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Well after a long winter approaching and the thought of the imminent much needed move creeping up on us, we decided that come summer next year we will be in desperate need of a holiday, so getting our priorities right we started to plan. After running the idea past a few people it appeared that I wasn’t the only one keen on the idea of riding to Spain. We had done the run to Faro last year, but I assumed it would be out of everybody’s system now that they had done a long run, but I was wrong!
The numbers were mounting up what with wives and children flying over to meet us, we found the number had escalated up to around 25!
Steve and Lee spent some time on the internet in the next few months and found a fantastic place in Olivia, Spain with a complete complex of villas to sleep 28, so we decided it was perfect and booked!
I then spent many hours on the computer planning routes, having to cope with the language barrier which was fun, not!!
We planned on leaving on the Monday 2nd July and meeting the girls out there on the Saturday.

Monday morning had finally arrived and at 6am we met at the shop. Nobby had made sure that everybody’s bikes were serviced and ready to go well in advance, so as usual he was flat out the week leading up to the holiday fixing all the last minute adjustments, which of course our buddies weren’t aware of two months ago!!!
The ride was everything we had expected and more, we managed to finish most days around 4pm apart from the odd hiccup, so we had plenty of time to relax. The route down there was not too bad, we first stopped at Rimes which I would highly recommend where we had a fantastic night, it had fantastic restaurants and bars. The second night we stopped at Geneva, again highly recommend it. The third night was Sete a place I would highly recommend if you need some where for a stroll along the beach with your loved one, Andy and I shared something that night I will never forget! By the way this location was Sean’s choice!! The forth night we stopped at the famous Andorra, right in the heart of the Pyrenees. It was everything we had expected but unfortunately it was a little too commercialized. The final stop before our destination was Rotova, just outside Alicante, we stayed in a private villa and enjoyed out last night with the boys looking forward to the imminent meeting with our fantastically beautiful, wonderful, charming, adorable wives and families, just in case they read this!

Can I please just take this opportunity to say thanks to Alan for introducing us all to the new addition to the family, Richard, (known as Ricard to the sensible!!)
The ride down was amazing We had plenty of fun on the holiday including Nobby laying on the pool table whilst Alan poured neat vodka into his mouth! Oh and I mustn’t forget to mention Lee and Nobby’s nude belly flops into the pool at midnight!! I think they wished they had used a bit of protection in the more intimate areas, but you know what alcohol does to you!!

We had a fantastic time, drinking, eating and swimming, and of course massive thanks to Steve for being head chef for the week!!
We had planned on leaving the girls there on the Monday and riding back, but after spending a few days there we decided we didn’t want to leave, We had a rethink about our route and decided that we would take the main roads and go for it so we could stay until Thursday. The route back was via the Bridge in the Sky (The Millau Bridge) which I would highly recommend.

I would just like to say that this holiday has been the best I have ever had in my life, and lets face it I have had a few being a man of my advanced years!!!!
I have never met such an amazing bunch of people in my life and after spending almost two weeks with them I can honestly say that these friendships are for life!!!
Can I say a huge thanks to Nobby, Wendy, Kaylee, Steve, Gail, Lee, Keirsty, Alan, Marina, Andy, Jill, Jo, Sean, Jackie, Connor, Abigail, George, Jane, and of course, Penny, Ben and Jack!
Lets hope that we can do the same again next year and it would be fantastic if Bin Bag could behave himself and manage to join us next year with his brood!!! Keep the Richard flowing
Jon