'Man with lorry has motorbikes for sale...'

The winter months are always long and drab; endless dark days of cold and the pervading smell of acrid wood smoke as the people of Derbyshire burn their furniture for a little warmth. So, not surprisingly, how happy were we to watch our precious machines being loaded into a forty foot trailer ahead of the journey south to Spain. Spring is here, the bike trip is on and it's good to be back.

It is normal practice for bike and rider to remain united during a bike trip but this year things are a little different. Our destination is Morocco which is in Africa and quite a long way, both geographically and culturally from home. Therefore, to make the most of the time there, we have sent the bikes on ahead and will hopefully find them all at an industrial estate near Malaga on Saturday morning.

Loading seven big bikes up a ramp, a la Evel Knievel (well, ok the ramp was three feet wide), was less easy
than it looked and the smug grins on the faces of those who went first betrayed a malicious desire to watch the next man struggle. All snug and secure, the bikes are now well on their way, as will we be on Friday morning.

If you're reading this, thank you. If you're not then hopefully someone will tell you to as it's always more fun the more people who join in.