InvictaMoto's On The Road Again!
A blog that has evolved over the years from simply about motorcycle trips, to include action against discriminatory legislation from the UK and EU. Then included football, dogs and motorhoming!!!
25 April 2024
Awaycation Summer 2024 - Spain
MyRouteApp Navigation - Update
23 April 2024
MyRouteApp Navigation
I have been using MyRouteApp, and its predecessor Tyre, for about a decade. I use it mostly to create routes for the TomTom 410 that I use on the bikes and have done for many years.
I decided that as an alternative to the Ohrex satnav that we have been using in the motorhome for two years, that I would upgrade to the Navigation add-on in MyRouteApp.
An upgrade a year or so ago means that with Gold membership I can plan routes that take into consideration the overall dimensions on Molly the motorhome to avoid low bridges and narrow roads. That's the theory.
The Navigation uses Here maps. It was a simple job to sign up and £15.95 later through PayPal the navigation button on routes in the app on my phone lights up.
I have a test route planned that will take me all of two miles into Hythe to the catholic church's car park! I will give that a go.
What has proved far more difficult is to download the offline maps from the app onto the phone. All the buttons seemed to be greyed out. Whether this is by design I have no idea. I have logged a call. For my use at the moment I only need Spain, France and the UK.
When I click on the France download button it flickers briefly and that's it. I have decided to reboot the phone and see if that makes a difference. I have had to turn off the VPN just in case!
More to come I guess.
Relay Riders Charity Run 2024
I'll be doing this again for the third year in a row. I think that might be the last as next year I am planning a much longer trip away in the motorhome, starting after the last Arsenal home game of the season and going on and on and on.....
Another change this year is that I have got away with a lunchtime and a late evening ride previously. This time I have to be at Folkestone Fire Station at 0410 in the morning. Yes. When all sensible people will be fast asleep.
The leg before mine from Viking Bay near Ramsgate has just been filled as it was vacant. Luckily they haven't had to rejig the entire route to cover it.
For me I will need a very early night and Vera Strom will have to stay on the drive as I won't be home from Assen until about 1900 the day before! That will be a 350+ mile solo ride after I leave my brother and Phil way up in the north of Gelderland!
So to help, please think about donating to one of this year's charities!
Awaycation Summer 2024 - Spain
[MAG NEWS] Camden Council has voted through parking charges for motorcycles
Camden Council has voted through parking charges for motorcycles. They are planning to charge all petrol bikes the same as low emitting car at £150 a year, and charge commuters £600 a year to park. This is outrageous and clear attempt to drive bikers out of London
This may not affect you but if we don’t fight charges like everywhere then it will spread! Stopping parking charges in one Council means every Council is less likely to even consider it.
This is just the first part of the fight.
The next stage will be the final ‘statutory’ consultation - this will be a vital opportunity to force them to make further changes or drop the changes entirely. This will not be a normal consultation, they have to respond to each response individually in writing, if you present evidence they must read it and respond, if you give alternative options they MUST consider them.
When this consultation comes out we will send it over to you, please look out for it, we will need everyone to respond to stop the charges. It should only take five minutes of your time
Three years ago Camden were planning to ban commuting by motorcycle and riders stopped them, if we all pull together we can stop them again or make them make further changes.
Remember if we don’t fight charges wherever they appear they will spread to every Council in England. Motorcycling is under threat in the UK, we have to stand together to save it!
Central Office
The Motorcycle Action Group Limited
Tel: 01926 844064
Fax: 01926 844065
www.mag-uk.org
15 April 2024
Meriden Birthday Weekend
Awaycation Summer 2024 - Spain
12 April 2024
Short Run to Canterbury in Molly
We went to Canterbury for a short rip today to go to Marks & Spencer to look at trousers for me, for the upcoming birthday party for Claire's cousin. It's not until June but we will be barely back from Spain and France and we go in in about three weeks.
One of the downsides of a Peugeot/Fiat based van is that there is a known problem with the passenger airbag ECU. This is caused when the engine battery gets too low andthe unit fails. It seems on the face of it that maybe they need to change the ECU to have a fail voltage lower than 11 volts! But I guess it's an earner with the unit being anything between £300 and £600 to relace, depending on where you get one. #
So I like to make sure that the engine battery is kept topped up.
We have a single solar panel on the roof and this charges the leisure battery and also, via a split charger some of the sun's rays trickle charge the engine battery. So far so good. Touch wood and other superstitions etc.
We decided to go to the Park and Ride in Canterbury and take Molly.
The one at New Dover Road has a dedicated motorhome/campervan area and also an expansion area should it get too busy. It has services such as grey and black water dumps and fresh water.
We went into the city on the bus. It's £4 to park for a day. The day is 0001 to 0000 or maybe 0000 to 2359... So anyone staying overnight pays £8. It's pretty cheap I think. The charge includes use of the bus into the city centre.
When we had done the shopping we returned to Molly. Nothing for me as it seems that M&S no longer cater for a the chunkier lad, but did sell pretty decent prawn mayo sandwiches.
Before eating I got my black rubber gloves on and emptied the cassette into the grid. As we had no solids the plan was simply to pour but when I got to it.... Well.
The black and grey water wastes ae the same grid. It's large and it fitted with two rope handles. Using gloves it's no problem. But it seems a van before didn't bother judging by the paper and "solids" stuck on top of the grid. There is a hose and a "not drinking water" tap nearby so wash the detritus away. The previous owner was too bloody lazy to use that judging by the evidence. I rinsed the the cassette and managed to clear most of the drain with the water turned full on. There are signs asking people to keep it clean!
It's a positive move by the city council to provide this service, it's a shame that some tossers abuse it.
Once done I degloved and washed my hands and then used a nice blob of hand sanitiser! Ans then ate my sandwich!
The drive home was a retrace of the way we got there via the M20 and Hawkinge to the A2. Not a long drive, maybe 40 miles but it should ensure that the battery has charged up a little.