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Post by hodgeyboy on Aug 15, 2006 19:07:45 GMT
All pics are clickable for a larger view Thought it was about time that I included some photos, so I took some pix on my way from Spain into Gibraltar. These two are my pride and joy on my drive and outside my house. Scooting is just part of ordinary life out here, largely because of the climate. My Bank Manager goes to work on a scoot! As I, and many others, live in Spain but work in Gib we cross the border twice a day, the world’s shortest International Frontier. Now the Spanish would like to have Gibraltar back ( they signed it away in 1715, I think, in return for Majorca, Mallorca and Florida – read the small print fellas!) So the crossing can take anything between 20 mins and two hours to complete – hence the major attraction of a scooter, you just nip in and cruise on by!. Currently we have an RAF Fighter Sqdn of 6 Tornados in, so they’re on even more of a go slow by way of a protest. Two years ago when a Navy Nuclear submarine came in, they shut the border completely – for 2 days! Nothing in or out! And this is the 21st Century for cryin’ out loud! Here I wait at the runway with the barriers down Any way, just over the border you’ll find Gib Airport with its runway that crosses the main road in and out, so it works just like a level crossing. The airport facility is owned by the RAF but also operates as a regular airport with regular flight from the UK, but not Spain (see above!) There goes a BA 737 As Gib is very small – Space is the number one issue. Another reason to stick to a scoot. Parking is an art and it’s very much every man for themselves Any idea how these drivers are getting out? Answers on a postcard, please, to the usual address. Many just choose to leave their scooters by the border each night. They’ll get a lift to the border, walk across and then just hop on the scoot’ to get around Gib. In these pics alone there are hundreds! There you go, then. Hope that you like the Pix. So, what’s scootin’ like in your part of the world, then? |
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Post by Scootin on Aug 15, 2006 19:17:32 GMT
WOW!  Scooters are a serious minority around here. Might be 1 for every 500 cars |
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Post by ally1756 on Aug 16, 2006 0:34:57 GMT
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Post by Scootin on Aug 16, 2006 12:25:18 GMT
That would be awesome, think of all the scooter clubs we could have!
My 1 to 500 estimate was probably conservitave. It is probably more like 1 to 1000
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Post by ally1756 on Aug 16, 2006 14:01:03 GMT
lots of those look chinese u should stick some flyers around
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Post by Scootin on Aug 16, 2006 17:44:46 GMT
Good idea Ally!  |
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Post by Davros on Aug 20, 2006 14:48:35 GMT
Great pics and commentary Hodgey!
I reckon Gibralter is heading towards shared ownership between the UK and Spain in the next couple of years! Great shots of the airport too .... As an aviation enthusiast, it's a very interesting approach and landing as :
a). There is no ILS (Instrument Landing System), so pilots approach and land visually.
b). The airspace on approach 'dances' around the spannish military airpace, making it even more challenging for pilots.
c). The crossing running through the runway (that you mentioned)... normally as pilots approach a runway, the PNF (Pilot not flying), checks for things still on the runway, ready to call a go-around... but at LXGB there's regularly still traffic going through the 'runway road' even up until late finals (around 600').
Very fascinating insight into life in Gibralter - thanks, I enjoyed it !
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Post by hodgeyboy on Aug 20, 2006 15:49:24 GMT
 Glad that you enjoyed it, Davros and thanks for your comments. ;D Just wanted to give a flavour of what Scootin' is like here as it is SO different than UK. Yes, the Runway situation is a constant source of irritation and amusement - The Tornado's have gone now so the border queue is a little better for all those crazy car drivers! The shared use of the runway is currently being discussed, not shared sovereignty, just shared use. This will open it up for use of Spanish internal flights and will be great for the economy of the town of La Linea which is the Spanish side. Three years ago the average wage there was less than 300Euros p/a! Anyway, glad you enjoyed it! |
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Post by hodgeyboy on Aug 20, 2006 18:49:00 GMT
AHEM,.........that shouldbe 3,000 Euros, of course
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Post by Davros on Aug 20, 2006 18:49:27 GMT
I hope they go for the shared use then..... British / Spanish relations are good in all respects except Gibralter, so hopefully they can some to an arrangement that suits all.
It will be good to get some other airline traffic getting into the airport, other than the BA and odd Monarch flights!
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Post by hodgeyboy on Aug 20, 2006 19:48:59 GMT
Well, with that in mind, Dav, you'll be please to know that as from March '07 Gib is launching it's own airline based at Gibraltar airport.
Ingeniously named..........(wait for it)...............................Fly Gib (yes, i know) it'll be starting by leasing two 737's and aims to offer regular 'Budget' cost flights to Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, London, Cork and Dublin.
Monarch recently binned their Manc'-Gib service and BA are just too expensive for anything other than a special offer, so for all us Brits working in Gib, this will be a welcome addition.
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Post by julietdoll on Aug 20, 2006 20:05:51 GMT
Fantastic pics and commentary hodgey.
I'mactually quite jealous. Looks like somewhere I'd enjoy living and would give me an extra incentive to ride.
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Post by andyscooter on Aug 21, 2006 7:33:45 GMT
its actully harder to ride a scooter in a place that theres loads of them cos every body is going for the same small gap in the traffic it was bad enough in london must be a knightmare over there
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Post by px166bajaj on Sept 1, 2006 21:54:00 GMT
There are times when we all get together! The buzz is amazing! This is Ryde in the Isle of Wight  This was after our rideout, approximately 700 scooters arrived at Sandown Rugby Club for a BBQ after a ride of about 15 miles  |
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Post by julietdoll on Sept 1, 2006 22:32:23 GMT
There are times when we all get together! The buzz is amazing! This is Ryde in the Isle of Wight This was after our rideout, approximately 700 scooters arrived at Sandown Rugby Club for a BBQ after a ride of about 15 miles If anything is going to persuade me to buy a scooter rather than upgrade my car it is photos like that. I would just love to be part of that. |
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Post by px166bajaj on Sept 1, 2006 22:40:28 GMT
Go on, get one, you know you want to!  Sunday Morning  Ice Cream stop in the Ashdown Forest  |
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Post by dmilo on Sept 1, 2006 23:10:21 GMT
amazing scooter scene !! nothing like that here in Marlboro Ma but with the new shop opening up in town Im hoping for some serious scooter rallies
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Post by px166bajaj on Sept 1, 2006 23:38:43 GMT
If you can get hold of "Scootering" magazine it has details of clubs and events every month for the US as well as the UK. There may be something near you already  |
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