Specs

It was decided after a phone call that we would make it to Marbella in a day. It would be across country as well without as many motorways, a plus. The negative was that it was getting hotter! We went to Italia just north of Seville to look at some stuck together stones. I would normally have enjoyed exploring the remains of one of the Romans' largest amphitheatres, but by the time we got there I was running hot, and thought that sheltering under the trees by the entrance was more attractive. Anyway we didn't have a lot of time so Omar and I went for a wander while Titus kept an eye on the bikes. Italica Amphitheatre Then we joined the gridlock that was Seville. I was fuming at this point as my GPS was offering a route avoiding the city. It was generally all that I dislike about cities, heat and traffic, all to save 20 miles. We followed some pleasant enough roads towards Ronda and I was looking forward to a coffee or beer in the shade somewhere when I realised that we were heading towards the town centre. Great I thought - beer. Anyway I was wrong. We went down some cobbled goat path that led to a viewpoint of the bridge above the gorge where apparently people were thrown out of the door to their deaths. It was all that I could do to grab my hat and water and then shelter under a bush until it was time to move! Had it been cooler I'm sure that it would have been a wonderful place to visit. Ronda. The track that we came down was to the right out of shot. I enjoyed the ride down from Ronda to the coast, a tarmac ribbon of bends, bends and more bends. It would have been more fun with less traffic in cooler weather but I still enjoyed it really. It was beer on arrival and more tapas. It was very good of Carmel to put us up for three nights. Lots of beer consumed! Local poster that caught my eye.

It was in my body! When I used to join ships out in the Tropics it always used to take me about two weeks to acclimatise, and I'm older and more decrepit these days.

It's more about the piss poor service by the local stealer. Spent time yesterday complaining to the warranty people, who were sympathetic, and then transferred me to BMW UK complaints who were also onside and would have paid for the bike to be transported elsewhere for inspection. Anyway, it seems that all dealers are currently overwhelmed with work on recalls! I have a tracker fitted so noticed that the bike had been in the workshop all day today. Maybe the phone calls yesterday helped a bit. No idea what caused the problem yet, but I reckon a new Honda Transalp might be the solution!

No. It's a loooooong story.

Well it was for me. The other two are there now.

Today it was time to head for Portugal where Titus wanted to show us some stones. It was quite a pleasant ride through villages once we'd left the motorway. We found a campsite at Evora that was ok, it had internet, but the pitches left something to be desired. It was getting hot. Time for some laundry. Then it was time to look for stones. By the time we set off it was bloody baking. Interesting ride ending up along some dirt track. Then it was a hike down a footpath broiling in the sun, where we saw a stone. Great. After hiking up a mountain to get back to the bikes I was bushed! More water then another couple of miles to look at more stones. I thought that the mound of earth was for burying people who'd cooked for long enough. Lots of stones. I had a lie down on this one until I realised that I was cooking from it's heat. A new one for me. Bark taken for cork I assume. Then I thought it would be nice to photograph some flowers. I might have been hallucinating in the heat. It looks as if the bark has been taken off a lot of these trees. I remember this as being more colourful, man! This was the highlight of the day. Shade and beer! Unfortunately the food left something to be desired. All to be expected in the local football club bar.

The next day I realised why I'd heard a few sirens during the night. Hotel was opposite the fire station. Then it was south again, on the motorways. We stopped for coffee and fuel, and for Titus to look for insects. Another bit of motorway to Plasencia where I had read of an aqueduct that was supposed to be worth seeing. By the time that we got there my brain was nicely cooked so after grabbing some photos and slurping water it was back onto the motorway heading for Caceres where we were to camp for the night. We arrived, with my brain cooked a bit more, at the campsite and before even going to the pitch it was beer time. Back on the bikes and up to the pitch. All a bit strange having out own toilet and shower! A guy rocked up, barney who was a few pitches down from us. He was in the queue in Millay behind us. Small world. Anyway it was time for more beer and tapas so that was it for the night. A very pleasant evening after all the motorway riding.

My mate Titus and I had decided that as we weren't able to do a circumnavigation due to the odd conflict here and there that a trip to Dakar would have to do as a poor substitute. Beer was involved in arriving at this decision. On the morning of 16th March, in drizzle and 11degC, I set off for Plymouth where I was to meet Titus and his son Omar, who'd decided to come along for some father son bonding, and sharing his father's love of travel. Loaded up ready to leave. Sainsbury's Plymouth for breakfast, meet-up and fuel. Then on to Millbay for the ferry. It took an eternity to get through checkin as Omar, late to the party, had booked as a foot passenger, whilst Titus and I plus bikes were on another booking. Computer couldn't cope and there must have been about fifty people involved in sorting it out. Then it was the same again at the customs check. Nightmare. Then I got mugged in the bar. Just leaving Millbay.The bogs where I used to sleep when I missed the liberty boat back to the ship has long gone. I think it was about £6 for a Murphy's. I'd booked a cabin for the night as I knew I'd be knackered but the other two decided to sleep on the deck somewhere. Apparently not very well as they were knackered in the morning. Waiting to escape at Santander. Loads of bikes on there. Then it was on the bikes heading south for Palencia. A bit further than we'd liked to have done, but it was cheap. At one point Titus veered to the left then caught it and carried on pulling over for a coffee break - he'd fallen asleep. Bloody scary. Nice enough through the mountains but not what I'd have liked to have done. Needs must I suppose. Parked up for the night. We wandered off up the road to try and find beer and food and ended up in a small tapas bar. They weren't hungry having devoured about six chickens between them that they'd got in Sainsbury's.

Brilliant. I enjoyed that. Thanks!

Would only rev to 3k and it felt and sounded like on one cylinder. Much clutch slipping and first gear for the quarter mile home . Engine seemed very hot but fluids ok. Tried it again next day and had the second warning. When the recovery rocked up It was ok briefly before the first warning came up again and it wouldn’t rev, but I’d managed to ride it up onto the back of the truck by then. Good thing that I wasn’t in the middle of the Sahara. I bailed in Spain because of the heat! My mate and his son were in Atar, Mauritania last night. I’ll eventually get round to getting a ride (failed) report done!

Looking. They get the new Transalp in before the end of the month.

I’m somewhere in Portugal now, not far from where you went I think Pedro. In a place called Pinhel. Staying in a little village just up the road. Fantastic scenery and roads. Was going to Morocco and then Dakar, but realised that I begin to spontaneously combust when it approaches 30°C, so bailed out.

Great stuff agin Pedro. Thanks!

Must have been from the North Wales part of the line to Holyhead. Learnt something new. Had always thought that it was only GWR here in Wales.

Great read. Thanks.

Great read, thank you, and a great idea for a business venture. Good luck!

A great ride report Pedro. Thank you. All very inspiring, great photographs, and very brave of you to relive and share your grief here. Respect. Unfortunately it seems to have got me looking at bikes and maps. I keep fooling myself that I still have one long trip left in me! The aches and pains might disagree.

Yes. The messed up a front spindle for me at Bristol when I had the K12GT. Said that it was already knackered. I’ve not been there since. I can’t remember what I heard about M & P but know that it was negative. Maybe mechanics not having been on BMW training courses, that sort of thing.

I hope that they’ve done it! They’re supposed to. I’ll see in a few hours when I pick it up.

No. It was in Ryders Cardiff which closed. M & P have a dealership here now but I heard that they weren’t great. Cotswold Motorrad in Cheltenham or the place in Bristol were the two nearest dealers, and it’s a far more pleasant run to Cheltenham on a nice sunny day, and to date I have no complaints.

This morning I braved the elements and took my bike over to Cheltenham for its annual service and MOT. It also needed an inspection of the final drive, a recall warranty issue. My brain fade made me leave the motorway a junction early but it was a pleasant enough detour. Bike dropped off and given a BMW S1000XR courtesy bike. Fortunately the wind had been behind me heading east and the only place I noticed it was on the New Severn Bridge, so I had a bit of a shock when I realised how blowy it was. Plan was to take the A40 to Brecon and then A470 home. Diversions the other side of Gloucester so had to go through the Forest of Dean up to Monmouth. At some point I noticed some unsettling noises from the bike so I stopped for a look. Chain was pretty slack so I convinced myself that it was the problem and it would be ok! Getting off I painfully realised that the bike’s ergonomics didn’t suit me, nowhere near as comfortable as the GS. The seat wasn’t very comfortable, it’s sort of dished, and pushed me forward making my hips ache. You sort of sit in the bike - all a bit strange. A hell of a job getting off and took me a while to loosen up before walking about. Not good. The engine is a peach though. Revs to about 11k rpm and once past about 6k rpm it takes off dramatically. My arm sockets are still aching from hanging on. Drop down to 3rd or 4th gear at about 50mph, blast past three cars, glance down and shit myself when I see the speed. Brilliant brakes so easy enough to slow down. Had rain and strong winds over the Beacons so not the best of conditions to enjoy it, and because of the aches and weather issues, no photos. Ok. I forgot! Tomorrow I do it all over again.

I’d nominate Ren or at least his teeth if he can find some. At least he’s got a better bark than a bite, and he’s from Cardiff.