Hi guys,
My thoughts on Solo Touring, well like most of us i've toured normally with a mate or two. This time i left home, family and friends on my own heading across Spain from Santander to Algerciras where i was to meet an Italian chap i'd met through (horizonsunlimited website). The plan was to ride across Spain as quickly as possible meet up with him then next stop Morocco. Well i done my bit rode like hell late into the night reaching Merida where i had to stay as it was late, then i left early in the morning reaching Algerciras for the planned meet.
He never arrived due to an alleged breakdown, first excuse was a broken stand, then hand gaurds and finally an electrical problem. I booked into the AC hotel for the night at a cost of 75euros to await his arrival the next day, more phone calls, more waiting, more money later a phone call to say he would be around 3 to 4 days before his bike would be fixed.
I decided to head off alone and try to enjoy the time i had left, unfortunately i didn't go to Morocco as i was quite down by this time, after all the weeks of planning, money spent, Insurances etc arranged it all felt a waste and not through my fault.
I crossed the border into Gibraltar and had a ride round the Rock, Europa point etc, then booked into the Bristol Hotel headed into town for good old Cod n Chips and a nice pint of English Ale (seemed abit bazaar riding all that way in a short space of time to eat fish n chips, speak English and drink London Pride). My mood started to change and when i left Gib a couple days later after a walk up the Rock etc i was chirpy and back in the saddle heading east along the coast road enjoying the views to Benalmadena where i stayed two nights in a lovely family run hotel.
My Partner back home had moved my ferry departure time home from Santander forward a couple days, so i left Benalmadena and headed north over the mountains and through some of the most amazing scenery of the trip, the weather was pretty dank and cold but i plugged in my borrowed heated jacket and decided to keep going, now heading west to Seville where i got a bit lost at rush hour (scary but fun). When i found the correct road north i pinned the throttle back to Merida to the hotel where i had stayed on the way down, i was greeted like a long lost friend when the manager saw me. In the morning i rode back to Santander for 7hrs in some of the coldest, windiest weather i've ever ridden in only to find the ferry was cancelled due to bad weather, well whats a man to do now? i thought as i found a hotel and went out to do a study of all the bars in Santander.
Would i do it again? Damn right i would but with a trusted friend or on my own, once i had got over the dissapointment of being let down i realised it was probably for the best, if he had of turned up it might have ruined the whole trip and i wouldn't of met some of the wonderfull people i met in Spain.
All i can say is go for it, i'm always dreaming of where next and still smile at some of the thoughts and conversations i had inside my plastic dome.
Sorry it wasn't ment to be that long got carried away haha Happy New Year.
Jim