So, since the last post, I have replaced my PC and my laptop. New tech for a new year. In fact, I've been on quite a spending spree since the turn of the year. With my leather jacket suffering from a prolonged bout of mold (any advice on how to cure welcomed), I decided to invest in a textile jacket, that would keep me both warm and dry in the cooler months, which might make me more likely to ride earlier and later in the year. I looked at a few but decided on an RST Pro Series Paragon 6 and with my chief negotiator by my side, when I went to try it on, I got it at a price I was happy with. At the same time, I also got a new pair of waterproof boots, TCX X Five.4, again at a negotiated price.š I already have a pair of waterproof boots but the soles on them don't extend beyond the toe, so when touring and walking in them, the leather starts to wear away. As with a similar non waterproof pair, that will eventually lead to holes at the toe. Not what you want for something designed to keep water out. I'd read a good review about the TCX boots, so that's why I went for them. There'll be no toe leather wearing away on these and once the soles wear, it is possible to get them replaced, apparently.
Ginny is booked in for her service on 2nd March at Park Lane BMW. I'll re-tax her the day before, so we'll be good to go. That will be her last service of the service contract I took out when I bought her. She'll be 5 on 17th March. Whilst the service is being done, they will also complete some recall work on the gearbox again. I'm not entirely sure what the issue is but it doesn't sound like a big job, as they have said they'll only have her for the day. I plan to spend the day at the Imperial War Museum, as there's little point in coming all the way home and back again on the train, for a day in the workshop. Not to mention the extra expense of the train fares. I'm not made of money! š
I've yet to book Ginny in for her MOT but that shouldn't be any bother. Catherine and I are looking to get away for a week in the sun, so until that is booked, I can't really book the MOT.
On the tour front, I've now booked our eurotunnel tickets, which is the first major expense of any tour. It's a little more than I was expecting but the alternatives don't really fit our plans. Maybe next time a ferry might be cheaper, though I'm not really sure how their fares stack up. Swings and roundabouts probably. Ferry might be cheaper but takes longer, which means less riding time when across the channel day 1, so might mean an additional hotel over the course of the tour, which then negates and saving on the crossing. It's something I'll investigate though. Not that there are any plans for another tour after this one....YET!
On the planning side, I've had a couple of tweaks with hotels but most recently I've been looking at the free day itinereries, as well as checking when we need to book things up. There's no point in waiting to get to somewhere before thinking about tickets for a certain attraction, unless we want to wait in a massive queue. Places are bound to be busy. It will be the middle of summer after all.
I think that's all for now. Next report will probably be after Ginny has been serviced.
