smilinjack 0 Posted July 10, 2012 Nice bit of alliteration in that title doncha think?Pleasant enough ride down to Plymouth, all dry roads and nicely in time for the ferry. It was very hot work in the car deck with my rain gear on but soon in the shower and that was all forgotten. I did spot a nice big twin nearby, not to mention this Vincent Tesco did make one last attempt to recover their 200 Euros....Blinding stretch of motorway from Santander to Pamplona, wish I had my ZZR on that stretch-it needs real speed!Through the tunnels and the only rain so far, then down into the valley and within 10 miles we went from 14 degrees to 29, so a quick strip stop...At this point the alarm acted a bit funny but luckily I realised something wasn't quite right and managed to start the bike before it immobilised. 40 miles later at the hotel gate it killed the bike and went off for 30 mins or so. It appears the lad who strapped the bike on the ferry pulled it down so hard it broke off the trigger sensor in the seat and when that slipped off it trapped the power lead & took the fuse. They've also cracked the fairing a touch too. On a positive note, it now looks like a proper Smilinjack motorbike I've sorted it all out, been & got new batteries for the remotes as well, and reset the PIN override to a number I can remember. All of which means an extra night here in Jaca (no bad thing), & all the hotels have kindly allowed me to kick reservations forward one day, so hopefully no biggie. Sorry for the long post but I know how much you all worry about me Laters Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davehutch-hutchs 0 Posted July 10, 2012 nice to hear from you m8 , glad all is well , and i tell you what i will be keeping a eye on them strapping my bike down when i go to the TT just put a bolt with a wing nut to hold your fairing together Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 10, 2012 @Davehutch wrote: just put a bolt with a wing nut to hold your fairing together In a rare moment of forward planning I actually packed some duct tape, and it's even silver so looks like a permanent job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macie_UK 0 Posted July 10, 2012 Like it matey - keep us updated when you can Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davehutch-hutchs 0 Posted July 10, 2012 @smilinjack wrote:@Davehutch wrote: just put a bolt with a wing nut to hold your fairing together In a rare moment of forward planning I actually packed some duct tape, and it's even silver so looks like a permanent job! enjoy your trip m8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oldfart 0 Posted July 10, 2012 @Davehutch wrote:nice to hear from you m8 , glad all is well , and i tell you what i will be keeping a eye on them strapping my bike down when i go to the TT just put a bolt with a wing nut to hold your fairing together Theyre not too bad on the Steam Racket Dave. Just be careful when you take the rope off as they sometimes use the footpeg or brake lever as an anchor and the rope gets jammed. Seen the odd lever get snapped off over the years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davehutch-hutchs 0 Posted July 10, 2012 TheBiker46 wrote:@Davehutch wrote:nice to hear from you m8 , glad all is well , and i tell you what i will be keeping a eye on them strapping my bike down when i go to the TT just put a bolt with a wing nut to hold your fairing together Theyre not too bad on the Steam Racket Dave. Just be careful when you take the rope off as they sometimes use the footpeg or brake lever as an anchor and the rope gets jammed. Seen the odd lever get snapped off over the years.sorry Alan for the but this is the only thing worring me about going Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dick65 0 Posted July 10, 2012 great update alan,looks like you got the weather as well shame about the bike though,keep us updated when you can and enjoy the rest of your trip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stue11 0 Posted July 10, 2012 Great update Alan soz to hear about bike though didnt realise you'd took a caravan aswell with ya only kidding dad cya soon and have a safe trip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadatious 0 Posted July 10, 2012 nice to hear fromn ya mate, and shame about your bike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lee1 1 Posted July 10, 2012 least you have sorted the bike mate,even if it was with tape enjoy the rest of the trip,and can you stop posting pics of blue sky were not use to it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 10, 2012 Evening all. Just had a walk into town for a quite excellent meal for two-33 Euro all in hate to rub it in but it's 10:15 here and it's still over 20 degrees. I'm sweating like John Leslie in a lift with Ulrika Jonsson couple of pics of the walk into town.... Tomorrow I'll hit the N-260 all the way to Berga so should be a good day's riding Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davehutch-hutchs 0 Posted July 10, 2012 keep them coming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gravelrash 0 Posted July 10, 2012 Looks stunning! Good of you to show us what we're missing! keep safe mate! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BanditMike 0 Posted July 11, 2012 Looks good mate. Enjoy Never know, some of that may follow you back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony nitrous 0 Posted July 11, 2012 Great posts smilinjack .... I did France several times.Was never really impressed with the Ferrys,both the strapping bikes down, and the roughtas f#ck crossing a few times.Did the tunnel last time. Was excellent.Have fun and post more reports/pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 11, 2012 Holy crap, I've just had a fantastic day's motorbiking. I'm absolutely cream crackered. Just been in the shower, off to the bar to rehydrate. I'll post a few pics later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davehutch-hutchs 0 Posted July 11, 2012 @smilinjack wrote:Holy crap, I've just had a fantastic day's motorbiking. I'm absolutely cream crackered. Just been in the shower, off to the bar to rehydrate. I'll post a few pics later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dick65 0 Posted July 11, 2012 nice one alan,look forward to pics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stue11 0 Posted July 11, 2012 Nice one looking forward to more pics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 12, 2012 Hola, buenas noches chicos! A bit behind due to inability to upload pics and TBH being done in by yesterday's ride. Anyway, we left Jaca yesterday morning and hit the N-260 at Biescas. The morning was spent getting across the Aragonese part-very varied roads from bumpy single track to superb sweeping new stretches where there's no need to go below 100mph except out of respect for your licence As ever the best bits I couldn't photograph as usually it's not safe and often you just don't want to stop. Passed through numerous gorges...and of course a fair few high passes.........Best and biggest pass was the Col de Canto, where I met these two happy chappies. These pics are at 1,720 metres, pretty much a mile above sea level. The climb up from Sort was awesome.I will try & catch up a bit more tomorrow, had a fairly short ride today (change from original route)but some great roads and a couple of enjoyable stops. Footnote: the alarm is fine. On top of the problems from the ferry, it turns out the police station opposite the hotel has an antiterrorist jamming frequency which reduced the alarm remote's range to about 4". I had to press it into the seat to get a response from the control unit. More later fear fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stue11 0 Posted July 12, 2012 Nice one Alan i hope you had plenty of stops for coffee, cracking pics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dick65 0 Posted July 12, 2012 looks like your having a great trip alan,cracking pics there and like the anti jamming story Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BanditMike 0 Posted July 13, 2012 Great pics . If I'm honest, looking with more than a hint of jealousy Maybe need to correct that by doing a bit of touring at some point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 13, 2012 Well, we arrived in Berga OK and got a bit of a bargain with the hotel. To get there meant leaving the N-260 and using the local roads C-14 & C-26. What a revelation! Again, fantastic roads and a series of lakes/reservoirs which I couldn't stop to photograph.Google Panta d'Oliana for a bit of an idea. Cheat: I downloaded a pic so you get a bit of an idea We decided not to go back onto the N-260 next morning as it was quite a detour and it so happens we'd done this stretch a few years ago on the way into Andorra. We took the quick route into Ripoll by the C-26. It wasn't exactly crap....And it allowed us time to stop off at Besalu. Famous mainly for it's mediaeval fortified bridgeMorning coffee was taken here....20 miles down the road we got to our overnight destination-Girona. A quick walk round but tomorrow's a bike free day to explore properly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dick65 0 Posted July 13, 2012 some lovely places alan,always good to take the route less well travelled Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oldfart 0 Posted July 13, 2012 Look folks thats what sunshine is like. Aah memories Great pics Alan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stue11 0 Posted July 13, 2012 Im so so so jelous thanks for sharing em Alan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony nitrous 0 Posted July 14, 2012 Great pic's and write up.Top Job that Man... TheBiker46 wrote:Look folks thats what sunshine is like. Aah memories I traveled a bit and always felt sad goingback to the UK, untill I realised....Dont go home! .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lee1 1 Posted July 14, 2012 Great pics alan thanks for sharing,enjoy the rest of your hols Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 16, 2012 Well, we had our bike free day in Girona, and very nice it was too. I'm posting pica almost randomly at the mo as I can't see the screen too well in the sunshine (sorry). Decent view of the city from the old wallsRoads can be dangerous-even some cars wear lids!! A nice bike here for Stu I reckon..What Girona means also is the end of the N-260 for us. We turn south towards our apartment but we are going to take a short detour to the coast to ride the Gi-620 from Sant Feliu to Tossa de Mar. Known as the road of the year as there are 365 bends in it's 12 mile length Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 16, 2012 As a postscipt here are a couple of pics from the coast ride. It was absolutely brilliant-even on a Saturday I managed to ride most of it unimpeded by other traffic. Just a couple of overtakes. If you find yourself on holiday around here, about 5 miles from Lloret de Mar, hire a scooter & do it. Everyone else seems to Hope you've enjoyed tagging along so to speak, there are more pics if you're interested here. Hasta la vista. http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/bandit12_photos/Spain%202012/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dick65 0 Posted July 16, 2012 excellent pics and updates alan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smilinjack 0 Posted July 16, 2012 Just come off the beach. We were thinking of a ride out tomorrow for morning coffee in Sant Mateu. It's my Spanish equivalent of a ride to Matlock. And I realised you ought to be able to put faces to the thread, so it's hello from me........and hello from my dearly beloved Rosita, whose birthday it is today. Just took that so I expect I'll get bollocked cos her hair's not right or she's got no lippy or somesuch. It's a dog's life Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lee1 1 Posted July 16, 2012 nice one alan and to your mrs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madcarper 0 Posted July 16, 2012 nice one rosita looks mighty fine to me m8. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stue11 0 Posted July 16, 2012 She dont need any lippy happy birthday she's gorgeous Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BanditMike 0 Posted July 17, 2012 Nice updates there and some very . You should take up travel writing Thanks for the updates and the pics, and to the good lady Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
