Sunday G and I jumped in the Jeep and drove a few miles down the A1 to Meet Robert and Dave from Berwickshire in some lovely military vehicles...
Rewind many months ago and G got in contact with Robert via a link to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards which Robert served in from there amalgination in 1971 , and G,s son has served 10 years in the regiment now a Corporal. Robert grew up in the town and left Dunbar at 16 for a Military career...Today he was meeting an old school friend he had not seen since leaving Dunbar at 16, and hoped to catch up with some other friends and Army buddies,
His WW2 Volkswagen Schwimmwagen is a very very rare vehicle, it was the amphibeous Kubelwagen, and this one had belonged to an SS Division Commander that served in Russia,
Dave`s Landrover was a lovely 1950`s desert prepped like Robert`s with Genuine deactivated weapons and was equally impressive...
In convoy with Roberts son and G`s son following we set off back to Dunbar to fittingly park up in the shadow of the Towns former Military Barracks...
The original car plate under the UK magnetic plate....
Robert will tell you the cars history in the film I made...
Dave`s Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) Landrover should have two pairs of twin Vickers machine guns mounted on the bulk head but his reproduction guns are not legal to have on public roads here in the UK and can only be displayed at shows etc...
A small crowd had gathered and Roberts friend appeared along with our friend Billy another ex Royal Scots DG who served with Robert and it was lovely to see folk see each other again...
Soon it was time for them to depart back to Berwickshire, we were about to head home when Al phoned to say there was another Jeep parked up at The Glebe - where the Towns 25 Pounder Gun sits, and we de drove round to investigate but there was no sign of the Jeeps owners...
I think if I`m correct this is a CJ (Civilian Jeep) 2 or 3? US readers can maybe help here!, it has the same low bonnet and flat wings as a Willys MB/Ford GPW or Hotchkiss M201, if it was Military I think the front vent below the windscreen would be bolted down so cannot be opened, Would be nice if the owners had appeared to meet...
Swiss plates so probably here on holiday - what a way to see Scotland!
Time to go home after a fantastic morning!
Robert gave me some Military Vehicle magazine to read through and G got a huge bag of brass to polish and add to her display, it was soon all shiny by late afternoon!
44mm German Flack round found in Norway...
I think we need a bigger fireplace soon!
Wee film from a lovely morning, i`m going to suggest meeting again next month across at Duns in Berwickshire and will get my friends Phil, John, and Craig to come along...
Time to get out cycling again after a week off of my bikes being busy with the motorbike and a military vehicle meet last Sunday - more on that in the next blog.
So, The Army Pug, my home made army style Fatbike was built using an original MK 1 Surly Pugsley frame set that I got in a part exchange with friend Chris for the John Deere green and yellow Surly Moonlander I bought which turned out not to be a size Large but an XL!, it suited Chris more with his height and I was happy to get a size Large Mk 1 Pugsley frame set to add to the Fat Retro Collection...
When friend Alan offered me a size Large Yellow Pugsley frame set it seemed a good idea as I could then strip and repaint the Mk 1 Pug on the Army bike as these frames are rare and sought after these days.
The Yellow Pugsley frames came out in around 2014/15 and many were used as warranty replacements on the Snowblind white complete bikes (The first complete build Fatbikes by Surly), this frame set had a painted fork from being on another black bike and a lot of marks from being used with frame bags despite being covered with clear protective tape.It is a shame to paint the original colour of a frame but yellow did not really fit into my colour scheme of bikes and so it got sanded and using the compressor spray gun it got a coat of red oxide primer then two coats of Olive Drab spare from the Jeep...
This was done in a day and a few days later I swapped over the frames and job done...
The original Surly Pugsley frames are easily recognisable with non drop top tube and cantilever mounts on the frame and forks, the Large also only has a 4" head tube on these early models (5" on newer frames)...
Im looking forward to repainting and building up another original Mk1 Pugsley again using some rare old Fatbike parts I have squirrelled away... I`m thinking a Porsche Peppermint green colour with silver parts - I do have rare to the U.K. Alaska Made Snowcat 55mm wide 29" wheels so maybe a 29+ single speed with swappable wheels giving two gearing options in classic Surly Pugsley tradition?, we will see...
Back to the green bike and I took it an early morning cycle along to John Muir Country Park (JMCP) via a harvested and baled Barley field, before the day got too hot as forecasted to hit 25 C by midday, it was a fantastic calm day with still water and G would have loved to SUP today but working...
After some beachcombing revealed loads of WW2 .303 rifle cartridge cases and a pristine bullet - or a projectile as I was told to call them...
Here is some film, first beach riding film I have added narrative and feedback is welcome!,
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!
