Skippy

Well my plans to get out today have been scuppered as the Mrs is feeling a wee bit shite. Heart palpitations due to the good old menopause. I’ll dig out my doctors outfit and make the best of a rubbish situation ???. Tomorrow beckons...........?

I’ll do my best mate ?

Well having been a good boy all week and done some administrative shit followed by general household bollocks I’m off out tomorrow and I don’t care if it’s windy, wet, cold or cloudy. Of course, it will be none of these, it will be warm and sunny. We’re still restricted to 120 sq miles but can’t complain so I’m off exploring the local dirt tracks.

Here you go folks, my poor effort.

I am a firm believer in that you can ride big distances on any bike as long as it can cruise at about 65 mph. Along with some mates we did a tour from the UK right across to the old east Germany, down through the Czech Republic, northern Italy and back home through France. 3000 miles in eight days. All on XR650’s and not a problem. Adjust your mindset and all is well. ?

The problem is that although it has a European Type Approval Number on the frame that same number doesn’t appear on the UK logbook and DVLA are not willing to issue a new logbook with it on. The ITV station here won’t accept it and carry out the relevant inspection until the logbook has the number on. Basically, the only way to do it is get an engineer’s report saying the bike is fine for import but that’s going to cost about 1,200 euros, plus all the Gestoria fees and the ITV inspection fee. It all adds up to more than the bike is worth! ?

I think I’ll be keeping the Himalayan for a while longer now; it’s great around here on both tarmac and trail at a sedate pace and oh-so-cheap to run. Once the TL is running properly I’ll have a bit of fun with it but in the end it’s got to go back to the UK as I just can’t get it onto Spanish plates due to the DVLA being less than helpful.

To be honest it’s absolutely fine at 100klm plus but of course at slower speeds and through towns it’s unpleasant for long periods. However, I can overlook that because I’m very shallow and easily impressed ? I tell you something, the seat is so much better than the monstrosity on the Himalayan ?

This is precisely why I bought the TL1000S over to Spain to give me an alternative biking experience to the Himalayan. There are times when all common sense needs to be ignored and you need to go with your heart. However, it’s not always plain sailing ?, it’s currently having its fueling sorted, the water pump completely overhauled, the front brake fixed and that’s before I start to sort out the compression on the rear! ............but it’s fucking mental to ride ???

Does forcing my wife to clean my wheels count or is that just top delegation? ?

Best ever laugh in British comedy ?

Great name.........Vic Flange ???

‘Kin ‘ell, I only mentioned fried egg crisps ???????

Proper stinking but once you get past that they are lovely ?

If you’re looking for unusual crisps how about these........fried egg flavour from the local supermarket. Open the packet and dive straight in. ?

The Brits have always been troublemakers ?

I do like a Brazilian ?

Yes mate but it just goes to show how volatile the situation is.

We’re restricted to the Mazarron municipality from tomorrow once again as the numbers across the Murcia region are rising sharply even though locally it’s not bad (yet). Can’t complain as within the 123sq miles there’s beaches, mountains, twisty tarmac and a good network of trails.......yeehar! ???????

Let me see if I can find some photos of the local knocking shop, mind you, I’ll bet he’s even been there. ???

Small world mate ??

Fuck em, they’re ugly looking things close up, unless of course you come from Wales where beauty is in the eye of the beholder ??

That’s the one mate, great ride up to the top and just got back down to the campsite at Salbertrand before the heavens opened.

Saving up for a very special day ??