Dawn to Dusk

I managed to get to the 11th Dawn to Dusk this year – first time since 2005. For those of you who have never been able to attend its the uk’s longest enduro event which consists of multiple separate races and a gruelling 24, 12 and 6 hour solo and team event. The event is headed by 4 time paris-dakar veteran Nick Plumb who manages the UK Toratech operation and the race has hosted a whole group of bike fans including Alfie Cox, Ross Noble and Charley Boorman who raced in preparation and training for his assault on the 2006 Dakar – the UK weather was kind and the racing challenging – looking forward to 2013.

The steed of choice

Riding a bike allows you to be in contact with all your senses – you feel the land you are travelling within, smell the delicate natural nuances and on occasion the industrial belching’s, but it forces you to be one with the environment. Smells are evocative and as I write this I can vividly remember fields of deep purple lavender which were the precursors of millions of insects scurrying for pollen in central France. Of course the bike of choice is crucial and I have seen workaday scooters whose range may be less than half a kilometre to excellent classic bikes lovingly maintained and cherished by doting owners – I know which one I would prefer…

Fauno Bar

An ice cold beer and a bowel of green and black olives would refresh most travellers. Over the last weeks I have spent many happy evenings in Fauno Bar, simply watching other travellers cascade past or admiring classic motorcycles as their effortlessly cool owners stop for engaging conversations and socialisation.