Monday coffee and weather, 31 March

ibike2havefun

ibike2havefun

Still above the sod
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Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Messages
2,400
Location
Rockville, MD, USA
Bike
Bikeless (9/29/2019)
Good morning everyone

I need to get this posted quickly so @motomac and @Mr ed will have a hot beverage waiting for them in their early-hours perambulations. Sorry, you lot in Britain and Europe- I wasn't up in time to get you covered so early.

There we go- it's French roast and it's ready and waiting.

In Rockville, it's 66°F (reportedly feels like 57 but I don't really believe that) and partly cloudy, with a high of 79 and possibility of scattered rain showers developing around 1700 hours.

Golf and uke practice with my friend comprise the day's agenda.

stay safe and well everyone and tell your dear ones you love them.
 
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Thx Keith!
Second cup is good and needed.

Was up early, been for a walk.
Now to bicycle for some errands.
Starlings find great joy in nesting between/under my rooftiles….so today is mending the gaps.

10˚c/50f, sunny and calm, it’s a miracle!

Have a good one, and whatever you are doing, do it with the confidence of a four yearl old in a batman shirt.
Stu

From todays walk towards the hills

IMG_3982.jpeg
 
<yawn!> way too early...

6°/9°C, quite gusty winds, WX rabbles about everything: sun, overcast, rain, sleet... methinks they even mentioned meteor showers, dead birds, fish and toads...

Dropped by at the w/shop, curious about the progress on my trusty Toyota...
(warning: images offending to any non-petrol-head... )

IMG_20250331_075956.jpg IMG_20250331_075926.jpg

Yep, we decided to perform a transplant...

i) while the emission test shows green across the entire rev band, Lambda, CO, etc dead on, will the HC creep up ~20 seconds after settling into idle... weird... probe in the dipstick-tube indicates no blow-by, compression test (still) beyond the OEM values for a new engine...
ii) since October I note a slight "drrrr" setting in at exactly 2000rpm, but muting over 3000 and/or once the engine has warmed fully... dropped by right away back then, the mech couldn't even hear it... during above emission test their boss (certified engineer) however confirmed my audio sensation... there is "something"...

One can only speculate: lateral play of a bucket, piston pin, rings, skirts... anything... that 1.8ltr petrol engine was more then brave... 335,000km...

Tearing into an engine means you must have to go all the way... line-boring, honing the jugs, oversized pistons, all bearings, resurfacing the head... the whole thing...
time and $$$ which both are sparse...
Replacement engine came for € 1300,-... barely 100,000km on... compared to the costs of a full engine overhaul a total no-brainer...

Guess I'm set for another decade with that car...

cheers!
 
Good morning, all, and thanks for getting the drip dripping, Keith!

We were certainly affected by the weekend's mega ice storm, but it was nothing like what Ontario got hit with. Huge amount of damage, including downed trees and power lines, things collapsing under the ice, etc. 400,000 people without power, last I heard.
@Whisker Bill: That's a heck of a "Welcome Home!" Glad you made it safely and hope your power comes back on soon!

Today, we're in for mild temperatures and a drenching. Temps will range from the current 3°C/37°F to 14°C/59°F and the rain will fall all day, and it looks like it will come down quite hard for a couple of hours this morning. Then the temps will drop drastically again overnight and stay pretty cold tomorrow, so things might get slippery.

Must get brain in gear - lots to take care of today. Everyone have a good one, stay safe and go safely.

Patty
 
Thanks Keith. That's four cups so far, yeah, I'm double dipping. And I'm just getting started on yet another Manic Monday.

The weekend was a blur, but I wasn't even drinking the brown water. Weird.

Yesterday was blown up by a Priority 1 network call at a newly- opened orange burger place up north... 4 hrs' travel, but power-cycling a switch, and powering on their modem fixed it in under 10 minutes. Easy money.

Wanted to ride up there, but with 100% rain chances, decided to take the car. Good choice in hindsight, rained on the way up and the way back. And Whataburger has no dressing rooms to get out of wet raingear.

Weather warnings today, storms mainly, with the warm air and uncertain factors, could be some tornadoes but we hope not.

Lots of stuff going on next weekend, the STOC gathering in North Georgia, another screening of the Southeast Backroad Discovery Route, World Superbike at Barbers... and more I can't remember at the moment.

I need more Time!
But I hate Time, we just never seem to get along well together. And I feel I've tried... but it's just not working out between us.
It's probably me.
What to do?
 
It's Monday! Time for all you hap-hap-happy people to get up and get out and do stuff. And for me to fill & drain my cup several times enough to deal with all your perkiness. So thanks, Keith! A WFH day for moi, plus maybe some mower work. Yesterday's efforts were very disappointing as after I got it all back together, I discovered it had a rod knock. Couldn't hear it spinning by hand, but a yank of the cord and...yikes! Live and learn...it's a mower not a Ferrari.

Cloudy and 68F/20C here for the record. Supposed to have a chance at some spring t-storms this afternoon. Eh, that's all I got...well at least I'm not dealing with any health issues. So, I'm thankful there. Please, take care y'all!
 
Good morning, everyone. Thanks for the much needed FR, Keith.

I didn’t get in bed until 3:00 AM, due to all the tornado warnings and my phone screaming with alerts, every 10 minutes. I was lucky, as the worst winds stayed 3 miles to the north and 10 miles to the south. Several trees and power lines down. My only damage is joint pain from the drop in barometric pressure. The fingers and knees are stiff this morning, but the new hip doesn’t seem to be affected.

I think I’ll join Teddy, as he’s already on his way to an early morning nap. Temperature is 63 and falling throughout the day.

John
 
ibike2havefun said:
Sorry, you lot in Britain and Europe- I wasn't up in time to get you covered so early.
Click to expand...

psst.... Britain is still part of Europe.... just not a member of the EU political bloc anymore!

Anyway, beautiful blue skies here in the SW ish of England. This weather is supposed to last well into next week yeeha. Took the oufit for a ride on Saturday to Watsonian Sidecars, they were having their first Saturday opening. As there is a cafe next door in a double decker bus which is also now opening on Saturdays the place was heaving... albeit mainly with solos having a ride out in the Cotswolds... there were only four non-display outfits there... shame. Yesterday was Mothers Day in the UK, so into Cheltenham with two mothers (wife and daughter) to the Ivy.. quite a swanky restaurant, for lunch. Food was good and my wallet somewhat lighter :rolleyes:

Today has bee getting camping gear out and erecting a four man tent that we are giving away (taken by a fellow sidecarrist I am pleased to say). After all that effort, may have to crack a bottle of wine tonight... alcoholic... who me!
 
Flexit said:
psst.... Britain is still part of Europe...
Click to expand...
Geological... maybe...
www.gov.uk

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months), medical treatment and other activities. Find out whether you need a Standard Visitor visa, or can visit without a visa.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
A Standard Visitor visa costs £115 for up to 6 months. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Click to expand...
Wasn't that expensive when we went on the Scotland ride last year... so good that this is off the bucket list...
 
Morning Keith & All from a :wind1: with some clouds, in Southern Utah!

Currently it is 51F, up from 46F and heading for 58F. Our false Spring is over, now back to Winter like weather. By Wednesday, the temp is to drop down to 40F as a high, compared to 70F last week at that time! :well1: The winds are already blowing, from the SSW @ 10 to 26mph. Rain in the forecast for tomorrow, but like always, I don't count on it until it's on the ground! At least there's no white stuff forecasted for the next two weeks. Subject to change without notice!

Yesterday was a leisure day, nothing got done. Today, my plans are to play musical chairs with the :bl13: & the :dr13:, moving the 04 to the tractor shed to give me room to work without having to move a bike and truck around. The 12 will be moved to where the 04 is now. Don't ask! :rofl1:

I need to reinstall the rear wheel and make the 05 movable so I can take it back out to really clean off what was missed when the engine was still in it. Then move it next to the lift (why I had to move the 04 out to the tractor shed) then move the engine back onto the lift, so I can start getting it ready, with the new waterpump, go through the clutch, replace the clutch slave (easy to do when the engine is out) and replace all the hoses, and throttlebody. No I won't get all of that done today! LOL

Eggs. bacon, toast & OJ to start the morning. Pepsi(s) on the list for later!

Anyone :dr13:, have a great day on the roads! :hat3:
 
Wasn't that expensive when we went on the Scotland ride last year... so good that this is off the bucket list...
Click to expand...
As it is visiting the UK is horrendously expensive, so additional barriers to dissuade people from wanting to visit there would not seem to be a good idea to me. The UK saw fit to add one more hoop to jump through anyway. Now an electronic travel authority is required to enter the UK as a tourist, even form fellow Common-Wealth countries. It is not a difficult thing to secure, nor is it particularly expensive, but it is just an additional pain in the **** thing that has to be dealt with. As far as I can see it is a money grab. Evidence of that for me is that they even state that the application can be submitted after travel to the UK has commenced as long as the approval has been received before you enter the UK. I can't imagine any one planning and paying for a trip to the UK without first being certain of being allowed entry. This sounds to me like wink, wink, all applications get approved as long as you have made sure to include your pound of flesh with your application.
 
Morning all! So far, sunny with blue sky. Rain for a bit mid to late afternoon. Right now it's 7C with a predicted high of 11C.

Working from home today, trying out the new monitor. I looked at the portable ones but decided that I would likely be using the portability factor less than 5% of the time so went with a normal one. Didn't go high end, just an FHD but it seems to be doing the trick and I can have multiple documents open and reference back and forth so I'm a happy camper. My eyes are also happy; no more squinting at the laptop screen.

Right, meetings are calling.....summoning is maybe a better word.

Hope everyone has a great day!
 
Andrew Shadow said:
As it is visiting the UK is horrendously expensive, so additional barriers to dissuade people from wanting to visit there would not seem to be a good idea to me. The UK saw fit to add one more hoop to jump through anyway. Now an electronic travel authority is required to enter the UK as a tourist, even form fellow Common-Wealth countries. It is not a difficult thing to secure, nor is it particularly expensive, but it is just an additional pain in the **** thing that has to be dealt with. As far as I can see it is a money grab. Evidence of that for me is that they even state that the application can be submitted after travel to the UK has commenced as long as the approval has been received before you enter the UK. I can't imagine any one planning and paying for a trip to the UK without first being certain of being allowed entry. This sounds to me like wink, wink, all applications get approved as long as you have made sure to include your pound of flesh with your application.
Click to expand...

Think people are getting a bit carried away. Yes, you need an ETA to enter the UK just as I, as a British passport holder, need an ETA to visit Canada or an ESTA to visit the USA. We were due to need an ETA to enter the EU, but that seems to be slipping month by month due to techical difficulties on the EU side but it is coming. It's just a few minutes on a computer to apply and is valid for 2 years. @ST1100Y EU, US and Canadian passport holders don't need the 'Standard Visa'.
 
ST1100Y said:
We did have to forward our passport data at a fee of about € 20,-/person during the ferry booking, but I reckon them mentioning that visa and further fees were in the pipeline...
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@ST1100Y Did you book direct with the ferry company? Yes, we have to provide passport information to them, but only using the on-line system and never had a fee. I have booked from the UK and also whilst across the Channel in Germany, France and The Netherlands for single trips back to the UK (I don't always book a return from the UK). Not once have I been asked to pay a fee for adding my passport/passenger info. That's with Stena Line, Britanny Ferries, DFDS and Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel).
 
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