InvictaMoto's On The Road Again!

Today I finished a little early for the Bank Holiday weekend and we decided to have a run out to Bodiam Castle . It is a National Trust site and just across the county border in East Sussex. We have been a few times before and with the lockdowns there has been limited opening.  Now the Castle is open and there are tours. But not for dogs. On arrival we checked in and then paid for the parking or rather got a car-park ticket as members we don't pay but must display a ticket. First port of call was the café alongside the river.  A sausage roll and coffee for both of us. Reggie had his own snacks plus some of the sausage meat from the roll. Then a walk around the loop.   Reggie decided now was time to poop and we had the bags at the ready.  Bins for rubbish and dog waste are few and far between.  We went to the small café above the castle where the bins are situated.  Claire and Reggie Rather than walk all around the Castle on the circular path alongside ...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) announces that their Annual Group Conference (AGC) 2021 will take place with an online element, offering members the best opportunity to attend this important event amidst ongoing uncertainty regarding the pandemic. Motions and nominations must be submitted no later than Wednesday, June 30th, 2021.   MAG AGC 2021 will take place on Saturday, September 25th. In order to announce details of the event, and to provide timely notice for submission of motions and nominations, the decision regarding how AGC will take place had to be taken in May. The National Committee considered the viability of holding a group event to include members from all four nations, taking into consideration the possibility that conditions could change, and restrictions reintroduced. It was strongly felt that this year’s event should go ahead, allowing the maximum number of members the opportunity to participate, and should include a contingency in case of restrictions being rei...

At KAP they do make picking up your new car a little special. Shame the quality and sound on the video is so poor!  I took this last month when we picked it up.

The plan for Sunday 30th May is to complete the challenge.  In the latest "Nacelle" there was a reminder of the challenge and what needs to be done. I have chosen towns/villages but it could be places of interest as well.  Leaving home and looping around Kent with a coffee stop at H's. I have the route in the TomTom.

I decided to move the TomTom mounting from "in the wind" by the left side switchgear. As it is already removed what could be simpler? Easier said than done!!!! For some reason the spare RAM mounting kit I had in stock came with 11mm nyloc nuts. I hate nyloc nuts. Also who the **** uses 11mm! The supply spring washer too! In the end after what seemed like hours I finally managed to get it behind the screen and above the clocks. The area is so confined I could only turn the nut about a quarter each time.  It took wiggling and a jiggling to get it where I wanted it, also to be able to lock it in place with the anti-theft kit!  The key to the ram-ball mount is a little bit of a squeeze. The next job is to fit the new power cable and connect it to the battery rather than the accessory socket. Oh yeah. Baloo is back after a wash and brush up.

Catch up time.  The DGR was done and dusted. The planned ride didn't happen and I went out in the briefly dry morning.  Luckily shit and water free roads. Onto next year?

If you are in the UK and are 65 and over and you haven't heard from your GP about this screening, then give them a call and see what is happening. The screening takes about five minutes with an ultrasound machine to see whether the Aorta is normally sized or enlarged. It is also free on the NHS. I went this morning for mine. Painless and you get the results straight away.  I was "normal" and therefore not at risk. Do it. You may find it could save your life. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening/

On Sunday Arsenal failed to make it into the top seven in the Premier League and thus failed to make it into the European places. Pipped by one point by eternal (and local) enemies Tottscum Hotspur. So I was expecting as Josh Kroenke made it to the last game that he was there not to watch the game (Arsenal won 2-0 over Brighton & HA) but to press "enter" on the keyboard that would send the ticket renewals out to those of us with Gold memberships. Either he had cramp in his fingers or there was some discussion about what they would expect us to pay but the renewal notice arrived about noon today. I have already decided that as this will be my last season starting before I retire this will be my last season attending games at Arsenal. As a retiree I don't want to be forking out £800+ of my pensions. In my dotage I can go to Folkestone Invicta for £110 a season as a senior citizen. Plus Folkestone is only 4 miles away and won't require a £35+ train and tube ticket pe...

From @Shewore on Twitter:  " Been thinking today....those 65s+ had 1971, us in our 45s+ had 1989, those in there 35s+ had 2004....hope those in there 20s get those moments one day..." There are memorable moments in the Arsenal supporters history.... 1971 the first double... 1989 winning the League at Anfield against Liverpool.... 2004 The Invincibles. 1969. My first visit to Wembley Stadium with my Dad.  The Football League Cup Final against lowly Swindon Town. Losing......

The concert was originally planned for 7th October 2020.  It was cancelled due to Covid until the 7th October 2021.  And now....  Cancelled again. Now it has moved to 2022!   I hope that we, that includes the band, are all still alive in 2022!!!!!!

When I signed up for this I didn't ask Reggie whether he wanted to take part. He is the kind of dog that does what we want and only needs a few treats to make him happy to come along. The challenge shouldn't be too hard to achieve.  Walk 60 miles in June with Reggie with us.  Whilst he is happy to be with us, happy to sniff everywhere, happy to pee everywhere, he isn't a great walker. It's only an average of two miles a day though. Sometimes he'll even hide under the dining table as soon as the collar and lead/leash are sighted. I know it is pretty pointless giving the donations URL but here it is.  Just in case someone that reads this has a few quid to spare. Donations -  https://www.facebook.com/donate/139710528201889/10157803736686744/ Information -  https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/dog-walk-challenge

It had to be done. I retire on the day before and so as a retirement gift to myself (and Claire) I bought two tickets. December 18th 2021 at the O2. I've not seen Madness live since the early 1980's... We have grown into old men together.... I took a leap of faith in Covid being over and done with and booked the car-park.  It's twenty-five eye watering quid and a guaranteed space to park.  It's way cheaper than the train for two of us even with petrol!  The Juke is pretty economical on longer runs.

I did!! These are the £19 readers I picked up today. I can see clearly to use my phone! Specsavers £19 readers... But, there's still that "fishbowl" sensation putting them on whereas the £1.99 B&M glasses work as well about 10% of the cost and there's no "fishbowling"...... or B&M £1.99 readers...?

A couple of days and it's all change again. Looking at the trip I decided that three nights in tulip country would be enough for us to enjoy the place and include a visit to the Keukenhof to look at the displays there.   So I have changed the hotel for the first three nights to one in Zandvoort - Hotel XL .  It's only 17kms car park to car park. Walking extra. We are of course keeping our fingers crossed that Covid will be out of the way and that the Keukenhof will be open to the public.  We are talking April 2022 now! The fourth night I have snipped off the original hotel booking and have looked at somewhere in Zeeland on our way back to the Channel port. A few years ago we did the Zeeland route to Assen for the MotoGP. It was very nice meandering on the BMW up through the islands. That was in 2010.   This time the journey will be in reverse.  I looked up the B&B we stayed in back then and it has no vacancies for when we want to go. This maybe th...

I got a little bit of a shock when my MasterCard statement arrived this morning.  Instead of paying a deposit on the cottage near Dereham and paying the balance a month before we go, they had taken the entire cost in one go.  Luckily between us we can cover it. Still a shock to shell out £695 when you thought it was only £250! The reason I ticked the box was in case Covid rates soar and we are forced by the Government to cancel we won't be out of pocket! Oh well. What is done is done I guess.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has announced the 30th International Ride To Work Day campaign.  This year MAG will celebrate fun - the real benefit of riding to work. The international Ride To Work Day campaign marks its 30th birthday this year and UK promoters of the campaign, MAG, are using the opportunity to promote the fun side of riding a motorcycle or scooter, and reckon that riding to work is better than commuting by car. MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, says:  “We spend a lot of time promoting the advantages of less congestion and pollution when it comes to motorcycling, and there is no doubt that a motorcycle commute can be far more practical than a car commute. However, following a depressing year of lockdowns and restrictions, focusing on the sheer joy that motorcycling can deliver to a rider seems wholly appropriate.  There are many who have never tried powered two wheelers and they are missing out:  not only on the ...

If you can have Staycations, then why not Awaycations. So for what could be the first awaycation I have looked at the Holland bulbfields. We both like 🌷 and Holland in the Netherlands is the home of the bulb. Of course it's not until April 2022.  I'll have been retired a few months by then and we can go on vacation whenever we like.  I have looked ahead and booked a room for four nights near Leiden. Of course it's with the usual "pay later" and "free cancellation" policy. I need to make a diary note to cancel just in case we can't go. At the moment it's for the last week in April. Checking the term dates it looks as though the schools will start the summer term a week earlier. So let's see...

The shirt arrived today. I put the package to one side. When Claire was otherwise engaged I unpacked it. As it features flowers and toucans (yes the big beaky bird) maybe it ought to be a South American shirt unless toucans are found in Hawaii too.  Carefully unbuttoned it. Nice soft material. Slipping it on it fits really nicely. Comfortable. I expected Claire to hate it. She didn't. A career in modelling? Male modelling over for another few years.... Let's see yours! Post in the comments. Let's see how good some are and how gross some are.... 

Another trip to Dungeness.  The weather was iffy but we decided to have another drive out and a walk on the shingle away from the train station and the nuclear power station.   It was of course very windy.  So we had jumper and waterproof coats on.  We have been a few times recently and the difference was quite amazing.  A few weeks ago we were the only people in the café garden alongside the tracks. The trains weren't running.  It was windy then and we sat with Reggie on a bench on the platform letting the building shelter us. Today though. The Government had relaxed the Covid lockdown on May 17th and the trains were running. The car-park was full. The café and the two pubs in walking distance were able to have inside customers. Business looked to be back to normal..... We had a cup of coffee and a biscuit we rook with us. Cheapskates! We drank up as we wanted to be away before the train. Reggie has lived with us for six and a half years. The Romney H...

At the moment it looks as though the event could be cancelled again this year.  It's planned for July 3rd. This is after the Government relaxes the Covid rules that will allow us more freedom to move about the country. From June 21st we are supposed to be free again for the first time since March 2020!! In England anyway.  As I am unlikely to travel to Wales or Scotland I am not bothered what they do. I have planned a route up there as usual with MyRouteApp for the TomTom.  It's a round trip of about 230 miles so I have planned in a couple of petrol stops.  The first might be unnecessary but I like to have a full tank before setting off on the motorways.  I have an aversion to paying motorway services petrol prices! I might add a few other stops before the actual day. I am interested in a memorial to the WW2 pilots the flew Mustangs and Thunderbolts from Steeple Morden Airfield near Royston. 

Another date for Suzi's diary.   UPDATE DATE CHANGED TO 22ND JULY 2021 The Bike Night is usually held at the Wagon and Horses in Charing on the third Thursday in June. It was cancelled in 2020 as we were in another lockdown. It was expected that this year it would be in the same place. But, we learned today that there is a new venue. The date has changed to the week later, the 24th June. This is partly due to the country being free of the lockdowns from the 21st.   Why the venue change after so many years?  I have no idea. It will now be held at the Sellindge Sports and Social Club. It's only about 15 minutes from home - Sellindge Bowls Club on the map. Suzi should get there and back with little trouble!  :) Photos from a previous visit .

Don't laugh. It's too late for a midlife crisis but as a tribute to the old days of the SOC Kent Centre I bought a Hawaiian shirt.  In the 80's the Kent Centre started wearing shirts like this to rallies and gatherings.  I had one with palm trees and coconuts! This one is actually by Guinness, the beer people, and has their toucan in the design.   There's a harp on it as well. Guinness Shirt

The best laid plans of nice and men. The weather this week has been terrible. It's May but you would be forgiven into thinking it was January or February. In the occasional sunshine temperatures get into double figures centigrade. A high of 14°C is greeted with people taking off a jumper or two. But raincoats are still retained.  The forecast is for the same for the next few days including the weekend. That means heavy rain and hail storms every day.  The wind is also up. It's strong enough to have many places closed due to the danger of falling trees. This makes the chances of taking a highly polished motorcycle out in that weather seem very unlikely. The DGR is in doubt here! Not that it matters much as I haven't had any sponsors any way.

The jean arrived pretty quickly.  I had put a note on the Facebook page to say my others could do with some TLC. When the news ones arrived there was a nice note inside and a return label to send the old ones back to see if they can repair the Kevlar lining where the stitching has split. I must get them packed and sent off. So far I have worn them twice.  A few weeks ago I thought I'd take the Kettle to H's for the Meldrews April meeting, but in the end the weather was bad and we went in the new car.  How do you spell wuss? In the end it was a few days later that I took Suzi the Kettle out for a shortish ride to test the fix I had had to do to a connection under the left side panel.  They were a little tight, and I put that down to lockdown, eating too much and exercising too little. Either than that it could be that inches are smaller now than pre-Covid. The second was on Sunday just gone.  Dry when I left but chilly under trees and out of the sun, The jeans ar...

After Sunday's torrential rain my old overtrousers had a leak around the crotch.  Not a lot but enough to mean that over a long distance I would have watery balls. At least I found out now rather than when I am away on a longer ride. I had a look around for some replacements. It seems the Held trousers that I spent all weekend wearing on the le Mans weekend in May 2019 have been discontinued.  A shame as I lived in these for almost four solid days to and from home and at the circuit. So instead I decided on a pair of Richa overtrousers instead. These aren't that expensive and they do the size I need to go over my thick Hood K7 jeans.  It was a tight fit on Sunday wearing the old ones. They arrived today and for £26.99 inc postage they look really good. Instead of the zip fastener for the lower leg they have a wide gusset and Velcro straps. They also have an inner tie so that you can ensure they fit snugly at the waist. I have no problems with zips, but when...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has published the results of its snapshot survey of motorcyclists’ attitudes to potential phasing out of petrol motorcycles. MAG recently ran a survey to establish a snapshot of riders’ opinions about what remains technically a potential phase-out of petrol-powered motorcycles.  Motorcycles are not currently included in the Government’s announcement of the 2030 end-to-sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.  It is widely accepted, however, that motorcycles are likely to be covered in future announcements as the country works to decarbonise transport. The survey attracted a total of 4,805 responses.  Of these, 1,575 responses were from MAG members. The remaining 3,230 were from non-members.  It is assumed that all respondents would consider themselves to be motorcycle enthusiasts due to the channels used to promote the survey.  This was not a randomised sample of all motorcycle riders. The first question covered opinion on ...

126 years of history and end up 18th in English Football League Two. 

After what has been a few weeks that could be described as "summer" the weather has turned into distinctly early spring weather. Low temperatures and rain.  The rain heavy at times and also with the odd hailstorm mixed in. The Greta supporters claim it's "global warming". The other side say "it is bollocks".  As I have no degrees in climatology I have no idea. Then again Greta also has no degree either. So today I wore the FT jacket over a t-shirt. A wool v-neck jumper went in the left pannier with a Triumph waterproof jacket and my Held overtrousers. It was another test day for my new Hood K7 jeans. They have been worn once before. They are quite tight and I am hoping they will "give" the more they are worn. Pepé started first push of the button. Not bad since it has only been used on the road once since November. That was last week when I had my MoT.  It was case of getting used to new tighter jeans. I guess inches have got smaller over the...

On the way back from The Meldrews meeting at H's near Canterbury I detoured off the A20 to get my first entry for the Triumph Club's photo competition for 2021. I had planned on "C" being Cheriton but couldn't think where the sign might be! Capel is also where the Battle of Britain Museum and Roll of Honour can be found. It amazes me when bikers travel all over the country there is no pilgrimage here.

I have been using the TomTom on Pepé since I have had the bike. Firstly with the old style Rider and more recently with the 410 model.  This one came with the locking anti-theft kit.   I now need to refit the RAM Mount etc.  I took it off to tidy it up (rust etc)  and then I discovered that when it was last serviced the very helpful mechanics at Laguna had routed the power lead along the frame rather than where I had it dangled over the top of the air filters.  Sadly it seems to have melted somewhere there was no power.  In the end I had to cut both ends off the cable to be able to tidy it up. I ordered a new power lead from TomTom and it arrived recently. I will be a bit more thorough with this one and rather than use a Hella DIN plug into the power output by my left ankle, I will connect to the battery. I can then let the excess wire coil under the seat rather than at the handlebar end.  I never like cutting wires. Too long better than too short...

So today the Juke was showing 80 miles to empty and so that we can go out somewhere tomorrow I decided maybe we fill the tank today so that we are free to go, In the end we went to the BP garage in Seabrook and the tank took a little over 38 litres to full. I didn't brim it this time.  Preferring to let it click the pump to a stop. Once home I put the odometer reading into Fuelly and got 41.8mpg. A little better than last time. This maybe because we did a couple of longer journeys to some stately homes since the last fill-up and not just around town on the "urban" cycle. I was still expecting more. We'll have to see how it goes once we start going further afield.

I consider myself distinguished. I am most definitely a gentleman and I ride a motorcycle.  Sadly though, not a motorcycle proscribed as being the kind that can take part n the DGR. Until now. Although a Triumph, the Rocket isn't the sort of bike that even a charity ride sponsored by Triumph Motorcycles want so have on display. So I will do the 2021 even on Suzi instead. There is section on the "style guide" for classics. And at 44 years old, Suzi is a classic. It's Sunday May 23rd.  Due to the global pandemic there are different options for the rides and they are devised to cut down on possible social distancing problems.  I have chosen the "Solo Ride" option.  I have a route planned to leave home arounf 10am,  and head through the Kent countryside stopping for a break at H's cafe by Kent Motorcycles and then a ride home in a roundabout manner. Thus completing a circle and because I have loads of FB friends, I will make some money for men's health a...

Today's staycation trip was to Hever Castle.  This is the home of Anne Boleyn.  Google her to find out what happened to the strumpet.  Hint. Chop! We had a 65 mile drive and the Nissan satnav had us on some very odd little roads. On the map it looks as though it zigzagged across country but I am sure the more direct main roads although longer, would have been quicker. Photos?  I took the D50 and it has the setting where it takes three pictures on every click!  So I was a little surprised as I had forgotten the setup, and how to undo it! Here's a few.... The others are in a Facebook album .