Spanish Trip

[rodbargee]

Well the Bike trip never to be taken Has been taken! Conceived and planned for three years ago, something! Got in the way, slips my mind quite what it was but suffice to say the the sports transport was readied; a trip to the polish Hand wash team later and a big diesel fuel rail and pump repair later and we were ready to go



we really thought that the vans days were numbered as its been rather temperamental of late and has let me down several times. But as our mechanic remarked "I've fixed it properly this time" pouring scorn on our own efforts, note to self he's right too. the runners and riders this time were familiar, Reburner, Myself, And Russell and Martin (not of this Parish) but regulars on our adventures over the years. Reburner on his Multistrader me on the new to me ZZR1400, RUSSELL on an imaculate low mileage Blackbird and Martin on his very nice Fireblade.



Not quite sure what event I've caught here Russell on the BB looks like he's encountered something It stayed shiny side up so all good. we got the Ferry from Plymouth to Santander and had a return booked a week later from BIlbao to Portsmouth on the brand new Ferry Awkwardly named Salamanca as getting a ferry to Salamanca would be a real feat.

we had cancelled this trip 4 times before we finally set sail and have, as far as we feel, single handedly bank rolled Britany ferries throughout covid, never having been given a refund from day one but by rebooking time after time until we were finally allowed to go we made it annoyingly with a few surcharges en route. the area we were going to was the NAVARRA BAsed around but not in Pamplona the actual village was Eraul near Estella. in a National Park area we had booked (only a couple of weeks ago a villa with four bedrooms in this tiny village but it was imaculate



the village was approx 250 Kilometers from the ferry so an easy drive once thrown off the ferry. then a little unpacking



More to follow.

[rodbargee]

Our view from the living room, all the Mountains surround the area with huge escarpments forming a barrier from the coast with lots of twisty passes over round and along the Hills / Mountains. the tarmac is immaculate and the roads almost deserted just what was required. It's a new area to us and not terribly touristy thankfully which is perfect cos you can ride your bike to a touristy bit if you want. The locals were very friendly and our english speaking contact had lived in Callow in Ireland How she made head or tail of english as spoken in the republic is beyond me anyway she was brilliant also leaving us with a list of touristy things to do. the first of which we did right away visit the source of a river in what I can only describe as an area like MAlham cove on steroids. Similar geology limestone with lots of caves.





Not the actual source but as near as we got, was a 3K WALK IN M/C Gear so hot.



the ride there was superb dry grippy tarmac, and my first outing on the ZZR14 with the flat bars and easy turning front this bike is transformed from the heavy 2006 model that said it hides its mass well in this new guise the engine is a monster and is unbelievably tractable its faster than a fast thing when required and I havent used any of the electronics leaving it on Full power mode it never caught me out, believe me it goes like stink when you really grab a handful but it is so! easy to ride. My usual gripes about tiny twisty mountain roads disappeared yes its still a big behemoth but its really good fun in the twisties all the roads in this area seemed to have very predictable bends the ones that you suspect will tighten up rarely did. no traffic and stunning scenery. After the first day.



The second day more of the same though it was properly wet after a while but not too bad to put off anything




random coffee stop

[rodbargee]

Gratuitous ...probably

we then did a touristy thing and went to San Sebastion on the coast still a bit moist setting off but dried up nicely tapas in the old part of the city everywhere

lots of separatist graffiti and on the beach too




MORE COFFEE

For those finding sleep hard I'll put up some more tomorrow

[weeksy]

Fab thread mate... i've really missed 'adventure' threads as they've been a bit lacking the past several years.

[Rockburner]

Good stuff - will get myself down that way sometime!!

[Supermofo]

I stayed in N. Spain years ago and my memories of where we were (I forget now but not far from Santander) where perfectly surfaced roads, great views and no people largely. Would love to go again.

[Taipan]

Looks like a fab trip, despite the unexpected rain! Keep the pics coming as us armchair travellers need them!

I wondered wtf had happened to Reburner? Good to know he's alive and kicking!

[DefTrap]

Love San Sebastien. One of the nicer seaside citys as it's not 100% tourist trap. And it's one of the nearest places to me where I can get proper tapas

[lostboy]

Top thread!

[rodbargee]

april 29th my birthday so generall hooning about and ended up at this lake for birthday cake




the village of Eraul had one thing left to offer a pizzaria run by the community for the community so we had it large ( open only thursday/ Fridays)


ten to twelve euro a pizza and plenty of house tinto. the following day a struggle to the viewing point at the top of the hill we were on, and offski for the ferry the brand new Salamanca which really was brand new and very shiny back to Portsmouth and a good run to Sainsburys where we dropped off Reburner and MArtin who made haste in the London direction we carried on oop north I Finally got back to North Yorks at 2 am ferry threw us off at 7 pm took an hour to get off it and do customs etc Brexit non benefit in all its glory. (Ducks) so would we go again ...you bet! The roads were fab and a couple of weeks later and the weather may have been kinder, but as a motorbike destination it takes some beating.

[rodbargee]

beauty and the beast both belters to be fair

[rodbargee]

The sports transport returned 20mpg towing four of us and the trailer and all the bikes pretty good on the whole and the van ...in the end has never gone better. both up for grabs as we're going to try a exlwb sprinter crew cab and all bikes on board perhaps or a trailer of two bikes anyone interested drop me a message vito is a 3 litre v6 with an extra 80bhp to the standard it did 39 mpg empty and could almost be everyday transport.....