Another pointless thread

Hmm it's no better here in Sangatte.
We decided we couldn't face Antwerp in the rush hour and stopped here for the night

Second night in Basildon. Heading North West tomorrow before heading North East on Friday.

Just one more room and finished

New rear ends on Brunhilda's exhaust system.

Too hot and getting hotter!

It's hotter here in West Yorks than it was in Menton 2 weeks ago, and that's on the Med!!

The trip was superb, we had hail (yes really!), rain and sun. We drove through snow drifts on the way up to Col d'Iseran and Col Galibier. the food was great, it was France after all, and scenery, well what can I say?

My 'diary' is available here http://www.hardgravity.co.uk/Holidays/RdeGA/p1.htm along with a link to the gallery.

If this is retirement then bring it on, now where next?

Into the garden to mow the lawn and remove the weeds that had the temerity to grow during your absence? Up a step-ladder to do the painting you didn't get round to before retirement? Accompany Mrs HG on a trip to numerous shops where she can't decide on the new curtains and furniture? Retirement has many facets...

Steve

Enjoyed the diary. Glad you are enjoying retirement and the new toy.

The world is your oyster.

My son has just spent a few days riding down to the Black Forest and is now on his way home.
He goes to Germany with a couple of friends sometimes and they always enjoy the biking.
The Netherlands doesn't have the food or the weather of France but it does have some pretty nice routes for bikes. Up here in the north or down in the deep south especially.

Thanks Gwyn, I'll look into those roads.

I intend visiting a few places in the UK over the summer, especially up north from me. After all, the reason I bought Nina was to travel and see New places.

Any suggestions for how to train a couple of hop plants in the garden? One of the children gave me a couple for Father's Day. Apparently they grow 30ft per year (cut back to ground level every year too, thank goodness). Got to do something permanent soon, I heeled them in at a temporary spot but they're growing rapidly and have just encountered bindweed...

Steve

Well hop gardens use tall poles and wires to grow the hops up and along. I would guess some good sturdy trellising would work along with some training of the beasts.
Maybe something like the metal grids used in concrete reinforcement attached to some tall fence posts?

A neighbour at the last house grew them against our fence - so we ended up with hop plants everywhere Wrecked the fence too - we had to get a new one.

Good luck with the bindweed - we have it too, mixed in with the ivy along one boundary fence. It has come through from next door and is a total pita. Currently a fairly low priority due to the golden rod making a takeover bid for the entire garden.

Thanks for that. I was wondering about the new fence that next door put up last year. However, I want to remain on speaking terms with them...

Getting rid of bindweed is never ending chemical warfare. I want to know why it's never seen in TV gardening programmes.

Got rid of the golden rod a few years ago though . Brambles have taken its place.

Steve

Good this gardening lark isn't it?

HG I don't know if you know the app Kurviger. It is a German site and an app but has English settings.
It is aimed at motorcyclists, so you can make an interesting bike route, and import it to your satnav or use the app as a satnav.

https://kurviger.de/

That's a good link Gwyn, and it has english options (my German is ...)

I just put my post code in the start and North Cape in the destination and BOOM!

It's a 4393Km ride and should only take 3days 9 hours...

I assume that's continual driving.