A Sensory Treat to Repeat ...

"Driving a car is like watching a film, riding a motorbike is like being in the film." - anon. Alpine passes are stunning but, after my tumble, are tainted with caution. The back roads of central Portugal riden last year are going to take some beating. The sweeping bends, sunshine and the smell of Eucalyptus and Pine, an interactive treat. Imagine and enjoy.

Ace Cafe - Overland Adventure Tour Bike Day

Last Sunday I met Gary and Marcus (mates from the Mid Life Rebels) at Gatwick McDonalds for my morning after, recovery and regret later, breakfast munchies. The boys resisted, in favour of breakfast at the Ace Café. In typical British February overcast weather, we set off up the M23, around the M25 to jct 16, A40, then Hanger Lane to the ACE . Apart from a few spots of rain it remained dry. We arrived to an impressive array of large big trail bikes filling the car park and migrating out on to the surrounding pavements. First thing was a proper mug of tea and breakfast for the boys. This was followed by a mooch around the exhibits, bikes and chatting with various people, collecting various promotional leaflets as we went. Sam Manicom was there with ‘T’-shirts and books. Also saw Alexis promoting his trip to Dubai at the end of this year and the legends that are Austin & Gerald Vince turned up late morning. Austin in his usual attire of 70’s overalls but, also sporting a fetching tartan hat.

The event made my itch to ride Mileeta further even worse. I’m coming to the conclusion that I have some sort of illness. Symptoms include, an itch that can’t be scratched and an addiction to ride further and longer.

The inflatable tent experiment

On previous trips I have slept in a variety of accommodation including, closed garage fore courts, a fishing hut in Dijon, cheap and expensive hotels, friends houses and of course camped. The latter is the subject of this post. I found out very early on in my touring career that when a tent manufacturer states that their tent is a one man tent, that apart from being sexist, they obviously are not talking about a 16 stone Western bloke. Even the two man tent is optimistic, unless you leave half your kit outside. So three person tent is the way forward, sorted. I have also learned to my peril, when camping in a copse on the Ridgeway, not to park the bike next to the tent on the side stand. Yep, you guessed it, it rained during the night and my bike decided to lay down next to me, narrowly missing occupants and creating another door in the tent in the process. Needless to say, that tent made a very good fire lighter in the morning and a few words where said at the cremation. New three person igloo tent purchased. Don't waste money on an expensive tent, they all deteriorate with the effects of the suns UV.

The bug bear with these type of tents given the daily erection, (no not morning duvet tent !) is the fiddly threading of poles through the sleeves of the inner tent fabric. This is an irritating delay to having a cool beer after the days ride and getting in the camp site pool. Bar and pool are criteria priority one and two when it comes to selecting a camp site. Equally irritating when packing away, eager to leave the following day. So this year I've had a brain wave. Inflatable tent.

A search on the Internet and I found two alternatives. One was discounted because, although it looked to be good quality and made in Europe, was expensive and made from canvas which would make it too heavy. The other which had a Chinese origin (AT03 - 1a), via EBay, was reasonably priced and although 8kg was conventional fire lighter material and so purchased. Apart from taking it out of it's delivered packaging the tent has been languishing in the corner of my room for 3 months. Last weekend I decided to check it out. The first thing I noticed in the bag was a massive yellow stirrup pump. That had to go, it takes up too much space and manual labour must be limited to beer drinking. I did use it however to put the tent up. The tent looked impressive in the middle of the lounge. Off to local camping shop to buy a 12v electric pump and also, an air bed repair kit, just in case my fellow biking buddies get jealous and take revenge. Mean while my wife had returned home to find that her lounge was now either a travelers camp or impromptu music festival.

I have also ditched the standard pegs that always appear to be made of malleable wire that bend the first time they are used in the hard ground of sunnier climes. My pegs look similar to six inch nails and work well with my plastic mallet. I usually only use six pegs anyway.

Oh well so much for the theory, the real test will, literally, be in the field.

Preparation has started

First post - I have sort of decided on a destination. The criteria being it had to be somewhere new, where I have not been on the bike and with the chance of good weather. Also want to experience different cultures and foods. Don't want the hassle of carnets or getting additional insurance. So my challenge is, to ride the farthest East I can go in Europe, to either Greece or Turkey. Bought a guide book and Michelin map of Greece today. I recon I'm going to need 3 weeks. Will probably ride down the East coast of Italy to the heel then, get a ferry from Brindsis to Igoumenitsa. When, is the next quandary. June is favourite at the moment. I'm thinking I could either tag it on to the Mid Life Rebels (Facebook) trip to Austria or start the trip from The Adventure Travel Film Festival, Devon, 3rd-5th June hosted by Austin Vince and Lois Pryce.