Just got back from a great trip to Picos, the Pyrenees and the west coast of France. 10 days camping, 1800 miles, 23-27 degrees, no clouds, no rain, superb!
Day 1. Rode from Surrey to Plymouth to get the 'Pont Avon' boat to Santander. This meant we only had one night on the boat instead of two nights had we gone from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Fantastic boat, very clean, excellent cabins with showers. Watched the Simpsons movie on board, and when we came out saw the most fantastic sunset of a huge orange ball slowly dipping into the sea. However left the camera in the cabin, doh! Felt like Homer!
Day 2. 0830 landed at Santander on my bike affectionally known as 'Benny' loaded with a pair of Metal Mules, an ortlieb bag, the Mrs, sat nav and camping gear. We were finally on our trip! Whoohoo!
Rode to Potes in Picos De Europa and found a campsite called La Viorna at Potes. This is 5 star camping!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1407288007/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1404/1407288007_9081bf962a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC00062" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1408173362/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/1408173362_3215c243e5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC00061" /></a>
3 euros per person per night and 3 euros for the bike wasnt exactly going to break the bank! Swimming pool, restaurant, showers, washing machine; they even had a iron and ironing board!
We had a meal in the restaurant, starter, main, desert, bottle of wine for two, £16! I am loving this place!
This is the view we had from our tent every morning.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1407286013/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/1407286013_fc47efdd4f.jpg" width="500" height="125" alt="DSC00055" /></a>
God I hate work!
So the rest of day 2 consisted of lounging around in that fantastic swimming pool.Tough life.
Day 3. Up early and off to explore Picos De Europa, Sat nav set up and circular route stolen from someone on this site,(appologies I cant remember who), but when you are doing your first big trip abroad I thouroughly recommend you scour these pages of wisdom and use all the advice you can glean from experienced hands.
Picos is probably the most scenic and stunning place I have ever ridden a motorcycle. It is truly jaw dropping, and I can see why so many GSers have travelled to these parts. I for one will be returning again.
The afternoon saw us meeting up with 3 friends on 2 motorcycles who were going to continue the trip.(lesson one, always book your ferry in advance or you will arrive late and have to get the 2 dayer to Bilbao!).
Here's my tent with 'Benny' in the background.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1407294615/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1260/1407294615_386b9705d0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC00060" /></a>
Went to Fuent De in the afternoon and up the cable car to 1500m. Fantastic views,even did a bit of walking!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1442430134/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/1442430134_184efc1847.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fuenta De 2" /></a>
View from top of the cable car.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1442430332/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1034/1442430332_e7ea5a1bac.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fuenta De cable car" /></a>
From here there are so many off road tracks. I would love to go off road and explore these. Maybe another time.
Dinner back at the campsite in the restaurant again. Another £8 per head!
Day 4. Up early again and back exploring more of Picos. Found a lake to have lunch at Riano, and as it was so hot had to get in.............. as the lake was so cold, got out pronto!!!!!
While riding around Picos you dont cover much mileage in a day because of the twisty routes, a 3 hour ride could only see you covering about 40-50 miles, but this place is paradise.
Gotta go now, will finish the trip off later.
Day 1. Rode from Surrey to Plymouth to get the 'Pont Avon' boat to Santander. This meant we only had one night on the boat instead of two nights had we gone from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Fantastic boat, very clean, excellent cabins with showers. Watched the Simpsons movie on board, and when we came out saw the most fantastic sunset of a huge orange ball slowly dipping into the sea. However left the camera in the cabin, doh! Felt like Homer!
Day 2. 0830 landed at Santander on my bike affectionally known as 'Benny' loaded with a pair of Metal Mules, an ortlieb bag, the Mrs, sat nav and camping gear. We were finally on our trip! Whoohoo!
Rode to Potes in Picos De Europa and found a campsite called La Viorna at Potes. This is 5 star camping!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1407288007/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1404/1407288007_9081bf962a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC00062" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1408173362/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/1408173362_3215c243e5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC00061" /></a>
3 euros per person per night and 3 euros for the bike wasnt exactly going to break the bank! Swimming pool, restaurant, showers, washing machine; they even had a iron and ironing board!
We had a meal in the restaurant, starter, main, desert, bottle of wine for two, £16! I am loving this place!
This is the view we had from our tent every morning.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1407286013/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/1407286013_fc47efdd4f.jpg" width="500" height="125" alt="DSC00055" /></a>
God I hate work!
So the rest of day 2 consisted of lounging around in that fantastic swimming pool.Tough life.
Day 3. Up early and off to explore Picos De Europa, Sat nav set up and circular route stolen from someone on this site,(appologies I cant remember who), but when you are doing your first big trip abroad I thouroughly recommend you scour these pages of wisdom and use all the advice you can glean from experienced hands.
Picos is probably the most scenic and stunning place I have ever ridden a motorcycle. It is truly jaw dropping, and I can see why so many GSers have travelled to these parts. I for one will be returning again.
The afternoon saw us meeting up with 3 friends on 2 motorcycles who were going to continue the trip.(lesson one, always book your ferry in advance or you will arrive late and have to get the 2 dayer to Bilbao!).
Here's my tent with 'Benny' in the background.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1407294615/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1260/1407294615_386b9705d0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC00060" /></a>
Went to Fuent De in the afternoon and up the cable car to 1500m. Fantastic views,even did a bit of walking!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1442430134/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1178/1442430134_184efc1847.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fuenta De 2" /></a>
View from top of the cable car.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13827893@N04/1442430332/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1034/1442430332_e7ea5a1bac.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fuenta De cable car" /></a>
From here there are so many off road tracks. I would love to go off road and explore these. Maybe another time.
Dinner back at the campsite in the restaurant again. Another £8 per head!
Day 4. Up early again and back exploring more of Picos. Found a lake to have lunch at Riano, and as it was so hot had to get in.............. as the lake was so cold, got out pronto!!!!!
While riding around Picos you dont cover much mileage in a day because of the twisty routes, a 3 hour ride could only see you covering about 40-50 miles, but this place is paradise.
Gotta go now, will finish the trip off later.