4 weeks today we will be leaving these shores looking for a sunnier climate. that means time to think about prepping the old girl ready for a good old back scuttling throttle twisting tank stroking rip around all them roads that are put in front of me woooooooooooo fecn woooooooooooooooooooooo BRING IT ON RIGHT OFF TO MAN CAVE NOW WHILE ITS PISSING DOWN HERE
well nearly all set for are big off in 2weeks. not that am going to need them ? I have water proofs but feel there a bit bulky the ones I have so what's light and best buy that you harden touring people have got/ used
I bought some new ones for the Devon trip from the Oxford range. Very good IMO and will be coming with us 'just for the ride' Think we're having a meet up next week now I'm home, Can you send me the link for your insurance you got too
Just ridden back up from Santander to the UK via Andorra and France. The weather in the middle of France / north has been a bit shit this year with plenty o rain so take good waterproof gear boys ! Spain was fantastic especially the N260 across the Pyrenees to Andorra, had some rain but only at night. Temperatures in the south of France were a bit down on last year but that made things a lot more comfortable as it was silly hot last year. Have a blast !!! P.S. was a bit cold at night in the Alps but we were camping out. P.P.S took an age to get out of Andorra at their customs check point, traffic backed up right to the top of the mountain, avoid if poss...
Can do but it's a narrow road and our bikes were totally stacked with gear. We did filter but it still took ages as the locals don't leave that many gaps for you to duck into when the tourist coaches start coming the other way !
Thanks for the heads up Buckmeister. pleased you had a good trip. To be honest I think we will be avoiding Andorra itself this year? But that's the thing with free spirited trips, you just never know. Nothing personal about it if we dont make it, i Just don't want Craig's lip blocking the road if we take half an hour away from the twisties just to say we have been We will i guess/hope be going past on the N-260 from La Seu d'Urgell Puigcerdá where we kick over towards Ripoll. Alblade showed us this route last year, where he took us over the C-26 Ripoll to Berga. Funny I should mention that, just got a video uploading to YouTube of the very same.
You can mate, all fair in love and war and that jazz, The French & Spanish are probably the most pro biker peeps you'll ever wish to met. Until you get within a couple of miles of passport patrol. Weekends I believe are a little worse, and customs take a bit more interest thus clogging the roads up. Some would see it as pushing in and get a bit arsey but we went through without even a glance or a stop. And just look at the dodgy feckers I went with.
You guys will have a great time, as I said earlier the weather in Spain was pretty good (about 8 days ago) with the odd bit of rain at night. We had a wet morning on the way from San Sebastian over the hills to Pamplona but after that it was sunny and hot. Now I'm back home I'm really missing it now, I'm a bit jealous but I need the rest after 2300 hard miles in 10 days and some cold nights camping out in the Alps ! Croatia next year I think ??? Have fun and be safe...
Were hoping for A good blast along the 260 and surrounding areas monday to saturday and getting back for an essential night on the piss in San Sebastien, Sunday head over to the Picos De Europa using Potes as a base and getting out for another 3 days around the Picos. Steve & I started off there last year, it was so good. We headed right across from Pau to again to spent out last two nights. Similar to your self. 10 days away, take into account the sail were getting 8 and a half days in the saddle. :edit: Take a look here, unless already done so? I'd suggest working backwards though. Think the first 40 odd pages was just the build up http://1000rr.co.uk/touring/7509.htm
That'll probably be more than enough and you can rest up a bit on the ferry home. Our outbound sailing was really smooth and we even had dolphins escorting us. I'm not great on boats but I took along a pack of "Kwells", did the job and I was totally fine, did feel a bit odd when I got back on dry land but only when I got off the bike, kind of a head rush thing but it soon passed... Just looking at replacing my blade with another one so no more hols this year. We might do Croatia or go trial riding for a week in Spain next summer, we'll see how the money looks ? We met quite a few bikers down that way this year but not many in the Andorra area, it was cold up there and I'm glad we pushed on through and didn't stop there overnight ! Didn't see any cops the whole time in Spain either !!!
Never been so disorganised coming up to a trip & it's really messing with my mojo. But, things are now rolling in the right direction. Bikes had a damn good looking at today and I've just done its 8000 mile service just oil & filter"yeah yeah I know" She turns 3 years old in October so I've sorted with Liam at Blackpool Honda today and booked First MOT. I know it's not due til October the 1st but I guess it's as good a proof she's good to go for another couple of thousand if she passes ok? Just need to sort extended insurance out and other than 7 evening shifts I'm good to go. Oh, and to pack. That'll take a week Really starting to get the buzz on this now, as anyone that's done a european trip will know. I just need to lock the torque wrench away now, I am as expected starting to become a little obsessive
Just come back from a trip through France, Pyrenees, Picos and into Portugal. Best road was the N132 from Arette, over the La Pierre St Martin pass, this then becomes the NA137 to Roncal in Spain. Surface is perfect, nice and wide and best of all no-one on it.
Pleased you enjoyed mate. We touched that stretch last year. Through Isaba I think. We came from the N-135 and back down it. Turned round and headed back into France, to be fair though around that area everyones a winner. It would be fair to say out of the roads we rode on 90% of them was spot on. Off the beaten track can give some amazing empty twisty roads. I'm sure we will be "around" those parts again at some point next week. To be honest we still haven't even got a plan, not sure if it's going to be a left or hang a right off the boat. But I do know one thing, we will be in for another amazing experience, where ever we head first. Thanks Largeviking for your input.
