Let me try and explain the top box situation to you!
Look back at my pics over Winter and Spring.....no box! Then about 3 or 4 months ago I put it back on.......for a reason! And that reason is to carry plenty of water, and to put my stuff in if I leave the bike unattended.
Bear in mind I can go an hour or more between petrol stations, bars etc when I'm in remote areas! And there's no mobile coverage in these places. Now just imagine breaking down somewhere like that in scorching temperatures with no water and no way of getting help?
You have to be very careful not to get dehydrated or get heat stroke out here! I got caught out last year despite the fact that I took water with me because I just didn't take enough. I'm not making that mistake again!
Did you know that the heat kills about 1500 people every year in Spain? Apparently in 2003 there was a brutal heat wave here when 6,600 people died in 15 days. And of course, older people are more at risk. That's me that is!
So that being said......you'll just have to suffer the trauma of my box for another month or so!