Just back......this could be a stayer!

[snowy]

Just back from our first trip on the GTR.
Third year touring again since the "kids" are self managing, and both me and the good lady reckon this is the best machine so far! Backsides definately in agreement! 
Previous tours - '04 1200 GS year 1, '10 XTZ1200 last year, and now me 2008 GTR.
Friday 24th, forecast was bad.......but that was the wettest I have ever been! Didn't stop from Shropshire to Portsmouth due to continual rain! Two wet gussets, one riders trench foot and four drenched hands! Gore-Tex nay be great in a flat cagoule style jacket, but in the gusset of trousers, bend of a finger or flex of a boot I'm sure it's serviceable life is 1 day out of guarantee period!   
Anyhow, Santander ferry air-con dried all of it out apart from me boot, so squelching ride to Benavente........god the Spanish know how to build good roads / bridges and tunnels! 
Two days then Porto, 3 days then Viana do Costelo, back into Spain to via Santiago de Compostela, Ribadeo then Santander to home.
Not that adventurous, more getting the distance covered than riding the twisties, but both meself and the good lady had the best tour ride so far thanks to the big K.
So, just shy of 1500 miles, bike may be a stayer, fabricated windscreen bracket lasted, just got to get some newer and more effective riding gear!   

[Debs]

Great you had fun Snowy.. :)

I've resized your pics. 

[snowy]

Thanks Debs.
Yep, quality fun, food and travel.
Pisser when you get off the ferry and suffer the sh*te roads, traffic and driving in the UK.
Still, good memories and a bulging waistline to remember it by!   

[wile e coyote]

Nice pics. We (me and my good lady) are off to the Picos in Sept. Maybe riding some of the same roads. How did to get on the driving on the wrong side of the road and did you have any language problems ?. 
Also what is the metal bar on your bike ( 2nd pic)

[coman37]

frame slider

Coman

[snowy]

Nice pics. We (me and my good lady) are off to the Picos in Sept. Maybe riding some of the same roads. How did to get on the driving on the wrong side of the road and did you have any language problems ?. 
Also what is the metal bar on your bike ( 2nd pic)

Wile e - you'll love it!
Language - no probs, just learn the basics so as not to insult the locals! Most speak enough English so you can get by, part of the fun is the communicating! Google translate is a lifesaver when you can't get a menu in English......look out for the tripe stew unless you like offal!   
Driving on the other side - so straightforward! Follow the flow off the ferry, and then as long as signposts are on your side facing you you're OK! Only issues I've ever had is being over tired and pulling away from rest stops / petrol etc, SWMBO on pillion is good at picking me up when I err! (as always.....sorry Jen!)   
If you mean the red tube in front of the top box, that's a Givi hazard triangle and hi-vis, you never know, or if its the piece above the front foot rest, yep, Kwak crash protectors, if I do drop her I'll need damage limitation!
The Brittany Ferries Picos tour was our first trip into Spain, you'll love it! Like riding the heads of the valleys but better roads and views! (well different!  )
Potes - worth a look, roads around Riano and the lakes - stunning, Fuente De - cable car and walk about the top is amazing! Try and get a coast fix in also, La Comillas is a great beach and the water is great for a dip - beware wrinkled nuts tho'    - its cold!
Some of the best steak, fish and omlettes (sorry - tortilla!) I've ever eaten from there.......but steak is on a different cooking scale compared to over here!
If yer on a GTR, cracking tool for the miles and twisties, enjoy!

[nightrider]

Sounds great will have to give it a go , just had a look at the ferry prices and in September it comes up at £170 ish and the hotels in chaves  inat £260 for an nice looking place for 7 nights , so seems like good value if I have read it right , looked at the escorted tours with mci tours in the same area and they came in at £1300 , some of these tours all seem to be on the expensive side , 

[shaggs147]

I'm sure the tour guides will be great and show you the best places and roads, but if I were you I'd just make my own way. Much more fun discovering places for yourself and cheaper too. If you added all that up with the tour you could probably fly half way round the world and stay in a big posh hotel for that lol.

[snowy]

I'm with shaggs, set an objective for the day and enjoy what you see on the route! Don't get me wrong, there's a place for the "package tour", if you have the funds, but me best memories are from chance encounters or stops, just book the boat, sort dome digs and enjoy!

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[shaggs147]

Well said mr snow