Celebrating end of one career - some Guzzi content

[wcguzzi]

I have long envied folks who toured in Europe. And particularly Pat Hayes who seems to do it both well and often.  Since ending my 37 year, 7 to 5 work habit last October I decided to join the club. My wife's attending a month long school in Barcelona was a good-enough premise for timing and start point.

I ended up renting a soul-less Bavarian excessively large Moto from Hispaniatours and did a solo version of their "Pyrenees: Culture and Curves" route. 10 days of bliss I can highly recommend. They provided a great bike, programmed the route into the GPS and made reservations at a delightful series of small and charming hotels. No complaints about the GS 1200 beyond it's being unnecessary - though the low end torque made things easy. Since the route was Catalan on the east, Basque on the west and mostly hopped across mountain passes, my normal guilt over not knowing enough Spanish or French was easily set aside. I made no serious attempt at language trusting to the people and a positive attitude. Who really is going to learn Basque, eh? (And there is always Google translate anyway). Indeed, in some of the smaller towns there was quite a bit of pointing happening and some meals can be identified only by photos.

Route choice provided a welcome and familiar touch.  Riding mostly Northern California roads I am accustomed to "goat trails", but here was the real deal - lots of twisty single lane or barely two-lane, with actual goats. Or cattle. Or sheep. Even forced to stop once for a herd (gaggle?) of chickens when the route chose to go through what appeared to be a farmers yard - but this was to avoid upsetting the owner, as the BMW could have handled the chickens OK.

Many good memories, but two special ones were getting stopped on col du Tourmalet for a couple hours while a bicycle race finished, and when the Moto museum in Bassella allowed me to visit on their normally-closed Wednesday. The cleaning staff were pleasant and they had a nice collection that included several Moto Guzzi. Now, if only I had done this on a Falcone....


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[kfz]

 

[Arizona Wayne]

Sounds like you are really enjoying yourself.  With norCal roads as a primer I'm sure you were ready for most anything Europe has to offer. I used to live in norCal (Yuba City) and miss all it's great MC roads. 1 time I had to deal with a herd of sheep not far from YC.    The sheep herder told me what to do.  Later I found out he wasn't supposed to be blocking the road like that.   But every couple years I ride up there to get my mojo back on primo roads to enjoy.

[JJ]

  :1:

[Chuck in Indiana]

Nice. Flock of chickens, btw.. 

[sib]

Nice. Flock of chickens, btw.. 

True, technically, but why not "a broaster of chickens" or "a Sanders of chickens", or maybe even "a fil-A of chickens"?

[oldbike54]

 Thanks for such a wonderful report 

 Might have been a brood of chickens 

 Dusty

[wcguzzi]

True, technically, but why not "a broaster of chickens" or "a Sanders of chickens", or maybe even "a fil-A of chickens"?

At the time I was thinking more of a "smear of chickens", or perhaps "smoosh of damn birds".  But cute they were. Won't likely return (too many roads to ride), but I won't likely forget the trip.

[azguzzirep]

I've been to Barcelona also. Did the hop on-hop off bus tour of the city. That's the best way to see it. No driving, no searching parking places, take your time and see what you want to see.

We stayed in a little seaside village about 30 minutes by train outside the city. GREAT!

[pebra]

"a delightful series of small and charming hotels."
That sounds like something I ought to treat myself to!
How about elaborating a little on the food and the hotels?

[GuzziDog54]

Sounds (reads?) like an amazing trip! I've spent a lot of time in Europe, but never on a motorcycle, I must do it some day!