GPJMurphy's Guestbook
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Date: 22nd May 2012
Congratulations
You made Africa after all your trials - well done for keeping the faith!
From Blog: Teba -> Chefchaouen
Congratulations
You made Africa after all your trials - well done for keeping the faith!
From Blog: Teba -> Chefchaouen
Date: 21st May 2012
Windy
Sounds like a very windy day through Spain, particularly after all those gambas, iberico ham and arroz. Remember Gary, my brother is well known for being windy at both ends so getting sleep if you are sharing could prove difficult one way or another. Hopefully the weather will quickly improve as African vistas unfold. Have a great day. Bruce
Windy
Sounds like a very windy day through Spain, particularly after all those gambas, iberico ham and arroz. Remember Gary, my brother is well known for being windy at both ends so getting sleep if you are sharing could prove difficult one way or another. Hopefully the weather will quickly improve as African vistas unfold. Have a great day. Bruce
Date: 21st May 2012
Windy
Sounds like a very windy day through Spain, particularly after all those gambas, iberico ham and arroz. Remember Gary, my brother is well known for being windy at both ends so getting sleep if you are sharing could prove difficult one way or another. Hopefully the weather will quickly improve as African vistas unfold. Have a great day. Bruce
Windy
Sounds like a very windy day through Spain, particularly after all those gambas, iberico ham and arroz. Remember Gary, my brother is well known for being windy at both ends so getting sleep if you are sharing could prove difficult one way or another. Hopefully the weather will quickly improve as African vistas unfold. Have a great day. Bruce
Date: 21st May 2012
Not again!
Good luck with the trip. Me and Mandie were in Malaga only a week ago. Hope you enjoyed the mountain roads around Mijas.
Not again!
Good luck with the trip. Me and Mandie were in Malaga only a week ago. Hope you enjoyed the mountain roads around Mijas.
Date: 21st May 2012
Good luck on the trip
Great to see that you are successfully on the road again - Morocco or bust this time
From Blog: Through Spain
Good luck on the trip
Great to see that you are successfully on the road again - Morocco or bust this time
From Blog: Through Spain
Date: 20th May 2012
Early Days
Delighted to hear that you have both successfully negotiated The Bay of Biscay, or in Gary's case, the Ebay of Biscay. Have fun and ride safely. Can't wait to hear more.
From Blog: On the boat to Bilbao
Early Days
Delighted to hear that you have both successfully negotiated The Bay of Biscay, or in Gary's case, the Ebay of Biscay. Have fun and ride safely. Can't wait to hear more.
From Blog: On the boat to Bilbao
Date: 30th July 2009
Happy Birthday for tomorrow - my Mum reminded me. Glad to see you make it back in a reasonably healthy state this time. Look forward to hearing some more of your anecdotes on the golf course (although you seem to spend most of your time there cursing your clubs!). If there are any sunny Sundays perhaps a blast down to Bognor for breakfast with Geoff? Just been to Bath and back, 210 miles on my bike today. Had a meeting at 9 so went via the M4 but came back up the A4 - much more fun.
From Blog: Anecdotal nonsence
Happy Birthday for tomorrow - my Mum reminded me. Glad to see you make it back in a reasonably healthy state this time. Look forward to hearing some more of your anecdotes on the golf course (although you seem to spend most of your time there cursing your clubs!). If there are any sunny Sundays perhaps a blast down to Bognor for breakfast with Geoff? Just been to Bath and back, 210 miles on my bike today. Had a meeting at 9 so went via the M4 but came back up the A4 - much more fun.
From Blog: Anecdotal nonsence
Date: 30th July 2009
Summary on the Summary
Your summaries are always my fav reads and quite interesting. You really ought to take this up full time and get a gig with one of the bike magazines. The ferry comment is particularly funny as I remember being in exactly the same predicament. A whole group of us were about to tuck into dinner at about 7 or 8pm....mine was a huge plate of curry I had just greedly constructed via self-service. I barely got past looking at it before I retired to my cabin to lie down not to be seen again until the next morning. I was one of the first and thought I was being a wimp, but it transpired everyone else had followed suit shortly after me, much to my relief. I never really thought of myself as easily getting sea-sick (and I still don't) but that trip across the Bay of Biscay is a good test of how much of a salty sea dog you really are! Anyway Gary, get in touch when you are back in Blighty .... the weather here is........ shite.
From Blog: Anecdotal nonsence
Summary on the Summary
Your summaries are always my fav reads and quite interesting. You really ought to take this up full time and get a gig with one of the bike magazines. The ferry comment is particularly funny as I remember being in exactly the same predicament. A whole group of us were about to tuck into dinner at about 7 or 8pm....mine was a huge plate of curry I had just greedly constructed via self-service. I barely got past looking at it before I retired to my cabin to lie down not to be seen again until the next morning. I was one of the first and thought I was being a wimp, but it transpired everyone else had followed suit shortly after me, much to my relief. I never really thought of myself as easily getting sea-sick (and I still don't) but that trip across the Bay of Biscay is a good test of how much of a salty sea dog you really are! Anyway Gary, get in touch when you are back in Blighty .... the weather here is........ shite.
From Blog: Anecdotal nonsence
Date: 28th July 2009
Hi Dad Your trip sounds fun- very pleased that you haven't fallen off. See you soon, Love, Elliexxx
From Blog: Foix to San Sebastian
Hi Dad Your trip sounds fun- very pleased that you haven't fallen off. See you soon, Love, Elliexxx
From Blog: Foix to San Sebastian
Date: 27th July 2009
cool
Hey Gary ... I am avidly following your ever Km and really enjoying it ... a 5 minute sit down is always welcome. I am very envious it sounds fab. Love Julia xxxx
From Blog: On the way to San Sebastian
cool
Hey Gary ... I am avidly following your ever Km and really enjoying it ... a 5 minute sit down is always welcome. I am very envious it sounds fab. Love Julia xxxx
From Blog: On the way to San Sebastian
Date: 27th July 2009
Railway tracks
It's nice to receive the updates, i am following your progress. Good call re the railway crossing, we all remember your track record with them and two wheeled machinery................
From Blog: On the way to San Sebastian
Railway tracks
It's nice to receive the updates, i am following your progress. Good call re the railway crossing, we all remember your track record with them and two wheeled machinery................
From Blog: On the way to San Sebastian
Date: 26th July 2009
Keep em coming
Murph! Finally got around to reading the last few day of the blog whilst watching Sunderland v Athletic Madrid friendly on the computer (Sunderland winning 1-0 at half time, for the record - dull match like all friendlies). The ride around Spain sounds a lot of fun - shame you didn't make Africa but therein lies a suitable excuse for another trip - Ferry to Northern Spain, Drive through Portugal and over to Africa from there :o) Looking forward to the next entry - hope to catch up soon when your back in Blighty.
From Blog: Olot & Lower Pyrenees
Keep em coming
Murph! Finally got around to reading the last few day of the blog whilst watching Sunderland v Athletic Madrid friendly on the computer (Sunderland winning 1-0 at half time, for the record - dull match like all friendlies). The ride around Spain sounds a lot of fun - shame you didn't make Africa but therein lies a suitable excuse for another trip - Ferry to Northern Spain, Drive through Portugal and over to Africa from there :o) Looking forward to the next entry - hope to catch up soon when your back in Blighty.
From Blog: Olot & Lower Pyrenees
Date: 24th July 2009
I had to laugh at your twin peaks effort. Fair play for still bothering to go up the second. Wouldn't you of felt a greater chump when you finally made it to spy the same crowd on your original mountain?
From Blog: Mount Canigou
I had to laugh at your twin peaks effort. Fair play for still bothering to go up the second. Wouldn't you of felt a greater chump when you finally made it to spy the same crowd on your original mountain?
From Blog: Mount Canigou
Date: 24th July 2009
Bonjour
Gary, It's 6.45 and I'm at the studio. I can't tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. I look at your posted shots of the hillls - such a beautiful part of Europe and then I look out of my studio window facing north over New Cross Gate - not such a nice part of Europe. That sounds like a syperb day. Well done you old poof for getting down wihtout falling off - I know how tired you must have been, I was in those hills on the XR400 - you didn't do too badly - I spend four days in first gear and that included the road sections. Vince.
From Blog: Mount Canigou
Bonjour
Gary, It's 6.45 and I'm at the studio. I can't tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. I look at your posted shots of the hillls - such a beautiful part of Europe and then I look out of my studio window facing north over New Cross Gate - not such a nice part of Europe. That sounds like a syperb day. Well done you old poof for getting down wihtout falling off - I know how tired you must have been, I was in those hills on the XR400 - you didn't do too badly - I spend four days in first gear and that included the road sections. Vince.
From Blog: Mount Canigou
Date: 23rd July 2009
Bald headed chicken f*cker .....
Gary - glad to see you on the move again. I was in Carcassonne myself a couple of years back doing a cycle ride from Toulouse to coast along Canal du Midi ...... nice part ! All the best and may you steer well clear of dubious "barriers" made from cheese-wire and so forth ! Jason
From Blog: Carcassonne to the Pyrenees (Mt Canigou)
Bald headed chicken f*cker .....
Gary - glad to see you on the move again. I was in Carcassonne myself a couple of years back doing a cycle ride from Toulouse to coast along Canal du Midi ...... nice part ! All the best and may you steer well clear of dubious "barriers" made from cheese-wire and so forth ! Jason
From Blog: Carcassonne to the Pyrenees (Mt Canigou)
Date: 23rd July 2009
Cable Trenches
Fully agree with you comments comparing UK and French roads. However, the main culprits in digging up our roads are EDF friggin Energy - they aren't permitted to dig up the roads in their native France so enjoy digging up ours instead!
From Blog: Carcassonne to the Pyrenees (Mt Canigou)
Cable Trenches
Fully agree with you comments comparing UK and French roads. However, the main culprits in digging up our roads are EDF friggin Energy - they aren't permitted to dig up the roads in their native France so enjoy digging up ours instead!
From Blog: Carcassonne to the Pyrenees (Mt Canigou)
Date: 23rd July 2009
London calling.
Hello Smurph. Vinnie here. You did well not to have gone down the side of that car with your boot. The mountains will be more fun, they're stunning. By chance I was showing Brucey Boy some shots last night when I was down there on my GS from Frankfurt. We hired 400XR and did four days enduro with a Guide. Some of the little restaurants in the hills are just superb. Take care, which means don't do anything while you're away that will enable me to call you a plonker. Vinnie.
From Blog: Sunday 19th July Around Carcassonne
London calling.
Hello Smurph. Vinnie here. You did well not to have gone down the side of that car with your boot. The mountains will be more fun, they're stunning. By chance I was showing Brucey Boy some shots last night when I was down there on my GS from Frankfurt. We hired 400XR and did four days enduro with a Guide. Some of the little restaurants in the hills are just superb. Take care, which means don't do anything while you're away that will enable me to call you a plonker. Vinnie.
From Blog: Sunday 19th July Around Carcassonne
Date: 21st July 2009
Rain
Gary You didn't say whether it rained on you as you slept on the ferry! Photo enigmatically entitled "Evening Light" - cool. Dreamy even - well Ansel Adams. Love the blog - keep it up and ride safely. Bruce
From Blog: Salon La Tour to Carcassonne
Rain
Gary You didn't say whether it rained on you as you slept on the ferry! Photo enigmatically entitled "Evening Light" - cool. Dreamy even - well Ansel Adams. Love the blog - keep it up and ride safely. Bruce
From Blog: Salon La Tour to Carcassonne
Date: 20th July 2009
glad to see your suspension sag is in good order!
Murph, you are a complete bike nerd! I love the updates - you should become a travel writer. and that picture of the evening light on the street sign is awesome. K and I visited Carcassonne about 6 years ago when I did 2,200km driving around France with a 6 month pregnant woman (with Adam) and I remember the medieval feel to it - it was market day - but much prettier towns and villages elsewhere. That cassoulet is amazing though, the beans and the lamb and so on - v nice. Keep em coming and hope to get a round in when yuo are back. Bruce and I took the WAGs to the cricket yesterday - they were bored stupid! Speak soon, Andy
From Blog: Salon La Tour to Carcassonne
glad to see your suspension sag is in good order!
Murph, you are a complete bike nerd! I love the updates - you should become a travel writer. and that picture of the evening light on the street sign is awesome. K and I visited Carcassonne about 6 years ago when I did 2,200km driving around France with a 6 month pregnant woman (with Adam) and I remember the medieval feel to it - it was market day - but much prettier towns and villages elsewhere. That cassoulet is amazing though, the beans and the lamb and so on - v nice. Keep em coming and hope to get a round in when yuo are back. Bruce and I took the WAGs to the cricket yesterday - they were bored stupid! Speak soon, Andy
From Blog: Salon La Tour to Carcassonne
Date: 20th July 2009
French Style
You knew that it would not be long before you got abuse! You state that "the French usually exude more style than that" - is this the same French that invented bidets, allow neon signs on the roads leading into even the smallest village, gave us Gérard Depardieu and drive around in Citroens?! In their favour, they are more tolerant than us - if you had been watching a group of kids playing football here then you would probably be in the gaol by now. Great roads in Andorra - they are good fun. Safe journey.
From Blog: Salon La Tour to Carcassonne
French Style
You knew that it would not be long before you got abuse! You state that "the French usually exude more style than that" - is this the same French that invented bidets, allow neon signs on the roads leading into even the smallest village, gave us Gérard Depardieu and drive around in Citroens?! In their favour, they are more tolerant than us - if you had been watching a group of kids playing football here then you would probably be in the gaol by now. Great roads in Andorra - they are good fun. Safe journey.
From Blog: Salon La Tour to Carcassonne
Date: 18th July 2009
You plonker!
Hi Murph, I can't believe all this happened on your first day - anyway things can only get better!! I am glad you are on your way. Be safe and have a fantastic trip. LOL A xx
From Blog: Restarting the trip - heading for the ferry to Caen
You plonker!
Hi Murph, I can't believe all this happened on your first day - anyway things can only get better!! I am glad you are on your way. Be safe and have a fantastic trip. LOL A xx
From Blog: Restarting the trip - heading for the ferry to Caen
Date: 16th September 2008
Hi Amanda, The northern lights would be cool I agree. You have to be here in winter for that though. Its cold enough in "summer". So I think I would be doing that off the bike. Nice to hear from you, hope all is well with you and yours. Gary x
From Blog: Day 8 - Jotunheim
Hi Amanda, The northern lights would be cool I agree. You have to be here in winter for that though. Its cold enough in "summer". So I think I would be doing that off the bike. Nice to hear from you, hope all is well with you and yours. Gary x
From Blog: Day 8 - Jotunheim
Date: 16th September 2008
Its not a f*cking race Pete. I am not after Nick Sanders record - its supposed to be a holiday...
From Blog: Day 8 - Jotunheim
Its not a f*cking race Pete. I am not after Nick Sanders record - its supposed to be a holiday...
From Blog: Day 8 - Jotunheim
Date: 16th September 2008
Yes the sight lets you rotate them, but it then stretches them as if they were landscape and not portrait which is actually worse.
From Blog: Day 9 - Jotunheim - Geraigerfjord, Hellesylt
Yes the sight lets you rotate them, but it then stretches them as if they were landscape and not portrait which is actually worse.
From Blog: Day 9 - Jotunheim - Geraigerfjord, Hellesylt
Andy
non-member comment
Amusing
Ha ha - you are so right Vincent is a lucky MF as I did that trip with the family once when we drove to Portugal and it was like riding a bucking bronco. Alice and Krsitina didn't get up the whole time, and when Adam and I went up for breakfast he and i lasted a mouthful or two before returning downstairs to our berths past the lads and lasses on the pints, fags and fruit machines. I do remember getting a pint or two in me at some point and then hearing the revellers come back at 4am from the parties - then when you finally berth at Bilbao they say for all those doing the mini cruise please be back in an hour! I just have to mention that ferry again onj the journey back through Spain and France and the kids shut up pronto from thier moaning. Have fun chaps. Am laughing at the amount of tech you are taking out and the amount of gloves - who needs 4!! Then again I would be the same I guess - Andy
From Blog: On the boat to Bilbao