Sunday the 20th John and I set off for Portsmouth we stopped off in Selsey to visit a friend of Johns, turned out I knew her from years ago. From Kelsey it was only a short drive to the port and we were boarded very quickly as the bikes were first on. After boarding the ferry and finding our cabin we set search for the bar which just so happened to be on the same deck. The crossing was 36 hours in total stopping at Roscof France before eventually reaching Bilbao. We had a very calm and uneventfull crossing and arrived to a wet Bilbao, well more a mist than rain. We set off at about 8:30 and after a few miles decided to put on the rain gear, after a few more miles we took it off again. I had set the sat nav to avoid motorways and toll roads and we were heading to Eteponia via Burgos, Avila, and Córdoba. We covered close to 400 miles on the first day on some of the best roads I have ridden, twisty undulating mountain roads with little or no traffic. As the day progressed it got hotter and hotter but thankfully not to hot. We stopped at a supermarket and bought some food then found a shaded spot to sit and eat and study the map. We were both happy to continue riding and it was quite late in the day when we went in search of a camp site. The first one we found was open but no one around so we went in search of another, finding one within another 30 miles. Once the tents were up we went in search of food but got no further than the bar. Supplied with each beer was a small snack and after 5 beers each we had eaten enough. As we were both enjoying the riding and we were past halfway we decided to try and get all the way to Eteponia. The roads were continued to be enjoyable all the way to Estepona and the small towns and villages that we passed through were almost deserted. We stopped in one for Johns coffee fix for the day and later stopped for a bite to eat, a three course meal with a beer for €8.5. We arrived in Esteponia quite late and the last section of mountain road was just fantastic although dodging goats added to the entertainment. I nearly put diesel in my bike by mistake but thankfully realised that I had picked up the wrong pump just in the nick of time.
We met up with John's friends who were all pissed before finding a cheap hotel nearby.
 
Wednesday 24th we took a ride in to Gibraltar. What a strange place British signs and traffic lights but you drive on the right. Small chaotic roads steep hills with the smell of burning clutches and brakes. We took a ride to the top of the Rock and had a walk around the cave, but as for walking anywhere else it was way to hot and the hills to steep. When we came out from the caves there was a crowd gathered around our bikes as one of the resident monkeys thought he would try and steel my bike.
 
Thursday 25th we decided to get up early and take a plunge in the sea, which turned out to be a lot colder than we anticipated it soon became to hot to stay on the beach so the rest of the day was spent eating and drinking.

Friday 26th Party night at Palm Beach a wooden shack on the beach with a bar. Party started at 4 and soon got into full swing, it was another hot day but there was a pleasant breeze so once out of the sun and at the bar it was perfect weather for a party and a good night too, I felt a bit like a gate crasher at first as the only person I knew was John but I was made to feel very welcome by everyone and there was also plenty of beer and plenty of food I met loads of people and have made some new friends too. After wobbling back from the party John wanted more beer so I left him to it I had had enough of that fizzy stuff.

Saturday 27th The wedding well actually a blessing as they had to get the official bit done in Gibraltar the day before. I gave up on the fizzy beer quite early on in the day and started on the shorts, nothing short about them they were more like gold fish bowels on glass stems and the measure of spirit was the bulk of the filling What a great day of eating and drinking way to much, not sure what time we wobbled back to the hotel.
 
sunday 28th We stopped off for a coffee and to say our fair wells to everyone and had a late start 
we only covered about 200 miles but again on fantastic roads in blistering heat, and then we had a short sharp shower. We stopped to put on the rain gear and within a few miles we had to stop to take it off again. The next 3 days were just fantastic riding with excellent weather it got cooler as we headed north but that was fine by me it was still warm enough although one morning it was only 4 degrees when we set off and late afternoons there was a risk of showers every time, only once did we really get pelted on but it did not last. We gave up on camping as 1 they were mostly closed and 2 not much cheaper than hotels. We covered 2000 miles on Spains roads and I will definitely be going back there one day.