InvictaMoto's On The Road Again!

One of the joys of getting old is being eligible for OAP or senior citizen discounts. My ticket is £15 where any adult up to 59 years and 364 days will pay £22. The game was originally planned for November 11th but was postponed as Latics had players on international duty. Lovely jubbly. A work colleague saw the club badge. She thought the owl looks very angry. I'd never thought of that before. 

What can I say? I'd not seen Deep Purple for about 40 years and then twice in just a few! I had to leave work and travel home.  Walk the dog. Then Claire came home and it was a rush to get to Ashford for the high speed train to Stratford. We made it. Didn't have enough change for the very expensive car park. But used the online booking on my phone!! This time to cut the walking to save Claire's wonky hip we went Stratford International, DLR to Stratford mainline and then Jubilee Line to North Greenwich.  In the end it was a cock-up as the escalators at Stratford International were broken and we had to walk up. Then at North Greenwich the up escalator was broken. Dinner in Wagamama. Two chicken katsu later we emerged to join a very long queue for security. This time we had seats in the 100 series lower tier. Unlike the 400 series seats these are gently sloping and still with an unobstructed view. We also had the back row with just th...

Saturday was the first opportunity to see Latics in the south this year when I could go. I missed the relatively local trip to Gillingham last year as it clashed with something else. This year I got a ticket for my brother as well.  We met at Gillingham station and walked down to the ground.  It was bitterly cold.  Even with four layers of clothes and a woolly hat it was still freezing. The game wasn't too bad and a draw was a fair enough result, but Latics could have won had they shot a bit more often and the keeper made a save from a swerving ball and they cleared one off the line.  The Latics' keeper, Johnny Placido, made a world class save from a free-kick in the last seconds of the game. The journey home was okay. I got a seat at Ebbsfleet. I was home in good time. Due to both side being eliminated from the FA Cup.  On December 2nd they are once again down south at Southend United.  If the weather is too shitty to go to Ostend. I might...

Currently the UK is in the grip of a cold spell.  Winds from the north-west are coming from the pole and bringing icy conditions to the south of England and snow and ice to the more northerly climes. So. The decision whether to go to Belgium will be taken later in the week.  The newspapers are scaremongering about "arctic conditions" being with us for weeks rather than the usual days.   One of the geographical benefits of where we are off the coast of mainland Europe means that we benefit from the jet stream and that generally brings warmer air up from the equator that means we get less snow but we get more rain than the Europeans.  Unfortunately it looks as though we are going to be north of the jet stream this week and in the cold air. It was very cold on Friday when I went on the Ride for Kelly and on Saturday we (Neill, my brother and me)  went to the football (soccer y'all) at Gillingham and even with four layers of clothing, gloves and woolie hats it ...

The RV was supposed  be no later than 0945. So I arrived at 0920 and found one scooter there and John the organiser. I parked up near the church and went into the coffee shop. A couple of skinny latté  later the scooters had begun to multiply and a couple of other bikes had joined in. I was talking to some of the guys when we discovered that the church proceedings started at 1100. At 1045 we were asked to fire-up and give a rev as the hearse passed by. It was getting on for noon when we finally got to move and the escort began. The cremation commitment was private for the family. I carried on from there to get a parcel from the post office and home. It was cold but dry and sunny. https://www.flickr.com/gp/pauldevall/z967Wp

Not quite the "Ride for Kelly" we had hoped to be holding this year or for many years to come. Sadly, Kelly passed away a few weeks ago and this will be the final ride out as we have been asked to provide an escort from the church to the crematorium. The Kelly Turner Foundation founded in her name will continue and the money raised used to help other children in the same predicament. RIP.

Just have to share this gif I was sent.  It even covers some of the ugly as shit models that should never have been allowed off the drawing board. I almost bought a 67 model back in about 78 or 79.  It was for sale at work and even with five years driving experience and a full no claims bonus (discount) I could afford the car but not the insurance premium. The insurance was well over what the car would have cost to buy.  Did I regret not buying it? YES!!!!!!

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has expressed concerns about the prospect of a ban on pillion passengers in London – a proposal which has been raised to combat the scooter crime epidemic currently gripping the city. The idea has been put forward by Green Greater London Authority member, Sian Berry who said  'A very small number of people are causing large amounts of fear on our street".   A local safer-neighbourhood panel Chair pointed out a tactic used in some other countries: to temporarily ban the carrying of pillion passengers across whole cities.' MAG's London Regional representative, Tim Fawthrop, has expressed his opposition to any blanket ban:  'As Ms Berry herself states, she isn't sure this is right for London, and we agree.  While all of us recognise the need to find solutions to the scooter mugger problem, the honest law-abiding, hard-working Londoner who takes his partner to work to cut costs and commuting time will be badly affected...

I have only lived here since 1999. We have a nice little town.  Once the town was on the coast directly but over the years our side of the Channel silted up. Resulting in the capital of the "Cinque Ports" becoming further from the sea itself. We still have a beach and a promenade but they are further from the town centre. In the photo is the Royal Military Canal. Built in case Napoleon invaded and to be used as a moat to delay and stop the invaders. They never came and the canal is a national monument. http://cinqueports.org http://www.royalmilitarycanal.com/pages/index.asp

After last weekend's ride in just about 2°C air temperature I knew I needed a new pair of more winter season gloves. Santa unfortunately doesn't come to me anymore so it was left to Mastercard  to get involved. We dropped into Laguna and after choosing a glove I thought might fit the bill but on the way to see if they had my size, I saw the "sale" bin. They still came in at over a £100. In there we some Dainese gloves. Part leather part fabric.  I tried a pair on and like Goldilocks one pair too big. One pair too small but the next pair.  Just right. You simply know. The fit was so "easy". Natural I suppose you could say. I've worn them about the house and tomorrow if the weather isn't too wintry they'll get the first outing.  Update 19/11/2017 Didn't get to try them out. At 2°C and frosty road and car iced I decided not to risk it. Felt a bit guilty until on the back road I witnessed a cyclist slide off on a...

I was looking through some of the blogs I follow and came across Bandit Rider's  blog about cameras.  It kicked off a debate about cameras and when we all bought our first digital effort.  As the eldest/oldest it seems I had the distinction of buying one first.  Back in 1998 I bought a Casio QV10a. I didn't come with a box just a soft case and some cables bundled in an elastic band.  It was of course new but an ex-demo model. I have no idea where those cables are now! I still have it and recently took it out of the drawer where it has been residing for at least the last 19 years! In fact the 320/240 pixel output was so poor, and its hunger for 4 AA batteries meant it didn't see a lot of action. It's first major use was in 1999 when I took it to Austria on my trip to the Wasserbuffel Club Rally near Mauterndorf in Salzburgerland. I used it a couple of times.  But essentially it only worked with bright daylight and ate batteries too fast to use s...

It was with some trepidation that once the Remembrance Day Parade had finished on TV that I went to the garage and tried to start Pepé.  Of course I had to press the "go" button and was relieved to hear the "whirr. click" from last week. I then got the power unit out and attached the leads. A few seconds.  Press again. Start. Phew. I left it running whilst I finished togging up. Boy was it cold out of the wintery sun. My phone showing 6°C. The wind chill on the motorway at 70mph... I Googled it and it came out at -2.3°C.  I need Santa to bring me some winter gloves. My usual ones were not that good today. I'll be more specific for him. Not too bulky but waterproof and warm. If anyone knows of a brand/model that fits this bill that won't cost an arm or leg, then tell me. So back to Sunday. I set off about 1145. This is my fifth Ring of Red. In fact I have been going since the first one.  The traffic was light to the M20. I decided that I'd go straight up ...

The niggling problem is that I have 14 exchange points left to use with RCI after we were downsized for the second week in Florida earlier this autumn. I hate to see them expire on 31st December 2018. Just vanish unused. So where to go? Europe is artificially priced and only the crappiest or those with the worst reviews seem to be in that points range. Amazingly,  many of the "why is this dump on here" places are much higher. But turning to the US looks the best value for resort, and choice, but obviously the airfare is much higher. Now I know the term dates for the school year starting September 2018 I have something to play with. Update 2/11/2017 In the bit the bullet and joined the 14 left over points with the next year's allowance to create a 36 point year ending Dec 2019.

New low with London acid attacks and Merseyside killing The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has described the most recent acid attack as a 'new low in bike crime' and expressed its frustration at the shocking assault on a rider, potentially leaving him with a visual impairment. MAG has offered its sincere sympathy to the victim of the attack, a delivery moped rider named Muhammed Nawshad Kamal, who was assaulted by thugs attempting to steal his moped in the Walthamstow area of London. MAG's London Regional Representative Tim Fawthrop said 'there's not much to say which helps in this situation, except that a shudder went through the riding community when news of this attack became known.  We're already working with local authorities and the police to reduce bike crime, but our efforts have come too late for Mr Kamal and that grieves me as a rider and us as a movement.' MAG's National Chair, Selina Lavender, adds 'after the rel...

The blogger app gave up the ghost on the original post only about half way through. After the clunk. I left Pepé in the watery sun on the drive. In the house I called the RAC. Only an hour to wait. Okay. I'll still be able to get down to Dungeness and meet Cal and Ian and see the old bikes.  I let them know by sms. It wasn't 10am yet.  Cal offers to come and bring the jump pack he has in a pannier. I say I can wait for the RAC and not mess their day up. Doh! The RAC call back. Update. About Noon they say. Bugger. Day ruined. I go online to look at power packs that I can carry with me in the pannier. A  note on the Rocket III FB asking for tips boils down to the dbpower 600A portable pack. £69.99 from Amazon Prime.  Tomorrow should be okay for delivery. Fingers crossed. Oh yeah  RAC call back with an update "more like 1pm". I say okay, but then call back and cancel. No point at that time of day. Db power 600A  Update November 7th 2017 The unit was deliver...

This is the third autumn since I brought Pepé home. But the first since he has begun to be a little temperamental. We are just at the beginning of a cold snap and today. Press the starter. Whirr. Clunk. I was supposed to be going to a classic bike run. So had to cancel that. Let the other Meldrews know and called the RAC. "About an hour". An hour later an update. "About 1230". Some two hours to wait. If tbis is liable to happen I need to invest in a battery jump tool. Neither of the cars can do it as thru have sealed battery covers. So let's wait.

" If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die ." We have often been to concerts  since Claire and I met back in 1999.  Most of them I have to admit at my bidding it has to be said. Some have been less than exciting for her, but have actually been very good and she enjoyed the spectacle.  From the Download Festival (where I was lucky to have won £300 worth of tickets) to Motorhead and of course, last week, Metallica. Motorhead were probably at the lower interest level. The last time we saw them the support was The Damned.  And it is The Damned we are going to see in February at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone.  Only a few miles from home.  No travel to London. First up in November is a return to the O2 to see Deep Purple. A farewell tour?  A gig free December leads us into the New Year and  Think Floyd at the Leas Cliff Hall. Another tribute band th...