For some greenlaning tomorrow that is. Recalling my last outing, a few precautions have been taken, such as to have had a bashplate fitted and I have removed one mirror from the bike - the other will come off before we hit the dirty stuff. One problem is deciding where to put stuff like an essential toolkit and the mirror. The F800GS”’’s toolkit is like a poor joke and there is no room under the seat for much extra although I have managed to secrete a tupperware box of torx keys there. The mirror and a ratchet spanner for the torx bits will have to live in a tool roll strapped on the back seat.

The problem with stuff on the back seat, as I found out last time, is that in my riding suit and motocross boots, I can””t easily lift my leg high enough to clear the extra height - I am not Darcey Bussell! - still I think I can just about manage to clear the tool roll. This problem is of course much amplified when one can””t stand on a piece of level ground or is up to the knees in mud. Both these situations also preclude use of the sidestand and then the problem is compounded by having to keep the bike upright and by the time this becomes necessary, the bike weighs a ton because one is absolutely knackered. At least, I am knackered. This is partially due to my advancing years but mainly because I am out of conditon and haven””t yet been back to the gym since my Italian trip - or if I am honest since Patagonia, apart from a few forays that didn””t translate into peak condition… Only those who have ridden off-road know how much hard work motorcycling can be!