I made a film about my new motorbike purchase, which I used my usual point to point shots then sat and behind the camera had a chat about the bike and why I bought one, it ended up going on for 17 minutes so anyway it was soon uploaded and published...then the views started going up and up...
1000 views in the first evening, checked in on Youtube next day and they were 3000! and still rising!, as were the likes and comments... lots of lovely complementary comments too, on my film making style, local scenery, and music choice, and how I put it all together...
As I wrote this blog post I checked and there was now over 10,000 views, 345 likes, and 92 positive comments...
I`m blown away by the response, real chuffed but here's some interesting things, I linked this blog amongst links to Royal Enfield websites under my bit waffle on the film, yet the cycling and Willys Jeep films made after the motorbike film just have the usual amount of views, as did the blog views...
I definitely struck the right chord with this film, obviously there is a big interest in these motorcycles... I will keep doing cycling and Jeep films and Blog posts as usual and do the same amount of films to them ie every 3rd or 4th film will be about the motorbike, and see what comes of it, be interesting if the new subscribers hang around.
Its a breath of fresh air as the blog and YouTube films do not get a lot of views anymore, but as you know I do this for myself, family and friends, your never going to make a living out it and the saying is so true; `Don't try to make a living out your hobbies and passions`...
Anyway the next film after this I made yesterday and uploading soon with 1000 miles now on the Enfield 350 so it will be a blog post soon...
Getting up early at 4.30am for work is normal for myself in Summer being a Greenskeeper all my life, and I'm on the road for the short commute by 5:05 amf or a 6am start. It has many advantages from car free country roads before the commuter rush to Edinburgh, to coming home mid afternoon and again enjoying quieter country roads again, away from main commuting times.
And its like another day off when you go straight out and enjoy your hobbies as we did today.
G was already to go and we went a cycle east of town in a loop to Torness via the cycle path then returned along the coast getting in some rock crawling and beach riding past Barnes Ness Lighthouse...
Yep were back to long sleeve tops again! - the 2 day heatwave after a lovely dry week of sunshine was over and our friend that onshore easterly breeze returned!, but it was so dry on the flat rocks at Skateraw which can be a bit greasy with green slime when wet weather, they were baked dry in the previous weeks sunshine and no real high tides that we see in winter pushed in with strong winds...
Around the golf coarse and a combination of that `End of work for the week feeling` and the general hunger cycling does saw us head for a Macdonalds!, you can easily justify such food when you just burned a load of calories cycling!...
Wee film from this evenings fun cycle, great way to start the long weekend...
With no van this now most beachriding is going to be here at John Muir Country Park (JMCP) on east at Barnes Ness... hoping to get the van looked at soon...
When G is on nightshift I go to ground and clear out HQ - either to the man cave or away for a cycle...
Today I was cycling again around JMCP and enjoyed a deserted wood and beach, the whole place was easily quiet, but I was not complaining!
Some pics from the Go Pro footage...
And some film, Song is `Poppy Seed` by Boards Of Canada
The BBC News is terrible at hyping things up these days, no matter what the topic. you would think it was the end of the world!, yes it was hot in the south of England and records of higher temperatures were recorded, but the news does not seem to be able to tell the difference between climate change and the term Global Warming... I wonder if the world was to slowly go into an ice age - as it has before as the world has I wonder what they would blame for that?, surly not petrol engines? lol!...
We had too days real warm weather but it was not unbearable topping out at 25 Celsius - in fact we looked forward to it and enjoyed it for two reasons,
1; Its been a long Grey winter and spring...
2; You know it will only last a couple of days as this is Scotland!, as Billy Connolly says `If you don't like the Scottish Weather hang on 20 minutes'. so true! and it was soon back to a cool onshore easterly breeze that seen the long sleeve tops back on while out cycling at the coast...
So midweek and 3 days as usual at work, and commuting on the motorbike I delighted in the weather and views on the coast...
Monday being off I was out in the Jeep as a rare day of no wind for a while and I took the advantage of it in the evening as the sky turned an amazing colour with the wisps of light cloud...
Harvest is slowly underway with the Winter barley fields being cut and its ace seeing the county in a colour of golden brown and the big combines dotted about in the scenic landscape...
Wee film, Song is `Gunbarrel Highway` by Midnight Oil
Tuesday and riding home from work having dome some film clips of the motorbike for the previous blog post and film, and it was hotter in Dunbar and in particular our usual sun trap back garden was boiling at 25 Degrees, so we headed down to the beach I cycling, G on her Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)
After recent filming with the older Go Pro HERO 8 camera and it playing up from not recording in widescreen to its buttons not always switching on easy I had enough of it and along with the HERO 5 Session camera that's battery needs charged before using an it not having image stabilisation I sacked them both and added them to the row of time served previous cameras on top of the old `nick oak` print tray, and just using the newer HERO 10 now as its a fantastic camera - easy to use buttons even with motorbike gloves, and always works and never missed a beat yet...
The HERO 8 foam wind cover I put on my 10 as it helps protect it as well as try reduced the wind noise further (it already has wind reduction setting ON)...
With the Motorbike handlebar mount on the Fatbikes and old monopod I used for point to point filming everything is easier and proper results every time I film...
So back to Belhaven beach and G was out on her SUP while I went a play and did a load of point to point filming having returned home to swap the Jeep for the Surly Pugsley fatbike. The bay was full of folk out enjoying the heat at the Bridge but as always once out near the point the beach is near deserted...
Film from this cycle/SUP...
Song is `Hours` by Tycho
Next Day friend Lucy met top with G east of town at Skateraw beside Torness Powerstation for some more SUP, and I kept busy filming having took the Jeep down, relishing in the warm air - screen down, T shirt, shades, this is the life!, usual day to day weather in a lot of countries for many Jeep owners but a rare couple of days kind weather....
Wee film, Song is `Windpower` by Ian Ritchie
Back in town I stopped for some ice cold lager at the shops and ice creams and Gas son was also out on patrol in his Mustang, the air con in that car is awesome! lol!...
Once home I did some preventative maintenance on the Jeep and checked and cleaned the spark plugs and points, along with going over checking fitting all tight on the radiator , carb etc...
Good friend Edd appeared, so we all jumped in the Jeep and went around Town a drive and got an ice cream as you have to do in these amazing summer conditions...
20 Litres to top up the tank (a Jerry Can) now costs £40! even using the cheapest ASDA E10 fuel!.
I have done a lot of miles now on cheapest E10 fuel and despite all the fear mongering I have not had any problems at all using E10. I add the recommended amount of Castrol Valvemaster, it has lead additive for the valve seals - my Jeep is unrestored so not retro fitted with hardened valve seats, and every other full tank fill up I add some Redex petrol system cleaner, it smells nice too - in that lovely old car way they do when at idle, and probably when you drive behind!...
Another wee film in `Screen down T-shirt and shades mode`....
Song is `Troubled Times` by Screaming trees
Edd had a short drive of the Jeep, says its quite different to him being left hand drive (and on UK left hand side of the road!) but loved it!
Cool beach hut for sale!...
Worth refilling the Jeep despite the petrol costs at a max of 25 miles per gallon and enjoying it in this summer weather...
I live in East Lothian, S.E. Scotland.
I fill my time with my hobbies, interests and passions. Often cycling along the coast here. I ride steel bikes with big wheels, I like to enjoy all interests of the coast, Its scenery, wildlife, local history, with my other interests in art and music when out and about...
I was diagnosed with Relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis in August 2018, it`s early days but i plan to continue to live my life as i have and show that having a medical condition like MS does not mean you need to stop enjoying your life,
Please excuse the bad grammar, i am working on it!
