European Dash in March 2011

[Twisted2004]

Good evening all,

I'm feeling mighty impulsive at the moment and considering a blast around Europe in few weeks time. The length of such a trip would be about 9 nights.

This is the route:-

Link to Google Map Route

This isn't a strict route that I would HAVE to follow. But an guide / early planning idea.

I'd probably stay in hotels and guest houses, as I dont fancy freezing my balls off in a tent! ("..hello room service, 1 cuppa coco to room 372......chocolate biscuits would be excellent, thank you...")

The weather will very likely be cold and wet, but I can live with that.

I don't some early calculations in terms of average miles and number of nights in each place. It would probably be around 310miles a day, with maybe a 2 night stop off somewhere just to relax for longer.

Any thoughts and advice? Maybe recommend a route? Maybe ditch the whole idea and just head for southern Spain?

Thanks in advance.

PS

Experience wise - Licence of 6 years. Road to Germany three years ago, done a lap of Scotland last year, ridden bikes in Nepal, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Also ride in all weathers. I think thats it in summary.
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[Marmalade]

I'd not use the santander ferry, carry on up the coast to caen, I like that bit of route..

Buy a decent sleeping bag, i've always bought £20 bags, last year spent £80 on one, early april spent night in a tent in france, bike covered in ice, me toasty and warm, a week later i spent the night in sleeping bag, inside a goretex bivi bag in a car park and was also toasty, so, get a decent bag and rough it
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[doggone]

I know the route is only approximate but try to take some detours off those main roads.
But bear in mind some of the Alpine roads will be closed or at best dodgy for bikes - though you could be lucky and have no problems.
That road along the south coast of France is like an accident strewn motorway in parts and again a more inland route using smaller roads would be better.
Spring will have arrived down there hopefully, and in many ways going early as that could be better than busy times.
Many campsites, smaller hotels and touristy things will be shut though.

[John933]

A blat round Europe in a few week's time. So that would be the end of this month or the latest the middle of next. What come's to mind is cold and wet with a few odd day's of sunshine. Switzerland is going to be cold and snow. If I was you I would try and stay on the French coast on the way down. Ride down to the med, then up the coast to France then cut across the centre of France to come home. that way you will be on the low land's and you have a better chance of getting the sun. the road's are not that bad. In fact some are quite good. Or leave it until April and have a better shot at it. But I'm a fair weather rider. Not point in getting wet if you don't have to. but each to there own. Any way i wish you well. And hope all is what you want it to be
John933

[G]

I found the ferry to Holland worked well for me - work on Friday, ferry for the evening; you get a cabin in the price (around £80 I think?) and a fresh to first thing in the morning.
Then of course Holland has the benefit of free available good quality greenery if you so desire (though I only got one smoke, then some wild dogs stole it in Spain ).

I did a similar route to you, but in October 2009.
Went to Bern by motorway, then chose 'shortest route including unpaved roads to Martingy' (there was only a couple and took me by surprise - but was on a trail bike so no reason not to.)
The roads to Martingy were really good, then going up the St Bernard pass was even better. However, don't think it'll be so good this time of the year!

Was on the Italian costal road when I was 16 with my mum driving and thought it seemed pretty cool, but reality was it was a bit boring with far too many towns for riding through. Some of the motorways going through the Apennines were quite fun - twisty enough that despite not being that fast, my badly setup (due to luggage) 690 was still quite fun through them.