Snow on Blencathra (868 m.)

Snow on Skiddaw (931 m.)

Bike’s fine. Weather’s rubbish. I got halfway back from Penrith on the old road in a sunny interval between the April Showers. I was enjoying the views of the snow on the tops of the fells. Then the deluge of cold rain started and just +3°C once back down here in Keswick. Lots of layers helped, but even so...
I’ve been having trouble for a while with my Ninja Z250SL just conking out after running for a few minutes. Me and friends couldn’t find the problem. First thought was the battery, but no. Then it sounded like fuel starvation. Again, no. The nice people at Penrith Motorcycles found the spark-plug was cracked, changed it, did a routine service, and now all is well.
I’ve not had a cracked spark plug since my 2-stroke KH250 triple in the 1970s, that used to get through them at pretty much one a month. But something that hasn’t changed in 40+ years of motorbiking is that gear sold as “waterproof” isn’t. At least current kit dries quickly and is safer.
A couple of hours later, the showers had cleared leaving the tops of the fells pretty with the fresh snow and Keswick looking as lovely as ever.

More photos: Cracked plug

Riding one of AMA Grand Sud-Est’s favourite routes for this time in the year. We were a mixed group with some familiar, some new faces also some new bikes.. AMA GSE members came riding in to the start at Cassis from as far and wide as Nice and Arles.
A hazy start which was soon dispersed by the spring sunshine. The rode route took us over the cliffs of Cap Canaille and then over Sainte-Baume using a forest road over the Plateau de Siou Blanc (628 m.).

More photos: Cassis - Solliès-Pont - Gémenos with AMA Grand Sud-Est

Beautiful and twisty, the Corniche de l’Esterel is the road round the rugged red rocks the Riviera riders race round to show off, also the swanky sports car drivers and maybe the occasional film star in a cabriolet. The road weaves alongside and over the railway to Cannes and Nice, which runs in a cutting and tunnels.

Tonight the local bike hooligans were racing a train, or at least using it as a pace-setter, I wasn’t quite sure. Seemingly futile... the train has the straight line and no worries about traffic. No-one was hurt and it looked fun.

Rocher de Roquebrune (373 m.)

Riding up from the Riviera to the head of the Grand Canyon of the Verdon at Castellane in the Préalpes of Haut-Provence. I’ve been waiting for the best weather day for a ride inland and I think I just bagged it; this was a fantastic day out, roads quiet, including almost no cyclists or motorcaravans; bright, warm enough and no wind so great views and great riding.

More photos: Col du Bel Homme (915 m.) - Parc naturel des Préalpes d'Azur