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I was being sort of lazy after lunch, a few work e-mails and then started to think of just staying home snoozing instead of going out for my ride. Made an effort thinking it would be the first time I would be riding my familiar roads with the new suspension. At first thought of visiting a friend but didn't really feel like being with anyone and headed for the hills. On the way up, this is maybe my favourite piece of 2km road in this area, bumpy on tight corners with tree roots lifting the tarmac, unfortunately you can't see any of that in this video: Had a good cup of coffee in my favourite cafe up there, regardless of how hot the weather is at my home, up here under these trees it's always nice. A few bikes turn here on sundays, but it's always calm on week days. Heading back down: Someone left a nice couple of circles, I wouldn't be brave enough to do that here. Back in Azambuja I decided to make this a sort of dark motorcycling themed thing as it was a little to early to go home and I felt like taking a little more advantage of the afternoon, ended up with more of a ruin motorcycling than dark. Went to visit the Palacio das Obras Novas (also known as Palacio da Rainha, queen's palace), this building was erected in the end of the eighteenth century and acted as a control point for ship that used to travel in this canal between Lisbon and Vila Nova de Constancia. They had a hotel or an inn of sorts as support for the steam boat traffic, but since the surrounding area was pretty majestic it attracted important guests for long stays, becoming well know for Kind D.Carlos enjoyment of the place. (There you go, culture!) The road leading to it goes through tomato fields, but the last straight used to be lined with a very impressive row of huge palm trees, all gone now from a palm tree beetle infestation a few years ago: Before the bugs ate the palm trees it used to look like this, not my picture: Riding back, past a few trailers full of tomatoes ready to go for the local tomato juice factory, most of the tomato pulp in Portugal is made here. They might be a little overloaded Made it back home pretty dusty.

Found a nice place in a dark place, under the Gold Star bridge that crosses the Thames river in New London. An historic old mill from way back. Surrounded by bridges and ghetto .

......is now featuring @Grasshopper's Ride's Himalayan!

Took this vid of my downtown today, no wind noise, vibs not to bad if i keep the revs way down...something around 3 grand makes the worst rattle..

I though that was Pete's last bike after he finished polishing it ?

That’s ironic because riding the bike today is what brought me from the darkside just now

Got the hint after lunch and head to head home while my bud's headed further north to Montana. Another good ride completed...

Calling themselves an "Antique store" is kinda stretching it a bit. Junk store more like it...

Not sure that's the proper way to tan a hide, but what do I know?

Found Pete's next bike.....

Onward to Guffey, CO - weirdest place ever. Kinda spooky too...

Gold mine shafts are nearly in the town center...

My buddies from Georgia arrive in the night (rode from Savannah to Colorado Springs in 2 days; 1,000 miles on Friday and 750 on Saturday) so natuarlly they wanted to riding on Sunday! Back to Victor as it was on our way and I wanted to get better pics...

Time to end the day and head for the hotel. Then this guy pulls me for speeding; 63 mph in a 55 zone. He says "I got you at 63 in a 55" and I replied "Yeah, so?" He started laughing and we talked for about 20 minutes and he let me go. He was a nice kid to talk to (I'd guess he was about 25 years old). Thanks Trooper Wermuth.....

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....

Before I start I must make it clear that there are no photos of Devils Bridge as the best thing you can do when you get there is too pass through very quickly to avoid all the wannabee's and power rangers Anyway, after getting some petrol I got onto the M32 and headed up to the M4 , as I'm just exiting the slip road I notice the old bill in my mirrors so move over and let him pass but on come the blue lights and he signalling me to pull over, bollox I wasn't going that fast . Anyway he then pulls into the middle lane and I realise that he's trying to halt the traffic, luckily I'm at the front so when he stops I get a birds eye view of him running up and down the motorway picking up someones luggage which is spread all over three lanes, great start to the day Anyway, over the bridge and up through the back roads to Raglan, past Abergavenny , through Talybont and onto Brecon. Then the climb to Upper Chapel where I stopped to look at this lovely little church Carry on to the road leading to Beulah, over the army ranges

I would assume so. The saloon we ate lunch in reeked of pot smoke. While it's legal here, it's not legal to smoke in public. But the ignored the mask and distance warnings, so why not ignore the pot laws, too. Everyone in there - all locals except us -appeared to be drinking a lot and smoking pot. Another day in their paradise I guess.

Had a shit lunch at the local saloon - where masks and social distancing are taken very seriously...

?? WOW......I just told Bagheera the news and he is very happy. We just wanted to thank everyone who voted and for all the support. This was a tight race and I would like to say, great job to all those who entered. Long Live the Himalayan! ?? I should have gone into politics.....

Anyone in need of a cast iron bath tub? I know a place....

Old log home with the bark left on - nice!

Relaxing in my deeeeluxe room at the Marriott in Colorado Springs. The bar was open in the lobby with cold Stella on tap. "Thank you, I'll have 5 please" - then off to bed...

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...

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 ....

Old winch yard and the front of the Dance Hall...

Some track is still there - odd looking rails....

Remnants of an old passenger car nearby....

Old Dance and meeting hall...

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...

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.

It is Michelle......when it's not pissing down! And it pisses down a lot!

Brilliant @Pedro........good to see you come over to the darkside!

Great stuff Fred but no beans? half a breakfast.

Great photos, looks like a beautiful place to ride. ?

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!

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

You may remember that I mentioned that I was contacted by a Brit guy who lives about 15 miles from me about a month ago. I've never met him, but he's got a Strom and wanted to meet up. I told him I was going to find Retamalejo and that it may get a bit hard. And never heard any more. Well I did find it, it was hard.......and I got heatstroke! Anyway, he just contacted me again and wanted to meet up for a coffee on Sunday. I told him that I go out to ride......and have no interest in going in bars (particularly now Covid is back). However, I did tell him that I'm planning to try and find this abandoned village in the Sierra de Segura on Sunday if he's interested? But I added the disclaimer that I've no idea how rough it's going to get......just to make him aware of what he's getting himself into. And that's absolutely true......it may be straight forward or it could be The Road of Bones! But at least it's forecast to be cooler so dehydration and heatstroke shouldn't be a factor this time. No reply so far......just see what happens. But I'll be going......this has been planned out for some time. So what are you lot up to?

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

A meeting of two genocidal fascist dictators.......and Yen's looking for personal grooming tips! It could only happen on here!

I think a tour of the ghost towns, haunted areas and old gold mines around here would do well. There are lots of local ghost tours that are popular . The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park is one of the more famous ones: https://www.stanleyhotel.com/night-tour.html . It's the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write "The Shining" . But there are loads of ruins, etc that could make up a week long riding tour.