The Grand Plan is...
Depart: Thurs 1/7/10. Early Tunnel crossing, Down through France on A Roads via Rouen, le Mans, Poitiers to the Western Pyrenees (Est. 2.5 longish days – not hanging about, approx 700 miles /20 hours riding time).
Sunday & Monday: Camping in the ‘Parc National Des Pyrenees’ (France), to allow for a bit of exploration of the area, riding some nice bendy roads, good food/wine, or whatever else you like to do.
Tuesday & Wednesday: Move west to a campsite in the Parc Natural del Cadi-Moixero (Spain). Again stopping for couple of nights for a bit of adventuring.
Thursday – Either stay put if it’s nice, or head up back into France toward the Massif Central and camp here the night. (approx 250 miles / 6-7 hours riding).
Friday - Sunday: (If still in Spain get up early and haul arse Northward towards Calais – non motorway route). Or carry on up through the Massif Central and on to Bourges, Orleans & West of Paris to Calais (550 miles / 10 hours riding time). Again staying off the motorways - until we absolutely have to jump on one to make the crossing back. Est. 2.5 longish days – definitely not hanging about.
Sunday – 2pm crossing to give everyone a chance to get home.
(Total 11 days)
Anyone welcome BUT!!! You must...
• definately have a Sat Nav & Map (and know how to use them)
• be prepared to do your bit of ‘trail blazing’ at the front (it ain’t a free guided tour).
• come on something that can do 200+ miles on a tank of juice,
• be able to ride a good 7 hour day (to get across France – once we’re down there you can do as much or as little as you like).
As we will be avoiding motorways, the ideal way to cross France quickly, is in a couple groups of 3 or 4 (assuming there’s that much interest in the trip). All riding the same route we can sort out where to meet up for nice leisurely lunches and overnight stops. (In my experience we’ll make better progress if we’re not all strung out in one group over half a mile, all following the leader and having to stop and re-group every time half of us gets caught at traffic lights).
So if you want to combine good (quick) riding, good company, fantastic roads and a bit of French & Spanish scenery and food & wine culture, Let me know.
P.S. Though it will be a fast one down there and back, the emphasis is on riding 'holiday' not endurance test.
Depart: Thurs 1/7/10. Early Tunnel crossing, Down through France on A Roads via Rouen, le Mans, Poitiers to the Western Pyrenees (Est. 2.5 longish days – not hanging about, approx 700 miles /20 hours riding time).
Sunday & Monday: Camping in the ‘Parc National Des Pyrenees’ (France), to allow for a bit of exploration of the area, riding some nice bendy roads, good food/wine, or whatever else you like to do.
Tuesday & Wednesday: Move west to a campsite in the Parc Natural del Cadi-Moixero (Spain). Again stopping for couple of nights for a bit of adventuring.
Thursday – Either stay put if it’s nice, or head up back into France toward the Massif Central and camp here the night. (approx 250 miles / 6-7 hours riding).
Friday - Sunday: (If still in Spain get up early and haul arse Northward towards Calais – non motorway route). Or carry on up through the Massif Central and on to Bourges, Orleans & West of Paris to Calais (550 miles / 10 hours riding time). Again staying off the motorways - until we absolutely have to jump on one to make the crossing back. Est. 2.5 longish days – definitely not hanging about.
Sunday – 2pm crossing to give everyone a chance to get home.
(Total 11 days)
Anyone welcome BUT!!! You must...
• definately have a Sat Nav & Map (and know how to use them)
• be prepared to do your bit of ‘trail blazing’ at the front (it ain’t a free guided tour).
• come on something that can do 200+ miles on a tank of juice,
• be able to ride a good 7 hour day (to get across France – once we’re down there you can do as much or as little as you like).
As we will be avoiding motorways, the ideal way to cross France quickly, is in a couple groups of 3 or 4 (assuming there’s that much interest in the trip). All riding the same route we can sort out where to meet up for nice leisurely lunches and overnight stops. (In my experience we’ll make better progress if we’re not all strung out in one group over half a mile, all following the leader and having to stop and re-group every time half of us gets caught at traffic lights).
So if you want to combine good (quick) riding, good company, fantastic roads and a bit of French & Spanish scenery and food & wine culture, Let me know.
P.S. Though it will be a fast one down there and back, the emphasis is on riding 'holiday' not endurance test.
)
) will be doing the same trip a day later than you, LD lines now have a fast cat between Portsmouth and Le Harve. Phoned up and booked over night (Fri) with a bunk 
and fast cat back (following Sat) all for £102 ea 
We avoid all the toll roads 
and play on the back roads 
