InvictaMoto's Döra the Explörer

Didn't go.  The heart attack on Easter Saturday put paid to that. I provided as much information as I could and the rest of the party went anyway and had a good day.

April 9th 2015.  The 98th anniversary of the Battle of Arras on the Western Front and the anniversary of the day that forces, mostly from Canada, climbed from their trenches and battled their way up the slope to capture and hold the enemy trenches on the high ground near Vimy to the north west of Arras. Dora and I went last year with the Laguna RAT Pack and I decided to have another visit with the Kent Centre and The Meldrews. I have the route lanned form the Shuttle calling in at the Loos battlefield and lunch in Lens before we arrive in time for a look around the visitor centre at Vimy and then walk across to the ceremony under the imposing twin towers of the Vimy Monument. Hopefully, the weather will be good and the twelve riders and passengers coming along will have a good day out. Report to follow.

After several months of planning the next "adventure" for Dora, Claire and me, to Norway, the project has gone on hold.  I am hoping to revive it in May and/or June 2016. I have the "Rough Guide", a road map plus a route or two safely stored in Tyre.

Dora's next adventure is to Norway.  See  Valhalla! I have a route and now need to see about ferries etc. Update 23rd February 2018 Valhalla blog was merged into DevallTravels some while back and the posts can be found here .

I had a few hours off after Reggie's visit to the vet (foot injury, no biggy) so I thought I'd fit the Givi tank ring to Döra. The OEM bolts were not too tight. Three long one short. I took them off in order, clockwise, long, short, long, long. I then present the "work" to where it should go. It's in three pieces. A lower metal half ring, sandwiching the plastic "cup" that the bag fits to and an upper ring. And here's the first drag, easily solved with a little sellotape. Just a small bit to hold the parts together. Smug. Then I slip in the new Givi bolts. Finger tight. Ah. The Allen key size is smaller than OEM. I don't have an allen bit for my driver that small! Job reset. Back to standard. Simple job bollocksed by not checking tools first!! Lunch. In the end I checked all the kits and tools in the garage and had nothing to match. So I had a jaunt in the jalopy to town and called in the Hobby-Shop.  We had a few m...

The new Givi tank bag arrived pretty quickly from Spain and Motocard. It is actually bigger than it looked on the website and even when you imagine the dimensions with the aid of a ruler. The quality can't be ignored. I like the idea of the "hard" material that gives it the shape.  It comes with a waterproof cover and a shoulder strap and is expandable for that extra pair of gloves or gift for the special person left at home. I will fit the tank-ring to Dora on Saturday and take some pictures for the blog and also for the Triumph Tiger Explorer group on Facebook. [Fitted to bike pics to follow - here]

Had a run out to the Blue & White to meet the other Meldrews and have a chat. I was a bit late as we were walking the dog on the beach at Dymchurch.    All in all, Döra managed another 20 miles!  Hardly enough time to warm the engine up. That's the problem when you have a life that seems to be getting busier and a £13k bike shut away in the garage. Another balancing act where something has to give and sadly it is Döra.