Storm Ciaran on it`s way ( It used to just be weather ...... they`ll be running out of bloody names soon ) .....Looked out of the window , didn`t look too bad so nipped down to Bristol to do a couple of things ....... On the way back it was still sunshine and blue skies so carried on a bit further to Sharpness Docks .....
By the old rail bridge an elderly bloke on a pushbike stopped and told me I could continue over the bridge to the other side of the docks .....
It was only blocked to heavy vehicles due to it`s wooden structure ....
He started chatting ( a lot ) , and told me he was an ex scrambler and trials rider , was 87 years old , still rode a Pan European , still had a Gas Gas , plus seven other bikes including a Vincent Comet , and Velo 350 ........
He used to scramble a Sprite framed 5TA , plus Greeves two strokes , and a 441 Victor ............ He knew Malcolm Davis and his father when they were still involved with Bultaco ............. He bought a Pursang which had a habit of breaking pistons ............... Malcolm gave him a replacement works piston to cure the problem ... " If anyone asks , tell them you got it at an autojumble " ........
He also pointed out the old Merchant Navy college across the other side of the docks , where Tommy Steele once attended , talked about the River Severn barge collision in the fog when several crewmen were killed , due to one of the vessels carrying petrol catching fire , resulting in the demolition of the Sharpness to Lydney rail bridge due to damage sustained in the collision ............ The remains of the bridge were bought by a German , who re- built the thing over a river in Germany .............. plus a million of other things including European touring on the Pan , almost buying an E -Type which was in pieces back in 1964 ( " although they were rubbish ............. narrow track causing instability at anything over 90 mph ") .......
Just shows .... don`t take too much notice of the weather forecast ......... you never know who you might bump into .......... ( Did get caught in a shower on the way home though ... ) .......