Plaza de Toros, oldest bullfighting ring in the world
23rd - 25th Oct.
From the port at Algeciras, we cruised up to Sevilla, after stopping for some Euro at an ATM, then finally having something to eat. ( I ordered a tortilla, and got an omelette, that's what they call them here! Good though). We booked into the Ibis Budget Hotel in Sevilla for two nights, planning to spend the next day looking around. Lyn dropped her bike on a ramp going into the underground carpark, and the chain came off and jammed, so we couldn't move the bike up or down, blocking the ramp. Luckily some nearby workers saw it, and between us we got it mobile again. The chain was worn anyway, so I replaced it the next day at Eduardo Castro Motos, the local Yamaha dealer. The
From the port at Algeciras, we cruised up to Sevilla, after stopping for some Euro at an ATM, then finally having something to eat. ( I ordered a tortilla, and got an omelette, that's what they call them here! Good though). We booked into the Ibis Budget Hotel in Sevilla for two nights, planning to spend the next day looking around. Lyn dropped her bike on a ramp going into the underground carpark, and the chain came off and jammed, so we couldn't move the bike up or down, blocking the ramp. Luckily some nearby workers saw it, and between us we got it mobile again. The chain was worn anyway, so I replaced it the next day at Eduardo Castro Motos, the local Yamaha dealer. The
Cantilever bridge over Seville's river
guys were really interested in our trip, and looked after us on the work they did. I left the bike there overnight, and walked back to the hotel where Lyn was, and we caught the bus into the city for some sightseeing. After about a million laps of the city on a open top double decker bus, (the bus never went back to the stop we got on at, so we didn't know where to get off), we eventually walked to the city centre and caught another bus back to our hotel around midnight.
I walked back to Castro Yamaha to pick up Lyn's bike, all done, price was as quoted, good guys to deal with, I would recommend them. Heading back to the hotel I got lost.............. Finally back there, we packed up and headed off towards Portugal.
I walked back to Castro Yamaha to pick up Lyn's bike, all done, price was as quoted, good guys to deal with, I would recommend them. Heading back to the hotel I got lost.............. Finally back there, we packed up and headed off towards Portugal.
Spain (Again) after Portugal
The wall to the old city, Sevilla
10th - 11th November
Warm and dried out after a good nights sleep, I organised a new rear tyre for my bike, and got it fitted by Carlos at Castro Yamaha, once again the guys looked after me. A new tube was fitted as well, the old one had been folded over in the tyre, lucky it didn't blow while I was riding. We did some necessary shopping, and sat down to sort out the rest of the trip. I had an uneasy feeling about returning to Morocco, and have no idea why, and Lyn admitted she felt the same. We had no explanation, as we had both really enjoyed it when we were there. Due to this, we decided to stay in Spain until we flew back to Oz in December.
Warm and dried out after a good nights sleep, I organised a new rear tyre for my bike, and got it fitted by Carlos at Castro Yamaha, once again the guys looked after me. A new tube was fitted as well, the old one had been folded over in the tyre, lucky it didn't blow while I was riding. We did some necessary shopping, and sat down to sort out the rest of the trip. I had an uneasy feeling about returning to Morocco, and have no idea why, and Lyn admitted she felt the same. We had no explanation, as we had both really enjoyed it when we were there. Due to this, we decided to stay in Spain until we flew back to Oz in December.
The fort near the main street in Carmona
12th Nov
Leaving Sevilla, we headed east along the main road as far as Carmona, where we turned off and had a look at the old fort in town. Along the road, there were orange trees as far as you could see for miles, still with fruit on them, which was not going to be picked. What a waste!
Back roads to Cordoba, much better riding than the highway. At one stage, we had to ride through a washout, mud all over the boots and bikes, bugger.
It had been threatening rain all day, buy we only got a little light drizzle, although it was cold riding. After Linares, we climbed the range to Ubeda, where the acres of orange trees were replaced with olive trees.
Leaving Sevilla, we headed east along the main road as far as Carmona, where we turned off and had a look at the old fort in town. Along the road, there were orange trees as far as you could see for miles, still with fruit on them, which was not going to be picked. What a waste!
Back roads to Cordoba, much better riding than the highway. At one stage, we had to ride through a washout, mud all over the boots and bikes, bugger.
It had been threatening rain all day, buy we only got a little light drizzle, although it was cold riding. After Linares, we climbed the range to Ubeda, where the acres of orange trees were replaced with olive trees.
The bikes outside the bullfighting arena in Albacete
We followed numerous signs for hotels in Ubeda, but like the ones for the tourism info place, they petered out before reaching the destination, so we moved on in search of a bed for the night. We tried some beside the road, but they were too dear, we eventually found a good one at Villacarillo, just as well, as it was now dark and bloody cold.
13th Nov
Bacon and eggs for breakfast, the first time in months, even it was swimming in olive oil. We rode through more miles of olive trees to Albacete, and from there on to Alcala del Jucar, where we found a good hotel and a reasonable price, with lock up parking for the bikes. It had been raining all around us on the trip there, the
13th Nov
Bacon and eggs for breakfast, the first time in months, even it was swimming in olive oil. We rode through more miles of olive trees to Albacete, and from there on to Alcala del Jucar, where we found a good hotel and a reasonable price, with lock up parking for the bikes. It had been raining all around us on the trip there, the
Alcala del Jucar, built into a gorge
Buildings built into the cliff
road was wet most of the way, but we seemed to be dodging the rain. We knew the town was built into the hillside, but couldn't see any hills, and were getting close to the town, when suddenly the earth opened up into a large gorge, and we started descending into the town. From a distance, the countryside looks flat and barren, you would never know the town was there. It was around 3.30 when we arrived, so we had time to walk up the ten million or so steps to the castle, near the top of the gorge. We saw a mountain goat near the top, there is few around here. The walk was tiring, and there was nowhere open to get a feed, but Lyn managed to get a couple of burgers from the pub for tea.
The road out of Alcala del Jucar
14th Nov.
It was raining when we woke up, but stopped and held off as we left for Benitachel. There was a herd of wild deer on the road just after we came up out of the gorge, but we had just turned off the go pro, so missed getting them on film. The roads were really good all the way to the coast, but it was cold riding. We really need to be out of Europe this time of year. There was a narrow, twisty road down to Oliva that we found by accident, (lost again), then out onto a main road for the final bit into Benitachel, where we met up with Steve and Sonia again. We stayed with them that night, lots of laughs and far too much vino tinto!
It was raining when we woke up, but stopped and held off as we left for Benitachel. There was a herd of wild deer on the road just after we came up out of the gorge, but we had just turned off the go pro, so missed getting them on film. The roads were really good all the way to the coast, but it was cold riding. We really need to be out of Europe this time of year. There was a narrow, twisty road down to Oliva that we found by accident, (lost again), then out onto a main road for the final bit into Benitachel, where we met up with Steve and Sonia again. We stayed with them that night, lots of laughs and far too much vino tinto!
The shirt says it all....
15th - 22nd Nov
We spent a very enjoyable day with Steve and Sonia, (although it did get off to a slow start), and they had arranged for us to leave the bikes in a friends garage while we were away on Ibeza for the next week. Late in the afternoon we were dropped off at the ferry at Denia,
for the 3 hour crossing on the large ferry, which was nearly empty due to it being out of season for tourists. A taxi took us to our apartment, where we were the only guests in the block. We had the prime position, terrific views from our balcony, and for the first few days, great weather, although it was a little windy, and too cold for swimming.
We spent a very enjoyable day with Steve and Sonia, (although it did get off to a slow start), and they had arranged for us to leave the bikes in a friends garage while we were away on Ibeza for the next week. Late in the afternoon we were dropped off at the ferry at Denia,
for the 3 hour crossing on the large ferry, which was nearly empty due to it being out of season for tourists. A taxi took us to our apartment, where we were the only guests in the block. We had the prime position, terrific views from our balcony, and for the first few days, great weather, although it was a little windy, and too cold for swimming.
Indian restaurant in Santa Eularia, with the worlds biggest Naan Bread!
Lyn had left our Oz to europe adapter plug in the wall at Alcala del Jucar, so we went into town and bought a replacement. Unfortunately, the wi fi wasn't much good though, so the blog didn't get updated. We were loaned wetsuits and gear to go snorkelling, but the weather turned shitty on the last few days, so it didn't get used. We did hire a car, and did a tour of the island, a really pretty place, but due to the time of year, a lot of it was closed. They even turn off the ATM's in some places, it is like a ghost town at night. In summer though, it is so packed you can't walk down the street! Some of the nightclubs hold around 6,000 people, the place is party central! We left at the end of the week feeling refreshed, and Steve & Sonia kindly met us at the terminal for the drive back to their place.
Early morning wind taking mist out to sea
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Lyn relaxing on the balcony
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With Steve and Sonia outside their apartment
23rd - 28th Nov
After another great night and too much wine again, (the stuff is so cheap here!!) we packed up our mountain of gear and headed north to Marina D'or, where Lyn had booked another week of cheap off-season time share. We had to be there by 3.00 pm, so took the motorway, which turned out to be a mistake, the tolls for a bike are the same as a car, and it cost us 20 Euros for the 100 kms or so of motorway to Valencia. Never again. Off the motorway, and backroads to Marina D'or, where we couldn't find the unit. Messages to the agent were going to message bank, and not getting answered, so we cruised about and eventually found the building. It
After another great night and too much wine again, (the stuff is so cheap here!!) we packed up our mountain of gear and headed north to Marina D'or, where Lyn had booked another week of cheap off-season time share. We had to be there by 3.00 pm, so took the motorway, which turned out to be a mistake, the tolls for a bike are the same as a car, and it cost us 20 Euros for the 100 kms or so of motorway to Valencia. Never again. Off the motorway, and backroads to Marina D'or, where we couldn't find the unit. Messages to the agent were going to message bank, and not getting answered, so we cruised about and eventually found the building. It
View from the unit at Marina D'or
turns out we were using the wrong number. All was well in the end, we had the choice of 3 apartments, and got the one with the best view, and secure undercover bike parking. A week of doing not much, and not feeling like it really, we both came down with a cold towards the end of the week, and the weather deteriorated, with cool winds and grey skies. The perfect time to update the blog....... A lot of the shops were shut down, the big theme park was closed, and about 90 % of the apartments were empty, so it was very quiet all round.
Lyn's bike fraternising with a spanish police XT660R
We went for a ride around the area, checked out some beaches, and had a chat to a couple of local police guys riding XT660R Yamahas, the same as ours. There is a marina just south of where we were staying, so we had drool over some of the boats moored in there, you never know, one day.........There was a street parade one night, about a dozen floats, all lit up, loud music, performers, fireworks, and about 30 people watching. A shame, someone went to a lot of effort organising it, and no one to see it.
Me, Mariona, and Slavi, at one of the fountains in Barcelona
29th Nov - 9th December
Our time at Marina D'or was over, and we headed north for Barcelona, to stay with Mariona and Slavi, a couple Lyn had found on the HU Communities site, who very kindly said we could stay with them for a few days. The GPS took us to their house outside of Barcelona after an uneventful ride in the rain, so it was a wet and cold couple who turned up on their doorstep late in the afternoon. Our hosts were great, so after a shower and some dry clothes, we sat and had a couple of drinks and talked about our trip. Slavi and Mariona both ride BMW F650's, so there was a lot of ride talk happening. Over the next week or so we visited the Sagrada Familia, Olympic Stadium, and some of the other
Our time at Marina D'or was over, and we headed north for Barcelona, to stay with Mariona and Slavi, a couple Lyn had found on the HU Communities site, who very kindly said we could stay with them for a few days. The GPS took us to their house outside of Barcelona after an uneventful ride in the rain, so it was a wet and cold couple who turned up on their doorstep late in the afternoon. Our hosts were great, so after a shower and some dry clothes, we sat and had a couple of drinks and talked about our trip. Slavi and Mariona both ride BMW F650's, so there was a lot of ride talk happening. Over the next week or so we visited the Sagrada Familia, Olympic Stadium, and some of the other
The Sagrada Familia
sites in Barcelona. Slavi had an oil leak on his bike, so I gave him a hand to fix it, turned out to be the cylinder to crankcase base gasket, it had been installed wrong from new. Shopping, (or at least looking in the shops) was another pastime, we can't buy anything because we can't carry anything on the bikes. What a great excuse! While in Barcelona, we also met up with another Aussie couple that were travelling through at the time, Ron & Michelle Legge, (leggingit.com.au) who are two up on a Honda Transalp. They are heading south for the winter, down to Morocco, so we discussed that over a meal and a couple of glasses of cordial. A couple of days later we caught up again and did a few more tourist things in the city.
Lyn has been getting a bit homesick lately, and with winter fast approaching, and a few issues we need to sort out back in Oz, Lyn has booked a couple of tickets back to Brisbane for Xmas. Slavi and Mariona have been kind enough to let us store the bikes there while we are away, thanks a lot guys, you have really been an amazing help to us. Our departure day arrived, so off to the airport, and back to some warm weather for a while.
To be continued when we get back............
Lyn has been getting a bit homesick lately, and with winter fast approaching, and a few issues we need to sort out back in Oz, Lyn has booked a couple of tickets back to Brisbane for Xmas. Slavi and Mariona have been kind enough to let us store the bikes there while we are away, thanks a lot guys, you have really been an amazing help to us. Our departure day arrived, so off to the airport, and back to some warm weather for a while.
To be continued when we get back............
