October 15 on the Ferry

The Spanish journey is over. Back to "reality". Lots of Pommie bikers, all pretty good blokes old blokes on old bikes. They are amused by my "giant" bike. And yes it is big for sure. So I am reminded of rides past and one in particular where a group of us went from Texas to Panama. One of the group disappeared in a cloud of dust and I can recall the concern. Two bikes down in the dust of an old roadside slip and no one injured which was terrific. I suspect Fletcher a retired rancher from the Mississippi did exacerbate an old back injury which laid him low for a day or two. Our mate was also on a "big bike" which later expired in Panama and had to be shipped home. So they all went in a container back to Texas and I meantime had a sojourn in Cuba. So not all bad things are bad. However it was on that trip the custom to finish dinner with what he called a flan and we call Creme Brulee was born. So last night aboard this odd amalgamation of the United Nations, a British boat with a french crew sailing from a Spanish port set sail. All this reminds me of a wish to learn Spanish and the "best" places are either in Salamanca in Spaian or Central America in fact close to our shower of dust incident. Calm night with a bit of a flurry rounding out of the Bay of Biscay, which I remember from 1962 on my first "crossing"....aboard the Fairsea, an Italian boat. The departure from Spain was easy in reality. The ferry is a pretty slick operation. Spain was a very good experience and one worth repeating. The hills and valleys the roads, the feel of the place, in fact 5 days better riding than I could find anywhere else that I have encountered, including NZ, but I hope I have not finished exploring... yet.

October 13 on the road to the Guggenhiem

That was never the actual plan but I was passing. So I looked and kept passing. Bloody incredible really. But here I am in another pub in another city and waiting to eat because in Spain the dining room does not open till at least 8 pm ! But at least I have a log for the missing days, and in order. All I need now is pictures.

October 12. Rioja and extras

What a day. 700 k of pure bliss except for the last two hours belting down a motorway in pitch black at 130 km and 10 degrees. It did take a lot of hot water and a few scotch's to fix me up. Better now.

October 11 from Olite to Argomani

Argomani is an old castle (well they all are really) near the City of Vitoria xxxx. I am here for two nights. Tomorrow I will explore the Rioja wine region

October 10. One the road in rural Northern Spain

Mountain road, mountain road and more mountain road, pure bliss, more to be added. I left the Sant Vincenc spa in Catalonya and went mountaineering. B marvelous. Ended up in Onalite. A castle built by some old frog King ! Sorry about the. Flippancy, I will rectify !

October 9

I thought I had posted. Will amend but I had a day of R and R

October 8th. Nth Spain..finally

After a log ride last night to get to Nimes,in the dark and given the run round by Garmin again I came to a conclusion that the expression killed in friendly fire is a Garmin PR matter. It is clear the US military are not using google.....so it must be Garmin, that universally hopeless GPS system. Good on them. Chances are they would not find NZ if they had to ! So I got a bed. And a meal, of sorts. And because beggars cannot be choosers it was expensive. Not the least of my concerns. When I loaded in Barcelona it suggested it was 338 km on the back roads and would take to 3.30 pm yet the motorway said it was 350 km and that at express speed I would lucky to get there late in the day. So I did the un-mentionable, I got on the motorway for 2 hours. Then I turned inland toward Andorra. Wise move. Great riding through the mountains. Even a UNESCO village Saint Louis. Stunning spot on the top of a nearly mountain, and the french military still occupy it it seems. The roads again wonderful and as 5.30 approached my lazy day stop and find a pub time, I saw a little Hotel, having spurned some earlier stylish establishments in ski villages which abound round here, only to find this was a full on Spa. Mineral water the lot. So here I am. Had the Spa. Darn it that was good. Now onto the Temperanillo (it is a Spanish soft drink)...... Mind you I was well sold. As I pulled in a lady was loading a kid into a car so I asked, Hotel any good ( very stylish) and she replied, it is a mineral Spa, the food is superb ( she is the cook I found out) and we have a special rate for you ( she is the owner I discovered), so I was pretty much hooked and landed. So yes the Spa is good, the Temperanillo is very good and as for the food I am off to find out.