Scooter Stand Off

So there we were, leaning up against the counter at the bus cafe when a bright red Lambretta motor scooter appeared. I got chatting to the owner here, Roger, (without a D in it unlike the Welsh version even though he explained he was born in Wales). It says it's an LI 125cc, like the one I had back in the day. But it has been tuned up and is now a 185cc which makes a big difference on a bike like that. We discussed issues with the woman staffing the cafe, including the perils of home schooling and trying to remember how to do algebra.

Roger then whipped off a side panel and showed me all the chromium plating work done on the LI, including behind the panels. What a pretty machine.

On the way back, north of Epping, we noticed a pair of Vespas in a pub yard. See extra. When I was a mod, way back, you were either a Lambretta or a Vespa rider. So here, on the same day, I got photos of both makes. Mark, the pub landlord who owns these two, pointed out that the green one was made in Italy and resprayed British Racing Green, whereas the blue one was made in Spain under licence. 

They too have been tuned up and are now quite fast. They can do over 80mph, which must seem hellish fast if you are in the fast lane of a motorway. 

Mark is looking forward to reopening the Garnon Bushes pub. They were busy preparing for take away fish and chip night this evening and are struggling through.

So you wait ages for a motor scooter Blip and...