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Setting off on Sunday 29th May and heading to Zaragoza to meet up with a couple of UK based mates. They’re riding down from the UK over two and a bit days on a Kawasaki Versys 650 and a spangly new Husqvarna 901 Norden……….I’m going on my Himalayan because it’s the only working bike I have at the moment (might chop it in when I get back so I can start a ‘guess-what-I’m-buying’ thread). The first day is a mere 546 klms for me from home to the hotel in the city centre. Good job I’ve got a fluffy sheepskin. Anyway, the plan is to head from Zaragoza through the Picos de Europa, then south into the north of Portugal (any tips of where to head to @Pedro?), returning home on Saturday evening. It'll be a blast and we’re sticking to the smaller roads so I don’t hold them up. Might even post some photos if I get really bored.

You dunno wot youre talking about beemer boy!

On the balcony of our hotel this evening, it was like birdy central

Into the third week of my adventure and I'm looking back at last week. I have to say the highlight of the week was our hike through a park to a waterfall. I have seen some waterfalls in my day, but this one was amazing as the surrounding area was just as stunning. Helmcken Falls is a 141 m (463 ft) waterfall on the Murtle River within Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. The protection of Helmcken Falls was one of the reasons for the creation of Wells Gray Provincial Park in 1939. Helmcken Falls is the fourth highest waterfall in Canada, measured by total straight drop without a break. What a sight....

I have nothing to say except....... you bought the wrong bike

Haha. Well, it was only 27 calamari for a 125cc, 20 for an 80cc, and only a 2 quid jump for a 250cc. Also looks like rental of geared things like F800 is fairly easy, didn't even look down the list for a price though. But €27 I didn't think was bad, I love a 125. Almost spent the same on petrol anyway. Didn't really need any tips in the end because I don't think I could've gone wrong really. Most of the main roads down the west and south, and anywhere away from Rhodes, Falaraki, and other obviously resort areas where bloody great. Some roads on the map look fine to the eye of an Englishman but you soon learn that it's probably unpaved. The bike was a good laugh, didn't feel slow even on the 10% inclines because it's all hairpins and Twisties. Always remember there's gravel on the apex - traction control kicked in a few times (it didn't). Watch out for cats, dogs, goats, lizardy things, white rent-a-cars, knackered local cars, excursion coaches, and wave to the older guys on their clapped out mopeds, they all gave a big smile back. Hardly anything on the road though, maybe just because it was Sunday, maybe not, who knows, but it was pretty chilled. No rozzers, saw a sign for one speed camera but no actual speed camera, and you can make good progress if you ignore any unrugged posted speed limit and even some very unindividual double white lines to be honest.

I've been neglecting the chronicles. Here is some viewing to accompany your daily ablutions. I made some new friends and fell over in a rice paddy.

Step two don't listen to the wife and call Tony the tools so he can come round and call you a ginger Welsh twat amongst other things for getting such a complicated bike to work on

Well, it was just meant to be a holiday holiday but I managed to book Sunday off and the offer was too good to refuse. Wasn't even intending on being out all day, but again, couldn't resist. Back home tomorrow though so it's back to the pool and beer.

Round two i got the brakes released, A girl named Sue will be proud of me. Classic bike porn.

Have you told them what i thinks wrong with the GS?

There's a bolt behind there somewhere.....so I know the solution. Too knackered after cleaning today to try it.

Its that bad, she's a keeper, i havnt the heart to make another suffer so. Im cool i dont need the help functioning "latest and greatest" motorcyles bring to the masses.

How long do you plan on being in Portugal, then?

Sounds marvellous.

Works well enough Sir, butt, keep it up and i will sell it to you.

And still not get it to work right!

Well, posh costs its not like a kawasaki that will use the same chit for a 30 year production run.

Miss America arrived yesterday and after sorting the swap and quick cup of tea Sarge headed off on the T700 for his homeland (Wales) for the night........... I had a couple of hours getting au fait with my new (to me) Donkey. First thing to come off was the O/E seat which I replaced with my 15 year old corbin......... I also fitted my sacrificial side panels as the O/E panels are too tidy to leave on and get rubbed by my luggage. Then I removed the O/E rack and pannier rails and fitted my Scaggs rack and copy pelicase...... and last job before it got too late was to fit the JNS headlight..........

Wanted to play with my sausage

Don't spoil it for me i'm only half way through saving it for later

Not sure really, I guess a lot will depend on the weather and how long it takes to make our way over.

Nah it’s perfect for it, small roads where 100bhp is pointless, poor surfaces, lunatic farmers in my side of the road. Perfect.

Dead jellyfish on the rocks at Portmeirion, it was real shame

I always found my 600lm a little disappointing power wise but can see why it'd fit the sand well with it's flat power and soggy suspension. Kind of miss the old thing. Think I'd have fitted a Domi engine if I kept it.

Is the centre of the black plastic knob pry-offable? Can't tell cos pic is a little blurry. Usually that comes off with the end of a screw driver on the bikes I've had and there is a little bolt inside, or maybe even a little circlip to stop your knob dropping off if you twist it loose too much.

That's a great trip Ray! Going to be a hard slog on the RE though!

Love those older bikes they still looked cool.

Mine was a later model. Different mechanism.

Not at all. Just a momentary dirt nap

yes no funny business

Gave the bike a run to Castril to see what it's like on the country roads because my return from Granada on Friday was nearly all motorway. One thing I've confirmed.....that bloody big screen has got to go. It's completely disorientating with the top of the screen at eye level......don't like it at all. Apart from that it's all good.......and everybody on bikes wants to wave at me now. As if riding this bike somehow makes me more credible or something. Got stuck behind a motorcycle club rideout on the way back......you'll see in the vid why I can't ride with these people. I'll die of old age before I get home at that rate! It's like a gathering of Bruce's! Bike's all good.....far better gearbox than the 1150 which was very agricultural. Brakes are phenomenal, comfortable to ride, and handles differently to the 1150. More of a road bike type of feel. Still getting used to it, but replacing the screen or getting this one cut down is the main priority.

eBay Fred, ‘‘twas a while ago but I’m sure they’re still available

You're lost without the Chinese bike trolling now then Ian?

Step one, call wife...

Ooh a second bike. Quick start a really really long thread with no info in it

My mate phoned tonight as i got home from work asking if i fancied a ride out on the Beta's, at first i wasn't to keen but remembered i am working away next week and probably the week after so wont get a chance for a while, it was just a local run on the mountains i haven't ridden in years Made our way up to what is locally called the tump to have a play which is this old coal tip (Photo from google) There was a few miles of horrible rutted tracks to get there had a little play on the hill climbs certainly feeling my age now i used to fly up these like they weren't there many years ago on real crap bikes just about cutting it on the new one LOL Me having a go And my mate fucking show off LOL I think my mate has a video of me at the top of this looking down. i didn't start recording soon enough when he went up i failed on the first attempt but ok on the second Some fantastic views from the top I took the easy route back down From here we moved onto our furthest point from home through lots of deep water and ruts no photos of those bits started heading back from here on the opposite side of the valley Stopped here for a photo the clouds were rolling in over the valleys in the distance with the sun going down the photo doesn't do it justice phone couldn't cope with the sun We thought we better get a move on as the sun was going down and we were having trouble navigating because they have built a lot of access roads for the wind turbines since the last time i was here which have dead ends on them so after turning around a few times we decided to cut across country to get to where we wanted to go but came across a wire strung about 3ft off the floor, without thinking i grabs hold of it to lift it up to ride under its a bloody electric fence fuck they hurt LOL anyhow we gets to where we wanted to be The ground was as boggy as i remember and my mate gets a little stuck he says its not going anywhere I said give it some gas but he was right it wasn't going anywhere (look away now Pete) LOL took us about half hour to free it the ground just didn't want to give it up My bike waiting patiently It was a straight forward ride from here and got home just after dark i need more evenings like this