Just thought I'd pop in for a look, thought Steve Thefirebloke would have been beating you off with a stick
Just blowing the dust off this thread. The tour of Scotland has well and truly ended on a high, so it's time to concentrate on the up and coming trip to Spain and the Pyrenees. Never to late should anyone wish to jump on, a deposit has been paid and the main has to be paid by July 7th time to start digging the maps out now and put something adventurous together. What a load of waffle Just for the word Bump
Just a quick note that I fully expect all signs of snow (poor Si and Al) to have completely melted and also expect to roast my nads off before I return.
It was inevitable that it was going to happen. Had a pm from a forum member yesterday asking if he could come along. Said it was best to check ferries and get back to me. The upshot Is, the ferry is now fully booked. I spoke to thefirebloke this evening, he did say anyone wanting to come could go on the reserve list with the ferry company should a cancelation arise? Slim chance of that happening tbh, so only alternative now is through France and meet up enroute. Not my cup of tea but many before me have done these miles with little or no issues. Just a heads up
Ferry on mid channel crossing and ride down is fine, or even crossing to st.Marlo and down west side. Also gives lots of options to join you for a week away - Fri night boat get down sat or Sun to join you then head home sat morning home Sunday if you put an overnight stop in at either hotel or ferry to Portsmouth.
Hey guys, I've been speaking to Gary about joining this trip. I've been checking my dates at home for the dates of the trip and I am in Africa until 10th September. I've done a bit of a look at options but don't know where or how it would work. I am looking at trying to get the ferry over to Cherbourg or Caen and then riding down from there to meet you guys but don't know the logistics of it and if its possible. Other option is for me to get the train over and then ride down from Calais over a couple of days. Again I'd meet up with you guys, then potentially spend all of the rest of the trip with you guys and either ride and get the ferry back with you or ride back to Cherbourg etc or to Calais over the next couple of days after you've left. Any ideas, thoughts ??
The ferry from Portsmouth is far shorter than Calais, you could do q fast crossing in daytime and ride rest of day to then break trip. Have a play with google maps to ainsa from Calais and caen to see difference (just picked ainsa as good mid point)
I'd get the ferry to St Malo, and ride down the west coast through Brittany etc… a nice run that. Not too far, and easy doable, plus lots cheaper. I may be doing this next year instead of the Santander ferry, see how it pans out.
Hi Jon, nice of you to jump on. Thanks Al for diving straight in with the advice. I'm away from computers until Friday and I'm not even going to attempt anything on iPhone lol. Jon, there will be loads of help and we can get soon sort out the meeting points. I pm'd your last message to Steve. I'm sure he will rest easy now knowing a little bit of your back ground Yes we will get a Meet arranged when your back home? The hardest part is getting you over the water. Everything else so long as there's a road will sort its self out. Keep hassling them, you never know? Ill start building a Route up now taking into account where to meet central. As steve said you could always try emailing the ferry company and see if a cancellation comes up? Just one thing. You mention 10 September? And we leave Plymouth on the 8th Just thought I'd drop that one in. Anyway. As you have been if you wish to continue with pm that's fine or jump on here. Either way we're set for a cracking trip. I'm sure thefirebloke will be along soon? Although I doubt today as he's been busy kicking ass at Cadwell Catch you all soon. And Al. Thanks again mate for keeping an experienced eye to this thread. Much appreciated
Yep all clear about you leaving on the 8th mate, but Im in Africa until 10th, so I'd have to meet up with you at some point after that. Thats what I meant earlier. So I would look at getting the ferry to Malo etc and then ride down to your location. I would stay with you guys until the end of your trip and then I would probably stay over a couple more days to bike back. If you know what I mean ??
Cheers Jon, I'm sure Recomendations from the seasoned tourers will be forth coming. Don't sweat it. It will be if anything an experience
Right guys I have these options available. What do you think ?? I can either get the ferry to Caen, St Malo or Roscoff at the moment. The dates Ive just put in roughly. I arrive back in the UK on 11th September from Africa. I know thats two days after you guys are leaving. So realistically I would be looking at getting the ferry on 13th hopefully in the morning and riding down. It would depend on how far I get but I reckon I am going to need to put an overnight in at some point. So really all it depends on is where you guys will be then ?? Gary mate, are we booking hotels as we go along ? And obviously I can stay in contact and play catchup on my new go fast baby lmao. Ive attached some pics of various ferry timings and the map versions of the routes down. Let the good times roll
I'll let Steve recover from his Cadwell and give him a bell later, we can have a look around the area see what's there to keep us entertained. Yep as for the hotels were just booking as we go. I agree though Jon, your going to be on some serious catch up, It will all depend if we actually stay in one hotel for a couple or three nights? And just do a few scenic loops, But at least this will give you the chance to gain on us. Of course the reality is to get over the water ASAP and put as many miles in as possible "that's a given I guess lol" Give us the weekend and see what comes up, anythings possible, we just need the experts on board
Right ferry is booked. The one that seemed the best was this one. So I arrive at Cherbourg around 13.45 on Friday. When I toured Europe last year I rode from Calais to Parcey which was approx 600 miles in one day. I will nail as much as I can that afternoon. So I will just play catchup, but don't miss out on stuff you want to go to etc etc on my account guys.
I reckon you could get to Bordeaux by Friday night, which would take out a sizeable chunk of the ride down. It's 430 miles from Cherbourg so you'd hit Bordeaux about 8.30-9pm, possibly. Worth getting a kip on the ferry though!
YES Ferry is booked from Poole to Cherbourg. Have got Cabin both ways and is only costing 170 quid total. Looking to get as far as I can that afternoon so will then stop over somewhere that night, get up early the next day and smash it all the way to where you are inshalla...................................... Anyone have any idea how many miles I will get out of a set of Pilot Road 3's on the Blade ????
Pilot road 3's will give 5k plus Looks great choice of route down. I'd fill with fuel in UK then when you roll off hit motorway for first tank to get 150 miles behind you. Not meaning to sound nerdy but learn about the fuel computer, in particular how to see how much you have used since last fill (reset at each fill). This makes a huge difference to progress I find if you get 150 - 160 miles to a tank. If anyone else tempted to join the trip you now have a cheaper option and could head for home after say 6 days.
Good point about the fuel economy, Al. Given my experience with riding between London and Yorkshire I would expect to get to 140-150 miles before the light goes on, if you keep it steady around 80-90mph. The great thing about French autoroutes is the frequency of services stations (around 20-30kms apart) and how they show how far the next one will be after the one that's coming up, so you can exploit your tank range quite nicely by filling up after 150 miles instead of being conservative as you would here if on unfamiliar motorways.
Well I have started in full earnest mapping out some roads for this trip. Thefirebloke mentioned an area in northern Spain he hasn't been to before, Campo De Como. Awsome place down the road called Riaño wow the view, its obvious I've been dropping google pins all over, it's a wonder Nothern Spain ain't sprung a leak. I think there's certainly a few miles and at least a couple of nights out to be had around these parts before we head towards Andorra. Just youtubed Some of the roads specifically the N-625 N-621. Wow, what can I say. Some would say its like Chedder Gorge. Only with more cheese As I said previously we're not running to a time table but I feel it worthy of planning some decent roads stop overs can be Sussed when we are done for the day. Off to see the settle fox this next week, I'm sure I'll get his honest opinion
