DG

Here's a couple from a recent trip to North Africa http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/6DB694F0-F622-4868-892C-4F5569085814-541-000000713638E011.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/Morocco%202012/IMG_0754.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/Morocco%202012/IMG_0873.jpg Full ride report underway here http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=832291

Mmmm one day pretty soon I reckon Cheers folks

Cheers lads!

I've also been to Millau http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6652.jpg

Sweet pics T. Did you just go for the day or did you stop over?

The Ryedale Rally last week, after all the rain on Friday day and night plus more rain on the Saturday made it an extremely tough event, especially on the big Katoom! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/506979ee.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/bab5ce8f.jpg

Not really a problem at all, after 150 miles your butt and your legs would welcome the break.

Crackin' pics T!

Well done Guy! Sorry I missed you matey! We did the anti-clockwise route. we set off at 06.15 and returned the following morning at 04.50. I've got to say it's probably one of the hardest things I've done on the bike. Jack and I were pretty shot later on on the Sunday and we just had a lazy day. I can't believe how much I ache, my backside is ok it's the arms, legs and neck which aches. Pretty much rained from start to finish other than the few hours you mentioned north of Wick, we too made the ride up to John O Groats. A few snaps http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/John%20O%20Groats/DSCF6813.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/ebf01afe.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/a1cded2c.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/a1cded2c.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/c9b4633e.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/e7450b92.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/John%20O%20Groats/DSCF6822.jpg We travelled through Glen Coe when the darkness really set in and the signs for Glasgow were something like 114 miles Then the sign Carlisle was 89 miles It seemed never ending, but it was for a great cause and the sense of elation and acheivement was second to none, especially as we were applauded as we pulled into Squires car park, I was welling up http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/f2ee464b.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/421191ae.jpg Think we did it in 22.5 hours and did a total of 1111 miles, well done to everyone who took part a well deserved pat on the back is in order!

So on we go. We waited for the tour and then we entered the labrynth of the wonderful caves. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6587.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6590.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6604.jpg The stalagmites and stalagtites were thousands of years old, we were told by the guide that the stalagmites only grew 1 cm every 100 years. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6609.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6617.jpg There were plenty of weird and wonderful shapes which had been formed over time, also this is one of the very few caves that has different varying colours in the limescale. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6618.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6624.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6626.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6625.jpg We eventually came out into the sunshine and soaked up the views on offer to us overlooking the gorge. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6631.jpg Brew time. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6634.jpg The following day we went to have a good look at the amazing Millau Viaduct, the engineering which went into this bridge was a bit special. The highest stantion from bottom to top is actually higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It certainly was a spectacular sight. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6638.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6640.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6637.jpg We had a ride up to get a bit closer. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6649.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6647.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6655.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6655.jpg Personal favourite! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6652.jpg We moved onwards, I had always wanted to have a go at canoeing on the river, I had first found out about it when we were on our honeymoon, but where we were staying in Tours didn't do it. I was pretty thrilled when we saw the many signs advertising canoe hire. We rode further up the fantastic D907 and booked ourselves a canoe for a few hours. We paddled at a leisurely pace down the river for a few kilometers and then a van with a trailer picked us up along with the canoe and took us back to our starting point. Once again the peaceful trickling of the river paired with cracking blue skies made for a great afternoon. And once again the views were stunning. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6663.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6664.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6665.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6666.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6668.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6669.jpg I felt like the legendary Ray Mears at times http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6671.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6674.jpg The peace and tranquility was just amazing, lazily rowing down the river, it was just the ticket! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6676.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6678.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6675.jpg Our lazy afternoon soon passed and we were once again on the mighty KTM heading back to the campsite. We had really spoiled ourselves on wonderful food, beer and wine along the different places we had visited and for a change we decided to just buy some fresh bread, cheese and ham and make a sandwich for dinner. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6684.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6682.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6686.jpg We spotted one of the locals having a nosy at us. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6690.jpg And in a flash he was gone! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6691.jpg Catch up soon, once again the time comes for me to get ready for work!

We had a storm during the night and when we woke the next day some of our gear in the porch of the tent had got a little wet, someone had not closed the door fully! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6501.jpg We decided to move on as the weather forecast wasn’t great for Pisa, so we headed north west, we didn’t have a destination in mind, we just followed the big ball of fire in the sky. Once we got off the motorway we passed over some wonderful gorges and mountain passes, I must say thanks to the fellow bikers on the road especially the guy riding a KTM Adventure who was signalling me to slow down, then a guy on a sports bike over took us and again he slowed down and signalled me to do the same by waving his hand. A few hundred yards and a few corners later the police were in a lay by with their speed gun, don’t you just love the two wheeled world? Thanks guys whoever you are. Soon later we pulled into a campsite a stones throw from the sea in the town of Ravenna. Jack “helping” pitch our tent. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6504.jpg We didn’t really do much here other than kick back and relax, we ate out that evening and hit the sack early. The following day we shared our breakfast with this little guy. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6509.jpg We went for a stroll on the beach under grey overcast skies and when we returned to the campsite we decided to pack up and move on. Only a couple of hours on the road and the grey skies were firmly behind us as the sun warmed our backs amid a clear blue sky. We found ourselves in Bologna and we soon found a campsite and pitched the tent and went for a well earned beer or two. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6511.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6513.jpg We were joined by this curious little fellow. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6517.jpg We had some “unfinished” business to attend to in Bologna in the form of the Ducati Factory. We had visited the factory 5 years earlier on our honeymoon, but we missed the tour by a few minutes. As we were in Bologna we decided to try our luck again, but as it was an Italian Bank Holiday all businesses were closed, so once again we never made the tour, at least we have another excuse to go back! Again we packed up and moved on. We stayed the night in Portofino, all the pictures I took were on my phone, which as you now know was lost on the boat. The following day we moved on and decided to take the “scenic” route as we were in no real rush and we followed the coast road of the A1 which hugged the beaches and sea line, the views were stunning. We hit Genova and came to a standstill, the traffic was on par with riding through the centre of Rome, manic was an understatement. As soon as we were spit out of the chaos at the other side we stopped for a drink and a bite to eat then we headed for the motorway, finally crossing the border into France and we pitched our tent on a campsite in Nice. Barbeque was on the cards for evening meal! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6533.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6528.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6520.jpg Washed down with a few cold beers of course! My makeshift beer cooler. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6534.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6529.jpg We had a cracking time in each others company and we’ve both come to really love the nomadic kind of holidays you can have on two wheels chasing the sun down. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6530.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6527.jpg Mosquito bites J http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6538.jpg Breakfast the following day. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6539.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6541.jpg I had noticed oil all over the side stand and swingarm and upon a little investigation I discovered that the Scott oiler oil feed pipe had snapped in half, a quick fix was in order. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6544.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6545.jpg The sun rose high in the blue skies as we had a walk along the pebbled beach. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6546.jpg Only a lottery win away. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6549.jpg We had a walk around the marina before heading back to the campsite. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6550.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6551.jpg We headed west the following day, we had barely manoeuvred our way out of the City when the heavens opened. We quickly pulled on our waterproofs and set off again, minutes later all the dash display had disappeared, no speedo, no clock, no temperature gauge or fuel gauge. First thing I checked was the fuses and sure enough one had blown, I replaced it with a spare and we continued only for it to blow again a few minutes later. I pulled into a garage and after fuelling up I asked the guy in the garage if I could use an awning at the side of the building to use as a shelter from the rain while I looked at the bike. No he replied and pointed to a Yamaha dealers a couple of hundred yards away, I “thanked” him and moved onto the dealers where they gave me another fuse and let me use their forecourt. I wasn’t sure of the reason why the fuse was blowing, but I pulled a few wires and checked the back of the fuse box, all looked good. I put it all back together fitted the new fuse and we continued. We decided to put a good day in the saddle and head for a town recommended to me my one of my work collegues, Millau. Amongst other things it’s pretty well known for the viaduct which spans a gorge where the village of Millau is situated. Once again we soon found a campsite and pitched our tent. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6552.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6553.jpg One of our new neighbours also had a KTM Adventure, his name was Jürgen and he was from north east Germany, he was a true gent and we chatted for a while about bikes and roads etc. the following morning he brought us fresh coffee. Jürgen http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6701.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6702.jpg We noticed people in the distance throwing themselves off the top of the huge gorge, luckily they had parachutes and hang-gliders to help them down. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6556.jpg We took the panniers off the bike and decided to take Jürgens advice and have a blast down one of the roads in the deep valley of one of the surrounding three gorges, the road was the D907, if you’re ever down in Millau take this road, it’s magnificent sweeping bend after bend amongst stunning scenery will draw grins from any face! We noticed some houses built precariously on some rocks overlooking the river. I left Jack on the bike as I went to get some shots. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6558.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6559.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6560.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6564.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6565.jpg We continued and turned right over a bridge spanning the river and we climbed high on a single track road which had no safety barriers, it wasn’t for the faint hearted and Jack certainly didn’t like it! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6567.jpg We climbed higher and higher. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6569.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6571.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6575.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6568.jpg We continued on and we eventually we scaled the gorge and dropped down the other side. We followed the satnav and then the road signs as we were heading for some caves; Grotte de Dargilan just on the outskirts of Meyrueis above the Gorges de la Jonte. The Gorge was stunning. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6582-1.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6585-1.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6579.jpg Right I gotta get to work, I’ll carry on soon.

We headed south and pretty soon we crossed the border into Italy. We have both come to love Italy, the people, the culture, the history and the scenery it has to offer. We were dwarfed by snow topped mountains as we rode through the valleys, sun shining and blue skies, what more could anyone want? http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6447.jpg A quick fuel stop for the bike and a coffee each for Jack and I. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6450.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6451.jpg The mountain range in the background is where we headed for. The ribbon of tarmac which wound it's way along was like riding the worlds largest roller coaster. I laughed so much inside my helmet with joy and tears as I became overwhelmed by the stunning scenery, fantastic! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6453.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6456.jpg We were kind of "on a mission" as I mentioned earlier one of our sons was also in Italy on holiday with his girlfriend and her parents. They were staying not far from Pisa and we really wanted to hook up with them before they flew back home. We travelled further and further south through the mighty Dolomites over mountain pass after mountain pass, switchback after switchback. We were both hoping that the weather would be getting warmer the further south we travelled, at the present time we couldn't be much further from the truth! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6457.jpg We noticed snow at the side of the road!! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6458.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6461.jpg It was getting colder and colder as the snow got thicker and thicker! Pretty awesome views though. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6465.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6466.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6467.jpg The snow got thicker by the side of the road, I only had my summer riding suit and it felt like I was riding in a huge fridge! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6469.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6459.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6464.jpg As we dropped down the other side of the pass I was pleading for a bit of straight road. On we went into the darkness as we hit a small village called Belluno. We knocked on plenty of hotel doors but drew blanks every time with each hotelier suggesting we try a different one and giving us directions. I had almost resigned to camping in a field we had passed on a few occasions as we kept riding round looking for a place to stay. Finally around 22.00 we got the green light from a small bed and breakfast in the heart of the small town, we showered and changed, ate hungrily and washed it down with a couple of large glasses of red before we hit the sack shattered, it had been a long day. The view from our window in the morning. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6471.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6472.jpg We had breakfast and set off heading south, it turned out to be another long day in the saddle as we decided to make a bee line for Pisa where we could meet our son and we would spend a few days off the bike and relax a little. We found a great campsite 5 minutes away from the beautiful Tower and cathedral. We pitched the tent and got showered and changed, luckily the weather was warming up too. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6473.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6475.jpg Brew before a beer! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6474.jpg We visited Pisa once before on our honeymoon and truth be told we wouldn't have gone back if we wouldn't be meeting our son, but I honestly don't think you could ever get tired of looking at the magnificent buildings. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6478.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6480.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6481.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6484.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6485.jpg Introducing our son Robbie. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6490.jpg We went for lunch and he made light of this huge Calzone pizza. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6491.jpg * We went for a leisurely stroll after in the city. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6492.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6499.jpg A different view of the tower http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6494.jpg The very same steps we sat on when we were there on our honeymoon. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6500.jpg 2006 http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/DSCF0913.jpg We said our goodbyes and wished them a safe flight home and we went back to the campsite.

Fantastic scenery and roads up north of the border innit?

Once we were changed, we went down for a well earned beer and we had a wander round the square, there wasn't a great deal to see if I'm honest as it's quite a small village. We ate like King and Queen in a lovely Italian restaurant. Now as in previous reports I've done I love to take snaps of the mouth watering food before we consume it. I did the same thing on this trip taking many photos, but with my camera on my phone unfortunately I managed to lose my phone on the ferry returning to England. I had taken many other pictures and some video during the trip, but alas it has been lost. The following morning we made the short walk to the castle for a tour round. Feeling fit and well we declined the stairs and the 20 minute climb and opted for the cable tram on the side of the hill. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6381.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6383.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6384.jpg The backdrop was simply stunning http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6385.jpg The morning was warming up a treat, we sat taking in the sunshine as we waited for our tour of the castle. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6390.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6387.jpg The clock tower complete with the 4.5 tonne bell was over 400 years old! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6389.jpg The tour began inside the chapel. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6395.jpg We climbed higher inside the thick walls of the castle, which were up to 6 feet wide in some parts, some feat of construction! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6397.jpg Inside the prison, some of the weapons were just pure brutal, I wouldn't fancy a whack from one of these things! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6399.jpg This device would make sure you paid attention! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6400.jpg Higher we climbed http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6401.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6398.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6402.jpg The clock still ticked after all these years, I'm sure it had an upgrade at one time, but the main body was still in it's original form. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6403.jpg Inside the bell tower was the original clock face, over 400 years old along with all the original timbers, pretty amazing eh? http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6407.jpg Up again to the outside of the bell tower. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6408.jpg The views up here again were simply stunning, what a real pleasure it was to stand and soak up the vistas trying to burn the image into my mind and keep for ever. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6410.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6411.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6412.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6414.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6415.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6416.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6418.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6413.jpg This was the bell which weighed in at a staggering 4.5 tonnes, I had to ask how they managed to lift it up so high and so many years ago. There was a series of trap doors in the floors which the bell was lifted through by way of winching. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6417.jpg Looking down on the square http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6419.jpg Time to climb back down. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6420.jpg Madonnas Gate, can you see the resemblance? http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6422.jpg We went to see the falcon show, we both wasn't too bothered about seeing it, but thought why not? We were both glad we did, it was fantastic! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6428.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6426.jpg What majestic creatures these birds are! http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6430.jpg The wingspans on these large eagles were huge as we could see them soaring high above us. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6440.jpg The awesome American Eagle http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6433.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6435.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6436.jpg Time to move on, couldn't resist a snap in the mirror http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6443.jpg One last look at the mountains and castle. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6444.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/European%20Adventure%202/DSCF6445.jpg It was time to sort out the overheating problem and we found a KTM dealers 5 miles south of where we were. Long story short it turned out to be an airlock twinned with a load of gunk in the radiator fins, I thought it was a good sign as there was no parts to pay for. We did get relieved of 100€ though for the time, I was a bit pissed off as I could have sorted it out myself and really should have done it correctly before we set off on the trip. Hey ho though it was done and dusted and we headed off south. To be continued...

Oh yes http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u38/ducatigav/DSCF1735.jpg