Tempted

[O.C.]

Has anyone taken a ride out (for essentials of course) yet ?

The weather here has been horrible with iced over roads for the last 3+ weeks and now heavy rain has caused considerable damage to the already badly potholed roads, with some potholes concealed beneath large flooded areas which frankly are very, very bad, even in my car, so it would be very risky on a bike, apart from which it is still very cold

[Lonewolf]

Same here, lots of snow followed by heavy rain, followed by an emergency with a much loved family member who is currently sleeping at the side of my bed! 
Maybe next week or the week after if circumstances permit I'll get out for an hour or so but I won't risk it if there's ice on the roads or loads of salt, it's simply not worth it.

[Brizzlerob]

I had the pleasure of having to bring back my sons ER6N from his Uni accommodation in Falmouth Saturday night. I left there at 21.00 and got home at 00.30 with 1 quick fuel stop. A ride of 180 miles in temperatures of between 2 and 5 degrees. The unfortunate thing was that it was all dual carriage way or motorway and it was pitch black but at least I was on two wheels   

[flatfour]

I've been collecting shopping, prescriptions etc. on the bikes when the weather has been suitable. Last trip was a week ago yesterday, in 10c and sunshine. Most days have been 5 - 8c though.

I was caught by weather only the once, around 10 miles away on the BMW. A dry, bright day that saw the air suddenly turn damp, the roads become wet and salt that was probably applied weeks earlier come to the surface. The cleaning job was huge!

Though I have been out only on days when the car would otherwise have been pressed into service, traffic levels around here seem normal to me.

[O.C.]

I had the pleasure of having to bring back my sons ER6N from his Uni accommodation in Falmouth Saturday night. I left there at 21.00 and got home at 00.30 with 1 quick fuel stop. A ride of 180 miles in temperatures of between 2 and 5 degrees. The unfortunate thing was that it was all dual carriage way or motorway and it was pitch black but at least I was on two wheels   

And tell us how was the ER6N ?  They have a great reputation 

[Boomer]

Nope, I started both bikes last weekend and let them run until the fans kicked in.
Haven't ridden either since early December.

Isn't everyone supposed to be staying close to home? From what I see on my few trips to the local shops & takeaways, a great many people are just doing whatever they like, but then they are all special. Their mummy told them so. <sigh>

[flatfour]

I suppose that close to home will depend on where services are situated in your "local" area.

Here in rural Norfolk it is 17 miles to the doctor's surgery, supermarkets are eight and 12 miles distant, whilst trips to the physiotherapist for my wife involve a round trip of 64 miles.

In comparison, our daughter (who lives in Crawley) walks to the supermarket, doctors and so on.

[O.C.]

I suppose that close to home will depend on where services are situated in your "local" area.

Here in rural Norfolk it is 17 miles to the doctor's surgery, supermarkets are eight and 12 miles distant, whilst trips to the physiotherapist for my wife involve a round trip of 64 miles.

In comparison, our daughter (who lives in Crawley) walks to the supermarket, doctors and so on.

Exactly Colin, we also live in a 'rural' area where essential trips to things like doctors, shops etc involve a 20+ mile round trip. Having said that I wouldn't swap it for anything       

[flatfour]

Nor would I, Rog. I start to panic when I see street lights these days, as I realise that I am approaching a more densely populated area!

It is perhaps strange to think that as we age, we value seclusion and privacy evermore, in contrast to the Japanese (for instance) who tend to move to ever more populous areas in their later years.

Currently my wife's sister and her husband, who have always lived in a small hamlet some 60 miles from Tokyo, are looking for an apartment in the city, as they have now retired. They will keep their present house for weekends away, I am told.

Equally, I remember when my father - in -  bought the land for a holiday home in the 1980's, no - one had bought the plots nearby in over a year, so he bought two more and offered them free to anyone who would build there  so that they had neighbours!

[O.C.]

Blimey... as my (ex)Late father-in-law used to say when referring to cities  " a team of wild horses wouldn't/couldn't drag me there"

I understand though that we are all different and have our own needs, likes and dislikes

[pross]

Nope, I started both bikes last weekend and let them run until the fans kicked in.
Haven't ridden either since early December.

Isn't everyone supposed to be staying close to home? From what I see on my few trips to the local shops & takeaways, a great many people are just doing whatever they like, but then they are all special. Their mummy told them so. <sigh>

Totally agree boomer.
Kids/ youths buying day savers on the buses sometimes  sometimes paying. I know some parents are working but it's    you I'm alright Jack .my next door neighbour and her carer come boyfriend buy plants 2 or 3 days regular where are plants on the essential shopping list 🤔.
It's becoming to close and nasty i now know of 6 families in my circle of friends who have lost members of the families due to this vile illness. as I write this a good friend who is in his early 60s is in an induced coma without the ventilator he would be dead he is unable to breathe himself.
Like you I opened the shed doors and fired her up till the fans kicked in

[Lonewolf]

I must admit I did go into the garage a week or so ago and fire the GS up, I needed to hear that all too familiar tractor sound of it's engine chugging along. 

[pross]

I must admit I did go into the garage a week or so ago and fire the GS up, I needed to hear that all too familiar tractor sound of it's engine chugging along. 

Mine sounded lovely echoing in the close environment of the steel shed walls 👌 I didn't rev it honest 😈

[Brizzlerob]

And tell us how was the ER6N ?  They have a great reputation 

The ER6-N was a fun ride despite the temperature. Sat comfortably on the motorway. As it was a trip to bring it back from Uni we travelled late in the day to avoid too much traffic and therefore people and I did not look to take any sort of scenic route. I would happily buy one and I am in fact looking to buy it's successor the Z650 later in the year (once I get an opportunity to test ride ie once restrictions have been eased). All the reviews that I have seen have found it to be able to hold it's own in the mid size class.