot. Also great food sampled including the fabulous Kharcho - a Russian soup with lamb flesh, tomato, coriander and rice which we all thought a taste sensation washed down with ice cold Russian vodka shots.

Thanks to Mario and the VW Wolfsburg Police for their hospitality. What a town - 50,000 of the 120,000 population work for VW, just about every car is a VW and the factory takes up more floor space than the rest of the town. Oh, you get the best currywurst in Germany here and possibly the best waiter (Herr Under).

Berlin is a great Tourist destination - superb culture, restaurants and architecture. Memorable moments include pulling up the bikes in front of the Brandenburg Gate for the Bilt Newspaper photo and Thomas' guided Tour of the German Ministry of Finance (the former Luftwaffe HQ, complete with bullet holes everywhere which was quite a ghostly experience.

Check point Charlie and the Berlin Wall displays also moving.

I must say, an Englishman in the company of three Scots was a birth by fire but I came through it relatively unscathed. I dont know if Tom should have his own TV show or be sectioned, Gordon is a first class navigator but has a habit of dropping things (petrol filter) off his bike in the fast lane. If you need to pick out a good red wine in a restaurant, then John's your man - he does have an odd habit of leaving half an inch of whisky and coke in his last glass of the night which I haven't quite figured out.

My thoughts now are with Tom and Gordon. Keep safe guys and enjoy! To you, to fellowship and to Scotland.... TGM!

And thanks to Capability Scotland, Prima Training, Jam Marketing, Hadrian and Border Brewery, ONE North East and the Journal and Hexham Courant newspapers, the Blue Bell and the Dyvels and everyone who helped me put.... and to Janet X.