From the Library

[Bodø]

Before the iron curtain came down my cousin did some contract work in Bulgaria.  She couldn't get color film for her camera or fluid for her contact lenses.  The letters she sent me from Norway after she got back arrived before the post cards she sent me from Bulgaria months earlier.

[Biggles]

In 2011, the Isle of Mann TT was celebrating its hundredth year using a mountain course. Back in 1911, the mountain road had only been a dirt road with gates on it, and the racers had to open and close the gates as they went through them. So I thought 2011 was a bit of a special year, and we shouldn't miss it. So while we were at the Isle of Mann IT in 2011, we let everyone know that we were going to ride to Bulgaria and back in place of going to the 2012 races and that anyone with any interest at all in joining up with us were welcome. All they had to do was let me know while we were at the TT or email me some time during the remainder of 2011. We wouldn't need definite numbers until we were getting close to the end of 2011, when we would want to start booking things.
Bulgaria and Back  Keith Handley  p4

[Biggles]

We all joined in a conversation about what we'd done during the day and how we thought our second full day had gone. Sir Bob was pleased to point out that we'd had our breakfast in France, with our midday meal in Belgium and dinner in Germany; he thought that was really very cool. I agreed, but as four of us had done that before when we'd nade the trip in the van, I was getting used to doing things like that. So I said nothing. This was the first time Sir Bob has made a trip like this with any sort of transport, and by the time he'd finished the trip, crossing borders would be second nature.
Plus, I thought that the fact that Sir Bob was the oldest rider and riding the oldest bike with the smallest engine among us meant that, when the trip was finished, he would have the biggest bragging rights of all of us by a long, long way.
Bulgaria and Back  Keith Handley  pp46-7

[Biggles]

We were about to leave Romania and intended to get on the bikes but stopped when a guy pulled in on a 1970s Puch Maxi with a race exhaust on it that was in very good condition.
It turned out that this was the moped's first run out after a full rebuild; a number of us had our photos taken with it or even on it. I think the guy was a bit overwhelmed and not at all sure what to make of a group of Englishmen falling over each other to look at his moped and have their photographs taken with it. When he left, he waved good bye to us all and set off with a big smile on his face. I wasn't sure if he was pleased we'd made such a fuss over his moped or just relived to get away from those mad Englishmen!
Bulgaria and Back  Keith Handley  p87

[Biggles]

We started to unlock the bikes and start them up. This was where I brought everything to a sudden standstill, when my disc lock wouldn't unlock. It was the type with a wire rope attached to it, and I'd locked my bike together with Berk's. So unless I could get them unlocked, he wouldn't be going anywhere either.
I tried WD-40, but it made no difference whatsoever. After a few minutes, I decided the situation called for desperate measures. I went off to retrieve the hacksaw I had ln the van. First, I cut the wire rope from my lock, which was wrapped around Berk's rear wheel. So at least now he would be able to ride his bike for the day.
Next, I tried to cut the disc lock off using the hacksaw. I asked Berk to get a small tyre lever from the back of the van. That way, he could stick it through the disc lock to hold it steady while I cut it off. But the hacksaw didn't so much as touch the lock. All that happened was that the teeth on the hacksaw blade were disappearing at a rapid rate. That was no good whatsoever!
Then my saviour came in the shape of the caretaker/ handyman for this hotel. He arrived with an electrical extension lead and a very large electrical Stihl grinder.
Bulgaria and Back  Keith Handley  pp144-5

[Biggles]

All the bikes burst into life except mine; I got nothing, not a  murmur, just a little click if you listened carefully. So everyone else hopped off their bikes again and came over to take a look and see what's happening. It was decided that we should have a go at bump-starting it.
So after we'd pushed the bike up and back down the lay-by a few times and with no luck, I said, "Forget it." The thing could go in the back of the van. I wasn't the happiest person on this planet at this point in time, which wasn't helped by the fact that people were pointing out that this was the newest bike here and that it had had a full service by an Aprilia dealer.
Bulgaria and Back  Keith Handley  p167

[Biggles]

Some of the homework would actually be about the people with whom I'd be making the trip. The following are some of the research questions I would ask:
1. What is the longest time you can spend riding your bike without a break?
2. How long a break will you require between riding your bike and then getting back on and going again?
3. How many hours would you be prepared to spend on your bike, including rest stops, in one day?
4. How many days are you prepared to do riding your bike without a day off?
5. What speed can you comfortably cruise at on your bike (not what speed can your bike do)?
6. What is the maximum distance you can travel on your bike with a full tank of fuel before you have to fuel up again?
7. What type of roads do you prefer to ride on?
Bulgaria and Back  Keith Handley  pp213-4