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Didn't sleep more than one hour last night, was tired and sleepy but went to bed and just had to wait the night to pass. This was hard, but meant that it was easy to get out of bed at 6AM, a little past 6:30 and I was getting on the motorway. Sun rise, it looked like a lovely day but it wasn't to be. A couple of hours after leaving the house, and I'm stopping for breakfast already in Spain. @Earache, your petrol station shops could learn a thing or two from spanish Repsols, generaly you have fresh half decent baguettes and full legs of proper smoked ham My breakfast, by now I was a little surprised it wasn't getting any warmer outside. To warm up a little, a little butter on the hot toast, some fresh orange juice, and an espresso. Theoreticaly, this bike shouldn't be a lot different than mine cruising on motorways, but it is. Mine has the touratech suspension that is always a little too firm for comfort, a short screen, and rough tires. This one, on new 100% road tires, rubber footpegs, stock electronic suspension with soft springs, and a proper screen, rides like a pillow and I listen to music in my helmet at 70% the usual volume. The result is that distance passes by a lot smoother, I WILL look into one of these stock GS screens for mine too, smaller than the massive Adventure screen but they work nicely. The seat is shorter than mine too, maybe that also helps to lower me into the bubble a little more. What this bike seems to do a lot more is use fuel. It does have a substantially smaller tank but felt like I spent all day putting fuel into it. I think it uses more, and I do need a 30 liter tank, this is not funny. Does anyone know if the 1250 uses more fuel than the 1200 just cruising down a motorway? Coming the other way, all bikers were wearing rain suits, I put mine on too to shelter for the cold winds that now were starting to get really strong, and in anticipation of the rain in the distance. I have three days to get to Milan, including today. This is plenty of time, I gave up on doing the Via del Sale because of the weather, I don't fancy going off-road on a rental bike on gay tires after heavy rains. Also, I played with the idea of going all the way to Germany, spending one day stopped on the Nurburgring, and then the 800km to Milan on friday. There's less chance of rain in Germany than in southern France, which sounds ridiculous, but it'll rain there as well and I would like one nice lap of the track with no rain, plus that would be adding some distance to the bike and testing the rental company's goodwill. Gave up on all of that and headed to Pamplona. Got there to find perfectly dry weather, so stopped on a park bench to take all the plastic stuff off and figure out what to do. Pamplona is a very civilized city, huge areas of motorcycle only parking: I gave my friend from Pamplona a surprise call, but turns out he was away. All hotels were either too expensive or full, or in areas where I'm not leaving a bike outside. I found a little place in the hills, one hour away, deep in the Basque hills and got going, but not before fueling up again. The rain did return, and I stopped, once again, to put my rain jacket on. Got to my destination for the night at almost 19:00. Perfect timing to have a nice shower and a walk around town before dinner, it has been a long day. Being lower, with a very much improved gearbox and clutch, this feels like a toy to ride around town compared to my bike. It has less braap thought, it's very smooth but seems like it's half asleep if you blip the throttle. Having said that, it is faster at speed, but not in such a way that makes it a reason for changing. What I don't like about it is all the electronic shit, the screen and you having to navigate menus to see things. I'm always checking my pocket for the keyless key, because it's not where it should be ... I'm staying in a very charming old country house in a very quaint village, so went for a walk: A spot for playing "pelota vasca", but probably "pelota mano" which makes me wince just to contemplate. Look it up if you don't know what it is. I was going to eat beef for dinner, but not after watching a veal scratch her face against a concrete pole: The inside of the place I'm staying almost makes me want proper winter weather, maybe not really though Eating codfish cooked in what must be a very Basque way, with peppers and tomato, the fried egg adds a lot to it. Frankly, I'm not going to miss it. Some cold basque cider to wash it down, and that's the day done. I'm being confident, my rain pants and overboots are inside the pannier that is on the bike, I'm trusting. Let's see how tomorrow goes.

I want an apology from the Twat, that's all. If I don't get it there are plenty of other places to spend my money.

Look at my channel, there’s a few videos in which I speak. Pete’s favourite:

Nah - that'd never sell at an American truck stop. Too gay for even Starfucks to sell.

I was still pissed off this morning so I put in a written complaint about the Twat to the business owner. Be interested to see what comes of it. I know I shouldn't have let it get to me but I have bought 4 bikes from there in the last two years and put two kids through their CBT and shouldn't to be treated like that from a newcomer. Shadow is buzzing, just bought her some new riding gear for her birthday and stuff for college.

6 time World Champ....

Made it to Jubilee lake on Monday.....drove 10 miles of absolute dry washboard-rippled gravel road....rattle your fillings loose!! Lost 2 oars off my boat trailer that I didn't realize. Then the trailer tongue unhitched itself & was hanging by the safety chain...lucky I didn't loose it. Got the 2 oars back from a top bloke who was following us. So we get there, found our reserved campsite, get set up....Nice weather....few hours later a gnarly thunderstorm rolled in & proceeded to dump on what seemed like- right over the top of us for most of the night. Our deluxe tall air mattress went flat, & the tent canopy had found it's water-proofing limit, so needless to say....got up & decided: Had enough of the sh*t! Sometimes I have a hard time facing the "AGE" factor in my life....things hurt alot more than they used to. Did manage to snap a few pics of the lake before we took a shorter & overall smoother way home that will be the norm in future.... Local Fish hatchery we passed above on the back.... Got 2 weeks now to get everything dried out & back into working order....taking the boat to Wallowa lake that trip-- best time of year to go...NO tourists w/ noisy kids!...the place just empties out!

sounds like a bike keys in a bowl at the door kind of gathering.... some footage found of this illusive billy bob and marcel

They would sell in California but not for eating.

Oh do fuck off Pedro.

No that's my second longest relationship...Aberdeen Princess...a natural beauty .

Is that your daughter?

Definitely Mexican.

For the avoidance of doubt, "Basque Country" doesn't mean what @Six30 thinks.

congrats to shadow and as you are doing take anything from the twat who retested shadow with a pinch of salt, she knows fuck all about your riding so until she does shes in no position to comment!

Spray OR...

Looks like that was moving when it hit the ground with the bent bolt.

Great first report Pedro

Think this will be epic..

Congrats to Shadow...

It was a good thing you didn’t have your purse on hand when she gave you lip, Saul!

Weather usually permits, in Portugal. You know where it doesn’t permit? Southern France!!! I’m in the Spanish side of the Basque country now, what the fuck is happening to the weather in Southern France over the next two days?!?!

i'll take that..

well done The Shadow.... as for you , if you need any advice on counter steering or vanishing points etc.... im sure @Slowlycatchymonkey could advise

True mate, I think I was rocked back on my heels a bit as Damerells has such good customer service normally, and I will admit to being a bit Hangry.

She passed, thank fuck that is over. Took her for her victory Sausage Sammitch. The staff in the cafe gave her a cheer when she went in, good people. More than I can say about the actual Karen who did her retest, arrogant twat. I went in to collect Shadow and Karen looked at me and said: "Her road positioning could do some work, probably a bad habits she pick up from you as pillion" I said "Really" she then game me an IAM leaflet and said you would learn from them. As she was filling out Chloe's pass sheet, she then asked me when I passed my test and how many miles I did a year. I answered her (1984 and 6 to 8k a year) then said: "I'm not interested in your course with the IAM but I am surprised you didn't know that given that you assessed my riding without seeing it." I am pleased I kept my temper and and didn't tell her what I really thought. Now I, like most people, could benefit from some constructive criticism to improve my riding but I am not going to take it from some twat using the force after observing a nervous 16 year old. And yes I think I would benefit from an IAM course but I won't be doing it with that cunt. Oh I do hope I get a feedback form from Damerells. There feel better now I have that off my chest, bit disappointed that I let her rub me up the wrong way, suppose I was a bit stressed over Shadow. Just pleased Shadow has that behind her for two years.

not if i come back in a dinghy ....

This is me for the next 2 weeks as from tomorrow darlings.... i'll come back 2 shades darker than midnight..

Fool him once ...

you had to check ...

Billybob is a boy Gary ..he has a cock.

yup... from now on @Marcel le Moose Fondler shall be known as Gary Glitter

That's how it starts, another Glitter in the making right there.

secretly films his mates birds.... this is weird shit, what you say @Clive

Kool Beta Enduro....

Mike the Bike's screamer....

Cool LC....

Another 1 of Mr. Millyard's creations....1000 cc smoker...