Just raised over the £2500 for GOSH!

In the middle of finishing a chapter of the book and ping - an email to say that we've now raised over £2500 for GOSH! Shall we raise the target ? £5000? What thinks? Let me know. @KateToj on Twitter or Facebook: http://on.fb.me/msEp7G

Thanks so much for all the fantastic support; financial, emotional, mechanical - it's brilliant!

Are ruts a bit like life or is life a bit like ruts?

Out with the boys today, that puts the pressure on in the speed stakes, it ups a level again! It's beginning to dawn on me that the trip to the Pyrenees isn't going to be taking a few pics, bit of gentle trundling on some soft grassy tracks and a coffee perhaps and on again (okay I did probably know that, however I now certainly understand what the 'enduro' bit means).

Another lovely sunny day, 'childrens' with the grandparents for a few hours, so another opportunity for some time in the saddle!

Would appear that I have a little trouble with my basket! A case with the basket eh? Hmm - has that been said before....? My 'clutch basket' to be precise - clutch is dragging, tick over is higher when in neutral then drops when gears engaged - that means more 'revving it' and throttle action. Needs a clean apparently, a job for Mr T me thinks, he did rather drily comment this evening that it would be 'making life more difficult'! Great, thought I or something along those lines. However, if I'm progressing with a dicky clutch basket, there may be hope for me yet!!

Ground as per yesterday very hard, I did a second great rut avoidance job though - or so I thought. When we got to a junction near Ashwell, Gary and Mr T suggested that we do a bit of a dog leg route - back to where we would then continue on. Extra practice, okay cool - road work fine, off road - arrghh, initially just a nice (my kind of) track, then around a corner, lots and lots of ruts appeared, relatively wide - 30 cms ish but hard as nails. Boys in cahoots - hhh! So, thought I, Boyd has taught me this, Donna has given me heaps of tuition, Martin consistently supported and given guidance and Gary and Mr T, I suppose must think I can do them. I had a quick look for an alternative - da nada.... Best go for it then.

Met a 4x4 on the way, actually thought I'd rather be on a bike than in a 4x4, kept the pace on, planned my route and voila - did it and no spills!

Been pondering this afternoon - are ruts a bit like life or is life a bit like ruts? Every rut presents you with the need to make a series of decisions, you approach the rut, assess the situation and decide what to do next. There are lots of different ways to tackle them; in them; on them, across them; sitting; up near the tank, legs out; standing; (better) steering with weight; lots of throttle, less throttle et al...... however the important thing is to do it your way and not just do what others have suggested you do. Take the advice and then do it your way (couldn't have done that a month ago!). 'I did it my way' as the Frank Sinatra said.

Chuffed moment that was!

So, followed the boys back, and continue to be utterly impressed when Gary sort of hops and manoeuvres the bike away from things - it was a low hanging tree. He sort of jumped his bike to the left - I ducked! Got sprayed with grit and dust a few times by the boys.....some time soon........

New donation to GOSH - fabulous!

Now pondering new goggles - is this potentially a shopping opportunity? Excellent! Blingy sunglasses whilst lovely, not really up to the job and as for the bugfest in my helmet this morning - would have made an entomologist envious. Have a selection of goggles provided by Gary to check out and Mr T has just handed me a glass of something bubbly - wonderful! Oh and 'Top Gun' is on the telly!! Wey hey.....................

Concrete ruts........and soft muck heaps!

What a glorious weekend! Mr T and I went out for an Easter trip this morning. Had my usual confidence wobble on departing however I'm beginning to whick along rather more quickly than I used to. Fabulous weather and a little breeze this morning so just lovely.

Being the Bank Holiday weekend, there were lots of people about and dogs - as a learner biker this is often good news as it also means a little rest (i.e. stop engine, greetings, little chat...). Only small stops though as Mr T was pressing on rather - so I had to keep up!

The ground was like concrete and very, very dusty. The ruts that one had hitherto undertaken that had soft sides certainly didn't any more! So, I figured avoidance tactics today then. Won't do the concrete ruts, I'll go round them!

This all went well until I rounded a corner and there was a family and assorted small dogs some way off on the side of the byway with 'no ruts' - oh!

A few lessons back Donna had said 'now if you have to go across any ruts, as opposed along and in them as it were, do it diagonally and with purpose'. Right! So that's what I did, with purpose, diagonally and with a wee Gary tip too - if in doubt use the throttle, the bike will take it, just make sure you can stop afterwards! I did, I did and I did - yippee!

Later on we came upon some unavoidable ruts and I did it, throttle - looking where I was headed rather than where I was at (I hope a temporary bad habit...) and voila! Then thought, I could perhaps practice on these and then thought 'practicing ruts feels somewhat akin to practicing toothache' - now why would one do that - have 4 1/2 months to go, I'll do that another day!! I did however go in and out the ditch several times - yeehah!

In the pic attached there is a big, smelly heap of muck and straw - always on the look for a soft landing just in case I need it - even if it does stink!

Being Easter have now had my full of really far too much chocolate - better work it off tomorrow on the bike - still burning quite a lot of calories through both fear and riding!

Very excited about a conversation with Steve Parrish's (MotoGP commentator and former top level racer - Barry Sheen's team mate) lovely girlfriend Michelle. Planning a wee event of some sort; food, marquee, music and Steve has extremely kindly agreed to donate something to auction - most chuffed! Watch this space - will let you know the date.

Now, where was I, there's some chocolate somewhere..........

The art of sneaking out and not getting caught...!

The GasGas needed an MOT today. So, took the bike off to the local garage, having got a new bulb for a light I hadn't been aware wasn't working. When the lights are on it puts more drag on the engine, so I don't put them on very often! I'm certainly not up to night riding!

I called the garage a little later in the afternoon and the GasGas had passed with flying colours - okay I added that bit. Mr T happened to be home so he dropped me at the garage to collect the bike before he set off for an appointment in Cambridge.

Sunny day, late afternoon - opportunity for a little outing I thought, little divert onto the local byway, girls at playdates and Mr T on his way to Cambridge -that's means I have at least an hour.....

So, off I went, spotted some young chaps in my peripheral vision when leaving the garage and John Sole, the proprietor smirking as I went. Thing is, I'm learning all the time and when I pulled out into the village high street I was very aware, just beyond bite point of clutch, that if I let it out completely chances are I'd do a wheelie! Now whilst that's quite cool, if illegal, falling off the back would most definitely be uncool! So, hung on in there and off I went.

Ground hard, bit of gravelly stuff.... had lots of fun, one or two wobbles and rescues and didn't stall once - or spill come to that - yippee!

When I got back home, I spotted Mr T's car in the drive! He appeared smiling and said 'well, if I was you, I'd have done the same'. Oop....teehee......

Had a fabulous conversation with Billy Ward this afternoon too, discussing creativity, learning and development, Charley's advertures in Alaska - all top stuff and very inspiring!

PS> the picture is 'the other side of the hill' in Tuscany.....

On the opposite side of the hill...

Still in the mountains of Northern Tuscany. Friend's lovely son, Sam, has now 'at last', commented mate Becky, got me on Facebook - inspired by Billy Bike Truck and Charley Boorman ( http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/biketruck & http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charley-Boorman/13049939150 ) chatting about the challenge and fundraising on Facebook! My facebook page is basic basic at the moment .....so watch this space.

On the other side of the hill, Mr T and I have spotted some superb trails and rides up in the hills and mountains - just awesomely fantastic scenery and terrain. Earlier today, we were all sitting in the village watching the world go by over machiato, cappucino - as you do - ... and about six KTMs and a couple of Hondas went along the road in front of us. I was so envious (wouldn't have been some six months ago!!)and wanted to join them, which would have been tops with Mr T, and eight year old would have been very keen, especially with her CRF70 however not sure if 2 year old in a backpack would be a good plan (it's okay only joking!). Next time we might just bring the bikes with us. Just need to be aware of the wild boar! Eeek! Porcupines too and therefore the mousses might well be required (of the rubber variety as opposed to chocolate - for those non-bikey of you, it's a special squishy thing instead of an inner tube that stops one getting punctures!). Haven't spotted a GasGas yet!

Loving Italy, the vibrant green of the trees, the passion of the people, the blue of the sky.......so apologies for the black and white of the blog over the last few days. Stylish as black and white is, I need to up my game from a technology perspective and get the clips and photos onto the blog when without laptop. Looks like some visits to The Gadget Show and taking some of Suzi Perry's advice.

Whilst friends were out (whose gorgeous house we're staying in), one did succeed in directing the Italian bathroom fitters not only to the house but also an understanding of why one of the newly fitted showers was leaking. Well....... if I'm honest the younger and rather aesthetically pleasing of the two.......did speak English.....

Thanks, thanks, thanks Charley!

Currently on a sofa with an Alsatian puppy, stonking view of the mountains, glass of something local, laptop and an email from Billy. Whoopee! At a friend's gorgeous hill top house near Bagni di Lucca in Tuscany and chuffed to bits .... and some!!!!

Long been a fan of Charley Boorman (Long Way Round ....amongst masses of other cool stuff) and today Charley's tweeted and FB'd about the challenge and fundraising efforts!

How cool is that! Fabulously fantastic!

Haven't got my bike in Italy - the terrain here however would be tiptop for my newly acquired novice skills (some bits rather more than others obviously?!). Do however have TBM, enduro DVDs and so some visualisation for the next few days. I've spotted lots of new bruises, likely sustained at the weekend - who's counting - when you're having fun!

Thanks Charley, thanks Billy.............stellar guys.......

Pics! It wasn't a figment of my imagination then!