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Hi Pete, Lovely photos as always. The first part is Los Canos - see http://www.gssr.es/slideshow2.php?Ref=LC whereby iron ore was carried down 15km approx from the mines in Bacares and Las Menas. See http://www.gssr.es/slideshow2.php?Ref=BACARES and http://www.gssr.es/las_menas.php . See attachments. The building was the main offices where the flow of goods trains was overseen. These trains went down to El Hornillo (http://www.gssr.es/slideshow2.php?Ref=HORN) for the ore to be loaded onto steamers to go to Scotland amongst other countries. This was never a station, the nearest being Serón and Tíjola, both worth a visit. There were so many cables at one time, some crossing over others, that, after more than two years of study, I still don't know exactly where they ran. The construction of the cables was a huge feat considering the topography of the area. It all slowed down in the '60s after which all of the metalwork was removed, presumably for scrap. One of the most impressive mines is Gran Coloso. See The factory is the old yeso (plaster) factory. If you want to see really impressive ruins, there are the two sugar factories in Guadix and Benalúa. See http://www.gssr.es/slideshow2.php?Ref=ST and http://www.gssr.es/slideshow2.php?Ref=SCA Keep up the great work! Max

I finally got out late today, still the weekend right?

To everyone in the world!

I was tempted with their office furniture I'll admit!

Amazing how much stuff gets left in these places, if that was UK that drive belt hung up on the wall would be on eBay by tonight

It is, my mate always manages to fall in there

oh dear.....I am always late to the party....? There were plans and now they are done.....got our fuel early in the week so we could make a few good outings this weekend. Went up and down some crazy rocky stuff to get the challenge of the week done. My skills are coming along at the downhill, so happy about that. Also went on a longer ride Saturday to a high spot, out of the trees, to enjoy the view. ?

Another weekend of good riding in southern Colorado. Started off on Saturday with a cruise through Cripple Creek, CO where I was viciously attacked by a herd of wild donkeys in the middle of town. Okay, they're "wild" only in that no one owns them and they roam freely. Not all that vicious either...

Passed the modern gold mine near Victor, CO - look at the size of these tailing piles - man made mountains....

Not much else happening in town...

I visited Los Lanos which wasn't actually a passenger station, but it was a very important part of the old railway network because it was the loading station for iron ore from the nearby mines. Access to all of it was very limited though. So I checked out the abandoned factory nearby......and I hit gold! It was access all areas including the upper floors........and it was like The Shining in there! So watch the vid!

Now this is Rugged Individualism!

And another one......around 2002/3 I think!

What do you think Pete was doing there i bet he left with a top box full of stuff to flog on eBay. Spain is an untapped source for eBay tat

Ha ha my memory ain't that good ?

I decided last night come rain or shine i was out on the bike its been quite a while since I've had any Fred time. I'm up at 9 and after a cheese single and 2 glasses of water (only thing in the fridge i could grab and go) i'm ready to go and looking forward to a day on my own, first stop is the petrol station and i bumps into my mate, so i agreed to ride up to Sennybridge garage cafe for breakfast with him as he was only out for a few hours. Breakfast consisted of err breakfast got to be 4 months since the last fry up none of those beans or tomatoes for me though Fuelled with bacon and eggs i have a great run up around Llyn Brianne reservoir and stops for the usual look at the spill way And on around the res to Soar y mynydd chapel where the first trail of the day will start. I tried a little video i think it gives a better feel to the place, excuse the noise and the shakiness it was my best one handed riding So the little chapel is down in the trees and i'm taking the track on that goes up the hill A little vid at the river bridge I've past this chapel hundreds of times and decided to stop for a look this time Soar y mynydd is a Calvinist Methodist chapel. Its often-repeated claim to fame is that it is the remotest chapel in all Wales. Its name is Welsh for ‘Zoar of the mountain’. The guest book Looking back down from the gate on the track Its all up hill from here last time it was quite badly washed out but it has been graded since but still a steep rocky climb I starts getting a bit carried away using the banks in the bends and really enjoying myself when all of a sudden the sausages kick in i give it too much gas and i'm abruptly told i'm not 21 anymore I takes the photo while walking it off not something i normally do but i'm too winded to pick it up, luckily i landed on the soft grass and apart from my left hand and thumb throbbing i'm uninjured When i gathers my strength i gets the bike up to assess the damage, a quick look shows no damage she's a tough old bird a cable tie fixes the screen and the nearest gate post soon has the front wheel pointing in the right direction again. So on with the ride just on from this stream up around the bend is a remote hostel i always fancied staying just to experience the remoteness https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Llanddewi-Brefi/entity/CgsIldLgnJ2u_c6_ARAB?g2lb=2502548%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4306835%2C4317915%2C4322823%2C4328159%2C4358983%2C4371334%2C4401769%2C4403882%2C4419364%2C4424916%2C4425458%2C4425793%2C4428792%2C4270859%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4412693&hl=en&gl=uk&un=1&ap=aAE&q=bunkhouse llanddewi breffi&rp=EO3p6tK6iN6EYBCV0uCcna79zr8BEIO9v7-IiKKEJjgCQABIAqIBGUxsYW5kZGV3aS1CcmVmaSwgVHJlZ2Fyb27AAQPIAQA&ictx=1&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls&hrf=CgUIrwEQACIDR0JQKhYKBwjkDxAIGBsSBwjkDxAIGBwYASgAWAGSAQIgAQ I soon realise the clutch hand is not functioning correctly and stops to rest it, been riding the last 30 minutes with clutch less gear changes. I had to take this photo some on here will get it I stopped in Tregaron to get some drugs as the ride around Claerwen res would need some clutch work and i was starting to feel sorry for myself The ride from Tregaron through Pontrhydfendigaid and onto the start of Claerwen res is fantastic the bike is running so smooth i stop for some more photos and realise why its running so sweet, there's a hell of a wind behind me pushing the bike along a short vid showing the area with wind So onto the res the stream is a little higher due to the last weeks weather but it's not problem The res is the lowest I've seen it for a long time considering the rain we've had A group on quads stops me to ask if I've past any police as they had just been warned by the police at the dam end where i'm heading not to ride the track its full length as there's a bit in the middle with no vehicle access as this sign i didn't see states ? Anyway i gets to the dam and a couple of lads say as i pull up your lucky the police have just gone so i do get some luck lol. the res looking back to where i come from Drugs are kicking in now so i feel like i can carry on with my original route and not head home, i rides down to check the river crossing at the bottom of the dam depth seems OK so in i goes remembering to stay on the right away from the big fuck off rock in the middle Quite a wet and rocky trail this one and finds out my forma adventure boots have started to let the water in not bad for four and a half years of abuse So at the end of this trail fuelled by drugs and half a slice of fried bread i carve my way up the Elan valley like Guy Martin on the TT, Idon't think I've seen the dams spilling before so stopped for a quick photo At the top end of the valley i find someone who wasn't as lucky as me bike left nobody about Looking back towards where the injured bike is Still fried bread fuelled the next trail is a blast down to Rhayader and i'm felling great again And after Rhayader a short trail before heading to Builth wells The last trail before hitting the upper chapel road The hash browns and mushrooms have kicked in now and i'm Guy martin again all the way back to Brecon what a great road for the bikes only stopped for one photo for some reason the sheep have gone a funny colour up here perhaps its a way of making them visible in the night ?

Donkeys attack with mountains of cuteness! 63 in a 55 is just silly, glad he understood the error of his ways.

This reminds me, Adventure Motorcycles Bike Of The Month is run on Lisbon time, because fuck you to the rest of the world. London is on the same time, so as luck had it you are in synch.

Congratulations @Grasshopper's Ride, Bagheera is Adventure Motorcycles' Bike Of The Month for August 2020, a rare but very sought after honor. You have it in you to honor everyone with a few words, if you wish to do so. Don't rest on your laurels, though! September is going to be fierce in competition and so far no-one has kept this title for a second month. Do you think you have what it takes?

Railed some dirt roads - love to do that in the rain. Our "dirt" roads don't have any dirt on them; it's a fine crushed rock; really nice to slide around on....

Another train car, looks like it housed farm animals. Was on private land so I couldn't get closer...

A few old cars roared past at 20 mph. Cool rides...

Another old train car. This one looked like it was made into a home at one time...

Quick stop at the local store for a snack...

Old Elks Lodge, Transfer Company and the old school - all empty. Sorry for the dark pics, it was an uncharacteristically rainy and cloudy day ....

Remnants of an old passenger car nearby....

The old Victor train station, now abandoned....

Great architecture in this town. Too bad most of the buildings are empty and a few years away from collapse. Good stop for Pete's "Dark Motorcycling" tours in the future....

@Max GSSR - what a cool website! Just spent about 15 mins on it and will get back to it later.

What do you mean, we're still in August, how do you know we won't have a surge of people voting on the last few hours? To be honest, all of 11 votes is a little small turnout, I think you need to get on the case and send a notification to members next month, to let people know what's going down.

I cheat and take the bridge i find the rocks very slippery as your mate did

I was once offered the opportunity of running a dive/angling boat on the south coast, but turned it down for that very reason @Sir Fallsalot.

That's the one where we went with the ford?

Looks nice in the sunshine!

By the way, all of this was thanks to a brilliant Englishman called Gustave Gillman. See http://www.gssr.es/ggillman.php Max

Weather looks great there @Grasshopper's Ride

Wow, that station would be a perfect set for a horror movie. I would love to take photos there, and the surrounding landscape is beautiful. Not so flat and dry looking, as some of the other stations you have been too. ??

The thrill of finding dead bodies wears off fast....just saying...

That was taken in 2004.......along with these! A bloke was out walking his dog so I got him to take the pics!

That looks like the kind of offroad I enjoy doing, and some great roads too.

Fantastic Bob......brings back some memories!

From Tregaron I passed though Llanddewi Brefi but you wouldn't know as the sign has been knicked again , as said earlier I scooted through Devils Bridge and onto Cwmystwyth and then found a gravel road to have a little play on and a play on the rickety bridge........ At the entrance to the Elan Valley road they have put some pic nic tables by the river which was very nice Then it was a steady ride back to the motherland with a couple of coffee breaks on the way.

I stopped for a coffeee at the top, it's a great view from here From Beulah I took the road through the Abergwesen pass to Tregaon, this is a great road but very busy with cyclists today

Well, at least you've got one of the good ones .

Hope it warms up a bit though - only 51F / 10C here now. Should be better tomorrow though.

Come on you fucking casuals......isn't anybody doing anything?

In terms of abandoned villages Belchite is the most striking.......and by far the darkest with 3000 dead in the Spanish Civil War.

This is not un-PC but it's funny as feck. I grew up watching the Addams Family, this is a great mash up............

If you did it for a living it would probably become a chore very quickly. i know it would for me, bikes are strictly for pleasure