InvictaMoto's Döra the Explörer

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.

Up early courtesy of the cat. Washed and out about fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. Sunny but a little chilly around the legs. Good job I am wearing two jumpers! I was going to be half an hour ahead of the RAT Pack anyway so when I accepted an earlier crossing it put me an hour ahead. Leisurely breakfast then. On arrival I pulled into the fuel stop for a coffee. "Desolé, machine en panne" said shrugging Gallic lady. I togged up and headed down the A26 to the Aire de Rely, where we have stopped before. Breakfast. And all ordered in French.... I'll carry in to ND de Lorette and meet the others there. As I write they must just be exiting the port.

When I bought Döra, I became a member of the Riders Association of Triumph - RAT. This is something along the lines of HOG (Harley Owners Group), where the meetings are based at their dealers. Somewhere owners can come together and enjoy social activities. We tried something like it with Suzuki for the Suzuki Owners Club, but the mentality of the big-S dealers was somewhat lacking. "Open one evening a week?"/"Open the shop on a Sunday?" were two of the incredulous sounding responses from the dealer base. Anyway, I digress. RAT. The local branch is run out of Laguna Triumph in Ashford and is where I bought Döra last year. I've not been to anything yet as most things are evenings and I simply don't get home in time for 7pm starts, whether in the shop, or the pub across the road. But, when my brother, Neill, forwarded on an email that his local branch had sent out, also Laguna but based at the Maidstone shop, with an invitation to members to sign...