Why do I carry so much stuff?

Everyone asks why I carry so much stuff, especially tools.  Why carry tools when the AA or RAC is just a phone call away?   Indeed, I am a member of the RAC and I have European cover.   However, when I have called out the recovery service in the past they have taken between 5 hours and 6 hours to turn up.   In 6 hours I can take the bike apart and rebuild it.   So as long as it is fixable then I might as well fix it.   Especially if I am in the middle of nowhere.    

But those tools are also useful for fixing other people’s bikes...............

My tool roll.   

My tools being used 

Guess where I am heading!

On board

It’s like being the captain.   

Wind windy wet and windy

Made it to the port ahead of time.  But the wind was head on and tough.   I normally plan to arrive at the ferry with just a quarter of a tank.   They aggressively strap bikes down on the ferry so I like to minimise he stress on the side stand.  Plus that gives me enough fuel to find a station the other side.    But with the head on wind I was burning fuel really fast.   Hit Bingo halfway across the island and I an’t no Joker., so stopped for a refill.  

Went straight to the caffe for a hot coffee to be immediately greeted by a women with a big tray of crisps asking me to sample them.   I had my helmet on,  earplugs in, gloves on and dripping wet.   I said I needed a coffee first and she tenaciously followed me to the serving desk.   Ironically she is from Colchester, near where I grew up. 

Now waiting to board.  

   

Never go on a motorbike trip with me, it always rains

After amazing gluten free fish and chips last night in Oriel Hotel and Spa restaurant at breakfast   I was presented with the most disappointing kipper I have ever had.  It was if the cook had put it under the grill and decided to go out for a quick cigarette, then was distracted by the thought of it raining all day and had a second.   And then why not, another cigarette for luck, we’ll it was the last one in the pack.  So this shrivelled thing was presented to me  by the cheerfully smiling waitress as though this was a wonderful  delicacy  to serve at breakfast.    I suppose it could be the speciality of the house, but it was not listed under any section that referred to Burnt Offerings.   

Rain, rain, rain.   So the decision to get close to Holyhead yesterday was the correct one.   It would have been a tough morning riding through snowdonia racing to the ferry in this rain.   At least I can dilly-dally to my hart’s content this morning until the hotel throws me out.  

This is where I am and where I am going.  

Off to Ireland

So an end of season ride to Ireland. 

I was promised excellent trail riding at the beginning of October in Southen Ireland (eh Tim!), looking at the weather forecast it's going to be interesting.

Had a slow start this morning, just dilly-dallying, which was surprising as I had packed everything the night before.   Even had new tires fitted last week.   But my 09:00 push back slipped to 10:00 and off I went.

Hey, hey, witch way? (for those that remember the old board game, so the spelling is correct).  Looking at the weather forecast, and the sky as I left London, it looked like it could get bad.  So which way to go? So the decision was made to blast to South Wales and head up from there, at least if id did turn bad I would be closer to Holyhead.   So, lots of boring motorway as you will see from the map.

After the briefest of moments of sunshine, I was being blasted by the crosswinds on the Seven Bridge and dropped down to 50mph to stop being thrown into the next lane.  The wind stayed blustery on the way up to Abergavenny and I was in two minds if I should tackle the Gospel Pass, the highest pass in Wales at 550m.   It sort of goes from Abergavenny to Hey-on-Wye, the long and roundabout way and a way you would only really go if you had too much time on your hands.  But there were some breaks in the clouds and sun was poking through in places.   So, why not, how bad could it be.   Pulling off the main road and heading towards the pass the road became interesting.   The previous day's heavy rain had left the road covered in slippery mud and leaves, combined with it being single track kept me alert and focused.

After a few miles, I left the forest and the landscape opened up into rolling hills with sheep grazing everywhere.    Views were spectacular so I stopped off for a spot of lunch and a photo.   I had both food and a tripod for the camera.

Checking on Mapsme to see where I was  I discovered I was in rather an appropriate spot to stop.

Setting off it soon became apparent that these sheep were going to get quite annoying, but the views were really cool.

On reaching Hay-on Wye another decision had to be made, the fast way or the slow way.  I had planned to traverse a few other passes on the way up, but the weather still looked iffy, so I decided to select the fastest route on the Satnav and blast towards Holyhead.      I have never really been around Angelsea so I thought to find a place there to stay.  However, approaching Colwyn Bay the rain started and I could see a mist on the road ahead.   The iPhone was turned on and Booking.com loaded up.  Just 3 miles away was a Hotel Spa with an excellent room discount and including full English breakfast.    With the utmost Turnbull efficiency I turned up at the Hotel before the Hotel knew that I even existed,  so I had to wait around for the booking to come through.   As compensation, I was upgraded to a suite, me in all my muddy biker gear soaking wet.   

Food was needed so after a bathe in a bath you could fit a very friendly netball team in I went to the restaurant to be served the very best gluten-free fish and chips I have ever had.   Which is where I am now writing this blog.

Tomorrow its 2 hours to Holyhead.  So the amount of dilly-dallying will depend on the weather and how good the full English breakfast is.

Ferry at 14:00, assuming no delays due to bad weather.

Riding the Dades Gorge - Morocco

Rain, Rain, Rain............

Well, I was welcomed at Portsmouth with Rain.   So I end my journey as I started, in the rain.

It has been a great trip, mainly because of the problems and weather, it is the adversity that that always appears to make a trip more memorable.

The bike performed amazingly well and I love it.

Here are a few more photos from the trip.

Now on ferry : eventful!!!!!!!

Arrived ferry port but missed the turn off in the port for the car loading.    Went on and could see the road back, but the roundabout was bollared off.    No stress I thought, I will go through the bollards turn and through another set and head to join the road.    So through I go, see a couple of lorries on the road so stay looking at them as I approach the road they go by and I accelerate............ into a concrete drainage ditch!  Front wheel goes in and down and I think the only thing to do is accelerate, so I do.   Front wheel goes up the other side as the back wheel goes down CRUNCH as the engine crash guard hits the top on the way out......... instantly apply more power and the back wheel drives the bike out................  oh what fun.   Now I know why there were all those bollards.   It was not a roundabout it was something else.   This bike is just great, it recovers from all my incompantcies.  

I have learnt that if I have a problem, don’t touch the brakes, add power.    Momentum is my friend.   

Now on the ferry and ready for breakfast number 2.   

Health & Safety In Castro Urdiales is something to be desired

And they are not safety ropes, it’s a washing line.  

Castro Urdiales is a nice costal town packed solid with bars and restaurants.   But I guess they do not get many English speakers as it is quite difficult ordering things.   Giggle translate is doing a great job.  

I hate the wind......... and cold.......

But I love my heated jacket.  

So I made it to Castro Urdiales, road for 12 hours.   It was windy and very cold.   I could have broken the journey over 2 nights but I thought better to have one day of hurt rather than 2.   So I am now in a nice hotel and tomorrow will be a day of rest.   I arrived late, so have not seen much of the town, but it looks quite nice.  I will take some photos tomorrow.   

I also need to re-fix my windscreen.  It is presently held on with a rubber bungee.  Guess the washboard and high winds undid my temp fix.   But other than that the bike has performed very well.   

Sunny, but cold

It was a big relief to see it was not raining this morning.  It had rained during night and my sheepskin seat cover was soaked.   

Although it started a bit misty it soon cleared.    But I am writing this at 12:30 and I still have my winter gloves and thermal jack liner on.   

Onward North we go.   

And yes, it started to rain

Stopping half way up the mountains to put on water proofs

Great views

Tomorrow is a big push to get as far North as I can to try to get above this weather.      

Ferry is Tuesday morning so going to find somewhere near Bilbao Monday as I need to be at the port for 8:30am Tuesday.  

Castro-Urdiales has been recommended as a good place to stay.   Not sure I will make it in one go, susspect I will get there Monday afternoon, but let’s see.  

I am thinking that tomorrow I will probable just get past Salamanca.  At the moment I am in Algodonales.  

Gibraltar and Morocco in the distance.

We filled up in Los Angeles 

Setting off back through spain

Up through the Sierra Bermeja and Serrania De Ronda

The route to Tangier Med Port

The sun did not last and soon we were in the rain and cold wind as we approached the Rif Mountains.   It was just horrible.    At breakfast the route was discussed and it was clear there would probably be rain.   So, annoyingly,  after about 1 hour on the road half the group pulled over to put on waterproofs.    Don’t know why they did not do this in the hotel as we expected it to rain.   But no, we pull over, they unpack their gear, get their waterproofs, put them on, which is far easier to do in the dry without the wind blowing a gale, and off they go.   Except myself and a few others just blasted on, as this was just another annoying think on top of others.   

Every evening the organisers tell us to check out tyres as there is all sorts of rubbish on the roads.  I do this dutifully, as well as a general bike check and a check on the chain tension.   So, yes, even more annoyingly when we pull over for fuel one chap has a very flat tyre.   We check it for nails and see none.   John of Wildcat recommends putting a new inner tube in it, especially as we are at a service station with a cafe, but no, the chap is happy to pump it up and carry on.   Supprisingly we all make it to the port.  The chap with the tyre with a slow leak did keep stopping at service stations to pump it up.   Think I would have fixed the leak rather than relying on luck to not brake down in the middle of nowhere.  

It was so nice as we crossed over to the North side of the mountains, blue skies and a tiny bit of warmth from the sun.  

After an unscheduled fuel stop on the motorway we make it to the port. 

Lots of the confusion at the port, as you would expect in Morocco.   

First of all, even though we had tickets, you need to queue up to get them validated.   As soon as you park up men come running over asking for your tickets and passport.  These are not officials, they are trying it on.    They pretend it’s all a rush and you quickly need to give them you documents so they can rush you through.    Apparently what happens is they do this for you but charge you money for doing it.   We just joined the queue and got the tickets stamped and on we road to passport control.   This was nice and quick. Amusingly I did not even have to remove my crash helmet, nor did I have to remove my sunglasses.   It could have been anyone...........

Next was customs.   On arrival customs gives you an import ticket for your bike, you show them this ticket when you leave Morocco and they stamp and sign it.  The ticket contains info about you and your bike, so they check who you are, In my case shouting out “Iron” I assumed that was me.  Then they check the number plate.  All good for me, however for Nick they had it in there computer system that his bike was a car!

Then we go on our way to the dock to board.   I follow the signs for the Algeciras ferry and I enter a parking area.   I am told that I am in the wrong bay and I should go to the next one.  I ride on, I am at the front of our group now and follow the sign to the Algeciras ferry.  Yes, you guessed it.  Not this one!   There are signs for the Algeciras ferry everywhere.   But we made it and I am on the ferry now as I type waiting to pick up a Spanish mobile carrier.  

My ferry back to Portsmouth is on Tuesday morning, arriving in the UK Wednesday.    So I will have a bit of a sleep in tomorrow before taking a nice ride back up through Spain.   I am just hoping there is nice weather in Spain now.   

Not raining this morning :-)

06:45 and about to set off for the ferry back to Spain.   

Let’s hope it stays dry and windless 

Donkey Delivery

The lanes are so steep and narrow they use donkeys for local deliveries.   

Now drinking tea in our hotel

Another back street hotel, but a far nicer backstreet this time.   We are in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. 

It was a tough day due to the cold, rain, wind and fog.  

I think I will need to go to the dentist when I get back after drinking all this sweet mint tea  

After a nice lunch in Ifran we prepare to do battle with the weather

But some are not that enthusiastic to go out side in the cold again 

This weather is nuts

Yesterday was 35C, today it’s 5C. 

We have to stop to put on our thermal liners and I plugged in my heated gloves. 

A bit of a back street hotel last night

Setting off now, rain forecast. At least the bike will get a clean.  

What a tough day, again

Really high winds coming off the Sahara throwing dust everywhere.   Temp got up to 35C today as well.  

When I reached the main road they had decided to resurface it, so the is basically the equivalent of a single carriage A road in the UK with the surface removed from both sides for about 10miles.  Can you imagine if they did this in the UK?

The high winds going over the twisty mountain roads had me almost at a standstill at times.   I would fly round a bend to be hit by a wall of wind that would just kill my speed.  I doubt the 2 foot safety wall would have prevented me from flying over the edge into the valley below, so it was all very interesting to say the least.  

Arriving in Zeida reminded me of Driving in India with things coming at you randomly from various directions.  

Having a nice mint tea now.    I asked the hotel about alcohol and there is a shop that sells it, 5km away.   At least it’s better than the hotel last night, the nearest shop that sold alcohol was 45km away.   Needless to say there were no volunteers to make a beer run last night.