I can start this one by saying it is tough to keep up with the blogging as a combo of jet lag and keeping busy has hit me between the eyes. As eluded last entry I did not get a good sleep.....sigh. So am running on half a tank but no matter all is good. We had our briefing yesterday on what to expect today so we had to show up for 9 ready to hop on a bike and go. That being said the hotel had a great breakfast the usual European fair...all sorts of meats and cheeses....and they even had bacon and eggs. All good. Topped that off with a decent coffee and I was ready to get my gear ready to go.  

My packing consists of bags in bags...so just had to pop out me bags....and now I had two empty suitcases. No worries, one fit inside the other...zipped those up and then gave them to the receptionist for keeping as we return to this hotel in the end when its allllll done. How I hope time does not travel too fast but I digress.... With that done the van showed up, we all were waiting with bags in hand tossed everything in the van...and we commenced to walk to the shop, its only a couple of blocks away. We had our gear on and everybody seems pretty upbeat.....there are some characters in the group but its a small group...3 southerners....1 California, one sorta canuck aside from meself and a Washington dude. Some very different opinions on things already...so I just am standing back throwing some fuel on the discussions heh heh.... Seems Trump or Democrats or Obama or gun control....that gets them going....I just sit back n watch. Heh heh one who shall remain nameless seems to think we wear plaid shirts and all have dog sleds....chewing me lip.... chewing me lip......just grinning a lot. We managed to find the shop....and the bikes were ready to go. Great operation, very organized...just had to do a walk about...and sign off.  

I only needed to mount me tank bag and I was good to go. Should only have taken a couple of minutes to remove 1...yup....just one screw..in a recess....with a hand torx key.....ya....just one. Wellllll, One broken crappy set of universal pliers....busted...me cussing under me breath...a lot.... and voila done...easy peezy, oh and about 15 minutes later, only saving grace was no cuts. Friggg.... no stress there. So all was good and everyone else got ready too. Pina actually had put on a coffee cup holder on his RT.......uhhh just wrong...thats all I got to say about that. The mix was 2 800 GS's, 2 RT's (me being one), and the rest 1200 GS's. Martin had a GS also, they had a van for a support vehicle that would follow us. Roger and Martin are going to swap riding and driving as they both hate driving the van. The night before whilst swapping war stories there seemed to be a unanimous decision made, I would be number 2 rider after Martin...seems he rides fast and everyone to a man pointed at me to be right behind him...they would take up the rear. All I could say was whattttt.......but accepted my fate. Everyone was ready....and we lit em up and with that....off we went through the streets of Barcelona heading North and West. Th driving order was Martin, Me, Phil (800 GS), Greg (800 GS), Dan (1200 GS), Mike (1200 GS), Lee (1200 GS), and in the rear PIN (1200 RT). The bike was good, but no stereo...so I decided hell with it I'll just hum in me head for this one. It's weird riding with a group but I got used to it pretty quick....so we all got used to our rides and we were a nice lil bike convoy on the freeway out of Barcelona.  

I guess I should fill everyone in on what I am doing here on this tour.....well I basically head north from Barcelona...then west...and follow the Spanish-French border. The plan is to cross the border multiple times then wander back to Barcelona. We will be going up and down passes that are some of the best riding in Europe, this includes several passes that are used in the Tour de France. We also are to get a massive cultural lesson on the nuances of Spain and a bit of France....the Basque, the Andorrians, the Catalans, etc etc. I've learned a bit so far and holy moly this area is complicated....but in the end I really am here for the ride to clear me head and de-stress....the best way I currently know.....massive curves on a trusty steed. Oh an some good food thrown in for a good mix. 

Well ... after our first turn off of the main highway I knew it was going to be fun. The road narrowed...traffic disappeared, the weather was great.....Martin pinned it....and I just latched on to him. What a blast!!!!! I have never seen a GS ridden like that, I only read about it...seems it is nimble. Oh right the rest of the guys....ya they were not in my mirror...oops. I only had a oops once in a corner where i blipped the gas a bit by accident, this caused me to upright a bit and lose my line in the corner....welll....did my best Valentini Rossi move, the foot came off the peg...foot dragging...just went wide and got my line back at the edge of the curve.... no panics just looked goofy I think. Martin saw it did you alright move with the hands...I gave a thumbs up and off we went again. Well this wild Rodd went on for a bit and was a blast...we popped into a small town....and lo and behold....a coffee shop. We pulled in...and waited.....and waited....I heard a bike...it was Phil. He pulled in....looked at me....gave a "Sheeeeeitttttt! There you were, I looked down and you guys were gone.....never to be seen again!" Just about then the rest of the group showed up. I gave a grin...High fived Martin, and off we all went for some cafe con leche. Everyone was having fun so far....and one was isolating himself a bit more by insisting on smoking cigars whilst we were nearby and he didn't really care that we didn't want to suck it in.  

With few more southern barbs to the South Caroline trio....any time you mention them...its okay to insert the banjo tune from Deliverance....its what I do .... and I raz em pretty good so far. they get a kick out of it and our one Harley owner is taking all the barbs on The chin and dishing it out too, all good. We all got back on the steeds and poof.....we was gone in a blast. Again....me n Martin pulled away after about the third sweeper....and off we went. Its a very fun ride to see how far the guy in front is leaning and you are right a couple of feet from his tire doing the same. I just had a big arse grin on in me helmet ... ear ta ear. We just kept going and poof.....we popped up at the top of the pass and voila....a ski resort and a restaurant. We pulled in....and waited....chatting....and eventually I heard a bike....Phil again. He pulled in and we had the same conversation...."Sheeeiiiit!!!!!!  there ya were I looked down and up and y'all were gone!" and about then the rest of the pack showed up, I high fived Martin again and offf we all went to for some lunch.  

Must say this is were this tour is looking to be a good thing from travel ling alone. I can't tell Catalan from Spanish...so when I hear Catalan I think its Spanish...that I do not understand but for things I know...WTH....this is were both Martin and Roger laugh and point out in English ya the waiter is speaking Catalan...seems in the north they go back and forth into Catalan and Spanish all the time. Pity the poor dude (Me) with the Spanish dictionary trying to figure out what they are saying. All good and they both are coaching us all in Spanish. I seem to be getting by better than average so far. We got a lesson on local foods.... had a great cafe.....and off we went. Martin decided since we are a small group and we are riding at a good pace we could add things to the ride. We were going to continue riding to a town called La Seu D'Urgell. Just south of Andorra...I wanted to go to Andorra....so was planning to when we got to the hotel. Not necessary.....Martin changed our route so that we would go north farther into France then turn south to go through Andorra to end up at the same place. Perfect! Off we went. Oh Andorra is a very small country...kind of a city state. Look it up on a map.....

So off we headed to Col de Puymorens....just north of Andorra....the same pace....Martin off an running, me nipping at his heals. I am very impressed with his riding abilities, lots of twisties and amazing scenery, great combo. In what seemed like no time we were rolling into Andorra....cows wandering around.....goats....sheep......so had to watch for them on the road. So Andorra is a tax free zone....so of course we hit traffic. Its a cool looking place....takes about 20 minutes to go from end to end it seems with a bit of a city in the middle. We stopped to get some gas...cheaper here...and took in the views. Martin warned us to watch the corners here as a lot of fuel trucks go through here and they spill diesel on the corners...very slippery.  

I should also mention that every time we stopped and went again.....Roger would take off in front of us and ambush us with a camera in a corner or from a hill. I think he has some cool pics so far. The ride out from our viewing point was fun. Here we hit the border and there was security. We were told no problem we will just drive through. Not....the guard stood in front of Martin and waved him in then me....and made everyone else continue through. Ugh....Martin babbled away and his Spanish is very quick so its hard to translate live.....It seemed to get a bit animated....and the dude kept staring at me. He did a search of Martins top box and I headed to mine to open it up...and he decided I was okay....with that he waved us out and off we went....the pack was waiting. We learned later that Roger who was a bit behind us went through, this is where it got a bit interesting. Our bags are in his van....they wanted to search the bags....he was saying not mine....but ours....so the guy wanted him to call us and make us come back. But by this time we were already at the hotel and in the pool, not gunna happen. So they said they need to search and he would be responsible for anything found....Roger let them and all good. They let him go on his way.   

We oblivious pulled into the town and it is pretty cool with a castle off on a lil hill....and we had reservations at a cool Paradores. It was about 5...so a long day of riding and I think wee did less than 300 kms. Turns out there is a big party in town tonight too, some kind of summer festival. It was hot...I was sweaty....I went straight to me room found me trunks and headed for the pool. Ahhhhhhhh....refreshing after a long day of riding.

Each evening we are to have a briefing on the next day and from there we go for a group supper meant to let us taste the local fare....and wines and beers. Until then...I decided to just wander off to explore and fount the whole town was wandering about...I found a cafe right in the middle of it....plunked down...ordered some beers....and did some people watching. I wandered back to the hotel just in time for the briefing. Roger was leading us tomorrow so he does the briefing. its quite entertaining and from there we went for supper. OMG......goooooooood....thats all I got to say about that. From there a bunch of us wandered for a walk to check out the action and walk off the supper. The place was rocking...that is for sure. We sat for some beers and banter....and with that headed back to the hotel for some needed sleep. Great day!!!