2 days to go - packing time!

Decided to give the bike a quick once-over and start packing all the important stuff. Noticed that the cush-drive rubbers were half shot again (after a few thousand miles). Shocking, Yamaha must make them out of chocolate..... Did the usual fix of chopping an old inner-tube up and packing the rubber strips in between the sprocket holder and the original cush-drive rubbers. Gives a nice tight fit and should prevent any further wear and slop in the drive-line.

Also spotted that the gear lever was very loose. Awkward access, but it's a nice and tight fit now.

Tyres are not great, but they will do until we get back home. Pumped them up to just above the maximum 2-up pressure as I don't want them over-heating....

Other than that, the bike is fine - having been serviced recently. A bit of checking, oiling, greasing, lubing and unnecessary fettling and she's good to go.

Fixed my tent (replaced a broken pole) and then started putting all of the camping and cooking gear into my new massive LOMO 100 litre dry-bag. Filled the entire bag! It looks silly and encroaches on the rear seat a little - but what can you do when you need to get 2 people's stuff onto one bike.... Might have to re-think this when on the road - I have my old Ortlieb bag in there so may go for a twin stacked arrangement to see if that helps.

Got a couple of spare tubes and some tools loaded-up so we should be OK with any minor issues.

Put a few essentials into the panniers and then pointed-out that the remaining space in one of the panniers was all that my wife is getting for all of her personal items. Looks like she will also be taking a small ruck-sack! I don't need much stuff beyond my bike 'compression' clothing which I can wash on the road and it will dry overnight - so I just need a T-shirt or two and my Bear Grylls survival trousers!

We're good to go!

Route / Plan

Always good to have a plan. Sometimes best not to stick to it too rigidly, but you gotta start somewhere. Here's a starter for 10: -

Day 1 – Sun. 01/05/16 - Swindon > Plymouth ~165 miles (3 hours)

Plymouth to Santander boat sails at 15:45 so we leave Swindon at 09:00 via Bristol / Dunkeswell to visit older son at Uni / Parachuting.

Day 2 – Mon. 02/05/16 (Bank Holiday) – Santander > San Vicente de la Barquera A8 > Unquera N621

> Buelles N-621 > La Hermida N621 > Potes > La Vega > Vejo > Portilla de la Reina
> Riano ~105 miles (4 hours)

Boat arrives in Santander at 12:15 – Road cuts through Picos Mountains

Day 3 – Tue. 03/05/16 – Riano > Retuerto N625 > Casielles > Canga de Onis > Oviedo > Ribadeo ~195

miles (<7 hours)

Camp by the sea somewhere.

Day 4 – Wed. 04/05/16 – Ribadeo > Lugo > Santiago de Compostela > Vigo ~180 miles (5 hours)

Check-out pilgrimage destination and try to cover some distance.

Day 5 – Thu. 05/05/16 – Vigo > Moncao (P) > Braga > Porto > Vila Nova de Gaia ~105 miles (4 hours)

Camp outside of Porto by the beach and get the bus into town for drinks.

Day 6 – Fri. 06/05/16 – Vila Nova de Gaia > Peso da Regua N222 > Pinhao > Macedo de Cavaleiros

> Braganca ~190 miles (<6 hours)

Road runs along first part of Douro Valley before heading North towards Spain

This is where we run out of time so may need to do 2 days in one if we haven't already made-up time:

Day 7 – Sat. 07/05/16 – Braganca > Ponferrada (E) > Villablino ~150 miles (4 hours)

Day 7! – Sat. 07/05/16 –Villablino > Vanes > Aguilar de Campoo ~145 miles (3.5 hours)


Get back into the Picos Mountains for an easy run back to the port.

Day 8 – Sun. 08/05/16 – Aguilar de Campoo > Corconte > Santander ~75 miles (2.5 hours)

Boat leaves at 17:15 so we head-out slowly and stop for lunch en-route.

Day 9 – Mon. 09/05/16 – Portsmouth > Swindon ~80 miles (2 hours)

Boat arrives at 20:45 so we ride straight home.

8 days to go.... but where to go?

This year my bike trip plans didn't really pan-out as expected.....

Plan A - The original plan was for a bike trip that would bring together a lot of my old pals for a drunken adventure around my favourite bike destination - Morocco. This would be the funniest trip of all time as we are all the best of friends since childhood and the possibilities for fun are endless.

Plan B - With limited holiday availability we all decided that perhaps it would make more sense to do something a little closer to home. Boat to Spain and then a loose plan from there.

Weeks passed and it became clear that not everyone could commit the time, money and / or they couldn't get hold of a bike.... On top of that, the Plymouth / Portsmouth to Santander / Bilbao tickets were selling-out fast so a decision had to be made. The alcohol inspired plan was falling apart at the seams.....

Plan C - Does Dino fancy another trip to the continent? Unfortunately Dino's father passed-away so he had to burn a lot of his leave on sorting-out his late father's estate. Dino was out.

Plan D - Go Nomad. I am happy travelling on my own. Whilst not having anyone to share the experience with, you do engage more with the locals, get a better feel for a place and you can do what you want, how you want, when you want. That said, suddenly having to pay a load of extra money for cabins, accommodation, etc. seemed a bit wasteful which led to......

Plan E - Take the wife as a pillion! I normally do these trips as a bit of an escape and I don't mind roughing-it so why take someone who prefers home comforts and doesn't like motorbikes..... I would have even less space for my gear and the bike riding fun would be reduced but: -

1). It didn't cost much more than going solo, so it would be a cheap 'holiday treat' for her.
2). I will have someone who can cook for me.
3). The distances are pretty short so I shouldn't get too many complaints.
4). My mum was happy to 'baby-sit' our 13-yr old.
5). I will have someone to drink Port with in Porto.

So, boat from Plymouth to Santander. Picos de Europa. North Coast of Spain (mostly back-roads). Santiago de Compostela. Northern Portugal and down to Porto. Douro Valley. Back via Spanish back-roads and through the Picos. Ferry from Santander to Portsmouth and home. So only about 1500 miles or so in 9 days (2 days on the boat). Easy.....