A blog that has evolved over the years from simply about motorcycle trips, to include action against discriminatory legislation from the UK and EU. Then included football, dogs and motorhoming!!!
30 December 2016
FL17 - Second week
24 December 2016
Jabra BT620 Headphones
23 December 2016
Bike and Biker Books - Great Reading
If you have any to add, please put the titles and authors in the comments.
AirBag Revolution
22 December 2016
Quiet time of the year
19 December 2016
17 December 2016
Behind You. Panto Time.
15 December 2016
Bosch
Decided to take the hit and stick with Prime. Amazon has so many TV series that won't make it to the "normal" channels and my Samsung Smart TV can show these programs in full 54", then it was worth sticking with Prime for another year.
13 December 2016
FL17 - Investigating Hotels
The second week is a little problem as it really is 5 nights only.
I have been looking at hotels on the Gulf but the current prices are running at about $90 a night. When you total that we are looking at about $450.
It's not a lot better on the Atlantic side either.
I had thought about a trip up to Daytona and across to Cape Canaveral and that might still be on the cards.
This year in Arizona we did the relax then tour system and it worked pretty well.
Another week in the timeshare will be less than half of that. So. What to do?
I have one overnight booked before the Orlando stay. By the time we get there it will be time to eat and then go to bed as we will have had a long day.
2 December 2016
Sinterklaastreffen 2016
28 November 2016
Movember 2016
FT Aqua Jacket
New ARMR Haro Trousers
25 November 2016
FL17 - Flights and Skyscanner
24 November 2016
FL17 - Orlando it is then
At all the other places we have stayed over the years, US and Europe, we have never had to pay for the amenities; pool etc.
There is always a swipe of the credit card to cover "security" and deposits for keys, usually apartment and parking garages, but never to use the pool or a lounger.
However, this seems the "norm" for Orlando. I'm sure most of the people going there are headed for Disney and the other parks and spend less time at the resort than they might at other places in other parts of the country and even the state. So I don't think that $10 a day per apartment is appropriate to use the pool at all. So that ruled a few out. I found one that was charging $1 a day? It must cost more to collect it in receptionists time than they bring in.
In the end I booked us into Silver Lake Resort. It has good reviews and close to the parks should we want to go to any.
20 November 2016
FL17 - Orlando or Other
19 November 2016
Annual Service
16 November 2016
Ring of Red 2016
31 October 2016
Ride Out for Kelly - October 30th 2016 - Report
Halloween
27 October 2016
Ride Out for Kelly - October 30th 2016
Service Time
Before then there a few rides where I can make thew odometer look a little more respectable.
Movember 2016 - T-5
16 October 2016
FR17 - Dordogne
12 October 2016
Movember 2016
Ring of Red 2016
10 October 2016
FR16 - Day 8
The last day.
We had to be up early as the mobil-home had to be cleaned and the floor washed before we could get one of the staff to come over and check that we hadn't broken or stolen anything....
We had checked the inventory on arrival and they check it when we leave. Many of the FB and TripAdvisor comments seemed to find this strange.
We hadn't used any of their bedding as we had taken sleeping bags and our own pillows, plus throws to stop Reggie leaving hair or mud on the furniture.
We brushed round and then I washed the floor with the sachet of hospital cleaning grade cleaner they had left.
We eventually left about 1015. First stop the recycling bins and then off towards home.
A coffee stop again a Baie de Somme. Reggie had people laughing as he was looking in the water out back when a huge carp swam towards him. He jumped in the air like his legs were springs. After that he wouldn't near the edge, not even to bark or growl at the ducks.
And then we were off again. Cruise control at 70mph and we passed maybe one other car in 60 miles.
Before pet check-in we went to the Auchun to fill the tank with cheap French diesel. The price was €1.119 a litre. Today's exchange rate about 1.159 to the £. So less that a £ a litre. At home the same in £'s at Tesco.
And then to the fiasco that is border controls.
Pet check-in was easy and Reggie and his passport sailed through. ANPR picked us up and we joined the relatively short queue to French controls. Slowly edging forward through empty booths. The French not bothering to check the passports.
The slowness was because UK Border Agency, or whatever pseudo US name they have given themselves now, had only three booths open. Plus one for coaches only. There was one coach...
We edged forward and then it was all done and dusted. Only 45 minutes from checking in and getting 400 metres up the tarmac.
It did mean we could go straight onto the train. A miracle that it left on time. The first time in many years
And 40 minutes* later we arrived at Folkestone for the short journey home.
Holidays for 2016 over.
* you don't believe all that 35 minutes advertising spiel do you?
9 October 2016
FR16 - Day 7
FR16 - Day 6
Noyelles Chinese Cemetery from front |
Rear of Lutyens gate |
Only a number.... |
FR16 - Day 5
One man and his dog |
One woman and her dog |
Selfie |
4 October 2016
FR16 - Day 4
FR16 - Day 3
FR16 - Day 2
FR16 - Day 1 Pt2
2 October 2016
FR16 - Day 1 Pt1
30 September 2016
FR16 - One day to go
Packing and sorting had begun.
From the reviews it looks as though the units are quite sparsely furnished so I have emailed to check what we need to take.
A bit late but I didn't expect to take essentials like kettles with me.
I knew we had to take our own bedding and we have sleeping bags plus half the car will be taken up by Reggie and his paraphernalia; food and bedding.
We take throws with us to cover furniture.
The vet in Abbeville is booked for Reggie's passport. So that should ensure he gets home again.
26 September 2016
Short Ride
Missed the DGR yesterday as I had a really bad dose of man-flu. Felt bad most of the day until late afternoon when I pulled Pepe out for a short run around the edge of the Marsh
Down to Dymchurch and New Romney then back up towards Ashford and across the top of the Downs back home. Altogether 25 miles.
22 September 2016
DGR 2016
16 September 2016
Frank Thomas Jacket
On the Thankful Villages Run in 2013 it piddled with rain all day, all the way from Kent to London's Whitehall and the FT Aqua kept me dry. In fact, only my gloves got wet, sodden in fact. A guy from Triumph in one of their Explorer suits was soaked to the skin.