Ace Tony, you mean in the mail to you or to me? If you want to send them to me, use recorded delivery. Also where are the keys, need I take a lock and chain and of course I need an exact location and contact details-as if you didn't realize! I can get a flight from Gatwick to Sofia most days of the week. Linzi.

I've got a lock up about 20 minutes from Brussels airport if it's of any use. The bike can be stored for free there over the winter if needed. There's a bike lift and plenty of tools on hand in case any work needs doing. It may solve any problems about shipping the bike non MOT'd and taxed into the UK. Let me know if it could be useful .

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...on the road to nowhere...

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Hi Gecko, Thanks for the offer. I can't speak for Tony and Damien but I think we'll take the bike straight to UK. I'm guessing Damien would want the money soon. It is all legal on the continent, on the ferry and in the dock area. If I phone a British BMW dealer from France I can book an MOT test and it is legal to ride to that test centre from the docks. Easy when you know how. One possibility is a BMW dealer in London who have an open day on 22 November when lots of possible buyers would be present. The bike would then be road legal for a test ride and ready to go.
My electrically heated vest and Montenegran map just arrived. It's all falling into place. Just need the pound to rise against the Euro! Linzi.

The pound rise against the Euro - HA!! who are you kidding Sorry to be selfish but i want it to keep falling because I'm going to be back home in the UK this Christmas and it'll make a nice change for the UK to not feel sooooo expensive for a change
I'm about 2 1/2 hours from Calais so if you need a bolt hole on your mercy mission let me know - secure bike parking and a hot coffee and bed for the night if you need it
Ride safe.

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...on the road to nowhere...

Biking roads by bikers for bikers www.bestbikingroads.com

Hi Gecko, thanks that would be really nice. I'm going with a very warm down sleeping bag and a goretex bivi bag--Please don't rain the whole way! I intend to shower at truck stops en route. I actually prefer camping to hotels. Keep in touch I'd love to drop in. Oh yes--you tube and " comedians bank crisis". It's all clear now. Linzi.

Hi Linzi- there's a nice tent in the panniers too if it rains too much.

Thanks Gecko- as Linzi said, there seems to be a legal way of doing things, and the sooner it gets back and is sold the better.

Hi Tony, on the 22 November, South London Motorrad in Caterham are having an open day and it might be possible to get the little beemer to them for an MOT and on display for that day with 6 months road tax paid. I mentioned it to the manager so he's forewarned of the chance we'd ask him to display and store the bike. Seems like a good idea. Linzi.

I'm around on the 21st I'll PM you my mobile number - just let me know if you need a roof for the night.

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...on the road to nowhere...

Biking roads by bikers for bikers www.bestbikingroads.com

Hi Gecko, thanks. I of course have to wait for the docs to arrive from Oz then I'll shoot down to collect them from Isle of Wight and zip up to wait for a flight from Gatwick. I just reinsured my '79 Moto Guzzi for a bit less than £100 ( seems embarassing that it's regarded as so little a risk--it's a sports bike after all) Can ride any other bike also if in UK but I have to insure the Beemer separately to ride in EU! Doesn't matter that I can only ride one at a time. Can cancel policy on Beemer after 14 days and only pay £15 admin fee or go over 14 days and get 70% back. It cost £100 to cover. So the clock's ticking as I insured it from this Wed 12 Nov. Linzi.

I have nothing to do with this thread but just wanted to thank the involved people for giving me back some of my faith in other people in this world of growing corruption, war and terrorism.
Its fantastic to see total strangers helping others in need.
Keep up the good work.

Poul B-H

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Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !

Hi Poul, no problem, I've given up being eaten up by bad thoughts and just want to do my own thing. Whooppee though, Republicans are out.
Tony, as soon as the documents arrive I'd like to come down for them. There is a bus daily from Brighton at 0900. Arrive in Ryde at 1130. I can return at 1630. Flights from Gatwick will be 0600 next day. I'll bring photo copies of my passport and driving licence in the unlikely event of anything going wrong. I'll pack tonight to be ready. I think that's all. Linzi.

Well it seems few if any UK insurers will give EU cover for any bike that isn't registered in the insurer's name. Fattony helped me out and I contacted : Stefan Knopf at knopftours@aol.com. He charges 50 Euros for 30 days EU wide insurance. He's sending out the documents, trusting me to send the money in return! Top Man. Anyone who can't get an extension on their green card can do the same, call Stefan.
I spent the day chasing an electrical earth in my Moto Guzzi Le Mans' loom. Between showers of rain and sheltering from the wind to use a gas soldering iron it took all day. Soon be able to deafen the neighbours again though.
Regards, Linzi.

Damien and I both had some green card insurance with Stefan. All my interactions with him have had positive outcomes.
He was the only insurer we could find who would insure Damien, an Australian resident wanting to ride a UK registered bike in Europe. He also does a good roadside recovery service.

Hi all, didn't expect to continue this thread but: Today I set off by bus up to London Gatwick airport to go and collect Damien's bike and bring it back writing up the story for a magazine to cover the costs. Well. I hadn't reckoned on Britain's airport "security" measures. I got to the security check where all hand baggage is put on a conveyor belt. No problem. Waist coat too. No problem. Boots too. (odd) But no problem. Standing up again, they've got a problem with a crash helmet being a weapon. After discussion they OK the helmet. Their discussion not mine, I've not spoken yet. I then place the boomerang still bubble wrapped and packaged form e-bay delivery. You can't take that! It's a weapon! I reply that it's a toy. It's a weapon! It,s a present for some Montenegran kids. It's a weapon. I remove all my belongings from the belt with no further comment. I put on my boots again then decide a photo for the magazine might be relevant. Take the SLR from its bubble wrap cocoon, lens cover off, switch on, fiddle, adjust, aim. You guessed, no photo's. Security are called and demand my passport and boarding pass. I think I just blanked Mr David Sween. I returned to Easyjet's counter and when asked if I wanted to fly I said yes, if possible. Then I broke the boomerang in bubble wrap over my knee quite calmly and said now no weapon. Mr David Sween ( who one might suppose is listed on the BNP list) then declared me unfit to fly due to anger. So that's how I managed to be able to eat the sandwiches I left in my fridge-I returned home! Some people seem to still like the UK, personally I don't. Am I alone in thinking it silly for anyone to suspect a terrorist would be dressed in bike leathers, carrying a Hi Viz jacket and various clumsy bags and bum bags? Would he, if he meant to use a boomerang, place it on the conveyor belt? Well, I am now heavily out of pocket, over my overdraght limit, owe one week's rent but---shall set off again in about a week. That leaves a stress-inducing copy deadline but it can still be done. Now I've got time to practise using the SLR and finding out exactly how to digitize and post the photos. I've taken more than ten breaths but I still would be obliged if anyone would seek out Mr David Sween and break his knees or tear off his balls or somesuch. Am I joking? You judge that! Linzi.

And I felt bad that I'm not in Australia long enough to make it to Brisbane.

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Not Ted Simon since 1970!
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