news - last update 8th May 2012 - WHITE ROSE MOTORCYCLE TOURS

21st April 2012
Hi, just to let you know that we are back in the UK, I must admit it is a bit of a shock leaving temperatures in the high 80,s to the low 50,s. However, the sun is shining at the moment and I am looking forward to our first tour of the year.  A big thank you to Dorothy and Keith who looked after the shop whilst we were away, and as usual, did a great job.

Both the NW200 and Mountains of Spain are now fully booked and closed. There is just one room left on the Mountains of France Tour , but we have to close this soon. We have several Double/Twin rooms remaining on the Scottish Highlands Tour, we will not be doing this next year so if interested. please contact us soon.   

8th April 2012
Happy Easter, hope you all have a good weekend, although from a biking point of view I believe it is a bit of a washout, such a shame after the good weather you have been enjoying. Not to rub it in, its a little warmer here, think it will be about 92F today. In true Easter spirit I am sat here watching some baby bunnies running around the garden, unfortunately a hawk also knows where they live and flew down to sit outside their burrow entrance with lunch in mind. Scared him off, but not sure if they will get to see Whitsuntide 
The French breatheralyzer debate rumbles on, but thanks to Dave Archibald for the link below warning that you must get a French NF approved kit. (why am I not surprised). a French connection also tells me these can be bought in any of the French supermarkets for about 1 Euro. http://www.frenchbreathalyzer.com/?gclid=CMW7iN_Jpa8CFcEPfAodDmxIag

27th March 2012
Further to previous comments regarding the new law that from the 1st July 2012 all vehicles travelling in France will have to carry a single use breathlyser, Keith White advises me that he has just had a mailshot from Autobulbs.direct.co.uk offering BreathTest kits for use in France costing £5.00 per pair which comply to their laws.

24th March 2012
Just a few lines regarding our first tour of the year "Best of the West" - this is quite well subscribed but we still have a few Double and Twin rooms remaining. If you are interested please contact us soon as we will be closing the tour on April 1st. This should be a nice tour to start the year with as we start with two days in Wales before passing through Derbyshire and into Yorkshire. The tour continues up through the Northern Pennines to our final hotel in Galloway and Dumfries putting us within easy reach of the Scottish Borders. With traffic free roads and lovely scenery, this is always one of our favourite destinations.

Thanks to Mike of 'Tiger Twin' fame for owning up to watching an episode of "Helicopter Heroes" (actually I quite like it myself)  - here is what he sent

 "I've just watched an episode of "Helicopter Heroes" (we semi retired folk lead busy lives) and whose face should pop up on the screen...one of our paramedic friends from last year's Dolomites tour, Dave Butterfield! He was on a day off taking a ride out alone in the Yorkshire countryside when he came across an accident involving two bikes. Both riders and one female pillion passenger were injured quite badly and the scene was carnage.

Dave swung into action and took control assessing the scene, administering first aid and advising the emergency services and also the air ambulance crew on their arrival so that all the casualties were successfully looked after. At the end of the piece the attending police officer was full of praise for Dave saying how he had made his job so much easier by his actions

12th March 2012
Thanks to everybody who has visited the facebook and left comments, would appear that it is all working properly - but what would I know !  Looks like Spring has finally arrived with some decent sunny days and higher temperatures, no doubt letting you brush off the cobwebs and get on the bikes. I ride out here a couple of times a week, although nearly always sunny, it can be quite chilly first thing and you gradually peel layers off as the day gets into the 70s and 80's.

I said I would let you know how I got on with the helmet camera I bought at the BMF. Well after a few false starts I finally got it up and running. I downloaded some free video editing softeware from the internet and then uploaded it onto u-tube. So if you would like to see my efforts go to http://youtu.be/PFgH56CUia0  the video shows a run we took through an area called Patagonia (not the country) and then offroad through the Coronodo National Forest. Thought we had got done for speeding at one point but turned out that we were been stopped for a wide load phew! I did not have the camera running when I hit soft sand and nearly fell off Mmmm..

7th March 2012

Well I think I have finally got the Facebook page sorted after our Group page was archived, its taken three attempts but I am a bit of a luddite when it comes to social networks. I know many of you wanted to be able to post comments, pictures and generally keep in touch with each other, which hopefully the new page will allow you to do. Having deleted all the posts and pictures from the previous pages, I have put a selection of pictures from each of last years tours on the new page. However, we will also continue to write here and put all the tour pictures into the web gallery. You can access the Facebook page by following the link at the bottom of the home page.  

3rd March 2012
Ok it official, the French are nuts... I see that from the 1st July 2012 all vehicles travelling in France will have to carry a single use breathlyser. This apparently applies to all vehicles except mopeds, see http://www.thelocal.fr/2725/20120301/ . No doubt the ferry companies are rubbing their hands in anticipation of selling 1000,s of the kits which are expected to retail at around £2. Not a great deal of money, but as a friend commented, at this rate we will have to have a top box just to carry all the junk to travel across France. 

Having followed many a Frenchman wandering across the road after a lunchtime meal we welcome anything that makes things safer, but long lunches and drinking wine is engrained in French culture and one wonders how sucessful they will be. 

Enjoying our stay out here in Arizona and had a long ride down towards the Mexican Border. 180 miles in total, with probably 40 miles of that on hard packed gravel roads. 90% of Arizona's road are like that, so ideal for BMW GS1200, Triumph Tigers, that kind of bike. Saw no one all day with the exception of numerous Border Patrol people who constantly monitor the Mexican-USA border to keep out illegal aliens and drug smugglers. Been a busy two weeks with a Golf Tournament and annual Rodeo in town. Thankfully the weather was kind unlike last year when it snowed, but when the snow dissapears in hours I am not sure it counts. The excitement this week is that David Beckham along with other football legends such as Thierry Henry are in town to play in a soccer tournament, a sport that is gaining momentum over here.

26th February 2012
Hope you are all well and will no doubt be glad to see the end of February. Not that one wants to wish their lives away but it will be good to have the good biking weather back. I am pleased to say that bookings are going well, with two tours fully booked and others with only a few places left, however, we still have vacanicies left, so we hope you will find something to catch your imagination and that you will join us on tour in 2012.  We try and make our website as comprehensive as possible, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I hope you are enjoying the new website, I think we have ironed out most of the glitches and will continue to make improvements, if there is anything you would like to see added or have ideas for improvements please let us know and we will see what we can do. Whilst doing the website it is enevitable that other tour companies websites catch you eye, some are old friends, and like ourselves are well established, whilst others are just starting out. Everyone has to start somewhere, and we wish these new companies well, however, I must admit to being slightly annoyed by having tours and great chunks of text 'plucked' from our own website. So come on guys, you are not going to be an overnight success (it took us 10 years) but you will suceed if you put the work in.  

Ok rant over - I said I would keep you informed on our activities whilst over here. I have fitted the new shock absorber and handlebars to the Triumph and it has made the handling much better.Unfortunately the existing bar ends were not Triumph ones and would not fit so I have had to buy some - wow - are they expensive! $157 to be exact. I even checked up on a UK site, but with postage worked out even more. After last years problems with rectifier I was confident of the bike starting, but the Arizona sun is cruel to batteries and so that had to be replaced before the engine cracked into life. It has all been worth while though, as I have already had several ride outs and the desert flowers are just coming out to bloom.

15th February 2012
Hallo from the US of A. Well no doubt you will see we have our new website up and running, we hope you like it. We have taken our time getting things right, but if there is any broken links or things not quite right please let us know, 100's of eyes are better than one.

I am pleased to say that the shock absorber, as well as a pair of handlebars made it safely through security checks, so plan to get them fitted today and get the bike up and running. Its pleasant riding weather 60-70's with the usual Arizona sunshine, but the nights' are still cold, but then this is a desert.

Just watching the news here and see that they are going to vote on whether to remove speed and traffic light camera's. These were only introduced 2 years ago but are already earning Tucson City an embarrasing amount of money and are very unpopular. To be honest the speed camera's are not a problem but the camera's to stop people running red lights are a nuisance, as they do not seem to be set up right and can flash you if you get stuck in the centre of the junction whilst turning. Somehow I can not see us UK getting a free vote for removing our speed camera's.

Enjoy the site and will keep you updated from over here.

8th February 2012
Well as promised I need to write a few lines before I depart for the USA. Whilst we are away the office will once again be manned by Dorothy and Keith who will be able to help you with any bookings or questions that may arise. With modern communications, I of course can monitor everything and will be answering all emails. If you really get bored and want a chat, you can call on Skype, (whiterosetours) I usually switch it on at 0800 hrs which is 1500hrs your time.

Hope to do a bit of biking over there again, thats if I get the shock absorber through the luggage checks. Brought it home last year and had it shortened as I find the Tiger 955i a little tall. Not bad on tarmac but being tippy toed on rough terrain is a bit dodgy. I am also taking the helmet cam I bought at the BMF last May, hopefully I will have time to learn how to use it at last. The new Sena bluetooth headset will stay at home, but it looks like a nice bit of kit. If I understand right you can take the batteries off and recharge them, so that should be easier than having to carry your helmet to the room every night.

1st February 2012
Phew where did January go? Always a busy month, it has been more so this year, due to the extra time spent building a new web site, which hopefully you will get to see soon.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback on a bluetooth connection for my helmet, I finally decided on a Sena SMH10 Duo MkII which has been recommended by several people and seems to get good write ups. Not received it yet but will let you know how I get on. Thanks to brother Wayne for putting me onto his local bike accessory shop ' Ultimate Bike Gear' who were really helpful and gave me a good deal.

Things have also moved on the satnav front, as I have managed to save a bit of money by buying a second hand Zumo 660 from one of my wealthy customers (cheers Dave). The unit comes with lifetime mapping and for some reason German audio books! Speaking of Germany, my jacket is now back there having new zips fitted, I don't think I am going to like them any better, but at least they should keep the rain out.

Received quite a few emails from friends with regard to the the various new laws coming into effect in (yes you guessed it ) France, their capacity to churn out new rules and regulations is incredible.

From what I understand, from Jan 4th 2012, satnavs in France must have the speed camera warnings switched off. Apparently though, the Satnav makers can call the speed camera areas 'danger areas' and that is OK, so they are all busy updating the software. Also, a French lawyer has said that the police cannot check your device at the side of the road as it infringes your privacy rights. I find the whole thing rather strange as France is one of the few places to warn you in advance that there is a speed camera ahead. I am sure this is yet another rule that will dissapear into obscurity, but until such time I would suggest you switch off your safety camera warnings (settings /proximity points/change).

Also from January 2013, we are told that bikers will have to wear at least 150 sq cm of reflective material. I presume they are referring to the scotch tape type stuff stuck on hi-vis vests etc. Once again I guess we shall cross that bridge when we get to it.

I am pleased to say that despite all the doom and gloom our bookings are slightly ahead of normal for this time of year. The financial situation in Europe is to say the least messy, with many countries increasing VAT by around 2% , hopefully these changes will not effect us this year but will no doubt work there way through for 2013. Southern Ireland is one of the first to go ahead with an increase of 2% to 23% as from January 1st this year.

On the cheerful side, although it is predicted that winter is going to return this week, time marches on, and already it is so good to see the nights get lighter. It will soon be time to brush off the cobwebs, drag out the bike and look forward to next years tours. Yes I know there are plenty of you that ride all year round, but I admit I am a bit of a fair weather rider. Anything under 10C then it has to be serious to get me out on the bike! Speaking of which, it will soon be time for my yearly pilgrimage to Arizona, but I will add a few lines before I go.

1st January 2012
A big thank you to everyone who toured with us in 2011. Although we spend a great deal of time making all the arrangements and planning the routes, it is our customers that make our tours sucessful, and I am pleased to say once again we are so lucky in having such a great crowd. Also thanks to everyone who has helped us this year, all of whom are customers but have become friends over the years, we would struggle without you.

We continue to listen to our customers and hopefully make the touring experience better. The choice of departure points North or South proved very popular and is something we will continue. However,for 2012 ,those using the Southern departures will have the convenience of the Eurotunnel, which will speed up your crossing and get you on your way that much quicker. On all North Sea and Spanish crossings we have reserved upgraded cabins to give you that bit more room and where possible no more bunk beds!

We welcome two new guides, in the form of Alison & Roy Adams. We first met Alison & Roy many years ago when they came on tour from their home in Norfolk. In 2004 they moved to the beautiful Scottish Borders and started a motorcycle training school which they run to this day. Both are advanced riders and were IAM observers. Roy presently rides a Honda Pan ST1100 and Alison a Honda CBF1000. Due to their intimate knowledge of the Borders, they will guiding the Northern Counties Tour.

Could be a year of big expense as I need to replace helmet, sat nav and possibly my jacket. The jacket was new this year, but has one of these new wet suit type rubber zips down the front, and due to it sticking I have already taken a lump out of it. Most manufacturers are giving a silicone stick to lubricate the zip, but when it suddenly starts raining, the last thing I want is to look for that. So, if you are thinking of buying one with these, I would say don't bother, unfortunately all the manufacturers in a lemmin style are following the fashion.

The helmet (Shoei Multitec) is great, and my only reason for replacing it is due to its age and some extremly hot days on my head causing the lining to become a test bed that Louis Pasteur would be proud of. I noticed at the show, that Shoe have a new Multitec out early next year with improved ventilation and a built in sun visor, so will perhaps take a look at that.

My Garmin 2820 sat nav has served me well and I would not have considered changing it had the bluetooth not stopped working (my own fault I switched it off and it won't come back on). Typically, having lost the ability to receive calls whilst riding, there were several occasions when people were trying to get hold of me and could not, so it has come time to trade up to a 660. I will also probably go blue tooth to my helmet, so appreciate any advice people have regarding the best device? Needless to say I will have to buy another lifetime map update, if anyone is thinking off doing that, now may be the time as I see there is 20% off until the 11th January. I recently updated my mapping to 2012.3 and was pleased to see that they seem to have a much better software and it loaded without problems. If you have a slow connection like mine, it still takes several hours and pushed me over my broadband limit, but it is a definite improvement.

Finally, may I take the opportunity of wishing you all a happy, healthy, and hopefully prosperous New Year, we look forward to seeing you in 2012 

25th November 2011

Just back from the NEC Motorcycle Show which I thought very good. We missed out last year due to the snow, doesn't seem possible that the weather should be so much different this year. Plenty of new models to look at (models of bikes that is) with Triumph being the first port of call. I am not a keen fan of the present BMW GS style, but there is no doubt that it has struck a chord with many people and is the market that all the manufacturers are trying to capture. Having looked at the present BMW GS, Honda Crossrunner, Kawasaki Versys 1000 and Triumph Explorer, I actually felt the Triumph was the best, with the Kawasaki second. Purely a personal choice but think the Triumph will do well, and how good to see a British manufacturer back on top. For our job, I still think the Pan takes some beating and if I were to buy a second bike there was a nice Tiger 1050 in red which I rather liked. Was also good to catch up with friends at the show and run into many clients some whom we have not seen for a few years.

Things have quitened down a little after the initial rush for the Portugal tour, however, I am pleased to say that the bookings are still coming in. There are still places left on all other tours, but as usual the single rooms are going fast. I think a lot of people are mystified as to why we get so many few single rooms, well its all down to the hotels who consider single occupancy of a room a loss of revenue, so I am afraid is out of our hands. However, we always have plenty of people happy to share a twin room and it all helps to save you money.

Our last mail bulletin threw up the usual number of 'undelivered' advices, people obviously move companies, change address's etc so if you would like to continue receiving information regarding our tours please let us have your up to date address. 

Finally, we would like to welcome Keith and Gail back to England from France, I am not sure if this move has been sponsored by Kawasaki (see below) but they obviously have not realised that they are responsible for upsetting the recent Governments immigration figures. 16th November 2011

It is with great regret that I must advise you that the 'Tiger Twins' have been disbanded - this long time partnership has been broken up by Harry buying a Kawasaki GTR 1400. The exact reason for this we are not sure, but feel a certain bearded gentleman living in France may of been a bad influence. Mick has said it will not make any diference to their friendship, and that no doubt he will still have to buy the beers. 
Anyone who read my bithday comments will have seen that the only good things I could see about reaching 60 was free prescriptions and a bus pass. Well seems I missed out on the bus pass, as in true government style they have moved the goal posts - now got to wait till I,m 63 .. needless to say I am gutted.... 

12th November 2011
It is nice to see such a positive response to our 2012 tour schedule, especially with regard to the tour to Portugal and Spain, which sold out in 24 hours, a record even for us! I know quite a few people who wanted to go on the tour will be dissapointed, but we have many more tours that I know you will enjoy. Should you have any questions that are not answered on the relevant tour page please do not hesitate to contact us. 

9th November 2011
We have just updated the website with our 2012 tour schedule, I hope you find something to interest you. I have checked and double checked all the details, but if you find anything awry, broken links that kind of thing please let me know. 

5th October 2011 
The Scottish Borders tour signalled the end of our touring season for 2011. We went out in style managing to find the only wet location in the UK whilst the rest of you sweltered in tropical temperatures! We got off to a bad start when just 1 mile from the hotel Bill Vivian look a low speed tumble (now at Bills age he should know better) although he suffered some bruises and did a little damage to his bike, he enjoyed his weekend, as only Bill can. Despite this, spirits were high in anticipation of a dry weekend but the ache in my wooden leg told me all was not well and rain was not far away.. Sure enough Saturday dawned damp and dreary with rain forecast so following the saying "If Mohammed won't come to the mountain" - and all that - we headed south to look for the sunshine.

With the tour in full cry, we swept aside the minor inconvienance of barriers across a bridge (well the work was nearly finished) before entering the Northern Pennines whose roads soon put a grin on everyones faces. Briefly re-fuelling at the Hartside cafe we continued down Teeside before entering a glorious sunny Yorkshire Dales. The rest of the day was one of the best I have had in a long time as I took the group along some of my favourite roads and Dales. Unusually our group grew by one, as around Settle I was aware of a strange bike suddenly dropping in behind me. At the next stop, it became evident that the interloper was Jane, who has been one of our guides for many years. Many of you have been asking me where she had got to, it seems pressure of work has kept her away, and she was enjoying a rare ride out when she spotted the group. With many friends on the tour she was able to catch up with the news and I hope she will find the time to join us again.

Suddenly realising how far we were from home we headed North returning to the hotel tired but satisfied with the days ride. I must admit I would not have tried this had I not had such a together group, the Dales roads (especially the ones I go on ) are not easy and special praise goes to Graeme & Sally Capon who were hustling their Triumph Rocket Trike around as if it were a toy. 

Sunday had us beat with rain in every direction, so we donned our waterproofs and headed for Keilder Water, which somehow seemed appropriate. So despite the weather a most enjoyable weekend. 

30th September 2011
Seems we have brought some of the Spanish sunshine home with us as we bask in what appears to be an Indian summer. I know many of our clients coming on the Scottish Borders tour this weekend have already set off and are no doubt enjoying the sun shine as they head North. 
We had another full tour for the Spanish Pyrenees tour and from the compliments we have received everyone really enjoyed themselves. Although I have been going there for many years I still enjoy the scenery and never tire of the roads. Unfortunately some of our favourites such as the N240 along the Yesa reservoir are being bypassed by modern dual carriageways, and every year another gorge road is replaced by a tunnel. I guess it is great for the locals who can get around quicker, but from a bikers point of view it is a shame to loose them. However, there are plenty of great roads left, and every time we go we find something new. This year it was a single track road Gorge road, not good if you don't like heights, but a stunning ride and one for the memory bank. 
We could have been excused for thinking that we had headed North not South the first few days, although sunny, a cold wind kept the temperatures below average. Thankfully as we crossed through Andorra into Spain we enjoyed a return to normality and apart from one misty morning, enjoyed a nice riding temperature for the rest of the tour. Seems we timed things about right as only the previous week the temperaures had been uncomfortably high. Judging by the countryside Spain has had a dry summer and I could not believe how low the reservoirs were, especially Embalse de Yesa.
Having travelled the Pyrenees we crossed the plains of Navarra and vinyards of Rioja before arriving for our last day in the Picos de Europa. Many who have not been there before, would have loved to have stayed a few more days, as would I, but that is for another day and we reluctantly had to board the ferry back home. 

15th September 2011
Today is my Birthday ! I am told 60 is a milestone or should that be a millstone? However, I am pleased to say I feel no different and now I get free prescriptions and can have a bus pass the world is my oyster..... Thanks to everybody for their cards and best wishes, I really appreciate it.
Tomorrow we head out for or last European tour to Spain, just a few days after our last and very enjoyable tour to the Italian Dolomites. Bike wise this was our largest tour of the year, but we had a good group of riders and everyone very much did their own thing. My thanks to Keith who formed a breakaway "you must buy a Kawasaki GTR1400 group", and of course the ever patient John who rides tail end charlie for me,it is friends like these that make my life that much easier.
Mixed weather for this tour, started off very hot and sticky but an overnight storm in Austria cooled things down a bit for our Italian leg. You will see from the photos that we were left with a little cloud on the mountain tops, but this soon cleared to allow people see the Dolomites in their full spendour. I must admit when you visit places as we do several times, you tend to take the scenery for granted, however, it was so refreshing to hear and see the reaction of people who had not been there before, the Dolomites never fail to impress. 
For many the highlight of the tour was our day riding through the Dolomites before passing over the Grossglockner to Zell, the combination of fantastic scenery and great roads made this a day to remember. 

The tour continued with a visit to the fascinating walled town of Rothenburg and a final night listening to a band by the Roman gate of Trier, which I had gone to great lengths to arrange, but no one seemed to believe me. A good tour group along with good hotels, food, and lots of laughs made this a most enjoyable tour. We even had our own resident "Emergency Bikers" - remind me not to get ill in Yorkshire !!! 
If you would like visit the Dolomites along with the Italian Alps, we are planning a tour called the "Italian Mountains" for early September 2012. 

29th August 2011
Many people have been asking for an update on Charlie Lamb, well I am pleased to say he is home safe and sound. He had a rather interesting and rapid return via ambulance, probably faster than he could of rode it, but then we don't all have flashing blue lights to get round the M25.. He is signed off for a few weeks, but hopes to be back in the saddle for our final tour of the season in October. Once again he wishes to thank everyone for their support and good wishes which helped them when they were effectively alone in a foreign country. 
Talking of foreign countries, another of our regulars Robin & Izzie Norton are heading for Austrialia to have an extended tour "down under". Whilst they are there you can follow their adventures through a blog which can be found at www.getjealous.com, called two up down under (all seperate words). We wish them all the best and look forward to hearing of their adventures next year. 

24th August 2011 
Well I got a new set of tyres fitted very reasonably from Bike Tyres, Leeds. I am too lazy to take the wheels off myself, so take the bike in and let them do it, I must say they always look after us well and its a pleasure to stand and watch how much care they take . Having previously run on Bridgestone 020's I have switched to 023's, whilst our tail end Charlie John has fitted Michelin Pilot 3's so it will be interesting to see how they compare. 

The Austria & Black Forest tour was yet another good weather tour with just half a day of rain on our arrival in Austria, this was despite having our resident bad weather Jonah "Jersey Geoff" with us. He also had good weather in Portugal, so perhaps he is loosing his reputation at last. We had the obligatory ride up the Stelvio, which thankfully was not too busy. Not a pass I particularly enjoy, but the return via Livigno makes up for it with great roads and stunning scenery. On our departure we took the opportunity to ride the Silvretta pass before heading for the Black Forest. The heat continued to build and so most people had a day off the bikes, went sight seeing in Freiburg or just chilled out by the lake. 

Quite a large tour this, so was good to see people splitting into groups and appointing an official "person who we can blame for going the wrong way". We also had "little bruver" on tour, so along with "Jersey Geoff" it made for some entertaining tales. I should mention that not everyone gets a nickname, just some of the more colourful characters! 
Finally, those on tour will know that Charlie Lamb was taken ill and rushed to hospital on the last night. He suffered from a blood clot which had to be dissolved before having a stent fitted. I am pleased to say that everything went very well and Olwen and Charlie will be back in the UK tomorrow (25th Aug). Both Olwen and Charlie have asked me to pass on their thanks for all the good wishes, and were keen that I should emphasise how important having the correct travel insurance and motorcycle repatriation insurance has been for them. I am sure once the bikes have returned they will be keen to enjoy the rest of the summer. 

3rd August 2011
Just back from the Rhine Valley Tour. This is a tour that never fails to please, the combination of picturesque villages, fairy-tale castles and some excellent biking roads are a perfect combination for a really good holiday. With the exception of a heavy shower on the way down, we saw no rain, although it was a little dull, which although perfect for riding, did not let everybody see this part of the world at its best. However, we had a lively crowd and judging by the disappointed faces when we had to leave, everyone enjoyed themselves. 
Despite returning to a full set of teeth, I was struggling to smile after having new front discs fitted and a service and been presented with a bill for over £700 ! I think you could probably get a full set of discs and pads for a car for less than that ! New tyres next, apparently these prices have also gone through the roof, and then new back pads... I suppose I should not complain, the Pan never misses a beat and having sold my old ST1100 is approaching 77,000 miles. 
A few days off before we are away to Austria, just time to do my VAT ! 
20th July 2011
Guess four in a row was too much to ask, and the forecast for our Dales, Lakes and Mountains tour was awful, and it more or less was. However, by careful checking of weather forecasts we managed to avoid the worst of it and were rewarded with some good sunny spells and dry roads. I must admit I got a little carried away on the Sunday and ended up in Scotland, but then the Scottish Borders never fail to impress. 
Not a great one for having my photo taken but have included one from the last tour to show all those on the Italian & Swiss Alps that I have a full set of teeth again !! Unfortunately no sooner had we left the jetty in Hull that one of my front teeth broke in half, apart from developing a whistle and a crooked smile for the tour, it makes you self conscious to say the least.
If you are wondering why I have not posted anything on the wall of Face book lately, its because I can't. I believe Face book have made some changes and being a luddite I have not yet figured what to do yet. However, I am sure someone more switched on than me will put me straight soon. 
15th July 2011
Reading down the page it is more like a weather report than a news page, however, although bikers are a hardy lot, there is no doubt that good weather and dry roads is what everyone wants on their tour and as the one thing we have no control over, we hope for. So we were delighted that for the third tour in a row, the Italian & Swiss Alps enjoyed dry days, blue skies and sunshine. 
Having taken the Northern crossing we met up with those who had crossed by ferry or Eurotunnel at our first nights hotel. The journey was uneventful, but apparently the new Reims bypass was playing havoc with the motorists sat navs, leading them to pull over and scratch their heads, apparently incapable of following a road sign. Our journey continued across Switzerland to our first hotel base in the Italian Alps. On route, we stopped at some services to eat, where the record for the dearest lunch must have been achieved. An eye watering 29 Euros for 2 burgers, a red bull and bottle of water - on the plus side, they did say the burgers were good !
After a couple of hard days many chose to rest, have a look around the town or just relax in the hotel grounds. The more ambitious headed for the Stelvio pass, whilst a few of us checked out the Gavia Pass. This is one pass I had wanted to do for a while, but had always been thwarted by poor visibility, but the day was perfect and the scenery stunning. The next day we too checked out the Stelvio, not my favourite pass, but understand that people want to ride it at least once in their life, thankfully it was quiet and so a lot more enjoyable than normal. We were told that on the previous Sunday, there had been so many bikes, that the police were making the road one way and taking bikes down in groups of 150 + .
All too soon to leave Italy, but a wonderful day riding over the Swiss passes of Furkha and Grimsel to our next hotel. Again another rest day, where hardly anyone rode, taking instead to the trains and cable cars which offer such wonderful views. Leaving the mountains behind, we took a cross country route across France to our final nights hotel before next day going our separate ways back to the ferries.
Not an easy tour this one, but it was never billed as such, Mountain passes require plenty of concentration and make for slow progress, but the satisfaction of riding demanding roads and the stunning scenery are what makes the Alps so special. 
Although I always put the best of my own pictures in the web gallery, I am aware that many of you have pictures of your own that the group would like to see, so if you would like to send some of the best (no less than 1024 x 768 pixels) we will add them into the gallery. Due to constraints on my time, this may take a while, but they will stay there till the following year. 
Finally thanks to Steve Riches who was on our Northern Counties tour in 2010, who has told me that we are now apparently on Google Earth. You may remember that I mentioned in the news at the time, that we followed the Google street level car whilst using the B7060 just north of Selkirk. Well I have just checked, and sure enough, fame at last. The track starts just south of where the B7060 joins the A7, where you can see us waiting for the group to catch up, we then follow the car before overtaking it half way along. So if you were on that tour, check it out 
PS: Just seen the weather forecast for our weekend tour, seems my black cloud has returned uck ! 
30th June 2011 
Once again left it a little late to write about our last tour, however I have been busy trying to clear my desk of paperwork before heading out for Italy and Switzerland tomorrow. It is hard to believe that we are already into Tour 6, which is half way through our season.
It was our first tour to Portugal and although we had been there last October to do a recon we were really delighted that it was even better than we had remembered. After a straight forward crossing to Santander from Portsmouth we disembarked to rather gray skies and threatening rain clouds, however these were short lived, and when clear of the Cantrabian Mountains we were treated to sunshine and blue skies which were to remain with us all week. Once again the Spanish did their best to make Garmin look inefficient as they continue to build new roads faster than Garmin can map them, so we were treated to the usual riding across open fields syndrome. But it was a straight forward run, giving us plenty of time to enjoy a beer or two in the sunshine before our evening meal. One of our party went for a walk and arrived back late for dinner, and was promptly rewarded with chips instead of mash, which we had, so was the subject of howls of protest and threats if he did not share !!

Next day, (chipless), we completed our journey across Spain and entered Portugal for a two night stay in the Serra da Estrela Mountains. The hotel which we had previously visited in low cloud, did not disappoint, and provided not only great accommodation, but a wow factor with stunning views as far as the eye could see. Some made for the pool, whilst others enjoyed a cold beer or two (at reasonable prices for a change - France take note).
The next day was a ride-out, not only beautiful views but some stunning roads which were definitely designed to get rid of the motorway flats on your tyres. Not sure who these roads were built for as there was practical no traffic, but if it was EEC money, it was well spent. Lunch was at a little village cafe, where they seemed un-phased by 20 odd bikers looking for food, and had us fed and on our way without even breaking into a sweat (France take note).
The next stop was in the Duoro Valley, a last minute change took us on a lovely cross country route and onto some spectacular roads clinging to the valley walls before depositing us to our hotel alongside the river. Our bikes enjoyed as good a view as our rooms, looking across the Douro river to the 'Sandemans' vineyards. An excellent evening meal was followed by an impromptu gathering on the roof terrace to enjoy some more Portuguese wine, the balmy temperature and riverside views. 
Our final destination was the Picos de Europa. Although an area we know well, I still find the scenery stunning, especially with the sun shining and blue skies. We arrived to find the village main street being 're-built', however, the hotel was ready for us, politely telling the cars to park elsewhere as the carpark was reserved for the 'motos' - how refreshing to be given priority for a change. The next day was classic mountain weather with low cloud, most headed for the coast where the forecast was better, whilst I headed into the mountains and found a stunning valley, one for the memory bank.
Our last day saw us say goodbye to Keith who lives in France, and Geoff and Dave who live in Jersey as we headed for Santander to take the ferry home. A really enjoyable tour, and one we shall repeat soon. 

5th June 2011 
An enjoyable tour to one of our favourite places the Mountains and Gorges of the Auvergne region. Our first tour using the system of a Northern & Southern departure and meeting up on the first night. Seemed to work well and generally making life easier for everyone. Leaving Zeebrugge was a bit of a Baptism of Fire for some, as the weather was far from kind and large motorcycle rally near Bruges meant there was bikes everywhere, however, as we headed south the weather improved allowing us to peel off the waterproofs and enjoy a beer in the sunshine before sitting down for an evening meal. 
Billed as a tour suitable for people touring in Europe for the first time, and with relatively low daily mileages, our next two days across France were very relaxed, with the opportunity to enjoy some lovely roads and beautiful French Countryside under blue skies. Only disappointment was our intended visit to Puy de Dome which is now closed to traffic and will only be accessible by train from 2012, which is a real shame as it was a great ride up and we would have had marvelous views. 

The next day saw us head for the Millau Bridge and Tarn Gorges, which despite a poor forecast turned out to be another lovely day. All went well, until unfortunately coming out of the Gorges, someone took a low speed spill at a hairpin. This resulted in a trip to the hospital for a broken collar bone and a rather second hand bike. However, I am pleased to say he was flown home within 48 hours and no doubt the bike will be recovered in time. Fortunately such incidents are very rare, but just shows to prove the importance of having correct insurance cover, filling in our personal details form correctly and carrying all your documents on your bike.
The next day was a rest day for many, as we awoke to rain and cloudy skies - however, it was short lived, and the more hardy set off to visit the cliff village of Rocamadour. The following morning was a return to blue skies, which were to stay with us for next few days as we returned across France to the ferry port. On the way we took time out to visit the massacre village of Oradour -sur-Glane, the Loire Valley the magnificent Chateau de Chambord (till the policeman told us to move on - no sense of humour these French) and the castle used in the BBC programme 'Merlin'. 
Many people ask me which my favourite place to tour, and to be honest I am not sure, as everywhere has its own character and attractions, but the Auvergne region is certainly in the top few. Apart from the rolling countryside and dramatic Gorges, the super smooth bends that go on for ever make it hard to keep a grin of your face. This particular tour will be remembered for the constantly increasing cost of beer, till we reached the dizzy heights of 8 Euro a pint - and the cry went out from my fellow Yorkshireman "How much" ! 

25th May 2011 
Just back from the NW200 & Donegal tour a day late, which means its all a bit of a rush as I head for Hull tomorrow for the Mountains and Gorges Tour. The delay was due to the un seasonal high winds which swept through Northern Ireland and West Scotland causing the Fastcat ferries to be cancelled. Some of the group went onto standby for the conventional ferry whilst the rest of us decided to retire to the bar and spend another night in Ireland until the wind decreased and the ferries returned to normal.

Unfortunately for race fans, Saturday was a bit of washout, the combination of rain, a bomb hoax and then finally oil been dropped onto the circuit meant that the racing had to be finally abandoned. Thankfully the rest of the weather was typical for our trips to the Northwest 200, with an odd squally shower and long sunny periods which meant that we were able to enjoy a tour of the Antrim coast on the Friday and a full day riding in County Donegal on the Sunday. The Donegal tour is always a bit if a day off for me, as the tour is led my Uel Irwin from Northern Ireland tours who is a great host and always manages to find new roads and sights for us to see. 
Finally our congratulations to Azure and Mark who got married last week and came on tour for their Honeymoon, we wish them all the best for the future. 
17 May 2011 
Thanks to those that came and said hallo at the Peterborough BMF show, it was a drafty affair stood in that cattle shed all weekend. As usual I managed to spend more than we probably made, but resisted buying a new helmet although it was a good price. However, I did buy a new visor and anti-fog visor which was actually more expensive than most of the helmets ... I feel the show has declined a little and was disappointed not to see more manufacturers, especially Triumph, represented. I did get chance to sit on the new Honda Crossrunner, I am not sure if I like it or not, however, it does seem a lot of money, and should you really have to pay extra for a centre stand ! perhaps I am just out of touch. 
Finally several people have asked me about various information and PDF files we have on all things relating to the Garmin satnav, so I have included them in the website via the links to the left. 
12th May 2011 
Our second tour of the year last week as we descended on our favourite hotel between the Lakes and Dales for the GPS Basics Course. Heavy showers signaled the end of the long dry spell, however, thankfully they passed through during the night and whilst we were in the classroom, leaving our Sunday run dry and sunny. I found the course very enjoyable, and it was good to see everyone get to grips with the basics of making routes and downloading them into their Garmin's. The final exercise of the day was to load a route through the Dales and Trough of Bowland that I had 'prepared earlier'.
The next day saw us take a deliberately circular route, with everyone taking turns to lead the group using their Garmin, everyone did well, especially Olwen who doggedly followed the route although the road became not much better than a footpath with grass down the middle ! A slight mistake on my behalf, as I had not noticed that mapsource had cut across a corner using a road I had never rode before, however, I think I got away with it !! 
It was interesting not being at the front for once, and was impressed by how everyone rode, however, one particular rider was a joy to follow, so much so that I let him lead for quite a while. I am not going to name names, however, turns out he is an x police rider and I believe a RoSPA instructor. If there was ever an advert for training then I guess this guy is it. 
Getting back to satnavs, the general opinion seems that the updating of mapping is going much smoother, and providing you have not filled your satnav with music choosing the 'Western Europe' option goes onto the Zumo 550. I would recommend ticking the option to load the files onto your computer as well. Should you want a mapping region outside Western Europe, you can then load this onto a SD card and plug it in when you need it. I am told that the latest mapping 2012.1 has just been released, but I think I will give it a miss for the moment as I have already made up the routes for this year. I don't claim to be an expert on the Garmin, but if I can help in any way, don't hesitate to give me a ring. Thanks to Robin Norton for advising us of a website where you are able to purchase a visor cover to shade the screen of your GPS. The site address is www.gps-shades.co.uk. 
Finally the stock of hi-vis vests we bought in 2008 (was it really that long ago) has now run out, I think we have a few XXXL sizes left, if anyone would like one let us know. 
4th May 2011 
Well seems like we brought the good weather back with us as the sun has not stopped shining since our return, with the weather centre confirming that it as been the warmest April since records began. So good was it that I had to take the SORN of my bike thee weeks early and back date the tax to the beginning of the month (not easy for a Yorkshireman). However, it was well worth it, as we had a great days ride in the Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales.
The good weather stayed with us for our first tour of the year, the 'Forgotten Scotland' tour. Always a favourite of ours, the combination of traffic free roads, great weather, good food and a 'together' group of riders made this one of the best weekend tours we have had in a while. The icing on the cake was a good run over Alston Moor before returning to reality as we met the Bank holiday traffic in the Dales.
Only drama of the weekend was a puncture. Thankfully the tyre stayed inflated until our return to the car park, where it went flat. Keen to try out our new tyre repair kit we set about removing a woodscrew. After reluctantly reading the instructions we successfully installed a plug and re-inflated the tyre and headed for the bar, only to notice it had deflated again. As the customer had put in Ultra-seal (the tyre said tubeless) we could not understand why the repair had failed - until finally noticing the wheel was spoked - derr - the tyre had an inner tube ! I guess we have become so used to tubeless tyres these days, having a tubed tyre on a modern bike (Aprilia 650) rather catches you out. 
I was interested to check out one of the bikes on tour, the new 6 cylinder BMW 1600GT. Certainly seems very nice, considering the old 6 cylinder Honda's and Kawasaki,s were so wide, it is remarkably slim. In contrast, amazingly wide (well at least the rear tyre) was the other new bike we came across, the new Ducati Diavel. On trade plates, I presume it was been taken for a test ride. Not my cup of tea I am afraid, but judging by the rave reviews in the press, a fun bike to ride. 
14th April 2011
We have enjoyed our time out here and finally got the Triumph fixed allowing us several ride-outs. Yesterday was the longest, some 300 miles, 25 miles of which was dirt roads (see picture of the month). It never fails to amaze me how large America is, and in the Southwest where large areas are practically uninhabited, 90% of the roads are unpaved. This means that bikes like the BMW GS and Triumph Tiger are particularly suited, and I must admit, although I have the older 955i model, I have been impressed how well it performs and how much I have enjoyed riding it. 
After waiting 3 weeks for a new regulator the local Triumph dealer was not my favourite person, however they re-deemed themselves when I attended their open day last weekend to find not one but every Triumph model available to test ride. I was like a kid in a sweet shop, but having not yet ridden the new Tiger 800 or the 800XC they were my first choice. I must admit I was not disappointed and thought both bikes excellent, but if I was to buy would choose the standard 800.
March 16th 2011 
Hallo, from sunny Arizona, no real news to give you , but thought I had better sign in.I had hoped to post a photo from out here of the Triumph Tiger I have bought which I intend to use to ride some of the back roads and visit the ghost towns, but unfortunately its broken down !! Limped to the local Triumph dealer who advised me that the regulator/rectifier was faulty - seems this is a fairly common fault , and not helped by its lack of cooling due to its location tucked between battery box and frame- especially in the temperatures experienced in this part of the world.A new part is on its way, but it seems that although the USA can put a man on the moon, getting a part from Georgia to Arizona in 2 weeks is a little more tricky!
I will keep you advised....... 
9th February 2011 
This weekend saw our first 'Winter get Together '. The original idea was for a meeting and evening meal, however, due to the distance some people had to travel this turned into a two night weekend break , which was really great as it gave everybody plenty of time to relax and catch up with the latest news. It was so good to see so many familiar faces again, and if people would like to do it again, we can make it a regular event. Although not planned that way, we used the weekend for a celebration of our 15th year of organising tours. I trawled through our years of photos and put out a selection from each year onto a display board - it really is amazing how long some people have been touring with us - and I even found a few old ones of myself - complete with Mexican style moustache ! We also took the opportunity to hand out some of our Anniversary T shirts, if you have booked a tour with us we will be in touch to find out if you would like one, and if so, your size. 
Being the Lakes, it had to rain, fortunately it only rained once, unfortunately it was from the time we arrived to the time we left. Once again a couple of 'proper' bikers turned up on their bikes whilst the rest of look enviously out from our warm dry cars ........... 
Unfortunately due to operator error (too much wine perhaps?) most of my photos did not come out, so thanks to Robin who came to the rescue and sent me some of his 'Get Together photos' 
I am pleased to say from our point of view that the tours are filling nicely. Two tours are full, another 99% full, and most of the others have a healthy amount of bookings. The Euro to pound exchange rate has improved, but petrol continues to rise by a silly amount, rather making a mockery of our estimated costs. These have been further distorted by some ferry fares which have risen over and above inflation rates. Incredibly we have only this week got the ferry schedules and fares for our NW200 tour to Northern Ireland - how these companies can run a business like that I do not know. 
Finally its that time of year when I go away on holiday - yes I know - my life is one huge holiday, however I am going anyway. As many of you know, we go to Tucson in Arizona, so I am hoping for slightly warmer temperatures. Whilst we are away the office will once again be manned by Dorothy and Keith who will be able to help you with any bookings or questions that may arise. With modern communications, I of course can monitor everything and will be answering all emails. If you really get bored and want a chat, you can call on Skype, (whiterosetours) I usually switch it on at 0800 hrs which is 1500hrs your time.
10th December 2010 
Hope some of you made it to the bike show, the bad weather stopped us going, which is a shame as I heard it was much better than last year. With the snow and freezing temperatures, I guess you could be excused for not thinking too much about biking, however, I know for many of you, booking a tour gives you something to look forward to, and I am pleased to say despite all the doom and gloom forecast for 2011, bookings are at their normal level. As usual one particular tour has caught peoples attention, and this year it is the tour to Spain & Portugal, which unfortunately is already full - however, we will be returning to Northern Spain on our Pyrenees & Pico's Tour in September. 
Many people ask me what I do during the winter months, and to be honest I sometimes wonder myself, however, a great deal of time time is spent planning routes, writing route instructions and more mundane tasks like accounts and VAT returns. Without a doubt, the best of these is planning routes. Computer software such as Map Source, Auto route and Google Earth have made things much easier, however, nothing quite beats a mug of tea, and a really good quality map. Therefore, I am delighted to tell you that we have just teamed up with the motorcycle specialist map and guides firm 'Mapsman', to supply us, and our customers, with any mapping needs. 

Founded in 2005, Mapsman is owned and run by Chris Cook. A biker himself, Chris has a passion for finding great routes and has put together a collection of maps and guides to satisfy even the most adventurous of motorcyclists. Having supplied Chris with our proposed 2011 tour routes, we have set up a link on each tour page which will take you to the White Rose Tour section of the Mapsman site. Here you will be able to buy - at a discounted price - a bundle of suggested maps to cover the tour. If you do not wish to buy the whole bundle you can buy the maps individually, and along with any other purchases you make on the site,will receive a 10% discount (before P&P) by using the promo code of 'White Rose Tours' on checkout. 
Now that we are no longer posting out a brochure, should you wish to be advised about the latest developments, it is essential that we have your correct email address . When we sent out the last news letter, quite a few were returned as being 'unable to deliver,, so if you have recently moved, or just changed your email address please let us know. We have done a simple leaflet which includes next years tour dates - a PDF of which, can be found on the front page - so if you would like some copies for your club or local dealers, please let us know and we will be happy to post you some.
 
Well I am sure you will have seen that the 2011 tours are on the website. We have introduced a couple of new tours and returned to a few old favourites so I hope you find something to interest you. 
You will also see that we are trying something new next year by offering a choice of a Northern or a Southern crossing. With customers from the whole length of the UK and Ireland,  we understand that many of our northern clients dislike the ride down to the channel ferry ports – likewise it does not make sense for our many clients from the south to ride north to join a tour at Hull. Therefore, where possible, we have arranged the first and last night’s hotel to be within riding distance of both Calais & Zeebrugge/Rotterdam.  Whichever you take, the distances to the first night's hotel will be similar, and we will all meet-up in time for a drink and get-to-know-you session with your fellow riders and Guides, before sitting down to an evening meal. As always, there is the option to make your own crossing arrangements, and at the time of writing, we are re-activating our Euro tunnel account should you wish us to make a booking for you. 

2011 also marks our 15th year of organising motorcycle touring holidays. We would like to say a big thank you to all our customers whose loyalty and support we have enjoyed over the years, and with special thanks to those who help-out with escort and guiding duties - we really could not do without you.  As a small token of our thanks, and to celebrate our 15th year, we will be giving away to all those on tour, and whilst stocks last, an anniversary T shirt. We will also continue to give out complimentary hi-vis vests and lanyards to anyone who would like them. 
Many things have changed over these years, and perhaps no more so than the use of the internet. Although in its infancy when we started, it now seems impossible that we could do without it, and today is our prime means of contact with our customers. With this in mind we have decided that we will no longer produce a brochure for mailing, instead allowing you to download the information directly from the website. However, comprehensive as our website is, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us, we are always happy to help you. 

2010 Tour Blog 
This weekend saw us complete the touring season with a long weekend in Wales . The golf fans amongst you will no doubt have seen the weathers attempts to wash the Ryder Cup down the "valley" fortunately we faired a little better, but it certainly rained. It was a story of good day followed by bad and everyone got well and truly soaked on their journey down. However, the Saturday was set fair and we were able to enjoy a really good day riding the roads to the south and through the Elan Valley. True to forecast, Sunday saw the return of heavy rain and so we retired to read the Sunday papers and re-assemble at midday. Seemed the rain gods felt sorry for us, as the weather improved and on entering the Snowdonia National park the clouds rolled back and sun came out giving us an dry afternoon's ride. Like all tours its the people who make it, and with great food and a lively bar the weather did little to dampen peoples spirits and the weekend was a good laugh. 
The previous weekend saw us on home ground at the Nidd Hall Hotel for the 60,s weekend. With dry but cold weather we headed for the Dales and I took the opportunity to visit a Dale or two I have not ridden for a while. Our tour base being a Warner's hotel, everyone could enjoy the extensive facilities, which included on the Saturday evening, entertainment by the sixties group "The Fortunes" The sixties theme continued as the following day we went over the North York Moors and called in at Goathland village backdrop for the TV "Heatbeat" series. 
Most years, one tour seems to catch the imagination of our customers, and this year it was the Italian Lakes & Mountains. Filling up in days of going online, meant that unfortunately we had to turn people away, even so we had 28 bikes which was more than enough. 1.1/2 hours late and with light rain, the omens were not good as we left Zeebrugge, however we were soon removing the waterproofs and enjoyed three gorgeous days as we crossed France, Switzerland and the Timmelsjoch to our base in the Dolomites. So good was the visibility that I saw mountains I had never seen before, although I have used the route many times before.On our first day in the dolomites we woke to low cloud and rain, definitely not a day for riding, so it was a day walking round the local town and enjoying the hotels leisure facilities - timing could not have been better really, giving everyone a chance to recharge their batteries after the previous days. The following morning saw the sun return and calling us to the roads - what a stunning day - regardless of how many mountains you visit, you never fail to be impressed with the Dolomites, (take a look at the photo gallery).Our next stop was Lake Guarda, which rather disappointingly hid itself under a heat haze, so leaving their