I’ve been married now, happily married even, for the past five years. My wife and I truly are best friends and we share many common interests, chief among those being motorcycles and travelling. Whoa! Hold on there a second. Don’t head for goodle yet. I know what you’re thinking but but trust me this blog entry isn’t just to make mushy talk about my partner so bare with me a minute. So, where was I? Oh right… Last summer we did a two week motorcycle tour around Italy with Edelweiss Bike Travel which we both loved. It was just after our return from that trip that I (again) discovered that I had married the right woman because she said “Gee, next year is my 40th birthday so why don’t we do another two week motorcycle trip for my birthday present?” I coulda’ found religion right then and there but as an ex-religion/philosophy student that would have just been confusing so I just jumped for joy instead.

This past Fall we spent time looking over maps, talking to people and dreaming longingly of riding motorcycles as the Colorado snow started to pile up. Eventually, we decided that two weeks riding around sunny southern Spain would be a perfect way to celebrate Jonna’s 40th birthday and to thaw out after a long, cold winter. Just to make sure it was properly touristy we decided to spend three days in Barcelona before starting the motorcycle trip. We booked the tour with Edelweiss and have been patiently waiting since then.

So, now its just a couple of weeks before we leave and I’m finally getting around to researching some things for our trip. I have my new GPS programmed. I’ve been listening to the “Spanish for Travellers” tapes. I’ve thumbed through our Fodor’s book and read some web sites. Today I decided to look around see what was happening in the motorcycling world in Spain over the next few weeks. …and now the trouble begins. It turns out that the final two MotoGP IRTA tests (with *all* the MotoGP teams participating) are scheduled for Circuit de Catalunya (just outside Barcelona) on March 18-20 and for Circuit de Jerez (at Jerez) on March 25 - 27. Need I even explain that our schedule calls for us being near both of these places on exactly those dates?

This trip is a birthday gift for my wife and an opportunity for us to share our love of travel. A chance to see new cultures, eat exotic food, learn some world history and meet lots of great people. This trip isn’t about me fulfilling my motorcycle racing obsession. I shouldn’t…I couldn’t…surely, I wouldn’t…attempt to sneak over to either circuit during this trip just to catch a little glimpse of someone like Rossi or Biaggi or Gibernau or Hayden riding their MotoGP bikes? No, I have the willpower to stick with the plan and to enjoy the wonders of Barcelona without bolting for the train system, jumping a few stops over to the Montmelo’ stop and then sprinting the blocks to the famous Circuit de Catalunya. Whimper…

The temptation is probably stronger the next week at Jerez. Our tour plan actually calls for a day off to enjoy the town of Rhonda. As it turns out, Rhonda is only about an hour from Jerez. Stop the temptation now while I still have a wife! I’m sure there are lots of fascinating things to see in Rhonda. Rumor has there are lots of Roman ruins there. Supposedly the Spanish wine from that area is fantastic. The famous Rock of Gibraltar is just a short drive away. I’m certain I’ll find a day in Rhonda interesting and fulfilling. Moreso that just watching silly little motorcycles drive around in circles.

Uhhh….just how comfortable are those Spanish couches? Maybe I’ll just go ahead and plan on sleeping on them for two straight weeks.

[image from the No Limits Track Days web site.]