Millau Bridge, Gorge du Tarn & Carcassonne 2009

[Harlequin]

HI Tim

The trip sounds great and am very interested. I have a 1200GSA and previously was on FireBlades, so happy with 'making good progress'!

I reckon June would be better than May, for weather although we would be far south enough to get some heat!

 

[Jon]

I'll recommend the St.Georges B&B , about 4 miles North of Narbonne. Run by an ex-pat. He's a biker (with a R100GS), got good knowledge of the area, where to ride, what to see etc and is a top guy.

The bit on the website about "a cold beer in the fridge" is no joke - I had one thrust into my hand before my helmet was off!

 

[ebbo]

I'll recommend the St.Georges B&B , about 4 miles North of Narbonne. Run by an ex-pat. He's a biker (with a R100GS), got good knowledge of the area, where to ride, what to see etc and is a top guy.

The bit on the website about "a cold beer in the fridge" is no joke - I had one thrust into my hand before my helmet was off!

Cheers Jon, noted St Georges we maybe in the area next year, and a cold beer at the end of the day sounds very tempting!
N43 13 58.7 E3 03 24.6
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=....056828&spn=0.005558,0.009656&z=17&iwloc=addr

 

[miked]

Let me know when you arrive in Millau and I'll ride up to meet you.
Did the Gorges du Tarn this summer, great riding

 

[AndyT]

Just back from Gorge du Tarn and Millau - see ride reports....superb area

 

[Pukmeister]

Tim, I'm hoping to return to Fareham soon if I can finalise my contract here in Australia. If I get back, we will have to do a rideout together once I get my bike out of the crate. I know a few good roads to Alton that suit a GS very well. I also know some amazing trunk and droving roads to Silverstone, Thruxton and Brands Hatch for the motor racing, avoiding the dual carriageways etc.

Depending on what job I get on my return to UK I would be very interested in a trip to the Millau Bridge. I'll keep an eye on this thread and my fingers crossed.

A pity you aren't a site sponsor so I could PM you.

Hope to meet you soon, maybe Portsdown Hill for a cuppa?

 

[Timhearn]

Trip Update

So this is where I am so far in the planning.
1. Route - sorted - see below
2. Dates - still need to be sorted but working around UK and French bank holidays and Bilbao-Portsmouth timetable. Trying to work a Friday night outbound with a Thurs sail arrive Frioday return - easier said than done
3. Hotels - haven't even started on this yet

Route:
Day 1 - Overnight Ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo (20:30 sailing arriving 08:15) - ferry prices for 1 person+bike+2 berth cabin ranges from £120-200 dependent on date. I'm working on the assumption that this will be a Friday night but could be Thurs.

Day 2 - St Malo to Limoges via Rennes, Angers, Poitiers, 300 miles, approx 6hrs.

Day 3 - Limoges to Millau via Brive, Figeac, Rodez, 200 miles, approx 4 hrs.

Day 4 - Fun rideout day through Gorge du Tarn in a big clockwise loop coming back to Millau, miles and time completely up to us.

Day 5 - Millau to Foix/Rennes le Chateau area via Albi, Castres, Carcasonne 210 miles, approx 5.5 hrs

Day 6 - Foix to St Jean Pied de Pont (old pilgrims Pryenees crossing point) via Tarbes and Lourdes (miracles optional) 210 miles approax 4.5 hrs. Option that we could cross the Pryenees in the afternoon and stay on the Spanish side that night.

Day 7 - early morning start, St Jean to Bilbao over the Pryenees to Bilbao via Pamplona for 12:30 Ferry

Day 8 - crash on Ferry to Portsmouth arrive 17:15 in Pompey

So what next?
1. ROUTE - Comments on route appreciated and welcome. Any one who has done the route before and has ideas on hotels, places to stop for breaks, ideas on fine tuning the route
2. DATES - I will work on the dates and ferries but I need to have some preferences. I have been looking at later May but the holidays hike the ferry costs and the roads will be busier, first 2 weeks in June are looking best so far.
3. HOTELS - being a soft old bugger, comfy hotels with a bar and pool sound good to me but comments welcome. I will make sure that there is secure parking at all hotels
4. PEOPLE and MONEY - I need to get an idea of numbers but as I've never organised anything like this before I want to keep things as simple as possible to avoid cock-ups. Therefore, maximum 6-8 bikes, this helps with hotels too. I'll figures out how the finances work later.
5. MEETING - once we've got the hotels and ferries figures out I'll arrange a meet somewhere, so we can see if we can put up with each other for 7 days and we can sort out the fine details.

Let me know what you think and ideas and past experience very welcome
Tim

 

[Wapping]

I think your times may be a little optimistic if you are doing D or scenic roads. Have you factored in fuel, lunch, pee, picture times etc. Some of your merry gang may not be that quick.

Here, for example, are my times from Calais to just past Troyes, mostly on country rods but following a reasonably direct line. Eight bikes, from memory. We don't slouch about when on the move.

I have put the towns and distances in so you can follow them on a map.

Ferry 08:00
Depart Calais 10:45
Motorway 42 miles to J5 St Pol 11:25

D916 / D938 Doullens / Albert / Peronne

Calais to Peronne 108 miles.

Arrive in Peronne for lunch 13:10 - 14:30 and a 15 minute fuel stop straight after for eight bikes

D937 / D932 / N2032 / D934 / D6 / D1 / D933 via Ham, Noyon, Blerancourt / Soissons / Chateau-Thierry / Montmirail

Calais to Montmirail 200 miles.

Stopped at Montmirail for fuel and the inevitable smoke / chat for some 17:00 - 17:30

D933 / D951 / D373 / N19 / D444 / D34 via Sezanne, Troyes to Chaource, hotel.

Calais to Chaource 279 miles. Arrived at 19:15

Total distance 279 miles on reasonably scenic roads, with no U-turns, no punctures, no getting lost. One lunch and two fuel stops. Total time 9:30 hours, close to 30mph real average speed.

OK I could have steamed it straight down the motorway or on the 'main' main roads, not stopped for a one hour lunch and if I had not had to factor in two fuel stops in 279 miles (a CBR 600RR don't go that far) it would have been quicker.

Just an observation.

 

[Timhearn]

True, which is why its approx, these are off of Green Flag and does not take into account long breaks but does include going into the centre of the main towns enroute, which we'll bypass. I have the exact roads planned.
What I am focusing on is getting the days to around 200-250 per day. The first day is the longest so we can get a big chunk of the downwards trip out of the way early, but St Malo to Millau is 540 miles if we wanted to be very brave and do it in one blast.
Are you in?
Tim

 

[Wapping]

True, which is why its approx, these are off of Green Flag and does not take into account long breaks but does include going into the centre of the main towns enroute, which we'll bypass. I have the exact roads planned.
What I am focusing on is getting the days to around 200-250 per day. The first day is the longest so we can get a big chunk of the downwards trip out of the way early, but St Malo to Millau is 540 miles if we wanted to be very brave and do it in one blast.
Are you in?
Tim

No, thanks.

Good luck with the planning, it's half the fun.

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

As I have mentioned many times if you are going to do the Tarn Gorge do the Ardeche one first then the Pont du Gard and up through Florac into the Tarn. One of my favourite hotels, mainly for the location, is the Auberge de la Cascade in the Tarn Gorge. Those into the Templars should spen a little time on the Larzac, lots of Templar stuff there. If you visit Renned le Chateau remember that area is crawling with Cathar castles.
Most likely I will meet up with you for a couple of days if I can.

 

[Timhearn]

Thanks Shenzi, Florac is on the plan for Day 4 by going D907bis from Millau, Les Vignes, St Enimie, Florac, then winding back in a loop to Millau or going a little further south to La Couvertoirade (old Templar village). We should get a great Gorge experience I think. I wasnt planning on going any further east towards Pont du Gard due to time (if we had a few extra days it would be well worth it).
Tim

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Thanks Shenzi, Florac is on the plan for Day 4 by going D907bis from Millau, Les Vignes, St Enimie, Florac, then winding back in a loop to Millau or going a little further south to La Couvertoirade (old Templar village). We should get a great Gorge experience I think. I wasnt planning on going any further east towards Pont du Gard due to time (if we had a few extra days it would be well worth it).
Tim

La Couvertoirade is really good, give me a shout when you intend being there it is only 40mins away from me. A good lunch stop in Le Caylar 5 mins away.
Surely you will follow the Gorge du Tarn to Millau. This area is my backyard so if I can help in any way give me a shout.

 

[Timhearn]

Thanks Shenzi, we will be coming into Millau from the north West having come from St Malo through Limoges etc so the plan was to find somewhere to stay in or around Millau and then ride out the following day to do the Gorge and surrounding area coming back to base in the evening. Then heading off to Cathar country (Albi, Carcassonne) the next day.
Tim

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Thanks Shenzi, we will be coming into Millau from the north West having come from St Malo through Limoges etc so the plan was to find somewhere to stay in or around Millau and then ride out the following day to do the Gorge and surrounding area coming back to base in the evening. Then heading off to Cathar country (Albi, Carcassonne) the next day.
Tim

Stay here, a lovely place 2 mins from St. Enimie.http://aubergecascade.com/index-gb.htm. From here you can drop in the Jonte gorge to lead you back to Millau.
Be careful you don't try to pack in too much.

 

[Timhearn]

This looks great mate and should be a perfect base for us. You are right about trying to pack too much in and its something I'm working on. May extend the trip by a day or blat down to Millau from the ferry in one go.
Tim

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

This looks great mate and should be a perfect base for us. You are right about trying to pack too much in and its something I'm working on. May extend the trip by a day or blat down to Millau from the ferry in one go.
Tim

I wouldn't miss the Gorge du Ardeche if I were you, the road up from Arles to Florac is very pleasant also.
If you want to book the Auberge don't leave it too long.

 

[Timhearn]

noted, I've already emailed the Auberge. All the best
Tim

 

[Timhearn]

Mind you the others who expressed interest earlier must be asleep, so I may be doing this on my own in the end!

 

[Wapping]

BTW .. what's this all about ..

some bloke off the street with a post count of 5 does an open invite trip and everyone is all over it.

I do an open invite trip (3000+ post count for crying out loud) and I am avoided like a lepper

Cheer up, Tom. Seems you are not alone.

Mind you the others who expressed interest earlier must be asleep, so I may be doing this on my own in the end!