The title is an apt description of the collection of pics I arrived home with after this trip so I've used it as a title, because I couldn't be arsed to come up with something cleverer.
Pics and a few words about our September Euro trip, just the 3 of us this time with one regular participant being held against his will on the other side of the world
Sean and I set out from a very sunny South Wales towards Portsmouth for an overnight crossing to Saint Malo, we would be meeting Oscar at the second night's hotel, once aboard we sat down in the bar for the evening's entertainment, a don't know who or what a Dua Lipa is but the tribute act on stage was not what we expected on a Brittany Ferries crossing, I was advised by a mate to delete the pic to save my marriage.
Pretty sunset departing Portsmouth.
Awaiting the ratchet strap team.
Day 1 and tonight's destination was The Originals Boutique Hotel La Parriou in Issoire which is south of Clermont Ferrand some 450 miles away, better get our skates on it was going to be a long day in the saddle, we cleared port in St Malo after 9am and with full tanks and a similar range on both bikes of around 180-220 miles (Ducati Multistrada V4s and BMW R1300GS) we would be refuelling twice today, with one eye on a reasonable hour to check in to the hotel in mind we agreed to keep stops to a minimum.
After 450 ish miles, 1 fuel stop and 1 combined baguette and fuel stop, a couple of U turns and a backtrack or 2 later we arrived at Hotel La Parriou in Issoire, check in was pleasant as were the rooms, parking was on site to the rear of the hotel, security would be the job of the LiteLok, which passes through the Multi's twin discs quite snugly.
Dinner was not available at the hotel tonight so after a rapid unpack and a shower we took a walk to downtown Issoire, the street art was interesting and the Calzone and cold beers went down a treat.
Day 2, destination Cadaques on the North East coast of Spain some 300 miles off, another long day in the saddle, our self imposed schedule didn't prevent us from getting a couple of bridge pictures though, this well preserved example built by that bloke that built the big pointy tower in Paris, Gustav something or other
And this one designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster, we often have a chap with us along for the ride who would have appreciated these things who is in fact an architect, but he is currently being held against his will and being force fed vegamite sandwiches and Fosters lager
The Millau Viaduct, it's been many years (perhaps 15) since I've ridden this way with some friends that are sadly no longer with us, Sean had never been so why not ?
See that pretty little coastal town in the distance? That's Cadaques that is, once you reach this point there's 1 road in and 1 road out and it's twisty and narrow but the view gets better and better as you near the town.
We were soon parked up in front of the hotel and checked in, parking was "on street" we had the spot outside the front entrance, we also happened to have the 3 balcony rooms overlooking the street, the LiteLok and pound of butter in the fridge back home alert settings could be left at "normal".
I went down to the beach for a swim in the Med having been too late for the hotel pool the night before.
When I returned I discovered that Oscar had arrived and managed to park in the same spot, then there were 3
A short evening stroll and a few beers and Tapas supper rounded off the day/night.
Pics and a few words about our September Euro trip, just the 3 of us this time with one regular participant being held against his will on the other side of the world
Sean and I set out from a very sunny South Wales towards Portsmouth for an overnight crossing to Saint Malo, we would be meeting Oscar at the second night's hotel, once aboard we sat down in the bar for the evening's entertainment, a don't know who or what a Dua Lipa is but the tribute act on stage was not what we expected on a Brittany Ferries crossing, I was advised by a mate to delete the pic to save my marriage.
Pretty sunset departing Portsmouth.
Awaiting the ratchet strap team.
Day 1 and tonight's destination was The Originals Boutique Hotel La Parriou in Issoire which is south of Clermont Ferrand some 450 miles away, better get our skates on it was going to be a long day in the saddle, we cleared port in St Malo after 9am and with full tanks and a similar range on both bikes of around 180-220 miles (Ducati Multistrada V4s and BMW R1300GS) we would be refuelling twice today, with one eye on a reasonable hour to check in to the hotel in mind we agreed to keep stops to a minimum.
After 450 ish miles, 1 fuel stop and 1 combined baguette and fuel stop, a couple of U turns and a backtrack or 2 later we arrived at Hotel La Parriou in Issoire, check in was pleasant as were the rooms, parking was on site to the rear of the hotel, security would be the job of the LiteLok, which passes through the Multi's twin discs quite snugly.
Dinner was not available at the hotel tonight so after a rapid unpack and a shower we took a walk to downtown Issoire, the street art was interesting and the Calzone and cold beers went down a treat.
Day 2, destination Cadaques on the North East coast of Spain some 300 miles off, another long day in the saddle, our self imposed schedule didn't prevent us from getting a couple of bridge pictures though, this well preserved example built by that bloke that built the big pointy tower in Paris, Gustav something or other
And this one designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster, we often have a chap with us along for the ride who would have appreciated these things who is in fact an architect, but he is currently being held against his will and being force fed vegamite sandwiches and Fosters lager
The Millau Viaduct, it's been many years (perhaps 15) since I've ridden this way with some friends that are sadly no longer with us, Sean had never been so why not ?
See that pretty little coastal town in the distance? That's Cadaques that is, once you reach this point there's 1 road in and 1 road out and it's twisty and narrow but the view gets better and better as you near the town.
We were soon parked up in front of the hotel and checked in, parking was "on street" we had the spot outside the front entrance, we also happened to have the 3 balcony rooms overlooking the street, the LiteLok and pound of butter in the fridge back home alert settings could be left at "normal".
I went down to the beach for a swim in the Med having been too late for the hotel pool the night before.
When I returned I discovered that Oscar had arrived and managed to park in the same spot, then there were 3
A short evening stroll and a few beers and Tapas supper rounded off the day/night.
)
