Playing catch up

There is something comforting about travelling with people, it’s the easy option, the warmth felt by friendship, a mutual appreciation of the way we tour together, it’s just a nice feeling and one that most people would opt for. This is the problem, the presence of people conflict with the life I have to now create for myself, or at least think I have to. Because people will not always be there, so I have to be self sufficient. 

On a simpler note the blog is getting neglected because I’m enjoying my time with my travel buddies, but the trade off is getting in the way of conveying my thoughts back to you in Blighty.

As I walked away from four of the Famous Five, I felt a realisation of being the solo person I now am.

It was strange to leave Ernie, Jenny, Nige and Sue in the centre of Porto and walk off to do my own thing. The comfort of being with a group is very warming, but as I left them and strolled downhill along the cobbled streets, a strange feeling washed over me. I remembered that over the last few months I’d spent my last week in Scandinavia with Jacob, ten days with Ray and Ken in Belgium and France and then a weekend with Ray at Aviemore. Now I was solo again, I felt a sudden jolt back to being in the place I really am, a loneliness and emptiness from connection. So I focus on the positives, no compromises to be made, I choose what I want, when and how I want it. It’s not better, it’s just different and sometimes not particularly easy.

Ourense to Porto

Central European Time always feels an hour wrong, and as we hit the road from our remarkable stopover just outside Ourense, there was a nice cooling to the 17 degree air. It was gloriously sunny, the long shadow of the bike and me swaying from side to side as we wound our way through the sweeping bends towards Portugal gave me a huge feel good factor. The morning part of the ride was probably going to be the most comfortable, we knew that as the hours ticked by it would get very close to the comfort threshold of 30c, and it did.

We headed through the Paneda-Gerês National Park, a detour which was truly worth the extra €4.50 for three bikes. The dense pine forest and hairpin bending road eventually leading down to the albeit ‘touristy’ Cavado River where we stopped for a simple lunch. The climb up was very ‘bendy’ on a good road surface. It was hitting 30+ by the time we headed towards Porto. It was my fault that it cost us a sum total of about £60 for not going through the correct lane at the start of the toll road! 😬

We arrived in Porto on the weekend of the festival of the White Night.

Recap

Not wishing to big myself up in the world of travel, but I’ve stayed in a few places over the last two years and would say that I’m beginning to become a discerning motorcycle traveller.

I have to say that Nige is in danger of surpassing my reputation as a bit of an accommodation magician! 

On my previous trip (to the Western Front) with Ray and Ken, I luckily ‘pulled a few rabbits out of the hat’ with either choices of places to stay or places to eat, and as such earned a little of their respect as a bit of a travel guru.

When Nige and I planned this trip together he pretty much took the helm when it came to accommodation and I have to say he’s set the bar high! We started at one of Spain’s well renowned paradores, this one at Fuente De high in the Picos. To coin the strap line from an old Croft Original advert ’One instinctively knows when something is right’. If the setting of the hotel wasn’t enough with the jagged mountain peaks set very close behind, then as we walked up to the front door, the classic cars parked outside sent the right signals. As if that wasn’t enough we had all the friendly staff immaculately turned out in their matching uniforms, the highly polished creaky wooden floors, high ceilings, quiet seating areas of occasional furniture, huge bedrooms with balconies and mountain views and the rarest of things….. a metal door key on a brass fob! All of this gave the ambience of quality and set the tone for the trip.

The second night (Leon) was more modern, but definitely ticked all the boxes after a long and enjoyable day in the saddle.

But the place he chose just outside Ourense in Galicia was remarkable!

I have to say that of everywhere I’ve stayed in the last two years this is probably the most exceptional! Quality, value for money, setting and a small family business with local produce. Five stars!

Ernie and his involuntary twitch

Ernie has become so Harleyfied that riding a BMW is requiring him to hit the reset button as a motorcyclist, a sort of born again biker.

He didn’t realise he had difficulty finely controlling his right hand until he twisted the throttle of his GS for an overtake. Let’s just say that Jenny was glad there was a top box on the back of the bike. ‘Ham Fisted Ernie’ as he is now known, is spending a few days and miles finely tuning his wrist action, if you pardon the expression, in an effort to produce a less dramatic ride for those aboard his relatively lively BMW.