Review ... Photos, Videos.

Me and my GS on the Costa Morte (Coast of Death), Galicia

San Adrian, Costa Morte, Galicia

Lindsay with his new V-Strom 650

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The Ride Route we took during the 2 weeks !

1. Santander to Potes via the Picos

2. Potes to Ponferrada
3. Ponferrada to Coastal Campsite past Pontevedra
4. Pontevedra to Santiago de Compastela
5. Ride around Santiago out to Fisterre and San Adrian
6. Santiago to Porto via Baiona
7. Porto to Lamego on the Douro valley
8. Lamego to Salamanca
9. Salamanca to Segovia.
10. Ride around Segovia, Valley of the Fallen and Sierra de Guadarrama.
11. Segovia to San Vicente de la Barquera via the Picos.
12. San Vicente to Santander.

Ride Videos

(best viewed in YouTube set to HD720p with Audio).

Riding Spain & Portugal, 15 minute review (turn the music up !!)

Naranja, I said "NARANJA" !! Ok then... "FANTA" !

Blogging again !

Let's go to Potes for a swim

Back a few days now, what a great trip, really enjoyed the whole experience and Lindsay's company too. Spain and Portugal are quite different countries despite being part of the same 'Iberian' Peninsula. There were many high points - the ride through the Picos, Porto, Segovia, the ride in the Sierra de Guadarrama on the Friday. 

Pre-Selfie Stick

Selfie Stick Try-Out - It Works! It Works !

Speak up, I can't here you, don't drop that bloody camera !!

Nahh .... Left not Right !!

Some of the amazing diverse scenery we saw - too many to mention.

Go Pro !

Very few low points - me losing a tooth (crown) on the first day, and sunglasses on the last day!

Down .. here...!

My airbed developing a puncture and Lindsay, well 'er getting caught short with a bit of Spanish belly in Ourense (you need quick release trousers mate), but these were just minor lows that didn't spoil a great fortnight. Approx' 2000 miles in total.

Cooling off ! (But ... can get my trousers down all in good time - LOL)

The bikes were faultless, hats off to BMW and Suzuki, even in 43.5 degree heat they both used very little oil despite being ridden quite hard fully loaded at times.
Camping was fun, as long as we got a pitch in the shade, and avoided the sun when making and tearing down camp in the evening and the mornings.The campsites were of good quality, amazingly the ones nearer the towns were were a bit more run down but acceptable, and the smaller ones e,g. Potes in the Picos and Lamego on the Douro were the best quality. The real oddball campsite for me was outside Ponferrada (Camping Valle de Seo) real unusual - tiny campsite but with their own wine making). The best I would have to say was Camping Lamego.

The three hotels - all booked through Booking.com were great, reasonably priced. I particularly enjoyed the unusual one in Porto with the Portuguese tarts !

Pont Aven - Adios Espana

Left the hotel around 11 am after a frantic selfie stick attempt at rescuing my sunglasses from a cliff edge tree. ( just dont ask) why I bother buying prescription  sunglasses I have no ideA, I'm just going to get this clip-ons in the future like my Grandad used to wear LOL.

Nice ride around the coast past Comillas and Santillama del Mer. 

Tree growing through wall.

View from hotel.

Waiting to board the ferry in the bike queue, chatting to a guy and his mrs on an 1150 GS, been camping down near Toledo.

Looking forward to seeing the family now. A great trip, Spain is a fantastic country, more than just the Costas, and great roads for Motorcycling. Will have covered 2000 miles by the time I get home. Can't wait for my own bed now, just one night on the ship, and a ride up from Portsmouth ( dock around 3pm) should be home for tea.

More pics (and videos) to follow later.

Back to the Picos de Europa and San Vicente

Today (Sunday) we left the campsite near Segovia to start our journey toward Santander via a last night stop in a hotel on the coast in San Vicente de la Barquera. We had approximately 250 miles to ride now, nearly all in a Northerly direction. Lindsay had planned the route to avoid the AutoPista (motorway) first heading toward Palencia via country back roads then via the CL615 straight into Cantabria and over the Picos de Europa mountain range to St Vicente.

We set of at 8.05, with a cool slightly cloudy morning. Being a Sunday there was hardly an traffic as we passed by Segovia, and later turned off onto country roads filled with wheat and sunflowers either side of us. We passed through village after village, usually with one or two people walking by the side of the road- usually old people. Some were sweeping and cleaning their steps, very few young people to be seen, and almost zero traffic. The temperature was just tipping 20 degrees, but as we climbed up to a great plateau it remained cool, perfect riding weather.

One of the village churches we passed. Empty and almost a ghost town this time of day. The Sierra de Guadarrama mountains in the distance behind us now.

Early morning selfie - i'm not really awake yet! I think Lindsay was a bit concerned as he found me quiet on the bike to bike intercom.

Here's a Ghost Rider shot (ref: NP), the kind of straight roads. Much more interesting than the Motorway though, with the odd fast bend every now and again to liven things up a bit, and wake me up too! I saw an Eagle perched on a fence post, and Lindsay saw a fox dart across the road. We also saw some wild horses again too.

We soon rattled off over 100 miles by 10.30 due to the fast traffic free roads. We climbed another plateau with row upon row of windmills (electric generator type) all casting long shadows across the road in front. 

Soon after we stopped at a little town I forget the name for breakfast - another Spanish omelette and sausage each with a coffee. Outside the cafe there were several walkers with shells attached to their rucksacks, and we realised we had intersected with part of the Camino Pilgramage again. I noticed one guy seemed to be running it!

Another 45 minutes or so, we started to see the Picos de Europa mountain range in the distance while my random IPod playlist selected Spanish Bombs by the Clash - made me laugh !

Eventually we reached a lay by we recognised from a previous trip through the Picos, where I took  a photo of my Harley Low Rider in the same place. I had to grab the same photo with my GS too of course !

Later after threading our way up and down the valleys of the Picos we came across this Dam, and waterfall.

Woke up now, it's ok Lindsay you can talk to me LOL.

We made good time arriving on the Costa Verde ( the green coast ) by 2pm.

No problem locating the hotel - Residencia Miramar, can thoroughly recommend with a a great view especially from the restaurant / bar where you can see righr across both beaches and the estuary.

Church/Chapel near the hotel.

Harbour fishing  ships.

Boats in estuary waiting for the tide to rise.

So, since I'm on the coast, its the last meal in Spain, I saved the best for last and ordered the Seafood Paella at a great restaurant in the main town.Lindsay not a great seafood lover ordered a very nice looking mixed salad, we both washed these down with Sangria.

Hats off to Lindsay for planning a superb route back up, it was fast yet had a real mix of riding. It left me wondering why would anyone want to use the Motorway!

40 miles to Santander to catch the ferry back home.

Day out in Segovia

Last night we experienced the first rain of the entire trip to date. The wind was blowing a gale during the night and almost set Lindsay's bike alarm off! By the time we were up and awake, the ground was bone dry you wouldn't have known if rained.

We left the bikes at the camp site and took the bus into town. First settling the bill for the camping at camp acueducto 14 euros per night. The bus stop is right over the road ... Just in time to catch the 11am.

The bus stopped right outside the Roman  aqueduct, nearly 2000 years old and in amazing condition. 

Selfie time !

A really beautiful city I would be happy to return to someday. Very clean and tidy, and full of restaurants and shops. Suckling Pig is the main delicacy here, didn't try any, maybe next time if I come back.

Looks like a scene from a movie - Gladiator maybe ?

Tomorrow we leave Segovia and head to the Northern Coast - San Vicente 250 miles  to get close to our return ferry trip on Monday.

I've just prepared Lindsay's bike for h to avoid the usual confusion as he seems to have a problem knowing his Left from his Right !!