smilinjack

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 walls Roads 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

Just waiting for my coffee in town. Expected high of 28 today, 34 by Thursday. Looks like the beach later then

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 bridge Morning 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.

I'm on a ZZR forum where they do exactly this. They have a Euro minirun, basically a weekend or maybe slightly longer, and a Euro maxirun, which is a bit more like a week's work. I'd certainly be happy to offer guidance and would probably be in for a long weekend for example. My problem is the sh1t holiday allowance from work. As a bit of a taster, a weekend gives you northern France, Belgium & the Low Countries. Could do a war sites visit for example. Could maybe do Brittany with an extra day (my first bike tour was Brittany in 1982 on my Z650 chop ) Add on a day or two more and if you're hard arsed could do the Vosges south of Strasbourg (had a fab 5 days there in 2004) or Black Forest, or a bit nearer and a place I'd like to visit is the Ardennes Forest or the Eifel area which gives the potential to visit several countries quickly-you're in the crosshairs of the frontiers of France, Germany, Belgium & Luxembourg. I'd be interested-put my name down.

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.

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.

I think Honda twigged that one some years ago Like that Prilia, but I still prefer the look of the Tuono Factory V twin. Saw one tonight in Jaca with a Speed Triple for company. Some sound track there when they hit the mountains

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

In a rare moment of forward planning I actually packed some duct tape, and it's even silver so looks like a permanent job!

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

I've pretty much done all the packing, bike is fuelled, currently (bum-bum) on the Optimizer. So all I have to do is try to get us to Plymouth tomorrow without getting too much of a dousing Ferry leaves for Santander 3:45 in the afternoon, we dock 12:15 Monday lunchtime. First night's stop is Jaca, then we'll be on the N-260 right across the Pyrenees to Girona, stopping a night in Berga en route. Got the lappy with me so I'll try & check in when I can, maybe post a few pics. Toodle pip all

Cheers Gaz I will be riding off the ferry in Santander Monday lunchtime-with dipped headlight of course!

Well, I nipped in Tesco tonight with £200 for some Euros (going to Spain on Sunday) He says £200.10p is 240 Euro, OK sez I. So he counts out, 20 40 60 80 100, 20 40 60 80 200, 20 40 60 80 300, [size=24]20 40 60 80 400, and 40[/size][/size]. Yep, Tesco had given me 200 Euro towards my holiday. I was outta there so quick my shoes were smoking slight moral dilemma which I have completely got over and I can now treat the wife on her birthday while we're away. Back of the net!

Christ there's a bit of an echo in here.....

Good arrows Stan!

TBH I'd probably go a bit slower on a tyre like that

Punk I'm out later probably if you change your mind but I expect you'll be pubbing it

Too early mate, I've got a lass coming over for some training. Afternoon would have been better but hey ho, enjoy it m8

Got one from Aldi £15.99 a few years back exactly same as the Oxford ones, still using it now

Just been on the telly about Syston mate. Still, at least something's finally happened there!

Yep, Britain is slowly sinking back into Dickensian values, if that's the right word. I'm doing the same job as I did in 2001 for about £6k a year less. So many ppl on min wage or thereabouts it just beats me how they get by cos I find it bloody hard on my moderate salary. Only going to go one way too.......

Tunnel mate-and I'm now a convert. So quick & easy it's stupid. Anyway, I'm back safe & sound, earned a few bob and didn't get too wet!!

.......I'm ready to go. Just loading up the bike so I'll be off shortly to Folkestone, then Calaias to Amsterdam. Quite a ride ahead of me today. I'm not taking my lappy due to lack of space so play nicely until I get back

Just back from dentist not really looking forward to riding to Folkestone tomorrow with the forecast mind you, it is only June!

I think I might have to tag along-the excitement is palpable