Cannonball Viberia — Day 1: Spain, Sunday 6 September 🇪🇸

Sunday, 6 September, was a date to remember. It was the day we kicked off Cannonball Viberia and, after all the usual pre-ride excitement, there was only one thing on everyone’s mind: getting out of the hotel car park and onto the open road.

But first, of course, came the safety briefing.

The evening before

The Cannonball bikes gathering in Santander on the evening before the adventure began.Photos courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

Before the road books, briefings and first mountain miles, the hotel garage in Santander began to fill with bikes. Riders had arrived from across Europe, America and beyond, ready for a week of Spanish mountain roads, good hotels, good food and the stories that inevitably come with a Cannonball.

There was a brilliant variety of machinery on show: a striking red Ducati Streetfighter, a pair of Moto Guzzi Stelvios ready for touring duty, and the unmistakable green Cannonball-liveried Triumph. Last-minute checks were being made, luggage was being sorted and new friendships were already beginning.

The briefing is over. Can we ride now?

Road books ready and ears (mostly) open — the Day 1 safety briefing in the Santander hotel garage.Photos courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

Steve Mason, organiser and brains behind the event, was there alongside Jeremy “Route Boy” Simmons, making sure everyone understood the essentials before we set off.

For newcomers, it was a chance to get to grips with how Cannonball works. For the regulars, it was the familiar ritual standing between them and the first mountain road of the week.

You could feel the impatience building. Road books were being checked, bikes were ready and everyone was itching to get moving. Some of us have sat through these briefings so many times that we could probably deliver them ourselves by now.

But the important information matters — especially with riders from so many countries coming together for a week on unfamiliar roads.

This year, we had plenty of new faces. We welcomed the Scottish lads, the Swearing Bikers, along with a sizeable contingent of Americans introduced to Cannonball through previous participants and friends of friends. There were riders from Scotland, Ireland, England, America, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and several other countries.

We also had more couples than ever before, which was great to see.

That’s one of the things I love about Cannonball. Yes, it’s a motorcycle rally, but it’s also a fantastic holiday: brilliant roads, good food, great hotels and an endless supply of motorcycle stories. What more could you want?

Finally, it was go time

Lights on, engines running and Cannonball Viberia is underway — the last few riders leave the Santander hotel garage on the opening morning, eager for the route ahead.Photo courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

With the safety briefing out of the way, everyone gathered their road books and prepared to leave the hotel garage. There was a real buzz in the air, with newcomers eager to discover what lay ahead and the regulars keen for their first taste of the Spanish mountains.

I joined the Scottish lads for my first group of the day. They were all new to the event, so I thought I’d ride with them for a while, help them get comfortable with the road books and offer a few pointers from my previous Cannonball experiences.

I was connected to Neil on the intercom and took up position at the back of the group. With seven riders, it was a fairly sizeable pack — and, as it turned out, it didn’t take long for the first navigational adventure to begin.

A quick change of plan

We hadn’t been on the road long before the first mistake happened. One of the riders followed another group too far up the wrong highway out of town.

I called over the intercom and told them to pull off, but by then they had spotted another group travelling in the same direction and were tempted to follow them. It was time for a quick rethink.

I pulled off the road, and one rider came with me. Just like that, my group went from seven bikes to two.

Personally, I rather like a group of two. It’s easier to stay together, there’s less waiting at junctions and fuel stops, and you can concentrate on enjoying the road rather than counting mirrors to make sure half a dozen bikes are still behind you.

Within the first few kilometres, I’d gone from shepherding a sizeable Scottish contingent to enjoying a much more manageable ride with one companion. Not a bad result.

Fortunately, the navigation mishap didn’t last long. Within about 12 kilometres, everyone was back on the correct route, although we were now spread out a little in terms of timing.

Sandy, on his BMW XR, and I, on my big KTM Adventure, were slightly ahead. Before long, Danny joined us on his Suzuki Hayabusa, and we settled into a lovely little group.

Coffee, conversation and a proper Cannonball morning

Kenny and Kenny 🇺🇸 enjoying a Cannonball coffee stop in the Spanish mountains.Photo courtesy of Alan Jones

Our first stop was in Los Tojos, where we pulled in for coffee and a break before lunch.

One of the great things about Cannonball route planning is that the coffee stops often work perfectly with the road book. Because the café was right on our route, we could sit back with a drink and watch the other Cannonballers pass through.

Kenny and Kenny, two of the American riders, stopped for refreshments too, giving us the chance to catch up and take a few photographs.

These stops are an essential part of the experience. They’re not just about refuelling yourself before the next stretch of road. They’re a chance to talk about the bends you’ve just ridden, compare notes on the route, share a few laughs and stretch your legs.

Naturally, there are always a few photos to prove you were there.

Spain delivers the goods

Lars and Ina 🇳🇴 enjoying the sweeping mountain roads on the opening day of Cannonball Viberia.Photo courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

And what roads we had.

The route offered exactly the combination I love: sweeping curves through wooded valleys, flowing bends along mountain slopes, and tighter, rockier sections winding up and down beautiful mountain valleys.

The tarmac was good, the grip reassuring and the variety kept things interesting. One moment you were flowing through a series of long, sweeping corners; the next, the road would tighten as the mountains closed in around you.

On my KTM Adventure, I was absolutely in my element.

This is why I love touring in the mountains. It’s not necessarily about going fast. It’s about the rhythm of the road, the scenery unfolding around each bend and that wonderful feeling when everything comes together — the bike, the road and the conditions.

We had plenty of that on Day 1.

Hairpins, sunshine and spectacular mountain scenery — exactly the sort of road that made Day 1 in northern Spain so memorable.Photo courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

A viewpoint on the N621

Sandy — better known as Elmo — myself and Danny stopping to enjoy the extraordinary mountain views from the N621 on Day 1.Photo courtesy of Alan Jones

A couple of hours later, we reached the N621 near the Vega de Liébana viewpoint. It’s the sort of place that reminds you why Spain is such a fantastic destination for motorcycle touring: mountain scenery, beautiful roads and plenty of reasons to stop and appreciate exactly where you are.

Several Cannonballers were around, including Jeremy, Tristan and Ad. By the time we arrived, plenty of riders had already passed through while we were taking our break, so we had lost a little time compared with some of the faster groups.

At the viewpoint, Ad decided to ride with us to a small town for a lunch stop. After lunch, Danny and Ad decided to take a more relaxed approach, stopping to enjoy the sights rather than pushing on with us.

And why not? That’s the whole point of Cannonball.

Sandy, meanwhile, seemed to favour a slightly brisker pace, so the two of us cracked on. It’s one of the things that makes the event work so well: you can ride with others for a while, split when your preferences differ, and meet again later.

Nobody has to spend the whole day trying to match someone else’s pace. There are no trophies for being first to the hotel — well, not anymore anyway.

Ribadesella — our first destination

Ribadesella from above — the harbour, the town and the coastline that welcomed us at the end of Day 1.Drone photo by Real Drone Inspection for Cannonball Bike Run

The arrival in Ribadesella was a real highlight. I had never visited before, and discovering somewhere new is always one of the pleasures of a motorcycle tour.

After a day in the mountains, we found ourselves right by the beach, which gave the arrival a completely different feel from the day’s riding.

Our home for the night — right on the beachfront in Ribadesella.Photo courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

Several riders had booked jet-ski sessions and speedboat trips in advance, and minibuses arrived at the hotel to collect the day’s watersports enthusiasts. For some, the afternoon adventure was about to continue at speed — just without two wheels on the ground.

Swapping two wheels for jet skis — Cannonballers making the most of the afternoon in Ribadesella.Photos courtesy of Cannonball Bike Run

After a full day on the bike, I opted for something simpler: a swim to cool off.

The swimming pool was absolutely freezing.

Attempting to cool down after Day 1 in Ribadesella — although the pool was considerably colder than expected.Photo courtesy of Alan Jones

It was one of those moments when you question your decision to get in. But once you are in, there is no point climbing back out after ten seconds. I made the most of it, dried off, and headed back to the usual Cannonball gathering point: the bar.

The evening ritual: stories, banter and tomorrow’s plans

As riders returned from their various afternoon adventures, the hotel bar gradually filled with familiar faces, new acquaintances and the inevitable collection of stories from the day’s riding.

There is something special about the atmosphere at the end of a Cannonball day. Everyone has travelled the same route, but nobody has experienced it in quite the same way.

One rider will tell you about a fantastic series of bends. Another will have found a viewpoint worth remembering. Someone else will have taken a wrong turn, followed the wrong group or had a completely different adventure along the way.

And, of course, the stories tend to get better as the evening progresses.

Tables set and the Cannonball banner in place — the dinner room in Ribadesella, with views out over the water.Photo courtesy of Alan Jones

Dinner was followed by another short briefing, giving us the information we needed for the following day’s ride. It was a chance to get organised, understand what lay ahead and start looking forward to another day on the road.

By the end of the evening, I had managed to speak to most of the participants. With so many newcomers this year, I made a mental note to ride with more groups over the coming days.

After all, meeting people and sharing the experience is just as much a part of Cannonball as the roads themselves.

Day one: a perfect start

By the time I headed to bed, I felt thoroughly satisfied.

We had enjoyed fantastic roads, the weather had played its part and the group had come together remarkably well despite the inevitable first-day navigation hiccups.

There were new friendships beginning, plenty of laughs, a freezing swim and the promise of more great riding to come.

Most importantly, everyone was settling into the rhythm of the event — finding their pace, their preferred riding companions and their own way of enjoying Cannonball.

It’s a motorcycle rally, a touring holiday and a gathering of people who share the same passion, all rolled into one.

For me, that’s the magic of it.

Spain had delivered on Day 1, and the Cannonball Viberia adventure was well and truly underway.

And if the first day was anything to go by, we were in for a cracking week.

Stay tuned for Day 2 of Cannonball Viberia, as the adventure continues through Spain’s spectacular mountain roads.