bike – smile each and every day

Thunder in the glens

August 31, 2022October 1, 2022 by Lizbeth, posted in Emotions, Nets/carcinoid Syndrome, Uncategorized

Since I was a young child I have rode on motorcycles. The noise of the bike engines, the smell of exhaust fumes. Getting caught in the rain, remembering when travelling on a bike you can only carry small amounts. Familiar helmet flat hair. Years before health and safety set in; I would sit in front of my brother with my legs wrapped around the tank at 4 years of age and have a little ride on his motorcycle. Oh what wonderful memories. My first ride on a Harley-Davidson®, I would have been 13 years of age and on the back of a family friend. We called him Tam Harley. Steve and I have been riding together since we were 17. Started on a Suzuki, when we got married we had a Honda, we have had Kawasaki’s and BMW’s and now 39 years later since biking together we are our third Harley-Davidson®. For us Harley-Davidson riders the last weekend in August is a special one. We attend the fabulous bike rally in Aviemore Thunder in the glens.

As a child growing up bikes were prominent. The rally Thunder in the glens (TITG) hosted by Scottish HOG® Chapter Dunedin #9083. The rally is in Aviemore Scotland. For me this place is a very special, growing up I visited this town often and went skiing, wild swimming, hillwalking. Had so much fun skiing down those glistening white slopes. My heart beating so fast whilst I was racing downhill wishing I could beat the clock. Once again for me Aviemore brings passion, warmth exhilaration. The four seasons in an hour hasn’t changed. I have merely switched my walking or skiing clothing for biking gear and layer up and strip off as necessary. With the exception of Friday we are certainly blessed with warm and sunny weather for bank holiday weekend weather for Scotland. It was so lovely to go around in a t-shirt on Saturday after the mass ride out. And when we were up the mountains on Sunday the sun was shining. Thunder in the glens at its best.

The Three thousand sell out three day rally is in its 24th year. The mass ride out on the Saturday gets a great deal of participants on the pavement, in their gardens along the route, in the fields, etc. Families waving, smiling children. It is a happy day for many. The Sunday ride up the Cairngorm mountain is an emotional one for me, it brings back many happy memories of my skiing days. As well as a very sad occasion when I lost a friend on the mountain. The great thing about being able to sit on the back of the bike is you can sit and take in the view, which no one can deny on these routes is a beautiful one. And you can relax and think of all that has gone by over the years. The Sunday afternoon at the rally site there were charity rides. Where volunteers were giving rides around the site on their Harley-Davidson for a donation to charity. In the evenings there was an absolutely amazing choice of live music to choose from.

As well as my hubby being the Safety Officer. This year on the Mass Ride Out Steve was a road Marshall it gave me a chance to take photos when we were at the junction. I got a super opportunity to take photos of riders, some with their flags flying high, others waving and smiling.

While up at the rally you can stay on site, stay in a Macdonald Hotel or camp. Or choose to stay somewhere else and travel to the site. Whatever you choose you are usually guaranteed to have a super time. If you are away and want to listen to something on your phone, I found the perfect item; its one of the World’s Smallest Alexa Built-in Waterproof Mini speakers You can buy it from Amazon. You connect it to your phone, listen to it anywhere, anytime.

2023 will be the 25th anniversary will you be there?

The next event I am looking forward to is Halloween. Need to get some decorations. An ideal place is here https://giftdelivery.co.uk/?ref=DrElizabeth or at Pomchick -Why don’t you have a look? You never know you may find something you like, treat yourself or someone you love.

Safety is paramount. Make sure the battery on your vehicle is in good order. The battery guys have great deals – check them out.

Absolutely great gift I will be buying next on my list is from Perfume UK

Have a look on this website. These products are fantastic. Earhubs.

Back on the Harley-Davidson®

August 21, 2022November 15, 2024 by Lizbeth, posted in Tube Feeding, Uncategorized

The summer has been fairly kind to bikers this 2022 in Scotland. A great many dry sunny days and even on the cloudier days the sun has made an appearance on several occasions. For many friends they have been attending bike rallies, going off on super runs. No matter if it is long or short just the getting out for a while whether it is with a group of mates or a solo run. That feeling of freedom with not a care in the world and to cap it all the fabulous scenery that our country has to offer is most definitely worth taking to the road for. However I have had a medical issue with my gastrostomy tube and wasn’t feeling too great at the start of the season. Not like me at all but I welcomed my regular visit to one of my consultants. We had a long chat and it was decided I would get my lifesaving rig removed and a further procedure performed in hospital. Once this is done hoping I will be back on the Harley-Davidson® in no time.

True to his word I faced 13 medical professionals in the operating theatre just short of 4 weeks later. Getting the new tube fitted was most definitely daunting. The staff that look after me are absolutely amazing and when my heart rate dropped extremely low that the alarms were ringing they all remained so calm. Quietly I could here the radiologist say Elizabeth’s lips and feet are a lovely shade of blue. A nurse came and held my hand reassuringly and gently put a foil blanket over, ‘you are a tad cold’ she said and then continued to massage my feet. Once it was over and I was back sitting up and eager to go home one of the nurses that worked in London introduced me to a fabulous new dressing for around my tube. She gave me a pretty floral one and told me I could purchase them online. They are called G-tube dressings and are washable. Fabulous.

I got the talk about taking this easy when I got home. I so have to admit I never anticipated how long it would take for me to feel like ME. But what I can say is 4 weeks after normality started to set in. Since I have had it done I’ve enjoyed riding pillion three times;l. Gosh the relief I can have my feed running and it isn’t leaking out of me. Or more importantly the balloon can no longer explode inside my tummy. What a relief. I enjoy plenty of relaxation time; meditation and wellbeing top of the list. And of course a lot of reading snuggled into my beautiful labradors. As well as picking up a book and sifting through the pages which I so enjoy I enjoyed many books on Audible – Amazon do super deals including the first three months for 99p. This is one of the best and most used subscriptions I have taken on. If you enjoy reading and audio books you will absolutely love Audible If you don’t have Amazon Prime, it is worth joining. I wouldn’t be without it. Orders delivered next day, music, videos, etc. Superb prices. Fabulous.

The runs are very different, the first was just Steve and I tottering around our own area on my birthday on the 6th of August. We enjoy touring the Glide a little East Lothian Route, starting and finishing in Pencaitland. Taking in East Saltoun, Gifford and Haddington. The second was a ride to Stirling to meet up with some members from The Dunedin Chapter. A quick hop on the A1; stopped at Elginhaugh to meet up with Deke and then onto the bypass, joined and rode up the M9. A natter with fellow bikers and then back home. And finally a third run to Gullane to return granddaughters school bags.

The runs were enjoyable, the first most certainly very scenic and enjoyable for pillion view. Riding along single lane country roads – so easy on the eye. Chocolate box houses, overhung trees, lambs running in the fields. However on the ride to Stirling the smooth run up the dual carriageway of the A1 with the forth to my right. A perfect clear view of fife and the only distraction was the crops in the fields as they swayed gracefully and rhythmically as if they were dancing in time. The Sunday run to Gullane was a beautiful one. Living in East Lothian it is easy to take for granted such beauty; riding through the championship golf course I watch the golfers enjoy their activities and then take in the quality and beauty of the course. The greens looking in super shape. The course comprises of many shades of green and I think of my parents and the discussion we had many years ago as we looked at a globe and as a child I asked what is Gods colour Blue or Green.

These runs are in preparation to go to Aviemore with Steve. This year in Aviemore we will see many people with motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidsons® It will be lovely to go into the hive of activity. I never once thought when I was up in Aviemore every other week skiing, climbing and endlessly hill walking over a duration of many years would I be a granny riding pillion on a Harley-Davidson®.

I have been looking at books – quite fancy treating us to this one; Britain for Bikers

Felt like a teenager

July 29, 2020July 30, 2020 by Lizbeth, posted in Uncategorized

Last Thursday after a horrid infection to blow the cobwebs away I went out with my Hubby and mates from The Dunedin Chapter Two Palaces and a Castle. You can find out about The Dunedin Chapter at Dunedin When we left Linlithgow we drove home a different route and lets say it didn’t go as smoothly as getting there; not that I minded mind you, looking back I Felt like a teenager.

Steve & I on The Fatboy

As we left Linlithgow we headed along the B9080 and made our way for Winchburgh, my the little place is growing. New houses popping up. As we were approaching Winchburgh I snuggled into Steve and rubbed his leg we drove passed beautiful newly built houses on a very dusty road. Steve slows down, realises he had gone too far and should have veered to the right at the new houses. All ten bikes turn round and head in the right direction………we make our way for Kirkliston. Lovely smooth drive till we get to the lights. Look up, familiar yellow sign with a black square, diversion, the road on the right was closed and we had to turn left. Making our journey longer. We headed down toward Queensferry. Then followed on till we got down to the A90. Where on earth did all the traffic come from?

The traffic queuing to go to Edinburgh was heavy. Steve took the lead with the others behind him. I stretched my head to the side in front of us was a trail of cars, vans, and lorries for as far as the eye could see. As we sat breathing in the fumes, listening to music from the cars, watching frustrated faces on the drivers of the four wheels I saw Stuart glide past us like a beautiful bird carefully weaving through the traffic. Next Colin manoeuvres and drives down the middle of the two rows of stationary vehicles and then in formation all us Harleys follow on. As Steve and I weave through the traffic I have amazing memories of being 17 and on the back of a sports bike, feeling the need to draw my knees in at every opportunity. I turned my head to the side and saw a young chap in a fiat 500 look at us, he smiled and waved. I lifted my hand and waved back, he had that look of envy. Sitting on the back of a bike, driving up the middle of two lanes of congested traffic; wow what a feeling. For some scary, for me utter bliss, I love it. I live in the country, our road is a single track road, not a cat eye in sight. No street lights, no orange glow of the city. And thats how we like to live. But the drama of feeling that you need to pull your knees in to pass a car, feel the rumble of the big trucks as you fly pass them. Made the traffic jam worth every moment.

Sitting in the traffic most certainly this day was better to be on 2 wheels that in 4.

If you want to give riding a motorcycle a go. Why not visit these pages. And then pop down to the shops and have a look and a chat. Ive been on bikes since I was 3. Honestly they are great fun and you meet wonderful folk and see fabulous places.

https://www.twowheels.co.uk/pages/learn-to-ride/motorcycle-training.htm

https://www.saltiremotorcycles.com/rider-training-edinburgh/

If you fancy a Harley Davidson. Look no further than your Scottish dealerships.

https://www.edinburghharley-davidson.co.uk

https://www.westcoastharley.com