Nice day for a ride!

A rare sunny autumn day today, with no commitments at Concorde or Education Tours or anything else, so I took the opportunity of a bimble out on the Bonnie (my 1979 T140D Triumph Bonneville). I forgot to take my camera so had to use my ancient phone to take the pictures - apologies for the poor quality.

I headed for the Peak District, through Macclesfield and up over the Cat & Fiddle, Axe Edge Moor, Longnor and Crowdecote, Hurdlow, to Monyash. The Bonnie was a delight on such a day; yes, the clutch is heavy, the bike vibrates, the brakes are inadequate and it's not as quick as a modern performance bike but it oozes character, handles well, and sounds lovely. It's the motorcycle equivalent of the dH Chipmunk!

 

The Bonnie by the village green in Monyash today

The Monyash café, a haven for bikers. My Bonnie in the foreground, a T Max scooter behind, and an Enfield and BSA in the background. A BMW R1200 GS Adventure has just vacated the gap between the Bonnie and the scoot. The scoot owner from Macclesfield, and the BSA owner from Rotherham, are by the café.

At Monyash there are usually a few bikes, and today's collection when I arrived comprised my Bonnie, a BMW R1200 GS Adventure, a new-looking Royal Enfield, and an old BSA machine. The Bonnie attracted much favourable comment, particularly its unrestored yet tidy condition, and its originality.

 The smart looking Royal Enfield and the BSA

As well as being sunny today, the visibility was gin clear. The views from the high places such as The Cat and Axe Edge were stunning for their clarity and the distances one could see. In particular looking towards the Dragon's Back Hills near Earl Sterndale from Axe edge, the fields and hills dappled in sunshine and cloud shadows, was memorable.

One feels privileged to be able to be out and about, on a characterful vintage motorcycle, on a lovely day like today.

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