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Old 23 Jan 2011
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My 1st trip but hopefully not my last
I don't know how I managed it but I went right up until the age of 58 (4 years ago) without having a driving licence. At that time my middle daughter, Her partner and 2 children moved to New Milton which is in the New Forest, Although only a little over 40 miles away it was a nightmare to get to by public transport involving a bus, A ferry boat, 2 trains and a car and quite a lot of expense.


I decided that it was about time to get myself a set of wheels and as I don’t travel well in cars and I was used to 2 wheels having spent the best part of 50 years riding bicycles (and hating every minute of it) a motorbike seemed the obvious solution so I did the CBT, bought a Honda CG125 and set about getting some practice in before doing the test.


In the first 5 weeks I visited my daughter several times which was excellent experience but short lived as she then moved back to Gosport.


After a year or so I sat the test which I passed and bought a 1995 Honda CB250 Nighthawk which I rode for the 2 years my licence was restricted. I then bought a Honda CB500 which, in March last year I traded in for a brand spanking new BMW F650 GS which actually has an 800(798cc) engine.


I've been going to Benalmadena on the Costa del sol twice a year for about 7 years but for the last 3 years or so I’ve sat on the plane looking down at mile after mile of open road and thinking how I’d like to be down there travelling home under my own steam.


Last year I went out in May and was held up by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud and coming back it was touch and go whether they closed Spanish air space or not. In October I went out again and was delayed going out by French air traffic controllers. It was on the way back from this trip that I decided that in 2011, as I’d have my first big bike I’ll ride there and back. I’ll only get one trip this year as I’ll have to take 4 weeks holiday for the round trip (I’ll be staying for 2 weeks)this was further reinforced recently when I booked a flight online for my uncle from Southampton to Malaga return and what was an £80 flight ended up as £220 once taxes and charges were added.


Sitting in a nice comfy leather, reclining seat on an air conditioned Flybe flight to Southampton with every conceivable need being eagerly attended to by one of the Flybe flight attendants it seemed like a brilliant idea but on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon in January on the South coast it doesn't seem like such a good idea, Especially if i'm foolish enough to remind myself that it's only 13 weeks until I leave and I don't have a clue where to begin planning.


No matter how daunting the thought of all the preparation may be it has to be done because this trip is a trial run for when I retire in a couple of years time and it'll give me a lot of (hopefully)good experience. I don't know where to begin planning this trip but with the help of this board and others like it i'll hopefully get it sorted and behind me and i'll have an idea what to do the next year and on into my retirement. I have a deserved reputation for being a worrier and have been told on many occasions that I think too much which is probably true but it's also true that when the time comes and a situation arises I have a very cool head.
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