Dr & Mrs J's Tour of Spain - Bilbao to Conil

[Deeley]

Just picked up on this thread, great read, and it appears you are both really enjoying the experience.

Looking forward to the homeward bound report..

Ride Safe

 

[Myke Rocks]

Trip in Spain

Aidan suggested Segovia. We arrived there during an Easter Festival, and a high proportion of the population were dressed 18th Century for the day. Total magic. Plus of course, the aquaduct as seen on a 5 Euro note.

If you are travelling in this (Madrid) area, suggest you go to see Don Justo's home built cathederal. Still under construction, no planning permission, the builder is 80 years of age, and the entire edifice will probably be flattened when he dies.
http://citynoise.org/article/732

Myke

 

[jonothan]

....homeward bound tomorrow...

After 5 days of rest, wandering through the streets of Conil and a fabulous trip up to Vejer De La Frontera for dinner at a Morrocan restaurant, we´re set to depart for home tomorrow, via Ciudad Real, Burgos and Bilbao.

Here´s Vejer, a lovely village high up on a ridge looking over the Gulf of Cadiz..

I can´t pronounce the name but if you clear your throat and bring up phlegm, then you´re pretty close.

The restaurant was great. Really wonderful.

OK, more news as we ride home.

J

 

[jonothan]

Oh yeah, and on the way back from Vejer we got pulled over by the Guardia Civil.

I think they were looking for drugs (is that what Drogas means?) and they looked pretty scary. They don't smile much, the Guardia boys, do they?

Anyway, they asked us where we had come from, and I coughed and cleared my throat, and they pointed to Vejer and nodded sagely and let us go, waving us on with a machine gun.

I was going to ask him the time but Mrs J muttered something about me not starting being clever so we just went on our way. Perhaps telling him the joke about Franco and the goat wouldn't have been such a good idea after all...

 

[oblertone]

I assume ...

.... the Guarda din't comment on your Bluetooth headsets ? Apparently it's illegal in Spain to have twin speakers fitted to your helmet

Jaq and I recently returned from 2 weeks in France/Spain, but my Ride Report is taking longer than yours; keep it up

 

[mr badger]

I was going to ask him the time but Mrs J muttered something about me not starting being clever so we just went on our way. Perhaps telling him the joke about Franco and the goat wouldn't have been such a good idea after all...

A wise woman, Mrs J.

The Guardia Civil is where all the cops go who are too grumpy for the Policia Locale and not bright enough for the Policia Nationale.

Not much sense of humour there.

 

[jonothan]

.... the Guarda din't comment on your Bluetooth headsets ? Apparently it's illegal in Spain to have twin speakers fitted to your helmet

Jaq and I recently returned from 2 weeks in France/Spain, but my Ride Report is taking longer than yours; keep it up

No they never mentioned the headsets. Just said things like "Drogas" and seemed, if I'm honest, not too bothered by us.

Anyway, we're on the way home now. We left Conil at 9.00am and have ridden the 290 miles to Ciudad Real via Seville. The afternoon ride was amazing, single carriageway, a long sweeping road, up and over two high ranges and across two large plains.

Ciudad Real itself is a bit soul-less and the hotel is completely characterless though well appointed.

Anyway, pictures.

The first stop, a truckers stop just east of Seville, was awful but the coffee wasn't too bad....Mrs J needed a comfort break so we couldn't be too choosy.

 

[jonothan]

A stop for petrol some fifty miles later. Why is it that a Coca-Cola and a white chocolate-covered strawberry Magnum in a foreign petrol station is often the most pleasurable snack on earth?....

 

[jonothan]

So we headed kind of north east from Seville up to Cordoba, and when we reached Montoro, we headed north on the N420 which is, for the most part, an amazing biking road and in today's perfect riding weather, absolute biking heaven. We happened upon this little roadside restaurant. The food was great. The waiter was very kind and patient and brought me minced bull made into small footballs and served in tomato sauce (meatballs) and he brought Mrs J some fish in a fishy sauce which she woofed down (in a ladylike fashion of course). Salad to start, soft drinks and coffee to follow and served with home made chips. Total cost just €12.00. Perfect.

The post lunch ride was the clincher, a great afternoon, but by the time we'd reached the rather industrialised and tatty mining town of Puertolanno, we were getting tired so the last few motorway miles were hard work.

The bikes are tucked up in the hotel garage now and after a rest we're off out for dinner.

More tomorrow night from Burgos.

J

 

[Kenny]

Oh yeah, and on the way back from Vejer we got pulled over by the Guardia Civil.

I think they were looking for drugs (is that what Drogas means?) and they looked pretty scary. They don't smile much, the Guardia boys, do they?

Your lucky, I got detained for robbing a bank in Germany...me, a scouser, can you believe that?

K...back to the return leg......

 

[jonothan]

Here's where we're staying in Ciudad Real - the Santa Cecilia Hotel. Rather faded and dated but comfortable enough and at £60 for the night, bed and breakfast, and an extra €8.00 to park the bikes in the underground garage, not bad value.

 

[jonothan]

Mrs J and I took a stroll up to the Plaza Mayor to wander around the shops. We sat and had a beer and watched the world go by. At 8.00pm, these three fellas popped out of the wall underneath the clock in the corner of the square. Rather lovely.

 

[jonothan]

...and at €65.00 each, these Iberian hams are just the job, don't you think?

I want to bring one home but there's no room in the BMW panniers and Mrs J wasn't overkeen on me buying her a backpack and her riding along with the trotter sticking up above her helmet. It would look good, though.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Psssstttt
Jonothan.
The Iberian Hams are pig bits
What would Rabbi say

I wouldn't be able to resist either
Great write up tho' Keep it coming !!

 

[Myke Rocks]

Franco and the goat

Oh yeah, and on the way back from Vejer we got pulled over by the Guardia Civil.

I think they were looking for drugs (is that what Drogas means?) and they looked pretty scary. They don't smile much, the Guardia boys, do they?

Anyway, they asked us where we had come from, and I coughed and cleared my throat, and they pointed to Vejer and nodded sagely and let us go, waving us on with a machine gun.

I was going to ask him the time but Mrs J muttered something about me not starting being clever so we just went on our way. Perhaps telling him the joke about Franco and the goat wouldn't have been such a good idea after all...

Just what is the Franco and the goat joke?

 

[jonothan]

Well, it was all just going too smoothly...wasn't it?

Not a great day today.

First Mrs J's tail light blew which was easily solved and I soon had that changed and a new spare bought at a petrol station. Wish the rest of the day had been so easy.

Second problem was losing Mrs J in Madrid, she missed a turning off the ring road and went merrily on her way while I was turning off down a mile long tunnel followed by a toll plaza with no U-turn option. However, Mrs J is made of stern stuff and soon found her way back to me after a quick phone call and retracing her steps to the missed turn.

Third problem? The f*cking clutch has got air in the hydraulics. Again. After 1500 miles of trouble-free riding since the new master was fitted, once again, after 30-40 minutes of motorway riding, there's air in the system. After using the clutch for a number of gear changes, all seems OK. The BMW Motorrad dealer in Burgos reckons it's the slave. Ideas, anyone? No leaks anywhere but air is getting in somewhere.

Plus points today? Mrs J showing she's so unflappable and a lovely lunch at a motorway cafe of lamb chops and chips!

Right, Mrs J are off out for a drink and a meal.

J

 

[pathfinder]

Not a great day today.

First Mrs J's tail light blew which was easily solved and I soon had that changed and a new spare bought at a petrol station. Wish the rest of the day had been so easy.

Second problem was losing Mrs J in Madrid, she missed a turning off the ring road and went merrily on her way while I was turning off down a mile long tunnel followed by a toll plaza with no U-turn option. However, Mrs J is made of stern stuff and soon found her way back to me after a quick phone call and retracing her steps to the missed turn.

Third problem? The f*cking clutch has got air in the hydraulics. Again. After 1500 miles of trouble-free riding since the new master was fitted, once again, after 30-40 minutes of motorway riding, there's air in the system. After using the clutch for a number of gear changes, all seems OK. The BMW Motorrad dealer in Burgos reckons it's the slave. Ideas, anyone? No leaks anywhere but air is getting in somewhere.

Plus points today? Mrs J showing she's so unflappable and a lovely lunch at a motorway cafe of lamb chops and chips!

Right, Mrs J are off out for a drink and a meal.

J

Guess the dealer is correct,there have been other reports such as yours.The seals in the slave cylinder have been perishing.

 

[Packer]

Mrs J is clearly one very confident and competent lady!

 

[jonothan]

Guess the dealer is correct,there have been other reports such as yours.The seals in the slave cylinder have been perishing.

Yes, maybe. But what I struggle to understand is how replacing the master then gave all those trouble-free miles. Well, no matter, the GS is rideable so long as I keep using the clutch on the motorway. I have called Astle BMW in Grimsby and spoken to the service manager, Richard. I've asked him to see if they can replace all the hydraulic components in the clutch system under warranty; master cylinder, slave cylinder and even the hydraulic line. This will be the third visit to the dealer for the same problem and I'm just beginning to lose faith in what is otherwise a superb bike in all other respects.

Anyway, back to the tour.

We had a lovely ride to Burgos apart from the hitches described. Lunch here was grilled lamb chops with chips, but the lamb was brought to the table on a barbecue thingy with hot coals in the bottom. It was one of the best meals of the trip so far.

 

[jonothan]

In the evening, Mrs J and I wandered around Burgos. A very pretty town it is too.

The Spanish seem to be the only nation I know who eat standing up. Tapas, raciones, you name it. They like to eat standing at a bar. But Burgos was lovely.

Even the BMW Motorrad guys were quite, quite charming.

Here's Burgos at night...