Agree, substitute American for UK and Irish passport and I am the same. Deferred or delayed gratification, I did it to pay of the mortgage and now...just keep your powder dry...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVw7fzIP6cQ
Kind regards, be safe and kind

And me Tony

When they opened the NSW/QLD border last July i packed my motorhome & headed north, and here i still am (Yeppoon).





My Chinese Vespa.



Having a cold one.



God i`m missing those English winters.

Mezo.

Excellent thought out and intelligent replies guys. Thanks

I read them all. Properly.

Perspective is very important I agree. But I refuse to accept a new normal, I don't think I'm physically or mentally capable of doing that. As to me that would be giving up.

I'm fed up with being treated like cattle by those in charge. Even pre-covid.

I'd probably be a lot happier if all of my bike projects weren't waiting for parts.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Well lets hope there`s no bovine afterlife for you then Ted, well unless you're reborn in India then you will be worshipped & can wander around without 'the man' telling you what to do.

Accepting the new normal is what everyone on the planet has got to do unfortunately, its not a permanent thing its just until we get on top of this poxy virus.

I would be building my bike from the ground up & planning my trip, i have friends like yourself in the UK who are not handling this very well (i put it partly down to the UK winter blues) but yeah the fact nobody is allowed to travel is pissing everyone off.

Forget 2021 its not going to happen, look forward to the vaccine & 2022.

Mezo.

There all kinds of ways to be trapped--by poverty, ill health, prison, our own poor choices, family, in a shxtty job that pays too good to quit, plagues, true oppressive government--ones that will kill you and your family because they don't like your religion or ethnic group, etc. At least with covid it appears we will soon be clear of that, except those who die from it or become long haulers. I've had worst situations before, I know I could be really in trouble or pushing up daisies.

I got away in 2020, to the Colombres old bike Rally in Northern Spain, being at end September COVID numbers in both the UK and Asturias were very low. it was great to get away, being cooped up in the ferry was a bit uncomfortable and in Spain everyone wore masks when outdoors and is was obvious that the Rally wasn’t that popular with the locals. Numbers were maybe a tenth of the usual. Endured the 14 day self isolation in the UK.

Booked for 2021.







Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

__________________
Charles CCM450, BMW R90/6, BMW R50
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/027_27-1.jpg

You didn't have any concerns about Covid when you decided to go? I know Sept was a low point but it stopped me going to the French HU meeting. I'd guess if the numbers at the rally were low others must have looked at the same set of facts and come to a different conclusion.

Yep, we are all trapped atm.

Though when compared to other times in the past when the populace has been ‘trapped’, our lives are pretty easy;

1914- bang bang, stab stab

1918- cough cough, die die

1939 - stormtroopers - mushroom clouds



It will pass - soon enough.

The main constraint was insurance.....we were able to get travel insurance to cover us for non COVID medical, expensive mind you, and we could have used our ECHIC (?) cards for COVID medical, no cover for cancellation of course.

There were a lot of rally participants who decided not to come, not that surprising given the demographic.

In terms of conversations with partners we were lucky that Asturias had the lowest level of COVID of any area in Spain and we were coming from Bristol which also had low levels and we felt that we wouldn’t be adding to the pandemic by participating.

__________________
Charles CCM450, BMW R90/6, BMW R50
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/027_27-1.jpg

Trapped is a state of mind, unless you're in jail or similar of course. I can certainly imagine all of us on this board are pretty frustrated, after all the thing we have in common in throwing a leg over a bike and riding it to faraway places. And those of us (like me) who are retired and hoping to spend some time doing this are pretty bored as well. But in many ways we are lucky, we have the money to do this (or a job to earn it), we have our health and we have places to live with nobody shooting at us.

If we really wanted to go out and travel, we could. Border crossings would be tedious, it would be hard to find hotel rooms and we might experience some hostility from locals and police. So, most of us prefer to sit tight and wait, because we are in a position to be able to do so. It's easier to come to terms with this from a moral perspective as well, would you want to unknowingly be the one who gives covid to a bunch of others? Not to mention an element of self preservation - are you confident that if you caught it on your journey you'd be all right in the middle of nowhere?

Spare a thought for people who have lost jobs, or homes, or the lives of loved ones, or who are living with long covid, who have no prospect of being able to afford a long motorcycling holiday. They're the trapped ones. We, on the other hand, are fortunate that sometime in the next year our pause should come to an end and we can get back to doing what we love.

I have been touring around Europe during covid. Currently in Malta enjoying the sunshine. Accommodation has been dirt cheap. Stayed in a 4 star hotel in Rimini (Italy) for 150 bucks a week.

I toured all the way down from Finland to Malta. Over 3 months or so - there hasn't been anyone stopping me at any border or at any point at all. Everything is closed in Europe, so it's not exactly a vacation. But I do get to ride my bike and enjoy some of the epic empty roads of Europe.

When it comes to the virus: I don't really socialize much. Always wear a mask when not on the bike. Haven't caught it. Probably more isolated that most people.

This is the low point Ted, darkest before dawn and all that.

Winter (More miles on the ***ing ******d spin bike this year than the real ones), projects finished (the CL350 now needs running in), the tightest restrictions yet.

My film cameras and the odd Airfix kit are keeping me sane (er).

Thing is, they can't go again. We have the vaccine . The real non-government economy is stuffed. Only the Mumsnet crowd who love lockdowns will believe a sixth will work after the first five failed. They know come the summer they either let us out or use the Army to keep us in.

I have to have a week off in March. The 350 is getting insured and the run in started even if I have to do it 5 miles at a time with a pint of milk in one pannier and a print out of the legislation in the other.

Andy

Nice one Andy . Mind you be careful what you wish for I did a shopping trip and delivered prescriptions to my folks today on the bike . Tomorrow is the painful bit....washing all the bastxxd salt off of it !!
On a more positive note.....sat on the new multistrada at work yesterday.......its very nice and a massive step up from the previous version . Lot of money.....but as most will be on pcp

Salt is why I'm walking to the Old Boy's place. No point buying from California and riding on PDRoWY rot powder!

One of the manifestations of lockdown is certainly new bike fantasy. I bit in July, bought 6 months sooner than planned. I am now trying to avoid thoughts that a CT125 would be a really great start to post virus freedom. Think about Tigermoth interplane struts and Caffenol, that's the answer, cheaper

Andy

I'd happily travel on any bike Andy . I just baulk at the cost of some bikes.....20k and northwards . That's alot to pay and still get wet