tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9463616508735808602024-03-13T07:52:21.424+00:00El Diente's random ramblingsEl Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-34743900838659422372019-07-13T12:08:00.001+01:002019-07-13T12:08:56.228+01:00Back in the land of the Haggis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My old mate Steve phoned and asked how I was, I started to give him a sob story about being stuck at home, recovering from my operation. "Don't be a wimp" he said, "I've got a nice little job for you, easy work sitting in the office, a couple of months work".</div>
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And so I found myself once again in bonny Scotland. I decided that as I was once again in the land of the haggis and lovely empty roads, I would get the Tiger brought up here so I could use it at weekends to re-visit some of the sights Scotland has to offer. </div>
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For my first ride out I planned a nice little route, out of Aberdeen on the south Deeside road to Banchory then across country to the motor museum at Alford, then circle back to Aberdeen. At 130 miles it would be my longest trip this year on the bike; luckily there would be plenty of places to stop if it all got a bit uncomfortable "down there".</div>
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In the event, I managed it all the way to Alford without a stop, had a nice snack in the on-site cafe, and spent a pleasant couple of hours strolling around the museum and its grounds. A quick-ish blast back to Aberdeen and that was a great day to spend my day off. Here's a few random photos I took while there. I'm looking forward to next weekend, maybe a ride up to Braemar. Cheers!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At rhe Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance with nicely presented scooters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rare Triumph 350 Bandit - never made production</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6nO3wU3oS9zFdHhzQfu2goyM1yNNPmcYk6AFer7L2qeroR9ABlC-MEuWsIkwzj6hYRpQQWD2X-sPm3XrdofBWU5TwCzRSdgO7wYrEEoAzPXZG5ZeGDgmWtXMf2nBZvtVMiV0MI8oCIWl/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="539" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6nO3wU3oS9zFdHhzQfu2goyM1yNNPmcYk6AFer7L2qeroR9ABlC-MEuWsIkwzj6hYRpQQWD2X-sPm3XrdofBWU5TwCzRSdgO7wYrEEoAzPXZG5ZeGDgmWtXMf2nBZvtVMiV0MI8oCIWl/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycLKJDDad4OTYs9qs6-nKkEKo87CRNQfnBehWy0cnx6piMePXNKCJ2DcyDbc62TCOjc46Zz69SlkWGwReVJrWQZ6PZr1H16lnt_u9P0mAFJRu4d5pYopWdli4pf8CPSAj9BV9IbAMR7wA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="539" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycLKJDDad4OTYs9qs6-nKkEKo87CRNQfnBehWy0cnx6piMePXNKCJ2DcyDbc62TCOjc46Zz69SlkWGwReVJrWQZ6PZr1H16lnt_u9P0mAFJRu4d5pYopWdli4pf8CPSAj9BV9IbAMR7wA/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And old cars</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubPtpgKWsbJRpZ6OTmwV9qvVaeNz-A1OUB5VukecgytKizmUPUrCNZQXrey6d9cbvIM5qHTAaShALITefy3ae9NTaOyleCd77rw7s8AHXvmOmVOj9w_ok-7Vt9g7NMOmpcjOOfsBNTS0-/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="539" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubPtpgKWsbJRpZ6OTmwV9qvVaeNz-A1OUB5VukecgytKizmUPUrCNZQXrey6d9cbvIM5qHTAaShALITefy3ae9NTaOyleCd77rw7s8AHXvmOmVOj9w_ok-7Vt9g7NMOmpcjOOfsBNTS0-/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even stranger bike & sidecar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small RV (!!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gypsy caravan</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-698775124427910672019-06-11T22:01:00.000+01:002019-06-11T22:01:19.020+01:00Its not you, its me.Triumph dealer lent me this Street Scrambler while the Tiger was having its 12K service. To be honest, I quite liked the look of it and had considered it as a possible lighter replacement for the Tiger as I'm finding it more and more difficult to wheel around. The strange thing was, though, that from across the showroom, the bike looked normal size, then , the closer I got, the smaller it seemed to be.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On its own, bike looks normal size</td></tr>
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So here's a quick review - nice engine sounded good through those pipes, gearbox smooth, brakes good, seat hard as a plank, rear suspension travel extremely limited. I was going to add that it was also extremely small, I looked like a bear riding a monkey bike, but my pal Barry put it into perspective.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6XTQisC6mvn2XwHn-BwwMcsz4zG9Q2Q9d7fW-I-i1XiK7WFVK9mkuManqHOZPNEpvRfOPGQOG5-lsVeB4bCT37h5X8tOY4WPl10Xo4FObueO-mI5snZAdZ1Xis9wJqqZjzl8Eyh2uCc0/s1600/IMG_3884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6XTQisC6mvn2XwHn-BwwMcsz4zG9Q2Q9d7fW-I-i1XiK7WFVK9mkuManqHOZPNEpvRfOPGQOG5-lsVeB4bCT37h5X8tOY4WPl10Xo4FObueO-mI5snZAdZ1Xis9wJqqZjzl8Eyh2uCc0/s320/IMG_3884.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seat just about level with my knees</td></tr>
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He said "John there's nothing wrong with the bike, its you that's ridiculously tall"<br />
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When I collected the Tiger two days later it initially felt a bit heavy and seemed a bit tall, but after a couple of minutes riding it became comfy like a pair of old slippers. Can't wait to get back on it regularly - soon as I'm fully healed 'down there'.El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-34241626581620153732019-04-01T15:15:00.000+01:002019-04-01T15:15:59.833+01:00Magnificent creatures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd come to the Dominican Republic to watch whales, so first I went online and booked several trips with Whale Samana, who seemed to be a professional company run by an American marine biologist. The area to watch whales was Samana bay, which is in the North-East of the country, well away from tourist areas. An online hotel search showed a number of rough-looking places in Samana town, with one luxury resort located 8km outside town but they were offering ridiculously low rates so I booked there, I needed a car anyway. On arrival at Santo Domingo airport I collected my rent-a-wreck (and this one really was!) and drove around to Samana, a five hour journey that went OK apart from collecting a speeding ticket and roadside fine from a couple of policemen who were determined to fleece this gringo.</div>
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When I arrived at the hotel they gave me a little apartment with a balcony overlooking the bay, and as has happened so often on this trip, I seemed to be the only guest! I don't know how these places manage to keep going, especially when they were charging me less than a run-down hostel in town.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtSDaNYclAHAFEc0ClAnCuZi2HJcm54nOVixk2Zf6hJphV7R4UFGb7L123XVHAMsxyKf9sC9oN9YNjFmS14U-JxefHSkLZlfo59ZqZ8oTggb0ywtxYUQCyhjgebQM0n5n_kzs1pd1rQpd/s1600/IMG_3796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtSDaNYclAHAFEc0ClAnCuZi2HJcm54nOVixk2Zf6hJphV7R4UFGb7L123XVHAMsxyKf9sC9oN9YNjFmS14U-JxefHSkLZlfo59ZqZ8oTggb0ywtxYUQCyhjgebQM0n5n_kzs1pd1rQpd/s320/IMG_3796.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from hotel balcony</td></tr>
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Bright and early next morning I was at the marina for my first boat trip. I climbed to the upper deck of the boat and found a seat up front near the captain. Sitting next to me was a young lady, holding a camera with the longest lens I have ever seen! I got out my battered Nikon coolpix and she started laughing. So Eva and I came to an agreement that I would just watch whales, and she'd let me have any nice photos; the next few photos are therefore courtesy of Eva. Within ten minutes or so from leaving the harbour, we came upon a pair of humpback whales, a mother and young baby. The baby was in a frisky mood, it kept coming near to us & the other two boats in the vicinity, jumping out of the water (breaching), slapping its tail and generally having a good time.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskjcy8dNeRtrNZkNb20eyin9atSzxRzvlQzXvjQ9x3QVXx82G9V1QAArG69ej-PNuOo3Dhs2l2EiWVzB2y6YLamKURYTaMzs1UDH8qUEhDZ9KTXR802Q3QeeI7-NBx8FAh2A0LR-dVGbU/s1600/_O5A0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1024" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskjcy8dNeRtrNZkNb20eyin9atSzxRzvlQzXvjQ9x3QVXx82G9V1QAArG69ej-PNuOo3Dhs2l2EiWVzB2y6YLamKURYTaMzs1UDH8qUEhDZ9KTXR802Q3QeeI7-NBx8FAh2A0LR-dVGbU/s320/_O5A0062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That looks pretty big!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u2AK5UPqivd9CnrNNiku8F3JTqIYOcB6zgHxfJ3EShhJPz9Fagv5xmhbgRsH8ZfdtKAfdWJmVgbsNrOk2stLukw4jCY7lIfqp6osDhVfyHua_EZOqat6Dg1hwNYKdICgLYjXwSx9PGjM/s1600/_O5A0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u2AK5UPqivd9CnrNNiku8F3JTqIYOcB6zgHxfJ3EShhJPz9Fagv5xmhbgRsH8ZfdtKAfdWJmVgbsNrOk2stLukw4jCY7lIfqp6osDhVfyHua_EZOqat6Dg1hwNYKdICgLYjXwSx9PGjM/s320/_O5A0092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby whale 'breaching'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k4gVz3y30bMejSfhfdjpX7maOcFyB0xOIUKjRqwOmqF5w_ptTgHFkw8Edy5JdxA2kaucz6IuAMYhdzjLXXu08pL99bJZDgumHNgseGm2Wh1uNzv9r2-BYo5OcgVXZ2RG98UHyD8bPPZ5/s1600/_O5A7925a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k4gVz3y30bMejSfhfdjpX7maOcFyB0xOIUKjRqwOmqF5w_ptTgHFkw8Edy5JdxA2kaucz6IuAMYhdzjLXXu08pL99bJZDgumHNgseGm2Wh1uNzv9r2-BYo5OcgVXZ2RG98UHyD8bPPZ5/s320/_O5A7925a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby whale tail slap</td></tr>
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We were treated to this exciting, wonderful spectacle for about 15 minutes, the mother whale just gently swimming close to the baby, virtually submerged, when, after a particularly boisterous show, the mother decided to join in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLVQAheaumjFIWft6_E2ovcnjhYnk-LYcvb8mcRMInMOJ0LKXmRYxFD6umpubKmVFaRy3F_n2ptP4hIcFUUtXSisZDW37Rhk2Mo_rwh0awazgxpQlRsyxH9Ucl5vYgzCO31EtkYKJTkY9/s1600/_O5A9911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLVQAheaumjFIWft6_E2ovcnjhYnk-LYcvb8mcRMInMOJ0LKXmRYxFD6umpubKmVFaRy3F_n2ptP4hIcFUUtXSisZDW37Rhk2Mo_rwh0awazgxpQlRsyxH9Ucl5vYgzCO31EtkYKJTkY9/s320/_O5A9911.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloody Hell thats huge!</td></tr>
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Thats when we realised how big she was!! She breached right beside the boat; the captain estimated she was around 40 feet long, and by the splash, must have been 20 tons or more! I have never had such an exciting experience!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq7Rspwmz5lEfS4yiGon_qeM5g4t2vI_2VdYxBWE8hVhAS6rMjAc1sR_Uo0MxQoMABCLV6kKiy8M8dthQXshos9qMLWju9KrFBnVOQv8xAKKa9p-JP4z2Y3wMTcbVPD3PKS6VE5ZY0DX-/s1600/_O5A9919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq7Rspwmz5lEfS4yiGon_qeM5g4t2vI_2VdYxBWE8hVhAS6rMjAc1sR_Uo0MxQoMABCLV6kKiy8M8dthQXshos9qMLWju9KrFBnVOQv8xAKKa9p-JP4z2Y3wMTcbVPD3PKS6VE5ZY0DX-/s320/_O5A9919.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother starting to breach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VrnBWIrO5rcplT9mAG37StK0kGdDDIurrgSRNUQ52-lkG7jz3yVAFMcCBdZiVdHWDT3tSJjaUEmInrfg4sigONMHUF_YXKaok1mHgxG3u7J3y0bP16oC5cIciCdgZ9LmvhYnpIjoqqb0/s1600/_O5A9922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VrnBWIrO5rcplT9mAG37StK0kGdDDIurrgSRNUQ52-lkG7jz3yVAFMcCBdZiVdHWDT3tSJjaUEmInrfg4sigONMHUF_YXKaok1mHgxG3u7J3y0bP16oC5cIciCdgZ9LmvhYnpIjoqqb0/s320/_O5A9922.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... higher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0kpkFTnLQFU0nr048ezDYyEJ6sbgSIp3-EmqkkBs_9LypR1Tv4NVVilNHhOpGLkMQRSsBuzWEjVUtPy2ULz1uiCrP2fMoywW4JJEhmIi098Hh-4V_lS8x22Nzsp-ZjgAS8vCst_YQRrw/s1600/_O5A9924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0kpkFTnLQFU0nr048ezDYyEJ6sbgSIp3-EmqkkBs_9LypR1Tv4NVVilNHhOpGLkMQRSsBuzWEjVUtPy2ULz1uiCrP2fMoywW4JJEhmIi098Hh-4V_lS8x22Nzsp-ZjgAS8vCst_YQRrw/s320/_O5A9924.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.... higher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDMBWhZKaj1x5FsYVLPcB6imokPoTe8ORraca5kRi8zbMF2-VpKMFiA97nKWsHJtyAXO_LrLQeYKGeJa4c8UBgKoUwCPhw_-HzQ0p1WXEUi7wD3lDNvSQAWnNanBFq9Sp2Az5YErJexU9/s1600/_O5A9926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDMBWhZKaj1x5FsYVLPcB6imokPoTe8ORraca5kRi8zbMF2-VpKMFiA97nKWsHJtyAXO_LrLQeYKGeJa4c8UBgKoUwCPhw_-HzQ0p1WXEUi7wD3lDNvSQAWnNanBFq9Sp2Az5YErJexU9/s320/_O5A9926.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent!!</td></tr>
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Just a fabulous sight to see first hand - right then I was happy that I'd made the journey. I'd actually booked two weeks in the hotel, so I had two more days when I had a trip out in the bay with Whale Samana, then on two other occasions I went out in one of those tiny fishing boats (much cheaper but pretty hairy!). Unfortunately the weather was a bit unsettled, so there were days I couldn't go out on the water, however, each time I did, we managed to see more of these magnificent creatures. I never saw Eva again though, so no more photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpnxFv-Yxnl1PZyCpHOb6Dub1V7l3UpzLen1bz2JC1PUtWZYPijah4lXH7EXuPhahdEqtDIIWClFkf7T-t2Ovc5XSk3g3QHLcVayStjoksmHKSy_LU0spn8aTw5luScETBrOQqCZ-Z01v/s1600/IMG_3789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpnxFv-Yxnl1PZyCpHOb6Dub1V7l3UpzLen1bz2JC1PUtWZYPijah4lXH7EXuPhahdEqtDIIWClFkf7T-t2Ovc5XSk3g3QHLcVayStjoksmHKSy_LU0spn8aTw5luScETBrOQqCZ-Z01v/s320/IMG_3789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, another deserted beach!</td></tr>
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In between boat trips I occupied myself driving around the peninsular, finding some lovely deserted white-sand beaches, plus searching for elusive vegan restaurants (there were none!) although I did find a Falafal place in Las Terrenas, a sort of 'gringo' town that had a French supermarket where I bought supplies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW803FcVIBquK2Xj-7TcWfp1p6S4cuw0LlPD0iRBO2WTZt7lIcvQK50tWHvk4DI9XwazoSZ5GBoe8HAUjMKeI_LnZfHDFWF5LhUMB0jk1xkTppL29YLkWojd2_W456pce9QiZ2DUvQOJxi/s1600/IMG_3794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW803FcVIBquK2Xj-7TcWfp1p6S4cuw0LlPD0iRBO2WTZt7lIcvQK50tWHvk4DI9XwazoSZ5GBoe8HAUjMKeI_LnZfHDFWF5LhUMB0jk1xkTppL29YLkWojd2_W456pce9QiZ2DUvQOJxi/s320/IMG_3794.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The rest of the time I just hung around the hotel - there was a nice pool and a private beach, and I was the only person there!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzdX7GwvtyDi8OJ9JmOSuICAh-XD8Vc9SoUEE2E0ldnLAFJpmF-TipIrSkPXZKalx7M9tKxVAwUJxM0b99zaI82A4BOwbXhbMRpdwc2ON1ItFK7hLlSBA3-TVHpCf6iD2n3lmKh71v5In/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzdX7GwvtyDi8OJ9JmOSuICAh-XD8Vc9SoUEE2E0ldnLAFJpmF-TipIrSkPXZKalx7M9tKxVAwUJxM0b99zaI82A4BOwbXhbMRpdwc2ON1ItFK7hLlSBA3-TVHpCf6iD2n3lmKh71v5In/s320/IMG_3809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My own private beach!</td></tr>
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Eventually it was time to leave - I'd left England on the 6th December with a return flight via Miami on 21st March - long enough time away, I reckon.</div>
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My only regret was that I'd felt ill for much of the trip, nothing specific, just 'under the weather'. When I finally arrived home I decided to visit a doctor; seemed I needed an immediate operation 'down there' so Wednesday 27th I was in hospital. I'm home now, feeling pretty uncomfortable but glad to be able to share these photos with you. 'Ciao'</div>
<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-70707946179839046522019-03-19T17:12:00.000+00:002019-03-19T17:12:04.140+00:00Postcard from Colombia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd decided to head to Colombia on the advice of my Indigenous friend Juan; the plan was to visit Cartagena, then up the coast to the Tayrona National park and Cuidad Perdida. I'd actually visited Cartagena about 20 years ago, and remembered a beautiful Spanish colonial city; the old town hasn't changed, but my, what a lot of tourists! Anyway, I found a nice little hostel right in the centre of the old town in a lovely restored colonial building, and spent a few days just wandering around, drinking in the atmosphere.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8yzKGl2ceI4KvmJWsfqSvemVkRVckUhtlih6VPOSBr1RRvXxwie1zssJc2tRmts6axaTpS4OtLheaSwUH9DnHMd-4Y3dXX6VkKfxMbvga6XTjcHXUHaNQMhWzbvzHZO2QpcY0mcorf8y/s1600/IMG_3651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8yzKGl2ceI4KvmJWsfqSvemVkRVckUhtlih6VPOSBr1RRvXxwie1zssJc2tRmts6axaTpS4OtLheaSwUH9DnHMd-4Y3dXX6VkKfxMbvga6XTjcHXUHaNQMhWzbvzHZO2QpcY0mcorf8y/s320/IMG_3651.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colourful fruit sellers waiting for clients</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM9c-S7R2pdYyIkf7ZEU0hbCdPl0mKSk_sorl20-H-lvNDCzmanEOuNDQS5GVodrBtYFsneLz8zzPjEE7DlHfoNx95OW7yOT5rY2nkUYlciLUBBj3mofKjhDmx-v1iYpFqD0QYF7rWeOG/s1600/IMG_3656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCM9c-S7R2pdYyIkf7ZEU0hbCdPl0mKSk_sorl20-H-lvNDCzmanEOuNDQS5GVodrBtYFsneLz8zzPjEE7DlHfoNx95OW7yOT5rY2nkUYlciLUBBj3mofKjhDmx-v1iYpFqD0QYF7rWeOG/s320/IMG_3656.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy to get fresh fruit here</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And plenty of Vegan restaurants</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across from the old town to the new hotel complex<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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After five days wandering around, chilling out in the Hostel swimming pool and eating good vegan food, I decided it was time to move on. Now in all the years I've been travelling, I have always relied on the Lonely Planet guide books to give me ideas about where to go. </div>
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This next part of the trip showed me that perhaps I'm not now their target audience. The book recommended an island in the marine national park as worth a visit, and suggested driving down to a town called Tula a couple of hours south of Cartagena, then a side trip to Mompos, which was (supposedly) a wonderful, unspoilt colonial town inland on the Magdalena river.</div>
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So I hired a rent-a-wreck from a local car hire company and drove down the coast to Tula. It actually took five hours due to the incredibly bad roads; when I got there the town was a dump! No foreign tourists, just nationals. I'd found a hotel online that looked decent - I was actually the only guest. The staff were so amazed to have a gringo staying that they fell over themselves looking after me!</div>
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They booked me a trip out to the island for the next day, and even managed to put together a quick evening meal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvmLUcNIDB8Yb9vcbM4Zyh9OwKH8r-zh0I9DrnG0udsCkRDXU8wYIFam8OF8cq7kfkHq5aX_WM_X8lENfoV1EsUk3THhM2B6f2m3JOeURvy7aBhg6ajmRM9QBvTbXkqZaohziAeU44N-s/s1600/IMG_3728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvmLUcNIDB8Yb9vcbM4Zyh9OwKH8r-zh0I9DrnG0udsCkRDXU8wYIFam8OF8cq7kfkHq5aX_WM_X8lENfoV1EsUk3THhM2B6f2m3JOeURvy7aBhg6ajmRM9QBvTbXkqZaohziAeU44N-s/s320/IMG_3728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The trip out to the island was well worth the hassle! Clear blue sea, plenty of marine life, and those white sand beaches.A little slice of paradise.</div>
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Oh but the town itself was unbearable for this old vegan, barbeques billowing smoke on every corner, music blasting out of every bar until the early hours - I realised then that Im probably 40 years too old for the Lonely Planet recommendations!</div>
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Then came the really adventurous bit, driving inland to Mompos. Allegedly there was a direct road, my satnav showing a four hour drive. What no-one mentioned was that the direct route took me straight to the banks of the Magdelena river, with no bridges across! After some gesticulating and shouting with a couple of local guys, one of them showed me a dirt track that ran through a fishing village, across a farm to a ferry. It was the dodgiest ferry I've ever seen, basically two fishing boats tied together with a platform bolted on top, strictly one car at a time.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What, down there?</td></tr>
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Eventually, after an encounter with two policemen trying to extort money from this gringo, I eventually got to Mompos. Which was a real one-horse town, only the horse had left!<br />
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At one time it had been a major port on the river, full of rich merchants houses and boasting seven churches. It then fell on hard times, and became a forgotten backwater. I stayed in one of the lovely restored colonial houses, but there was absolutely nothing to do in the town once I'd visited the seven churches! I then got chatting with the other guests, all of whom were foreigners like me and had come there after reading the Lonely Planet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishermen still use dug-out canoes</td></tr>
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So after a couple of days melting in the heat, I drove back to Cartagena to return the hire car, and get ready for my trip up to Tayrona National Park. The only slight problem - they shut the park!!<br />
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Evidently the Arhuaco Indians actually own the park, and decided to close it for a month so they could hold some religious ceremonies. So I finally came to the realisation that I was basically just wasting my time hanging around, time to do something completely different. Having thrown away my guide book, I went online to look for inspiration. What I wanted to do was something interesting; there we are - whale watching in the Dominican Republic. Perfect. Just a two hour flight and I'd be somewhere different. Bag packed, off to the airport - Humpback whales look out here I come!El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-90541160745667314152019-03-14T11:59:00.001+00:002019-03-14T11:59:43.741+00:00Back to Panama ... on the way to Colombia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd been so keen to leave Panama for Costa Rica that I'd ditched my original plan of visiting the mountain town of Boquette, located on the edge of the National park right on the border between the two countries. As I had to travel back to Panama city to catch my next flight, I thought I'd catch a bus across the border and visit Boquette on the way. Located on the lower slopes of the Arenal volcano, the town is renowned for hiking and outdoor activities. When I arrived, the first thing I spotted was a flower festival in the centre of town.</div>
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I booked myself in to one of the many cheap hostels in the centre of town, it was OK for the money, although I was little concerned to see Heath Robinson had wired-up the electric shower!</div>
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Next day I went on a nice hike up to the 'lost waterfalls'. Nice scenery on the hike up the mountain; the friendly guy at the entrance to the waterfall made me take a photo of his map so I didn't get lost!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a complicated map</td></tr>
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I had a nice day, met a young Dutch couple at the waterfall so we all walked back to town together. The guy at the entrance to the waterfall did offer us cheap accomodation in a lovely little wood cabin perched on the hill, but it was a few hours walk back to town so we declined.<br />
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The next day I set out to hike the volcano; I caught a mini-bus up the hill to the park entrance and set off - man, it was difficult! Maybe the elevation, maybe my lack of exercise, but after a couple of hours walking I'd hardly got anywhere, then coming towards me is a group of youngsters on their way back down. " How long to get to the top?" I asked, "About 6 hours up, and 4 to get back down" came the reply. After a few moments pondering, I decided not to be silly, so turned round and decided instead to walk back down to the town!<br />
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I'm glad I did as the scenery going back down was so pretty. Then as I turned a bend I noticed some guys spreading something on the ground - coffee beans. This area is famous for it's 'Artisan' coffee - this was a small processing plant. I wandered in through the open gate and had a little look around, next thing a young guy asked me if I wanted a look round? He then showed me all this lovely old machinery and explained the whole process.<br />
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As I carried on down the hill I was amazed at the flowers just growing wild by the side of the road - never seen anything like it!<br />
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So, pleasantly surprised by the lovely little town and friendly people, I started to get a slightly better feeling about Panama (after slagging it off in my previous post). I actually hung around another couple of days just chilling out, hiking along the river and eating vegan ice cream from a shop run by a Venezuelan couple. Eventually though, it was time to move on. I'd been here two months and wanted to see somewhere else, so I got the bus back to Panama City and from there a flight to Cartagena in Colombia.<br />
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-90764085872877486592019-03-11T14:12:00.000+00:002019-03-11T14:12:56.378+00:00Catching up - Costa RicaI caught a flight to San Jose in Costa Rica, hired a (very small) 4wd vehicle and set off for La Fortuna, which is a small town just below a (live) volcano. The plan was to hike the volcano, visit the local thermal springs and waterfalls and generally look for wildlife. I managed to find a little cabin for rent just outside the town, set in tropical gardens with a nice swimming pool and breakfast included - ridiculously cheap and I was the only guest!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYEYXD2GLRiha_qi5lxofGl9XpjtNDLxiNAcyoKU5YHkxDf7TOhSFM5YhNp-AyFwtneBin4hABv9MZI8-5hfBlKZm_SKESBKykw2cON42ICx1QLl9R1Rw3p2j3ScqCpnBFvX5Fb3aHDcr/s1600/IMG_3447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYEYXD2GLRiha_qi5lxofGl9XpjtNDLxiNAcyoKU5YHkxDf7TOhSFM5YhNp-AyFwtneBin4hABv9MZI8-5hfBlKZm_SKESBKykw2cON42ICx1QLl9R1Rw3p2j3ScqCpnBFvX5Fb3aHDcr/s320/IMG_3447.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suzuki Jimney</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCXP_cAursE6L4PdU0Wmnoo3MWhnGJdBEv00HohzduvbhaT4Dudut9FyiQNWLLwiylv3c0QnvWUvesXG1JyHx70a2qmUVQx7fCVcfCA1stj4ynPu3QGSDOMIoW0PYpIsyoU_sIAVHNSeJ/s1600/IMG_3293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCXP_cAursE6L4PdU0Wmnoo3MWhnGJdBEv00HohzduvbhaT4Dudut9FyiQNWLLwiylv3c0QnvWUvesXG1JyHx70a2qmUVQx7fCVcfCA1stj4ynPu3QGSDOMIoW0PYpIsyoU_sIAVHNSeJ/s320/IMG_3293.JPG" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is everyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA6MLPQ0KbtxiXwfExVc66OWyJfzgqEt5uIinWVHL-G65mlH72UY2MjlO9zv0_q6g3qgR9jps1dP_EFj5Vq69aXcC0VGWpXBCRt5XQH_WKwOMccGYSG1dSZUCVFLS2Z_LY9ivOlrUG38v/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA6MLPQ0KbtxiXwfExVc66OWyJfzgqEt5uIinWVHL-G65mlH72UY2MjlO9zv0_q6g3qgR9jps1dP_EFj5Vq69aXcC0VGWpXBCRt5XQH_WKwOMccGYSG1dSZUCVFLS2Z_LY9ivOlrUG38v/s320/IMG_3452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't me - honest</td></tr>
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First stop at the volcano, only too be told by the park ranger that I couldn't hike up as they'd had a couple of small eruptions, so I just hiked through the surrounding forest. Saw plenty of wildlife - unfortunately my camera had died so I only had my phone to take photos with - apologies for the quality.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmMjSheoFYfsjNsfRQpKKjcHruo3qoauZfeCtStSJzqu3Km5Gj1IkoeJsplKW4CXOZAcRXPppgR-nkoDwEOz7sPGEs3iXT7fkY65r3h3nzAmn8R8rcdKT71RpRLj_o5eXWYKtray1wNhr/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmMjSheoFYfsjNsfRQpKKjcHruo3qoauZfeCtStSJzqu3Km5Gj1IkoeJsplKW4CXOZAcRXPppgR-nkoDwEOz7sPGEs3iXT7fkY65r3h3nzAmn8R8rcdKT71RpRLj_o5eXWYKtray1wNhr/s320/IMG_3337.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcano at La Fortuna - NOT dormant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheeK4GgkB4qZZqBDklbkA-C2h1HNc7GiGX3QOxp5_lRNDgPGzDfkBCtbwfOzKwTtIvZ8kMhc8D0rbGYr1OyNDxD8p6LFj5YTd32MKNGmTT5Fbd1HIaKoNsLU3IxKhzZwVit0dy6tx-7Rk/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheeK4GgkB4qZZqBDklbkA-C2h1HNc7GiGX3QOxp5_lRNDgPGzDfkBCtbwfOzKwTtIvZ8kMhc8D0rbGYr1OyNDxD8p6LFj5YTd32MKNGmTT5Fbd1HIaKoNsLU3IxKhzZwVit0dy6tx-7Rk/s320/IMG_3361.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZlKDc0T6vO2tZ8WvfADNTfYtR04rtoS4FbJQBpC2WNT5OheEnylsFHKxsURh4VEbvzdgxn-efXDam3Fqb98vaQHC77IeKYL4bfa9fUUlvE5rbsVFukCTDElNYM1Hb9L_so9uResz1JIi/s1600/IMG_3456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZlKDc0T6vO2tZ8WvfADNTfYtR04rtoS4FbJQBpC2WNT5OheEnylsFHKxsURh4VEbvzdgxn-efXDam3Fqb98vaQHC77IeKYL4bfa9fUUlvE5rbsVFukCTDElNYM1Hb9L_so9uResz1JIi/s320/IMG_3456.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family group</td></tr>
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After five days hiking the area I decided I needed a beach, so drove down to the Pacific coast, which was a bit of a disappointment. First stop was Tamarindo, where I'd booked a couple of nights stay in a little hotel; evidently it was a famous surfing town, so full of young Americans (dude!) being fleeced by the locals, dirt streets with grey water running down the middle, 5 star hotels next to tin shacks. Not my scene, although I met a Venezuelan Vegan chef that delivered food by push-bike around the town, so at least I had some decent food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MrQYP4W7fli8jR3lUmN6LY2orZUlGOIh80Tau4WFqV9LB12kzcer3rSy4hSHfeURmDWKJfmh6z_jccidExVCSK-81xUJ6rmXKfxk14rCXAznTVWxeWQ4sJUeM336WVUJhY12Hz0G3W79/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MrQYP4W7fli8jR3lUmN6LY2orZUlGOIh80Tau4WFqV9LB12kzcer3rSy4hSHfeURmDWKJfmh6z_jccidExVCSK-81xUJ6rmXKfxk14rCXAznTVWxeWQ4sJUeM336WVUJhY12Hz0G3W79/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, deserted beach</td></tr>
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I carried on south along the coast towards the Marine park, much more rural with no tourists. Found a lovely little cabin up in the hills rented out by a French family - they even let me use their swimming pool. Oh and gave me a massive plate of fruit each day for breakfast!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwk0CTbCSRGoOl09o-SOTvjQbsc3OCQR54eWjkLjmcFxi3nY5TAQljG_M6fiCFx6r-Q3fO1iCILiv2G5Aj6kS2Ey5Na8zDVz-bjrq5S7Ol4X7TFGCUErwdQQf3KPX7Cj1nJxlVr8yi0nU/s1600/IMG_3481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwk0CTbCSRGoOl09o-SOTvjQbsc3OCQR54eWjkLjmcFxi3nY5TAQljG_M6fiCFx6r-Q3fO1iCILiv2G5Aj6kS2Ey5Na8zDVz-bjrq5S7Ol4X7TFGCUErwdQQf3KPX7Cj1nJxlVr8yi0nU/s320/IMG_3481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So thats how you're supposed to do it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm8_r4ca6uK2isjYynPhGyFCEqHDd6V0AQtYTVCgj7G6uUM9BDEK0jFP4IrmTamZs9gMm3Nf7Zl9jTXLWe_JRlm7kALYdjnx9k9J15TtmKa6ntbZJVTpr9J_nFfKBQYMTfz1hYZxMNTlC/s1600/IMG_3466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="885" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm8_r4ca6uK2isjYynPhGyFCEqHDd6V0AQtYTVCgj7G6uUM9BDEK0jFP4IrmTamZs9gMm3Nf7Zl9jTXLWe_JRlm7kALYdjnx9k9J15TtmKa6ntbZJVTpr9J_nFfKBQYMTfz1hYZxMNTlC/s320/IMG_3466.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funny-looking squirrel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEQLJ5yxY_C-WxNQpLp2TMTHY2Zt-2KePNDmoXyQPqtULUJL3ANiIr8T2E_XO8B0IikivPX4pDOlovTpR7yo9ztmHRlOm5g0jpd5z2Oj-WngEjFqYgnjfQyCQw92FrDjdcJh30jSZ_kEw/s1600/IMG_3484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEQLJ5yxY_C-WxNQpLp2TMTHY2Zt-2KePNDmoXyQPqtULUJL3ANiIr8T2E_XO8B0IikivPX4pDOlovTpR7yo9ztmHRlOm5g0jpd5z2Oj-WngEjFqYgnjfQyCQw92FrDjdcJh30jSZ_kEw/s320/IMG_3484.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice Fruit!!</td></tr>
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I took a boat trip out one day, supposedly there were humpback whales out in the park, but all we saw were dolphins. Did some snorkeling but not many fish. Bit of a disappointment really.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfi4Kz8zS_H3yK2Qm4vFThEDBdaHD8PKp2jHMF1J-Vo4FUpW6JXvcS-axqkgjf66mLSJ4_IWWmLBl3SrYUxvlpFWb8s1WmgbtT2WEC9p43OKtkG17Yk80487Snx-uqG8W-gJADRbPx3iR/s1600/IMG_3487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfi4Kz8zS_H3yK2Qm4vFThEDBdaHD8PKp2jHMF1J-Vo4FUpW6JXvcS-axqkgjf66mLSJ4_IWWmLBl3SrYUxvlpFWb8s1WmgbtT2WEC9p43OKtkG17Yk80487Snx-uqG8W-gJADRbPx3iR/s320/IMG_3487.JPG" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marine National park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNjdykV7iexm3Q8_gtdT-8l-VyNWm1b8Uun0RGesIYpKGBTL54v_tWi_2UrcmGO89Ea_9StLg5aHX7g-DCSM_tkHx3vCDj2Og6n8dl1qrceXuGkDU2wR1nVKKt6UVnnaRukYr-Qv3K4q5/s1600/DSCN1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="1024" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNjdykV7iexm3Q8_gtdT-8l-VyNWm1b8Uun0RGesIYpKGBTL54v_tWi_2UrcmGO89Ea_9StLg5aHX7g-DCSM_tkHx3vCDj2Og6n8dl1qrceXuGkDU2wR1nVKKt6UVnnaRukYr-Qv3K4q5/s320/DSCN1706.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted dolphin</td></tr>
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Another day I made a trip to the most popular national park in the country; sure enough there was plenty of wildlife to be spotted, but it all seemed a bit - Disneyland. The guides all knew where each animal was to be seen, we basically queued-up to take our photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVgBgKA6MWKtwqs7vyzXGwWM0obv0wcI8x7BhpnDJN3CICsAjMH9X5YAgmNcAN38Tyw7veDgAnezd8jVUFXEF24Sjp0WhCxYQZ7ker9PhZ1LAD1K7qx9pxUuazIqaC5caaxRx6InDsjtI/s1600/DSCN1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVgBgKA6MWKtwqs7vyzXGwWM0obv0wcI8x7BhpnDJN3CICsAjMH9X5YAgmNcAN38Tyw7veDgAnezd8jVUFXEF24Sjp0WhCxYQZ7ker9PhZ1LAD1K7qx9pxUuazIqaC5caaxRx6InDsjtI/s320/DSCN1723.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capuchin monkeys</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IDO2aHbjY72FvWb7meFaHeGW_FEiPJn8NvNW0rnYMdnew0MOPTFv3C1SaRcG2-AlNunA94huBzZxjeYuUh2l-UoTmN4Mepy-vl2LVsOfJwdMBa-olQMy3ISv0exr5XpcLBNbSZShGU2i/s1600/IMG_3506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IDO2aHbjY72FvWb7meFaHeGW_FEiPJn8NvNW0rnYMdnew0MOPTFv3C1SaRcG2-AlNunA94huBzZxjeYuUh2l-UoTmN4Mepy-vl2LVsOfJwdMBa-olQMy3ISv0exr5XpcLBNbSZShGU2i/s320/IMG_3506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a Sloth and baby in there somewhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA3fxVNAyty7cue70cCkIq6A7fMs-VN5dXPhD47vtm6rD7JFd1guBLBiOAXYaYUbAnZXfGdMe4oaxIAKya4DcQs2880xF4z_kzNl7yA6MTr97I-CDRCnZZfAEF9tD2lqgT2DpiEYfhNOt/s1600/IMG_3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA3fxVNAyty7cue70cCkIq6A7fMs-VN5dXPhD47vtm6rD7JFd1guBLBiOAXYaYUbAnZXfGdMe4oaxIAKya4DcQs2880xF4z_kzNl7yA6MTr97I-CDRCnZZfAEF9tD2lqgT2DpiEYfhNOt/s320/IMG_3503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howler monkey</td></tr>
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Strangely enough, after three weeks I was getting bored. I guess I must be spoilt, but the heat (constant 30 degC) and lack of decent food was getting to me, plus it seemed every person I met had their hand out asking for money. I'd actually driven the whole length of the country, and back again. My plan was to carry on up into Nicaragua, but for some reason there were problems at the border crossing, and no-one was getting across from Costa Rica. I never did find out what the problem was, by now I just wanted to get away. After a bit of head-scratching I decided to head to Colombia instead; I remembered Juan, my Arhuaco companion from Panama city, telling me all about Cuidad Perdida (the lost city) sitting up in the mountains behind Cartagena. So, flight booked to Cartagena via Panama - ready for the next leg of the journey.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgqWdjcK6w1qW7Zqz3gmILUMeHPCT7URV2WF9jkZ2q3E6VMo4gFThKrqrSMum25C1H9zMH0ZKuy_E3MUfiTsIEnN8Lqjo70jD7H-s83ocAKe0RGbKIaBEMiIa4e9DxUR6cOafu1k3ZxrQ/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgqWdjcK6w1qW7Zqz3gmILUMeHPCT7URV2WF9jkZ2q3E6VMo4gFThKrqrSMum25C1H9zMH0ZKuy_E3MUfiTsIEnN8Lqjo70jD7H-s83ocAKe0RGbKIaBEMiIa4e9DxUR6cOafu1k3ZxrQ/s320/IMG_3432.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone's watching!</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-40018477122892739022019-01-04T22:10:00.000+00:002019-01-04T22:10:12.793+00:00A postcard from Panama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I flew to Miami from London, had a one week stopover in the Florida Keys (nothing adventurous) then flew down to Panama city. I've been travelling around a bit here; seen some nice places. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casco Viejo (old town)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical building</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View across to (new) Panama city from Casco Viejo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normal traffic conditions - gridlock!</td></tr>
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After a few days in Panama city I caught a ferry down to Isla Contadora in the Pacific Pearl Islands<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Isla Contadora</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A deserted beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another deserted beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fish</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another deserted beach</td></tr>
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There wasn't many people there, probably because of the Xmas holidays. The island has 6 lovely beaches, which I had pretty much to myself. Did some snorkeling and found plenty of fish and a few corals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmPhn0ufpeJQBgoSier8TEIJdMT9lF_1FvhrK_8q0TJ0rH0pEGCvVysJPfkuYhv0OFBcb7_zmT5xHAmc4NHXWqudJxK571CCQKVeXcZ2onQeVPm5zow2jXxZ2Xsf2Hldu1TnmtuiGL80w/s1600/IMG_2941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmPhn0ufpeJQBgoSier8TEIJdMT9lF_1FvhrK_8q0TJ0rH0pEGCvVysJPfkuYhv0OFBcb7_zmT5xHAmc4NHXWqudJxK571CCQKVeXcZ2onQeVPm5zow2jXxZ2Xsf2Hldu1TnmtuiGL80w/s320/IMG_2941.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I told these guys I was thirsty, so one climbed a coconut tree for me!</td></tr>
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I stayed a couple of days, but with no restaurants open I lived on tins of black beans & packets of plantain chips bought from the one little shop on the island; stayed in a cheap b&b where I was the only client.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGYpo2c-HYBKzm7cpkkXsHc9pt8szHEZtl61rY_PN35Fnc7Zx7RD08jFVBotrd9iMkXAQJ1CG_9N2oGO2JP2QeOn4EVbD1oNkFOH3fqKexR9kXRxcH0ji8T1BFh8MhrLEVAvcwvjlGQAM/s1600/IMG_2983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGYpo2c-HYBKzm7cpkkXsHc9pt8szHEZtl61rY_PN35Fnc7Zx7RD08jFVBotrd9iMkXAQJ1CG_9N2oGO2JP2QeOn4EVbD1oNkFOH3fqKexR9kXRxcH0ji8T1BFh8MhrLEVAvcwvjlGQAM/s320/IMG_2983.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panama city from the Metropolitan park</td></tr>
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Got back to the city, did some hiking - the city is surrounded by parks - but it was extremely hot & humid!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A critter in the park</td></tr>
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After a couple of more days in the city I took a trip up to the Carribean coast and the San Blas islands. These are a chain of islands in an independent nation ruled by the Guna Yala indians, they restrict access to the islands, but allow tourists to visit & stay in very basic accomodations.<br />
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After 2 weeks here in Panama at sea level I was getting a tan, but man it was hot! So I decided to go up into the hills and visit the small town of El Valle and spend the New Year there. It is set in the crater of a huge extinct volcano, so lots of waterfalls and thermal springs to visit, plus hiking around the hills. Much nicer temperature, around 25 degC as opposed to 34degC down in the city.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hill is called La India Dormida (sleeping Indian)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not quite ripe yet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endangered yellow frog of Panama </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbed to top of India Dormida - knackered!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud pack in the hot springs</td></tr>
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I spent 5 days up in the hills, stayed in a quiet and basic hotel set in lovely gardens. Hiked every day, visited the waterfalls and hot springs, had a nice rest from the city. Also met some nice people to while away the time with.<br />
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Got back to the city to spend the last couple of days getting ready to move on to Costa Rica. I had to visit the Panama canal, spent some time in the museum there which was really interesting, watched a few boats transiting through, then back to my hotel to start booking flights.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ship exiting the canal to the Pacific</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ships coming into the canal from the Atlantic</td></tr>
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I've had a nice enough time here, met a few nice people, but I must say that in general the Panamanians are miserable as hell!! Mind you, they have this special toilet paper that is so thin that even when you fold it 12 times your fingers go through it (ugh) so maybe that's the reason why. :)El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-17346566743849607862018-12-03T17:35:00.002+00:002018-12-03T17:35:29.334+00:00I opened the Christmas crackers early this year .....A man walks into a chemist's and says "Can I have a bar of soap, please?"<br />
The chemist asks "do you want it scented?"<br />
The man says " No, I'll take it with me, thanks"<br />
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The police arrested two kids down our street yesterday.<br />
One was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks.<br />
They charged one, and let the other off.<br />
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;)El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-7173878563288559292018-11-21T19:11:00.000+00:002018-11-21T19:11:11.382+00:00The Best and Worst of the Birmingham Bike show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just my luck, I thought a mid-week trip up to Birmingham to see all the new bikes - including that Triumph Scrambler I've been lusting about - would be nice and easy, no traffic. Hah! Torrential rain and sheer bad driving saw the M25 closed due to accidents, and my 2 hr journey turned to 5 hours. I'll be honest, I was in a foul mood, then had to pay £30 to get in - no senior discount. But then I saw this little yellow Vespa and just had to cheer up!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in the day - feet turned out a must.</td></tr>
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After a little look around I headed over to the Triumph stand, full of anticipation, ready to sit on that new scrambler and ask questions before ordering one. I was slightly underwhelmed to see the bike in the metal, the paint schemes were a bit boring and to be honest, it looks a bit of a big old lump. However, not to be dissuaded, I spent time looking around it and asked the Triumph salesman all about it - and he wasn't the slightest bit interested in talking to me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking bored</td></tr>
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So I wandered off and spent time looking at the rest of the show - but feeling a bit disappointed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No idea what this was!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ34w6lnUvb3tyBtI4OPQlHGifgqQmUajWwFI8KGBEyNwRs1NgM83iqY25QqbDQ7XvhffLe5KJq5Hwlb0u480qSin0fJRIOQNUEoG_Bw1nQuFJVTzUbeQhyphenhyphen1DsHEbyO8QYBTQwP7_jIRs/s1600/DSCN1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ34w6lnUvb3tyBtI4OPQlHGifgqQmUajWwFI8KGBEyNwRs1NgM83iqY25QqbDQ7XvhffLe5KJq5Hwlb0u480qSin0fJRIOQNUEoG_Bw1nQuFJVTzUbeQhyphenhyphen1DsHEbyO8QYBTQwP7_jIRs/s320/DSCN1559.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moody lighting - to disguise the boredom?</td></tr>
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Then I came across the CCM stand, and those little bikes look good! Hand-built in Bolton, Lancashire, fitted with a little 600cc single made by Husqvarna, they were just so nicely put together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZVPIxp61VSM3vPx-x5T795COKYQOSPV3JWXF7uMdPStiSIKhE5gj31_LV8nvHruW44YK_JlDTWQfiBFiORIEoTsPx2x7lBmUH-GHPCyB9ALNrM-T-Gz5qq7DkEjxPu0VLzOcRPo8Olmi/s1600/DSCN1557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZVPIxp61VSM3vPx-x5T795COKYQOSPV3JWXF7uMdPStiSIKhE5gj31_LV8nvHruW44YK_JlDTWQfiBFiORIEoTsPx2x7lBmUH-GHPCyB9ALNrM-T-Gz5qq7DkEjxPu0VLzOcRPo8Olmi/s320/DSCN1557.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CCM Spitfire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6j3Pjwg3kBSUUjxWWorvF2gDUrQMNZeiBeEw7MQap3O315Yuz8cJlR64WSq6bhh69iuiSzHMNLbvPVhyoB59u0GFvyVB6hnfcyc0xG9ePf4WN8guPFRWO7mqRQc7NLm5qyDTcLf1_HKB/s1600/DSCN1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="992" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6j3Pjwg3kBSUUjxWWorvF2gDUrQMNZeiBeEw7MQap3O315Yuz8cJlR64WSq6bhh69iuiSzHMNLbvPVhyoB59u0GFvyVB6hnfcyc0xG9ePf4WN8guPFRWO7mqRQc7NLm5qyDTcLf1_HKB/s320/DSCN1558.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cafe racer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKEij6CKKpw63ySW7mSmDhfCNHS_4X6gP9MpE0kD156wa8SPEskbD86RFWCSoyu5KCpEnRc5TsFgfUX8fDWNvZHc79BV_i8hnWPsygh_Chd1ONNXl_Cs384GXJ8BLdbmrocOUjwoWS7SD/s1600/DSCN1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1013" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKEij6CKKpw63ySW7mSmDhfCNHS_4X6gP9MpE0kD156wa8SPEskbD86RFWCSoyu5KCpEnRc5TsFgfUX8fDWNvZHc79BV_i8hnWPsygh_Chd1ONNXl_Cs384GXJ8BLdbmrocOUjwoWS7SD/s320/DSCN1567.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now thats what I call a fairing - two girls behind it having a chat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OdfHDjnMfuw1bgkNqNgg2kqF9Kx7w7Es2I4pnUYXihelAYSpYDqEDUbif47XZxc6U4vBHGlVlECGVI3lt0Dp5fcDRJMNZrtJaUZMwXXCGNPxciEichzs4o93CRR8yI9HhCx_XKs09aK9/s1600/DSCN1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1024" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OdfHDjnMfuw1bgkNqNgg2kqF9Kx7w7Es2I4pnUYXihelAYSpYDqEDUbif47XZxc6U4vBHGlVlECGVI3lt0Dp5fcDRJMNZrtJaUZMwXXCGNPxciEichzs4o93CRR8yI9HhCx_XKs09aK9/s320/DSCN1566.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Indian 1200 Flat Tracker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingLCYLk9TMtCS-67biNV1L3HyvemI0JalsGHkEt7uLeVfQvCXSogmUUCUkzNO8LigQsjvGFWz1YzKvupJir5BfKhIRow-aHTA0IwbUoB1ZZHPx3_yoyy3VqGPsb3I_ZuHVEexmyh_Fip2/s1600/DSCN1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingLCYLk9TMtCS-67biNV1L3HyvemI0JalsGHkEt7uLeVfQvCXSogmUUCUkzNO8LigQsjvGFWz1YzKvupJir5BfKhIRow-aHTA0IwbUoB1ZZHPx3_yoyy3VqGPsb3I_ZuHVEexmyh_Fip2/s320/DSCN1565.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird styling from long ago</td></tr>
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After wandering around a bit more I found myself back at the CCM stand looking at their bobber. Now I like the idea of the bobber, having a great interest in old Americana, but the reality is that a giraffe-like Englishman just doesn't fit on one. But I sat on it anyway, and it was comfortable (ish).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3II8OdpUaVICZ-Ruy5P3lLE3BS41AQsfku9Zu9IaKgMYdqh1JKI1QXVZtYrOkif47XZ2kpXa1jR73y5akjjb3GAPg-bGnFUn5r-L7mh-TBlgQ3afRKzcJBlBC-CFbCusoKBo7tsHrMMx/s1600/DSCN1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3II8OdpUaVICZ-Ruy5P3lLE3BS41AQsfku9Zu9IaKgMYdqh1JKI1QXVZtYrOkif47XZ2kpXa1jR73y5akjjb3GAPg-bGnFUn5r-L7mh-TBlgQ3afRKzcJBlBC-CFbCusoKBo7tsHrMMx/s320/DSCN1569.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CCM Bobber</td></tr>
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Then I met Reggie, a lovely little Lancastrian who works for CCM assembling bikes. We chatted for quite some time, and he showed me all over the bike, we discussed every detail. I got so enthused by his obvious love for the bikes and the company that I put a deposit on a bobber!!<br />
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So now I am in a bit of a quandary; the sensible part of me says cancel the order, either stick with the Tiger or get that new scrambler (even though the salesman was a twat). But the romantic in me says get the bobber, open-face helmet & zip around looking .... well, probably like a giraffe on a moped!<br />
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What do you think Sonja? You usually have the best advice for me.<br />
<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-54713047276463278842018-10-28T11:26:00.003+00:002018-10-28T11:26:55.670+00:00A postcard from Kazakhstan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So....Kazakstan. A big empty place. I believe the original inhabitants were nomads, travelling and living in Yurts. Then, fairly recently, oil was discovered in the Caspian sea. Now the country is coming into the 21st century..but slowly. As I found on my train journey down to Tengiz, the oil camp on the south-east shores of the Caspian sea, there's a whole lot of empty space.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WpgQjBwNxQdyu9SQgWYfKQFxIbsmijIcUyQ6CZ0_WJ8uUf1El0sJ_Rx6W6aAOYh9RFXjrLwuihtfIuKavpbFxWYrZpaELFHMir_UOqWlDliGpaww5oxIcsxnVw8iB-jP6XqkPI_K6OMR/s1600/DSCN1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WpgQjBwNxQdyu9SQgWYfKQFxIbsmijIcUyQ6CZ0_WJ8uUf1El0sJ_Rx6W6aAOYh9RFXjrLwuihtfIuKavpbFxWYrZpaELFHMir_UOqWlDliGpaww5oxIcsxnVw8iB-jP6XqkPI_K6OMR/s320/DSCN1495.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from a train - unchanging for 4 hours!</td></tr>
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When I got to the camp, there's also a lot of nothing, a desert with pipelines and refinery plonked in the middle of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglysZdEJK6mINImhsRrLwLBlIfeyrEub7xVAPikoxIHVxOo9zW_V6YRVjC0XSO3m1lUt6CUJTJ5urJzzTMt7bF1UzrtuhUg2s_ILsFilHz5RpmRW3Fvn0wva6U4GSjYUXXCi5kIf4Ob5Ku/s1600/DSCN1501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglysZdEJK6mINImhsRrLwLBlIfeyrEub7xVAPikoxIHVxOo9zW_V6YRVjC0XSO3m1lUt6CUJTJ5urJzzTMt7bF1UzrtuhUg2s_ILsFilHz5RpmRW3Fvn0wva6U4GSjYUXXCi5kIf4Ob5Ku/s320/DSCN1501.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pipes sand and flowers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuuufiThc29QIvgKP8JBOoW_KFjy-NOwIZe4flblivARBTVEhoYmKJXzgego6_IVWiR2sOCMUao8UcGKgD61AOtZQE0l0FgsEgVUjc_xY7JtL6d96cjf_L6mP2gAhQvlxe3YCnyRGyl4s/s1600/DSCN1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuuufiThc29QIvgKP8JBOoW_KFjy-NOwIZe4flblivARBTVEhoYmKJXzgego6_IVWiR2sOCMUao8UcGKgD61AOtZQE0l0FgsEgVUjc_xY7JtL6d96cjf_L6mP2gAhQvlxe3YCnyRGyl4s/s320/DSCN1503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home ?</td></tr>
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The accommodation is pretty basic, but then we work 12 hour days, 7 days a week so there's not exactly a lot of free time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2WEMaAMhY9_sJ8c2ErwaXeDFCt2i1Alyu1EGAaqjZN_4u8nxkDbspWcSyxYpT8Awu1ZGnfL_mE9cPQTn5sdlNa847HYS7tvc9wAw1npMi6Oy7LDAdXs1mbtNy7D_oYaPiEyclc-B4Y77/s1600/DSCN1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2WEMaAMhY9_sJ8c2ErwaXeDFCt2i1Alyu1EGAaqjZN_4u8nxkDbspWcSyxYpT8Awu1ZGnfL_mE9cPQTn5sdlNa847HYS7tvc9wAw1npMi6Oy7LDAdXs1mbtNy7D_oYaPiEyclc-B4Y77/s320/DSCN1505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxurious - no!!</td></tr>
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Any free time I got I spent playing with the local wildlife!<br />
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After a month in the camp I swore I wouldn't go back, but after a 4 week break I got asked to go back but stay in Atyrau, a city on the north bank of the sea. A lot more decent than the camp, I'm staying in a proper hotel this time and doing normal office work, so I can handle that for 4 weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYsw5nciTlmkB5zZuzLM8pIxzhMcJJs0gZxMazP4tsowxIzlp_SCwQXA8my0TA4SxQzN6L_iI0atHcuP0A46oqFiN4C7jebK5xxQMw4Bc2tm1K3-6GnR-_gGMWT6J3k5n6cClC_0v1M7C/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="827" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYsw5nciTlmkB5zZuzLM8pIxzhMcJJs0gZxMazP4tsowxIzlp_SCwQXA8my0TA4SxQzN6L_iI0atHcuP0A46oqFiN4C7jebK5xxQMw4Bc2tm1K3-6GnR-_gGMWT6J3k5n6cClC_0v1M7C/s320/IMG_2690.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renaissance hotel with mosque behind</td></tr>
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I actually get Sundays off, so make a point of getting some exercise by walking along the river bank. That's the Ural river, which (allegedly) marks the change from Europe to Asia - I have to say it all looks pretty much the same! There are the new prestige buildings built by the oil companies sitting alongside new 5 star hotels, just along from some pretty basic dwellings for the locals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH-idVxmM7ah8YxBD0mBYIZwzlpgzty4P5EgSm054qtBoHfEbYhspdgGDT71yLKDlO1IBCqbvMtjb1AJCGfdGqUwKimafbbOCyYet_DVLvbVGLLzNw1kgXimehdgGNwu2-IGt807yeZRN/s1600/IMG_2700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH-idVxmM7ah8YxBD0mBYIZwzlpgzty4P5EgSm054qtBoHfEbYhspdgGDT71yLKDlO1IBCqbvMtjb1AJCGfdGqUwKimafbbOCyYet_DVLvbVGLLzNw1kgXimehdgGNwu2-IGt807yeZRN/s320/IMG_2700.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Europe on left bank, Asia to the right.</td></tr>
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As you can see, I've been lucky with the weather, its drifting through autumn now so the temperature is reasonable. They actually get extreme weather here, ranging from 35 degC (95F) in summer, to minus 35 degC (minus 31F) in winter, when this river freezes over two feet thick ice and the locals drive their cars along it!!<br />
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My experience here has been reasonable, helped by living in comfort this time. I'm pretty sure the locals would be happy if we foreigners weren't here, but then that's the same in every oil town I've worked in - Aberdeen in Scotland being the worst!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Europe, allegedly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">proud to be an oil town</td></tr>
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So only another 10 days and I'll be home to London. Then its a quick trip up to Hanover, Germany for a weeks' treatment, then home to start packing and organising my next trip. I've decided to blow half the money I've earned here on a nice long adventure to central America - the other half of the money is reserved for that new bike I promised myself! Happy days!<br />
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-67717972942020280892018-10-25T09:23:00.000+01:002018-10-25T09:23:41.398+01:00Ooh all excited! New Triumph Scrabler 1200 announcedUnfortunately I couldn't go to the preview at London's Excel centre as I've succumbed to greed and come back out to Kazakstan for another month - but this time I am definitely going to get a new bike when I get home, and I think this is it! Pictures off the internet today.<br />
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-22452651028157131692018-09-19T19:10:00.000+01:002018-09-19T19:10:32.021+01:00The Kop Hill climb, 108 years and still going strongEarly Sunday morning I wheeled the Tiger out of the garage for our first decent ride since I got back from Kazhakstan. A quick blast around the M25 motorway devoid of traffic, a stop for petrol and breakfast, within 2 hours I was riding around the picturesque Oxfordshire contry lanes heading for the Kop Hill climb.<br />
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The first year a race was held up the Kop Hill in pretty Princes Risborough was 1910, motorcycles only. The following year, cars joined in. The course record for a car was set by Count Zborowski in his 8-cylinder Bailot, climbing the narrow winding hill course in 26.8 seconds. Then in 1925, Freddie Dixon rode his highly-tuned Douglas motorcycle at 81mph from a standing start to smash the record. Unfortunately, at that same meeting, a spectator refused to move off the course and was hit & broke his leg. This resulted in the RAC removing the racing licence from the Hill Climb.<br />
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Nowdays the cars and bikes still run up the hill each year, but as a 'parade', no racing allowed. Mind you, this is the second time I've attended the event, and some of the participants definitely give it their all!<br />
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There is an excellent and eclectic mix of old & newer bikes, along with every make and model of old car you can imagine, with a few new supercars thrown in. Mix in with food and drink stalls, a fairground for the kids, and some car clubs & car manufacturers stands, and its a great day out for the mechanical enthusiast. I spent the whole day there, and just standing on the start line watching and listening to the mechanical mayhem as the cars and bikes blasted off the line (well, some of them!) brought a massive smile to my face!<br />
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Day over, I weaved back through the traffic on the now crowded motorway to get back home, feet up and read the Sunday paper. If only every day could be this good !! I'll post some photos below to give you an idea of the eclectic mix of vehicles there.<br />
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-36462270024603304812018-08-08T09:38:00.000+01:002018-08-08T09:38:33.499+01:00A mini-adventure ... to KazakhstanYou know, sometimes I feel a little like a male prostitute ..... there I was, enjoying being back home after working in Belgium, and, having decided I'd made enough money not to work again this year, was determined to just enjoy the summer riding the Tiger. Then, out of the blue an old friend asked if I'd like a job in Kazakstan. I said no, definitely not. Then he said its just for 4 weeks to do a specific job... and I started thinking about that Z900RS I drooled over in my last post.<br />
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So, Tuesday morning I caught the 6.30am flight Heathrow to Amsterdam, then transferred to the Air Astana flight to Atyrau. The flight was as bad as I'd expected; old plane, no room between the seats, no on-board entertainment - but at least I got the vegan meal I'd ordered. Funny, but the plane was completely full - of oil workers! Not one Kazhak national to be seen.<br />
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Looking out of the window as we came in to land was fairly depressing, just a vast, flat brown desert all the way to the horizon, with a tiny little city, literally in the middle of nowhere. The airport is just a runway with a little hut on it, immigration and baggage reclaim took forever; it was all just as backward as I'd imagined it.<br />
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But, big surprise of the day was being dropped off at the hotel, which is a big modern chain hotel with all facilities (they even cater for vegetarian/vegans) - I was imagining some kind of shack based on the places we saw on the ride from the airport.<br />
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Then today I went in to the office, which is just across the road from the hotel, to get the next big surprise - I'm not going to be working here, I'm going to be on a camp on the edge of the Caspian sea. I have to take a 2 1/2 hr train ride, then a 1 1/2 hr bus transfer to a camp on a refinery, where I'll be working 12 hour days straight through for 4 weeks. Can't say I'm particularly happy about this, but it's too late now to change my mind.<br />
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So, you won't hear from me again until I get home in a month. Hopefully the next post will be me on my new bike :)El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-1949043226517959322018-07-16T20:29:00.000+01:002018-07-16T20:29:06.211+01:00Leaving BelgiumThe job finished, so I packed the Tiger and left Antwerp happy, ready for the next little adventure. It didn't take long to ride down into France and get the Eurotunnel train back to England; had a slight mis-hap when the battery went dead just as I was getting on the train. I pushed it on and had a little look around the bike during the journey, ah, I'd connected the sat-nav directly to the battery, must have left it on with the engine turned off and run down the battery. Doh! Luckily, the train guard had radioded ahead and a breakdown truck was waiting when we pulled in to Folkestone; a quick jump start and we were off! Home in no time.<br />
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The next day I took the Tiger to the Triumph dealer for a check-over, that Belgian pave had shaken the hell out of it, they found some loose bolts plus changed the brake fluid for me. While I was waiting the salesman let me go out for a ride on the Explorer, thats the 1200-engined one, like mine but bigger (and heavier). I rode the top of the range model with full electronics. To be honest, it was as I'd expected, just like mine but faster in a straight line but more ponderous round the twisties. Got back to the dealer, asked how much - £16k you must be joking!!</div>
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While I was out and about, I thought I'd run down to the Kawasaki dealer and check out that lovely Z900RS. Well, the salesman let me take one out for a ride (it was a nasty-looking matt green colour). Oh man that made a lovely noise! I rode around in 2nd & 3rd just to hear the noise, loved it! And in the right colour, it looked beautiful. I was sorely tempted, but at £10k and only £3900 trade-in on the Tiger it was not to be (well not yet anyway ;)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk5BsqhYAPEl1zkYJrNOwGp2TQ4Ce7jeSlVfLBh1uDhT17_aRPuRLhyVQBvQsZv4EGa395DzA5RRFyW0JeZ-H1mSbXwmlZiHVKiZ15r24t0-exJm4o9HH2bwFlx7-yz_GQOvwD-ZaRuJF/s1600/DSCN1481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="988" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk5BsqhYAPEl1zkYJrNOwGp2TQ4Ce7jeSlVfLBh1uDhT17_aRPuRLhyVQBvQsZv4EGa395DzA5RRFyW0JeZ-H1mSbXwmlZiHVKiZ15r24t0-exJm4o9HH2bwFlx7-yz_GQOvwD-ZaRuJF/s320/DSCN1481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demo bike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green cafe racer version looks nice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best colour!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zncmJRc8B8Jh__YUCosB-F8LAi0wRsKG3XlH_EKpIWdMDUN_Ttay_vmBwoOF9H5A4rNrWSWWNstKjICVHaDrdiPfcRZpc6awn8Bq46q57VEW-e2M6G_NSPDC5KZX4OGHqNl3QmyVMHQB/s1600/DSCN1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1024" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zncmJRc8B8Jh__YUCosB-F8LAi0wRsKG3XlH_EKpIWdMDUN_Ttay_vmBwoOF9H5A4rNrWSWWNstKjICVHaDrdiPfcRZpc6awn8Bq46q57VEW-e2M6G_NSPDC5KZX4OGHqNl3QmyVMHQB/s320/DSCN1486.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely rear end!</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-29290420915135972212018-04-25T19:12:00.000+01:002018-04-25T19:12:38.561+01:00Its not all waffles and chocolates in Belgium.....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpKNFpxWKlujj1I1_6vEkIuTtJqK2atJlONHitU7AmDSb37pibdphv2KLpcgfg2C2j8byGhQIxNUcQ6f0js-k7KTo0Iixj2N2pE0WFjhvFGVSkEtMrfxcIFBQLed-MR5oJXYuojxDlpR1/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpKNFpxWKlujj1I1_6vEkIuTtJqK2atJlONHitU7AmDSb37pibdphv2KLpcgfg2C2j8byGhQIxNUcQ6f0js-k7KTo0Iixj2N2pE0WFjhvFGVSkEtMrfxcIFBQLed-MR5oJXYuojxDlpR1/s320/IMG_2763.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WAFFLES</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzUwV4NIZoy_HumShSLc_Jf63i_tk5C-Kg1Ukn1udaKfpWT2BuU8JOdpztD3v5maO4KSGqHkGiqCEZaS3mbcASgJ64W1IwDWH37E15cjMsgo1SCL3HicqS5kAx_EJP1OfN2QsLgwHu5yG/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzUwV4NIZoy_HumShSLc_Jf63i_tk5C-Kg1Ukn1udaKfpWT2BuU8JOdpztD3v5maO4KSGqHkGiqCEZaS3mbcASgJ64W1IwDWH37E15cjMsgo1SCL3HicqS5kAx_EJP1OfN2QsLgwHu5yG/s320/IMG_2764.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CHOCOLATES</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkH44nmAYO7Tjjf_E_QNy0CYyls9xqZBAgOTnTdL7Zpg9VneMStmtjYGoLtGgVXSTUmVRoOwjBSGbLQKAt51rR0AORN36FSvjgyTjbXdwMJHRqkfs5Fw_ulYzZ6Gq7VwufTiwXdFKuMFnH/s1600/IMG_2750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkH44nmAYO7Tjjf_E_QNy0CYyls9xqZBAgOTnTdL7Zpg9VneMStmtjYGoLtGgVXSTUmVRoOwjBSGbLQKAt51rR0AORN36FSvjgyTjbXdwMJHRqkfs5Fw_ulYzZ6Gq7VwufTiwXdFKuMFnH/s320/IMG_2750.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and New</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-Dfy3Vl0ROwab99TlQ1Tvg7g6e6nFbNJqGUnPMNyPqG51up19lBq8khfJXM4grp-Fj-nbpxXDBU_cwjAavA3E7p7JV8STcTBG6mZ9Kzl4w9UcTEQB6WnfT7DdBSC9CZMn7QO3-6sk3un/s1600/IMG_2757+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-Dfy3Vl0ROwab99TlQ1Tvg7g6e6nFbNJqGUnPMNyPqG51up19lBq8khfJXM4grp-Fj-nbpxXDBU_cwjAavA3E7p7JV8STcTBG6mZ9Kzl4w9UcTEQB6WnfT7DdBSC9CZMn7QO3-6sk3un/s320/IMG_2757+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, not sure, but everyone else was taking photos...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmM5B9FlxrriQc3jrqapk1JkgznoBsjQjrkkmFG_BUzYssVy8kjbIpx1Gt-nKV3zTvI8FI9u0LSQ3k5RiQ2Y6Q0s4JB0WjrV2hCkxMVI3PQnNNuHqtyx8YPQ7KAcsBmHft7qimzvuNDyT/s1600/P1000221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmM5B9FlxrriQc3jrqapk1JkgznoBsjQjrkkmFG_BUzYssVy8kjbIpx1Gt-nKV3zTvI8FI9u0LSQ3k5RiQ2Y6Q0s4JB0WjrV2hCkxMVI3PQnNNuHqtyx8YPQ7KAcsBmHft7qimzvuNDyT/s320/P1000221.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where I'm spending 11 hours six days a week!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess who</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-25696445677161247952018-04-06T14:52:00.001+01:002018-04-06T14:52:59.723+01:00This wasn't really part of the planGot home last week and started unpacking, got a call from an old friend, just catching up. The usual stuff, then he asked "why aren't you working, you're fit enough". My honest answer was that no-one had asked me.<br />
So now I'm sitting beside him in a site cabin, looking out across Antwerp docks at the old refinery being revamped. I've been walking around with boots and hard hat on, still wondering what I'm doing here! Still, the job's only for a few weeks, and (hopefully) will help pay for my last couple of foreign trips.<br />
Hopefully I'll be able to explore old Antwerp this weekend, it looks quite picturesque. Oh and I've found two vegan restaurants near my cheap-and-cheerful hotel, so am eating well. The only slight disappointment was not being able to bring my old Jeep over for transport while I'm here - Antwerp has a Low Emmision zone that encompasses most of the city and the Jeep is deemed a major pollutant and not allowed in. Shame.El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-38835845444389045712018-03-18T18:35:00.000+00:002018-03-18T22:43:05.566+00:00Alternative bike culture on the island (updated)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been looking at the different types of bike used here on the island. While the tourists go for the 4-wheel off-road thingies, the locals seem split between cruisers and sports bikes - nothing different there, right? However, the cruisers are either Harley's or big Suzuki M1800's, pretty standard offerings with lashings of chrome; whereas the sports bikes mostly seem to sport madly elongated swing arms. I'd spotted a few, pretty ratty-looking things with faded paint and bald rear tyres, then the other day while downtown I heard that unmistakable noise that comes from big-bore bikes with minimal silencers. When I strolled over to look, there was a group of bikers sitting around drinking at an open-air bar, parked in front were a number of Suzuki Hayabusa's with those extended swing arms, but done really well. I have to say the guys all (apparently) had a bit of a 'fuck you' attitude to the passers by, as nicely emphasized by one guys' crash helmet graphics. I'm not sure what its all about; I did see plenty of similarly modified bikes in use so not just for show, it just seemed all wrong. Maybe its something to do with the theory of evolution, how birds on different islands develop different beaks .....?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helmet says it all</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicely done - although notice twin rear discs not plumbed-in</td></tr>
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Update - today (Sunday) is Aruba flag day, a national holiday. I was minding my own business down on the beach when the sound of hundreds of bikes deafened me. I walked up to the road, and managed to snap a few more bikes. Right in front of me, two of those kooky Suzuki's pulled out of the parade, the riders obviously overheated as they parked and ran to a beach bar to get a cold beer. I approached them and politely asked why the swing arms were so extended. The answer came back 'for drifting'. Me, I'm still no wiser, but maybe one of you will know.</div>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-9406571022109440242018-03-09T20:26:00.000+00:002018-03-09T20:26:27.251+00:00Aruba<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ten and a half hour flight from Amsterdam, arrived in Aruba Thursday evening 2 weeks ago. The island was pretty much as I remembered it from 25 years ago when I used to visit while working in Venezuela, apart from more high-rise hotels up at the North end of the island. The capital, Oranjestad, is chocolate-box pretty with multi-coloured buildings, the beaches are still wide, white sand and the sea crystal-clear light blue. I found a nice cheap funky apartment 10 minutes walk from Eagle beach and next door to a supermarket.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle beach</td></tr>
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I spent the first few days moping around trying to stay miserable, but then I decided to snap out of it, grow up and face reality so no more moaning about health issues. I promise. Met a nice American couple at the pool, so have had someone to talk to most days. Have been eating plenty of salads and fresh fruits, with the odd restaurant meal; there's a few vegetarian cafe's around so always somewhere to eat. Been exploring the island, mostly on foot, although I did rent a Jeep for a day to venture in the national park - bit of a waste of time really as its all just desert.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcanic rocky beach with blow holes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's my brain, that is.</td></tr>
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<br />The rest of the time I've really just been relaxing either on the beach or around the apartment pool - really boring with nothing much to report. Still, its got me away from the worst winter Britain has had for many years, so that was worth it. Hopefully something interesting will happen during the next couple of weeks!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKKCr0eSOl_rRdEUisZ8PpX1dq-rXOZbLLFS0Q0TvTuORsKNrslo2yPH3spUoGtp2E-QmcYcf8CbwKvfj3Sm2-4d2o1IOpwqUM9MIxtqN-8hrzC9Tb3nkLDrMdYvIJ9oUw6Ko3Unyw-qf/s1600/DSCN1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vv35nNhEnZHVhhqEtOdcgd-ZoqETRKUrC6VL09aKe6vGXcxfpZMsIkGVY8gPjdjWaKr6RZbWhu3VccDySAS2PrBxPzu446mnGCRZRNsv9wlQ_gmLnlEj-ABwRnAxQq32ugYt6udwpJHz/s1600/DSCN1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vv35nNhEnZHVhhqEtOdcgd-ZoqETRKUrC6VL09aKe6vGXcxfpZMsIkGVY8gPjdjWaKr6RZbWhu3VccDySAS2PrBxPzu446mnGCRZRNsv9wlQ_gmLnlEj-ABwRnAxQq32ugYt6udwpJHz/s320/DSCN1406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnOf3ewJjUmrUvMapOqD3_tO_6q6aqQTGUxt4thvTmQExflz4bPjCoNK4jhRBcpmmaeojyWSsxnajY-z20furWCrMQCPatHpWITxvAQrA6HgscP2c4k2GpaguQp1WVImVRMomf7VnpKhs/s1600/DSCN1409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnOf3ewJjUmrUvMapOqD3_tO_6q6aqQTGUxt4thvTmQExflz4bPjCoNK4jhRBcpmmaeojyWSsxnajY-z20furWCrMQCPatHpWITxvAQrA6HgscP2c4k2GpaguQp1WVImVRMomf7VnpKhs/s320/DSCN1409.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisted-up tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7R7hWhfUT-goQcwhxKBzbV9L6MB3snvDMWj7mPt3iyokKsxubGUmSa-oNVfwzegV19fz-pSy1e99ikrQEpIVQPy004-2N3QmNYX0_WVIph1vBydb5CAPxLoC26N3_kMlZZdpJQUVX091/s1600/DSCN1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7R7hWhfUT-goQcwhxKBzbV9L6MB3snvDMWj7mPt3iyokKsxubGUmSa-oNVfwzegV19fz-pSy1e99ikrQEpIVQPy004-2N3QmNYX0_WVIph1vBydb5CAPxLoC26N3_kMlZZdpJQUVX091/s320/DSCN1429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural pool in the National Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9SVNHBwgImTSsjucqOW27AQN46NqNv0LZiTVHp5YAUOtQMFqDVHAKyTWyirYB6-1L9_wMb_Tfg765cQgkvtBYlpt56k2lF8gaLsV1uwgvqSiEvT59Gzgtb6LEjtiTpxzKoU79WQO2ZCb/s1600/DSCN1437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9SVNHBwgImTSsjucqOW27AQN46NqNv0LZiTVHp5YAUOtQMFqDVHAKyTWyirYB6-1L9_wMb_Tfg765cQgkvtBYlpt56k2lF8gaLsV1uwgvqSiEvT59Gzgtb6LEjtiTpxzKoU79WQO2ZCb/s320/DSCN1437.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East coast rocky and wild</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsh1CLijqYsohLUvPb9tgK36ExQUC55dgz7pyPDoZlrrcEFtEMgQsKrvffRpUO9kLGDERlV4IOcCEgSiCgBdVSNJoqx48j0cnAGvNfbSstFvUxI4WIKLk8YE8iSXUpFEOfgT6hK8MC6E0/s1600/IMG_2655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsh1CLijqYsohLUvPb9tgK36ExQUC55dgz7pyPDoZlrrcEFtEMgQsKrvffRpUO9kLGDERlV4IOcCEgSiCgBdVSNJoqx48j0cnAGvNfbSstFvUxI4WIKLk8YE8iSXUpFEOfgT6hK8MC6E0/s320/IMG_2655.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy all year</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-79746973251555783232018-02-18T17:38:00.000+00:002018-02-18T17:38:26.590+00:00A busy week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last Saturday I had to fly up to Hanover for a 6 month check-up and maintenance treatment; I suppose I could have flown directly from Malaga to Hanover, but I took the opportunity to fly via London and spent the day with my son and grandson. Then on Sunday flew to Germany, ready for Monday morning treatment. Hanover was freezing cold and snowing most of the week, the less said about that the better!</div>
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I flew back to London this Saturday and spent the afternoon with my daughter, so that's the family caught up with. By a quirk of fate, this weekend was the London Bike show at the Excel centre, but also the London Classic car show at the same venue, which was most unusual. As I had the day free I decided to hit them both, and my son decided to come up and meet me there. I got up early and drove through East London, got to the Excel before they opened so was one of the first in line when the Bike show opened at 9am. I have to admit I was a little disappointed, it wasn't half as good as the NEC show in Birmingham I went to last November.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06U1eMVxcGP0wf3wkiDaev26zlw5-rsTnX0HAmzO6xmNaD7TCfsUMhH2FXZTg7-zeZuhd7CiCfihG5PFVvbUHINAOgNG1-yJ9B2vLOvQyfqDDAL9eJLrIt9pRLsdVvfVhieYJ8Fn6spSD/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06U1eMVxcGP0wf3wkiDaev26zlw5-rsTnX0HAmzO6xmNaD7TCfsUMhH2FXZTg7-zeZuhd7CiCfihG5PFVvbUHINAOgNG1-yJ9B2vLOvQyfqDDAL9eJLrIt9pRLsdVvfVhieYJ8Fn6spSD/s320/IMG_2561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Z900 RS still looks nice - too pricey for me though</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xGsq-6319eBd_bzYN8R4dDNSSrwFbkh_AmVBLH49Fr0qWcnl8EOjVjLZ6RhjXpGpSLneqHmLNssSt1_tbym-OYTHMTQz2RNcwcAETadyTCbFzOpKb5nGgyqzu9igkAY_g9L-d-CTM7eP/s320/IMG_2562.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CCM Scrambler was lovely bit of kit, handmade but again too pricey at 10k</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xGsq-6319eBd_bzYN8R4dDNSSrwFbkh_AmVBLH49Fr0qWcnl8EOjVjLZ6RhjXpGpSLneqHmLNssSt1_tbym-OYTHMTQz2RNcwcAETadyTCbFzOpKb5nGgyqzu9igkAY_g9L-d-CTM7eP/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xGsq-6319eBd_bzYN8R4dDNSSrwFbkh_AmVBLH49Fr0qWcnl8EOjVjLZ6RhjXpGpSLneqHmLNssSt1_tbym-OYTHMTQz2RNcwcAETadyTCbFzOpKb5nGgyqzu9igkAY_g9L-d-CTM7eP/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Iw7iD6H2Vb0rzLCrvWiR-3cUiVCXA8NMPB65uDTnJ-4wH2IGsKIoY7DMC5iFdH_sHM0I1noLJH00qkBWE7k0CbNvia92CqM8FRQszgaEgWPX_DWgbsUmqgNk9Jid6Ck7uIxPVvf3UXI/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Iw7iD6H2Vb0rzLCrvWiR-3cUiVCXA8NMPB65uDTnJ-4wH2IGsKIoY7DMC5iFdH_sHM0I1noLJH00qkBWE7k0CbNvia92CqM8FRQszgaEgWPX_DWgbsUmqgNk9Jid6Ck7uIxPVvf3UXI/s320/IMG_2573.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New twin cylinder RE, nice for under £6k new!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH21I_W3fTPJJtxqYkur9ofuyq2oWet3RdwXak6UZAwbiSkQPDGEUYwI8j2D4S39PlEvancXTkZX0s-GEB0Ll2nbAbwPTf4hW2BZtkXKurnLopbdTYTuwmspwV8q7qiWlgn7UVxYt-p2a/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH21I_W3fTPJJtxqYkur9ofuyq2oWet3RdwXak6UZAwbiSkQPDGEUYwI8j2D4S39PlEvancXTkZX0s-GEB0Ll2nbAbwPTf4hW2BZtkXKurnLopbdTYTuwmspwV8q7qiWlgn7UVxYt-p2a/s320/IMG_2574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeaUN_pWkn0ezjk1SuBYV3v1mWLMAQYVMtUckQaGsk6AxFqdaYPlyaOF_A7jwO62XUVVbHGr5ZXPw0iovosMyoP-mNdlSimdHzhNQWonlcDFxcRh9ovqDfU2uqzs7F1CuvoWM6vW19X3Y/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeaUN_pWkn0ezjk1SuBYV3v1mWLMAQYVMtUckQaGsk6AxFqdaYPlyaOF_A7jwO62XUVVbHGr5ZXPw0iovosMyoP-mNdlSimdHzhNQWonlcDFxcRh9ovqDfU2uqzs7F1CuvoWM6vW19X3Y/s320/IMG_2575.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New V4 Ducati engine nicely made<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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The new Royal Enfield with the new twin-cylinder engine looked to be a good buy at just under £6k, other than that it was just the usual stuff, although the scantily-clad dolly birds were notable by their absence this year, guess that's the modern age we're living in, eh?</div>
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After I'd been there about an hour, my son turned up. He was on a bit of a tight schedule, so we decided to go straight over to the Classic car show. We were virtually the first people in the hall, as you can see we were strolling around the big empty spaces taking it all in virtually alone. That soon changed though!! There was a very eclectic collection of cars there, all of them completely out of my price range, but all were absolutely immaculate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM-k73SprvjHOYNWQ_UoE2n7LW9HxJ7zxow_2H92TrzAxRXMrQA0-4yvfco-yD8nVmaaQC7JszJvVsuU2trtu7Xa6vzadxNVD57Ntoh2c7qeECs4_wYptRAcr_q2dHD4lldcvEe0HKnoa/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM-k73SprvjHOYNWQ_UoE2n7LW9HxJ7zxow_2H92TrzAxRXMrQA0-4yvfco-yD8nVmaaQC7JszJvVsuU2trtu7Xa6vzadxNVD57Ntoh2c7qeECs4_wYptRAcr_q2dHD4lldcvEe0HKnoa/s320/IMG_2578.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxR5db0N1qHI1VJclKjjQn_c8bXOwTb6RThWc_igu_DO0vichYP_6aNmhWpsbDlUI3UAxT-0R_ZHwGbz8P_pzVb08NnR6ILMEGn5SqpPik25Nr8-XQtTx6ElyQT2gzdh9iEojBCcS9zsa/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxR5db0N1qHI1VJclKjjQn_c8bXOwTb6RThWc_igu_DO0vichYP_6aNmhWpsbDlUI3UAxT-0R_ZHwGbz8P_pzVb08NnR6ILMEGn5SqpPik25Nr8-XQtTx6ElyQT2gzdh9iEojBCcS9zsa/s320/IMG_2580.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of empty space</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27U8x5PerJvoLPhADZU0q5RezSpw8cFV9w0mFnRTaVGGV7F0MxNQiAd3rByH1kq3Gp6r-iIROXOnrwDqvwAl_kCnHT5QfG4EOCUrLTbTvt5pjNN-OdTT8R_8TSytPu6-RHSPkFj6j1QWA/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27U8x5PerJvoLPhADZU0q5RezSpw8cFV9w0mFnRTaVGGV7F0MxNQiAd3rByH1kq3Gp6r-iIROXOnrwDqvwAl_kCnHT5QfG4EOCUrLTbTvt5pjNN-OdTT8R_8TSytPu6-RHSPkFj6j1QWA/s320/IMG_2581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSXc82bAvLJPHiu2xetr5flJXBbE6Um1C3yyD0pprZJE-T87y0jlJgFOGlRYTWQPcuggs3-NUUi2zVP4NcwLXQxcW61knBqhVkkBp2GP_L9wsJFJjegTdHcBBF1dxSimLtyoOU-pdJZGH/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSXc82bAvLJPHiu2xetr5flJXBbE6Um1C3yyD0pprZJE-T87y0jlJgFOGlRYTWQPcuggs3-NUUi2zVP4NcwLXQxcW61knBqhVkkBp2GP_L9wsJFJjegTdHcBBF1dxSimLtyoOU-pdJZGH/s320/IMG_2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamborghini Muira</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRmx25OVXCut43SR_lp1PoItc6wuq6F5R1nZuk-nZo_qD6uNveObCOWElsUuyuJq_vnC4AYbUohzK-139AP_TcQXdyjYsSQPSNP3S2RLFmQCrT9LDO-8EwekUqB_2peX-7m0ZKfhdpsCw/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRmx25OVXCut43SR_lp1PoItc6wuq6F5R1nZuk-nZo_qD6uNveObCOWElsUuyuJq_vnC4AYbUohzK-139AP_TcQXdyjYsSQPSNP3S2RLFmQCrT9LDO-8EwekUqB_2peX-7m0ZKfhdpsCw/s320/IMG_2590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely Fiat 124 spider</td></tr>
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Actually there was one car that really caught my eye, this lovely little Fiat spider was immaculate, only one lady owner and 50,000 miles, spotless inside and out. I sat in it, looked at the engine, fell in love with it. The seller even pointed-out how cheap it was at £22,500. Must buy a lottery ticket!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieufmLKz2InQm7MAUGXojhnk9gjt59KLab8jsBSjmcn0M3wMWpJJXra07W6RWiW7XwYTEZ3LJbp8xApro2gdwep_IWg32qhKSaCUPDlB5djpG1XVRP5Jh-fbLPbCcfrtajPijgcXieiy2W/s1600/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieufmLKz2InQm7MAUGXojhnk9gjt59KLab8jsBSjmcn0M3wMWpJJXra07W6RWiW7XwYTEZ3LJbp8xApro2gdwep_IWg32qhKSaCUPDlB5djpG1XVRP5Jh-fbLPbCcfrtajPijgcXieiy2W/s320/IMG_2592.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very nice & rare Citroen convertible</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg6WdHU6mxgevLw07HFZMfICx91J0r_jWCCEEJM12gimCY367gpELq2Ii6CQcwyBRUpXoCB5sFTgnO2jcMf7MxRNsCDbbl-js6Dg37_mqX5hOFHiWnfenCpoEzDc2V5IVIGq3Ir0_ceTf/s1600/IMG_2595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg6WdHU6mxgevLw07HFZMfICx91J0r_jWCCEEJM12gimCY367gpELq2Ii6CQcwyBRUpXoCB5sFTgnO2jcMf7MxRNsCDbbl-js6Dg37_mqX5hOFHiWnfenCpoEzDc2V5IVIGq3Ir0_ceTf/s320/IMG_2595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCQO2JSNUX8184X6hzDuaDICgXJRZ2pw3K4XxRQ-ed9TVq2R0cnOzrMYk0IJyjwQ2JyA_fm-RFxp9e3hHYWy1IaIxZkYA07eOg9hepRhC70oSbRhYY2UB4M_mmelLwetoW5riwb27iPkw/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCQO2JSNUX8184X6hzDuaDICgXJRZ2pw3K4XxRQ-ed9TVq2R0cnOzrMYk0IJyjwQ2JyA_fm-RFxp9e3hHYWy1IaIxZkYA07eOg9hepRhC70oSbRhYY2UB4M_mmelLwetoW5riwb27iPkw/s320/IMG_2599.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved the engine in this original GT40</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gull-wing doors meant this Merc wouldn't fit in the photo, but digging the matching suitcase in the back</td></tr>
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The hall itself was absolutely packed with cars, then in the centre they had a track laid out with various classics driving up and down,most notable was ex-world champion brummie Nigel Mansell, who managed to drive his old F1 car at a fair speed down the track, do donuts at one end then back again all with a huge grin on his face! A much better experience that the bike show, especially with all the upmarket stalls selling wine & stinky cheese, none of your burgers and coke in here!<br />
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All-in-all we had an enjoyable day there, the son left around 1pm to get the train home, I hung around, got some veggie lunch then back to my little house in Essex. I'm off tomorrow morning to fly back to Malaga, but here's where I go off the rails a bit, so to speak.<br />
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I got a bit angry and upset during the week in Hanover; got some results that show that pesky cancer is making a comeback. After a couple of days soul-searching, I decided, well, actually I didn't decide much apart from wanting to forget about it all. So for some reason that I can't actually remember now in the cold light of day, I booked myself on a flight to Aruba next week. So I have to fly to Malaga Monday, collect my clothes and move out of my rented flat, then back via London to Amsterdam then on to Aruba.<br />
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To be honest, I have visited the island before; when I was working in Venezuela the company used to send us there to renew our visas, I remember it had white sand, blue sea and was hot all the time. I also have thousands of air-miles with KLM that have to be used this year or I lose them so I'm getting the flight down for free.<br />
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So I'm going to be a beach bum for a month, try to face up to my problems and figure-out what to do when I get back.El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-24781015859671864792018-02-13T15:09:00.000+00:002018-02-13T15:09:17.193+00:00Finally made it to the top!I've been training to do the hike up the mountain to the cross of Juanar; I've been averaging 7 kms a day up in the sierra for the last few weeks, hoping to make it up and back without knackering myself. With a cloudy day forecast I decided that last Thursday would be a good time to attempt the hike; it may not be that warm (14degC) but the sun on my back all day would make it just too hard.<br />
I set off bright and early(ish), the first couple of miles were part of my training route so seemed quite easy. The guide book then said that the trail now "goes up fairly steeply" which seemed to be vertical!<br />
I'd decided to stop every hour for a 10 min rest; after 3 hours fairly hard going I reached the top of the hill just below the rocky outcrop where the cross is sited.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmtpOtXxOcVfqcz_m5hD60pf74JjX13_L45ginS2Oxu8yaLYM7tvqgx_DqZ0vWOXxMtwtMmfqIybqIOCbiGzwrGxzAcKI7rM_XtoWFUo3JrIzQkjE39x2zJB7jDhCvQvjsFqBl98DfEV_/s1600/looking+to+coast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmtpOtXxOcVfqcz_m5hD60pf74JjX13_L45ginS2Oxu8yaLYM7tvqgx_DqZ0vWOXxMtwtMmfqIybqIOCbiGzwrGxzAcKI7rM_XtoWFUo3JrIzQkjE39x2zJB7jDhCvQvjsFqBl98DfEV_/s320/looking+to+coast.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down towards Marbella</td></tr>
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<br />So far I had not seen a single person or heard a sound apart from birdsong, fair to say I was in good spirits. Now as I just had to make the last ascent the sun started to break through the clouds, I have to say it all looked beautiful. I scrambled the last few hundred yards to reach the flat top of the mountain, there was an iron cross and a small shrine to the Madonna with fantastic views 360 degrees around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7suJNuF6lZTgSZov6GwDLFCkYoareA7JqY035d5vEaZo_llib8e8icnGckUXvE3Su0QHfg30c8bawbWzq-eFEKC356XIec3fIy6fSc4R0P05511hEPGBjVx3oD17VjmkB_v_I_n7s7mpt/s1600/twat+with+cross.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7suJNuF6lZTgSZov6GwDLFCkYoareA7JqY035d5vEaZo_llib8e8icnGckUXvE3Su0QHfg30c8bawbWzq-eFEKC356XIec3fIy6fSc4R0P05511hEPGBjVx3oD17VjmkB_v_I_n7s7mpt/s320/twat+with+cross.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyK5tdpfGLVbLj1tBoSGSU5i8CdCAy4OUS5lWWftkXLUy9nGQ_6TZ1sl35TiEMb4jvrEf_ISI_I4yjBvMCJ3k3DiqWI1Fmws82WIyaAG3YEU9tOWSvTXyFJ00i23AQDtv15eAjuRZ7o-F/s1600/madonna.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyK5tdpfGLVbLj1tBoSGSU5i8CdCAy4OUS5lWWftkXLUy9nGQ_6TZ1sl35TiEMb4jvrEf_ISI_I4yjBvMCJ3k3DiqWI1Fmws82WIyaAG3YEU9tOWSvTXyFJ00i23AQDtv15eAjuRZ7o-F/s320/madonna.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The story goes that some fishermen were out in bad weather, fog descended so that they had no idea where they were, then magically the fog cleared high up on the mountain so they could identify the distinctive shape of 'La Concha' and so return safely to port. In gratitude, they erected a cross & shrine on the peak adjacent to 'La Concha' - Juanar. I'm not sure how the hell they managed to get it up here, I was knackered just carrying my rucksack with apples and water in it!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb775O_sxzfD7TlzmFMyt9JMhB6CZvQ8Doxx4S6QIxAuUNXphDWEs6RwNXtBYxjJwI0wglCh2fs_uVj_mZXF3cpdY6qHyhOCgcUkz3Gxknqem1SEqwdQD68eFF16gFs3aB57LdjoU4Vcp1/s1600/looking+north.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb775O_sxzfD7TlzmFMyt9JMhB6CZvQ8Doxx4S6QIxAuUNXphDWEs6RwNXtBYxjJwI0wglCh2fs_uVj_mZXF3cpdY6qHyhOCgcUkz3Gxknqem1SEqwdQD68eFF16gFs3aB57LdjoU4Vcp1/s320/looking+north.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking North</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7paPMDzQ917tT14g8ERmxnvPIlZmOPjjTOxcKZhZ3ofynjvZbuV9cUM2Sb2rEr4GanGOwxjQfpzF5DvgQI3VYEksMLGYZaHzrhihHfOrinoJaFMqzkuCo8qqInUBID22tGooSsF-8Ezou/s1600/looking+west.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7paPMDzQ917tT14g8ERmxnvPIlZmOPjjTOxcKZhZ3ofynjvZbuV9cUM2Sb2rEr4GanGOwxjQfpzF5DvgQI3VYEksMLGYZaHzrhihHfOrinoJaFMqzkuCo8qqInUBID22tGooSsF-8Ezou/s320/looking+west.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking East</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIyVRAqrVcqwEr8QK5hnlqRYPLCDjUAL8Mtwdwbn8ipwdzOQLHOz3CiH8rdVAn1j7EKlBVnhk02J65Ofh574c29Rw2mjScMEtXZzJcgnIIsfOQOrGmaft_6frSO458_XyPo2ui4i9QKOg/s1600/looking+east.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIyVRAqrVcqwEr8QK5hnlqRYPLCDjUAL8Mtwdwbn8ipwdzOQLHOz3CiH8rdVAn1j7EKlBVnhk02J65Ofh574c29Rw2mjScMEtXZzJcgnIIsfOQOrGmaft_6frSO458_XyPo2ui4i9QKOg/s320/looking+east.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking West</td></tr>
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<br />After a nice rest and some packed lunch I began to make my way back down. The route is circular so instead of the rocky scramble I had coming up, the descent first went down through a lovely forest full of the fragrance of pine and a nice soft carpet of pine needles, that's where I came across long lines of caterpillars marching along head to tail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mKnhWM-Ho2OxxmDzOi4UpkCyI1-_gjJqWnM4tT1NXclSzSLtVHUpn7_p5WvtjWK6Jsj6nQO9wJwlJ6h_2TxR-X_-FHuRgAh_GoW-kpvxlfvlG-gT_WQkt29Zagi2A4536cXkHZaFPv88/s1600/funny+caterpilars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mKnhWM-Ho2OxxmDzOi4UpkCyI1-_gjJqWnM4tT1NXclSzSLtVHUpn7_p5WvtjWK6Jsj6nQO9wJwlJ6h_2TxR-X_-FHuRgAh_GoW-kpvxlfvlG-gT_WQkt29Zagi2A4536cXkHZaFPv88/s320/funny+caterpilars.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A bit further on and I looked up to see fluffy white flowers on the tops of the pine trees - never seen those before.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69DQem2PguEls0i8qRCvv6PHva5F-uE1ifABYNnLeYeyvmf_jj9xVBFvR2c6TUcIEZXgb8w66mZ1YNxwgGUhYV396MW5TG0m_PPHwP2B9DEkR3nXoa-03sawaTmc62h1WdRg7AWhyphenhyphenRI_9/s1600/white+fluffy+stuff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69DQem2PguEls0i8qRCvv6PHva5F-uE1ifABYNnLeYeyvmf_jj9xVBFvR2c6TUcIEZXgb8w66mZ1YNxwgGUhYV396MW5TG0m_PPHwP2B9DEkR3nXoa-03sawaTmc62h1WdRg7AWhyphenhyphenRI_9/s320/white+fluffy+stuff.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The trail then came out into the open and continued descending on a lovely sandy path with views all around down to the sea and Marbella in the distance. I may have been a little light-headed by this time, as I came around a corner and looked across the valley, there was a rocky outcrop that had the appearance of a Chinese warrior guarding the entrance to the mountain (WTF!) yeah I know - I even took a photo of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDutkNFNYuMsKDtk_PAhx0LiG6Fqo4P4poMKVrKbOfCEmkg4x6yR0T7YdpXTB4OjpckgyjBKd8GfTV1_JTlPhghyy9Kft4POcRQtRmRChcLftEsiD9DrH1aOGAYx7BXlREaejyg2YRD2S6/s1600/chinese+soldier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDutkNFNYuMsKDtk_PAhx0LiG6Fqo4P4poMKVrKbOfCEmkg4x6yR0T7YdpXTB4OjpckgyjBKd8GfTV1_JTlPhghyy9Kft4POcRQtRmRChcLftEsiD9DrH1aOGAYx7BXlREaejyg2YRD2S6/s320/chinese+soldier.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You might have to squint a bit to see the warrior.........</td></tr>
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<br />Just to rub in the strangeness of that thought, around the next bend I surprised a small group of 8 or 9 Spanish Ibex (no really) but by the time I got the camera out they were gone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSFEfsT_bUt3dnK8-uK0NQ1Qa0PJL5GaTO_HuQ6pDiJC1iLSPFerE-owTy8JMW89EyfRZjETPNC5L60c7AaFur98-BspYFXaCui8l5A9SAOrlWkXSQz1b_5rtHX5SyM054qvQ5lUjpVb0/s1600/missed+them.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSFEfsT_bUt3dnK8-uK0NQ1Qa0PJL5GaTO_HuQ6pDiJC1iLSPFerE-owTy8JMW89EyfRZjETPNC5L60c7AaFur98-BspYFXaCui8l5A9SAOrlWkXSQz1b_5rtHX5SyM054qvQ5lUjpVb0/s320/missed+them.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There they were - gone!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iNdkIGOsjdgmj4OvBpzZNYMQyUaOe2_H7uvHPfQIvuwVPsO72GROdOyNbYto80mlCSVUO0zGcikvfy8A-Rd34TEkJXI_V0bZXQ2x9kXkH6ACf0FhOi2VLVLhLWGrSIEhPEUF3AmI6_Gx/s1600/220px-Spanish_ibex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iNdkIGOsjdgmj4OvBpzZNYMQyUaOe2_H7uvHPfQIvuwVPsO72GROdOyNbYto80mlCSVUO0zGcikvfy8A-Rd34TEkJXI_V0bZXQ2x9kXkH6ACf0FhOi2VLVLhLWGrSIEhPEUF3AmI6_Gx/s1600/220px-Spanish_ibex.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely Spanish Ibex - library photo obviously</td></tr>
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<br />I finally got back down to the bottom where I'd left the car, it had taken eight hours, but that was including stops & lunch. I felt really happy, not too tired. My smartphone said I'd walked 15 kms and 1600 metres in height. Lovely day (apart from that little wobble ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up - proud to have made it up there!</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-29357995720291384142018-02-02T20:23:00.000+00:002018-02-02T20:23:40.543+00:00Here's a couple more photos of Malaga retro Managed to upload a couple more photos from last weekend (see previous post for details)<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuIMrSmgVBXAXdtJyRIcOqRzesbBVOz1aCRcYNKyXxIPnaaPz8v5h6sn-IUVOsgCHHW6uFm79nVnFKXOD054IJFE13O9QOFq28esgoaKjurbyuLuStZk6Lhl3QcCGp1myl75-o43denHt/s1600/DSCN1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuIMrSmgVBXAXdtJyRIcOqRzesbBVOz1aCRcYNKyXxIPnaaPz8v5h6sn-IUVOsgCHHW6uFm79nVnFKXOD054IJFE13O9QOFq28esgoaKjurbyuLuStZk6Lhl3QcCGp1myl75-o43denHt/s320/DSCN1334.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rare?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEhnxMGpVeMGvV95Q33tPOaYz-80UGkyxz7qss78iUjHGb82QpyVADtvqa_H0PFgWpF9pWVQDDHOZeriVseVTHT8OG94d4zoQ1eDQIOTSMa7OsYZi8O11FgV3oFx9ELSiORIfKtwZZqds/s1600/DSCN1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEhnxMGpVeMGvV95Q33tPOaYz-80UGkyxz7qss78iUjHGb82QpyVADtvqa_H0PFgWpF9pWVQDDHOZeriVseVTHT8OG94d4zoQ1eDQIOTSMa7OsYZi8O11FgV3oFx9ELSiORIfKtwZZqds/s320/DSCN1335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never seen one of these</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any colour you like!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheres the Hoff?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As it was</td></tr>
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<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-34630609422032901612018-01-28T15:59:00.000+00:002018-01-28T16:03:53.689+00:00A quite unusual car and bike show in Malaga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd seen that there was to be a car and bike show in Malaga, so yesterday morning I drove over from Marbella to take a look. The exhibition centre is a huge new building on the outskirts of town, as I arrived the car park was full of 'modern' classics with plenty of people strolling around taking a look. Once inside I was amazed at how few people there were inside - if this had been at home it would have been mobbed.</div>
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Just at the entrance were a number of excellent restored classic cars on show with lots of space around them for viewing. Further back were some single-make club stands, SEAT being the largest, but with a big Porsche showing.</div>
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Further back again were a number of cars, motorbikes and scooters for sale, and quite an eclectic selection as you can see - everything from 2CV through E-types; VW campervans to porsches.<br />
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The local scooter clubs were well represented, especially Vespa; they had some great-looking restored bikes on show.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyVR2uoNCD558Fee7YSrFbae56sRLRzyUVGTFlAL2N7SpD4uG7TIBY1ix1HtMhALu4j2fZf5T0z0neIWbj5QLD6QW88nAbPal6_lbonpoPNZd_8rydEdAtyeA5TndZMto9cka57mzDB8i/s1600/DSCN1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1002" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyVR2uoNCD558Fee7YSrFbae56sRLRzyUVGTFlAL2N7SpD4uG7TIBY1ix1HtMhALu4j2fZf5T0z0neIWbj5QLD6QW88nAbPal6_lbonpoPNZd_8rydEdAtyeA5TndZMto9cka57mzDB8i/s320/DSCN1323.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This Lambretta looked like it would make a nice daily runabout, especially at the price.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You want tail lights? We got tail lights!</td></tr>
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Then as I walked around further, there were trade stands, autojumble stalls selling everything you could need to rebuild that 1927 Sturmy-Bongo single scylinder motorbike; bits-and-bobs and all manner of auto-related items.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6DcgeiHnoySyncem592H_vkkVXII67wqfs56hKNpiHcIc6uPJSxA7HtC1PpCmJTTq0t9ls0MlgvHVqZW1mlqUoBlrmZkCeK2vacvhQ1bSGaGqUVhHnzfSmzWa4dAw0cZrfKwyWkGMCdO/s1600/DSCN1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6DcgeiHnoySyncem592H_vkkVXII67wqfs56hKNpiHcIc6uPJSxA7HtC1PpCmJTTq0t9ls0MlgvHVqZW1mlqUoBlrmZkCeK2vacvhQ1bSGaGqUVhHnzfSmzWa4dAw0cZrfKwyWkGMCdO/s320/DSCN1325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
A great collection of unusual motorbikes of all makes and models.<br />
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Then we get to the unusual part - in a second, adjacent hall were more club stands with more modern cars and bikes on display, many for sale. The sale technique seemed to be - start the engine, rev the nuts off the bike or car filling the hall with noise and fumes, then attempt a short burn-out on the polished concrete floor, all this with spectators and other vehicle owners doing the same thing. Chaos!! </div>
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After a while it all got a bit much for me so I left, drove down into the old town centre and had a delicious vegan meal in one of the established veggie restaurants - their vegan chocolate cake dessert is actually the best I have ever tasted!! An excellent day out. Oh, and by the way, I took many, many photos, but this ridiculous new Dell laptop I bought, running Windows 10 is so incompetent that I can't upload them to the blog page. Or maybe it's me!</div>
<br />El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-18256325556405406142017-12-17T15:20:00.000+00:002017-12-17T15:20:09.318+00:00Hiking in the sunBeing here in Spain for winter has its advantages - apart from the obvious of avoiding that dreaded northern European winter (recently illustrated on Sonja's blog - picturesque but oh so cold!) it means hiking every day is possible. Determined to get my fitness to a decent level I've been exploring the various paths that lead up the mountain behind Marbella.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path starts out nice and easy</td></tr>
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I usually do not see another soul on these hikes, but the other day I met a lovely couple, Dolores and Danny, mother and son. Danny confided in me that it was their first walk for 6 months as Dolores was recovering from breast cancer treatment. Dolores (who I'd estimate as being roughly my age) proudly showed me her hair was now growing back. They offered to show me a nice circular route; well it may have been Dolores first walk for 6 months but she was off up the hill like a mountain goat! Nice to share a walk with someone for a change.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still flowers here</td></tr>
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The next day I thought I'd try and walk another route up to La Concha; unfortunately I didn't make it to the top, but that's now given me something to aim for, going to keep trying till I can make it in one go. I must admit to feeling a bit handicapped by equipment - still using the hiking sandals I've had for a couple of years wasn't ideal, so I found a little hiking shop over in Malaga where I bought a nice pair of Salomon hiking shoes, and in a nod to my advanced age, a walking pole. Much better!<br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New boots and walking pole</td></tr>
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Yesterday I set off again on yet another path up towards the white village of Ojen, nice views along the coast in both directions and some clouds to add dramatic effect to my photos (well I'm trying). I even did a bit of rock scrambling to make it look like I'm working hard!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west towards Gibralter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How far?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to make it look difficult</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like solitude, but these people are taking it to extreme!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny as my fingernail - but beautiful</td></tr>
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As usual, that peak of La Concha dominated the skyline, taunting me with my inability to get up there. One day!!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultimate destination - right hand peak</td></tr>
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El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-18062520944983418022017-12-05T14:53:00.000+00:002017-12-05T14:53:15.963+00:00Birmingham Bike show and moreLast week I braved the elements to venture North to the Birmingham Motorbike show - mainly as I had read so much about this years new bikes, and I was eager to see them in the metal, especially the new Kawasaki Z900rs and the 650 twin Royal Enfields. The Kawasaki looked pretty good so I'll take one for a test ride when they come out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjLis-1AgGIbCan-Cafqw17WN6Z9Ta8UYFTUVMyhQ8HvXQlKaFiFTXIaRLO0e8-_qPGzOevWndEmoVRhj_FLyI-odPONgHyZa4UQDwKI8GuiX8D-t_djSGAIY3C4Hea20slpSFOKcgSa8/s1600/DSCN1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjLis-1AgGIbCan-Cafqw17WN6Z9Ta8UYFTUVMyhQ8HvXQlKaFiFTXIaRLO0e8-_qPGzOevWndEmoVRhj_FLyI-odPONgHyZa4UQDwKI8GuiX8D-t_djSGAIY3C4Hea20slpSFOKcgSa8/s320/DSCN1136.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RE 650</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSqjsxf-WkkN-7hhk5KUaBYOa9-UVimom8kMxPPzxcR8jmxilbk-1q6LGVmm9l3r862UhnzOqmsbVe1MEIlRJvlCED0bIRT24ueKZRqzXS-ChqtpL_WyV1u3umn2r0Dqn6Q3Ecfxf0t_S/s1600/DSCN1137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSqjsxf-WkkN-7hhk5KUaBYOa9-UVimom8kMxPPzxcR8jmxilbk-1q6LGVmm9l3r862UhnzOqmsbVe1MEIlRJvlCED0bIRT24ueKZRqzXS-ChqtpL_WyV1u3umn2r0Dqn6Q3Ecfxf0t_S/s320/DSCN1137.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Z900rs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMgsk1manw6qo4f6vaQ6e05kOJ__-dzG5KKu8qq0mOwBni4oShRLne31jheJvNqngDm5zZmbJNQGF1HtSK78di-jAGTV53zM_UINjE_h3eJTB2_M_Ws5Nz3Ow96yDbN_gXvjcYxsxcBvr/s1600/DSCN1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMgsk1manw6qo4f6vaQ6e05kOJ__-dzG5KKu8qq0mOwBni4oShRLne31jheJvNqngDm5zZmbJNQGF1HtSK78di-jAGTV53zM_UINjE_h3eJTB2_M_Ws5Nz3Ow96yDbN_gXvjcYxsxcBvr/s320/DSCN1138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z900 cafe racer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEmXmaoKudEafZc_ZAf5vyQojIm69cHROVDdT6vilAHiY_fEgCcgkVKeRbJct8kOw-TYt53k8NPAjN2glU0_lLgyJKpB3GF3igfFwlfRGmoQa6RB48Gp-JgH8Y-qnSzRAL0iBnUfiLMZ8/s1600/DSCN1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEmXmaoKudEafZc_ZAf5vyQojIm69cHROVDdT6vilAHiY_fEgCcgkVKeRbJct8kOw-TYt53k8NPAjN2glU0_lLgyJKpB3GF3igfFwlfRGmoQa6RB48Gp-JgH8Y-qnSzRAL0iBnUfiLMZ8/s320/DSCN1139.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducati Desert Sled with 1 litre engine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Triumph Tiger with TFT dash</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqszyYzckRfQRnp3u173RnTgP0zDpDLpxfS79P2dr_iz7hYD9f9XNpGvyZEUJUm0VKuBkdtD0aPezDw1ZkendKMh6Sl3LjpIW4lahhsFYeBU_haTHtVqQBwvILK4pvMwRF5fTrS_G_zPM/s1600/DSCN1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqszyYzckRfQRnp3u173RnTgP0zDpDLpxfS79P2dr_iz7hYD9f9XNpGvyZEUJUm0VKuBkdtD0aPezDw1ZkendKMh6Sl3LjpIW4lahhsFYeBU_haTHtVqQBwvILK4pvMwRF5fTrS_G_zPM/s320/DSCN1145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Triumph small cruiser</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeEAabUr5anL5VVOzs7HVZVIa3DJsF897rsvzxxDGwhVBEPFtnKNIWfmHsXShNSo5e9_uLCYQ8IOo362QddVlXkRUM5nRC04mFOXOF0Y4Wuac3g3L_wktVowL_GgdJuka-d1C1botZNqP/s1600/DSCN1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeEAabUr5anL5VVOzs7HVZVIa3DJsF897rsvzxxDGwhVBEPFtnKNIWfmHsXShNSo5e9_uLCYQ8IOo362QddVlXkRUM5nRC04mFOXOF0Y4Wuac3g3L_wktVowL_GgdJuka-d1C1botZNqP/s320/DSCN1146.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triumph Bobber</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAomhJ3G6KNbiR2LU34xqWLogLX0IiWGFuGppEa6phhsKDvB2ZkrQehI8k-3q4D46iYBGyNnjFM2JNqTXSLCU-XxOyFmGOMqG40e3bV3k4NOqE7KsqGowVT1hGfAbRB3isKT_azk4Cl-e/s1600/DSCN1148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAomhJ3G6KNbiR2LU34xqWLogLX0IiWGFuGppEa6phhsKDvB2ZkrQehI8k-3q4D46iYBGyNnjFM2JNqTXSLCU-XxOyFmGOMqG40e3bV3k4NOqE7KsqGowVT1hGfAbRB3isKT_azk4Cl-e/s320/DSCN1148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norton California</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU8PBhnFAFZzoPeN5PfW77xDaR4MVRLANsM5QZGxQRqAYyV-QqVh6HeUeulSG25BoyHId5L0v0aoUdrA4WjkZlwIs4Oe2ESiZgnR4LvrKAgNhJh9tTFTou_L9hntoOrWc2KLliyfnSFyA/s1600/DSCN1158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU8PBhnFAFZzoPeN5PfW77xDaR4MVRLANsM5QZGxQRqAYyV-QqVh6HeUeulSG25BoyHId5L0v0aoUdrA4WjkZlwIs4Oe2ESiZgnR4LvrKAgNhJh9tTFTou_L9hntoOrWc2KLliyfnSFyA/s320/DSCN1158.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proposed new Tenere</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegvv5gCQX7wiIbtdJSpl_b4hSWVhtNVX0OzKZrVYOwXLsy3732ohiTOwnZyadSUxjFCTG_Mmc8lN2WzKTEChyphenhyphenzcCbCshmKVyB4ia1OMAC5srzxeBAzoGpKpf4tSlgbFUJiJqjL4fUVPTo/s1600/DSCN1159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegvv5gCQX7wiIbtdJSpl_b4hSWVhtNVX0OzKZrVYOwXLsy3732ohiTOwnZyadSUxjFCTG_Mmc8lN2WzKTEChyphenhyphenzcCbCshmKVyB4ia1OMAC5srzxeBAzoGpKpf4tSlgbFUJiJqjL4fUVPTo/s320/DSCN1159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WTF?</td></tr>
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And there's more .... last week I decided to escape the English winter, so I've rented myself a flat in Marbella, southern Spain for a couple of months. Its warmer, but not much - currently 14 degC - but blue skies make it a bit more bearable. Went for a hike up the mountain behind Marbella yesterday, 17km straight up to Ojen, reached altitude of 1238 metres!!! Having a rest today, completely knackered.<br />
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<span id="goog_1326734272"></span><span id="goog_1326734273"></span>El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946361650873580860.post-17705499604363641422017-09-23T17:04:00.000+01:002017-09-23T17:04:39.901+01:00Failed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I realised a couple of days ago that this coming Sunday was the Distinguished Gentleman's ride, when, worldwide, bikers wheel out their classic bikes, put on their best period clothing and ride through the streets in aid of prostate cancer. Keen to take part I registered for the London ride, only to find out that my Tiger wasn't deemed a suitable steed. No problem, I could solve that by hiring a suitable bike for the weekend; in no time I'd found and collected a Triumph Bonneville from my local friendly hire shop (Superbike rental Brentwood-highly recommended), although the first bump in the road came when Mark the friendly owner asked what I was going to wear for the ride. Well, I do have an open-face helmet with multi-colour Union flag painted on that I've never worn so that's headgear sorted; as for the rest, well I threw away all my old clothes so would have to buy something suitable immediately.<br />
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The second bump in the road came when I rode the bike home - Bonnevilles are quite small bikes and I'm quite a big chap, I felt like an Elephant riding a moped! Got home with aching knees, hips and back and started to realise I wasn't going to enjoy spending all day on that bike. Then popped down the Triumph dealer to see what suitable clothing they might have; found a great Barbour jacket, but hang on it's £350! Some soul searching later and I came up with plan B - don't buy a jacket I'll never wear again, don't ride a bike that will cause me pain for days afterwards, just donate the money to charity and spend the day riding the Tiger instead.<br />
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So yet again a failure, although when I took the bonneville back they were quite understanding, and I did ride home the long way so had a nice couple of hours on the Tiger. Got home and made the donation; at least I've got the photo I took with the bike to remind me never to think about getting a classsic bike!El Dientehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10946212402576447854noreply@blogger.com4