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So after Yen put us on to the 'Wild Guide' series I got myself the Devon, Cornwall and South West guide to see what I could find............... So today I set off with a couple of goals in mind. First of all I headed to Gillingham in Doset (not the wanky place with the same name in Kent). I had seen a bike shop when I was passing through previously so I thought I'd call in and take a look. WOW !! what a surprise this place was............... Moto Corsa is housed in an old brewery building and they have done an ace job of converting it into a top motorcycle location. I don't think I could afford a single bike in there , they are obviously aimiming at the well-heeled locals but they have some cracking bikes for sale....... Out the back was a cafe area which was top notch , a lovely courtyard area and a semi-covered area as well as seating inside. I had a Sausage bap (it was Ciabatta ) and an excellent coffee................

It was time to head for home now but on the way back I came across a Byway that I haven't ridden for a while. It's pure chalk and it had rained heavily the night before so I was trying to decide whether to go for it or not especially on my semi-gay tyres but what the hell................ and then back through one of my favourite roads where the trees form a sort of arch.............

Having been fed I got some petrol and then headed for the first place I found in the guide.........Knowlton Chuch is a ruined church in the center of a Neolithic cerimonial earth henge dating from 2000bc.......... https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/knowlton-church-and-earthworks/history/

Takes the bike out of the van to take a photo next to a foreign landmark then puts it back in the van. What a fucking casual.

I think he takes the bike in the van takes it out gets pictures, and all because he only has a car licence and can’t ride a bike.

Also on a side note....only times my bike has ever been in a van was when going to 2 of the 4 trackdays I have been to, the other two I rode the bike to the track and home again. Also I have been away abroad on the bike and we rode it there and back again ....

So the second place I took from the guide was Horton Tower. I had too work for this one as it was a fairly long walk (for me), I hope you plebs appreciate my sacrifice. There was a bridleway leading up to it but multiple signs warned me not to take any vehicle up there The door was locked which was a shame as I imagine the view from the top is stunning, what gets me is that everything around here is chalk and sure enough it's built on a chalk base. I'm no engineer but I'm surprised it's still standing, having said that Stonehenge is still good to go .............

Got some good shots of the Tomos like that, got to ride in AC comfort with the radio blasting, who the fuck wants to ride scooters anywhere except in front of a hot chick, they are babe magnets ya know.

Portugal seems to be getting worse, a little worse overall and a lot worse in Lisbon and surrounding area. Saying that, they're now evaluating stopping the deconfinement measures, because apparently Lisbon is all that matters for politicians. They're doing that while delaying confinement orders for Lisbon, any other area of the country with the same numbers would have been shut two weeks ago. Having said that, I'll be getting my first jab tomorrow. I'll be sure to ask if they can give me the one that makes it possible to travel back in time, or if not, the one that lets me speak to the big beast ... I am hoping to go for a proper ride next week or the one after, summer is here and I'm jonesing for some quality time on the bike, followed by a couple of days at the beach.

The Beast of Exmoor will be glad of the meal.

For the past 4 years, around this week and on this day, me and @Pedro have been out around the country together, riding roads of stunning scenery, eating special food and enjoying mega good wines! Its no news for anyone how much I appreciate Pedro and the blessing that is having him to share so many great things in life. It is difficult to find a better friend, more dedicated and caring, that remembers the little things I have forgotten I love!! There are many reasons to praise him, but I shall not do that, we dont want him to get a big head! .Even if he absolutely deserves the praise and equaly the big head!! We have been literally everywhere, from North to South, East to West, from the gorgeous beaches to the green forests, from the flat lands to the big moutains, in the last 4 years we have travelled extensivelly in this week of June that marks the beggining of Summer time and warms the skin and the soul. We are, indeed, fortunate to be able to enjoy such pleasures ( and some luxuries! ) together, having a lot of fun on our favourite form of transportation! @Pedro always on the big 1200 white Mammoth, me on 2 different creatures, the Tuono 1000, first edition, 100% V2 Mille rawness and then the Speed Triple 1050R, a more well mannered companion.. In 2018 I rode from Germany to Portugal on the Aprilia Tuono ( another possible ride report! ), we met in the center of Portugal and traveled up all the way to the very top of the country., to the Peneda-Gerês National Park,. Its a vast area of unspoiled wilderness, with granite boulders coming out of the ground and rocky peaks as far as the eye can see. It is a magical location, with hidden forests and lakes, a freshness that only crystal clear water can give. Its rugged hills are home to deer, wolves and golden eagles. Many small roads criss-cross the whole of the 70.000 km2 of this beautiful nature reserve, offering us the chance to enjoy many hours of discovery.and adventure. The beggining, first stop! Still wearing waterproof cloathing, soon to come off at the next stop, the Sun was coming out of the cloads and little Snoopy could come out of his bespoke Gore-Tex suit! This year the choice of location was down to me, seeing I had been through here in 2007 and decided then I wanted to return to explore the region more after falling in love with its lush greens and the feeling of being overlooked by fairies and elves everywhere, blessing us with magic dust! It took 11 years, but there we were! We stayed in a little stone house converted, like so many in Portugal now, to cater for people looking for peace, the type of peace one only finds in remoteness and wild nature. With the particularity that 50m away from this little, adorable, house there is a famous restaurant with a super location to enjoy a sunset drink and the pleasures of good food in great company after a day's riding! The little hamlet has around 18 houses, but only 4 people live there permanentely at present. The 4 have a few cows that go out in the morning and come home in the evening, we had the plesure of meeting both cows and their aging owners! And the wild horses that are now tame and eat out of our hands! The owner of the little stone house is a very, very enthusiastic person, also a biker, and was kind enough to take us round the region and show us the little roads and the places only the locals know of. It was a very hot and sunny day and it had been decided the day before that Pedro, a lover of a swim after riding and before dinner, would take his swimming trunks and go for a dive in the fresh waters of the nearby dam. I was not so keen, so didn't take my swimwear and proceeded to regret it and almost went in just with my underwear, but somehow had an attack of puritanism, most unusual for me, and never made it to the water!! We had a really nice time in the restaurant. The food was average, but the drinking was epic and we finished 2 big bottles of bubbles plus a few other things! I left my phone charger behind, but was adamant I must have dropped it on the way there and so we spent 1 hour up and down the road, in darkness, wondering when a wolf would come and eat the unsuspecting tourists looking for a mobile phone charger! The next morning we saw it through the window inside the restaurant, exactly as Pedro had predicted, but my giddy head didn't want to accept! It was a great day!! In fact the whole week was great, but this day will stay in my memory as one of the best days ever!! Thank you Pedro and thank you life!!

Cool!........but you will be warmer in the van.

It's funniest one of the made up holidays. Some black college professor made it up and gave it a African sounding name to lend some validity to it. Total bullshit. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa (Sorry, I misspelled it above - two "a")

On the plus side there’s room for blender and his bike.

taking van we can stop off where and when we want , its not a mad rush to get where we are going . plus , who's got up to go away or come home on bike and its pissing down, nothing worse . i'll be going away on my own as well .

you twats .... , this is a two bird one stone trick, some of you may know my dad passed last year , we used to do 3 or 4 trips a year on our bikes..... i bought the van so me and mrs could go away , Luxembourg , Germany, Scotland wherever.... can take as much luggage as we want , mrs can go sight seeing or shopping while i go out on bike . im not just a pretty face .

They were fucking gutted when they found out I was still alive to claim my Pension!

Yeah it would have been pension day tomorrow but the bastards slip another year on it.

It’s okay, I can see all of them.

Some big cows, with my bike for perspective:

Not if you can’t actually ride.

Seems alot of trouble to go to, to be able to say " Never ridden in the rain"

Well Six might be able to go anywhere.

That church in the henge must be a thing around the south west. I visited a church inside a hillfort in Cornwall, not far from Roche Rock. That's Pedro's last name isn't it.

I think Buddy must be about 8 or 9 now.......so most of that time!

Maybe go the whole hog and change the power rangers suit too and it must all be colour coded to the bike aswell, every casual needs to look the part for piccy time

That's awesome, bet the dog loves it

coming through with a flourish.

Woot, woot....................................... on Tuesday I was in 3rd place, I'll take that

Agreed, casual

Or we just don’t give a dam.

Butt, nobody noticed...lol

Living where I am I know quite a few guys who combine a biking holiday with taking the wife as well. And there's two types! Those who come over with their wives on the plane and hire a bike on the days they want to go out. The other type (which is the most popular) is the wife flies out......and the guy rides out, usually getting here before she does. Then on the return, she flies out......then he leaves. I meet up with a guy who does this every year......and he brings his dog Buddy on the bike. I'm seeing him again in September. Apart from guys with little trail bikes that can't do distances, or track bikes that are not road legal, I've never heard of anybody doing it your way. It's a bit Sturgis "Trailer Queen" for me!

Well he did do a sort of Dark ride report last year on the other forum where he was visiting some sort of inner city no-go area. I suppose he could have taken the GSX in the van and took his profile bike pic by that tunnel? Then popped it back in the van and went the rest of the way by bus?

WTF's that Casual doing now? Taking it round in a van and wheeling it out for photo opportunities? What you say @Tym?

Yeh......but sand in the foreskin Pedro?

Anything getting horny over that you're welcome to.

Does a video count

You were warned it would send you blind!.

Do it, maybe you can rent a personality before you come back.

No, he is a gimp, he can be a gimpy cunt at times but he is always a gimp.

Buck's words not mine......Bob's always been a cunt in my book!

Come on Pete pull the other one it’s still fixed.

But you mainly get called Gimp Bob!