I parked-up the bike, dismounted, and sauntered under the eaves of the large marquee, and into the middle of the tent.

“It’s a funny thing,” I started, “– you ride a Suzuki into the middle of a campsite full of BMW owners, and they look at you like you’re some sort of space alien…“. The next thing that happened was – well, I’d swear there was a sort of sproinging noise, a shriek of “Alec!” and I was Tigger-bounced upon and resoundingly hugged, which is no mean feat when the hugger is fully a foot shorter than you.

Yep, I went to see Cynthia Milton off on the launch of her Round-The-World Motorbike Trip – this involved getting up at some obscene hour and pumping myself full of coffee, and pegging it down the M3 to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest where the UK/RoI BMW Club were having their Annual Rally.

Not according to plan, there was no guy on the front gate to let me in, but some combination of looking aggreived and pushing buttons eventually (perhaps not causedly) led to someone turning and opening up. The aforementioned scene played-out, and farewells were said, and champagne popped.

Since – en-route to Dover – she was heading in my direction anyway, I followed Cyn for a few miles back to the motorway, before peeling off to refuel.

Pictures and a short video are at [www.crypticide.com]

Who knows? In a few years it might be me.