¡InvictaMoto!

It's only a week since we got back from the Autumn trip to Spain and of course, France.   It seems we have been very lucky.  The torrential rain and flooding that was forecast for the Valencia hit this week and there has been devastation.   The area around Valencia has extremes of flooding and sadly, loss of life. The pattern seems to be moving north east and today there are videos and photos from Castellon to Vinaros with flooding and deep water rushing down the roads. This is the area we have just returned from. To use a oft abused phrase "Thoughts and Prayers" to everyone living in the area.

So there I was watching the TV. In my house.  We have a Ring doorbell.  My phone tells me that my delivery is going to be delivered from 4.15pm.  It's 4.11pm. No Ring on the doorbell .  But it does notice someone has walked in front of it.  Amazon guy.  Dumps parcel down the side of the house.  Takes photo. Email from Amazon arrives to say it's delivered.  Clicking "No so great" actually seems to do f*ck all. Just takes me to the order page!

Bath Council backs down. Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council has withdrawn plans to introduce emission-based charges for motorcycle parking. B&NES Council said yesterday that amended emission-based parking charges will be introduced in January 2025. However, following a strong campaign, the Council has decided to back down on the motorcycle charges. A brief statement said: “Introducing emission-based charges for motorbikes has been withdrawn due to feedback received through the public consultation and technical challenges in providing them a lower parking charge. MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: “We are delighted that motorcycle parking will remain free of charge in Bath and surrounding towns. But we need to be mindful that the statement from the Council suggests we have won on a technicality rather than winning in principle. We must remain vigilant for a renewed attempt to introduce charges for motorcycles further down ...

Leeds and Bradford MAG will fight Leeds City Council’s underhanded motorcycle parking policy changes.  The Council announced plans to charge for car parking whilst neglecting to mention that plans cover motorcycles too.  Leeds and Bradford MAG (L&B MAG) is gearing up to resist a covert policy change on motorcycle parking charges by Leeds City Council.  Plans announced by the City Council will introduce car parking charges at three parks in the city.  Despite there being no reference to motorcycles in the consultation documentation, L&B MAG sought reassurances that motorcycles would not be affected. In a shocking response the council said: “We can confirm that at present the proposals within the parking order do include motorcycles under the definition of a motor vehicle as being expected to pay for parking.” Thanks to extreme diligence L&B MAG has uncovered this decision which contravenes current policy to allow motorcycles free parking throughout the cit...

MAG has sought and received confirmation that the Government’s new Motor Insurance Taskforce includes motorcycle insurance in its remit. Announcements were made last week of the first meeting of a new Government Motor Insurance Taskforce.  The pledge to deal with spiralling car insurance costs was included in Labour’s election manifesto. MAG expressed concern that all the rhetoric mentioned car insurance exclusively, as did last week’s announcements.  The Department for Transport (DfT) press release stated: “New taskforce is a major step forward in getting a fair deal for UK drivers by rooting out factors that increase costs for car insurance industry.” MAG has since obtained confirmation from Department officials that motorcycle insurance is within the remit of the new taskforce. MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: “Whilst it is disappointing that we need to go through the process of ensuring the interests of motorcyclists are being cove...

The last day of this year's holiday.  The CCP aire at Cayeux sur Mer was really quiet overnight. Even the usual moped with loud expansion chamber was missing from the evening sounds.  Man it was cold. Much colder than Lyons the night before. Then again according to the dash board temp gauge around 14°C in the day barely matched the Alcossebre overnight temps! So this morning we were up. Used the drains of both grey and clean water tanks. And the cassette. After that the red 🔴 light stayed on, even with the minimum water in it so swirl the blue Thetford "tea bag" in. Bit of fiddling and gave up for the time being. It went out on its own! We had a similar problem earlier in the week with the grey water showing the red light after emptying. That also fixed itself! Max took us to the A16. It's the only toll section I don't mind paying for. I can't stand the 80kph run from Abbeville to Boulogne. It's boring!! Max also gave us an ETA of 12.47pm. Officially we w...

Only a short run today from Lyons la Forêt to the coast.  With Max set to no tolls we seemed to be off on a magical mystery tour. I had imagined we would head north and bump into the A28. We didn't see it. We had to have crossed over it... The journey took us to Eu and Le Tréport. I did think of stopping there but we wanted to get to Cayeux for lunch and a walk along to the beach huts. Checking the app showed the CCP aire to have 5 of 18 free. I had booked before we set off from home as we saw that consecutive days showed it full. We arrived about 1.30pm. The site had plenty of free spaces. We backed in and didn't need levellers this time. From the Google reviews the site has been there since 2022. I have seen it "pending" on the CCP app for a while. This is a popular area for us.  When day trips were cheap we came to St Valery a few times on the bike, and we have been locally to a campsite in the Moho. Way back we even had a Suzuki Owners Club weekend away in St Val...

The weather had looked up by the time I got back from having a look at the river. The satnav was set once again to no tolls with Lyons la Forêt as the destination.  I had expected us to go via Chenonceaux and Amboise. Max had other ideas and he headed towards Tours again. Onto the department version of the N10 signed Chartres. It seems that someone in France is making a few bob from selling speed cameras. With most departments keeping the 80k limits the proliferation of cameras certainly seems to have multiplied greatly. It's frustrating at times avoiding the toll motorways but we stuck to it.  A lunch stop in a nice picnic spot after a stop for fresh bread near Chateau Renault. As well as cameras it seems the French have discovered the traffic holdups aka roundabouts. Using indicators might help traffic move!!! Dreux and Evreux seeming the worst of the day. We eventually arrived at the CCP aire in Lyons at around 4.30pm. The aire is very busy and so on the way I booked a space us...

The yellow 🟡 warning of flooding in the area was once again off target. We'd had similar reports of both yellow and orange warnings in Spain and (luckily) they hadn't happened.  Once we were up I took the Nikon for a walk to see that the overnight in Bléré had produced. Amazingly the Cher was a little higher.  The path we walked on last evening was inundated and the other section by the skateboard park was under about six inches of brown muddy water. The children's activity area and playground were a little deeper in water. Although the zip line might be more fun.... 🫠 The river itself was surging along at a terrific pace.  Yesterday the no bathing sign was about 6 inches above the water level. Today it was part submerged. We were no worse off in the CCP aire though. On the road at around 10.15am. Destination CCP aire at Lyons la Forêt. ​

A big journal entry this time due to crap phone signals and crap WiFi. Saturday The longest day on the road for a while. We were away from Playa Romana at a fraction after 10am.  The destination was to be one of two free aires in Pamplona. Neither of them offering services other than water in and out. Progress was pretty good. Up AP7 to Vinaros and N232 pretty much all the way to Pamplona via Morella, Alcañiz and Zaragoza. We both love Morella and it was my base with my brother for the MotoGP weekend at Motorland Aragón in '22. No stop this time until Alcañiz and fuel at the Alcampo supermarket at €1.249. With their version of  "clubcard"  there was 3¢ off  a litre. Then away. Another stop before Pamplona as the automated station was offering €1.209 a litre. Shame not to benefit. We had a break and decided to carry on as it wasn't too late. We had a choice of the marina aire at Hendaye, or a CCP aire at Biarritz. I chose Milady and used a bit of credit to book. ...

Friday didn't see us do much. We stayed locally and started to pack up stuff we wouldn't be needing.  It's amazing how much you take with you. Saturday is checking out day. We were up and breakfast was long gone before we loaded up the van. On the dot of 10am we handed the keys back and set off. The route back north was pretty much the same as 2022. We got a little lost off AP7 as we seemed to backtrack on the N340 and then onto the N232. We did this in 2022. Past the hilltop village of Morella to Alcañiz where we stopped at the Alcampo supermarket for stuff to last over the weekend. Shops aren't open as long on Sundays like at home. It was the first of three diesel ⛽ fillups at €1.249 a litre. Further up I stopped again at €1.209!! And lastly at the ridiculous price of €1.529!! That one is still much cheaper France. The plan was to stop at a free aire in Pamplona. I had mapped two that seemed to have okay reviews. In the end as we were making good progress we decided t...

After a late night playing "hunt the mozzie" we were up quite late.  Although around 7am I had been to take Reggie for his morning constitutional, and then back to bed. The plan today. Drive up to Peñiscola and whilst there, check out the beach and the allegedly cheap fuel station. Although not shown on the weather forecast the morning saw heavy rain coming from the west. It took a while to clear and then dry up. It was followed by hot sunshine.  We decided to have lunch and then go when it was kinder to Reggie. In the end it was around 3.30pm when we set off.  Max the TomTom set for the BenArea fuel station. The phone app had normal diesel B7 at €1.219 a litre. The drive up the N340 was quite relaxing. The fuel station is on the left side of the road into Peñiscola from the AP7 junction. It was indeed as on the app. The only confusion was having to guess how many €'s worth of fuel you wanted. Guessing €75 left we wondering what had happened when the tank was full at a fe...

This year is the 110th Anniversary of the battle when the men on the Royal Irish Regiment fought to the last man at le Pilly. I have blogged this before. It needs remembering. War is nasty and brutal. But to kill everyone and give them no option to surrender or withdraw is criminal.  http://invictamoto.blogspot.com/2020/07/t-oleary-4.html

Really not much to say about this period.  Our apartment is on the second floor of one of the blocks that overlooks the pool area.  As before there are very few apartments occupied during the week, but it was quite busy at the weekend. We have spend most days relaxing. Walking the dog locally. The beaches are supposed to be dog free apart from one about 2kms away. Getting Reggie to walk that far at his age isn't working. We have been out twice in Molly. Once to Consum supermarket to save us carrying heavy shopping bags.  And today. We had a short trip to Oropesa de Mar mostly on the N340. Back in the early 90's we did the entire N340 from Cadiz to the French border on a motorcycle. I rode my Suzuki Cavalcade LX. Great bike.   We parked up near the beach and had a cortado in a restaurant bar that was open. Dogs okay on the terrace but not inside. Then Mercadona for essentials and then back to the apartment for lunch and siesta. We passed a few petrol stations and none as cheap a...

Up and away before 10am. Destination Alcoceber. All the jobs done and luckily the motorhome service area was free. First stop the Intermarche at Angeles sur Mer. There were quite a few motorhomes and vans in the parking. We took the A9 into Spain.  There's not much to report. A few stops along the way for coffee and lunch. Eventually arriving at Kione reception around 5.30pm. Checking in was easier than last time. The apartments have been upgraded. Molly is parked outside and locked up. All the security kit and pedal locks etc have been deployed. Now we can relax.

It was nice to escape from the rain and winds.  The CCP aire at La Cavalerie isn't the quietest in the country, situated as it is alongside the road into the village from the A75. It was noisy with traffic until around 9pm and then it kicked off again around 6am. The town is also about 780m above sea level. It was nice in the sun, but overnight it must have got down to around 0°C. When I took Reggie out for a pee at around 6.30am there was just a touch of frost on the grass. The aire isn't that large and it seemed ideal for A-class vans towing trailers with cars.  One French Rapido had a very dull blue Cinquecento on the trailer. Not the original 500 but the 80's hatchback. We were away at 9.44am today. Back onto the A75. I had set Max to take us non-toll to Béziers and then onto the N9 to avoid the toll A9. Possibly as mistake as we caught a wide load trying to navigate through the villages along the route. We were stuck behind it from Nissan-lez-Enserune to Coursan. The b...

Well that was a night to remember. We avoided the thunder ⛈️ and lightning but didn't escape the high winds and torrential rain. At least Molly stayed watertight. We think. The alarm was set for 8am again but this morning Reggie was up earlier. Breakfast done and dusted and all the hookup jobs undone, we used the motorhome service point. Water in. Water out etc. Almost the same as yesterday we were on the road at 9.46am. Out of the village and onto the N7. A little trickery saw us take the toll A71, DOH! A fuel stop for diesel at €1.609, the cheapest we have seen so far, and the whizzing past Clermont-Ferrand towards Millau. The only toll on this leg should have been the €16 for the Viaduct.   Next stop at the services at Veyre on the A75. Lunch and a walk for Reggie. We had another stop by the Garabit Viaduct. Photos taken. Coffee bought from machine. Then off again. Millau Viaduct. I had planned to go to the aire to walk up to the viewpoint.  Of course, plans thwarted as they are...

What a night. Not too bad but it rained a few times. Not the biblical downpour that Noah anticipated and BBC Weather said would happen, but still enough to deter even the most ardent Peter Stormer from spending too long out in it. Today's route as chosen by TomTom was terrible. The N104/A104 is as bad as the M25. Our run from Formerie to the old N1 near Beauvais wasn't too bad. After that. Traffic. 🤬🤬🤬🤬 We managed a stop near Fontainebleau for a quick snack. The rain heavy at times. The overheads on the motorway advising of heavy rain.  We decided that both Chatillon and Beaulieu sur Loire were not far enough.south to maybe avoid the exhausted hurricane's rain.  So a quick rethink. Max set for the CCP "camping mon village" at Saint Pierre de Moutiers. To speed things up I took off "no tolls" and we ended up on the A6 and A77.  Another stop for Reggie to pee and us to get a coffee.  Again we arrived around 5pm after a tour of the village. The Aire is ...

With the ferry at 0945 we decided that with 14 miles to drive to Dover, we would get up at 0645 My planned leaving time was 0745. We eventually packed the last stuff in the moho and set off at 0743 It was pretty easy going and the rat trap maze through the works was navigable. At French passports there were only two cars ahead of us and we were quickly through.  As we travel on British passports we checked the dates on the stamps...  Boarding Liberté meant going up to deck 7 behind another moho. It seems this isn't the usual RoRo boat. The pet lounge on deck 9 is easy enough to locate. Today there are 7 humans and 4 dogs. And away we go. The captain said sea conditions are moderate to rough. As we exited through the harbour wall into the channel we started to roll. Next stop France. We actually left at 0935 as everyone was onboard. The crossing wasn't that bad and we were in sight of Calais when we had to slow as the berth we were to go on was occupied. It turned out to be P...

Day 1 Actually our wedding anniversary is Monday but we started with the cream teas in advance. Day 2 Lovely.  Bought online from The Cornwall Company. Superb stuff. The box came with four scones, jars of jam, teas but only one clotted cream...

I sent this to Blogger by email and it was refused for some reason.  It worked okay on Travellerspoint,  and so rather than type it all out again I have simply linked it.... HERE North of the Somport Tunnel

New seat covers. They were a very tight fit. Cheap at £39.95 but difficult to fit over the driver and front passenger seats. Tight and baggy!! How? They'll have to do. Recommend? No.

I forgot all about doing the delay/repay claim until nearly a week had passed. The online system allows you to claim within 28  days so was okay. I filled it all in and they can easily link to my Key smart ticket card. I was amazed that within 3 hours they had refunded the full fare.  Now I just have to wait for it to appear in my bank account!

So after a bit more work with apps and the map books, I have two now, I have a kind of route planned for the journey from the ferry port at Calais to the apartment in Alcoceber. In total four overnight stops on the way down. The first has been booked for months as it is a small Camping-Car Park Aire (CCP) with only 6 pitches and it does get full quite early.  Hence we booked an earlier ferry so that we can arrive in daylight (!) and maybe choose the pitch rather than being the last in and having what's left! That's at Formerie. For the second overnight I was looking at a place on the Loire at either Bonny or Beaulieu sur Loire.  They aren't too far apart but it looks as though all the rain in France has caused flooding and both the sites I fancied seem to be closed "temporarily".  One is a municipal aire and the one at Beaulieu is a CCP aire.  This meant a rethink. Not that far away and still showing as open is the aire at the marina in  Châtillon...

On Wednesday 11th September, motorcyclists in Northern Ireland took their case for recognition of their safety needs to Stormont to put it to the people who can make the right decisions - the NI Assembly Committee for Infrastructure, which advises the Minister for Infrastructure on policy and legislation development.  The purpose of our meeting was to give the committee members the motorcyclists' perspective on for example, and hear what motorcyclists think can be done to make improvements.   Martyn Boyd, the NI Representative for Motorcycle Action Group (MAG: www.mag-uk.org) put forward our perspective on the state of our roads and road safety in general concerning motorcyclists and how we are affected by poor road conditions at a Committee evidence session. He was assisted by Colin Brown, MAG-UK Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement who attended via video link. Martyn made it clear that Northern Ireland’s roads are in crisis and, in many places, the condition...