Tag: GS
+ Spain
Ode to Apache – A Mule of a Motorcycle
by Travis Gill
This week the odometer on my 2012 BMW G650GS Sertão motorcycle passed through 50,000 miles. We were riding through the city of Cartagena, Spain. A place we’ve been since the Spanish Prime Minister declared a State of Alarm due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am often surprised that my motorcycle only has 50,000 miles because we’ve discovered some incredible places and created memories of … Read More Ode to Apache – A Mule of a Motorcycle
+ Spain
Phase II with Ups and Downs
by Travis Gill
The country of Spain continues to maintain its “State of Alarm” – a condition it’s been in for 73 days now. Our region of Murcia has low enough COVID-19 cases that it has reached Phase II which means a bit more freedom for its citizens. Most notably it means local tourism can start again – albeit with reduced capacity. We’ve had a bit of … Read More Phase II with Ups and Downs
+ Spain
Freedom is Just Over the Horizon
by Travis Gill
Next week we’ll have been in quarantine for almost two months! If you told me that we would be in this position two months ago, I would have never believed you. Two months ago, on March 8th, we had just entered the French city of Millau and were taking the day off to catch up on social media and to see a bit of … Read More Freedom is Just Over the Horizon
+ Spain
The Spanish State of Alarm is Taking its Toll
by Travis Gill
This week was a bit tougher emotionally for me… I think one of the main reasons for this was that the mandatory quarantine of Spain has gone on longer than I initially imagined. When it started, I felt like it would last a month before the COVID-19 virus would subside, go dormant, and we could continue on our merry way. Day 43 and this … Read More The Spanish State of Alarm is Taking its Toll
+ Spain
Sitting it out in Southern Spain
by Travis Gill
I’m writing this from a relaxing porch of a traditional Spanish home located near Cartagena. The temperature is a comfortable 21C (70F) and the skies are cloudy but not enough to block out the occasional rays of warm sunshine that sweep across my face. All around me are the comforting sounds of birds chirping from the nearby orchard where fresh sweet oranges and tart … Read More Sitting it out in Southern Spain
+ Spain
Things are Continuing to Look Up
by Travis Gill
Spain has been one of the countries hit especially hard by COVID-19. As of today, it is just behind the United States in number of infected cases. Considering that the country of Spain is similar in size to Texas, and twice the population, this is substantial. Spain currently has 135,000 reported cases and it’s growing each day. However, things have started to improve. The … Read More Things are Continuing to Look Up
+ Spain
Looking Up
by Travis Gill
I wish I could start out this week’s update with incredibly beautiful pictures of southern Spain, Morocco, and Portugal! This, simply, is not the case as we continue to be part of a strict country-wide ban on non-essential travel. Spain was especially hit hard with the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases has continued to climb over the past 12 days since the … Read More Looking Up
Searching for Southern Sun
by Travis Gill
It’s been a interesting week full of excitement and a few disappointments… First the disappointments:I realized too late that we were supposed to finish the payment on our ferry from France to Morocco. The instructions were sent to me in Italian and I failed to translated it back in November when I ordered the tickets. I checked a week before the departure and it … Read More Searching for Southern Sun
21 Famous Alp Passes in 8 Days
by Travis Gill
Before I came to Europe I had never heard of passes named Großglockenspiel, Furka, Albula, Klausen or Susten. Yet, anyone who has ridden motorcycles in Europe, has either rode or dreams of riding these passes someday. Well, it’s my turn – My time to ride some of the most beautiful passes in all the world!! The route planning started well into last year with … Read More 21 Famous Alp Passes in 8 Days
+ Belgium, France, Luxembourg
Riding in Remembrance – A Motorcycle Ride Along Liberty Road, France
by Travis Gill
This 1,146-kilometer commemorative roadway known as the Liberty Road (La voie de la Liberté), marks the route of the Allied forces from the D-Day landings of Normandy, France to Bastogne, Belgium. Our plan was to ride the entire route and learn more about the history of WWII. The GPX route can be download via RouteYou. Day 1 – 9 Apr Today we explored Utah … Read More Riding in Remembrance – A Motorcycle Ride Along Liberty Road, France
Baja Para Dos – Nine-Day Adventure in Baja Mexico
by Travis Gill
Ever since we discovered adventure motorcycling, my wife, Chantil, and I have dreamed of riding Baja. This was our first motorcycle trip outside the protective womb of the USA and I was a bit nervious if not a little scared. To calm the concerns I planned, planned, and planned some more. The following is just a small glimpse into the planning process. Perhaps it … Read More Baja Para Dos – Nine-Day Adventure in Baja Mexico
AZBDR – Two Noobs, Two Mules, Two Weeks Off…
by Travis Gill
The Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDRs) are a network of off-road oriented trails that travel through some states in the United States. At the time of this trip, there were were trails in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. The trails are designed so that a heavy adventure bike can ride through them and experience a multi-day adventure that is often full … Read More AZBDR – Two Noobs, Two Mules, Two Weeks Off…
