Bikes, People and Places
The 80's

In the eighties Kathy and I had taken to touring and camping around France in the car. We were going over the Petit St. Bernard's Pass and we were overtaken by quite a few bikes on our decent. They all seemed to be from Northern Europe and were all big touring bikes like BMW's and Yamaha FJ1200's. They looked a magnificent site peeling off for the bends in front of us and I knew I just had to get another bike whilst I could as I may never have the chance again. I was in my forties then.

Anyway I eventually bought a 1986 BMW K75s and although it was a lot heavier than I was used to when compared to my Triumph and Honda 500 four it was the perfect bike for two up touring. Every chance we had we were out on it. If I had an evening off we might go down to Southend, have a drink do some people watching and come on home to Welwyn Garden City, something we would never do in a car as it wasn't as much fun.

Newly purchased	BMF Rally Peterborough	Concours de Grot at the BMF

We used that bike well whilst we had, it going to the coast a lot and a trip to the Lake District, Scarborough, York and then home.

Kathy and K75s in the Lake district

Then we did the trip the bike was meant for, Europe. We knew we were going to the Alps but other than that nothing was planned. As it turned out it was a great trip as we ended up going to Venice, Pisa, Florence and then home.