Having previously only ever toured on Harleys we were looking forward to getting on the road on “proper” bikes! (Actually nothing wrong with touring on harleys, we always enjoyed ourselves. Different strokes etc.)
Anyway, I now have a 2022 GS and my better half currently rides a 2017 factory lowered Tiger 800. I say currently because I made the mistake of letting her ride the GS and now she's after one.
Having been to France several times we decided to change this year and head to Bilbao from Rosslare.
As we arrived in Bilbao we were informed that due to wildfires and the resulting smoke, our hotel for the first night was closed. After some last minute searching on booking.com we found a hotel in a tiny hamlet called Oñati. It looked like a really fabulous area but unfortunately we were tight for time both arriving and leaving. Due to encountering temps in the mid to high 30s (too hot for us paddies) we decided to move on at 6am the following day to try to beat the heat. It was still 24c at that time!
We were booked for 2 nights in Ainsa so we skirted Pamplona and detoured to Biescas for lunch.
We then continued along the N260A in the direction of Broto and looped around to meet the N260 for the remainder of the journey to Ainsa.
We stayed 2 nights in Hotel Meson de l'Ainsa. Very comfortable with secure parking. We spent the next day doing the tourist thing of strolling around the town, including the neverending steps to the old medieval part.
Our next stop was Andorra la Vella for 2 nights. The ride there, via Sort was fantastic. We stayed in Hotel Pyrenees and again it's highly recommended for bikers. After another tourist day, we pushed into France.
This time we were staying one night in Bagneres du Luchon. The ride there was again spectacular but the climb up to Cap del Port was one of the trip highlights for me. We stayed in Hotel le Castel Dalti. Again, thumbs up for comfort and bike parking.
The following day we had probably the best day's riding of the whole trip as we made our way to Laruns (thanks MotoGeo). Riding over several Cols was breathtaking and really drives home the reasons why we do this rather than sit on a beach for two weeks. Col D'Aspin and Col d'Aubisque were the main attractions but I will definitely be returning to this region to explore some more.
One night in the Hotel d'Osseau in Laruns and we hit the motorway (Boo!) in the direction of San Sebastian. We had 2 nights in the Hotel Monte Igueldo. We also had a bit of a change in the weather!.
After taking the Funicular down to the city and walking the beautiful sea front to Old Town, we indulged in pintxos and wine and generally chilled out ahead of our final night in Bilbao.
Again we were back on the motorway for the first part of the journey but detoured to Guernika. While there I decided to try out the Vroom app I'd seen recommended to map a twisty route for the remainder of the journey to Bilbao. I was glad I did because we had a lovely scenic spin to finish off our journey.
We stayed in Hotel Ilunion San Memes which was very modern and had underground parking. Got an Uber into town and had some drinks and food.
The next morning we were back at the port and loading up for the return sailing.
All in all a really enjoyable trip that didn't consist of many kms but was almost like a Pyrenees “greatest hits”. I'm starting to plan next year's trip which will possibly involve meeting the bikes in Memmingen. Whether we will have them shipped home having looped around the Alps/Dolomites or we head towards Bilbao I'm still not sure. Or maybe a fortnight in Lanzarote…..
Anyway, I now have a 2022 GS and my better half currently rides a 2017 factory lowered Tiger 800. I say currently because I made the mistake of letting her ride the GS and now she's after one.
Having been to France several times we decided to change this year and head to Bilbao from Rosslare.
As we arrived in Bilbao we were informed that due to wildfires and the resulting smoke, our hotel for the first night was closed. After some last minute searching on booking.com we found a hotel in a tiny hamlet called Oñati. It looked like a really fabulous area but unfortunately we were tight for time both arriving and leaving. Due to encountering temps in the mid to high 30s (too hot for us paddies) we decided to move on at 6am the following day to try to beat the heat. It was still 24c at that time!
We were booked for 2 nights in Ainsa so we skirted Pamplona and detoured to Biescas for lunch.
We then continued along the N260A in the direction of Broto and looped around to meet the N260 for the remainder of the journey to Ainsa.
We stayed 2 nights in Hotel Meson de l'Ainsa. Very comfortable with secure parking. We spent the next day doing the tourist thing of strolling around the town, including the neverending steps to the old medieval part.
Our next stop was Andorra la Vella for 2 nights. The ride there, via Sort was fantastic. We stayed in Hotel Pyrenees and again it's highly recommended for bikers. After another tourist day, we pushed into France.
This time we were staying one night in Bagneres du Luchon. The ride there was again spectacular but the climb up to Cap del Port was one of the trip highlights for me. We stayed in Hotel le Castel Dalti. Again, thumbs up for comfort and bike parking.
The following day we had probably the best day's riding of the whole trip as we made our way to Laruns (thanks MotoGeo). Riding over several Cols was breathtaking and really drives home the reasons why we do this rather than sit on a beach for two weeks. Col D'Aspin and Col d'Aubisque were the main attractions but I will definitely be returning to this region to explore some more.
One night in the Hotel d'Osseau in Laruns and we hit the motorway (Boo!) in the direction of San Sebastian. We had 2 nights in the Hotel Monte Igueldo. We also had a bit of a change in the weather!.
After taking the Funicular down to the city and walking the beautiful sea front to Old Town, we indulged in pintxos and wine and generally chilled out ahead of our final night in Bilbao.
Again we were back on the motorway for the first part of the journey but detoured to Guernika. While there I decided to try out the Vroom app I'd seen recommended to map a twisty route for the remainder of the journey to Bilbao. I was glad I did because we had a lovely scenic spin to finish off our journey.
We stayed in Hotel Ilunion San Memes which was very modern and had underground parking. Got an Uber into town and had some drinks and food.
The next morning we were back at the port and loading up for the return sailing.
All in all a really enjoyable trip that didn't consist of many kms but was almost like a Pyrenees “greatest hits”. I'm starting to plan next year's trip which will possibly involve meeting the bikes in Memmingen. Whether we will have them shipped home having looped around the Alps/Dolomites or we head towards Bilbao I'm still not sure. Or maybe a fortnight in Lanzarote…..
