I had a couple of boats to photograph in the far flung corner of Essex known as Wallasea Island, it is miles from anywhere and to be there for the tide I was on the road by 04.40. I got to just outside Epping, flying along on an A road, I have no idea where I was, I was simply doing as the Rat Nav told me, following the magenta line. 
I wasn't rushing, keeping a steady 65 or so but there was this big BMW car in a hurry, right on my tail, and I mean right on my tail he can't have been more than 10 feet of my number plate. I came round a sweeper and and the bike cut out.
Nothing, just died on me. How that car missed me I will never know, and I doubt the driver does either. Another coat of paint and we would have been having words.
Anyway, I coasted to a halt. Plenty of life, fuel pump whirring on the ignition, lights, starter spinning the motor freely, just no life. So I phoned the emrgency breakdown, which I have actually got through the bank. They sub-contract it out to Green Flag and I have to say, they had a guy in a van there within an hour. No complaints, nice lad, he asked what the problem was, I explained and he just dropped the tailgate and said where do you want it taken to. Now, I had a ponder, rang Mr. Steptoe and he said he could look at it in a few days. So that is where it went. When we arrived he came and had a quick look, pulling the injectors off - fuel pump is pumping but the injectors weren't injecting.....I thanked him for letting me take it to him and left him to it. The guy in the van then gave me a lift to an underground/overground station. Now, not being from London, and only having visited London about a dozen times in my life, mostly for an hour or so.....this was all new to me. I decided Victoria Coach Station was my best bet - got a train that took me to Victoria and bought a bus ticket for home. From the bike breaking down to dropping it at Steptoe's took about 3 hours, and I was gone from there about 14.00. From S. London to home, on public transport, took until the following day! The bus got me to Derby 10 minutes after the last train for Uttoxeter left...so I had to ring for Anna to come and fetch me. It was this mornig before I finally got home, just before 01.00. A long, unproductive day - but up until The Moment I had a brilliant ride across the country, so not all doom and gloom. Now I await the final verdict and I am steeling myself. I expect I shall be going on my hands and knees to the bank manager for an extention...I hope it isn't too drastic. At least I know it is the best hands.
I wasn't rushing, keeping a steady 65 or so but there was this big BMW car in a hurry, right on my tail, and I mean right on my tail he can't have been more than 10 feet of my number plate. I came round a sweeper and and the bike cut out. Nothing, just died on me. How that car missed me I will never know, and I doubt the driver does either. Another coat of paint and we would have been having words.Anyway, I coasted to a halt. Plenty of life, fuel pump whirring on the ignition, lights, starter spinning the motor freely, just no life. So I phoned the emrgency breakdown, which I have actually got through the bank. They sub-contract it out to Green Flag and I have to say, they had a guy in a van there within an hour. No complaints, nice lad, he asked what the problem was, I explained and he just dropped the tailgate and said where do you want it taken to. Now, I had a ponder, rang Mr. Steptoe and he said he could look at it in a few days. So that is where it went. When we arrived he came and had a quick look, pulling the injectors off - fuel pump is pumping but the injectors weren't injecting.....I thanked him for letting me take it to him and left him to it. The guy in the van then gave me a lift to an underground/overground station. Now, not being from London, and only having visited London about a dozen times in my life, mostly for an hour or so.....this was all new to me. I decided Victoria Coach Station was my best bet - got a train that took me to Victoria and bought a bus ticket for home. From the bike breaking down to dropping it at Steptoe's took about 3 hours, and I was gone from there about 14.00. From S. London to home, on public transport, took until the following day! The bus got me to Derby 10 minutes after the last train for Uttoxeter left...so I had to ring for Anna to come and fetch me. It was this mornig before I finally got home, just before 01.00. A long, unproductive day - but up until The Moment I had a brilliant ride across the country, so not all doom and gloom. Now I await the final verdict and I am steeling myself. I expect I shall be going on my hands and knees to the bank manager for an extention...I hope it isn't too drastic. At least I know it is the best hands.
I have done about 3000 miles since I put the battery in. All was fine, until one bump too many. So I have asked for forgiveness and offered the bike to be sacrificed on the altar of GS servicing in the hands of Sir Steptoe of Surbiton. I shall look forward to many more miles going under the bash plate this year.......my Adv is booked in with him at the end of the month. It is going to be a good juggling act. 
