North Spain tour.Any advice pse.

A group of us are planning to take our bikes by ferry to Northern
Spain(Bilbao or Santander) and ride back via the west coast of France. If
anyone has any tips for the best ferry service/ roads/accommodation etc for
the early stages of the trip in Spain I would be very appreciative.

Thanks


Rupert Nathan

 

I've done it before and wouldn't recommend it. It is between 800 and 1000
miles of riding and the roads through France up to the channel ports are not
that interesting. If you really want to take this ferry route I would
return on it as well and spend the time riding the roads in the alps towards
Andorra or maybe head towards Barcelona or Valencia and take in a Moto GP or
SBK race.
--
Pez
GSXR750WW, Monster S4

www not finished yet

Sig awaiting repair

 

You obviously haven't learnt to avoid motorways and major N roads.

****, that would be clever !

 

Spain to france is crap?

The only crap bit in France is Paris to Calais.

Take the ferry from St Malo instead.

 

Depends what your priorities are, time of the year you plan to go, and
the time you have at your disposal.

In early September I spent six days on the route Plymouth-Santander, 2
days in northern Spain (mostly Picos de Europa) 3 days in the Pyrenees,
and the last day rushing up to Caen for my return crossing.

Since I tend to like scenic roads/views I thoroughly enjoyed the Picos
(many twisty roads with decent road surface), found my eastward transfer
past Vitoria and Pamplona rather dull, and the Pyrenees again
impressive. Crossed many French Col's, which offered even prettier views
than the Picos, but at times also narrower and more bumpy roads.

I enjoyed my return from Andorra least, despite spending 85% of the time
on major N roads. But I really was in too much of a hurry to get time to
enjoy the return leg through France.

My timing turned out to be excellent, though, with very little traffic
(and time needed to find overnight accomm.). The French allegedly clog
up their roads holidaying until the end of August.

The crossings with Brittany ferries were OK.

 

Paging Des ...

 

Well, I've never been on a French motorway on a bike except for the 'race'
back from the Bol when it was at the Paul Ricard. I just don't think anyone
would argue that the best roads in France are found between on the west
coast side of France. The Bordeaux area is very flat and Brittany is not
much better (although a very nice place) .

Of course you may know better. If you do know of any interesting routes
then I'd be interested as I am probably going to have to ride from St Malo
to Galicia next Summer. What way would you go?

Regards
--
Pez
GSXR750WW, Monster S4

www not finished yet

Sig awaiting repair

 

I would suggest asking in es.charla.moteros, posts in English are welcome.

 

I do. Come about 100 ~ 150 miles inland from the west coast (as you
would if heading south from the channel ports), and there's some
magical stuff south of Limoges.

A gang of us went to the Costa Brava on exactly this route in the
summer, and it was brilliant.

 

A trip to the Catalunya GP in Barcelona via Andorra (just 220kms) through
the Pyrenees is a better idea. I'd even suggest travelling west-east through
the French part, and west-east through the Spanish part of the...
P-y-r-e-n-e-e-s (Alps? There is actually an "Alp" village near Andorra

The road from the ferries to Valencia crosses Spain's flat part... there are
some roads that I could explain, but it's not what I would do if I could do
the Pyrenees.

 

Wise Brit.

I once met some fr.rec.moto guys who came to Montmelo GP and took them to
Michelin map white roads. According to them, these 3rd order roads were way
better than their equivalent French roads.

 

Yep, I meant the Pyrenees but was thinking French Alps for some altogether
different reason.

--
Pez
GSXR750WW, Monster S4

www not finished yet

Sig awaiting repair

 

That's interesting. When I did it we stuck fairly close to the Atlantic via
Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Caen. TBH, for the mileage, I didn't think it was
that good although it reduced the mileage slightly.


--
Pez
GSXR750WW, Monster S4

www not finished yet

Sig awaiting repair

 

Errare humanum est

 

I didn't say the "best" roads in France are there, I only pointed out they are
not as bad as you suggested.

There are some great roads traveling through forrests and open country side.

Depends if I want to hurry or not. You can dawdle down the coast or further
inland (look at a map and follow green marked roads).

If I was in a hurry, I would hit the Autoroute and N roads.