pyrenees and up through france

[sdk72]

Morning all,

Just booked my ferry to santander for the 4th sept, with a view for a few days in the pyrenees then a leisurely ride back up through france back to blighty.
I say leisurely but who knows, i have pencilled in 7 days to do this mini trip and was wondering if anyone has done something simillar and could recommend places to visit, roads to ride.
There is no set in stone plan except the pyrenees really.
I'll be perched on my GS, whereas my pal will be arched on his 1997 ZZR.
Also , can anyone recommend any comms kits, as I can see us numptys getting split up or lost and it would be nice to take the piss out of each other whilst doing so
any tips or advice greatly appreciated ( even about my pal hiring a gs beforehand )

Cheers

Steve

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

If your looking for a base in the Pyrenees I recommend 3 valleys at Argeles-Gazost,

http://www.l3v.fr/
from the 7th Sept onwards for a week there will be loads of BMW's basing there, including me

 

[hops]

I

quite like Andorra, I've only stayed in the hotel Flora but found it reasonably priced with secure parking nearby and friendly staff. The route N260 just into Spain is definitely not to be missed.

 

[Taff]

A group of 8 of us rode back from the Pyrenees a few months ago. It took us 2 days to ride back, stopping in Blois overnight.

We went via the Milau Bridge - that was impressive and I wish we could have seen a bit more of it, rather than the 20 minutes fag / comfort break.

Blois was pretty impressive, but it was well over half way which involved one long boring day on the bikes. And to make matters worse, it rained - a lot.

 

[sdk72]

hmmm, thanks for this....

will look at the 3 valleys at Argeles-Gazost, think i read about that in another post, although we may have gone by the time the beer people arrive

certainly would take a look at Andorra and the n260.

dilemma now is, do we spend more time around the pyrenees, andorra etc. and hoof it back over 2 days ?

cheers

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

A group of 8 of us rode back from the Pyrenees a few months ago. It took us 2 days to ride back, stopping in Blois overnight.

We went via the Milau Bridge - that was impressive and I wish we could have seen a bit more of it, rather than the 20 minutes fag / comfort break.

Blois was pretty impressive, but it was well over half way which involved one long boring day on the bikes. And to make matters worse, it rained - a lot.

Blois is a lovely place and is my usual first stop going south, I've stayed in this hotel every time, the fist time as a teenager when travelling with my parents and probably a dozen times since. It's very basic but proper old skool French and, well, I love it

It's just on the south side of the bridge with great views over the river into the old town.

Andres

 

[Wapping]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197540&highlight=miss

 

[sdk72]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197540&highlight=miss

cheers wapping, that's a pretty good guide to work with, might throw Blois in there as it seems highly recommended

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I would spend more time in the mountains and, with a visit to Millau and the Gorges du Tarn, blat it back up France (or get back on the ferry )

The following ride report may give you some ideas.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274632

 

[rocky burns]

I spent a week in the Pyraneese and would go back any time. The roads are quiet, 27 miles one day and passed 2 cars. Most of the roads are good quality tarmac with some amazing hairpins. Just go,ride and dont realy make up any sort of route...
You wo'nt be dissapointed i gaurentee

 

[sdk72]

I would spend more time in the mountains and, with a visit to Millau and the Gorges du Tarn, blat it back up France (or get back on the ferry )

The following ride report may give you some ideas.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274632

cheers cooperman, good read
I was looking for the 2 hour ferry back to poole but alas no can find, however i really dont fancy the calais dover, dover home riding as when i have done this in the car I know I just wanna go home and anything north of paris feels like this to me. sooooo, ferry from cherbourg or le havre might just be a solution

 

[sdk72]

I spent a week in the Pyraneese and would go back any time. The roads are quiet, 27 miles one day and passed 2 cars. Most of the roads are good quality tarmac with some amazing hairpins. Just go,ride and dont realy make up any sort of route...
You wo'nt be dissapointed i gaurentee

rocky - whilst in the pyrenees, going to stick to the lets see where we end up plan as have read so many good things on here about this part of the world.
apart from blois, am struggling for motivation for elsewhere, let alone going to dover, but also dont fancy doing same ferry back, would feel like i'd only done half a job !

 

[Wapping]

Also , can anyone recommend any comms kits, as I can see us numptys getting split up or lost and it would be nice to take the piss out of each other whilst doing so

Don't bother with it.

Anything any good is reasonably expensive and all you'll get is some bod bleating in your ear that they want wee every two minutes. The best range you'll get is about a mile, which ain't much use if you are lost.

Invest in a decent map or two (cheap) and have a mobile phone.

 

[Taff]

Blois is a lovely place and .... on the south side of the bridge with great views over the river into the old town.

Funnily enough that was the view we had when we rode up. I remember thinking, how come we don't hear more about this place? TBH until we ended up there (one of the others had booked the hotel) I hadn't even heard of it.

 

[sdk72]

Blois is a lovely place and is my usual first stop going south, I've stayed in this hotel every time, the fist time as a teenager when travelling with my parents and probably a dozen times since. It's very basic but proper old skool French and, well, I love it

It's just on the south side of the bridge with great views over the river into the old town.

Andres

whats the hotel called, and wheres your bike parked

 

[peterc]

Agree with Hops, the N260, one of the best roads anywhere, didnt rate Andorra tho, although its a route back into France on your way home. Like like Wapping said, dont bother with comms, just make sure you have a mobile phone and / or a contingency plan to meet somewhere if you do in the unlikely event of getting split up, have used the last fuel stop as a plan or your next destination for example. Have a brill holiday.

 

[peterc]

whats the hotel called, and wheres your bike parked

Hotel Le Pavillon I think, had a look on Street View, might use that one day as a holiday route, looks like plenty room on the pavement for the bikes too.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

whats the hotel called, and wheres your bike parked

Haven't a clue about the name of the Hotel but you can't miss it, come over the bridge with the old town behind you and it's right there on the corner - the building with Hotel above it in the picture No need to book, I've never had a problem getting a room, I think it's even too basic and old skool for most French

This is where the bike gets parked

in the basement at the back of the wine cellar accessed from behind the Hotel. If there's a few bikes there's a secure yard at the back.

Andres

 

[tommymoto]

If your looking for a base in the Pyrenees I recommend 3 valleys at Argeles-Gazost,

http://www.l3v.fr/
from the 7th Sept onwards for a week there will be loads of BMW's basing there, including me

That's funny 'cos I'm there myself that week!

 

[sdk72]

excellent, just google mapped it street view style like other poster did and the bloody hotel now has green signage, good job i checked first ! cheers again

Haven't a clue about the name of the Hotel but you can't miss it, come over the bridge with the old town behind you and it's right there on the corner - the building with Hotel above it in the picture No need to book, I've never had a problem getting a room, I think it's even too basic and old skool for most French

This is where the bike gets parked

in the basement at the back of the wine cellar accessed from behind the Hotel. If there's a few bikes there's a secure yard at the back.

Andres