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Picos, Pyrenees and Alps Trip (Trip account starts page 3)

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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 10:09 - 11 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:

But then it doesn't take you by the roads you want to ride.


making a route on the computer usin WAYPOINTS will take you exactly where and how you want to go...

Usin shaping points is point less because they are lost the first time the unit recalculates..

way points are fixed and remain so even after re-calculation...

programing the unit itself really is to be used in an "emergency" or to navigate to a fixed point A to B direct..

meandering routes with various long way round curvy interestin roads , routes toures or trips are best done on a computer... usin fixed way points...

this works .. this is how I do it .. Laptop in top box incase of re-routin required... I would do this at the side of the road as a first preference over manually re-prpgramin the unit itself...
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 15:23 - 11 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

No idea. I'm managing, and actually, I've found good roads sometimes by getting lost Mr. Green

Called it a day early today. Too damn hot at 35 deg. I didn't want to be too knackered for moving on tomorrow.

Not many photos worth the effort, maybe one, I'll take a look later. 3 days was probably enough here, can't see many roads in the region on the map I didn't ride, intentionally or not Laughing
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 17:57 - 11 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just a couple from today. I sort of like this one, but the buildings seem more reminiscent of something from the Alps:

https://i.postimg.cc/fbjhD5m4/DSCN9589.jpg

Up another little side road into the mountains:

https://i.postimg.cc/g28CH4Mw/DSCN9591.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Kj4X72VF/DSCN9609.jpg

Sheep in the Lake District, cattle in the Picos, horses this time (yeah, I took a snap - what else do you do while you wait for them all to pass? Rolling Eyes And they ain't mountains Smile ):

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN9615_zpsflb9sp6a.jpg

This appears to be the mountain that the Vielha tunnel goes through, 5.2km long. Sort of looks like a mini version of Everest north face:

https://i.postimg.cc/fRcP9yLm/DSCN9616.jpg

Easily missed view on the N260; you come out of a tunnel, and if you didn't glance to your right, you wouldn't know the lake was there:

https://i.postimg.cc/DZZpHccP/DSCN9617.jpg

It was too hot to stop for many shots, and when I did, I couldn't wait to get back on the bike and get the breeze going again, but then it was like riding through a furnace. No relief to be found except in the longer tunnels - the cold of the Vielha tunnel was a shock to the system, then back to the furnace on the other side.
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Last edited by chickenstrip on 17:24 - 02 Oct 2019; edited 3 times in total
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Enduro Numpty
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PostPosted: 21:12 - 11 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Really hot was the theme for today. Toasted at Montmelo, disappointed that Rossi didn't win but a back to back victory for Dovi on the Ducati was good enough. Saw 38c on the bike on the way back from the track. Fuck it's hot!!!
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 21:43 - 11 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Still showing 23deg on the display outside the hotel at 10:40pm - don't think there'll be much sleep tonight. Still, only about 120 miles to do tomorrow.

38? Dunno, it might have been that here; I'm just going by that same display when I got back this afternoon. Certainly felt like it. Can't wait to get to the cool Alps Laughing
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 15:21 - 12 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now booked into a cheap hotel on the outskirts of Perpignan for one night. Ibis Budget, 52 Euros inc. breakfast and city tax. Tip for -Matt- Smile Not much more cost than F1 hotels, but you get en suite shower/toilet/sink, air conditioning, there's a bar, and from what I can see, I can get an evening meal here tonight too...and it's all much cleaner Thumbs Up Perfect for a one night stop en route. Oh, and car park is gated, locked after 11pm, but you are given the access code for the day.

Best bit of the trip down from Sort was the N116 through the Parc Naturel Regional des Pyrenees Catalanes, so all these photos are from that part of the route:

https://i.postimg.cc/nzhqnFMv/DSCN9626.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/nr6mKq2k/DSCN9630.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Bn5FDLKT/DSCN9632.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/3rP9FGdV/DSCN9635.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/5NB55RcQ/DSCN9636.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/c1YfZbLk/DSCN9637.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Xvmy6fS0/DSCN9639.jpg

We've had best view from a petrol station forecourt - that was Riano. How about this for best view from a Maccy D's? :

https://i.postimg.cc/C18nhRSn/DSCN9643.jpg

The N116 is a wide, twisty road that goes over a high-ish pass, and then hugs the hillsides, winding round and down, much as parts of the N260 do. The surface is not quite as smooth as many of the Spanish roads, but still a fun bit of a ride. Scenery, as you can see, is just as good.

Another roasting day, absolutely bushed when I got here, but cooling down nicely now thanks to the air con. I might pop out again on the bike later, when it has cooled down outside a bit, maybe to the coast or through the town, but maybe have a nap first Sleeping
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Tracer1234
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PostPosted: 16:32 - 12 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Incredible work both you of with story and photos. Really cool to see you guys enjoying yourselves and getting some good weather.

How are the bodies, starting to feel any aches and pains?

The idea of me managing to get out on a tour seems like a distant fantasy now. Boo hoo. Sorry, still wallowing in self pity.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 16:59 - 12 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tracer1234 wrote:


The idea of me managing to get out on a tour seems like a distant fantasy now. Boo hoo. Sorry, still wallowing in self pity.


Chin up, you'll get another chance Thumbs Up A little bit of self pity never did anyone any harm Wink

I've had some back pain on this trip from the damaged vertebrae sustained a while ago, but I've got a HUGE stock of painkillers, so no worries Laughing Otherwise, the worst thing now is the heat. It actually removes the desire to ride after about mid day. Just been outside for a fag, and it's not cooling off any yet. I'd like to get out this evening, but not if it stays like this.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 20:41 - 12 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got out for a short spin, still very hot, but decided to make like the locals and call it a t-shirt ride. Not something I'd normally do, but in this...
did cool me down nicely though, and better than staying cooped up indoors, which isn't what tours are for Smile

Only saw one thing of note. Went down to the coast, but nothing spectacular there - beach, scrub, road, conservation area. but spotted what appear to be replica prehistoric hut reconstructions, so pulled in for a look:

https://i.postimg.cc/gjBCg2L4/DSCN9648.jpg

Boat should have been a coracle or something:

https://i.postimg.cc/76HjD2gm/DSCN9651.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/NGVCCVPN/DSCN9652.jpg

And what made me laugh, padlocked:

https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN9659_zpsl8tn3fuv.jpg

Now how you gonna break into there? Laughing

Challenged the camera:

https://i.postimg.cc/63qzYLVJ/DSCN9653.jpg

Seem to be some quite large areas like this along the coast, large stretches of water just in from the sea:

https://i.postimg.cc/j2JcrxkM/DSCN9657.jpg

Still, didn't stop here for anything of interest, so this was a bonus I suppose. Too hot to go into town.
Menton tomorrow.
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Kris
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PostPosted: 07:49 - 13 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:

Menton tomorrow.


As in, near Nice?

Are you going to do the Tende pass? Praying

Mr. Green
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 17:03 - 13 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kris wrote:
chickenstrip wrote:

Menton tomorrow.


As in, near Nice?

Are you going to do the Tende pass? Praying

Mr. Green


Yes, Menton near Nice. Installed in hotel now. Just an overnight stop here, then onto the Route des Grandes Alpes tomorrow - top of the tick list y'see. If the Tende Pass is on that route, then I guess I will be doing it - but hang on, isn't that the one on the Route Napoleon? In which case, did it last year.

I haven't taken my own advice in the end, and am doing here to near Annecy in two days Shocked Mid way stop in Briancon. Couldn't get booked anywhere in Annecy itself; the reasonably priced places, of which there seem to be very few, are solid, everywhere else is too expensive. So since the Ibis Budget in Perpignan was so good for a solo traveller, I've gone for that in a place called Gresy. After all, it's what you see when out on the road that counts, and if I can keep hotel prices down, I can keep going for longer Mr. Green
I've got two days (3 nights) there to do some exploring in the area, then it'll be a case of checking the finances. If all is good, it's either a quick dip into Switzerland, or head for the Dolomites. Again, also dependant on weather and my stamina. I don't hold up well in this heat, but if it's cooler by the time I get a bit further north, I should be ok.

Still bloody hot here on the south coast of France, but once again, I might get out on the bike later. It was a hot slog via autoroutes all the way here, glad that's over! Christ knows what I paid in tolls Shocked but just wanted that bit done.

View from the hotel room balcony:

https://i.postimg.cc/DzjRvzBh/DSCN9660.jpg

Or at least it was an hour ago; those mountain tops are lost in clag now, although here on the coastal strip, it's still sunny. If I look out the window in the corridor, in the opposite direction is a sea view - the hotel is above the town, but not far from it, a five minute ride.
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Enduro Numpty
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PostPosted: 18:11 - 13 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another sweltering day in Spain. We left Mataro and Catalunya in horrendous traffic. It took us over an hour to get a bit of open road and even then it was motorway for a while. This was fine as 37c in traffic is just too much. We both agree that after 3 trips now to the Barcelona area in 4 years for the Motogp the level of traffic is just too much. Don't think we'll be rushing back.
Anyway, we eventually got onto decent roads and the journey through Aragon got us smiling again. We stopped for a final drink at a roadside cafe and got talking to a retired Aussie guy on a push bike who had cycled from Athens and was heading for Inverness Shocked

Now that we've been air conditioned for a couple of hours in our Pamplona hotel we're about ready for more food and no doubt beer or/and wine. Got what should be a great route into France planned for tomorrow. We'll see how long before sat nav goes pear shaped again.....
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Tracer1234
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PostPosted: 18:57 - 13 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good work fellas! enjoying reading about the tours. Glad to see you are keeping it rubber side down Very Happy
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Howling Terror
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PostPosted: 21:52 - 13 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^^Whilst I appreciate what you're saying and I know it's none of my business and you're probably off your tits on jellies but that last comment sounds a bit 10-4 good buddy have a nice day ring to it.
Here let me show you BCF stylee.

Nick, which roads are the best for speeding on, which ones made your tyres squeal and in which country did you get a wee bit of air under the front.

TL;DR
Have you seen tits?
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Tracer1234
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PostPosted: 22:01 - 13 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:
^^^Whilst I appreciate what you're saying and I know it's none of my business and you're probably off your tits on jellies but that last comment sounds a bit 10-4 good buddy have a nice day ring to it.
Here let me show you BCF stylee.

Nick, which roads are the best for speeding on, which ones made your tyres squeal and in which country did you get a wee bit of air under the front.

TL;DR
Have you seen tits?


Not sure I get what you mean?
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 21:41 - 14 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:


Nick, which roads are the best for speeding on, which ones made your tyres squeal and in which country did you get a wee bit of air under the front.

TL;DR
Have you seen tits?


Best roads? All of 'em Mr. Green

Ze French girls, zey are, 'ow you say? Foxy chickie babes Smile

Left Menton on time this morning, i.e., when I finally got my act together. Hot and sticky to start with, so another t-shirt day (ooh, get me!). The mountain tops were clagged in to begin with, so the views weren't stunning, more teasing:

https://i.postimg.cc/VNQd7YjY/DSCN9672.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/zGmzNx37/DSCN9673.jpg

Coffee stop in Sospel, with it's faded charm (read fucked and crumbling Laughing ):

https://i.postimg.cc/MT0R0nN2/DSCN9665.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/yYpRT4Qd/DSCN9666.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Hxtccf8T/DSCN9668.jpg

Soon got away from the influence on the weather of the coastal belt, and the sun came out Cool :

https://i.postimg.cc/Jzb1zjkL/DSCN9680.jpg

Sat nav led me a merry dance on one occasion, but road signs were generally pretty good, and I'd researched the route enough to know where I needed to go, and had the trusty Michelin map with me anyway. Was soon climbing the Col de Bonette:

https://i.postimg.cc/1RGh6yzG/DSCN9690.jpg

and the views getting ever more lofty:

https://i.postimg.cc/XqGWS5bt/DSCN9687.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Gm1CV9SS/DSCN9689.jpg

https://s20.postimg.cc/a195vow99/DSCN9712.jpg

But oh noes! Top of the pass still closed:

https://i.postimg.cc/CMHX5JvJ/DSCN9704.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/SNgP7RbM/DSCN9705.jpg

Try going the wrong way up it? Alas, no Sad :

https://i.postimg.cc/Z59w8LLG/DSCN9709.jpg

Stood contemplating it, I suggested to some old French fella that since there wasn't much there we grab a couple of shovels and crack on with it ourselves...oh well, got a laugh Rolling Eyes
Only lost out on a couple of hundred feet or so anyway, so no biggie:

https://i.postimg.cc/MTY563WQ/DSCN9710.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZnVwc72S/DSCN9708.jpg

Merrily hacked it down the other side:

https://i.postimg.cc/rsm188nB/DSCN9720.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/N0kmmyWh/DSCN9721.jpg

but then the forewarned thunderstorms started to build, skies darkening rapidly:

https://i.postimg.cc/X7qLWgtr/DSCN9714.jpg

Then the storm pounced. I pulled in to don waterproofs just as the rain started to come down, quickly turning to hail and then a proper downpour. The thunder and lightning was all a bit close for comfort too; you could feel the tension in the air. So I hid in a tunnel Embarassed
I wasn't the only one though, which made me feel a little bit better about it Smile

Then more sunshine and dry roads for a while, so having fun again, until reaching the top of the Col de Vars, from which I could see I would soon be heading directly into the next one:

https://i.postimg.cc/636R0WX8/DSCN9724.jpg

Fortunately, it was moving along nicely, and I only caught the lightest of showers on the tail end of it Smile

Oh, go on, can I just throw in one more gratuitous mountain shot? Laughing

https://i.postimg.cc/GhTDzgZx/DSCN9738.jpg

And now in a hotel in Briancon, nice mountain view from the window:

https://i.postimg.cc/nLpQFFM3/DSCN9747.jpg


Just got to check the route for tomorrow before turning in.
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Enduro Numpty
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PostPosted: 08:08 - 15 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I finally got a route in the sat nav that worked more or less faultlessly. A 200 mile loop into France from Pamplona taking in some fairly low level, but spectacular, passes. Got back to Pamplona and the temperature was showing 41c. Heading for Bilbao today and the boat home. A long slog to Aberdeenshire from Portsmouth which I think we'll do over 2 days.

Nice to see you're still hanging on in there Nick. Great photos as usual. I'll try and load some up when we get home. Dam vultures - have been within a few metres of them and by the time I get the phone/camera out they've disappeared!
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 05:52 - 17 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Home again after 3997.4 miles.

Elsewhere, after a previous tour,

chickenstrip wrote:
caned it back to the uk in one marathon hit... fuelled mostly by numerous coffee stops. Jeez, I'm never doing that again!


Er.... Embarassed
Gresy-sur-Aix to Carlisle, 948 miles. Left Gresy at 9am yesterday morning, got back home at 5am today. No, really, that is the last time I ever do that!

Need kip, trip report to follow.

Sleeping
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 13:16 - 17 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

From Briancon, continued on the Route des Grandes Alpes. Probably had the best of the Alpine scenery on this day, though not necessarily the best roads.

https://i.postimg.cc/q7qjLHdM/DSCN9750.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/PJsyTLvP/DSCN9752.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/CKpxCS8b/DSCN9753.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/B6MZGFVC/DSCN9760.jpg

Barre des Ecrins, 4102m (13,465ft):

https://i.postimg.cc/cCPSsBMf/DSCN9769.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/d0JKt1dN/DSCN9770.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/h4Z4y9xD/DSCN9766.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/q7QHtTxJ/DSCN9772.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/j5FVX41B/DSCN9776.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/8c228PNH/DSCN9779.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/3Jg8KzVR/DSCN9781.jpg

The only place on the whole tour where it was actually bloody freezing cold, top of the Col D'Iseran:

https://i.postimg.cc/xdFYxQJs/DSCN9787.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/G3DrQZcQ/DSCN9782.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/6qJkgp9h/DSCN9791.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/L4PD8VT5/DSCN9793.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hGhbW8vS/DSCN9796.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/WzcMkQn3/DSCN9799.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/zX5CXYv2/DSCN9806.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/wBtJb64M/DSCN9808.jpg

On the way down to Annecy, Chateau de Menthon:

https://i.postimg.cc/PJHwx1Xv/DSCN9809.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/x8Fn7S4j/DSCN9813.jpg

Annecy was hot and sticky, and the lakeside was teeming with people.

https://i.postimg.cc/SKpqHdD9/DSCN9818.jpg

But I still had a bit further to go to my hotel. As it happens, my route was to take me on a couple of the best 'riding' roads of the whole trip:

Annecy to Gresy-sur-Aix

No fantastic mountain scenery, but an excellent surface and just flowed from one bend to the next. Seemingly a very little-used route, but a great way to finish the day.

Gresy was hot (no, you don't say! Rolling Eyes Laughing ) and the hotel room had no air con, so all I could do after dragging my kit off the bike and up to my room was flake. It was here that it hit me that actually, I'd probably had my fill of the mountains for now. Also, the constant hot weather throughout was causing me problems, and had drained my energy by this point. So, with more of the heatwave forecast for the next few days and other considerations taken into account, I decided a little reluctantly, that for all intents and purposes, the tour was over.
Once I'd made that decision, I was completely focussed on getting home. This is how it always seems to be for me, and nothing but the quickest route would do, so I did the slog on toll motorways to the Chunnel, then motorway all the way back home to Carlisle.

A couple of thoughts: The Riano view is one I will never forget, especially with the mountains reflected on the lake in the still of morning. Although the Alpine scenery was more spectacular, on the whole, the Spanish roads were more fun to ride, apart from that last bit down to Gresy. Hairpin bends certainly do get tiresome after a while. Many of the Alpine roads had seen too much of the effects of frost and thaw, and especially around Val d'Isere, where I guess the traffic is probably quite heavy too during the winter season, the authorities were clearly struggling to keep up with maintenance.

There is nothing more depressing than a ski resort out of season - ghost towns, and without the vibrancy I suppose they'd have in winter, they are drab, ugly places.

Sat navs are ok...up to a point. I'm glad I took the maps too, as these actually proved far more useful for most of the time, and in the regions in which I travelled, where the sign-posting was consistently pretty good, they often rendered the nav totally surplus. Maps give a greater sensation of exploring for yourself too. As expected, the sat nav was very useful for finding hotels, and I appreciated it and relied on it totally to get me home by the quickest route available.

If it hadn't been so constantly hot (as Enduro has noted, up to 38deg or more at times, and never much below 30) for the whole time, I'm sure I would have kept going, either to Switzerland, or maybe into Italy, but it wasn't to be. So for the second year in a row, it was weather that finally defeated me, although for different reasons this time.

Fantastic trip though, something I needed to get out of my system Very Happy
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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 22:19 - 02 Oct 2019; edited 8 times in total
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Howling Terror
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PostPosted: 14:08 - 17 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ta for spending the time to update this thread. Great photos.

I'd wager you'll be getting wanderlust again within a month. Smile

Oh yeah...Bring back any nice dutyfree?
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 14:17 - 17 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Howling Terror wrote:


I'd wager you'll be getting wanderlust again within a month. Smile

Oh yeah...Bring back any nice dutyfree?


It won't matter, that's it, I couldn't afford it now if I wanted to Sad

I brought back photos, memories, and socks that stink to high heaven. Oh, and a Route 260 sticker Laughing
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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!
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Enduro Numpty
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PostPosted: 21:23 - 18 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Game Over!

We arrived at Bilbao docks from Pamplona in thankfully cooler temperatures. Just enough Sat Nav issues to make it not completely stress free. We hung about the docks for what seemed forever and eventually we got loaded. For once we didn't get pissed on the boat. Like Chickenstrip we'd had enough and just wanted to be home. The long sea crossing and the motorway slog from Portsmouth to Aberdeenshire held as much appeal as a dose of the runs. We had decided to split the journey through the UK up and had booked a Premier Inn in Preston. With around 6 or 7 hours to go on the Ferry it slowed down to near zero and there was an announcement that a helicopter would be dropping someone on board. 2 hours later with the ferry still not really making any progress and the helicopter was back, this time taking someone off. Seemingly there was a medical emergency. Our long day had just increased by 2 hours and once we got through customs & immigration it was shit traffic most of the way to Preston. Who ever thought up the term "smart motorway"? Speed limits changing every couple of hundred yards, 40mph limit with 4 empty lanes, 70 mph limit with 4 lanes jam packed. Smart is the last word I would use.
We got to Preston a lot later than planned. The one good thing about the day was that our daughter in Stockport was home from her holiday earlier than planned and met us for breakfast the following morning. The journey to Aberdeenshire was just as tedious with speed cameras and road works all the way, but strangely we got home dry with temperatures in the mid 20's.

Our trip was great but the slog to and from the channel ports is a complete head fuck. We need to find a better way for next time. Looks like we'll be back to doing the Newcastle to Ijmuiden booze cruise. I had planned on not relying so much on the sat nav this year - but did. Overall it, or rather my use of it was fairly poor. I really do need to get better at working it, as the couple of times I got the routes correct it made for great riding.

It was our first trip to Picos de Europa and it was stunning and is highly recommended. It was however, our umpteenth trip to the Pyrenees and every time we go the roads just blow me away. There may be better stretches of roads elsewhere but the sheer volume of great riding roads in the Spanish Pyrenees trumps everywhere I've ever ridden.

There were lots of highlights to the trip, the view coming into Riano has to come close to the top but the fast run down to Ripoll from the top of Collada de Toses on the N260 was by far the most satisfying riding I've done in a long time. Great to meet Chickenstrip and it's been a real pleasure to read his superb reports and compare notes.

As always, the real star of the show is our FJR1300. Another trip around a stunning part of the world and never missed a beat Cool

Here's a few photos in no particular order and not close to the quality of Chickenstrips...


https://s26.postimg.org/6mbr79c5l/20170530_121521.jpg
Riano

https://s26.postimg.org/jt176s7ux/20170530_125518.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/6rgw31ya1/20170614_094735.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/9iqz26i15/20170531_145133.jpg
More Riano - just can't have enough Riano photos

https://s26.postimg.org/ksjox4n2h/20170531_101729.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/nqgnqtuq1/20170530_140815(0).jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/jewnfkd6x/20170613_125601.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/kv85xpg3t/20170608_134555.jpg
Most corners per mile

https://s26.postimg.org/bopvafavd/20170614_143744.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/4gityvnih/20170614_145947.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/jzg9vzvt5/20170614_144418.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/ywoqx091l/20170614_145922.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/5dknu09mx/20170607_132804.jpg
Start here - make sure your brakes are good!!

https://s26.postimg.org/bd8exnufd/2017-06-12_17.23.54.jpg
Race Day!!

https://s26.postimg.org/g0s94nlxl/20170611_091005.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/uikuywnux/20170601_110836.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/896xscseh/20170601_113431.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/t7d3qfs95/20170601_141607.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/8s7fnvufd/20170602_081442.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/6z4izk98p/20170603_100514.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/hps5l8mvd/20170605_125129.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/5k7jokxjd/20170605_155119.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/ku7evrt1l/20170605_155317.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/qejw6erwp/20170606_115837.jpg
It wasn't all blue sky and high temperatures!

https://s26.postimg.org/ehs9lxpzd/20170607_101643.jpg
Traffic problems

https://s26.postimg.org/kwrailwp5/20170608_135922.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/en0m9cmo9/20170613_130934.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/8ncv5p1vt/20170614_130153.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/f3ltvsafd/20170614_133057.jpg
I think I want one Cool
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 10:38 - 19 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've enjoyed sharing this thread with you, Enduro Smile it was almost like having someone along with me, instead of being solo the whole time. I saw very few other Brits on this trip. Chatted with a couple of Canadians on the Col d'Iseran - they'd hired bikes in the UK to do the Route des Grandes Alpes; and chatted to a nice American couple I met at a service station on the way home - they were on a Harley of course Rolling Eyes but nice to talk to.

My Fazer also didn't miss a beat, had no issues or problems at all, except for it falling over that time, but that was my own fault for not parking it properly. As usual, it handled every situation beautifully, hardly noticed the extra weight of the luggage on twisty mountain roads, and apart from getting quite saddle sore towards the end of the trip, which was largely to do with the heat I think, was comfortable and relaxing to ride when I needed it to be.
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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!
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 14:03 - 19 Jun 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:


Kris wrote:
Are you going to do the Tende pass? Praying

Mr. Green


Just an overnight stop here, then onto the Route des Grandes Alpes tomorrow - top of the tick list y'see. If the Tende Pass is on that route, then I guess I will be doing it - but hang on, isn't that the one on the Route Napoleon? In which case, did it last year.


Ah, I see, Tende pass in Italy. No, wasn't on my route. Is it particularly good then?

Having checked the finances, there might be another trip on the cards Very Happy Not while it's still so bloody hot all over Europe though.
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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!
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AL-
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PostPosted: 16:21 - 23 Nov 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great read. What was on the MPG like on the bikes

I am looking to tour on the Tracer next year and reckon I may be able to squeeze 200 miles out of it
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The last post was made 6 years, 127 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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