Ban Krut to Malaysia

Another tranquil beach resort at Lamae

Made my way to Koh Samui, the popular island of the SE coast and found a cheap 3 room bungalow

It was clean and quiet but the 600 Baht came with no WiFi, cold water and no TV reception. But it had a pool

Next stop was Songkhla and an expensive resort.

Caught the 3 baht ferry into town

Weather has been very wet and I seemed to have caught a chill which reduces the enjoyment somewhat.
Crossed the border into Malaysia this morning. Signage was poor to non-existent, got through immigration and headed off to get my motorbike export papers sorted. Before I knew it I was in front of a "Welcome to Malaysia" sign. Got all the polis excited when I did a U Turn. Explained that I didn't have a paper for motorbike and they said "Don't worry" and waved me back to Malaysia. May have a drama when I return.
Presently in Sungai Petani, not far from Penang.

On the road again South from Hua Hin, Thailand

Just a three hour ride from home along the main highway no. 4. Stopped at a small seaside place called Ban Krut

Nice clean quiet beach

This is how you make the most of your motorcycle and side car

Staying in a cheap guesthouse,most of the savings are in the bathroom fittings;
NO hot shower

And who needs a toilet cistern anyway, just something else to go wrong.

Barcelona to Italy to Greece to Bulgaria and back to Paris

Caught an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Civitavecchia in Italy.

Ferry staff were very casual and insisted I park the bike and leave. I asked them (In Mime) to lash it down but found later it never was. Luckily it was a smooth crossing.
Spent one night in Civitavecchia then headed South to the Amalfi Coast.

This is the view looking along the beach near my hotel.
Got up at dawn the next morning to beat the tourist coaches

By 7am the road was crawling with tourist coaches and riding was not a pleasure. Rode down to the heel of Italy and caught yet another ferry from Brindisi to Greece. Two days later I stopped at the island of Thassos, near Kavalla.

Only one day's ride from Thassos got me to Rila in the mountains of Southern Bulgaria where there is a famous monastery

From there biked to Motocamp Bulgaria in the small village of Idelievo where they are keeping the bike for me until next year's adventure. Grabbed a lift to the capital, Sofia.

Have never seen these 'knee high' shops anywhere else.

From there, a short flight to Paris before returning to Thailand

My hotel was a short walk to the Pere Lachaise cemetery

Oscar Wilde's tomb

Frederick Chopin

Heloise and Abelard

From Morocco to Spain

Stayed on the outskirts of Essouria handy for the next days ride North towards Meknes

The hotel had an inner covered courtyard with rooms on two levels.

Stopped for two days in Meknes in order to visit the Roman ruins at Volubilis.

A stork has made it's nest atop one of the columns

Went to a local service station in Meknes for an oil change and the owner took me to his mate's Moto shop where the obliging mechanic changed the oil, replaced two broken lamps, adjusted the clutch cable, replaced a missing bolt and packed out the rear shock absorber bushes. His labour charge...$15.00 and this was a special Sunday call out.
Spent two days at a beach near the ferry port before sailing past Gibralta to Spain.

Collected my new Shock absorber bushes from the Yamaha dealer and rode up through the mountains to Cordoba via Ronda

Broke out the tent for the first night of camping in Cordoba

Cordoba is famous for it's cathedral/mosque built during the moorish occupation as a mosque and converted after their ousting.

 

After the night off camping, a touch of luxury was required. At $60 a night including breakfast, this place a couple of hours South of Barcelona fit the bill.

Tomorrow, it's off to Barcelona to catch a 10.15pm ferry to Civitavecchia in Italy