InvictaMoto's Family Travels

The countdown on the blog shows a little over 51 days to go before we set off on the first part of the journey to the US. In the last 50 days or so since I last blogged  have been chasing a US Visa. After a long day in the US Embassy, two interviews,  it arrived today in  my passport.  Phew.

I have refined the route to get us as swiftly as possible to the first stop on the trip. A copy of the ITN file went off to Cal this evening to test in his TomTom. I have added a stop on the Sunday afternoon so we can take a look at the last preserved section of the trench railway. This is between the Red Baron and the Historial in Péronne. It might prove to be a lunch time stop as well http://www.somme-tourisme.com/cdt80/somme_tourisme/decouvrez/grande_guerre/le_p_tit_train_de_la_haute_somme

Earlier, Cal mentioned the ferry deal that he is looking at with P&O. Everyone, that  we know is going. will have received an email asking whether you want in or out, and if in, the details of the bike you will be taking; make and regno. Please let him know by March 19th.

Following Cal's message published on here earlier. I will have TomTom and GPX routes available for anyone that wants to have it for their satnav.  I will do a special Ian version for Mr Gardner; he often turns left when everyone else goes right.... Only joking Ian. Let me know by email and I will send it out when I have finalised the stops for the second day. It's almost all there. Housekeeping 1 - Even with the benefits of satellite navigation systems there is still a need to keep together.  I suggest that we use the "drop off" system to keep us together. The SOC has a wide reputation for losing people on the road and also with some members choosing to go a different way without telling the following riders!! 2 - Autoroutes.  The start of Day 1 and the end of Day 2 require the autoroute to get there and back as quickly as possible,   On the way out please ensure you have a full tank.  There is a fuel station on the A20 about half a mile before the port, Shell I think

I think this is addressed to the group as it currently stands. If anyone knows differently please let me know. As those of you that have been on similar trips before will be aware, I can often obtain good rates for the crossing with P&O, sometimes in conjunction with Ian who works in the Port. This trip is planned for Sat 19 th / Sun 20 th July which will be approaching a “peak” weekend which may mean that we cannot obtain such large discounts as we have on some other occasions but we will probably get a good deal. The worse deal would be “Family and Friends” rates which are 25% below the published rate at time of booking. As it is July there is a slight possibility that concessions may be withdrawn but this is unlikely.  If you wish us to proceed on your behalf and obtain tickets I will require e-mail confirmation along with make of bike and reg number, the bike details are not essential but will speed up check-in on the day.  Assuming that we can obtain an acceptable deal I wil

I toyed with Denmark and Norway for 2014, but the ferry fare across to Denmark from the UK was prohibitively high for August, and although cheaper in our other holiday time, October, I doubted that the weather would be that good for riding. So I booked a Spanish trip instead. Why Norway? We did a cruise to the fjords in June 2013 and the weather was superb. Mostly sunny and warm. And most importantly for bikers; dry. The locals did say that they hadn't had any rain for quite a while.   The fjords are spectacular and scenery is like Scotland, only much bigger. The number of passenger sailings across the North Sea to Scandinavia have been reduced over the years and now only one remains, Harwich to Ebsjerg in Denmark. Back in 1987 or 88 my (then) partner Audrey and I went to the FIM Rally in Kuopio in Finland. We used the DFDS service from Harwich to Gothenburg, but sadly this service has now gone. But, whilst googling ferry crossings I found the DFDS Freight

Well. not really B3, but the map for B2 and the updated places.... Day 1 - Saturday at sea. Day 2 - At sea arrive Santander.  Overnight hotel. Day 3 - set off for Avila. The walled city is about 230 miles away, and in the months before we go, I'll look for things en route to stop and look at. Day 4/5 - short run to Toledo. One of the old Moorish capitals. I stayed here years ago at the Parador, but it is across the gorge from the city and a long trek around. Here I have booked a hotel in the middle for two nights. Day 6/7 - Madrid. Two nights here in the centre where we can get to the Prado, Bernabeu etc Day 8 - Madrid to Burgos and an overnight in a boutique hotel.  Would have liked a Parador, but the one here is muy expensivo! Day 9 - Burgos to Santander to get the boat back to Blighty. Day 10 - at sea again. I have the route in Tyre and have transferred it to the Rider.  It looks pretty good on there. I had to upgrade the maps and also change the map to the Western 2GB chunk. Re