First European bike trip for 31 years

[Al G]

First European bike trip for 31 years.

Last trip was in July 1978, as poor students, me and girlfriend set off from N Ireland, via Liverpool and Dover ferries, to the south of France on my Honda 400/4. I have no idea how we managed to pack all our gear, including camping equipment onto a 400/4 Honda, but we did.

I don’t have many photos of the trip. I believe these were taken near Gorges du Tarn.

I don’t recall having any problems with the bike but the trip had a lasting impression on our lives, as we returned to Northern Ireland as an engaged couple (totally unplanned).

So, I think it’s about time for another bike trip to Europe. Decided on a cultural city trip to Spain. Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Toledo, Segovia and Burgos. Maybe parts of Portugal.

Plymouth/Santander was booked for 24th May

Why my Husky 250 trail bike? Well I had a bit of an accident in March and broke my right thumb. Still, 4 weeks in plaster and it and it will be ok.

Maybe not because after 4 weeks the thumb was found to be set wrong and an operation was required to re-set and pin thumb. Another 5 weeks in plaster!

Plymouth/Santander was re-booked for 28th June.

However, 2 weeks before departure my gearbox broke. Took it to Pidcocks, who despite being busy and with staff on holidays, made a good attempt to fix gearbox. However all the parts were not available in time so Plymouth/Santander was re-booked for 5th July.
Third time lucky?

We are now living in Derby therefore no Irish Sea to cross this time. We left home on Sunday 5th July anticipating an easy journey of 250 miles to Plymouth.

My thumb was still hurting but I found this to be essential.

Stopped under the last bridge on the M42 to put on our wet weather gear during a downpour. However the bike wouldn’t start; flat battery. RAC arrived within 10 minutes.

Continued on to Plymouth and kept the bike running during fuel stops.
Stalled the bike in Plymouth but fortunately I had purchased a set of jump leads. (The RAC man had warned me to make sure the car engine was off before starting.)

140 bikes on board the Pont-Aven. Quite impressed with the way they were secured. I seem to recall tying my Honda 400 to the desk with a dirty oily rope somewhere at the back of the Liverpool ferry.

I will worry about the battery in Spain

 

[Aidan1150]

Don't stop there man. Keep it coming.

Lovely 400/4 by the way.

 

[Al G]

No need to worry. Bike started (just) and we headed west to Cudillo, a little costal town. I discovered that the battery would have enough charge to start the bike, 20 minutes after stopping. The plan was to call in the BMW garage in Oviedo but at 5:00 pm rush-hour I decided to continue to Cudillo and find the BMW dealer when at Santiago de Compostela.

The only booking we made was for the first night.

Coincidently, in Culillo we met the 2 guys who had parked their Goldwings immediately behind me on the ferry. We met them again the following day in a little town on the way to Santiago. They came from Normanton, 10 miles from me in Derby.


The plan was a 2 day stop in Santiago during which time I will buy a battery.
However I happened to pass a BMW dealership in Lugo. A guy call Nelson, in charge of Mini sales, half Spanish but born and bred in London, got me sorted. 120 Euro!

Coming into the centre of Santiago, down a cobbled road, my right pannier fell off. No idea how as it was locked. So I purchased a ratchet strap to secure both panniers. Peace of mind.


Spent 2 nights in Santiago. Because of the pilgrims there were lots of cheap restaurants.
Quite cold however. No photos.


Headed south down the coast and had lunch in a lovely seaside town Baiona. Temperatures had warmed considerably. Landscape colour changing from lush green to brownish.

Crossed into Portugal by ferry near to A Guarda on the coast

Stopped over at Viana do Castelo in Portugal

 

[davidgibson999]

Cool - keep it coming

 

[yamonda1]

Enjoying it

 

[blobbs]

Aye, keep goin

 

[Roberto]

Nice write up, keep it coming

 

[Dave56]

I`m enjoying this, keep it coming..................

 

[Al G]

At the hotel in Viana do Castelo, I had parked the bike beside the owner’s son’s 1200 GS. He also had a KTM 250 stroker which he recently had crashed badly into a customer’s car whilst wheeling out of the hotel car park.

Headed south on motorway. Bit scary thru Porto.
Then headed east towards Spain. Fabulous empty roads with 90 mph sweepers over the various mountain ranges.

Stayed in Guarda near Spain. Nice town on top of a hill
Hotel Turismo was on a prime location in the middle of the town and run by the town council. Very cheap

A short days riding on Saturday morning to Salamanca, mostly across hot flat dusty plains. Scenery you would expect to see Clint Eastwood riding across. Stunning but no photos taken. Sorry, I don't know why

Temperature 35°C on arrival in Salamanca

http://alg.smugmug.com/photos/645059081_GxhgE-M.jpg

2 star hotel in the town centre. Salamanca seemed like a party town. Maybe it was because it was Saturday.

Sunday morning heading to Toledo via Avila. Roads very empty in the morning

N 403 to Toledo. Sunday afternoon boy road racers everywhere. Good fun!
Temperatures near to 40°C

After lunch in a small town, siesta by the river.
Local families picnicking and cooling off

This family were picnicking on a sand spit in the middle of the river

Always someone to interrupt the peace (starting to sound like a rambler)

Arrived in Toledo. Temperature was 40°

 

[NeilF]

More please!

More!

 

[Al G]

Monday, back along the N403, heading north towards Avila. Best to avoid Madrid.
Then across country towards Segovia.
Temperature down to 30° once away from the Toledo

Lunch time tapas meals averaged 6 Euros for two. Quality food

On to Segovia

The Romans didn’t use mortar in this aqueduct. Blocks were all laid dry. (I used to work for a builder in Belfast who did the same!)

Apparently the castle in Segovia was used by Disney as a template for their main theme castle in Disney World, Florida.

 

[davidgibson999]

Great photos - lynda and I did a very similar trip in 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great country to bike in...
P.S. More photos please

 

[Al G]

On for the final night in Burgus. Stopped on route for lunch at Lerma.
Nice Parador

Strange thing about this town is that it had piped music throughout. A BBC recording of Last night at the Proms… Land of Hope & Glory etc. Very odd.


After lunch, siesta time again. Didn’t need a lunch time nap on our last trip

Bike just went on to reserve. Could have filled up at Lerma but instead took some minor roads through the hills towards Burgus. No petrol stations and finally got to a garage in Burgus showing 2 miles left. Does anyone know how accurate the GS gauge is?

Burgus, final night

On route, final day to Santander.

I must admit that with all the trouble I had with the bike before departure, I had fallen “out of love” with my GS . However, no matter the road type or road surface;- should it be a slow, almost a trail mountain road with a multitude of hairpin bends, or a road with 90 mph fast open sweepers, the bike was absolutely perfect. And with a passenger plus 40 kilos of luggage! Handling was perfect and the engine didn’t miss a beat.

Ferry 4 hours late. But after booking in you can safely leave your bike and go to see the bright lights of Santander
It also meant you can catch up will other travellers and hear their stories (a good deal more interesting)

Is this tyre still legal? This guy had already crashed on route to ferry. I last saw him in Plymouth in the pouring rain. Hope he got home

I think they were the Nottingham Chapter. Just arrived.

Back on board the Pont-Aven.

The final 250 miles to Derby was in extreme rain. Welcome home.
31 years ago we crashed in similar weather, 15 miles from home. I still have a thing about the last leg of a journey.

Anyway, home safely. The next one definitely will not be another 31 years!

 

[Hairnet600]

excellent

go back to the gorges du tarn its a bit different lmfao

 

[NA1959]

Great report and pic's