London was calling

On the train from the midlands to London. I listened to The Clash, London Calling.

Its both a distopian and resilient view of London. It seemed fitting as a bombing in the tube had set a sombre tone.

But London is London no matter.

Despite the confrontation London open day was in full swing as was Thames week.

And it gave a little sometime for mariner like me.

These 10 Thames barges had sailed up the river.

And were using their motors against the ebb tide to hold formation still in the water. Such seamanship.

And really there is something special about the English is their way with the sea and boats.

Be it Drake’s Golden Hind

Or the uniquely English narrow boats that carried goods and produce from the midlands to London prior to rail

Along the Grand Union Canal.

And now provide floating pleasure.

So I did go to London!

Lago di Como (Lario)

The brochure called it the lake of dreams.

View over Lake Como from the Somana galleries above Mandello De Lario

But it’s a lake of life and vitality.

From the tourist towns like Bellagio

The narrow streets of the villages full of smells of fine food, chatter and laughter

And beautiful villages that held forged dreams that became Italian classics.

Like Carlo Guzzi’s dream for an industry for his village

So if Lake Como is a village of dreams it’s also the essence of Italian love and lust for live, beauty and exuberance.

The piecemealadventurer Mandello de Lario where dreams do come true.

Angel(s) of the North

Overlooking Newcastle upon Tyne the is the Angel of the North

An imposing piece of public art that hovers on a hill above the Tyne and Newcastle.

There were also some angels of the north at Mo Tech the Moto Guzzi dealer in Newcastle.

The provided me a bit of space out the weather to make a running repair.

A little workshop space out of the weather

Angels come in different forms

Glasgow and people

A hundred and fifty years ago Glasgow was the second city of the empire

A centre of heavy industry such as shipbuilding and textile manufacture

A centre of design, typified by the Glasgow architecture.

But a century or so later Glasgow was struggling to survive as a city.

Unemployment, poverty and significant population decline challenging the future of the once great city

While in the UK, in Australia, there is tension and a struggle about accepting migrants and refugees.

For Glasgow, have stabilised it’s population.

The cities motto “People make Glasgow” a reflection of the more diverse international city it has become.

People make Glasgow proudly on the new skyline.

Maybe we should all be thinking about people, humanity.

Back in the UK after 17 years

It’s been 17 years since I visited the UK

December 1999

A cold wet winter of long nights and freezing days.

This trip its summer and the days are long, damp and cool. Not all the different from the Australian winter I left behind.

With help from local guzzista I have the mighty breva II ready for this adventure.

Mighty breva II in front of an old porcelain kiln, Stoke on Trent

This adventure starts in Stoke on Trent, once the porcelain capital of the world. Here I collected the Moto Guzzi, I’ve bought in the UK.

Thanks to Kate and Guy of the GB Moto Guzzi club my dream of riding again in Europe is happening.

I rode up the motorway to Glasgow through the damp air and rolling green fields.

To be greeted by the march of the orange men and woman.

The loyalists.

Flying the flags trooping the colours and beating the drum

I reflected that this is what confronts and challenges the UK.

Great glories of the past celebrating victories a century or more old. Masking an underlying anger and frustration that divides the country. Orange VS Green, North VS South, the pro brexit VS the anti brexit. It’s a challenging time.

And as I ponder this there is the beautiful architecture of Glasgow.

The great Victorian design from designers like Rennie Macintosh.

And the music

In the streets and pubs.

Cold and damp Glasgow has struggled through some tough times.

But as the city’s new motto says

People make Glasgow