Road trip from St Malo ferry port in France, down to Motorland Aragon, for the MotoGP race in late September 2015. About 1,500 mile round trip, maybe a bit more. Weather forecast looking good. Ride to the ferry and wait in the sunshine. Only bike to load, not surprising really for a mid week sailing in late September. IMG_0933 by 660 Mattie, on Flickr Arrive in St Malo late afternoon, and no point in trying to cover a few miles. Booked Hotel Best Western Belmoral for about EUR 75, including use of the secure underground car park, which is very useful in a busy port town, with all sorts of comings and goings. I will use it again on the way back as it is about a three minute ride from the ferry. St Malo - Nantes on the dual carriageway. It is quite busy out of St Malo and I have seen radars and police traps along here before, so do not get carried away here. Think I will avoid using the Toll roads and regret it, as the Tom Tom takes me down endless little roads to avoid Bordeaux. Starting to get a bit late and no Hotel. So get the little Garmin E-Trex out, that has hotels loaded as Lodging - do a nearest search - look for Etap or Ibis - plug coordinates into Tom Tom and away you go. If you have a Phone and Data Plan, then use that instead I suppose Hotel south of Bordeaux just off the ring road - near a McDonalds which was nice ! Locked it with an Oxford Cable Lock outside reception. Room EUR 95 per night with brekkie. ibis by 660 Mattie, on Flickr Starting to spot a few bikes with luggage on, and a few British bikes. Park next to some GB reg at a petrol station, and sure enough they are heading to the GP at Aragon as well. Take the Toll road to Pau. Beautiful in the early light, sun low and the landscape full of colour - not the bleached hot of summer. Hardly any traffic on the winding road, and have to keep a lid on it, otherwise just getting quicker and quicker. Road starts to rise and fall a bit, instead of the flat flat land around Bordeaux. The sun is out, but gently warm, loving it, great bit of riding. Head for the Somport Crossing of the Pyrennes. Choose the scenic route over the top, instead of the tunnel, as the weather is sunny and not in that much of a rush. Will easily make Aragon in time. Lovely twisty roads and views. Somport Crossing by 660 Mattie, on Flickr This sign is on the old border post. Approaching from the French side you will miss it if you do not know it is there and keep going, because it is on the Spanish side with your back to it as you pass it. Somport sign by 660 Mattie, on Flickr Now in Spain, and coming down the mountain. Things subtly different, but the roads are good and the sun shines quite a bit warmer. Hotel Alfinden, near Zaragosa. I locked the bike to the sun shade supports. Hotel very good, excellent food in their restaurant, cost EUR 11.50 for the three course menu option, and about EUR 130 for the three nights stay. Spanish Hotels can have a different decor, to what you are used to, because of the hot climate - not so much carpet, but wooden floors and tiles - so you think it is basic - but it is not, it can be very good, just a different feel. This was an excellent hotel - but away from the big night life action, if that is tour thing. Hotel Alfinden by 660 Mattie, on Flickr The Hotel was maybe 50 miles from the race track Aragon, but the ride to the race was great, fantastic bleak scenery, and lots of bikes heading the same way - quick photo - had to wait for the bikes to pass - the road was busier than it looks. Plain in Spain by 660 Mattie, on Flickr One last picture of the scenery. After watching the qualifying on Saturday, took the scenic route back to the Hotel, along N-211 heading North from Alcaniz. What a road. Sweeping corners, up and down, great road surface, scenery was amazing. The bike was in its element, as you approached corners you instinctively lower yourself on to the tank and woosh it round ! way to busy enjoying to get off and take pictures, so only this one at the end of the canyon section - sorry ! Crossing the Ebro - lots of bike on this road. A good point about maps is that roads like this look good even on a map. Crosing the River Ebro by 660 Mattie, on Flickr Took lots of race pictures, but not able to walk freely around the track, so picture taking options limited. Did not bother so much with action shots because the wire fence would spoil it anyway. The was about the best with Valentino Rossi failing to get past a determined Dani Pedrosa. Hot Persuit by 660 Mattie, on Flickr The return journey was a the same but in reverse, but going through the Somport Tunnel, and used Toll roads wherever possible. The weather had changed and there was a strong cold headwind, although still sunny most of the warmth had gone. So tucked in behind the screen and gave it the gas. Did Bordeaux Hotel to St Malo Hotel (about 350 miles) in about 6 hours travel time - the CBR has earned its keep.
Looks a good trip, I've been tempted to make it to Aaragon on the bike - maybe next year. been over that Col in the past - route and views as you drop down into Spain and like you always find it so much warmer on the Spanish side.
Depending on where you are, it will still have to budget about a week for the trip - couple of days to get there - couple of days at the event - and a couple of days return. Lucky with the weather, no rain for the whole trip - not always guaranteed in France in September. That Col du Somport has some history, the Romans, Napoleon, all passed that way. I shared a table at a restaurant with a French biker, on a Harley, who said he had protested against the building of the Tunnel - he had said that it would make the Pyrennes like the Alps ! Sorry, another photo - on the way up. Aspe Valley by 660 Mattie, on Flickr
We've just booked to do this and combine it with Assen BSB. Going over on boat on the Friday and staying in Pamplona sat night. Ride to and from circuit in Sunday. Monday day in Pyrenees, Tuesday ride to Bordeaux. Weds day off bikes in Bordeaux sampling local wines. Thursday ride to Rouen, Friday ride to Utretch. Sat day off bikes, Sunday take train to Assen so can have a few beers. Monday ride home via tunnel. Plenty of time so hoping to avoid as many of the French toll roads as possible
That sound like a mega trip. I went to Aragon four years ago, I used fast ferry from Portsmouth over to France,first night into Bordeax, found a cheap Formula 1 motel on the ring road, then onto Aragon, campsite near the track,,you have got to go to town each night, they put on street bands, bars,,not that you can drink,,and a million bikes on the streets, a great atmosphere.
