STOC TAG

[cammy moir]

hi folks. My time with the TAG has finally come to an end and was handed over to Derek French at BritStoc 11 in Yorkshire England. I would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to carry it and visit some of Scotland with the TAG. Best wishes to Derek with his onward travels. The following photo's show some members at BritStoc and were taken on the Whitby coast. The handover to Derek was in the village of Gothland, which doubles up as a set for a tv drama set in the 1950/60's and the railway still has working steam trains.
Hope to meet more of you all in person one day, till then - ride safe.

1. The handover.
2. My bike, packed, cleaned and ready to roll to BritStoc 11
3. Dave Whitley. My trusted guide and no stranger to the USA.
4. Pat, aka Shadowfax ST - ex MOTM and Andrew Forrest aka Trosty.
5. Hound and his ex police ST1300, (still with most of the police equipment).
6. Gareth and Jackie.
7. Luc and Anne from Belgium.
8. Bob McNeil, a true traveller and well seasoned rider.
9. Pieter J Huizinga from Holland and his BMW cruiser with Keith Legge
10. Paul 'Alphafang' Lingard and his lovely wife Carol. Special thanks to them both for the organisation of Britstoc 11, great weather, nice scenery and some terrific new friends .

 

[Firstpeke]

A very big thank you to Cammy for his really superb carrying of the TAG and all the fantastic places he went with it and pictures he took of the guys tags.....

Now I wonder where it will go next, Derek, over to you!!!

 

[George]

Great job, Cammy, and good to put more faces with names. Ironic the tag should pass on to Derek. That spelling is rare on the US shores.

So, carry on, folks.

Cammy, you've set a high standard. Reminder to other escorts to go back and look at the tag's previous travels for inspiration. Each of the previous folks have done a commendable job.

Look forward to new tag travels.

 

[PeterW3035]

Just a quick note to say how honoured we felt to have the STOC Tag with us at BritSTOC 2011, it created much interest. The photo below shows Luc & Annie who joined us from Belgium, taking a photo and reading up on the first post.

Long may it travel and reach many more ST-Owners and people around the world.

 

[cammy moir]

Trosty. Mike,Dave and Moff have just finished a couple of days up north direct from Brit SToc. You should speak to them for ideas - could even be 11.5!

 

[cammy moir]

Hi. I have taken the liberty of copying Derek French's photos and comments from the Alps and reposting them from the My-Mc site. Great photo's and decent weather. Thanks Derek.:bow1:
And, for an interesting idea for the TAG's future travels, I have highlighted a suggestion in red - nice thought.

1.''The following all taken between 10th and 12th July 2011 in the French Alps.
This one is in the valley south of Pralognan La Vanoise. Dramatic and pretty scenery and interesting gentle riding.''

2.''Yours truly, followed by some other stops:''

3.''There is a lot of absolutely fantastic roads around the French Alps and we were very lucky with the weather too. The following stop points at the top of the climbs just show a little of where we have been. The road are twisty with massive numbers of hairpin bends. I am absolutely certain the chaps would have enjoyed them as much as we have.''

4.''All of these places are worth visiting for the ride. Fantastic views and great riding.
Col de L'Isaran near Val D'Isere is, I am told, the highest road in Europe. Now there is a challenge. What is the highest road in the US, South America, Asia, etc?''

5.''Other stops were by turn dramatic such as at Cul Du Glandon:''

6.'' Col de Madeleine proved to be popular with cyclists as a challenge ride. For us bikers it was an absolute pleasure to ride up and down the other side.''

 

[BigTom]

It's just great to see the boys and where they have been...

Thanks!

 

[Firstpeke]

Derek just posted more pictures over on My-Mc, if I get some time I will copy them over.....

 

[Digiamo]

Thanks for letting us Tag-a-long Guys. Great shots.

 

[George]

Thanks for repoSTing, Cammy. I just put a note there asking if it could be done.

Also, I suggest folks subscribe to my-mc.com. LOTS of good info there (it's the place to be if ya have any 1100 ABS issues.) My-Mc is STeinar's big site, lots of forums for different bikes, three for our STs alone (1100, 1300, and general which is where you'll find the STOC tag posts.) Much thanks to FirstPeke for carrying the tag over to Scotland and all the guys who've moved it farther. I know Derek and boyz would have really enjoyed doing all these venues on their own, but...

I still miss my boy.

 

[cammy moir]

Hi folks, this is the latest update from Derek's trip to the Alps. Thanks for taking the time out of your holiday to post these.
:bow1:
'On July 14th (Bastille day in France) we had a good ride-out despite some low cloud cover obscuring some of the higher views. We took a route recommended to us by the head of the Harleys Owners Group in the Alps. I plan to return here in 2013 when the Pan Clan gathering is held in Aix-les-Bains to re-run what is obviously some fantastic scenery. The chaps enjoyed it too I would guess..
The weather improved as the day progressed and part of our ride included 'Routes des grande Alps' or something like that. At points beautiful scenery with massive rises and falls in the roads.
On Friday 15th we crossed the Alps via St Bernards Pass from France into Italy and will be staying near Lake Como.'

 

[cammy moir]

Hi folks. This is the latest update from Derek. Sorry the comments and photos appear to have come out in the wrong order - however the desriptions make it clear. Thanks again Derek.
"Hi All.
The weather here around the Italian Lakes this week has been bad with lots of rain and storms. It has improved and some riding has been done. The roads generally are very narrow and stopping by a signpost nigh-on impossible due difficult positions and impatient italian traffic. I now understand why the Roman Empire expanded so dramatically 2000 years ago. It was NOT the discipline of their fighting legions, rather the furious speed at which they spurred-on their chariots. No wonder ancient roman roads around Europe are so straight!
First pic is from Varenna, a village and ferry port on the side of Lake Como.

On a day of better weather we rode up some smaller side roads up through the mountains and found ourselves on a winding hairpin road which actually crossed the border from Italy into Switzerland. The border post buildings on both sides were empty and we stopped for a coffee in a small village called Arogno in Switzerland, which is in the hills above Lake Lugano. Luckily they accepted Euros although their currency is actually the Swiss Franc.
The pass valley is in the background.

Weather may determine future postings from here, as the tags (and I) are heading north tomorrow towards Luxemburg."

 

[Firstpeke]

Any news on the TAG guys?

 

[Firstpeke]

Derek has posted another picture on My-Mc so I have taken the liberty of copying it over here......

St Paul's in Londinium....

Derek said in his post;

Sorry for the silence, but life has got in the way somewhat.

The guys have done some travelling since the last report. Just one shot taken today from near St Pauls Cathedral in London below:

 

[George]

Terrific! Keep poSTing, guys.

 

[MAC_JD]

George,

I met Derek last night at dinner here in Houffalize Belgium. He has some more photos to post from his very wet rides here.

I don't expect to be able to ride for at least a month or two. Do you want me to take the tag to Italy knowing I can't ride for a bit?

JD

 

[Firstpeke]

Get as many pictures and sigs and comments as you feel able and by all means take the TAG..... how long before you get to ride again? IS there someone else who could take it, please remember they need to post if possible on here.....
Can you let us know who has it and where it's headed?

Speaking of which, here is Derek's latest picture from Londinium.....

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (the bell in the clock tower is actually Big Ben....)

 

[MAC_JD]

Ok barring any other comments Derek and I will pass the TAG tonight at Dinner. My ST will be back on the road in about two weeks. I will probably be able to ride in about six weeks to two months.

No rain so far today!! Out exploring!!

JD

 

[Mellow]

Sure wish I would have thought about this earlier... would have been nice to start a google map with pinpoints of every pic location and that pic, it would take a lot of time now. I'll see if I can put some time together and start a google public map and maybe we can get this going.

I started a new post here for the details so I can get the past tags pinned to a map:
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?106828-STOC-TAG-Picture-Request

 

[Firstpeke]

Derek French wrote over on My-Mc;

Bastogne, Belgium 27 August.
The site of a fierce and successful defence by the US army during the Battle of the Bulge Dec44/Jan45 where the commanding US Army officer famously replied 'Nuts' to a request by the commander of the surrounding German forces to surrender.
The tags have travelled with me around Europe for about 5000 miles. They have now been passed forward to James who is based in Naples in Italy. Transfer took place at the european Pan Clan International Gathering held this year on Houffalize in Belgium in the Ardennes last weekend in August. Fantastic riding countryside when it is sunny!