Best of British

For a few weeks now I have spotted this motorcycle outside warehouse premises in Riverside and obviously my eye was drawn to the Union Jack motif.

Today, I decided to stop and take a closer look, thinking I might meet someone from the old country. I took a couple of shots and then said hello to a group of guys inside the building and was invited in.

One of them was the owner of a new business -- Ton Up Jacksonville -- and no he wasn't British. But Peter Hampton is an anglophile and it was quite refreshing for me to meet someone so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all things British.

We chatted about the great names of British motorcycles, which I remember from my youth -- BSA, Matchless, AJS, Norton, Triumph, Vincent -- and talked about their decline and eventual disappearance.

Peter explained the philosophy of what he is trying to achieve -- a place where devotees of European motorcycles can buy the gear they need but in the atmosphere of a motorcycle club, where people can hang out and discuss their passion with fellow enthusiasts.

I think he was genuinely thrilled to meet an actual Brit just as I was to meet someone who shared an understanding of what constitutes the major part of my life. I will be stopping by on a regular basis in the future.