Help with planning a trip to france!

RstredS · Derestricted Danger Joined: 27 May 2006 Karma :

Ok people, some advice is needed from you touring guru's!

Im planning a trip down to the pyreneese with a mate, planned for august this year.

Firstly, whats the weather like down there in august?

Im doing dover to calais, gonna stop half way, in mid france after about 400 miles, and ideas where?

Ive found the place i want to stay, its on the east of the mountaines on the med coast. Whats the best routes down there?

I want to get there fairly quick, but fun roads would be a bonus!

any other tips?

Thanks for any help. carl.
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Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

Have a look at this post from maurice, I took alot of these routes when I came down last year and they were great... they'll take you further over into the French Riviera nice/antibes area, but then you can ride west along the coast which will be a nice little trip.

The weather in August in the South of France will be almost too hot! try to wear good summer gear like a vented/mesh jacket and some light gloves or you'll suffer. Sounds obvious but bring some good sunglasses and you can ride with your visor open which helps alot.
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natv4 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Karma :

If you wish to get there quickly from Calais (the cheap ferries) then I will suggest my favourite motorway...A75. That still means covering the top 2/3 of France, for which I just take the boring motorway and zip through quickly. You could easily find some nice A roads. Particularly south of Le Mans was good. Just not really worth going that way specifically for.

Winding down from Claremont-Ferrand, it is the best motorway in the world. It changes height from 300m to >1200m many times whilst twisting this way and that. Its certainly my preferred method of making the Med. If you really don't have the day and a half required to make the Pyrenese comfortably, then sail direct to Bilbao from Portsmouth.
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Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
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West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

PsychoHippy · Jammy Git Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Karma :

Nath · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

When I did Spain on my Honda Bros, I went all the way down to the pyrenees using only 'N' and 'D' roads, and on the few toll-free motorways. Can't remember what mileage I did on the first day, but it was over half way there "Brive la Gallarde", to the south of Limoges.

Weather in August should be scorching hot! Cool

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