On the Road Again!

With Molly the Moho being in the dealers for some warranty work and a (possible) repair to the damage to the rear bumper, we are having to staycate in the car. It also means that we can go away for a few days and so are based at home. The weather has been really poor. The "Mediterranean Climate" we were told to expect in the South of England as a result of climate change hasn't arrived. Instead we have had some really hot periods but not that long and wetter summers. July 2023 has been the 6th wettest on record.... So this week we have been out between showers and some torrential rain where we can. Today we took a short drive to the White Cliffs of Dover to walk the dog and to have a look at Dover Harbour. The harbour under the white cliffs themselves. I dug out Claire's Sony A300 DSLR and charged the battery. It seems a shame to let it sit unused in the case.  I had to format a 4gb compact flash card to get it to work, and a few test shots were fired off in the garde...

Today we had a run to Rye to pickup Suki from storage to bring her home.  It's a bit early for our trip next week but we have a few things to do. We have to clean and purify the fresh water tank. I have a neutral chemical to do that. So today the drive to Rye took about 50 minutes. We discussed the problem we are having with the replacement left side mirror. The original was broken when we hit a piece of wood jutting out of a hedge. That was three days before we went to France last June. The cheap replacement works but there is a problem with the indicator when turning left. The system comes up with an error. The mirror indicator does flash okay though. Hopefully they will have better luck than us in getting a genuine Peugeot version. Amazingly after about a month or six weeks since she was parked up after the warranty work had been done on the leaky kitchen tap, she started first time. I had taken the dbPower unit with me to give the battery a boost if needed. She ran well after I...

Okay. Not far. I had intended just a ride around after lunch. Despite temperatures in single figures the sun was out and with it actually on you, it felt okay. I togged up in my current "winter ensemble" of Oxford base layer, wool v-neck jumper, thicker jumper, FT Aqua jacket on upper body topped off with a Buff. Lowers taken care of with the ARMR trousers and TCX boots. I was warm as I hauled Vera from the cold reaches of the garage. I decided to wear the LS2 Metro helmet and Spada gloves. No sunglasses, as the sun would be over my right shoulder as long as it stayed out. If needed the helmet has a drop-down sun visor. I set the Yamaha My Ride app on my phone and set off. I only got as far as Hythe before the ambulance flashing lights up ahead signalled delays on the road. I worked my way past stationary traffic and a loop to come back on the A259 coast road further east of the town centre.  I decided on Dover and then set off through Shornecliffe to Cheriton. More traffic. ...

A short trip to the White Cliffs National Trust for a walk with Reggie. A chance to try out his new harness and car attachment.  Both seemed to work very well. I took only one picture today. Only because on the left of the Eastern Docks was moored a Disney Cruise ship.  Usually cruise ships arrive and depart from the Western Docks. There is a large reception building that way back in the mists of time was the railway termnal for freight going out of Dover and also part of the upper classes' access to the ships.

Today's run out was a tale of two gravel strewn parking areas/lots. We'd been out in the morning in the car to see the poppy art installation at Shoeburyness.  When I say "we" I mean Claire,  Reggie and me. After lunch I hauled Pepé out of the garage and headed to the bank in Hythe to get some cash. Man can't live by credit card alone. Then I thought of a great photo op. A tribute to British engineering. My Rocket and the WW2 fighter aircraft at the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne. Aaarrghh. Turning off the paved roadway entrance onto three or even four inches of grey gravel chips is not to be laughed at. Maybe on a cycle but not on a 700lb heavyweight cruiser. Jesus that was scary as the bars went straight to left lock. Luckily I got a foot down!!! I took a picture (and not the one I wanted) and left.  It's a great cause but that's my lot. I am never going back. From there I went to the White Cliffs. The car park here is a little light gravel...