Discussion
In the early stages on sorting out a tour for next year. It'll likely be around Easter time for a week ish (MAYBE ten days or so). I'm thinking Spain this time to allow for slightly less appalling weather than I had this year.
Issue is I can't quite decide whether to stick to the North via the Picos etc (maybe Portugal if I have time?) or/and The Pyrenees.
I've done backpacking in Spain a few years ago but I was mostly drunk or otherwise inebriated most of the time so can't quite remember where was good!
I had looked at using the tunnel and riding through France but Ferry costs if booked a good few months in advance aren't too bad..... Is more time in Spain worth it over slogging through France? What about the Portsmouth routes to St Malo etc?
Plan may well include meeting my friend for a day or so who lives over there. Realise ideas are all over the place but looking for inspiration.....
Issue is I can't quite decide whether to stick to the North via the Picos etc (maybe Portugal if I have time?) or/and The Pyrenees.
I've done backpacking in Spain a few years ago but I was mostly drunk or otherwise inebriated most of the time so can't quite remember where was good!
I had looked at using the tunnel and riding through France but Ferry costs if booked a good few months in advance aren't too bad..... Is more time in Spain worth it over slogging through France? What about the Portsmouth routes to St Malo etc?
Plan may well include meeting my friend for a day or so who lives over there. Realise ideas are all over the place but looking for inspiration.....
A week isn’t going to leave much time to enjoy Spain whichever route you take. Don’t expect the direct ferries to get you there quicker than riding thro France either. Personally I hate those long ferry routes but don’t overlook their fatigue saving potential.
I’d start by trying to turn the 10 day trip from a ‘maybe’ into a definite ‘yes’!
I’d start by trying to turn the 10 day trip from a ‘maybe’ into a definite ‘yes’!
I'd avoid going the long route on the ferry both ways as it's only a week and you'll spend 4 days onboard either pissed or bored. Have done this and reverted to ferry to Caen get in mid afternoon, schlep down a few hundred miles, then the following day another few hundred to somewhere near Pau. You're then into the fun stuff and into the Pyrenees. Weather dependent there's some great riding there or head west towards the Picos. Ferry back from Bilbao for a good relax after a full weeks riding. That has worked well for me!
I did something similar to this in April last year. I got the ferry both ways - expensive, rubbish food, mega rough seas all the way back. But still not sure I could be arsed to ride through France next time though! I also had the dilemma of Picos vs heading south. Everyone online said the weather in the Picos would be cold and wet, so I headed south. To be honest, I wish I'd gone to the Picos. The middle of Spain was pretty dull and extremely cold, and the mountainous areas in the very south weren't as scenic as I was expecting, plus they are a bloody long way away. It was super hot down there too.
On the way home I chatted to some guys who'd spent a week in the Picos, and they'd had a great time - the weather was fine apparently, not too cold and just the odd rain shower.
Overall, for the amount of riding I did (and planning etc), I didn't feel like I got enough "wow" moments out of the trip. Just IMO, having done a lot of road trips in the past.
On the way home I chatted to some guys who'd spent a week in the Picos, and they'd had a great time - the weather was fine apparently, not too cold and just the odd rain shower.
Overall, for the amount of riding I did (and planning etc), I didn't feel like I got enough "wow" moments out of the trip. Just IMO, having done a lot of road trips in the past.
We (kinda) did this recently, got the overnight ferry to St Malo and went to San Sebastian. Coming from central Scotland it was two days on the motorway and we were a bit tired, so we planned in a day off in San Sebastian.
The Pico's in May were great, but we also got properly soaked in a yellow warning rain storm. On our way back through the Pyrenees we had to change route to avoid snow, bit strange when it's 26c further down the mountains! We got the overnight ferry back from Caen, and that was OK. I've just booked to take the wife on a similar trip (in the car) and we're going out on the 24hr ferry from Plymouth.
We went for 10 days, the wife and I are going for a fortnight, a week is too short.
If you're a foodie Logrono is fabulous
The Pico's in May were great, but we also got properly soaked in a yellow warning rain storm. On our way back through the Pyrenees we had to change route to avoid snow, bit strange when it's 26c further down the mountains! We got the overnight ferry back from Caen, and that was OK. I've just booked to take the wife on a similar trip (in the car) and we're going out on the 24hr ferry from Plymouth.
We went for 10 days, the wife and I are going for a fortnight, a week is too short.
If you're a foodie Logrono is fabulous
Thanks. I've had another look and mapped it out to some degree.
Possiblty the St Malo Ferry on the Friday night.
Saturday - Down to Roquefort from St Malo
Sunday - Down to Bilbao via Basque
Monday - Full day in Bilbao with friend.
Tuesday - Down to potentially Leon the next (been there before) via Picos.
Wednesday - Up to potentially Gijon or elsewhere I'm not sure? Maybe even the other way and skirt into Portugal
Thursday - Undecided
Friday - Undecided. Travel towards Santander from whereever I am through the Picos.
Saturday - Santander Ferry back home
Two weeks is out of the question unfortunately so 7-10 days absolute max. I'll have just come back from the Dragon Rally a month or two prior so even this is pushing it with SWMBO! I'm coming from Reading so Portsmouth ferry route is easy. Don't get seasick and rough seas never bother me.
I found Northern Europe much easier due to knowing what I wanted to see - WW1/2 sights etc. This is more about seeing the scenery and I guess food. I don't drink anymore so not bothered by bar hopping adventures etc just up and out early enjoying the roads.
I would like to see Switzerland etc but feel that the likelihood of VASTLY worse weather is more of a problem. Average of roughly 250 miles a day, some a bit more and some a bit less.
Again, none of this is set in stone and I may be completely unrealistic with what I want to do but either way I think it's set I want to go there at that time. Even a few days there is more interesting to me than staying in the UK.
Possiblty the St Malo Ferry on the Friday night.
Saturday - Down to Roquefort from St Malo
Sunday - Down to Bilbao via Basque
Monday - Full day in Bilbao with friend.
Tuesday - Down to potentially Leon the next (been there before) via Picos.
Wednesday - Up to potentially Gijon or elsewhere I'm not sure? Maybe even the other way and skirt into Portugal
Thursday - Undecided
Friday - Undecided. Travel towards Santander from whereever I am through the Picos.
Saturday - Santander Ferry back home
Two weeks is out of the question unfortunately so 7-10 days absolute max. I'll have just come back from the Dragon Rally a month or two prior so even this is pushing it with SWMBO! I'm coming from Reading so Portsmouth ferry route is easy. Don't get seasick and rough seas never bother me.
I found Northern Europe much easier due to knowing what I wanted to see - WW1/2 sights etc. This is more about seeing the scenery and I guess food. I don't drink anymore so not bothered by bar hopping adventures etc just up and out early enjoying the roads.
I would like to see Switzerland etc but feel that the likelihood of VASTLY worse weather is more of a problem. Average of roughly 250 miles a day, some a bit more and some a bit less.
Again, none of this is set in stone and I may be completely unrealistic with what I want to do but either way I think it's set I want to go there at that time. Even a few days there is more interesting to me than staying in the UK.
Krikkit said:
If you've only got a week it might be worth considering flying and either shipping your bike there, or renting one.
I've been to Spain loads of times before inc backpacking all over so I just want a taste of it to begin with. Don't feel the need to go all over. Plus I genuinely loved France so want to go down the West Coast where I havne't really been before. Stevemtb said:
I'd avoid going the long route on the ferry both ways as it's only a week and you'll spend 4 days onboard either pissed or bored. Have done this and reverted to ferry to Caen get in mid afternoon, schlep down a few hundred miles, then the following day another few hundred to somewhere near Pau. You're then into the fun stuff and into the Pyrenees. Weather dependent there's some great riding there or head west towards the Picos. Ferry back from Bilbao for a good relax after a full weeks riding. That has worked well for me!
Where on earth do you get 4 days on the ferry from? Get on the ferry at 1600, get off the ferry at 1200 the next day, you're in Ribadesella or Potes by 1700 having stopped off for a cheeky beer
Far better than the interminable 850 or so km grind down to San Sebastian.
Having lived in France and now living in Spain, if you're coming to Spain for the roads, France is best left out of it, and I love France!!
Rushjob said:
Where on earth do you get 4 days on the ferry from?
Get on the ferry at 1600, get off the ferry at 1200 the next day, you're in Ribadesella or Potes by 1700 having stopped off for a cheeky beer
Far better than the interminable 850 or so km grind down to San Sebastian.
Having lived in France and now living in Spain, if you're coming to Spain for the roads, France is best left out of it, and I love France!!
What ferry is that? Quickest I've found is the Plymouth > Santander and that's 24 hours.Get on the ferry at 1600, get off the ferry at 1200 the next day, you're in Ribadesella or Potes by 1700 having stopped off for a cheeky beer
Far better than the interminable 850 or so km grind down to San Sebastian.
Having lived in France and now living in Spain, if you're coming to Spain for the roads, France is best left out of it, and I love France!!
The stated crossing time is 20 hrs 30 minutes. I’ve done this crossing numerous times and 19 hrs isn’t unknown for a smooth crossing. Having also done the ride down through France a time or two too, the ferry is the one for me. How often have you done it and what is your preferred route?
Rushjob said:
The stated crossing time is 20 hrs 30 minutes. I’ve done this crossing numerous times and 19 hrs isn’t unknown for a smooth crossing. Having also done the ride down through France a time or two too, the ferry is the one for me. How often have you done it and what is your preferred route?
What's so bad about the run down from France out of interest?We did the Pyrenees last year west-east, San Sebastián to Andorra
The Portsmouth ferry is a non starter for us as it is now two nights onboard, so we bombed down the west coast & hacked back inland a bit.
This year we are doing Spain / Portugal, outward to St Malo, back via Caen, both overnight ferries
The Portsmouth ferry is a non starter for us as it is now two nights onboard, so we bombed down the west coast & hacked back inland a bit.
This year we are doing Spain / Portugal, outward to St Malo, back via Caen, both overnight ferries
Biker9090 said:
What's so bad about the run down from France out of interest?
Because if you’re trying to do the run from Normandy down to San Sebastián in one day, you’re going to spend pretty much all day on the autoroute. Given the choice, that’s not my idea of fun. Some folks might like it, but no thanks. Rushjob said:
Because if you’re trying to do the run from Normandy down to San Sebastián in one day, you’re going to spend pretty much all day on the autoroute. Given the choice, that’s not my idea of fun. Some folks might like it, but no thanks.
It wouldn't be on two days. Would be at least over twoI've been on the ferry to Spain and it's like being locked up in a shopping centre with only the toilet to get any peace in. I'd much prefer the ride down through France, stopping for great food over a couple of days or a one day slog from Calais to south of France on motorway, at least I'm on the bike, experiencing France.
But I'd rather be riding down through France, left at Gap for the Alps then over into Italy and up to the Dolomites to Cortina, back via Austria, Germany to Reims for recuperation and then home. Everything about that trip is better than Spain
But I'd rather be riding down through France, left at Gap for the Alps then over into Italy and up to the Dolomites to Cortina, back via Austria, Germany to Reims for recuperation and then home. Everything about that trip is better than Spain
Rushjob said:
Stevemtb said:
I'd avoid going the long route on the ferry both ways as it's only a week and you'll spend 4 days onboard either pissed or bored. Have done this and reverted to ferry to Caen get in mid afternoon, schlep down a few hundred miles, then the following day another few hundred to somewhere near Pau. You're then into the fun stuff and into the Pyrenees. Weather dependent there's some great riding there or head west towards the Picos. Ferry back from Bilbao for a good relax after a full weeks riding. That has worked well for me!
Where on earth do you get 4 days on the ferry from? Get on the ferry at 1600, get off the ferry at 1200 the next day, you're in Ribadesella or Potes by 1700 having stopped off for a cheeky beer
Far better than the interminable 850 or so km grind down to San Sebastian.
Having lived in France and now living in Spain, if you're coming to Spain for the roads, France is best left out of it, and I love France!!
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