Well, Now recovered from the 2000 miles round trip.Photos are a bit dull as weather not good so here is a blow by blow. Ferry across to Cherbourg uneventful all of a reasonable standard. however I have never been searched before but at Poole they made us take off our helmets and searched a bag on each bike. Also did a body search but with the armour in the jacket and trousers not sure what they would find. We then had 4 hours to get down to St. Nazaire to catch the ferry to Gijon in Spain. This is 217 miles so need to keep speed up as two petrol stops required. First 100 miles no problem. Garmin then decided it wanted to take us into a small French village. No idea why but time ticking away. We missed a junction and turning round again became a bit of a problem. more time lost. eventually got to the port, Garmin worked well there, and did it with time to spare. I estimate you should allow 3.5 hours for this journey as the second half is all roundabouts and sets of lights with reasonably heavy traffic. Ferry basic but clean. met some nice guys from Guernsey. They were having problems with one of their BMW’s so arranged for our tour guide, who was meeting us in Gijon, to take them to BMW dealership. They had brilliant number plates. One was 117 just shows you what a small island it is. Not much to do with your bike on an island 9 miles by 20 but they get over to France a lot. Our tour guide, Richard from Ethos motorcycle holidays, met us at the docks and we all set off to the BMW dealership. He rides a BMW all over Europe so has all dealerships downloaded into Garmin supplied by BMW. Slight problem that their coordinates took us to the middle of a housing estate. Tour guide with red face and the rest of us wondering what to do. Hey presto up ride two Spanish policemen on their bikes. Problem explained and we had a police escort to the dealership. Lots of thanks and handshakes as the police left us. I got lost in Gijon a couple of years ago and the police took me to the ferry that time. A big round of applause for the Spanish police they could not have been more helpful. We then carried on into the Picos National park. Great roads and nice hotel. More bloody BMW’s staying at this hotel. All bikes parked in the hotel night club overnight Excellent but I bet the cleaner was a bit pissed with the state of the floor. On to Portugal, Chaves, the next day. Cold +1 in the mountains but warmer as the day went on. Magic figure seems to be +9. After that everything takes on a nice glow and you are not muttering to yourself in your helmet. Fabulous roads but almost a line drawn as to the up keep. Some councils seem to have done the road repairs then you cross the line and the roads are in shit state. Even these do not have as deep potholes as we have in Hampshire at the moment. Fantastic hotel with indoor and outdoor pool sauna and gym. Could have based myself there for a week and am thinking about taking the wife for a break. Thanks to Fernando the bar man and really excellent food. The breakfast there was the food highlight of the trip. Down in to Portugal and temps up into teens so nice but towards the end of the day the rain set in. Covilah is set on the side of a steep hill and is cobbled. Quite busy and all uphill in the rain at the end of the day. Nice hotel but weather worsening. Few beers to cheer us up and a very nice barman from the cape verde islands. Pissing down the next day and my heart in my mouth descending the rain soaked cobbles. Camber keeps changing and hairpin bends in the tiny city streets with cars erupting out of tiny ally ways at a rate of knots. Glad to see the back of that place. We all get lost and separated but manage to reconvene at the foot of the hill. On towards Mirada do Duros. Rain is really bad now. having problems with starting it when we stop and eventually the alarm decides it is not going to disengage. We all stand in the rain and look at my bike and the BMW people can not stop themselves from saying” Italian electrics”. Eventually have to bite the bullet and ring the breakdown service. Tell everyone else to carry on. The Insurance company seems to work well and promised someone will be with me in 1 hour. Nice little man from a tyre shop comes over to admire the bikes and asks what the problem is in Portuguese. Much pointing and gesticulating and he has a go. Tips the key fob upside down and water pours out. he takes it away gives it a dose of WD40 and the bike starts first time. Thank you Jose. He refused money and just wished us well. Could not tell him how grateful I was so sent an email back when I got home translated by babel fish into Portuguese. he was so gracious and just said he was doing his job. Nice man. Miranda do Duros. Nice hotel overlooking the dam. Glad to get the kit off and get into a hot bath. Nice Belgian couple, Willie and Helga, on a Triumph adventurer sharing the hotel with us. Very nice rooms and good food. Last leg back up to Santander. Weather warmer but still threatening rain all day. Good ride and roll on to the ferry. Hardly seen any other bikes on the roads but the ferry full of bikes. Got all night and till 19.30 the next day on the ferry. Time to get into the beer and had a really nice evening with the Fireblade boys and a bloke who’s name escapes me now on a Husqvarna. End up drinking till about 04.00 in the morning with nice chap from Bath on a Suzuki 1200 Bandit. All in all very good evening. Ferry excellent cabin really nice and food on board good. Home again. Bike very dirty. Tired out but happy. Fantastic roads and met some great people. Weather should have been better but thats the chance you take. Regards Steve
