30 December 2016

FL17 - Second week

So after a pretty exhaustive search for hotels in Florida for the second week of our stay, five nights in total, I decided to use up another timeshare week. It seems a waste but when you consider the exchange fee for that week is £169 and hotels are looking more like £400 for the period, then it is worth it. 

Plus we get to stay somewhere a little different. I looked at Lauderdale by the Sea, and then slightly further north at Pompano Beach.   In the end choosing the Wyndham Sea Gardens resort. It is right on the beach off A1A between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Looking at the Weatherspark site to see what the average temperatures are, they look pretty good for us British.

So another plus point for Florida.  And another thing sorted.






24 December 2016

Jabra BT620 Headphones

Going through a box of electronic gear I came across these again, complete with the manual.

It's been a while since I last used them. Some six hours of charging and I have been using them for a week now. 

The last time I had them out was 2013!


Over time the foam ear pieces have rotted away and so I took the remains off and binned them.

I gave a new set coming for Christmas and so their reprieve from the bin might not be for long.


23 December 2016

Bike and Biker Books - Great Reading

For many many years I have been an avid reader. It's what (in part) makes me a clever clogs when we play Trivial Pursuit. Surprisingly though rubbish at Scrabble.

I have several interests. I like fantasy and SF.  I like detective series books. And mostly, I like to live vicariously through the lives and trips of other motorcyclists.  Adventure motorcyclists as the authors no doubt want to be called.

Here is a short list of the books I have read recently.

The Long Ride 'Home' - Nathan Milward
Llamas, Bananas and Bears - Stephen Mason
Two Years on the Run - Luther Maddy
Looking for America - Ian Mutch
One Man on a Bike - Richard Georgiou
Touching the World - Cathy Birchall
Through Dust and Darkness - Jeremy Kroeker

All a little different with a different level of preparedness and planning undertaken before they set off.

Perfect for those winter months when the bikes are locked away in the garages and cabin fever is setting in.

If you have any to add, please put the titles and authors in the comments.

AirBag Revolution

I signed up to see if I can get on the testing team for an airbag vest.  

I have read about the various jackets and can't say that I am too enthused at being connected to the bike with a cable to the jacket. it may work for snow mobiles to stop them carrying on and killing a bus queue, but being tied to the bike... No thanks.

This one is self contained and electronically deployed.

So fingers crossed I am one of the 500.  

22 December 2016

Quiet time of the year

I used to be an all round the year biker. Only stopping when the snow lay on the roads or the ice was too slippery to make it safe.  Recently, I have become a fair weather biker although an all year round variant.

Also since buying a bike festooned in a lot of chrome, I find myself worrying about the effect on it from the treatments (read salt!) that we use in copious amounts as soon as the temperature gets near 0C.

This last weekend was Meldrews breakfast Sunday and I pulled Pepe out of the garage and as it seemed mild, I wore light gloves.  Mistake.  I hadn't gone more than a couple of miles and my fingers were numb.

Added to that finding the dry line through the damp so to avoid too much splashback was working me too hard!

I'd not got far and was in the next village, where there is a 40mph limit, and I was soon joined by a guy in a hurry in a small Peugeot. Maybe the 40 inside a red ring on the sign meant nothing to him as he sped up my tailpipes.

Don't get me wrong. In Kent there are many places you can do whatever speed you like and the chances of getting caught by the law is remote. But villages with houses and schools, is not the place. 

This a-hole decided to try and pass me into a left and then right S-bend. The local authorities have a solid pair of lines down the centre. It means no overtaking. But a-hole tries it anyway.  The truck coming the other way dissuaded him from that attempt.

Once through that S-bend, there the road straightens, still only two lanes though.  The limit ups to the national limit of 60mph and he has another go. By now I have begun to get annoyed with him. I speed up to the limit. First there is a turning on the right, then the left some 150 yards later.  A car turns out of the first to go the other way, he swerves back behind  me.  The other driver shakes his head.

Past the second turn and he pulls out and passes me.  We continue with him barely pulling away from me.  At the top of the rise he is maybe 100 yards ahead of me, his right turn signal comes on and he actually turns left!  I watch him make the turn and stop where a youth is waiting on the side of the road. I go past and in a half mile pull onto the forecourt of the Blue and White Cafe.  

The Peugeot goes past and the driver looks over and gives a hand signal that's not part of the highway code...... Describing yourself is all I can think as I laugh at him.

Anyway. As usual good company. Good breakfast. Too short a ride. Roll on the Spring.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Here's looking to a better 2017 for everyone.


19 December 2016

17 December 2016

Behind You. Panto Time.

Panto.

I don't know if other countries have pantomime as part of their theatrical tradition but here in Great Britain it is a major part of the Christmas season.

Many towns and cities will have their own; from local amateur dramatic productions to big all star cast productions.

A recent trend has been to attract "big names" from the world of TV to star in the productions and bring in the audiences. The soap opera world in particular.

This year at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury the cast was headed by Stephen Mulhern, who we know as a game show host.

In Ben Roddy we have a superb dame. If you don't know what a panto dame is, Google it.

Don't bother.... Here's the wiki definition - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_dame

This year the panto was Dick Whittington. The tale of the young man coming to London to seek his fame and fortune.

This Dick achieved his fame and won the girl of his dreams, Alice, a rather different way. Going to sea and being shipwrecked in Morocco and defeating the King of the Rats there is a very different story. As a reward he became Lord Mayor of London.

Another brilliant show.  Another triumph.

Dick Whittington was actually a real person. He was born almost 650 years ago and was Lord Mayor four times. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Whittington

Not far from where I work there is the hospital and the cat mentioned in the link above. The cat is made of brass and enclosed in a wire cage


Next year Peter Pan.


We enjoyed it so much I have already booked for next year. This year the seats were a bit too high and we had people in front with St Vitus Dance (google it!) and so I booked us front row circle seats instead. No one in front of us. 

15 December 2016

Bosch

I have read all the books in the series by Michael Connolly, in order, from the start to the current end.

So when I saw that it had been made for TV I had to watch it. Unfortunately it is on Amazon Prime. Luckily due to a screw up I got stuck with a year's subscription and so I have been trying to watch it on my tablet.

Since getting a smart TV I have been able to watch on a big screen. I'm on the first series and now see there's a second!

Prime runs out in a week. Renew or not?



Update 31/12/2017

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

After a week of scraping ice off the car and -4C (24.8F) mornings I decided that if I was going to be going on my own that I would abort. Too cold and miserable on your own.

As well as that "fair weather biker" excuse I got a real one. Trying to catch the dog in the garden I twisted the end joint on my left index finger, making it so painful I couldn't even pull the zipper on my jeans left handed!  I am left handed BTW!  So pulling the clutch was o-u-t!

So with Meldrew's clubmate Cal pulling out with a knee injury I decided that abort was best.

Oh well!


28 November 2016

Movember 2016

It's 12 years since I did my first charity 'tache growing and that was with Tacheback. In fact I did Tacheback twice before it disappeared and was re-invented as Movember a number of years ago.

This year, so far, fund raising has been disappointing. That's the polite way of putting it.  All I asked was for my FB friends to donate one pound or whatever local currency they have. International charities like Movember can cope with different currencies, be they dollars or euro and a myriad of others.

I can't say it is hard work growing a moustache. After all, once your balls drop, hair tends to grow all over the place, the top lip being just one place.  

So one last time this is my mospace:  https://uk.movember.com/mospace/2865109

There are only two days left in this Movember and the mo will be revealed late on the 30th.  Please sponsor me,  if only a quid or a buck. They all count.

FT Aqua Jacket

Looking through my blog to see if there any embarrassing rants that need removing I came across this thread from just over two years ago.


I am still wearing this jacket most of the time. It is still waterproof. Over the years the colour has faded from black to a peculiar browny red tinge, but not all over.

Although I have a mesh jacket for summer and last year I bought a Steve McQueen jacket for summer wear.  The FT Aqua is still the go-to jacket.


New ARMR Haro Trousers

Bike trousers that is.

With the weather turning cold I decided to spend some money on another pair of padded textile trousers. The last pair did okay for a cheap pair, but eventually (and embarrassingly) split around the crotch. I suppose I was trying to pack more in than they were designed for.... 😎

Like an over stuffed sausage, something had to give.

The problem with being rather portly is that the trendy makes think that an XXL waist is 36"!  

Many of these companies, you all know who they are, cater for five foot tall, 100lb soaking wet, Latin Moto3 GP riders in the main. Not that one of them will ever wear a pair of Cordura and lined for all weather trousers.....

So after trawling about on Black Friday, something else we have accepted from our US cousins, I found one of the large online bike shops, Ghostbikes, selling larger sizes.  I entered the discount code and was pleasantly surprised to get a good few pounds off and free delivery.  Next day.  And next day it was.

The reviews are good from customers and all recommend a size or even two above normal jean sizes.  As they are lined I don't wear normal jeans under them, and for the waterproofness I take the liner out in warmer weather anyway and that makes them more comfortable.

First impressions are good. I tried them on on arrival and the leg length seems okay but the liner doesn't seem to fix at the ankle and so when they come off, the liner comes out too.  I'll have to investigate.

Here's a link to the makers own webpage. http://www.armr-moto.com/product/hara-2/ (If you are reading this in the future that link will be dead.....  ;) )

Their first "action" will be the annual trip to Ostend on Saturday for the St Nicks Rally.  In previous years I have been Billy No-Mates/Jean Sans-Amis and last year fellow Meldrew Cal came and we had a good if not cold day out.  At the moment I am on my todd again.


25 November 2016

FL17 - Flights and Skyscanner

Of all the comparison sites I have found that the best, for me at any rate, is Skyscanner. Today I had a quick look, always remembering to change my internet cache before searching and was amazed to see that Virgin had a direct flight from London Gatwick (LGW) on my dates, and cheaper (not much!) that my earlier searches.

The times were good and so I thought "I'll have some of that". I clicked on the "offers" page and was taken to TravelUp. An agents we have used before. I filled in all my details, Claire's details and got to "pay now", and a box popped up, "flight details changed".

Clicking on it took me back to Skyscanner and it began another search.  This time Virgin was cheapest still BUT the outward aitport was LGW but we'd arrive back at London Heathrow (LHR), some 50 miles away. Not much use with my car in the parking at LGW and an expensive transfer to negotiate.  

Instead for £4 more I can fly direct from LGW and come back to LGW with Iberia. The Spanish national carrier and a British Airways partner. So I booked that.  No problems this time.

I had to change the car from Tampa to Orlando and as the rates are higher I dropped down a few groups too.

We arrive Friday evening.  The timeshare is from Saturday so I booked a hotel with Booking.com for the Friday evening.

Not much else to do now until nearer the time.



24 November 2016

FL17 - Orlando it is then

Checking on RCI (rci.com) shows that there are quite a few options for the Orlando area. I have finally booked one that gets good ratings from visitors and also is allegedly "quiet".

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.  


Back in 2015 when we were last in that area I had planned trips to Canaveral and "Spaceport USA" , where I last went in 1991, and also to Epcot.  But my heart attack six weeks before we went meant we had a more relaxed and "local" holiday, with less driving.

The car is sorted. When we go to the US from Europe where we have shitty little cars, we look forward to gas guzzlers.  Sadly that seems to be fading and the hopes of a V8 recede every year with sensible options taking over. Even the SUV market has smaller engined cars. So I booked the group that is supposed to have these.

Now we have to look for flights. Looking at flying into Tampa as it is cheaper than Orlando, but there's not much in it but Claire wants to have some of the days after the timeshare ends on the Gulf coast and Tampa makes slightly better sense.





20 November 2016

FL17 - Orlando or Other

So for 2017 we are looking at using the timeshare again for a week and after this year in Arizona we started looking at Florida.

One change will be that instead of going in May we are planning to go at the end of September.  

Fingers crossed that hurricanes stay away.

But where?

The quality of resorts in the US are much better than in Europe. In our bracket they are far better and so the only downside is the length of the flight. And possibly the cost but that's to be expected.

So far the plan is to fly to Orlando or Tampa. Depending on flight times and which UK airport!

Last year our return flight arrived at London Heathrow and six hours later we were finally home.  So I'd prefer Gatwick.  Nearer home and doesn't involve driving through the packed traffic in West London.

What I have done so far is a bit of surfing to look at places and flights and booked a car.

So...

19 November 2016

Annual Service

Service date today.

As I haven't managed to hit 10000 miles yet, I booked the annual service instead. It's cheaper luckily.
It should have been last week but due to the building work at the Triumph shop it was put back a week.

This morning it was freezing. Cars iced over but at least the roads clear enough. By the time I got to Ashford my fingers were frozen at the tips. 

After changing the date when I got to the Triumph shop the workshop looked like it was weeks away from finished. So we schlepped across to the other shop where  they usually have KTM, Ducati and Kawasaki.

Outside was another Rocket fitted with a supercharger. I'd love to hear that running. I took a couple of photos.

Some three hours later I got an sms to say it was finished. We were in Folkestone  walking the dog and watching a ceremony where they were commemorating the centenary of the ending of The Battle of the Somme in 1916. A picture here too.

At least it was dry and cold but not as cold as the morning.

They have adjusted the clutch and that took a bit of getting used to. But otherwise it passed all its electronic tests and felt a bit more responsive.


16 November 2016

Ring of Red 2016

Sunday dawned nice and sunny. But cold.

After watching the Cenotaph Remembrance service I got toggled up and left about 1145. The idea was to meet other Meldrews at one of the service stations on the A2 but as plans go it was rather rubbish as none of them came, deciding to have breakfast elsewhere.

In the end I made the pitstop at Cobham Services and by accident I put super unleaded in the tank. Some goon had switched the nozzles over into the wrong holsters. And I didn't read the pump handle.so ended up paying 130.9 a litre instead of 116.9!!!

This year mine was the only bike there on the day  I caught up with another one on the A2 as we approached the M25 and then saw a few more as we entered the service area, which was packed with bikes. 

A large part of the car park was roped of for us and it was already pretty full when I arrived about 1310.

I hardly had any time to snap a few photos before we all mounted up and headed for the M25.

The ride itself went off pretty well. I only went as far as Clacket Lane and went past this time turning back at the next interchange.

The idea was that we should get onto the M25 and ride in single staggered file about 4 bike lengths apart. Reality was that loads of bikes were bunched up in large groups and then massive gaps...

Arriving home just before 3pm in time for late lunch and dog walkies.

In the end  we didn't complete the ring around London. Maybe because of the bunching and stupid gaps.

https://goo.gl/photos/Qa1WUFgYw6s26j399

31 October 2016

Ride Out for Kelly - October 30th 2016 - Report

From five of us at the Meldrews' meeting point there were only two of us, me and Cal,  that made the ride to the Ride Out starting point in Canterbury. There we found that the local scooter clubs had turned up in large numbers and on a range of scooters form the 1960's right up to latest model four-strokes.

There were fewer motorcycles though and that was a little embarrassing after the publicity the run had been given locally.  

Not that I hadn't seen plenty of bikes on the road to and from the event.  

In the end we had donations from the non-attending Meldrews (well most of them) and this was handed into the run organiser.  Amounting to just short of £1600 in cash and some online donations made from people's phones to justgiving.

The run itself was along the A257 to Sandwich and then to Deal and then ending at Dover seafront.  Our group was led by a bloke on a GoldWing.  What a prat.  On an open section leading about forty assorted scooters and bike he did 30mph.  We all bunched up and there were cars getting mixed up with us. 

The guys on the 125cc scooters could cope with 50mph and were getting more frustrated than me, I was unable to run top gear even.  

Then he lef us into Sandwich.  An old town with narrow one-way streets, then after that the wrong way so we ended up u-turning to get out.  Cal and I passed a load on the way to the Magnet pub in Deal where we had a break. It was just after 1pm when we arrived.

When the run leader announced we were to leave at 2pm (!) at 1.30pm I decided to call it a day and head home.  

I have to balance a life out on the bike with a family home life and both are precious to me. Perhaps if I was single I'd be able to devote more time to one or more of my pastimes.

I was home about 2.15pm and had a spot of lunch before taking the dog out for a walk and a bit of a rest!

Once again, Red Pepe was the perfect gentleman.

#doingitforkelly #rideoutforkelly

Halloween

With today being a school day, we had expected the kids to be around for their treats yesterday.

The pumpkin lights up..... sweets in the bowl. And. Nothing. Not a one.

So we expect them tonight, 'cept Claire at Pilates from about 1745 to after 1900, and me not home until a little before that.

What to do with a large bowl on Haribo?

27 October 2016

Ride Out for Kelly - October 30th 2016

This Sunday I am hoping to get out on this run for charity. It's for a local girl that needs some very expensive treatment that can't be funded on the National Health Service and is available only in the US.

That life saving medicine can cost $1m is a disgrace in the first place but that there is no insurance that covers it is equally bad.

So it is for the community to come together and raise the necessary funds to help save a life.



In July some thieves stole the collection from a local shop in Hythe. Despite the cctv video being shared thousands of times on social media and the TV, no one has ever been caught. A women and her teenage son were clearly seen stealing it.  Someone knows who they are and they haven't been turned it to the police or for some local justice.

So as well as having the just giving page to donate, bikers and scooterists will take a collection on this run.  it has been published across the South East and on TV as well as biker sites.  Hopefully there will be a massive turnout.

Service Time

It will be soon that time of year when a find out how much a kidney sells for as I raise the funds for a service.  Okay, it's not that bad, but I doubt it will be inexpensive.

As I haven't made it to the 10000 miles service interval it has been booked in for the annual service. Hopefully that will require fewer body parts being traded.

Before then there a few rides where I can make thew odometer look a little more respectable.

Movember 2016 - T-5

The first donation has been made to this year's Movember charity event.  It was me.  

Okay that might sound pretty dodgy, like the beggar that puts a few coins in the bowl to attract the passers-by to add to it, but not really.

At work we have had a Nespresso Dolce Gusto coffee maker in the cupboard. It was brought in by my boss for the department to use. Like many of these things it ended up not being used after the first flush of enthusiasm and was put away.

We had a look at them in a shop and I asked if I could borrow it to see if it was worth having.  My boss said I could have it.  And I said I'd donate to Movember for it.

I have and I am underway.  

The current beard and tache will come off over the weekend and I will start smooth skinned from Tuesday November 1st.

All I need now are people to sponsor me.


MY MOSPACE



16 October 2016

FR17 - Dordogne

Dordogne.

After a couple of successful trips away with Reggie we took the plunge and booked another trip to France.

This time in the Dordogne region staying in a mobile home again, like we did in October this year, but in May! Except this time with a company called Eurocamp.

Claire has some reservations about going so far with Reggie in the car as it about 500 road miles. I have built in an overnight stop on both legs.

I don't think it will be a problem as there will be plenty of stops on the way.

Plenty of time to decide.

12 October 2016

Movember 2016

I have signed up again for Movember after a year off last year. I did Decembeard instead.

At the moment I have a beard but that will go very soon.

So should anyone feel like sponsoring me my mospace is: 

I have set a pretty low target of £100 but I doubt I'll get close to that.

It is very easy to post of Facebook and other social media about fighting cancer. But seemingly more difficult to pledge a few quid to help fight cancer for real and increase awareness.

Ring of Red 2016

This year the Ring of Red will be on 13th November. The official Remembrance Sunday.

We are too busy to actually have Remembrance Day on November 11th when it is supposed to be so the nearest Sunday suffices.

This year I plan to head up the A2 to Cobham Services and see if any Meldrews turn up and then about 1230 head up to the meeting place at Thurrock Services.

Hopefully the weather will be kind again.

Report and pix to follow - and they are here.....



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

Our last full day of the holiday. I had hoped to get to St Valéry and ride the train but a bit of back ache meant I could hardly move for hours. Okay sitting or walking but nothing in between.

In the end a it was also our wedding anniversary we decided to have lunch out. We had exhausted St Valéry and so headed for Le Tréport again.

We have always thought of France as being more dog friendly than UK but we still felt odd asking at L'Aquarius whether Reggie could go inside with us. "But of course" was the response. The food was good and Claire got her mussels.

We had a walk around before heading up to the heights above the town to check out the views. It's also up here where the Funiculaire has its upper terminus.

As we walked along the top of the cliff to overlook the town. Below it looked like a model village.
The funicular runs through the cliff and like parking in Le Tréport it is free.

Of course in lieu of missing the train ride we had to go down to the town and back up again. Then it was bak to the camp to start packing and another dinner in.

Tonight was Reggie's second encounter with a hedgehog. This time a much bigger one but with the same result.

FR16 - Day 6

Today is pet passport day. A drive into Abbeville where the TomTom took us straight to the door.

We were very early and so we parked,  again free, and went for a walk around a garden before a coffee.

Abbeville can't be confused with an interesting city centre. The town hall looks like it was styled on an ancient design with a tower but in white concrete....

The church is old though. Still ugly.

We had time for a pannini and then it was gone 3pm. The short walk to the vets gave Claire a chance to pop into a boulangerie and buy a meringue for after dinner.

The nice lady vet checked Reggie over and filled in his passport and gave him the worming tablet.  He thought it was a treat and gobbled it down. We left ten minutes later and €30.10 lighter in the pocket but with the passport filled in to get him back into the UK.

On the way back to the campsite I saw a sign for a WW1 military cemetery dedicated to Chinese workers. This one at Noyelles has 811 registered burials.

Later I Googled it to find that the allies employed 96000 Chinese workers during the course of the war. Many of these graves show no names but others have names in English and Chinese.

The traditional entrance has been replaced with a Chinese style arch. Still designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.  The architect of many British memorials.

The inscription is by the Chinese ambassador in Paris at the time.


Another night in after a stop at the supermarket for beer and some dinner.

Tonight Reggie encountered his first hedgehog. A bit of barking and lunging at it ended up with the hog in a prickly ball and Reggie having to be tugged away.

Noyelles Chinese Cemetery from front
Rear of Lutyens gate
Only a number....


FR16 - Day 5

Today we had a lazy day, or at least start to the day.  Late breakfast and a walk for Reggie to do his ablutions.

Today we stayed local again. Going into St  Valéry for a walk about and down to the railway station on the harbour to watch the train leave.

The train is a heritage line and runs from Le Crotoy to St Valéry almost all year and in the summer there is an extension to Cayeux.

We were lucky enough to arrive in time see it leave at 1430.

After we watched it fill up and leave there was time to have a barquette of frites between us.

Once again we ate in for the evening meal.

One man and his dog
One woman and her dog
Selfie

4 October 2016

FR16 - Day 4

Another disturbed night due to whatever has Reggie awake and growling plus today the locals are out with their shotguns.

It is a miserable existence for anything that can fly in France as the brave hunters will shoot it. From endangered songbirds to ducks if it takes to the wing some twat in camouflage gear will shoot at it.

I almost feel sorry for the French airforce as they flew along  the course of the Somme the day before.  A target that big?

After breakfast and a short walk we both had an extra lay in to get some rest. Relaxing this holiday isn't! !

It meant we were late going across the bay to Le Crotoy.

With pay to park everywhere I moved the car a few times to more convenient places all on the one ticket.

Reggie wasn't enjoying today's walk and he wasn't allowed on the beach here.

We had a coffee and sit in the sun for a while. Nice to soak up the warmth.

On the way back we stopped in another Carrefour and got some sandwiches for lunch plus some tarte de pommes.

We ate the sandwiches at St Valéry overlooking the river. The tartes waited until we got home.

The late afternoon spent reading and blogging.

FR16 - Day 3

After another affected night we awoke to bright sunshine. Again Reggie and I went to get the bread.  The cats that live near reception kept a low profile.

After breakfast we drove into St Valery and parked up. Pay again.

As we walked along the pedestrian area Ali guide the bay the tide was us starting to turn. We had a coffee at La Terrasse before walking to the end where the river opens into the marshy bay.

The tide was rushing in quickly and in less than half an hour the beaches on the far side of this inlet had gone and it was lapping up against the concrete sides on the town side.

We stopped in La Terrasse again. This time for lunch. A goats cheese salad for Claire and a blue cheese burger for me. Amazingly I could eat all the chips/fries.

We called in a Lidl for some supplies on the way back and noticed a McDonald's as well.....

After Reggie's dinner we went into Cayaux for another walk as it was still bright and sunny.
Tonight's dinner is fish soup and bread bought in the Carrefour.

FR16 - Day 2

I mentioned that Reggie can be protective but what I really meant was overprotective. It rained heavily overnight and as well as that there were strange animal noises to keep him busy at intervals all night.

The beds are okay and the sleeping bags are similarly okay. But having a dog having mental barking fits is not so good.

Luckily being off season the four similar units we drive past to 136 are all empty.  At least no one for Reggie to annoy.

The people in 137 across the roadway are in their own caravan and they seem to talk loudly all night until gone midnight. Reggie does not like that either.

So Day 2 dawned a little dull and we had a walk to reception to collect our bread order. The French love their fresh baguette every morning.

Once breakfast was over we set off for Cayaux and after a walk and coffee we went to look for the tall chalk cliffs that extend from Ault almost to Le Tréport. We found them.

Le Tréport is a very lively town on a Sunday with free parking everywhere after 30th September. 
Something other places might like to note to attract visitors to spend money rather grubbing about for €1 an hour parking.

We had a walk around the harbour and  coffee and gauffres before setting off back to the campsite. 
A long day ended with Carrefour couscous and a beer to wash it down.

It is easier with the dog to eat out if need be at lunchtime and in for the evening.

FR16 - Day 1 Pt2

From the Baie de la Somme services it was a short run to the campsite at La Mollière.

We checked in quite quickly and drove round the one way system to emplacement 136 where our mobil-home is placed.

As Reggie takes ownership of anywhere he stays, he gets protective and defends. This means there is liable to be barking. I asked for a spot with little passing traffic.  That's what we have.

After unpacking we had a walk across the road to the dunes. We had imagined the sea to be there. Wrong.

We also climbed this 60 foot sand dune when a walk along to the west would have seen us walk through a gap on a path....

It was good exercise and we were the only ones daft enough to do it.

For dinner we ate in on Carrefour supermarket microwave lasagna. Yum.


2 October 2016

FR16 - Day 1 Pt1

A bit of a fraught start with the car seemingly needing to be bigger than it is. In the end the Tardis effect worked and the boot/trunk was full and half the back seat not occupied by Reggie was packed too.

Once we had filled the tank and checked in to find we had an hour delay we had time to let Reggie have a run about in the dog exercise area.

Our original departure time was 1020. The huge board by where I parked said it was now 1050.

We rushed into the terminal to get a coffee. Huge queues so made do with a crappy machine.

We should have bothered. We sailed through passports, UK and French, and into Lane 12. It was 1014.

Our place for the next 50 minutes was that queue. It rained a few times and that 1050  crossing faded.

Almost an hour was up and we moved up to the next queue, tantalisingly close to a train.

On the down ramp we could see another train loading in parallel.

1120 came and went. At 1141 we finally wheezed out of the station.

Delays of over 30 minutes on UK railways are eligible for compensation but not Eurotunnel.  The lack of information is the main source of frustration.

Finally in France and the exit from the train was to turn left and out of the back entrance rather than the usual right turn and out past the petrol station.  Who knows why. No one bothered to explain!!!

The run down the A16 to Abbeville tested the new toll tag I got from SANEF the French autoroute operator in the North. You just drive up to the toll, it peeps and off you go. Pay later.

First stop the Baie de la Somme services for a coffee and sandwich. It's always a reliable stop and plenty of parking.

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

This year I plan to turn up again on a non-hipster bike and enjoy the adulation of the assembled masses whilst raising some money for cancer charities.

Sadly my fund raising efforts have not gone too well. The main focus is through Facebook where I have 60 friends.

Some of them are outside the UK in the USA, Germany and the Czech Republic.

That does leave around 50 within the Sterling zone. Although as an international charity event sponsors can pay in sterling or Yankee dollars or euros or any currency that is internationally tradeable.

How many have contributed to my (currently) measly £21? ONE.

So with three days to go here's hoping for a few extra quid/dollars/rand/krone. Whatever.

16 September 2016

Frank Thomas Jacket

I was reading a Facebook post about a £1000 BMW suit that had leaked quite badly on the chest and back at the first rain of the autumn.

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.  

So I had a search through "On the Road Again" to see how old my Frank Thomas Jacket is. I was amazed to see the post was way back in June 2008.

My ex-wife used my profligate spending in her own counter-suit to mine of adultery....But in reality I don't spend fortunes on gear.

I don't think 8 years for a jacket and 16 for boots is that profligate.

Anyway. The point of dredging this up was to say that or a £99 jacket (less sale discount) is still waterproof.

Although it has faded and no longer black black it still does what it was bought to do. I am dry and generally warm wearing it and I wear it four seasons.

At the BMW price I could get 80 years of FT wear. 


12 September 2016

FR16 - France with Reggie

Since we were married we have tried to get away for our wedding anniversary and this year we have booked a week in France with Reggie in a mobile home.

We tested the water last year with a weekend away and with a week to Scotland with him. He was generally very good on both trips.

This year though we'll need to have his pet passport kept up to date with a visit to a French Vétérinaire before he can come back. I have located one not far from where we are saying and he is booked in on October 6th in the afternoon.

The mobile home is in a seaside town at Cayaux sur Mer.