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Well, I've got a couple of good ones today, including the biggest scenery I've ever seen in Portugal

On board the GS...

All I can see now is deserted locations, roads that look like they've been bombed, and abandoned buildings strewn across the landscape! But I can handle it.......weather permitting!

From this morning.....

I'm sure my family are trying to kill me off, for fathers day i get sweets and chocolate something they know i have a real weakness and craving for, they also know i'm a fucking diabetic the s. Anyway the last laughs on them i have no life insurance

So, day one: Day one started late, because yesterday I had a great dinner, me and little bro had too much wine and things got silly Today, got up at about 9, by 10 Costa was walked and I was out of the house. Got on the motorway for the only 10 or 20km I expect to do on a motorway in the next few days. Made my way to the Douro river, and started to retrace the ride I last posted in Douro wine region. The 108 is a great little road, there was a big car meeting , maybe 30 cars or more, tuned and driving like idiots. Made it hard to pass them because a lot of the cars were quite fast, but very slow in other areas, started to piss me off until an old dude in a tractor caused a traffic jam and I passed them all in one go. Douro, along the 108 between Porto and Pinhão: Stopped a little for lunch, at a scenic place with a lot of shade: Lots of bikes there, a couple of groups making picnics, I had my leftover roast and spinach sandwich: Got back on the road heading to Pinhão After Pinhão, crossed the river and rode a little bit on the south side of it, a little away from the water. Temperature immediately increased as I went over the tall hills inland. Also, views started to get bigger, I needed big vistas: Road was quite nice: Got quite high Stopped to call firefighters, someone must have thrown a cigarette from a car and started a fire right on the side of the road, it was consuming a tree when I got there and about to get big. By the time my call made it through to the local department it was substantially big, but they told me they had been called and a car was arriving to deal with it. With everything that Portugal has been through in the last 4 years, I can't understand how some people can be so careless. Got lost crossing Vila Nova de Foz Coa, a few old, maybe restored houses, using the typical schist building. Stopped, to figure out what to do regarding sleeping arrangements by 4PM, didn't think there would be so many tourists and by that time most of the places were already fully booked. Finally got on the phone with a little place that only had a 5 people room/cottage, I cried the price down since I am by myself, and they were gracious enough to accept. A course was plotted to Freixo de Espada à Cinta, about an hour away. This would be less scenic but one hell of a road to ride, not wide, plenty of great mid speed corners and great rhythm. A sign warned "mountain road, use care", to which I think I ignored Arrived quicker than expected, feeling quite in need of drinking fluids. I neglected stopping to buy water in the afternoon and was feeling hot and a little thirsty. So I ignored the castles and touristy stuff since that's not really my scene, here's a picture in the distance for you Instead, found a place to park the bike with a view, under a little shade next to my accommodations for the night Enjoyed the great view, and went straight for a dip in the pool, drank half a liter of water and am now finishing this orange juice as I type this Temperature got to about 34º today (93ºF for the yanks, you are welcome) which surprised me since over the past days it's been cool. Next, will go back in the pool for a while, and relax. Then a little later will have dinner here as well, I'll keep you posted , but I feel like cold white wine to drink along with dinner

This weekend would have been at the Farmyard Party in North Yorkshire, as i couldn't go thought i would post some pics of the last one me and @Specs went to in 2017 The site is at Duncombe Park in Helmsley run by MAG (motorcycle action group) a fantastic location. For some reason i can I only find photos of my ride on Saturday. The day started with sore heads all round after overdoing it Friday night Alan and an old friend of mine (sadly not with us anymore) decided they would sleep it off so i ended up exploring on my own i was looking for all the single lane back roads and Yorkshire doesn't disappoint This is what i was after this is riding heaven for me Had to stop for a wee this seemed as good a place as any the place was crisscrossed with dirt roads sadly i had to restrain myself as i was 300 miles from home with no tools It was getting hot so headed for somewhere to get something to drink and eat, I came up to this railway crossing as the barriers dropped to let a train through, i was there a while getting hot and sweaty thinking of turning around but then this beasty showed up and i was happy again Got a sandwich and a drink and found somewhere cool to stop thought this would do Spent the rest of my ride looking in the distance for roads like this and heading there to ride them not really paying attention to where i was. When i got to the horizon here i stopped to talk to a couple of guys on bikes had a good old chat for about an hour when i got back on the bike i realised i'd left my phone in the case on the handlebar and it had over heated not normally a problem but i was using it to navigate and not paying attention to where i was i didn't have a clue which way was back to the campsite I just carried on riding and stopped for a pint here in the shade, luckily the phone cooled down and started working again So it was back to the campsite for round two i couldn't drag Alan into the rave tent at the end of the night it was after midnight mind i thoroughly enjoyed it LOL

I always carry something like this for that bit of unscheduled trail maintenance https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-Laplander-Folding-Saw-396LAP/dp/B0001IX7OW/ref=asc_df_B0001IX7OW/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=222086461140&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12350510019827449991&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007453&hvtargid=pla-385867917582&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 But i had to resort to something larger a few months ago when i came across this, i struggled to get the fat 650 through there but after a return visit you can now get a bus through there ?

It has been a few weeks now since I was able to truly adventure with my Himalayan Bagheera and I sure do miss it. I find myself watching some previous videos just to relive the moments, one reason I enjoy making the ride videos. Here is one from a great adventurous ride. The needed part is days away so new rides will come soon. ?

Well thanks for clearing that up for everyone.....? No lettuce for you then.....

Our local leaves a bit to be desired. The Bread Bar; only open 2-3 nights per week, seats about 15 people and located in an old wood framed general store on a dirt road. Quaint without trying to be - just an old bar out in the sticks...

well since there are no fuel stops between the Yukon and the Ardtic Circle you kinda have to do that anyways. I known folks who ran short, not fun but the local mosquitos enjoy some fresh meat.

I have an Italian wife so I get the real deal

Me, having breakfast and about to go out for some touring

Yes, that's the only way to work on vines and have any method regarding harvesting. There are millions of these steps built, from way back when. I mean proper old, like 1700 years ago Makes for a very unique landscape. On other news, I liked this place so much, and appreciated the food so much, that I got to talking with the owner and I offered to bring my organ tree and plant it here. On my last trip to Morocco my girlfriend collected a couple of argan seeds from the ground and I planted them. One of them has been growing for over two years now, in a largish pot. It's a slow growing tree that might eventually get pretty great and majestic, so I would rather it would get to grow on proper soil, since the only ground I own is right next to my house the tree's roots might damage my basement's walls. The lady is quite enthusiastic about weird trees and plants, and biologic stuff, so is happy to give this tree a home, which we will in a close future. Quite happy with it , plus it's a fucking great place to come and visit my tree.

.......my 22 month old grandson Jake has his first go on a little bike! Apparently he loves motorcycles......always stops to watch them on the road and likes looking at vids. Same thing goes with trains......very interested in them. So he's interested in bikes and trains, makes a lot of noise, very outgoing, and full of confidence. Total opposite to my son actually! Reminds me of somebody though? I think the clincher today was when we were watching him riding......and he rode up to the camera, put his hands in the air and shouted "Oh no". I asked my boy what's the matter.......and he said "It's picking to rain and he doesn't like rain"

My bike’s plenty large, almost couldn’t turn it around inside a fucking castle today!

Story of my life Pete i'm always in some form of shit its just the depth that varies

Nice to see actual fields being put to use, you live close to one of Spain's most important farming locations, I was wondering where all the stuff grew.

That's a tourist trap, actually, they push the goats up the tree and keep them there. You can see they made some platforms for them to stay on. However, up in the mountains you'll see goats actually run up and down trees. I'll post a Morocco report one of these days, when I get the heart to do it, and there will be a small video of those.

The USA has some pretty odd food that you'll encounter when on trips through the country and I loike to at least try them. Some are really good, others not so much. Show me what you've found and where you found it.Here are a couple from me. First is from Gold Star Chili in Kentucky. This type of chili comes from Cincinnati, Ohio where a Greek immigrant started serving it this way. Aside from a small amount of cheese, there is chili, onions, beans and spaghetti noodles in there. Then, as a side, are two cheese coneys; hot dogs in a bun slathered with chili and a bit of cheese. Sounds gross, I know, but it is delicious after you scrape about 1/2 of the cheese off. Second, a breakfast burrito from Tia Sophia's in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A folded tortilla wth sausge and eggs, peppers inside. Covered with both red and green chile (Christmas style) and a bit of melted cheese on top. Fuckin' heaven, I tell ya. I hit Tia's on every trip through Santa Fe. Finally, my usual lunch. A cold diet soft drink and some cracker type things called "Combos". They're little brick-like round crackers with some odd sort of flavor thing in the middle. Some shade and a map and I'm set. Usually eat this while sitting on a curb at a fuel station someplace.

Well, I don't think I eat weird food, but you lot might, so I'll dig some stuff up, mainly from Morocco maybe.

That's coz your musical tastes are still stuck in 1976 and haven't moved an inch ?

What a cutie! ? Love to see kids stoked. My gateway was a big yellow duck on wheels, hooked me for life.

Who eats all that lettuce,,, icant stand the crap....

Im ok i was born in Charleston South Carolina, the "Cradle of the South" and i have the Birth cirts, un;ike the O'man, to prove it

Sounds like a good way to get your ass kicked in the South.?

No pics butt once me and two girls from Noi Jersey rode down south, we stopped at a dinner, the 16 year old version of the two girls asked what grits are... i said in a whisper "Grits is pig food" So this 16 year old repeats what i say in the loudest 16 year old Noi Joisey girl axcent possible, "Grits is Pig Food!?!" I drew both firearms and opend fire hoping we could escape in a hale of gunfire!

good BBQ is the food of the gods, especially if it's been on the smoker for several hours. We have a pellet smoker and will cook stuff low and slow and its magic.

That looks superb! I think I could get used to Yank food! Wouldn't entertain the shit that @Pedro eats though!

I don't eat a lot of meat, but do have a love for bbq ribs when they're available. My riding buddy Dave and I had some smallish racks of ribs in Tennessee last year...

How about this one? I don't even remember what it was supposed to be, but I do remember that I got it at the Golden Burro restaurant in Leadville, Colorado. I think it was chips with green chile on top, some beans and cheese of some kind. Feckin' Americans will dump cheese on top of anything.

Please do. Loved going to pubs in England and Scotland to try ales that I'd never heard of before. None of them were bad, just some better than others. Ours are open now, but nothing special about too many of them.

Happy Fathers day fathers.....

I remember, and I've still got that sticker on my red ZRX

Or eating it either

I would hate to think what brits call spaghetti bolognese, it's either spaghetti bolognese or it's not, the brits have no right in messing with pasta recipes

A ride down to the sunny cove on Snowy. Still on a borrowed bike, but my part is only days away now......<insert happy dance> ?

I remember on a trip to France/Italy one of our party made an excellent Spagbol, Fred wouldn't even eat that, Deano had to make him a burger ?

So today I wanted to get the little CRF out and go for a trail ride, there are some lanes to the north of Salisbury Plain that I haven't done for a long time so I decided to head that way. I certainly wasn't going to go anywhere to the south of the plain near Stonehenge as it would be heaving with hippies all trying to get there for the summer solstice . I got away by 08.00hrs and after filling the tank it was a 20 mile ride on tarmac to the first lane . Just a short byaway which was cut in half in the 90's when they built the A350 bypass around Chippenham..... and then onto the village of Laycock which is largely owned by the National Trust.... The local shop really needs to check the sell-by dates on some of their stock ? and then passed by Laycock Abbey which is well worth a visit if you're roundabouts.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacock_Abbey

ZXR, then? It was faired and had the intake tubes coming from the fairing over to the intake. I'm clueless, looked pretty old and in very good condition.

This one Bob

This was the first KTM I ever owned (Fred will remeber it), I loved that bike, so many memories. I mate of mine has it now and has done a great job of restoring it. Here's a photo of the dash after two weeks riding around the Pyrenees, who remembers the sticker on the screen ?

that is also true

A blast from the past with old film grain and all. The bike that I started with, a 1983 Honda CB650 Custom. I didn't know I still had this pic from the early 90's, so happy to find it. I loved that bike, her name was Betty and she taught me many lessons. ?. The background is Mount Kitchener, a mountain located within the Columbia Icefield of Jasper National Park, which is part of the Canadian Rockies.

I've just kitted up the little bike as I'm off for some trail riding tomorrow. I am heading towards Salisbury Plain but I'll be staying mainly to the north as the hippies will be out in force around Stonehenge for the summer solstice even though Boris has told them to stay at home ?

I will do a few castle rides when I get some time.

We have so much abandioned stuff around here it's not funny. If I get out this weekend, I;ll shoot some more pics.