I am told if you sail in the solent you can sail anywhere, and maybe its true, double high tides, shifting sandbanks, ferries, hovercraft and pleasure craft and all on one of the doorstep of one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes - so maybe they have a point.

We sailed out of Warsash a small village on the mouth of the River Hamble, it was a busy area and following seas could often make for a hairy surf back into the river with dozens of other craft taking the crazy ride in. We usually have a pint or two in the Rising Sun and occasionally a meal before heading back home.

The river took took you out into Southampton Water where massive cruise ships set off on their next global voyage, but for us Calshot Castle on the spit, was with the sign we were off somewhere or that we were nearly home.

We would often take the trip across the solent and the infamous Bramble Bank, and yes we grounded on it, but nothing that putting the mast out the side along with the crew and a bit of reverse couldn’t solve, so red faces saved.

Stopping off in Cowes and grabbing a well earned fish and chips or a trip down the River Medina to the Folly Inn, which would often have the keel running through the mud and the depth gauge showing we’d run out of water.

Occasional they’d have live music and it was a fun time, learning to sail, navigate and having fun doing it as well. I seem to remember going to the Folly in a 42 Bavaria - it was tight, but normally it would a 35ft Dufour. These were great little yachts, and very forgiving for the novice sailer, they could take a bump too!

China was a place of mystery when we first visited in the 1990’s and the changes between when we first went and more recently have been remarkable.

One of the big changes was the number of people in national dress and traditional costumes, which seems to a lot less now. The homes have changed too and the traditional courtyard homes of Shanghai, have also vanished, which is shame as these looked ideal ways to live.

Seeing the terracotta warriors was a big deal, and we met with one of the farmers who first discovered it, in fact he signed our guide book. In the 90’s it was film cameras and photographing the warriors was forbidden, with hundreds of guards on site shouting at tourists and ripping films from cameras, quite bazar really.

One of our favourite places to visit was the temple of Confucius, which was dusty and a bit uncared for, but a haven of peace in manic Beijing. We revisited the same temple and it is much the same, minus some of the dust and its been given a lick of paint, but it still the same authentic and peaceful retreat it has always been.

Hong Kong was just about to embark on the biggest change in recent history and was still very much a “British Colony” - We had arrived from China by train and Hong Kong was an assault on the senses.

We traveled around on Sampans small flat bottom boats and marvelled at the Junks, there is just one left now. Ate in the Hong Kong floating restaurant and visited Victoria Peak.

We took in the views of Kowloon Hong Kong Harbour and the Star Ferry and policemen in Khaki shorts and shirts. It was nothing like we had imagined, and even by then it was changing fast.

Feng shui was a big thing in Hong Kong, and is still a feature. We visited the temples and Buddha, as well as Ocean Park. I think by this time we were travelled out, and Hong Kong was just another big city in transition, not just from old to new, but in culture too.

This is our Honda VFR 750 Sports Tourer, it can take a lot of luggage as you can see, including twin panniers and tank bag and tents. OK so its a bit harder work weaving through the Brands Hatch traffic but we still think the “Viffer” is right up there with the great sports tourers. Honda always make what we call “turn key” bikes, you turn the key they work.

This was the last Superbike race for Carl Fogerty in the UK, July 1999, and in his day he was unbeatable, and went on to win the last of his World Superbike Championships that year. He rode the Ducati arguable one of the best looking and going motorbikes of all time. The street 748 (yellow please) and 916 (red) are probably two of the most iconic sports bike ever, and Ducati broke the mould when they made these two. The only bike that is better looking is the MV Agusta F4 - pig to ride, allegedly, but drop dead gorgeous. If we had a garage these 3 bikes would be in it. Our own garage of bikes is somewhat less impressive.

I would say we mainly went car camping, rather than the motorbike easier to take all your junk for one thing, and there is nothing worse than getting of a soaking wet motorbike and setting a tent up in a wet field. You feel like you will never get warm again.

We’ve tried cycle (pushbike) camping and its not for us. We still cycle toured, but going back to a B&B for a hot shower beats crawling into a damp tent any day.

We even went though a period that we did so much camping when I was working at an adventure lake in the Cotswolds, that I even dispensed with the tent altogether and ended up sleeping the estate car in the back, but you have to be careful with drink driving with this one.

Big fans of the Isle of Man TT, and of the Dunlops in their various lineups including joey and Michael’s none to shabby either doing the TT in under 17 minutes. We have been round the TT course. prior to the race and that is an unbelievable time.

Our personal bike garage

CZ 125 - Single 2 stroke - yellow

Yamaha RD 125 - Twin 2 spoke - blue

Yamaha RD 200 - Twin 2 stoke - silver

Kawasaki KMX 125 single- 2 stroke Green

Kawasaki KH250 Triple - 2 stroke = Green

BSA Starfire 250 - single - 4 stroke - blue

Ducati Monster 750 - Twin - 4 stroke - Silver

Honda VFR 750 RC 36-2- Four - 4 stroke - Red & black - 152 mph - 0-60 - 2.6 seconds

Honda CBR 400 RR - Four - four stroke - Smoking Joe purple / blue NC29 - gull arm top speed 135mph - 0 60 4.3 seconds.

Honda VFR 400 R - four - four stroke - NC30 - White with red and blue “fire blade” Top speed: 220 km/h (140 mph) 0-60 - 5 secs.

Honda CB 400 - VTEC Super Four - Four - Red

Triumph Speed 4 600 Four - 4 stroke - Black 135 mph (217 km/h) and a 0–60 mph 4.5 seconds.

Honda Hornet CB600F Four - 4 stroke - Black 140 mph 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 sec

CCM Spitfire Scrambler 600 Single - 4 stroke - Silver

Sadly all sold, so none in the Museum.