Dawn of the Punisher Part 3

After all this time it was time to test ride her for the first time. Although I may have had some trepidation the guys from Casarva were worse, with Matt having to walk inside and Steve holding his breath for the entire circuit of the trading estate. Apparently they have had some less than successful first rides by new owners and is why Steve will never stand in front of a new trike on collection day again !!
The guys kindly did the deed of loading the Punisher onto the transporter for me and we set about tying her down.

After the guys had said their goodbyes ! To the trike not us ! We set off for the 6 hour drive home. I have to say that the first miles were not the carefree ones I would have liked. Every bump, every enforced breaking, every oncoming white-line-wanderer had me panicking that if I didn't keep one eye on the rear view mirror that I wouldn't have a trike at all. To be honest I think I only relaxed once we reached the M6 !!
It is reassuring to know that the all powerful rain ritual that is anything to do with a bike is not hampered by the addition of a third wheel. In true bike fashion it through it down around Birmingham and we decided to take a break at Strensham services.

Bloody stupid, bloody English weather !

Overall it was a great trip back with some great reactions on the way from a lot of fellow bikers. Think we arrived home around 19:30 and my Dad came straight over and got roped into helping to unload. Not before a first test sit from Callen.



And once it was in the garage Aliya tried it out for size as well.

After all this time, effort, planning, effort, money, stress, effort, lots of money I finally had my trike in the garage, a very special couple of days.

Time for a severe rest and some medication ! The weekend is going to be a full one with visitors, familiarisation, testing and running in.

Dawn of the Punisher Part 2

OK I admit that Friday 13th was a lot like Christmas morning for me (and apparently it's only unlucky if you're a knights Templar !! So that's OK then ;-). We set ourselves up for the day with a properly good breakfast at the hotel and set off for our 10:00 appointment at Casarva.


I somehow managed to allow a very cool 10 extra minutes before rolling into Casarva to hide the fact I was like a dog with 2 dicks !! Steve, Matt and Mike were waiting for us and led us inside to meet their creation of the thing that had been dreamt up in my head.

 
What can I say ?? When you have had something in your head for so long and it only existed in the ether that to see it made real was quite a moment. I'm not sure I have the literary skills to describe the way I felt or how to thank the guys for pulling out all the stops to get the Punisher ready.

Below is an ultra rare photo even David Attenborough would be proud of apparently ! Matt may be a genius engineer but he never sits on, let alone rides, any of his creations, that's Steve's job !!

I may be biased but I honestly think they knew they had created something a bit special !!



Dawn of the Punisher Part 1

After all this time dreaming, plotting, planning, arranging and creating the week of delivery was upon us. Apologies it's taken this long to update the blog but it's been hectic and it's taken it's toll on me. On Thursday we got ready to go to Peterborough, everything sorted and planned for ! All eventualities with contingencies in place can't leave anything to chance, not with my luck. The car has been fitted with it's brand new tow bar we are good to go. Everything loaded we head down to Tamar towing, "Good morning !! I've come to collect the trailer I've had booked for over 3 months with the car you knew we were going to use ! " "Sorry sir you can't tow that trailer with that car"
The next part I will edit for family consumption, "Goodness me I exclaim why ever not the combination of the trailer and trike is 1000Kg and the car can tow 1250Kg, I've done my homework !!!" "Ah says Mr Tamar but that trailer COULD carry 2000Kg so your not allowed to tow it" Is it just me or is that the biggest pile of bollox you've ever heard ?? With that logic no car capable of more than 70 mph could be rented because you COULD go faster than the limit or you could at any time be arrested for drink driving because you COULD go to a pub and get bladdered !!!
The next 3 hours involve an awful lot of swearing, thinking, swearing, phone calls, bit more swearing, a trip to Lee Mill and some more swearing. At this point my outstanding sister and Barney come to our rescue and offer up their car. You beauties !! You have saved the day I can't thank you both enough. So 3 hours later than advertised we are back at TTC hitching up a trailer and we are off to Peterborough HOO-Bloody-RAY.
After this blood pressure bursting start the rest of the trip passes without any issues. I'll gloss over the swearfest that was the wrong turn in sight of the hotel that had a bridge less wide than the trailer ! Arse !! At least I now know I can reverse turn a trailer in some blokes driveway !!
We finally park up in the hotel car park and check in at the Dragonfly hotel. For the money it's brilliant and we sit on the terrace with a well deserved beer, in the sun overlooking the Peterborough rowing club

Another beer, a nice meal and another beer, did I mention it's been a stressful swearfest of a day. Off to bed, tomorrow we collect The Punisher.