Northabout

Andalucia to Scotland then all things North Read more

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Trip start
June 28, 2023
Northabout Traveler
I'm Off Then
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Leaving on my epic (for me) trip to the arctic via Scotland where it is pretty arctic anyway.
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Cabezas Rubias
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Breakfast with the blondes
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Bee Stop
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Forced eviction of buzzy thing hitch hiking in helmet
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Northabout Traveler
Bike Dealer
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
After years struggling to find Ducati dealers I pull off the motorway at Mertola to have a leak and find....
TravelerAin't that always the way?
8/18/23Reply
4 likes
Northabout Traveler
Day 1
June 28, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C
Landed for the day near Talavera as in Shape's Eagle. E33 for a room, somewhere to park my bike round the back under the washing lines and I can eat dinner here. 470 k....less than I might wish for but adequate. I hurt a lot!Read more
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Guadalajara
June 29, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Through Madrid... very scary with lots of junctions joining in the fast lane and a lorry reversing down the motorway because he had overshot the badly signposted junction to Zaragoza.... and all before brekkers.....oh and the walking man is buried in Madeira. We saw his grave in Funchal.....just for interest!Read more
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Villanueva de Gallego
June 29, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Well that is better... beyond Zaragoza and it is only lunch time......and I found lunch too!
TravelerActually the lentajas for starters had hairy bits in it....a pig which had not shaved for a bit methinks.....and the squid was only cooked on the outside and still pulsing inside so back to lunch insufficiency
6/29/23Reply
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Castillo de Loarre
June 29, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Well this was waypoint 1 and I had hoped to be posting drone pics but very windy and now RAINING. My first night under canvass in 50 years!
Traveler🤣🤣
7/3/23Reply
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Igiés. Breakfast
June 30, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Well getting the tent down and packed in a gale was a bit of a struggle. Of course I had to give up filming the castle but whole area is very lovely so I am sure I will be back
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Roquefort
June 30, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Seriously pretty coming over the mountains. They are building an autopista but only sections of it are finished. Raining but hey ho
TravelerHope you eating some cheese with the wine tonight ! X
6/30/23Reply
TravelerActually the whole place reeks of cheese! Nothing subtle about it! French food seems to have become 'fast' and dare I say it 'American '
6/30/23Reply
Traveler❤️
6/30/23Reply
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Very Damp
July 1, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
Well it is wet. Very wet. I have to say this has put thoughts of le camping out of my mind for this evening with a warm brick tent to replace it. So far my favorite bit of France is this croissant
Very dmp here too this morning, but sun out now. You’re making good progress, just take care of wet greasy roads and pillaging French.... [Jeanne]
7/1/23Reply
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Uh Oh.....
July 1, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 23 °C
Saint Jean D'Angely so riots in Nantes.....quick cancellation of my hotel in the middle and now staying in the smallest village I could find to the south. Oh dear....
TravelerThat doesn't sound good, take care x
7/1/23Reply
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Fontaines
July 1, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 24 °C
Well I seem to have escaped the riots, at least for tonight, by hiding in a Gite in the middle of nowhere......but a very nice nowhere
4 likes
Northabout Traveler
Mont St Michel
July 2, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Dull windy day but it is still very impressive
5 likes
Northabout Traveler
Caen
July 3, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Staying close to the port, lots of history but not very pretty so here are some sunflowers I flew over instead
TravelerHad a lovely week there seeing the Bayeaux tapestry and cathedral, then got stuck at marina sea end of canal for another week because of bad weather, they wouldn't open lock gates, now that was boring x
7/3/23Reply
Used to fly to Caen from Jersey in a Dakota....for weekends in Paris! [Jeanne Latham]
7/4/23Reply
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Ouistreham
July 4, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
No Breakfast!
TravelerThere is a rue Philippe Kieffer in ousterham ....... he was my great uncle
7/4/23Reply
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Pompey
July 4, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
I wonder how long it will take me to get through arrivals
TravelerProper yacht with a bare naked forestay an all
7/4/23Reply
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Drenched
July 4, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Well Portsmouth was fine but on the way towards Oxford it rained a bit....then more....then torrents of the bloody stuff. Deep standing water all over the road, huge spray from too fast lorries and I couldn't see a thing. My Roku kit kept most of me dry but my boots filled up....so I abandoned the day and retreated to a travel lodge. Early tomorrow looks ok and I will continue but my few hours in hand have all gone.Read more
TravelerGrim
7/4/23Reply
Horrid and we’ve been huddled indoors most of the day. [Jeanne Latham]
7/4/23Reply
And I thought your ferry wasn’t until Thursday! [Jeanne Latham]
7/4/23Reply
3 more comments
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Northabout Traveler
Alnwick
July 5, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
I can't remember whether it is Alnwick or Berwick which is still at war with Scotland but there are some seriously nice places in this neck of the woods.....including where I am staying tonight picked on the basis of being the cheapest place I could find! So....I am getting close to where I need to be for the wedding. Not all plain sailing. The downpour which hit me yesterday was really something and the system moved on to Holland (where I am going next) and killed people. The usb charger on the bike has died which is a big deal because my navigation is phone based and there is not enough capacity in my phone for a full day's riding without charging. Also my rear tyre has a deep cut in the central tread....not in a knobbly bit but between the knobbles. I would not have driven on it if I hadn't had to but I am pretty close to Falkirk now which is where the replacement tyre was ordered a couple of months back and I have driven on the split since France which is where I noticed it in a walk round. People are starting to talk about the bike and 'Haven't you come far!' I have not yet answered that I am only 1/6 through the planned trip!Read more
TravelerHope you get the USB fixed, and the tyre, and the weather gets better.... xx 😘
7/5/23Reply
TravelerWhat a beautiful place. Amazing that it should be the cheapest. Enjoy! Xxx
7/5/23Reply
TravelerReally nasty weather, but a beautiful place you have found. Is that really a chair on the roof??
7/6/23Reply
TravelerYes!
8/9/23Reply
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Holy Island
July 6, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We can have a wee wee, we can have a wet on the wall.....dink dink
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Scotland
July 6, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
So a few hours early. Need to sort out charging problems.
TravelerWell at least you can talk the language up there x
7/6/23Reply
TravelerIt would appear you are the only one who wants to go to scotland: not a car in sight!
7/6/23Reply
Traveler😆
7/6/23Reply
2 more comments
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Northabout Traveler
Dundee
July 7, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Got to Dundee....wedding over the bridge to the south tomorrow.....oh, and I did find some penguins!
3 likes
Northabout Traveler
Wedding
July 9, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Right that is my daughter Tamsin hitched! Just a fabulous day although I confess to flagging towards the end. So....now to head south towards Hull where I get the ferry to Holland. I have a problem with my shoulder which makes riding the bike painful.....not good so I am going to try and get some medical advice first.Read more
TravelerOh dear Spike, wouldn't things be boring if everything went to plan, hope you get everything sorted x
7/9/23Reply
TravelerSounds horrid, xx
7/10/23Reply
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Le nouveau régime
July 9, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
So I am pretty sure when I get to Norway beer will be off the menu so.....Jack and diet Coke is the new regime....experimenting at a campsite on an old airfield close to Alnwick
Scandinavia is good biking - Piers (Markham) and I had a blast in 2005!jx [Justin Tunstall]
7/9/23Reply
TravelerDid you now! Where did you go? And could you afford the beer!
7/9/23Reply
Needs must! [Jeanne]
7/10/23Reply
I’m following you Spike, but can’t seem to do likes even though I now have a findpenguin account. Anyway, mind how you go....still awaiting pics of wedding with you in kilt? Xx [Jeanne]
7/10/23Reply
2 likes
Northabout Traveler
Alnwick Castle
July 10, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
A bit of stealth droning
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