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Twin Town Courier - Into The Sunset

7/2/2015

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The sun sets over Suceava, Romania
Well the Twin Town Courier experiment has finally finished. I managed to meet the new Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth to deliver photographs and certificates from all our twin towns. On June 30th I dropped off my final delivery to Coventry, from its twin towns of Ostrava (Czech Republic) and Dresden (Germany). Mission accomplished, 20 countries visited and every delivery done using a 1968 Lambretta SX200.
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Seen off by Nuneaton Mayor Brian Hawkes
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Greeted by new N&B Mayor Barry Longden
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The final drop-off, with Michael Hammon, the Lord Mayor of Coventry
Along the way I learned not only about the fate of town twinning as a concept in the 21st century, but also about how politics, history and, most importantly, personal relationships make all the difference.  All these factors are intertwined like a poorly-packed parachute.

My biggest lesson was how fate itself can take you on many enlightening, educational and emotional paths if you simply follow coincidences rather than ignoring them. It also helps if you choose an unconventional form of transport. The trip wouldn't have been half as much fun, or such a challenge, on a reliable motorbike. My Lambretta turned a journey into an adventure. 

Twin Town Courier will eventually become a book. A rather excellent one too. Prospective publishers should form an orderly queue at my door.

No pushing at the back!

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A few stories from the trip can be found on my radio interview with Vic Minett here. It's on BBC iPlayer so there will be a limited period to listen again. The interview starts at 02:20:20.
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Twin Town Courier - LAMBRETTA TO WHERE?

7/2/2015

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Ukraine by Lambretta. Not sensible but fun...
So many individuals, organisations, clubs and businesses have helped me along the way that I barely know where to start when it comes to saying thanks.

You’ll find some preparation tips in the current (July 2015) edition of Scootering Magazine.

Of particular note are my scooter part sponsors who all got me out of holes at very short notice: Scooter Centre (fast economical pan-Euro parts service), MB Scooters (reed-valve RT kit tuning), Andy Francis Scooters (Franspeed Super Tourer exhaust) and Rimini Lambretta Centre (RLC).

I used one of RLC’s 5-speed Cyclone gearboxes throughout my trip and the extra gear made the whole journey far more enjoyable, particularly in the mountain sections.
Probably the most useful addition to my journalistic arsenal was my Sena Prism helmet camera and bluetooth intercom which allowed me to dictate (often sweary) video notes as I rode. It is a fantastic piece of kit that I will be reviewing soon for on-line adventure publication Motorcycle Explorer Magazine which is a free download. Shoei helmets - like my excellent XR1200 - are designed to work together with Sena kit and accept their earphones.

For lubricants I had sponsorship from Putoline Oils and I was kindly supported by Continental for Tyres. My faultless waterproof 40-litre Dry Pak was supplied by Kappa.

When it comes to clothing I rode the full journey wearing only Drayko (by Draggin') kevlar-lined stretch-denim jeans - one pair for every day riding and one pair for best in my destinations. No sweaty leather nonsense for scooterboys.

Doubling both as a smart jacket and a windproof mid-layer was my Knox Cold Killers Core V15. It doesn’t crease so it always looked good when meeting Mayors.

On the few days that it rained I resorted to my fluorescent Alpinestars Quick Seal-Out waterproof set which is breathable unlike many cheaper over-trouser sets.

Finally, thanks to P&O Ferries for helping me out with my Rotterdam to Hull crossing at short notice when I was tight on time and low on funds.

Cheers especially to Stuart who gave me the SX frame as a 21st birthday present many moons ago. It has been used as it should be: transport not an investment. Ridden not hidden…

Look out for the Twin Town Courier book in 2016 or revisit my Blog for the background of this adventure.

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