InvictaMoto's Red Pepé Blog

The Old SOCS Facebook group came about when a few of us after years of being ex-Suzuki Owners Club members (and some ex life members) decided on a ride up to the National Heritage Motor Museum near Warwick, to surprise long term mate John Storrie. From that humble beginning the FB morphed in "Old SOCS" and the idea of a weekend was floated.  To appeal to a larger audience it was decided on August and Vic Dunckley came up with a place, Coniston in the Lake District. Accommodation is somewhat on the pricey side in the area in August. But luckily there is a youth hostel in easy walking distance from the venue and the pubs/restaurants. So I am booked in there. It is £30 a night in a dorm. 😱 The only fly in the ointment is whether I am holiday with Claire in August and dates that might conflict.

It looks like I won't be Billy No-Mates this year. CHEERING!!  Not at the moment anyway. Not a Meldrew's member but Tony Young. We first went in 1985.  This is sadly the last ever rally, or at least Sinterklaastreffen, so quite fitting we are both going 34 years later! Screenshot as original is pdf I was looking at the P&O ferry this year but although cheaper than the Shuttle it takes longer.  So I have booked 0836 out and 1850 back with Eurotunnel.  Tony will go over Friday and so could book in then. He's staying outside Ostend in a B&B.  If I was able I'd have stayed at the Polaris/le Parisien for old times sake. In term time I can't get away on a Friday.  Inscription is €15 for the weekend and €10 for the day. There are also special t-shirts for the event. I have loads but "I was there" shirts are good!!  So end of November and my mo should be luxurious. 

So it's Meldrews Sunday again. Whether it is the time of year but there were only two of us out.  And we were separated. We decided on The 2-Stroke Cafe at Greatstone. It was closed.  I checked on FB and they had posted on Friday that it was closed for a leaking roof.  Cal headed off to another cafe and I went to another one as I didn't know where he was going.  I gave the Yamaha My Ride app a chance and it finally worked. Okay. A two mile ride in a virtual straight line shouldn't have taxed it.  After coffee at the "End of the Line" cafe at Dungeness Light Railway station I set off for home. I tried the app again.  After a longer ride I expected to see a full journey. No.  As it had done last time I tested it and it effed again. Packing up after less than a mile and a half.  I'll give it one more go...  Update 21/10/19 Posted a question on the play store and the developers replied

Finally. The new Elsemade fabricated seat is fitted. It's wider and deeper than the original, with an added gel layer.  Next. Get Claire to try it out. 

An annual service costing £254 inc taxes. Not bad. Dropped Pepé off just before 9am. We did a few errands and shopping and then home. I called just after half time in the rugby where New Zealand were annihilating Ireland to find it was ready. Changing back into bike gear we headed off to Laguna Ashford.  The ride back was quite boring on the A20 but the bike pulled nicely. 

Still plenty of time before I become Billy No-Mates again for other riders to stand up and join me on the run across to Ostend.   Of course, we may have Brexited on October 31st and the EU might have erected a sea-wall between us and the mainland of Europe..... Or then again, everyone might see sense and carry on as normal and allow tourism to take place. Might. It won't be too bad. I will meet up up with long term biker buddy Tony Young and family on his trike.  When we went for the first time in 1985, Tony and Heather were there I think on his Aspencade or maybe a BMW RT.  My memory has faded. My partner at the time, Audrey, was on the pillion of my almost new MZ 250ETZ. Two up with luggage was a struggle. Back then we used to stay the weekend from Friday to Sunday at the Hotel Polaris.  It became "our" hotel and over the years we stayed there as a Suzuki Owners Club group we tended to meet the same  group German riders year in year out. Tony will be