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Ash-69 |
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Ash-69 Nova Slayer
Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 20:14 - 22 Dec 2016 Post subject: |
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Also looking at this with interest, although the first leg motorway slog from the Northwest to Portsmouth is a pain in the arse (literally on the stock 'seat).
I thought about maybe trying to fit it into a week, day to the ferry, over-nighter to Santander, stop-overs in Pamplona, Sort, Perpignan, back west through France to Biarritz, then follow the coast back to Santander for the return trip.
Mileages look doable assuming good weather around May, no idea when the Ferrys start to get expensive, the one I had a quick look at was around £300 return for a solo with bike.
Anyway probably dreaming, my usual group like their run round Scotland at that time ... ____________________ FZ1-S Fazer (licence killer😢) , CRF1000L - Adventure Sport |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 13:32 - 05 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Been dragging my feet over this, but not sure why. I want to do it, but I don't seem able to formulate a plan. Will be doing it on my lonesome now.
I'm now thinking of hitting the Picos first. Got my eye on a hotel in Riano to use as a base for exploring, but not sure how many days to book it for.
Then thinking of one or two nights stopover in Pamplona before heading south. Possibly book somewhere in/near Sort for a few days. Up to this point I'd like to get pre-booked, but leave the rest open, and see how I feel.
Paddy. wrote: | To be honest strip... I really enjoyed July, I'd prefer to go mid June though. More chance of sun. |
Yes, My idea of April/early May has been kicked into touch. Now thinking early June. I've also been pondering over your comment about taking more time, doing less miles. My last Euro trip got a bit long on the daily mileages, but that was largely due to trying to escape bad weather. Bike is booked in for a service, tyres etc, so at least that will be ready.
Any further comments, advice and motivation to get off my arse about it would be much appreciated! ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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TheDonUK |
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TheDonUK World Chat Champion
Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 13:56 - 05 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Sort would be a good base for a few days, Go off for a day in either direction and have a great ride. ____________________ [Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16] |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 20:29 - 06 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Ferry booked
Arrival is 18:15 in Santander; anyone recommend a hotel there for one night? ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Copycat73 |
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Copycat73 World Chat Champion
Joined: 11 Jan 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 21:42 - 06 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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found this on another forum ... not sure if its what your lookin for or is indeed suitable because of the millage involved from the ferry..
However...
https://etxalar.com/
https://goo.gl/maps/TYKBW8LzQmx
Hotel Etxalar
Postby KeithM » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:32 pm
https://www.etxalar.com/
"Naff website but great hotel, at the western end of the Pyrenees on the N121A between Pamplona and Irun. Spotless rooms, underground garage parking (small charge) bike washing area, good bar and patio. Also a swimming pool out the back which looked pretty good. They were rebuilding the N121A whilst we were there in 2008 so I expect the road is nearly finished now, hmm nice new tarmac."
NB. the date posted ....
caveat emptor ____________________ Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 00:50 - 07 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info Copycat, but I'll be headed in the opposite direction to begin with, for the Picos. I want something where I can get off the ferry and not go too far that night. I will of course look on booking.com if no suitable suggestions are made, but thought I'd try here first in case someone had done the same and hit on a decent place. Reasonably secure parking for the bike is the priority of course. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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raesewell |
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raesewell Traffic Copper
Joined: 22 Oct 2012 Karma :
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 12:34 - 07 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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raesewell wrote: | We are arriving at a similar time in September and we have booked the Hotel Don Paco in Llanes just under an hour from Santander. |
Coast road. Are you heading for Portugal, or turning south for the Picos?
I've now booked one night in Torrelavega. Short ride from the port, I'll just want to wander into town for a bite at that time of the evening. Then got 4 nights booked in Riano to explore the region, which should also give me time to look at the coast road if it's worth it - anything in particular to do that for? After that, still thinking a couple of nights in Pamplona, then head down for Sort. Then I'll probably decide and book as I go.
I note that Pamplona to Sort is 200 miles via Jaca and the N260. Can anybody say whether that will be too far given a) the kind of roads/stops I may want to make, and b) given that I'll spend a few days at Sort as a base for exploring? Seems a reasonable mileage to me. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!
Last edited by chickenstrip on 20:56 - 07 Apr 2017; edited 1 time in total |
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raesewell |
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raesewell Traffic Copper
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 14:48 - 07 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Well, that's it; booked up to and including Sort, Pyrenees
Itinerary thus far is:
Ferry, Portsmouth to Santander.
1 night at Torrelavega
4 nights at Riano
2 nights at Pamplona
5 nights at Sort.
Then just see how it goes.
I think one of these might be appropriate at this point:
____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Copycat73 |
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Copycat73 World Chat Champion
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raesewell |
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raesewell Traffic Copper
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Posted: 18:48 - 07 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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It's pretty much like any other ferry crossing. The cabins are clean the food is passable. The beer is good
You have to go down a fairly steep ramp once on the boat and there's a tight turn at the bottom. ____________________ Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire |
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Dave V4 |
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Dave V4 Nitrous Nuisance
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Copycat73 |
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Copycat73 World Chat Champion
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Enduro Numpty |
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Enduro Numpty Could Be A Chat Bot
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Dave V4 |
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Dave V4 Nitrous Nuisance
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Scythe |
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Scythe Crazy Courier
Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 19:33 - 10 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip wrote: | Well, that's it; booked up to and including Sort, Pyrenees
Itinerary thus far is:
Ferry, Portsmouth to Santander.
1 night at Torrelavega
4 nights at Riano
2 nights at Pamplona
5 nights at Sort.
Then just see how it goes.
I think one of these might be appropriate at this point:
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Riano is a lovely place, I did it last year, although we stayed in Potes which is also a great town with great roads close by. There is a mountain nearby which you can get a cable car up, which is good for a couple of hours (you'll have to google it as I can't remember what it's called). We did it on the last day as a relax day and it was lovely.
As I've just seen that Enduro is going to Potes too (and for anyone else who may read this), the Hotel Infantado in Potes is a great hotel and very welcoming to a group of bikes (there were about 10 of us on 7 bikes).
Due to the temperatures, it's best to get an early start and be back at the hotel early afternoon. The roads, particularly high up, are very challenging and technical, and the temperatures start to get a bit too much. Plus then you can sit back and have a few beers in the afternoon and recharge for the next day! ____________________ 2009 Yamaha YBR125 -> 2000 SV650S -> 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R 636 |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 20:02 - 10 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Scythe wrote: | informative stuff |
Nice to hear your commendation of Riano. I had read from a few sources that it might make a good base for exploring the region, some here on BCF, some elsewhere. Quite a lot of my plan is based on BCFers recommendations and experience in fact. Cheers BCF!
Good tip on the cable car, something I may well check out.
And on the weather; as with any bike trip, it's something you wonder about a lot, not least after much of my last Euro trip was such a wash out, and forced massive changes of plan on the fly. I have read that the Picos can be prone to a lot of fog, as moist air comes in off the sea, but I guess as with all mountain regions, you just have to go with the flow and be prepared for a wide range of conditions.
What time of year did you go at? ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Lupo |
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Lupo Trackday Trickster
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 03:06 - 14 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Thanks for that freyuk.
Some of those rides are a bit long for me for day trips within the longer trip - I wanted to keep my daily mileages a bit lower, take more time to absorb the surroundings, so I've figured out a number of possible routes to do. Nice to see they actually incorporate much of those suggested in your links where they stay a bit closer to where my hotels are booked.
But thanks for taking the time to post them ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Scythe |
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Scythe Crazy Courier
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Posted: 10:09 - 14 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip wrote: | Scythe wrote: | informative stuff |
Nice to hear your commendation of Riano. I had read from a few sources that it might make a good base for exploring the region, some here on BCF, some elsewhere. Quite a lot of my plan is based on BCFers recommendations and experience in fact. Cheers BCF!
Good tip on the cable car, something I may well check out.
And on the weather; as with any bike trip, it's something you wonder about a lot, not least after much of my last Euro trip was such a wash out, and forced massive changes of plan on the fly. I have read that the Picos can be prone to a lot of fog, as moist air comes in off the sea, but I guess as with all mountain regions, you just have to go with the flow and be prepared for a wide range of conditions.
What time of year did you go at? |
We went mid August. Temperatures were regularly up at high 20s to low 30s, be sure to have some room to carry water. A lot of the mountain roads in the Picos are very isolated and it can take a lot of time to get to the nearest town.
I didn't see any fog whilst I was there, with the exception to the coastal motorway, but it more like a fine mist.
We didn't go into the Riano town itself, but it looked smaller than Potes. Potes seemed to be one of the main towns in the areas and obviously had the eateries to accommodate.
If you have any specific questions give me a PM so I know to look back on here. ____________________ 2009 Yamaha YBR125 -> 2000 SV650S -> 2005 Kawasaki ZX6R 636 |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 16:44 - 14 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Going at the beginning of June, so hopefully won't be too hot. Hopefully won't piss down either!
I had wondered why everyone seems to choose Potes for hotel stops, but I like quiet, and Riano does seem to be a little more in the heart of the scenery. There seem to be a few restaurants there, and petrol, so suits my needs I think. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Scythe |
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Scythe Crazy Courier
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Enduro Numpty |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 20:09 - 14 Apr 2017 Post subject: |
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Enduro Numpty wrote: | We like to have something to do at our stop overs. A choice of restaurants, bars and maybe some sights other than the landscapes. That's why we chose Potes and Vielha though Vielha wasn't exactly jumping in early June last year, but it's a good base for days out on the superb roads. |
I'm generally pretty tired after a day's riding, so I find I don't need much in the way of evening distractions, especially when I'm on my own, as I will be on this trip. But I've chosen to spend a day in Pamplona along the way, and may add more days like that elsewhere, depending on how far my trip extends, to take in something a bit different to the mountain scenery.
Quote: | Counting the days till we leave. FJR is all fully serviced and new tyres fitted on the spare wheels all ready for the trip. |
My Fazer is going in for a full service and new tyres later this month. Got to sort out my insurance and Euro breakdown cover yet, but haven't decided who to go with. I'd prefer to have it all in one package I think. Currently with MCE, but a lot of bad press for them around here lately, and I'd like someone I could trust. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 350 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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