I am
actually sitting down at the moment, in a chair in front of the computer. Have
not been to much time for that in the month that have passed.
Bessie let
me down on her first ride, those coming by this blog regularly will remember.
To get her
back up running involved some good help, Swede and master mechanic Anders
Karling made me new inlet valves and a local company working with engine
building repaired my valve seats and inlet guides.
Why the
inlet valve on the rear cyl scored in its guide was more complicated than just
a tight fit. The main reason for this was due to a pair of rocker arms with a
geometry not matching the criteria.Will get back to how I solved this in a later post.
How the postal system manage to use a month in carrying a pair of head gaskets from Holland to Norway is one of those mysteries we will never understand.
Luckily I found gaskets with a local Harley supplier, Twin Thunder in Lyngdal the former Norwegian Harley importer.
There was
desperation in the air when I finally had Bessie all back in one piece, only
three days before the ferry I was booked were to leave for Denmark and the
Castle run.
Managed to
get ridden some 200km`s before entering the ferry port at Kristiansand harbour,
not much time to learn Bessies whims.
Wednesday.
Leaving ol
Norway in god weather was; signed and my better half Øyunn on her trusty Beemer
and Peggy on her chopped Sportster (now wit a luggage rack and a front mudguard
that would be appreciated on the trip).
Having spent
two and a half hour eating breakfast on the ferry we arrived in Hirtsals -
Denmark. IT rained, pouring down, a rain whose strength took biblical
proportions, we only missed Noa`s Ark and the scene would have been complete. And it
rained like this for a steady 400km`s all the way down to Copenhagen where we
would start our journey by visiting James the fame from Jamesville, the Killer Bobbers gang, their
friends and the Dice issue 50 release party to be held at Motorius.
When
entering the city limits of Cph the rain started taking its toll on both riders
and machines, Bessie was reluctant in being a two cylindered machine if rev`s
came below crescendo level, not too easy with no sight and traffic lights at
every corner. Solved this
by paying a local taxi driver to lead us to Motorius`s locations. When I asked
the driver to buy his dry socks he was more reluctant, a shame I really needed
them socks (got Jakob Ole`s later in the evening, thanks mate).
To arrive
at Motorius was as getting home, Lau and Kasper, bikes, parts, atmosphere,
friends you didnt even know you had, old friends came by, a place under roof to
park our bikes and location for soaked motorcycle gear.
All off a
sudden we had passed midnight with more than a hour talking and drinking when
we finally got to our hotel in walking distance from Engehave vej - Cph, the
most biker friendly place ever for anyone interested in old motorcycles in
general and old US made cicles in particular.
Thursday,
great weather, what a relief for exhausted motorcycle riders.
Started the
day getting served an excelent breakfast by Kim in the workshop he share with
his mates. Kim is well known of those that have been following the biker scene
on the www for many years as he toured Japan and US on his bobbed Nimbus.
Another person of certain bike fame sharing the garage with Kim is Mads the
creator of Alma 4, now building a Big Bertha engined Super X from drawings
only.
Having finished
the breakfast at Kims place we walked by most of the Killer bobbers workshops
under his guidance. All garages showed up with hectic activity, obviously there
were still issues to be solved prior to their leave for the Castle run.
Spent the
rest of Thursday morning with Bessie, dried out her coil, spark plug cables and
changed oil on the engine. Thanks a lot for being allowed to wrench in the
Motorius garage.
The Dice
issue 50 release party!
And what a
party, held in Motorius brick layered back yard where green leafs made a
natural roof over the scene. Rockabilly music with Hammond organs and Leslie
speakers, beer served from the garage and a crowd of friendly people steadily
growing from 12 noon to well after midnight.
Thanks to
all, making this event to such a great party.
Friday, the
ride out!
We were
supposed to gather at Motorius to ride out for the Castle run at 1200. The road
captain Jakob Ole delayed the departure to 1 o`clock, a wise act.
The waiting
time we spent at Allan & Jakob Oles Coffe-shop, what a great job they did
in creating this place.
A crowd of
approx. 50 bikes split the Cph. traffic heading for the highway to get us out
of town, cool.
The ride
down to Krenkerup at Lolland where the castle is located took some three hours
including gas and food at organized stops.
Arriving at
the castle we were greeted by Patrick at the gates, Patrick being the only one I
know that can state “my home is my castle”, and it`s true!
All bikes
were parked at a green field next to the stables, which was transformed to dance
hall, restaurant and more. Krenkerup`s own beer was served and we jumped right
on to a pint of “Høst” to chill down. Got the tent raised at the camp behind
the stables and Friday went by in a haze, talking and checking out bikes, an
excellent dinner served and all accompanied by great music and Krenkerup`s
beer.
Saturday
morning, rain but we could see the better coming.
While
enjoying the breakfast and tea we could see weather change and in time for the
ride out to investigate Krenkerups surroundings sun was back on. The ride out
started as a slow ride at small roads, even loads of curves (didn’t know they
existed in Denmark), the slow ride was soon to change its phase and my mind got
me to think of another island frequently visited by bikes at speed, this one in
Ireland tough.
A
Knucklehead well dug into the dirt in a field (it didn’t manage the curve)
brought the speed back to decent levels and we did all arrive back to the
castle in one piece to see more bikes and people arrive.
To
summarize Saturday;
More great meals,
beer, talking to old and new friends, cheking out bikes, music and more alike.
Thanks to Patrick, James and their staff off helpers for gathering such a great
bunch of lads and girls from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, US, Netherlands,
Poland, Belgium, Germany and any whom I might have forgotten.
Names, I`m
hopeless with such but I mention some from the top of my head;
Allan,
Niklas, Martin, Morten, Jakob Ole, James, Paulie, Rowan,, Renshaw the Sinners; Totte and Per, Dean and
his great dad, Lau, Kasper, Karsten, Jimmy, Gareth and Bedwer, Cay, Lee Beef, Greasy
and many many more.
Sunday.
Time for
wake up clock, had to leave before breakfast to get the ferry from Lolland to
main land. As our ferry back to Norway was due to leave afternoon we had no
time to spill. But faith is not always fare to the winning team. All off a
sudden Peggy and her Sportster was out of my mirror just when riding onto the
highway E45 in Middelfart. Damned, had to ride a couple of km`s to find a safe
place to stop to wait for her calling. Having got her call I had to lend Øyunns
Beemer to rescue her, my main tool brought beeing a pair of Danish pliers gently lent
by a Danish panhead owner from nearby Fredrikshavn (you will get them back, true). Peggy`s gear shifter had broken off and was off no
use. Got the Sporty set in fourth by means of the pliers and with some
additional clutch wear she rode the following 300 Km`s in one gear. We missed
the ferry tough, not due to old Bessie but rather the new Harley in the team. I
did hear a hum hum from Bessie when riding the Higway north, the old ones might
not be the worst after all!!
Luckily we
managed to get on to another ferry later in the evening and we were home early
in the morning Monday, exhausted of joy and a 1000 Km`s ride. The human brain
is funny, the rain is now forgotten, as is the technical mishaps. All there is
left is great memories from Cph. and Castle run 2013.
Tour by the Killer bobber`s garage`s & Jamesville;
Motorius;
Engehave Cafe;
Dice party;
Ride out from Motorius;
Castle Run 2013;
Puuhh!
There should or could have been so many more pics from this great event, still those shown do tell what Castle Run 2013 was all about, friendship & motorcycles!
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