Gullible's Travels

I haven't blogged for so long I've forgotten how to put up a post -
maybe the technology has changed. There used to be a 'new post' hot
button.
As you all probably know, I'm back in motorcycle journalism as the
editor of Motorcycle Trader magazine. The appointment coincided with
not one but two overseas new bike launches: Harley-Davidson in America
and Royal Enfield in England.
I've never been to America before (goddamn homeland security!) but was
given a visa this time. The pendulum really swung the other way and I
now have a five-year working journalist visa. Cool. We flew (business
class, of course) first to Denver where we rode the bikes and then to
Milwaukee for the 110th H-D birthday celebrations. Part of the package
was Aerosmith tickets (Steve Tyler is Liv Tyler's dad - go figure) but
there were about 40 bands playing over the three days and I caught up
with the Doobie Brothers and ZZ Top.
What I discovered about America is that it's very diverse and it's
hard to say you know it from such a brief trip. Denver and Milwaukee
are like different countries so I can only imagine what the Deep South
and the New Mexico areas must be like. Experts tell me New York and
San Francisco aren't very much alike either.
The 110th celebrations were held in a variety of countries and, as you
can see from the picture, Pope Francis blessed the Italian riders.
England was more familiar and the trip included a ride from the iconic
Ace Cafe to Brighton Peer where the big mods/rockers riots took place
in the early '60s. The Royal Enfield bike in question is the
Continental GT which is a retro cafe racer which speaks to the early
'60s period.
Part of the experience was a walking tour around Soho to see the dives
the early rock bands played in. Eric Burdon still rates highly.
Another highlight was the Goodwood Revival where 50,000 poms dress up
as if it was the early '50s still and race old cars and bikes. The
costuming is spectacular - check out the cheeky fighter pilot in the
picture.
I'm back at work now and need to do more writing and less traveling.
The cousin's night in Sydney looks like it was a hoot and will just
make Annika a tiny bit more homesick than she already is. As you can
see from Nick's post below, Amanda is touring but we're all getting
together again soon for Paris and Lara's wedding in Sydney and, of
course, Damian's 50th. Not many more sleeps now...