Day 14 - Gibraltar.. home from home

Just 5 miles to go across the border from Spain into Gibraltar and on to my apartment.  Take my time this morning... well I do have all day.  Decide to clean the chalky water splash marks off the bike before I go so end up leaving about 12.30ish.

It's another glorious day and before I know it am parking up outside the apartment building.  I've forgotten to bring the keys to the apartment, but luckily Jill and John, who look after it for us, have the spare set... whew!

So what's the verdict?

A great ride... shame about the weather the first week... pretty wet... think it is the wettest tour I have had so far.

So here is the usual breakdown:

Countries Visited

England x 1
France x 1
Andorra x 1
Spain x 1
Gibraltar x 1

Total distance travelled - 2170.5 miles

Costs:

Ferry - £144 (one way) including cabin

Accommodation - £426.39  average £35.53 per night

Food - £178.67 average £13.74 per day an odd coffee I didn't get a receipt for so really £15 per day

Fuel - £228.41 average £16.32

Toll Roads - £26.80

Shopping - myob still



Best ride
France - from Condom to Massat.. lots of twistys on the way, shame I didn't put the camera on.

Worst ride
Spain - back route from Torrevieja to Murcia

Best HD Dealership
All were good, except...

Worst HD Dealership
Cadiz... sooooo expensive with Granada a close second

Best Hotel
Tactica by C&R, Valencia, Spain of course... I mean a €98 room for €36 what do you expect?

Worst Hotel
Eden Mar, Guardamar del Segura, Spain - Ugh!

Favourite Country Visited
Gibraltar, but I'm biased

Least Favourite Country Visited
Andorra, but mainly because of the weather, not being able to find the hotel and standing in dog shit

What I Would Do Again
Still travel on Brittany ferries... so good.
Ride in France

What I Wouldn't Do Again
If I go to another HOG European rally I won't stay for such a long time... although it turned out great in the end, so mmmm have to think about this one.

What to Remember for the Next Trip
Update the Garmin Maps
Bracket for the GoPro mount
Check toolkit is complete
Switch the bloody GoPro on for the good bits

I understand lots of people had a problem leaving comments, including my partner, its seems Blogger, as part of Google, requires an account to leave comments... if you wanted to leave a comment and couldn't please do send it to me by email and I will upload it.  Will look into moving the blog elsewhere next time.


See ya!

Day 13 - Scorcher!

Struggle to get up this morning after the late night.... Get downstairs to start packing up the bike only to find that one of the other bikers staying here has decided to wash his bike down with a hose... He doesn't bother to move his bike, which is parked next to mine and sprays water all over the bike I spent hours cleaning yesterday!! She is now full of chalky water splashes... Inconsiderate b@&£#%} and then to add insult to injury, when I remark on it, he offers me a rag to clean the bike myself..... Fume fume.

Time is marching on and I don't think I'll make it to meet up with Elaine, Alex and Jimmy for the ride.  Elaine texts me a few times to let me know what is happening so I do my very best to get everything done... Fit windscreen, tool roll, air seat pad, panniers etc etc. at last I'm leaving at about 10.20... The ride is due to leave at 10.30, but they never go on time so still try to make it.  For the first time the satnav doesn't get lost... I arrive at the rally site, but no-one is there.  Text from E says they are at the camp site.... Err where? Then I spot a biker talking to one of the event people who seems to be giving directions.... Follow that bike methinks.  Yep he obviously knows where he's going and pretty soon there are 5 or 6 of us following him.

Manage to make it and catch the tail end of the parade.  Slowly make my way through the bikes, remembering to switch on the gopro... Film here soon, when I've edited it.

Ride with an Irish chapter group for a few miles, then continue to thread my way through looking for the Scots.  At last I find them and continue with them for the rest of the ride.  After some 50 miles we end up in Jerez de la Frontera and pull up in a lovely cobbled street.  Everyone is boiling hot and desperate for a drink so we sit in a small cafe.  We seem to have lost Jimmy in the last few miles and it turns out he is in a different part of Jerez.

Now it's time to say our goodbyes.  It has been great and thanks to you all for allowing me into your company,  I hope we will all meet again soon, maybe at Thunder in the Glens or Irish Bike Week... Who knows?

So I set the satnav for La Linea, the last stop on my journey before Gibraltar.  It is sooooo hot and incredibly windy riding through the hills from Jerez to La Linea... Not only was the parade a scorcher on my leg.. again... But the air itself is scorching too this afternoon.  I stop for petrol and some water and the phone packs up... It says it's overheating and needs to cool down...eek!  It does revive after a few miles, so I don't get lost, for a nice change.

Arrive at the hotel, which is very nice.  It has a small outdoor pool so the first thing I do is go for a swim... Lovely jubbly.

Into Gib tomorrow and the end of the journey...

Sad but glad as will see Glo on Monday... Am looking forward to it.

Ciao Bella xx

Day 12 - Braw Hoggies frae Bonnie Scotland

Get up and decide, what the hell... I will put the bike into the custom show, at least it's something to do.  I give her a quick clean up... Rid the wildlife off the front at least, then make my way to the rally site.  Lost again... I'm not even going to talk about it cos it's just grrrrrrrrrrr......!

Arrive at the site, park up and go look for some info about the show.  I ask in the HOG information tent, but the woman doesn't know so wait for her to wander off and find someone to help.  There does seem to be a few more people here today, but nothing like the usual number... Strange.  Eventually she comes back with a bloke who looks about 11 in tow, he tells me where I need to be, so off I trot.

I need to bring the bike to them and then they will fill in the paperwork.  As I pull up on the bike, a woman shrieks, 'that's my bike' omg people will think I've pinched it!  It seems Zoe used to own my bike and she is delighted that I am putting it in the show.  She thinks it should win, biased or what, and is very appreciative of the few touches I have added.  She is actually lovely and helps to lift my spirits.

I park the bike in the 'Ladies of Harley' category, I'm the only one so far, and proceed to polish the chrome. It is baking hot and the show is in a bright white amphitheater, it's absolutely roasting. 

 As people pass by, they make appreciative noises and some even take photos, good boys.  Suddenly I am joined by another bike... I recognise that v-rod... Blimey it's Elaine from Scotland, we met in Portugal, (see 2012 for details). 

I immediately say hello and ask if she remembers me... She does... How lovely to meet up with her again.  Then along comes hubby, who says straight away, you've lost weight, to which Elaine says,... I was gonna say the same but didnae want to.  I explain that I've had an op and it seems so has their mate, Jimmy, who I also met in Portugal, he's lost about 10 stones too. Anyway they wander off and I continue to polish the bike.  Once I'm satisfied with it I'm feeling dehydrated and need a drink so make my way towards the HOG terrace.  I can't really afford the buffet today, but I see another buffet has opened up at €15 a go so I have a look in and it seems good. Only 1 drink included and no barbecue, but again is in the shade and I do have 6 hours to kill.

Finish lunch and am heading back to the bike when I bump into Lynn, (Italy 2010) and Derna... small world or what!  Lovely to see them.

After checking the bike I walk back towards the HOG Terrace and past it to the smaller bars and cafes on the quayside.  Stop at one for a drink as the view is nice.  After waiting ages for a waiter I go into the bar to order an orange juice... No juice... Ok water then :-( what about the wifi... No wifi :-(( ok I get my water and sit in the shaded area on the quayside.  The bill comes, €1, not bad... I've only got a €2 coin so turn to my neighbour behind me to ask if they can change it for me.... Woah! It's only Alex and Jimmy, two of the scots... We start chatting and soon we are joined by Elaine.  They are such lovely people and I feel so comfortable with them.  They are like me, ordinary folk who love their bikes and touring, we get on really well.  

Of course Elaine and I are rivals in the bike show and to be honest I think she should win it, her bike is so good and unusual as its a v-rod.  However, E tells me about this other bike that always wins.. The story goes that Steven Tyler from a band called Aerosmith had this very bike built for his wife and then when they divorced took it back and sold it. This couple from Spain then bought it and have been touting it round the shows ever since.  Of course with that kind of provenance it wins all the time, but I have to say I think it's horrible... It has diamanté rhinestones, pink ones, stuck all over it FFS... Yuck!!! Seriously yuck!!!

That's it... next to mine.

There is a fourth bike in the category, it's quite nice, but still not my taste.  I'm still convinced E will win.

We spend the rest of the afternoon together, killing time til the results of the show.  Alex has got his bike in it too... That's a seriously lovely bike, the detail is fantastic, I especially love the leather work.  He likes to surprise people when they are looking at the bike... It has remote control air suspension so without warning will suddenly rise upwards confusing onlookers as they don't know Alex has the remote.

The results are in... Alex gets 2nd place behind a Lithuanian trailered bike (a bike that has been brought in not ridden), diamanté Doris wins the Ladies of Harley Category and we go over to see who has got second place.  Elaine feels sure it will be the other Spanish bike, whilst I think it will be her.  I am truly gobsmacked because my bike has got second place!  Elaine, Alex and Jimmy couldn't be more delighted for me... What lovely people they are.  

I have to ride it up a ramp onto a platform to receive my prize and a photo with Bill Davidson... Err who?  One of the Davidson family, but not sure which one.  

The MC then announces me as the winner... Christina from Espania.. Um no Ireland, second place, Padraigin... He obviously can't face trying to say my name so just shouts Ireland a few times.  Bill shows me my trophy and says I can collect it later, then it's all over.  I am so made up... What a fantastic day I've had.. Such good company too.  Thanks to Elaine for taking the photos for me... If I hadn't bumped into them today I wouldn't have a record of it so it must be fate.

Back to the hotel... Lost again... Quick shower and change then out to meet up with the guys for a drink.  Met up in a small bar, very busy with mostly local people. Later on there's a live group performing with lots of clapping and very loud singing, but it's great to see young spaniards really enjoying traditional music.  

Late back to hotel... Plan to meet up with the guys in the morning for the traditional bike parade... Um better do my packing now then. Yawn, am so tired.... Zzzzz

Day 11 - Where be them Hoggies?

Arrived at the site about 10am... A bit late really so was expecting a ginormous queue for the wrist bands and rally packs.  That's odd... There's not very many bikes here... Usually there are several hundred the first day, if not more... Where is everyone???

The queue is short so am swiftly through the process and have my wristband; now to get my rally pack... No queue at all... This is weird!

Have a wander down to the market place... Dead... 

Into a tent where they will stitch on your rally patch, just €5, well she said 5 and he, (the guy doing the sewing), says 7... A short interaction in French ensues, (they are from France and at every rally), so am not sure how much it will be.  While I'm waiting I pick up a keyring that hooks onto your pocket... Niiiiice.   In the end the sewing costs €5 so obviously she won the altercation.  Look around the rest of the stalls... Not as many as usual, but they all sell the same tut anyway... Millions of tee shirts, waistcoats, jeans, gloves, leather bags etc etc. mostly black; since losing the weight am trying to introduce colour into my wardrobe, nothing here for me really.

Think I'll get something to drink and maybe some lunch... There is a terrace at the hotel reserved for HOG members, (that's Harley Owners Group btw), and I make my way there.  It is absolutely empty, not a soul... This is spooky... They have a buffet so I have a look in, it's €30, which is a bit pricey but seems very nice and includes a barbecue and 2 drinks.  The terrace is in the shade and I think it's a good place to plot up for a while, so hang the expense, I'll treat myself.

I'm the only customer, then about half an hour later a group of Italians appear and shortly after a group of 4 event staff... That's it!  The food and service is impeccable, but what a waste.... They must be fuming.

I spend about 2 hours there, very relaxing.  Time to make a move.  Wander down to the market area again, still don't buy anything.  Usually the stalls are cheaper than the shops, so I have a look in HD Cadiz' tent; nope same price as the shop, they do have some old rally tees for sale at €15 a pop, but who wants a tee from a rally you haven't been to?

Still very few people here so decide to make my way back to the hotel... Get lost again, this is getting old.

Have to admit am feeling down today, there's zero atmosphere at the rally and am left wondering why I'm here.  Yes I love the riding and visiting different countries, but the rally is just an excuse, a destination so why oh why am I staying here for 4 days???  If it wasn't for having to eat and find accommodation I wouldn't speak to anyone, so am feeling a bit lonely. (Except Glo if course, we speak everyday on facetime, which is really great... The wonders of modern technology).  I don't know if I can even be bothered to enter the bike into the custom show tomorrow.... See how I feel in the morning.

Nite nite :-(

Day 10 - Roasted leg anyone?

The plan today is to take it a bit easy...

First thing, after breakfast,  ride over to Puerto Santa Maria where the Cadiz HD shop is based; Puerto Sherry is just a few miles from there.  OMFG the phone routes me onto the A4 nowhere to turn round for 10 miles road again grrrrrrrr, that's another unnecessary 20 miles!

Eventually arrive at HD. Nice shop but very expensive... No way I'm paying €78 for a tee shirt.

Next plan is to find a garage near to a cafe so I can have a coffee while the bike cools down then into the garage to give her a wash.  No such luck as now it's time to get lost and worse than that it's really hot today so am wearing shorts.  My right leg is being slow roasted by the engine and exhaust pipes... It is very painful... I must get out of here.  I tell the phone to route me back to my hotel, but it's still playing up so it takes ages to get out of the town centre, more leg anyone?

Once back at the hotel I take some time to cool down, both temper and temperature wise.  I check on my phone for the nearest garage and there is one just 1.2 miles away... Must make sure not to turn onto the A4 again!!

Find the garage no prob... Give the bike a quick jet wash, buy some water and head back to the hotel.

It's now 2pm... Guess I'd better eat.. There are some nice cafés at the rally site so decide to ride over.  The first café doesn't have anything I want so try another one.  They are only serving drinks and ice cream so have a coffee and 2 boules of ice cream, which make me feel sick... One of the downsides to the op... You think I would know better by now.

Here is Puerto Sherry before the invasion tomorrow...

Spend about 2 hours there then promptly get lost again... Seriously!!

I actually end up at MacDonalds... I just cannot face another trial to get some decent food.

Finally get back to the hotel about 7.30 and am really knackered, so sorry no BSL for yesterday and today.

Must up early to go to the rally site and pick up my prepaid rally goodies... Oh I'll also have a good look around the market stalls and other tents as the rally starts tomorrow.

Ciao

Day 9 - Sweet Sherry

This morning I finally fixed the wonky indicator... to a full gallery of spaniards enjoying their churros and cafe con leche; the news on the telly didn't get a look in!  I also gave her a quick wipe over, mostly to cut down on the cleaning later, but also thought the audience deserved an encore.

Left at 11.20 to go to Granada HD... The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day with just a few cotton wool clouds in the sky.  

Not a very eventful ride there, was worried I wouldn't make it, but arrived at 12.45. I needn't of bothered, absolutely nothing there worth the trip although the staff were extremely friendly even with the language barrier.  The woman in charge of clothing etc. obviously does not know me and decided that I needed to be incentivised to buy something... 30% off except hats and tees at 15%. I tried very hard to find something to buy, but actually left empty handed believe it or not.

The only photo I took in Granada;

It's 2pm now, so where to go next is the thing... I could go to Seville, there's a HD shop there; or visit Cõrdoba, never been there; or down to Metril, that's only 45 miles away on the coast so could ride along past Malaga to Estepona and turn right to cross country to Cadiz, would probably find that elusive enclave.  Oh decisions, decisions.... I can be the worlds worst procrastinator if I don't have a deadline or some other compelling factor.  OK, the call of the sea is too strong, down to the coast it is...

The wonderful satnav on my iPhone, which has performed almost flawlessly the whole trip, decides to throw a hissy today.  It took me an hour to escape from Granada... Round and round... After the third time past the HD shop I give up and head west, but not Cõrdoba, too far out of the way.  So either Seville or stop overnight on the way to Cadiz... well I don't have to make a decision just yet... ;-)

As I ride I decide to decide at 5pm... See how far I get by then methinks.  Start getting bum ache about 4.30, but stick to the plan and at around 5.10 turn off to take a break and decide.  The turn off is to a place called Olvera, high up in the mountains.  It seems pretty ordinary as I pull into the car park of a closed restaurant.  Have a little walk about to ease the bottom and then consult the satnav.  It's about 65 miles to Seville and 75 to my hotel in Puerto Real, Cadiz. Or, I could just find a hotel near here, after all I have already ridden 160 miles today... The bum says stay here so I check the ever faithful booking.com... It can't find my position!  Ok.... Let's check if I can get an extra night in Puerto Real?  Yes I can, so it seems fate has intervened and before I can debate it I've pressed book.

Back onto the bike, which routes me into the town... It's absolutely delightful, all cobbled streets and white houses, very Mediterranean.  It seems quite unusual for Spain as most of the interior seems very ochre... That sort of mustardy/biscuit colour that almost all the older buildings are.  Maybe it's the portugeuse influence as it is very near to the border.  Anyway here are some pics..

Actually I notice that there are a number of white villages nestling in the mountains so it seems to be very much the way here.  

On the way down there are of course the ubiquitous olive trees marching up and down the slopes,

 but suddenly I come upon fields of sunflowers with their faces gazing up to the sun, probably like me, drinking it in before the next deluge.

Am getting very tired now and with 50 or so miles to go change the route to fast hoping I will get there sooner.  End up on a fast road, which is good and before long am being routed into Puerto Real.  No sooner has it routed me in than it routes me out again back onto the road I came down on, WTF! I am now stuck on the A4 for the next 10 miles as there is nowhere to get off $€%#~**. I have no idea what is happening with this satnav today, it must be the heat.  

Eventually arrive at the hotel... not very impressed I have to say.  I'm equally unimpressed with the hotel... it and the surrounding area looks quite rough.  There's no one in reception so go into the bar/restaurant with the same name next door.  The woman behind the bar doesnt speak any english and, as we all know, my spanish is bloody awful, but we do manage to communicate... sort of.  She, of course, is not expecting me until tomorrow so I am trying to explain that I am a day early, but have booked the extra night through booking.com.

She takes me over to the hotel side... it seems ok apart from no lift.  The room is a good size with a settee, double bed and a full size fridge.  I have 2 juliet balconies overlooking the car park and my bike is parked right under my window so am happy with that.

I unpack the bike, dump my stuff and ride over to Puerto Sherry where the HOG rally is going to take place, starting on Thursday.  It's about 8 miles from the hotel, I hadn't realised that when I booked, but nevermind.

at last I get to chill by the sea...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Day 8 - Luvverly Lluvia

Despite planning a day off I am up fairly early.  Into the shower... err yuck! Black mould in the jets of the shower head and on the ceiling.... Legionnaires anyone?  This is deffo the worst hotel this trip, so far.

Left around 11 looking for the coast road.  Nothing doing so join the main road and head towards Cartegena.  Here is a short clip of me on the bike in the glorious sunshine on the road to Torrevieja...  well there will be when I can get it to upload to you tube!

Hurrah!

Torrevieja is just holiday home hell... for me anyway... no I have to get out of here!  Think I'll  give up on the day at the beach, I'll go shopping instead!  Plot a route to Murcia Harley Davidson and no sooner am I off the main road than it routes me up the allotments again;

This road is bloody terrible, its like riding on a washboard; I've no idea why it is routing this way, I even set it for fastest time, (but avoiding tolls).

film... at some point

At last a smooth road, thought I was going to be on that all the way to Murcia.

Arrive at the shop, it's shut of course... closed at 2pm, it's now 2.30, and doesn't open again until 5!  It is soooo hot, I sit in the shade to let the bike cool down a bit.  Suddenly a bloke comes out of the Harley shop... ooooo maybe he'll let me in.  No such luck, he nods approvingly at the bike and walks off.  I think I might as well sort that wobbly indicator out, so strip the saddlebag off on that side as I will have to loosen the mudguard bracket... oh no, I don't have a ratchet with me; I've got the allen key sockets but no rachet to put them on... that means I can't get the bracket off.  It's no good I'll have to buy one.. I mean how hard can it be??

I make my way back to the main road and head towards Cartegena hoping to spot a tool shop or a Carrefour... yay, theres a big poster for Carrefour that says it just 12 minutes further on.  Great.  Unfortunately they dont have the size I need, so will have to try elsewhere.

Where next?  Well, I'm not having much luck with my plans today so guess I'll get on the road towards Cadiz...next stop Granada or perhaps before as it's about 150 miles, but I'm definitely going to get to the HD shop there in the morning!

Back on the bike and start going up into the mountains again.  It now begins to get cooler and there are some very dark clouds on the horizon.. oh oh.

I stop to get petrol and put my jacket on as it is certainly too cold to ride in a tee.  Just after a place called Lorca it starts to rain so as soon as I can I pull off to put the wetgear on.  I stop outside a restaurant and decide I should eat something as it is now 4.30pm and I haven't had anything yet.  Before I can get what I want from the bike it begins to lash it down, so get wet again.  I hoped the sun would return before I get back on the road, but no such luck.  The rain has eased off a lot, but still need the romper suit.  Whilst in the restaurant I book my overnight accommodation in a place called Baza, it's about 60 miles away from Granada so that's ok.  Its another Hostel, which I have since found out is the equivalent of a guesthouse and not the same as a hostel in the UK... no dorms.

As I approach Baza the sun comes out so hopefully it bodes well for tomorrow.  Yet again booking.com has come up trumps.. lovely helpful woman in reception who tells me they have a garage for the bike.  It is round the back and a typical house lock-up, but my bike is the only thing in there - apart from an exercise bike - and she gives me the key.  The room is good, there is a small fridge with a free bottle of water; a full litre no less.  The receptionist told me its free so I'll take it with me tomorrow.  Have checked the shower and, whilst it's not spotless, it's certainly miles better than the one this morning.. last nights offering from booking.com was obviously an abherration.

There is a multi tut shop across the street so I have a quick look to see if they have got a ratchet... they do but it comes with a  load of sockets I don't want and is more than a bit crappy, but it will do the job, probably in the morning.


See you tomorrow.....

p.s. Lluvia - rain in Spanish.