somclan
Registered user
A little bit of Spain on a TTR ...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12192271
[Edit - reproduced below - GM]
So... Its been snowing in Ireland .. We are not used to that here ,Winters here are usually pretty much the same as Summer its just that the rain can be a little warmer in the Summer .. But this white stuff has kept all the riders in and cabin fever has hit me bad . While flicking through this site I come across a guy who has a bike in Spain.Turns out we have met in the past and soon I am on a cheap flight to South Spain where its 20 c on the beach, perhaps a little cooler at 1300 metres but well worth it for the views of Gibralter with Maroc in the background... total klicks 127
After a goods nights sleep I have the best value Coffee and Toast Breakfast and visit a local market .. Its time to ride so I follow my nose up the A377 towards Gaucin . Its windy here. I transfer to the A369 . There are not many straight bits on this road . I spot a headlight in the mirrior and it turns out to be the lead bike in a gaggle of gs and gsa on English plates . I wave them past and soon as the tail gunner is around me I up my pace to keep with the group ( as one does ) Now its been said that a bad work man will blame his tools and the tool I will blame is the knobbley tyres fitted to the TTR 250 .
I have never ridden on Knobbleys before and while they never gave out on me they did not inspire confidence like the tourance I am used to . Anyway the gap between the tail gunner and I slowly increased until he dissapeared around a curve ..After a couple of minutes at Algatocin the group have stopped for coffee and whoosh whoosh stories and I wave as I putter by..I use the MA 536 which takes me a curving down to sea level at Estepona where I take a tapa before using the coastal semi slab back to my Hostal
Today I go west until San Enrique where I move onto the a2102 northwards through hectares of orange groves . They smell great . I ride to the edge of the Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales . I come across the most interesting road sign on this section. I roll through the industrial end of San Roque and finally out to the lighthouse on point Europa at the end of Gib which I looked down on recently. On the way bacl to my base I have a look at the high end houses at Soto Grande ... Way above my 20 euro a night budget ! I get back in time for a walk on a empty beach .
Today I head a little east to Estapona and after my cafe y tostado i point north towards the hills ... I am really surprised at how fast you get into the twisty mountain stuff as soon as you leave the coast.My favourite curve of the trip is on this road ( The carretara Genalguacil ) ma 557 The road climbs to 1100 metres . I take a right at Algatocin . My fingers begin to get cold and I regret leaving my thicker gloves back at base when I spot a gaggle of gs out side a eat house.I pull in thinking its the same gang I met on the road recently. Its not , but a bunch of Irish on some rentals . One of the bikes is the one I rented last year to go to Maroc. I exchange some small talk with the riders and pat my last years rental on the saddle . I go into Rhonda to take the picture of the bridge and then head down the excellent A 397 to Marella... It was early on a Tues afternoon that I used this road and I had it to myself for the most part . For those who have ridden this road you know of what I speak , for those who have not ridden this road I suggest you put it on your list , Its a gem. Down to the coast and some super slab home in time for a vino tinto beach side as th sun sets .:lol3
I put the TTR in touring mode ( bungee a bag on the back ) and move up the coast to Torremolinas for old times sake . I have the choice of being there in a hour or so on the slab or perhaps spend the day getting there by heading up into the hills .At Marbella the A 355 heads away from the coast and towards Alhaurin El Grande where I stop for a Coffee and Sandwich . The forecast rain had the good manners to roll into Torre a half hour after I had checked in to a rather nice hostal .
So I have chosen Torre as I was last here in or around a quarter century ago . The place is huge and looks like a city to me . I run into the barman who used to run the bar I drank in on my first visit .We talk shit for awhile and then its time to ride . I run up towards Granada and follow my nose on the smaller roads . Every now and again I pass a pretty white town . Its along here that I am stopped by two Guardia National .Its a routine stop and they want to see ALL my papers . Its the first time I have been saluted by a police man . So all in order and I come back down to the coast at Torre De
Mar where there is a surprise in store for me as the road hugs the coast .Sun setting on my left over the Med as the blacktop winds its way a curving towards the hostal where there are cigars and beer waiting . This is the sort of stuff you see in the catalog !
My last Day and it rains so I drop the bike back and walk around Torremolinas . The Spanish rain is just as wet as the Irish Stuff .Its interesting .
Two firsts for me on this trip
1. Useing a bidet for what it was designed for.// Its for cleaning visors , right ? )
2.Getting stopped by Police while riding abroad.
Iceberg lettuce ( I think ) in early Feb !
Monument erected to the Fishermen of S.Luis de Sabinillas by the Fishermen of S.Luis de Sabnillas. I liked it. This section of the beach seems to be still worked .
I was delighted to note that the habit of ignoring parking regs and standing as near to the back door of the church for Sunday mass is a Spanish/Irish thing.
In Estapona I came across the best cycle track I had ever seen.
Breakfast .
Loads and loads of this sort of stuff around .
And this.
Bits of this.
These roads are here so you can get to places like this.
Looking down on the slab .
Some images of Torremollinos
The Bultaco in the butchers.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12192271
[Edit - reproduced below - GM]
So... Its been snowing in Ireland .. We are not used to that here ,Winters here are usually pretty much the same as Summer its just that the rain can be a little warmer in the Summer .. But this white stuff has kept all the riders in and cabin fever has hit me bad . While flicking through this site I come across a guy who has a bike in Spain.Turns out we have met in the past and soon I am on a cheap flight to South Spain where its 20 c on the beach, perhaps a little cooler at 1300 metres but well worth it for the views of Gibralter with Maroc in the background... total klicks 127
After a goods nights sleep I have the best value Coffee and Toast Breakfast and visit a local market .. Its time to ride so I follow my nose up the A377 towards Gaucin . Its windy here. I transfer to the A369 . There are not many straight bits on this road . I spot a headlight in the mirrior and it turns out to be the lead bike in a gaggle of gs and gsa on English plates . I wave them past and soon as the tail gunner is around me I up my pace to keep with the group ( as one does ) Now its been said that a bad work man will blame his tools and the tool I will blame is the knobbley tyres fitted to the TTR 250 .
I have never ridden on Knobbleys before and while they never gave out on me they did not inspire confidence like the tourance I am used to . Anyway the gap between the tail gunner and I slowly increased until he dissapeared around a curve ..After a couple of minutes at Algatocin the group have stopped for coffee and whoosh whoosh stories and I wave as I putter by..I use the MA 536 which takes me a curving down to sea level at Estepona where I take a tapa before using the coastal semi slab back to my Hostal
Today I go west until San Enrique where I move onto the a2102 northwards through hectares of orange groves . They smell great . I ride to the edge of the Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales . I come across the most interesting road sign on this section. I roll through the industrial end of San Roque and finally out to the lighthouse on point Europa at the end of Gib which I looked down on recently. On the way bacl to my base I have a look at the high end houses at Soto Grande ... Way above my 20 euro a night budget ! I get back in time for a walk on a empty beach .
Today I head a little east to Estapona and after my cafe y tostado i point north towards the hills ... I am really surprised at how fast you get into the twisty mountain stuff as soon as you leave the coast.My favourite curve of the trip is on this road ( The carretara Genalguacil ) ma 557 The road climbs to 1100 metres . I take a right at Algatocin . My fingers begin to get cold and I regret leaving my thicker gloves back at base when I spot a gaggle of gs out side a eat house.I pull in thinking its the same gang I met on the road recently. Its not , but a bunch of Irish on some rentals . One of the bikes is the one I rented last year to go to Maroc. I exchange some small talk with the riders and pat my last years rental on the saddle . I go into Rhonda to take the picture of the bridge and then head down the excellent A 397 to Marella... It was early on a Tues afternoon that I used this road and I had it to myself for the most part . For those who have ridden this road you know of what I speak , for those who have not ridden this road I suggest you put it on your list , Its a gem. Down to the coast and some super slab home in time for a vino tinto beach side as th sun sets .:lol3
I put the TTR in touring mode ( bungee a bag on the back ) and move up the coast to Torremolinas for old times sake . I have the choice of being there in a hour or so on the slab or perhaps spend the day getting there by heading up into the hills .At Marbella the A 355 heads away from the coast and towards Alhaurin El Grande where I stop for a Coffee and Sandwich . The forecast rain had the good manners to roll into Torre a half hour after I had checked in to a rather nice hostal .
So I have chosen Torre as I was last here in or around a quarter century ago . The place is huge and looks like a city to me . I run into the barman who used to run the bar I drank in on my first visit .We talk shit for awhile and then its time to ride . I run up towards Granada and follow my nose on the smaller roads . Every now and again I pass a pretty white town . Its along here that I am stopped by two Guardia National .Its a routine stop and they want to see ALL my papers . Its the first time I have been saluted by a police man . So all in order and I come back down to the coast at Torre De
Mar where there is a surprise in store for me as the road hugs the coast .Sun setting on my left over the Med as the blacktop winds its way a curving towards the hostal where there are cigars and beer waiting . This is the sort of stuff you see in the catalog !
My last Day and it rains so I drop the bike back and walk around Torremolinas . The Spanish rain is just as wet as the Irish Stuff .Its interesting .
Two firsts for me on this trip
1. Useing a bidet for what it was designed for.// Its for cleaning visors , right ? )
2.Getting stopped by Police while riding abroad.
Iceberg lettuce ( I think ) in early Feb !
Monument erected to the Fishermen of S.Luis de Sabinillas by the Fishermen of S.Luis de Sabnillas. I liked it. This section of the beach seems to be still worked .
I was delighted to note that the habit of ignoring parking regs and standing as near to the back door of the church for Sunday mass is a Spanish/Irish thing.
In Estapona I came across the best cycle track I had ever seen.
Breakfast .
Loads and loads of this sort of stuff around .
And this.
Bits of this.
These roads are here so you can get to places like this.
Looking down on the slab .
Some images of Torremollinos
The Bultaco in the butchers.
