'The Baron'....titbits

Ripper sent me a link about a Pommie bloke who has had a R90s for 50 years,
He bought a Daytona Orange R90s Bimmer new and married a Dutch girl....

See the video link, very well produced.

https://youtu.be/7d46ti4Qj18

Well, i don't have a video, but have a similar story.

1975 England, Norwich, brand new R90s....'The Baron', very proud excited owner.

In 1975 bought our Daytona orange R90S, bimmer, 'The Baron', new from the factory, delivered to the UK where I was working North Sea saturation diving.
Bike was delivered to London and I had to pick it up and ride it back to Norwich.
I had been at sea and saturated for several months and was physically weak.
Had not ridden a road bike for years. Me legs were like jelly and shaking.

After the work season travelled to Europe, met Marjolein in Portugal and she got on the back and would not get off.  I married the Dutch girl and kept the bike.

 Before I met the Dutch girl, here in Portugal with Mike Hill and Anne,  a cat lover.
In Europe I always kept the bike indoors at night, was afraid someone would nick it.
It attracted a lot of attention.

Met the Dutch girl, she got on the back and we took off from Portugal.

Here at a bullfight in Spain, September '75.

We toured Europe, camping in fields and exploring in the summers of 1975 and 1976.

It was idyllic at that time.

In 1977 we shipped a Land Rover to Costa Rica, explored just about every road and track, looking for coastal property, but too many hassles at that time and we ended up in Umatilla, Florida at 'The Billabong'.  I continued working offshore, but mainly in the Mexican sector of the Gulf.

Of course, 'The Baron' came to The Billabong'.

Did not long distance tour much in the states, but the bike was great in Florida.

After moving to the Bahamas in early 90s, I did not want to ship the bike as Abaco was only 120 miles long, with bad roads and marine environment, it would have ruined it.

So, a long time mate from my oilfield days in Louisiana, who was also a bit of a bike and car enthusiast, rescued 'The Baron' from storage in Florida.

Had about 28,000 miles on it. Has been lovingly restored and continues to explore the Gulf Coast.  He recently took a 600 mile tour of the Gulf Coast and now has 34k on the speedo.

After almost 50 years, the bike is now a vintage classic and so is my wife.

Both still beautiful after all those years.

I'm still in love with both of them.

Lots of stories.

Lots of classic vintage bikes in Holland, wish 'The Baron was here, with a sidecar, now.

To be continued. .......