Ballistic Spain 2008: The Long Way Profound

[Mr K]

Friday, 20th June:

Funny old trip - hadn't done much in the way of preparation ..and all of a sudden it was Friday morning and I had to get going:

So I went and got a haircut and got the bike ready:

There didn't seem to be much else to do apart from leave Tabitha-cat £50 and the house keys.....

Knocked-off a quick 100 down the A1 to Sherburn-in-Elmet and Squire's for a chip butty...

...that Guzzi's been in action

...and then onwards towards Team Ballistic's Midland HQ...

On arrival my bike and luggage were stowed and I was blindfolded and frog-marched several hundred yards...

...as the blindfold came off I briefly made-out some lettering.

Once cuffed to a chair on the luxuriously appointed patio I was forced to imbibe something called "Bateman's XXXB" .... after a while a waitress passed me a wooden spoon....

It was plainly some sort of signal: Rossi, Rossi, Rossi, Rossi...

That's all I can recall of Friday....

 

[Deleted account W]

Get on with it Kelly, I've got bugger all else to do tonight apart from reading about you going on your holidays

 

[Mr K]

Get on with it Kelly, I've got bugger all else to do tonight apart from reading about you going on your holidays

Oooh! The pressure...

 

[Mr K]

Saturday, 21st

I was dragged from my bed before dawn, at around 10:00a.m. and a plate of saucisson ouefs avec onions printemps was roughly thrust in front of me.

Very soon we were on the road - The pace was relentless ... apart from the stops.... I could tell we were heading south, partly due to the GPS route I was following and partly due to the big houses and nice cars.

We followed an ancient road called the Fosseway and this bit is called "Grand Avenue"...

..bit dark innit?

Anyway, by tea-time I could smell the sea and we went into a pub in a place called Portsmouth.... I spotted a message from Proff:

.....and then we got onto a big boat, but I knew things would turn-out okay..

 

[Mr K]

Sunday, 22nd June: At Sea

I woke about half-nine to find my captor asleep - (I was later to learn that "ballistic" or Brian was trying to help me...) and took the chance to explore.
I decided I'd need some sort of disguise, but what? .. As I rooted in a pannier for another spicy chicken fajita, the lid shut, smacking me on the forehead and drawing blood.... Perfect! I could pretend to be a wino!
I grabbed a copy of "Bike" and made for the gift shop. A carrier bag full of Speckled Hen "seconds" and the disguise was complete...
On deck I took my place on a bench and set about checking out my floating prison...

A kindred spirit next to me had a bottle of Cava in a carrier bag and was enjoying the 10 o'clock buzz....

I later returned to the gift shop and got some more bargains and marvelled at the exotic characters all around me..

I bet she'd be good at tennis....

The day passed quickly.

 

[ballistic]

.....and then we got onto a big boat, but I knew things would turn-out okay..

... especially as the crew had been bred for the job

 

[ballistic]

The day passed quickly.

You've got to admire a man who can sleep, snore... and still not spill a drop

 

[Mr K]

Monday, 23rd

It had become clear to me that "ballistic" was not a threat and that we had both been chosen, somehow... to do something.... something special..

The Pride Of Bilbao spat us out into Spain and we headed for The Picos - Not entirely original, I know, but a good first night stop.

A little one to start with:

We arrived in Ojedo and checked in.

Had a wander round Potes looking for Smoked Paprika and straw donkeys...spotted a property with potential..

....and returned to our Hostal for a well-deserved beer..

...barmaid got the glasses out of the freezer for every fresh drink


We were sat out under a canopy to shade us from the sun, when it suddenly began to turn dark: Within minutes it honked it down with rain, the streets were awash and then there was a hailstorm.....

...and we were the only daft twats sat outside watching it all....

We had a great meal:

..with a free power-cut halfway through ...and more than one bottle of tinto...



...and if anyone knows what this says, could you please PM me?

 

[Mr K]

Tuesday 24th

Bit of a lie-in today - To be honest we both let a bit of steam off last night through the vino tinto..

No harm in it: We're on holiday after all....

First pass of the day is the San Gloria, shrouded in fog.. we pass a bunch of Brit plate bikes parked up by the deer statue...

The day gets better: The Reserva Nacional de la Mampodre(?) and Codillera are superb: We're heading for the northwest coast for seafood and sunsets...

The weather clears..

..and the scenery just gets better:

We hit the coast, but in the end the romantic ideal of a seafood feast watching the sunset doesn't happen and we end up in a lively Motel called Las Camelias near Navia.

In the end we get a triple room for a good price, it's clean, we don't starve:

.and the beer and wine were of acceptable quality...

 

[ballistic]

.and the beer and wine were of acceptable quality...

Talking of wine... did you know that there are 3 different types of seal for a bottle of wine?
The easiest to undo (it can be done with one hand) is the "Trucker". It's just a plastic cap which can be prised open with one hand, whilst driving your 10-wheeler with the other.
Just as easy, but requiring two hands, is the "Geordie". This one has a tin, or plastic, screw top and can be opened just as quickly.
Thirdly, you have the traditional cork-type, which can be a bit of a bugger to open at times... unless you happen to have one of these bolted to a nearby wall...

 

[Mr K]

Got a bit out of step: During our run down to the caost we stopped for lunch in Pola de Samieda(?) after which we came across a closed road. We had a huge diversion which got us to the coast hours later than we thought..

Nice tables..

 

[Dellis]

And then we.........

 

[Mr K]

Wednesday, 25th..

At this point, I think "ballistic" wil agree, we were at a spiritual low ... although not tired, hungry or thirsty..

We carried on west along the north coast to this place

I think this is a fog-horn..

...a lighthouse:

..and possibly art?

We headed south and stopped for breakfast at about 11: Brian likes coffee and cakes and I like beer and crisps..



Today on our route we noticed loads of people walking up the side of the road. We were on the Camino de Santiago: A route for pilgrims and people generally trying to "find themselves"...

Brian and I got lost ..or rather I disagreed with Brian's interpretation of the route when we were sat in the middle of nowhere on gravel single-track...
..but we met on the outskirts or Portomarin 20 minutes later...

After trying one place we found a room right on the square..

..for 25E.
Bathroom across the hall, but perfect situation..

Big glasses..

..and maternity suite above..

...loud American bint with personal issues excepted, we had a superb night.

 

[Mr K]

This track sudenly came to mind on this night...not sure why..

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Maybe it was the American bint..

 

[Mr K]

Thursday, 26th

So! Portugal today: I like Portugal - friendly sorts....

Today started with a bombshell; Brian announces he has "found himself" (how he could ever have lost something of that size beggars belief) and reprimands me for bending some ferns the day before.. something about "finding your own direction" or something...I let him whitter-on for a few minutes ...and the diatribe tails off.....

I've deliberately not put routes into this because I feel it's part of the game to accidentally discover things and that beautiful accidents are the best parts of a tour (I'm not talking about Kylie dropping the soap by the way)..



.....more ace roads today: We stop at a cafe/bar/restaurant/campsite for "breakfast" and have beer, crisps and olives. It's windy, but baking hot...

...the roads are immaculately surfaced swooping "A" type roads. Where they go uphill you get 2 lanes for uphill traffic to really give it some through...

Oh.. and it's bl**dy hot today too: I've got this Alpinestars jacket and left the thermal liner in the panniers. I've got all the vents open and it's not helping much..

So we arrive in Miranda del Duoro (+36c) utterly wrung out, have a quick shower and a wander, suss out the "Bar des Bombieros" ... struggle to get served,

watch Spain beat Russia 3 - 0 and try not to look too pleased..and go for food.

I have an acceptable steak (for a werewolf) and we go a wandering and find the "Benfica Club Cafe" which serves Superbock Stout.....

...the temperature is acceptable at about 11pm on the terrace outside...

 

[brassmonkey001]

...and if anyone knows what this says, could you please PM me?

Meal was great, sausage & chips. Today it rained.

See, I speaka de lingo.



Galicia eh? My stomping ground.

 

[Deleted account W]

Today it rained.

See, I speaka de lingo.

Loads of Red Wine.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

C'mon, c'mon............what happens next?!?!?!?!?

Andres

PS Great report BTW, welcome back to rainy UK

 

[brassmonkey001]

Loads of Red Wine.

Ah, you're right.

You speaka da lingo too.

 

[Mr K]

Loads of Red Wine.

You've been there too?

C'mon, c'mon............what happens next?!?!?!?!?

Andres

PS Great report BTW, welcome back to rainy UK

Rainy is right ... just got some household chores to do and I'll get in the mood and continue...