First trip to Europe on a bike!

[stolzy]

OK we saw one example this weekendnd through, say, 100 villages and small towns. A brand new sign, quite large in a very rural location, saying that the next two nearside roads had priority.

Don't let it spoil your holiday.

It's the ones you don't see which cause the problems. None of the ones round here are marked at all.
I agree, don't let it spoil your holiday - but then nothing will spoil your holiday like a spill.
Part of the fun of travelling is adapting to different customs.

 

[stolzy]

OK we saw one example this weekendnd through, say, 100 villages and small towns. A brand new sign, quite large in a very rural location, saying that the next two nearside roads had priority.

Don't let it spoil your holiday.

It's the ones you don't see which cause the problems. None of the ones round here are marked at all.

I agree, don't let it spoil your holiday - but then nothing will spoil your holiday like a spill.

Part of the fun of travelling is adapting to different customs.

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Cheers guys,

The tips are filed away in that soggy grey organ I have that passes for a brain.

 

[John Roberts]

So, how did it go then?

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Absolutely Brilliant!

4,100 miles over 13 riding days (didn't count ferry days), tootling along mostly on A roads, with the occasional motorway blast when the urge took me.

Bike didn't miss a beat. Used a litre of oil.

Weather was great throughout.

Did 50/50 camping and small hotels/B&Bs.

Never had a problem finding somewhere to stay or pitch my tent. Rode from about 0900hrs each morning and started looking for somewhere to stop from about 1800hrs onwards. No hard and fast route plan, just roughly followed the coast and stopped for petrol/coffee/snacks when the need/mood took me.

Continental camp sites, even at the most basic level seemed cleaner and more user friendly than UK ones. Even pitched up at one that was closed in Portugal and the owner let me stay for free because the boiler wasn't on for hot water - cold shower wasn't a problem for me!

Things got a little more expensive when I was following the south coast of Spain, but even so, it wasn't expensive by UK standards.

Best rooms were at Casa do Cabo de Santa Maria at Sagres, Portugal (35.00 Euro for a double room + en suite) and Casa Rural Can Pla at Mas de Barberans, Cataluna, Spain (25.00 Euro for the same).

Nicest camp site as far as I'm concerned was the Camping Carlos V at Laredo, Cantabria, Northern Spain (which I think was about 8 Euros for the night)

Only thing I'd change if/when I do the trip again, would be allow another few days and ride fewer miles per day. It wasn't a hard slog at all, but I think I let myself get a bit carried away with riding and I certainly didn't see as much along the way as I wish I had.

Riding on the right didn't pose a problem at all, but going 'round roundabouts the wrong way always felt a bit weird!

Hard to say which country I liked the most.

Yeoman