Spain 2011 Diary

Sun 11th

We all meet up at Hendy and are on our way by 0900 except for Terry and John who have gone up the night before to join us in Plymouth The roads are wet at first but the wind soon dries them up, and we soon clear Cardiff and Newport without any road restrictions and I struggle to remember when this last happened. Over the border and the sun is out and the temp is up to 22c. Two stops for coffee and gas and we are in Plymouth. After booking in Adrian’s bike goes sick as the alarm does not disengage and he has to push it onto the ferry. The crossing is a little bit rough thanks to the effect of hurricane Katie. Milage 207

Mon 12th

At the back of the ferry we can feel the warmth of the early morning sun at 0800 and the blue sky is starting to appear.We are as usual almost last off the ferry, but the sun is out and hot and after a long wait outside finally manage to find Adrian. Terry and Barry have some idea how to get it moving, so we split up into groups and leave them to fix it. I am with John Owen, John Gill and James, so we head out of Dodge City the quick way and are soon clear of the city. We follow the coast road at first which is very beautiful then up into the mountains with deep gorges and more twisties where even the sun can’t get into, which comes as a welcome relief at 25c because in the sunshine it was 33c. After a stop for a snack and gas we are on our way again and back in to more gorges on our way to our first nights stop where we arrive at 1800,and everyone else is there by 1900. When I asked Barry about Adrian he said they gave him a push start and instead of waiting for them tagged on to the tail of two riders who were nothing to do with our lot and according to Adrian he did about 70 miles before the penny dropped, any way he made it to the hotel eventually . It turns out Adrian has a flat battery. Mileage 84 almost forgot John Gill has an incident in the shower (see Terry for more information)

Tue 13th

At 0800 the sun is just getting up so it’s time for breakfast and plan today’s outing. Its 22c as two groups split up and Adrian goes in search of a battery. It must be a long time since they have had any decent amounts of rain as the vegetation is very brown or burnt, and the rivers have only a trickle of water in them and the lakes are very low. More mountains and gorges as we head for a mountain lake that we wanted to see last year but the road was closed, but as we get nearer the clouds come down and it’s a case of cant see your hand in front of your face, so two years running we strike out, so we head back to base to encounter a slight rain shower, but not enough to wet your visor. We have a three course meal at our hotel and John Gill and James have chocolate pudding and what was at first white tee shirts are no longer white. Mileage 142.Another hectic night of drinking then goes on and once again everyone has been Jamesed

Wed 14th

It is not light in Spain until 0730 and the sky is overcast this morning but it is still nice and warm and Adrian is off to get a new battery as we head fir rebadestella.The ride is uneventful and after tea and cake we head back to our hotel and not far from base the sun breaks through and it is 25c in minutes. Mileage 142 we say goodbye to Carl and Lorain as they have to return home.
Thurs 15th it is a sunny morning again as we leave the Pecos Mountains and on the way to our next overnight stop we start of again with about 50 miles of twisties gorges and mountains before we are into the vast open areas with large sweeping bends for mile after mile. Adrian has a new battery and all seems well. When we started off it was nice and cool in the shade at 18c, but after we leave the shade of the trees and are in open land it soon settles at 33c where it remains as we book into our hotel. We started out as one group but lost Steve and Jan but they are at the hotel before us. Tomorrow we leave for the Pyrenees’. Mileage 176

Fri 16th

It will be a long ride today. The long way is expected to be 300 miles and the short ride is expected to be 260 miles, so we split into two groups, with 9 being in the group I am in for the long ride. So we are away first at 0900 to another bright and sunny day at 18c. The vast plains of northern Spain appear with a mixture of long straights and sweeping bends, and small almost deserted towns and a merciless sun as 34 and 35c shows on the temperature gauge, this is 93f.At around 1500 we stop in a small town for refreshments where a festival of some sort has just ended. We have parked the bikes in a small car park just out of sight as we head for a bar. The waitress speaks a little English which is very helpful. After about 40 minutes we return to the bikes to find that one of the two helmets I left on the mirrors have been stolen. I go back to the bar to ask the barmaid if there is a local bike shop opens nearby, but as all the shops are closed due to the festival, the nearest shop open would be in Pamplona 60 miles away. When she eventually realizes what has happened she is horrified and gets the local police involved. They are also horrified that a theft has taken place in their town, and two of the four go out searching for the missing helmet, while the other two with the help of the barmaid acting as interpreter take my statement. There is a small bike shop in town but it is closed for the festival. Unknown to me the others have made plans to bandage Tracey’s head up and put a balaclava over that and dark glasses on to look like a crash helmet. But the cops have come up trumps. They managed to get hold of the shop owner, explained to him what has happened and he has agreed to open the shop. I buy a scooter type open face helmet with a visor for 50e, and when the team see what I bought fall about in fits of hysterics and photos are taken, but in my defence there wasn’t much choice, but it does enable us to be on our way once again after the best part of two hours. It is more long straights until we are past jacka then we are once again up into the mountains and tight bends until we get to our hotel at 1930 and meet the other group on the short run booking in at the same time ( they went wrong somewhere). An hour later it is raining with thunder and lightning in the sky. 304 miles

Sat 17th

Most of the group have gone on a spin to Lourdes about 60 miles away but Tracey and I am having a day off today to chill out and relax. We go exploring the small town and for a short walk where we meet Sid who is also having a day off. The trip to Lourdes turned out to be over 300 miles due to a tunnel being closed and having to re route and they do not get back until 1230 am without Steve and Jan and Ian who have decided to find a hotel for the night.
Sun 18th. Steve has rung Barry to say they are about an hour away from our hotel but will want another hour to change shower and pack before they will be ready to leave, so we agree to meet them at our next stop over. Bob Penrose Keith and Vicky for their own reasons have decided not to continue with us on the Spanish trip and are heading for France and the port of Cherbourg, a trip which is the best part of a thousand miles. We are on our way at 1030 and it is straight into the twisties that led us to our hotel in this town. It is colder and overcast today and the temp struggles to get above 16c. At 1500 it starts to rain, so for the first time it is on with the wets as the temp drops to 9c. It is showers for the rest of the day, and as we get to our hotel Steve Jan and Ian are there to greet us. Mileage 241

Mon 19th

We leave for the ferry port at Santander this morning and the sky is very grey and it has been raining during the night. We start off in the twisties once again and are very careful for the first half an hour because it is so wet and there are pine needles on the road, but it is nice and warm at 18c. It soon dries up as the sun comes out as we get to Bilbao and the fast run to Santander. For some odd reason that I just can’t fathom out Steve thinks we are sailing from Bilbao, but when he gets to that ferry port he is the only one there. How daft can you get? There is more drama for Barry when he boards the ferry and he is tied up with reception for an hour while the rooms are sorted out, but he wins in the end. Not many in the bar that night as the so called drinkers have been jamesed

Tue 20th

We arrive bang on time in Portsmouth at 1400 to a grey sky so put on the wets in readiness .We are off surprisingly quickly and arrange our first stop for gas. The next stop was to be the first motorway services on the m4, but some misunderstand the message and stop too soon or not at all. Some are going to stop in Cardiff but not all of us, so we say our goodbyes here until we meet up again.
Thanks
To Barry for another well organised trip. Barry, John/Karen, Rob/Debbie for taking the lead so often and everyone else for making it a memorable trip. And the weather for playing its part.

Rob Reckman

Derbyshire Dales April 2011

Kicking The Bucket Or Honey! Iʼm just Going Out To Change My Bike Tyre...

Most Ride Outs are a comedy in waiting, and this was no exception. Our Star players and main Protagonists, included John Gill, Terry Llewelyn, and Dave Wilcox. The ʻPlanʼ, was to meet up at Tesco, Ammanford car park, and then meet up with the rest of the group in Morrisons car park, Brecon. ʻWeʼre not lost. Just exploring alternative routesʼ!... Rob Welsby and Terry Llewelyn were entrusted as Path Finders. With their Garmin and Tom-Tom gismo wizardry. This is where you find out that a product is only as good as itʼs operator! How many different routes to the same destination?

 FRIDAY 29th. Our plan was to ride up together. 12 bikes 2 pillions. As arranged, we met at Morrisons, Brecon. Departed 10:20am. The weather played fair, although got quite chilly (OK, Bloody Freezing, Glad we didnʼt take off our extra layers earlier. “What you say Vicky”?) We got to just outside Leominster without incident. This is where Terryʼs gismo missed the turn. Terryʼs group went towards Ludlow staying on the main road. Where the planned route was to turn off and head for Tenbury Wells and explore some of the Twisties on the way to Kidderminster. Lunch Break took us to The Himley House Hotel, Stourbridge Rd, Himley, Staffordshire. Beautiful place, good food and service. Price, affordable. Sorry fast boys, you missed out. Continuing at a good pace, we arrived at the Premier Inn. Guess who got there before us? Nice accommodation, very clean and comfortable. Good food and ale next door although I think some of the beer was watered slightly! We all met up for a group meal which got a bit rowdy. Thought we were going to be asked to leave!!! Apparently, weʼre most welcomed back. WoW!

SATURDAY 30th, Breakfast. Which to most of us tight wads, was a stroll to Wetherspoons for a Cooked Breakfast Special. Nicely cooked, well presented and far too much for me to finish. All that meant was, the Gannets had a ʻPig Outʼ! Ride out for today, Skegness and the Lincolnshire Wolds. Long and fairly hard ride. 250 miles today. Sunshine with a fair wind. Coming back, John Owens and Rob Welsby got separated from the group and had a blast of a ride trying to catch the group (Big grin on the girls!), only to find that Terryʼs tom tom had taken them on a different route! We were joined when we returned by Carl & Sharon and Steve & Jan. We all went to the local Wetherspoons for our evening refreshments, which was a bit of an eye opener!

SUNDAY 1st, Sadly, John & Karen had to leave early, work commitments. Wonderful day out. Matlock Bath, *Cat and Fiddle Pub and **Lady Bower Reservoir. 130 miles today, sadly it was too much for Carl & Sharonʼs rear tyre and John had an encounter with a bucket, both tales are much better heard from the respective personʼs involved! The Flying Bucket & Bald Tyre Adventure. Will have to be a separate write-up to this. Done in the inimitable style of our very own John Gill and Carl Williams. Come on guys, pen to paper please. Supper was a split group affair as some went next door to the Premier Inn and some went to Wetherspoons again and this evening should be entitled “...and your mother let you go out dressed like that”. Needless to say we all had a good night.

MONDAY 2nd, Home Time. The ʻPlanʼ, was to leave the Premier Inn in smaller groups, according to which route home you wished to take. Obviously, that went Bye-The-Bye before we left the car park. John Gill and Carwyn were running the “Am I going to get home before I reach the canvas” school of tyre management. They went the supposed direct route back as set by Terry and his Tom-Tom, along with Dave W, Dave F, Matthew and Carl & Sharon, unfortunately for Carl and John nobody told them and they lost Terry at the first roundabout! Rob and Debz Welsby, Rob Penrose, Keith, Vicky and Ivor came back via Oswestry and the A483 down through Mid Wales, which everyone else thought was going to be too long a ride back! How wrong were they. We got back to Ammanford by 3.45 and I believe Terry and his band got back after 6.00 and John and Carl got back just after 5.00. Both tyres I am happy to report made it, JUST. Have you ever noticed, that trying to organise Bikerʼs, is like trying to Wrangle Cats.! With what could have been deemed as a Supernatural event, we came together and had a fun, and unpredictable ride to Ripley, and back again. Thank you all for a fantastic weekend break. Was well worth the mileage for the laughter and stories. Many thanks to John Gill for organising this trip, and Rob Welsby for the map/direction lamination and the memory prompts when writing this.

Debz Welsby

*The Cat and Fiddle Inn, is the second-highest inn or public house in England, 515 metres (1,690ft) above sea level. Cat and Fiddle Road The inn gives its name to the Cat and Fiddle Road, a stretch of the A537 road, linking Macclesfield to the west with Buxton to the east, which features many sharp corners. This road became notorious for the high number of accidents, particularly among motorcyclists for whom the road is often regarded as an exhilarating technical challenge; an AA survey in 2003 named it as the most dangerous stretch of road in the United Kingdom. Wikipedia **Lady Bower Reservoir, There are 3 dams in the Derwent Valley which are famed for their role in the preparation of the Dam busters raids during the Second World War. Due to their resemblance to the German dams the pilots of 617 Squadron used the upper Dams of the Derwent reservoir for training runs.

Active Derby website

Picos De Europa Northern Spain September 2010.

Sun 5th.

We all meet up at Hendy and are on the way by 09.00am. I miss the turn off for Gordano services but pull in at the next services. There is very little rain, but the roads are damp and wet. Twenty miles out of Plymouth and the sun is out all the way to the ferry terminal. After boarding and settling down and head form the bar, to my astonishment I find Terry Llewellyn and his pals who are on their way to an off road event in Portugal. The ale is going down well and we are soon reminiscing about bygone days. Me and Tracey turn in soon after John and Karen. Tracey falls in the shower and calls for help, so I turn off the light and let her get out of the predicament on her own. Mileage 207

Mon 6th.

After breakfast the ding dong announces we will be in Santander at midday. And so we are and off the ferry by 13.45 local time and the sun is out to greet us. Once out of Santander the road side temp tells us it is 33c and it is very hot on the bikes. A short while later we stop for a snack and a break. On our way again and it starts to cloud over and an hour or so later it starts to rain so we stop to put on our wets, but it is a light rain and warm . We exit the motorway at the sign for Ponga and what a treat we have in store, the next 20 or so km is through deep gorges and next to no traffic on the road, in places the rocks are overhanging the road . We reach our hotel and as usual head straight for the bar, where we stay until bed time. Mileage 109

Tue 7th

The sun is out to greet us in the morning so we have a look round the hotel site before having breakfast and deciding where to go today. We set off in a clear blue sky and 17c in the shade of the cliffs and we have a lovely ride to a place called Canadonga, where there is a church on the top of a hill and a kindly policeman directs us to park on the pavement and it is packed with tourists and TV crews as there is a yearly festival going on in honour of Pelayo who stopped the advance of the Moors in 722 BC. We then intended to go to Lagos where there is a lake on top of the mountain but at certain times of the year the road is closed off and this was one of them. On our way back we stop for a snack in a cafe and the rain starts, we all have wets except for Jeff who saw the sun in the morning and decided it would stay like that all day. It is just a passing shower however, so we decide to re visit Rebadasella where there is a local festival going on. On the way back it is into the mountains once again. we are at the top of a national park called Monte Sueve and the heavens really open up with torrential rain and wind, so much so in fact that leaves and branches and boulders lie in the road, so we take extra care on the way down the mountain and back to our hotel where we arrive at 17.45 and with steak and salmon on the menu we are set for a fine meal. Mileage 110 

Wed 8th

Another fine and sunny start to the day this morning but colder than yesterday morning. We set off and are soon going over countless mountains and valleys with towering cliffs on all sides and with dry roads the temp is soon up to 25c. I have now run of words to describe it all, and the only words Jeff can say is marvellous and awesome. One of the highlights of the day out of so many is a ride on a cable car to the summit of one peak. At 5500 feet it is must to go up on, and what a view it is on the top. There is a grid of steel mesh that juts out on the top so that you can take photos from and we goad Jeff to stand with the rest of us on the platform and the blood just drains from his face and his knees are knocking, and when we go back down three times faster than we came up, he is in a state of near collapse. This is our last night in Pongo so it’s time for food and drink. Mileage 169

Thurs 9th

 We set off from Ponga with clear blue skies which last all day. At 10.00 it is 17c in the sun and 14c in the shade. The ride to Noceda is a repeat of the day before over mountains deep gorges and valleys constant bends flat flowing sweepers, in fact everything a biker could wish for. Most of it is on A and B roads which are for the most part traffic free. We reach Noceda at 16.30 and after getting out of our leathers and having had a drink there is a power cut and at 1800 it is still not back but not long after it is. As I write this we are all sitting around a table with an umbrella up to keep most of the sun off us. Our host speaks reasonably good English and gives us advice on what is on the menu. We can see him cooking the food when we are in the bar and it is superb and all homemade and fresh from the soup to the bread, main meal and pudding two bottles of wine all for 72e for the six of us. Mileage 190

Friday10th

We set off to visit Pont Ferada on A roads to the motorway, but as we set to join the motorway there is an enormous tail back and all traffic is at a standstill. Protesters have blocked it off and burnt tyres on the carriageways so we stick to the A roads but even here large buns and sign posts have been torn up and thrown onto the road, but with advice from “Tom Tom” we eventually get to Pont Ferada and visit the towns castle which is a little disappointing to us all. We leave for Cadoga which has a lake but it is now 30c and too hot to hang around and head back to our hotel for drinks and food. We ride around the lake bit the road is just lumps of tar and stone for 4 or 5 miles and I was glad to get of this. It is Karen’s birthday and a cake has appeared from somewhere mileage 74.

Sat 11th

We are off at 10.00 and it is nice and cool in the morning air. For the first half an hour we take the same roads as the day before but there are no road blocks which we were told was due to striking miners. More wonderful roads and scenery, it seems ever endless and the afternoon the temp has risen to 35c and too hot to be on a bike so we were glad to arrive at O’Grove our next stop and a cooler seaside breeze. Many bikes are here today, weather it is the weekend or a bike meet we do not know. After checking into our hotel and changing we go down to the harbour for a walk, and it is full of fishing boats and pleasure craft, but it is now time for supper. John Karen, Tracey and I are in our rooms fast asleep and I heard in the morning Jeff had rung John/Karen’s room at midnight and woken them up because he thought they were in his room (he had forgotten what room he was in) mileage 213

Sun 12th

Clear blue skies but windy this morning as we walk around the town to find the tourist information shop to inquire the best way to get to Santiago de Compostella, and it’s by bus on Monday so we continue our walk along the prom. All of a sudden we hear the sound of motorbikes and there are thousands of them coming through the town to ride to an island which is about a quarter of a mile off the mainland and connected by the only bridge. We walk over the bridge to have a look round. They are only there for about an hour and they are off back through the town, and they are all Spanish registered. We walk back over the bridge and look for a cafe for some food and settle for a bacon roll and chips. Jeff cannot get enough ketchup out of the plastic bottle so gives it a double handed squeeze and the top shoots off covering the table the beer glasses John, Karen, Barry with ketchup. The only one not to escape the ketchup is Jeff and his chips. And if you think his day could not get any worse, when he had steak and chips later, he sprinkles cayenne pepper on his steak the top of the pepper pot comes off and obliterates his steak with the pepper. Barry collapses on the floor unable to speak or breathe because he is laughing so much.

Mon 13th

The wind has abated and it is nice and warm at 07.00. An early start this morning as we catch the bus to Santiago de Compostella, as Jeff wants to revisit the city. After 2 and a half hour’s on the bus for 5.5 euro’s we get there and go sightseeing. The big cathedral is a must to visit, then a wander around the town with various stop offs for refreshments and it is warm again in the 30,s. The bus back leaves at 18.00 and we are back in O Grove by 2030 and are hungry again so we go for food and drink again. O life is hard.

Tue 14th

We leave O Grove at 10.00 and it is already 18c, and after stopping for coffee at 1130 and 30c we decide to take the quickest route to our next stop beside the seaside at Viveiro at 1430. It is overlooking the bay and in no time at all Barry is swimming in the sea. Then it is a walk to the town for refreshments. There is a swimming pool and Jacuzzi in the hotel but we do not have enough time to find out how good they are.

Wed 15th

We are on the way once again by 09.00 as there is not breakfast included at the Best Western Hotel in Viveiro and for once on our holiday we have high cloud which lasts all day, and keeps the temp to the high twenties for the rest of the day. It is the usual up over around and through mountains. Tight curves for miles and fast open mild curves on duals and motorways. On one stretch of motorway we are the only vehicles on both carriageways for about 10 to 15 minutes, pretty strange. We are soon back in the Pecos de Europa and end up at our hotel in Cangas De Onis, only a stone’s throw from Ponga where we started. This is our last night in Spain as we head for Santander in the morning, so once again we go sightseeing. Mileage 234

Thurs 26th

We wake up to find that it has rained slightly during the night, so the roads are a little bit damp as we head for Santander. It is still 18c as we set off but with the overcast sky it is a nice cool ride. We arrive at mid day and join the queue. As we get on the ferry it starts the slightly rain, and when we get out of the harbour there is a noticeable up and down movement on the boat until well after dark when it starts to smooth out once again and we get a decent night’s sleep mileage 86.

Fri 17th

We are off and away by 10.00 and make good progress on the A38 but as soon as we hit the M5 all the way from Exeter to Bristol the three lanes are bumper to bumper and at times we are on stop do not know why this should be at mid day on a Friday. It is back to normal motorway traffic as soon as we are on the M49 and M4 and after a stop at Cardiff gate we say our goodbyes at the Hendy slip road and we are home by 1600. Mileage 207. Total mileage of just under 1800. Thanks to Barry for organising the holiday John and Karen for leading the way Jeff for his wit and humour and finally to Tracey who has never been abroad before or on the back of a bike for so long for I could feel her wriggling in discomfort at times, and when in the high mountains did not like riding on roads with no edges, but I know she would agree when I say we had the time of our lives. And the weather certainly played its part. I have no doubt missed out many memorable events as there was so many and every one of us will have their own memories. The Pecos De Europa Just go there.

Rob

Pyrenees September 2009

Sunday 6th 
We all meet at Hendy Adrian on his Triumph ST, John and Karen on the BMW GS, Barrie on his Kawasaki ZX9 and me Rob on my BMW K1200. It’s 9.00am and we are on our way. By 10.30am were in Gordano Services Avonmouth for Coffee. At 11.30am we pull into Exeter for fuel with another stop for food at a Little Chef just outside Plymouth for an hour or so where we chat to other bikers who are on the same ferry as us heading for Santander. A very quick stop at the ticket both to collect our boarding passes and to show our Passports and we are straight onto the ferry. We all meet at the bar for a few drinks and some food; well all but Adrian who thought the dinning area closed at 1.00am and ended up having just a crusty roll which was so hard it broke his filling. We call it a day at about 11.00pm and head back to our cabins. It’s a very smooth crossing. Mileage Today 208.
Monday 7th 
We are up at 8.00am and it’s a very sunny morning and its time for breakfast. We are off the boat at 1.30pm and its wall to wall sunshine at 260C and we are melting. As I get my leg over the bike on the ferry I lose my balance and over it goes, Karen runs over and gives me a hand to get it upright. Thank god for Crash Bungs. Apart from some scuff marks on the panniers all ells is in order, not a scratch on the mirrors and no broken indicators or leavers. We are straight for the motorway out of Santander and are on our way to Bilbao where we have our first stop to re-program TOM TOM. This now takes onto the coastal B roads all the way to our first nights destination of Zestoa. We arrive at 6.00pm and it’s still 240C. First a shower then its out to find something to eat and drink. There is a festival of some sort going on with marching bands and fireworks (Very Loud Fireworks). Mileage Today 130. 
Tuesday 8th.
 The sun is up at 6.45am and it’s another cloudless sky. By 9.00am we are on our way. The day goes without a hitch as we traverse deep gorges and clime over mountain top. The road are brilliant from hairpin bends grouped together to fast flowing sweepers, we have the lot. It’s a constant 330C and its 4.00pm. One of the gorges we pass through is supposed to be two way but is so narrow in places that cars have to pull over to let lorries pass, so we pull in at a stopping point and take some photos. There are some very large birds of pry overhead which are either Eagles or Vultures. We get to our hotel in Jaca at 5.50pm and once again its shower then food. Mileage Today 214. 
Wednesday 9th 
We leave Jaca at 9.00am and its up into the mountains and a welcome 250C for the rest of the day. I am rapidly running out of words to describe the beauty and the awe of the days ride, you have to be here to have experienced it. We arrive in Viela at 3.00pm. and have ridden 132 miles. You just must come to Northern Spain on a bike in September. I am going to miss Spain when we leave in the morning. It must be a long time since they have had any rain here as many large river beds only have a trickle of water in them while others have none at all. 
Thursday 10th 
We are up and away by 8.30am. but for the first time have to wipe dew off the bikes first. I thought I had seen it all, but how wrong I was. The temperature is down to 80C as we set off and as we climb even higher up into the ski resort areas and then down into deep valleys that the sun has not yet penetrated the temperature goes down further to 60C. We are soon climbing again into more resorts and are soon on top of another mountain. Now we are on one of the best roads I have ever been on. Downhill hairpin bends that come back on themselves one after the other on recently laid tarmac and Armco that has yet to be finished. It must have taken us 45 minutes or so before we saw any sort of straight roads. If you have seen photos of the Stelvio Pass in MCN well imagine something longer and better on traffic free roads that is as smooth as a billiard table then you will have some idea of how good this was, its a pity that there was nowhere to pull in to take photos. There are more lovely stretches of roads and views in the nest hour or so even into and out of Andorra where we stop for lunch. This really is a jewel in the crown of northern mountains of Spain and I want to go back and do it all over again. It’s hot in Andorra 260C but we are soon through it and into France and on the way to Carcassonne where we arrive at our hotel at 5.15pm and it’s once again hot at 320C. We go out and have a lovely meal in the castle and its is still 190C even after dark. Mileage Today 194. 
Friday 11th 
Again it’s wall to wall sunshine and very warm at 8.30am. We are on A and B roads and as we descend another pass we pull into a lay by to look down on Mezamet, a couple pull in on a Blackbird. John says he thinks he detect a Welsh Accent and after some helloes Ade’s remembers him living on a farm in Cwllynfell and he remembers Ade’s. His wife is from Parcyrhun and I seem to remember her as a teenager when I was a Postman. They are farming in Cornwall now but her mother still lives in Parcyrhun. After a stop in Mezamet for lunch we are on our way cross country on B roads again and up and over mountains before we eventually catch sight of the MIllau Bridge. After passing under the bridge we stop at the visitors centre to take photographs, then on our way to the hotel by 4.30pm to find Barrie’s mate Alwyn waiting for us. Mileage Today 149. 
Saturday 12th 
Another bright and sunny morning. John, Barrie and Alwyn have been up to the bridge before me and Ade’s are up. After breakfast Ade’s, Barrie and Alwyn catch a bus to Montpelier to watch a rugby match, while John, Karen and myself head for the Med and the beaches. We go to Settee where I always wanted to go back to and now I have. Both John and I are in the clear warm water and for the first time in my life I am able to float unaided and have a photo to prove it. Its time to return after a couple of hours and we go back by a different route to the way we came coming across more gorges and river valleys. This is as far south as we go, tomorrow we go North and West and head fro home. Mileage Today 205

Sunday 13th 
It is the usual fine and dry day but slightly colder (got to be heading North). Some wonderful scenery again today and the roads are once again quiet as well as the villages. Seems like France shuts down on Sundays. Coming the other way is a large group of bikers, must be 40 or 50 in the group. There were drier river beds in the south of France, but now we are heading north there is a little more water but not much. The daytime temperatures are a more comfortable 210C. Mileage Today 171. 
Monday 14th 
Ade’s says it is colder this morning, so I put a sweatshirt on until it gets a bit warmer. France is notably more expensive than Spain. Petrol is 1.35 Euros and soft drinks 3 Euros compared to 1.04 Euro and 1 Euro in Spain. We are on B roads again and it’s more twisties and it stays at 10 - 120C nearly all morning until we stop for lunch and then goes up and stays at 180C, not what we are used to. We pick up a motorway for about 25 miles and then onto duel carriageway and straight roads. The countryside is now flat and featureless and we get to Tours at about 4.30pm. Mileage Today 225. 
Tuesday 15th 
Started off from Tours with wet roads but as we left it started to dry up. Called in at Le Mans for coffee but the café was shut, so we set off fro San Michele La Mont and arrived there at 3.30pm. only long enough to take some photos and then it’s on to Granville our final destination where we arrive at 4.30pm. On the way out of San Michele Le Mont we had rain fro about 45minutes but as I write this there is loads of blue sky overhead. We will soon be out and about the town as it will be our last night in France. Mileage Today 208. 

Wednesday 16th 
We do not have to be up so early this morning as we are only about 80 miles from Cherbourg, so the plan is to meander down the coast road, stop for coffee then lunch until we are at the ferry port. Autumn has come early to this part of France as the leaves are falling from the trees. It is very windy almost gale force, as we call in at a small bay, the spray from the waves hitting the rocks is about 20 feet high. We get to the port in good time and leave right on time at 5.30pm. Mileage via the cost is 137 miles. The sea is very rough and the sea cat is really rocking and rolling and nobody can walk in a straight line, but we arrive on time at 7.30pm and are the first ones off the boat. We have brought the Spanish sunshine with us because the wind has abated and it 190C on a clear night. We stop 30 minutes later for fuel and Ade’s decides not to stop the final night with us and heads on straight home. Ten minutes later we stop at the Travelodge and after a quick shower head for the Little Chef for a bite to eat before it closes. They throw us out at 10pm and have an early night.

Thursday 17th 
The sun is once again shining not a cloud in the sky. We have breakfast in the Little Chef and head for home with a gas stop in Cardiff and I arrive home at 2.00pm. Mileage from Portsmouth 208.
Memories 
So many it is almost impossible to remember them all. But the one that comes to mind is after Bilbao I could feel the sun very hot on my seat and it got hotter and hotter until I had to stand on the pegs. It was then I thought I found the answer, I spotted that the heated switch for the seat was on so I turned it off and waited for the seat to cool down, but it got even hotter. By now my bum was on fire and I did finally find the cause, what I had turned off was the heated grips the heated seat was still on and it was on the max. What a relief it was after that. Needles to say the others were in stitches of laughter.

 Thanks
Go to Barrie who organized the trip, produced the maps and booked the hotels and ferry tickets, a lot of work must have gone into this, and I must say of all the European trips I have been on this tops the lot even the weather played its part. To John who led us all the way and his pal TOM TOM who took us to places we could so easily have missed to our deep regret. To the lovely Karen who despite weltering under the hot sun and many miles on the pillion seat, who when she got off had to stretch to get the aches and pains out of her bones not once ever complained. What a Star. To Ade’s my constant companion for being the but of my jokes but gave as good as he got. And lastly my wonderful wife Tracey back home who I deeply regret was not able to come with me and I missed so much. I would so much to have been able to show her the sights I have seen as the photos do not do it justice. I hope she can come with me next year.

Robert Reckman

ISLE OF WIGHT TRIP 2006
Well it was finally here, my first trip across the water with the club since joining, all being it was the isle of Wight, and yet again it was raining, so I slipped on the wets and set off down the valley road to meet up with the rest of the gang on the Neath bank Mc Donald’s

From there eleven of us set off in the rain and fog on the scenic route to the isle of Wight first stop a cuppa and a bite too eat at Abergavenny, Terry led the way taking us through Monmouth Tintern and on to the bridge, Weather started to pick up a bit now so it was off with the wets and onward to Lymington for the ferry.

We arrived at our digs The Royal Standard Hotel at about Five, quick scrub and all out for a beer and a bite and then some more beer, being the younger element of the club I was on the case to organise the nights entertainment best I could come up with was a karaoke bar so that’s where we spent the evening.

The next morning up for breakfast and a fine feast it was too, John gill our mentor for the weekend then told us what he had planned for the day, it was a ride out around the isle of Wight catching all the wonderful sites it had to offer, Everything was going to plan until some stupid prat for a lesser word, thought it was a good idea to over take us on a bicycle down an hill in Sandown as we were slowing down to park, cutting up John and Karen and riding straight in to Dave Wilcox on his brand new apprila luckily Dave did not come off but the collision did cause damage to is bike, you could see by the boys face that he was Upset by the accident so he was just given a brief high way code lesson with a few French words thrown in.

That night we went up the local social club too meet up with Johns family who lived on the isle, they were there helping to organise a wedding which was going on up stairs, BULLSEYE Beer music food and a dance floor all under the same roof, I just could not resist it, so with the right contacts I was soon up stairs on the dance floor with a pint in one hand and a prawn voli von in the other dancing to the early hours of the morn.

The next morn it was breakfast and unfortunately get packed ready for home, weather was great so that did lift spirits and we all got home safe and sound with some fond memories of the isle of Wight. Just like to take this opportunity to thank John and is family over in the Isle of Wight for a great weekend.

Safe riding in 2007 Lyndon

DEVON CORNWALL TRIP
The sun was shining, the roads were dry, what more could any biker ask for, so off I set down the Afan valley to meet up with the rest of the gang at the Mcdonalds car park on the Neath bank duel.

As I pulled into the car park I could see Dave was already there, and I was soon followed in by Terry and John Gill, It was now 2:10 and there was no sign of Eric, Mel and their other halves, but by 2:15 they pull up. Eric had some probs with is GSXF 750 but managed to get it going for the trip, So off the eight of us set up the Neath bank first stop Abergavenny for a cuppa and a toilet stop for Dave. By this time Mel realised his bike was guzzling more fuel than John gill could drink beer on a darts night.

So from there we set off to meet Clive and Bob on the old Severn bridge Services.

We got there for 5 Clive followed in on his own at about 5:10 Bob sadly could not make it due to work commitments AGAIN!!!!!

So after a quick update from our leader (Clive) we headed for the YHA Cheddar.

On arrival we were met by the caretaker of the YHA who was a MR JOBS WORTH, but he didn’t realise Clive lived for people like him and soon had him tied up in his own words offering us a discount on our breakfast and unlimited toast, So the only thing left for us to do now was to get showered and out for a beer and a bite to eat.

The next Morning I was awoke by the sound of a GSXF being throttled by the Hands of Mel and Eric, giving it a quick look over before we departed that morn.

At breakfast we took advantage of the unlimited toast and the chef was soon stripped to the half keeping the supply topped up.

 Today our destination is Penzance YHA and just as we were going to set off the heavens opened, so it was on with the wets, fortunately by the time we got to Bridgewater it began to clear and we had the pleasure of some cracking roads so Terry picked up the pace and I thought I’d latch on to his lines but… by the time I went into the 2nd twisty he had gone and I met up with him in Lynton where we stopped for a cuppa and a toilet stop for Dave. Eric was still struggling with his bike and was filling up every other garage there abouts but still spluttered on, it was my turn to take the lead on the 2nd leg of the trip riding through Bude Wadebridge, St Coloumb Major and on to Padstow for a cuppa and a Cornish pasty.

Time was getting on so we started to head for the Hostel in Penzance but disaster struck Eric and is pillion Madge took a spill nothing serious thank god but they were both shaken up, we were all relieved that the both of them were OK the bike had a little cosmetic damage but was rideable. We finally arrived at the Hostel in Penzance so it was a quick shower and out for a beer.

The next morn at breakfast Eric decided he wanted to go into town and get some new plugs to try in is GSXF, So Mel and the girls went with him while the rest of us went down to Lands End and back for a run while they sorted out the bike, when we got back Eric and Mel decided that the bike was struggling and it would be best if they returned home that day, So after a farewell the rest of us carried on with the journey to Salcombe YHA But on our way we lost Terry and Dave So John Clive and myself pulled up at a café for lunch while we tried to contact the both of them, about an hr later they pull up in the café car park Terry smiling to himself as he pulls up he had only read the map with out is glasses and ended up in Lizards point instead of Liskard.

So after lunch we headed for Salcombe YHA, on arrival we were told that we could keep our bikes in the lock up at the main car park, so Dave and myself were the first to unpack so we decided to take our bikes to the lock up, the car park was a bikers nightmare it was on a 45 degree angle covered in green moss, I looked on helplessly as I seen Dave loose his footing on the green moss and him and his bike hit the ground snapping its break lever, this was just the start of our problems we were miles from anywhere it was Saturday evening and there was not a bike shop open.

So over dinner and a few beers that night we devised a plan, we would all ride into Plymouth in the morn in search of a bike shop open on a Sunday.

 So after Breakfast we set off, Terry riding Daves bike with a series of head nods and leg shakes we finally arrived in Plymouth safely and as luck would have it Hein Gerik was the first shop we come to and our luck did not just stop there they even had a lever for Daves Fazer so it was a quick repair and back on route for Gods Little acre Wales.

I would just like to give everyone who came on the trip a big thank you The humour and tales are priceless cant wait for the next one

Safe riding Lyndon

TALES FROM THE DALES

SATURDAY JULY 2ND
I, set off and we all meet in Llandarcey and its bucketing down. it starts to dry around Brecon so in newtown off come the wets and we have dry weather for the rest of the day.
Terry gets us lost in nantwich so we head for the M6 and on to our digs in Hawarth where we arrive about 4 pm. shower and a shave and out for the night where we meet with Terrys mates Phil and Jack and we sink a few 1664s we should have been back in the digs by 11.30 but its 1.30 am when we get back we find the door locked and a frosty reception when he finally does come to the door.

SUNDAY JULY 3RD
Fine and dry so we meet up with Phils dad John who takes us around the Dales and the Yorkshire moors. we stop in several places including the devils bridge bike meet, And then we go on to the Tarn pub the highest pub in the UK. So from 10.30 to 6.30 we are on the bikes all day.
Out that night we go to a Social Club in Hawarth where we sink some more 1664s and make some more friends. Trouble is in store when we arrive back late to the digs to an even frostier reception, but we blame it on the taxi no show.

MONDAY 4TH JULY
It`s raining this morning but we have to go as we are on our way to Osmotherly and John is again going to take us on a tour of North Yorks before setting us on the way in the late afternoon. We call in a bike shop to buy some chain lube (none for me) and Terry is almost but not quite persuaded to part his R1 for an Enfield bullet. It stops raining around 1pm then it clears up and our spirits rise. We get to our B&B at 5.30pm and Terry bags a single room.

TUESDAY 5TH JULY Day off riding so its off to Northaleton for a bus ride to Pickering and the steam railway. It sounds so easy as it is only 40 miles away. Nothing could be further from the truth, no bus driver knows the connection, so the tourist info should help, and eventually they come up with a three hour bus ride which means as soon as we get to Pickering it will be time to come back. A taxi then? not at £108 return. So we all mooch around Northalerton until 4pm then return to our B&B. No sooner do we get the drinks in and Dave and John arrive so we settle in for the rest of the day.

WEDNESDAY 6TH JULY
We wake up and it's raining again and a secure weather warning is given for our part of the country. We are off the main road again and Terry is in his element as we go enduro as the roads and bridges have been washed away, but we do eventually get to Helmsley, which itself was under water two weeks previously. We fill up and it's B roads and enduro again over the moors and dales on the way to Pickering and then onto Scarborough and our B&B. We go to the town that night but Scarborough mid week is very quiet, so just 3 or 4 pubs on the sea front, which takes us to midnight and a taxi home.

THURSDAY 7TH JULY
Day off so we share a taxi to Pickering where we catch a steam train to Heartbeat country and we visit Goatland (Aidensfield) and we have a pint in the Aidensfield Arms, but it's not Gina behind the bar but a lad from Lithuania. We have a walk around the village and visit the garage, then it's back to Pickering and Scarborough.

FRIDAY 8TH JULY
We are off to York today and we go via Goatland again and also pass RAF Filingdale but the golf ball has gone and it now looks like a castle turret. Some beautiful scenery again and we have a lovely ride to York where we arrive at 4.30pm. We did intend to visit the railway museum but we do not have enough time as we are only here for one night, so we have a quick look at York minister and visit Yorks night life.

SATURDAY 9TH JULY
We are ready to go by 10.00 and it's a dry start for once and it turns out to be a lovely day and we are soon leaving York. It's a mixture now of fast A roads and duals and as we are near Doncaster in the whole time in Yorkshire I see the first sign for mobile cameras. I have since found out that North Yorks like Durham has no fixed camera sites and only one mobile camera unit, what a wonderful country North Yorks is. We are soon in Chester so we are out by 6pm for a quiet pint! Wrong. Chester races have been on all day and the pubs are packed to bursting point, but on the outskirts we do find one where we can get a pint, and meet some people from Haverfordwest.

SUNDAY 10TH  JULY                                                        Dry, fine and sunny, but it's a disastrous start as I have the only crash of the week. Careful not to trip over the sheets I am carrying out of our room I miss the step and fall head over tit into the hedge outside our room and I can't move. I yell for help and everyone falls about laughing, and Lyndon says don't move (as if I could) while I get the camera, and it's caught on film. After that it is an uneventful journey home where I arrive at 12 noon.
Story told by Robert Reckman. (PHOTOS IN GALLERY)

BIKE SAFE WEEKEND
Saturday morning i set off for Llangunner Police H.Q.for the course starting at 9 am, there were 5 bikers so we split 3 and 2. after introductory talk about itinerary for the weekend we set off in our groups with our police observer. we headed towards Lampter, tregaron and finally Llangurig, all B roads, taking it in turn to lead, every so often we stopped to discuss correct lines and awarness of speed restictions. Lunch was provide by the red kyte cafe, where we met up with 7 other riders taking part in the course from Llandrindod Wells.The return journey was on the backCardigan Coast road, back to H.Q. for a further breifing having completed 134 miles.
we met up on sunday morning the ride out took us too Brechfa Llandeilo and back yo H.Q. The lads from Llandrindod joined us for a first aid course devised to help us know what to do in an emergency. Dummies were used for the purpose, which prompted a few good laughs. After a packed lunch and photo shoot we set offon a quite gruelling 3 hrs riding on B roads that i did nt know they even existed.Concentration was paramount we coverd about 150 miles.Arriving back at H.Q. we had a further debriefing and were each given a a gift pack consisting of CD, police manual and certificate.
All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative weekend with exellent pointers to safe riding. well worth the experience.
we should not close our minds to learning, no matter how long we been riding, and the MCA thoroughly endorse this bikesafe course, even negotiated a discounted price due to the numbers of the MCA members that went on the course.if you were not one of them you should really fit in next year-it benifits everyone thats a certainty.
in total 20+ MCA Members took part in these courses during the year, and already some have booked 2006 courses. everyone as agreed that they are a great benifit.
Jeff Palmer.