Valencia MotoGP Road trip

[JimmyMac]

Got a chance to update this thread as the TV in my hotel is all Spanish apart from BBC World service which is really depressing.

Had a day off the bike Friday to explore Barcelona and practice my very poor Spanish. I've been here a few times but only ever passing through and I have been told it so beautiful I thought I must give it a good walking through.
Went for a dander up to Sagrada Familia and bought a Catalonia sticker for my bike, well it is now independent so I'm claiming another country since Andorra was a failure.

Speaking of Andorra I got an email from BikeTrac telling me I had a 'bike down' alert and it stated it was in Andorra............ excitedly I looked up the exact point of my crash and it was around 150 metres away from the border, shite, that's not even a duffed 6 iron away, or a Soofy career best 3 wood, lol.

That orange line is the France-Andorra border, Grrrrrr.

I set off for a walk towards the promenade and on the way saw several beautiful buildings which were worthy of further exploration but will keep that for a holiday with my Wife as I'm considerate like that.

I gave these buskers some Euros and donated some earplugs for the wee dug.

Met this wee dug in the park near the Zoo, was really impressed that it was wearing the Catalonia collar.

JimmyMac




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[JimmyMac]

Was looking for inspiration to do something different to my usual aimless bumbling around and looked skyward for inspiration.

Looked over to where the Spanish Explorer was pointing and saw my personal nightmare............... A cable car.

I genuinely have only one fear in life and that is heights. It's in my nature to meet challenges head on and I knew I would have to go on it.

The Friday before I left for this trip I went up a 12 metre Cherry Picker for a roof inspection and was shitting bricks, this was way higher than that.

I had a walk up to the Olympic park and made my way up to the cable car launch pad.

Don't know who this Lady was but it made me laugh as I though of Guy Martin saying to keep between the hedges.


Ticket in hand I walk the short distance to the cable car and kept looking around to see if any James Bond baddies were about that would bite through the cables.

Stepping in to the death chamber wasn't too bad but when it moved off I could feel my toes curling and searching for grip, seriously it paralysis me and I know full well where the expression 'Rooted to the floor' originates.

I was embarrassed to be standing next to a little French girl who was jumping about and singing the whole journey, she was about 7 years old and wasn't phased at all.

It made me wonder how a grown man who has been in real life or death situations numerous times could be shown up by a little girl but hey ho, that's life.

Finally the ordeal was over and I had done my 'One thing each day that scares me' to quote Baz Lurhmann from his song 'Sunscreen'.

I mentioned on here a few weeks back that I live my life by that song and I wasn't joking.

A slow walk back from the Marina through the back streets got me back to my hotel and lavished the bike with its new flag.

I had walked constantly for 6 hours and my hip has loosened off fine after being stiff this morning due to 15 stone of solid muscle landing on it in yesterday's snow. lol.

JimmyMac



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[soofsayer]

Nice write up jimmy. Where r u now.

 

[Oli]

Congratulations on facing your fear Jimmy!
Did you feel slightly less anxious at any point during the ride? Hopefully next time you face heights it?ll be that bit easier.

Have got to say this is a fantastic thread, really enjoying reading about your trip and seeing the photos.
Thank you for taking the time to keep the thread updated!

 

[JimmyMac]

Congratulations on facing your fear Jimmy!
Did you feel slightly less anxious at any point during the ride? Hopefully next time you face heights it?ll be that bit easier.

No Oli was shitting it the whole time, got worse when it got to the middle as there is a big tower and the climb becomes very steep. A few years back I did the Skyride in Kissimee with a friend of mine from the Police, he knew I have a fear of heights and couldn't believe I did it.

Its a purely physical reaction so it's easy to overcome it by a strong mind, my body will always react in the same way but I will never give in to it.

Andy, I'm in Ciudad Real at the moment and will be hitting Portugal tomorrow. Currently charging up all my gear and will be researching your roads in a wee while. My plans are very fluid, I set off today with the intention of riding small roads on a westerly heading and finding a hotel near tea time, scored big time!!!!!

JimmyMac

 

[JimmyMac]

Dont' know if you'll get that far but I stayed in Aracena at the Convento and it was very nice . The road from there across to Portugal is a good ride too.

Just seen where that is Andy, I'm a bit North of that so won't get to experience it this time, got to keep heading northwest as I'm on the Santander ferry on Thursday.

JimmyMac

 

[stuartb]

Good photographs and write up Jimmy, I'm the same as you terrified of heights.. so I know what it feels like...keep the photies coming and ride safe.

S

 

[Budgie]

Great pictures and write up Jimmy, looks like you've had a good time mate.

 

[JimmyMac]

Good photographs and write up Jimmy, I'm the same as you terrified of heights.. so I know what it feels like...keep the photies coming and ride safe.

S

Aye, I'm lucky that I'm only 5'8" Stuart.

Great pictures and write up Jimmy, looks like you've had a good time mate.

Cheers Budgie.

JimmyMac

 

[phil]

Excellent write up Jimmy, and thanks for taking time to post and upload all the pictures.

I am another that is terrified of heights, you did well mate.

Hope the weather stays kind for you.

 

[FreudianSlip]

I cant believe there are so many 'big jessies' in this group - scared of a few feet of elevation - all riding monster s1000rr's ... Spiders.. now theres something to be frightened of.. :E

 

[Oli]

I cant believe there are so many 'big jessies' in this group - scared of a few feet of elevation - all riding monster s1000rr's ... Spiders.. now theres something to be frightened of.. :E

Spiders and eye drops for me lol ...

 

[alex]

Just caught up on this thread, having waited to read it properly.
My word, that's a trip, full of memories and it's not done yet. From those uniformed failed-human-beings to the sights of Barca, either side of the GP.
Those cable cars are great, for the view. Good on ya getting on board.
Great photo's and story telling as always

 

[JimmyMac]

Friday night in Barca and all that is left for me to do is grab a few pressies for my Wife and Daughter and have a McDonalds, first fast food of the trip and it is exactly as I remembered it!!!!!!!!

Shops were getting all Christmassy but it was 17c and quite a contrast to home.

Next morning and I loaded the horse and headed off to the Blackpool in the sun that is Benidorm. Been here a good few time with my pals on Stags etc and was looking forward to it quite a bit.

I stopped about halfway to get some petrol and saw a British plated Range Rover with a caravan attached. Always the shy retiring type I sought out the owners who were sitting under a tree with there Dog Holly wearing her Poppy with pride.

Turns out they were here for the winter and travelling back to Bury St. Edmunds in March. The husband was telling me that he used to race Formula 1 sidecars back in the day and we were both discussing the next days MotoGP. All of a sudden he jumped up and started shouting to an older couple who were also with a caravan in the car park. Turns out he saw a thieving bastard go into their caravan and come out with a handbag. We managed to get the number plate of the bastards car as it flew out of the car park but I was half dressed with my helmet on the ground so couldn't do much else.

We said our goodbyes and I headed towards Benidorm. About 12 miles from the services I got stopped by a Police roadblock which I was very impressed with in that they set it up so quick to catch the caravan thieves.

They were heavily armed and I recognised their technique of stopping traffic whilst armed as myself and another forum member on here used to do the same, when we were slightly younger, Ahem.

I was expecting to get waved through once they realised I was a witness but one of them was shouting aggressively in Spanish and I couldn't make out what he was on about. I told him I had seen the incident and he told me he didn't care, he already knew about it from the couple in the Range Rover.

Turns out he was more concerned about me doing 144kph in a 120 limit. I explained that his radar must be broken as I was doing much more than that, lol.
He clearly went to same comedy school as all my other Traffic mates who got their sense of humour put in a sealed jar and we agreed on a 50% discount if I paid on the spot and 'nil puntos' which was my only concern.

?50 lighter, I buggered off hoping his gun goes rusty.

I managed to avoid any more bandits, real or government owned and made my way safely to the Melia hotel.

I booked the Melia hotel as I have stayed there before and it is full of old folk and you get a good sleep cause they go to bed early.

I had a wee ride about town wearing a t-shirt and jeans and popped into the Rangers pub in the old town. This might be a clue as to why I've had 3 red, white and blue Adventures.

For some reason the town didn't appeal to me as much as it did when I was drinking so I retired early, had a traditional Scottish tea, watched the X Factor and Quantum of Solace on ITV and was up with the Larks ready for the racing.

JimmyMac





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[JimmyMac]

This is for Wayne and Oli, I shared a room with this fella for the whole TT fortnight in 2016, can't believe it's still on my phone.

Hope you sleep well, lol.

JimmyMac



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[Oli]

This is for Wayne and Oli, I shared a room with this fella for the whole TT fortnight in 2016, can't believe it's still on my phone.

Hope you sleep well, lol.

JimmyMac



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That, is horrendous ... [emoji27]

Thanks Jimmy!

 

[Beavis]

Great write up Jim , you're some man and to go all these places on your own is amazing. Take care and stay safe mate , catch you when you're home.

 

[soofsayer]

full of old folk that go to sleep early - lol.

 

[FreudianSlip]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q4YTpa3Bwg&feature=share

That’s for you Jimmy ... I’m now going to gaffer tape myself into a sleeping bag and pray that I see the morning.

 

[JimmyMac]

full of old folk that go to sleep early - lol.

Youve got me thinking now Soofy........ Might be skidding uncontrollably into that bracket, lol.

JimmyMac