I think we need a new section… 
Ride report… in pictures… no need for any words
Libraries are full of typed out text.
Ride report… in pictures… no need for any words
Libraries are full of typed out text.
Spain, Figure of Eight 2025
- Thread starter wessie
- Start date
I think we need a new section…
Ride report… in pictures… no need for any words
Libraries are full of typed out text.
I was thinking of a wordy, smartarse reply but I can't be arsed. Beer and pinchos (as they spell it here) time
Pamplona to Siguenza today via two superb roads through gorges. First was the NA700 road west from Pamplona. At Logrono I picked up the LR250 marked as the Ruta Motera as shown in
The Ruta leaves the LR250 which then becomes very bumpy. I suggest you take the Ruta! I progressed.
I did end up at 1390m on a Puerto Sancho Leza. Nasty broken surface with gravel in loads of hairpins. No views due to trees.
Siguenza Parador nice once you have navigated the steep, cobbled streets. WiFi only works in the bar.
Photobomb from the gorges and hotel
The Ruta leaves the LR250 which then becomes very bumpy. I suggest you take the Ruta! I progressed.
I did end up at 1390m on a Puerto Sancho Leza. Nasty broken surface with gravel in loads of hairpins. No views due to trees.
Siguenza Parador nice once you have navigated the steep, cobbled streets. WiFi only works in the bar.
Photobomb from the gorges and hotel
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Nice Trip, Great looking bike, I like the satin finish Paint though I'm partial to the Dakar colours - what are you thoughts on the bike?
I'll do an update to my initial impressions given in the Moto Guzzi section when I get home next month.
I rode from Salamanca today to Ciudad Real via some roads through the Sierras west of Madrid, including Gredos. The N502 is a favourite road over Puerto del Picos. Very warm at 35C, although a lovely 25C at the Puerto where the cops kindly fucked off from the shady spot for me.
Gredos peaks snow covered despite ambient temperature in the valleys.
Salamanca worth a day off the bike. Ciudad Real a nice spot for an overnight. Both of have pleasant Playa Major to sit and watch the world go by.
Gredos peaks snow covered despite ambient temperature in the valleys.
Salamanca worth a day off the bike. Ciudad Real a nice spot for an overnight. Both of have pleasant Playa Major to sit and watch the world go by.
Attachments
Only 150 miles today but slow going once crossed into Andalusia. They even have signs up,saying shit road for 26km. Bit of a ket down after the CR500 in the C. Real area with brand new surface. Very warm, 37C out on the road, 40C in Cordoba. Roads not very inspiring, just lots of aromatic pine trees with signs saying Mirador 100m on foot. Not today in this heat. Reservoirs really full due to rain a few weeks ago.
Some pics from the roads from Vega de Pas to Santander over cols and a gorge, Puerto Braguia and Caracol then along the Miera gorge
Vega de Pas is a good place for a last night, Hotel Don Guzman. Dine nearby in El Cafe where they do a mean white bean stew or soup starter. I had the Mountain stew that had black pudding and chorizo.
Pleasant lunch in Santander arriving about 1230. Checked in the bike, parked under cover and walked across the road. Boarding pass gives gate entry. Returned around 1430 when the last bikes were heading out of the inbound ferry. Once they cleared passports we were pushed through an on board. Showered and in the bar by 1530, sailed at 1610.
Vega de Pas is a good place for a last night, Hotel Don Guzman. Dine nearby in El Cafe where they do a mean white bean stew or soup starter. I had the Mountain stew that had black pudding and chorizo.
Pleasant lunch in Santander arriving about 1230. Checked in the bike, parked under cover and walked across the road. Boarding pass gives gate entry. Returned around 1430 when the last bikes were heading out of the inbound ferry. Once they cleared passports we were pushed through an on board. Showered and in the bar by 1530, sailed at 1610.
Nice pics and the bike looks good. Thanks.
Trip summary:
Cantabria - I started and finished the trip in the Cantabrian Mountains, the area east of the Picos and so much nicer in my view as the roads are better and quieter. Quite possibly my favourite part of Spain. Limpias, Ormas and Vega de Pas are good bases for daytrips into these mountains. See accommodation section for hotels recommended.
Pamplona: a pleasant city and in range to loop into the Pyrenees, although low cloud meant I decided to change my planned route. I will return to Puerto La Pierre Saint Martin on a clear day when I can enjoy the views. I used Hotel Yoldi in the city centre, free parking on the street nearby which I am happy to use in that part of Spain. Basic hotel with popular cafe/bar frequented by local business types at lunchtime and pensioners after 6pm. Decent breakfast.
Salamanca: really nice city. A combination of being very touristy and a very young vibe from the huge student population. Decent value compared to Cordoba that applies a big tourist tax. Underwhelmed by the Hotel Casino del Tormes. Seems on its last legs with very few guests. The casino and restaurant are not open and the city has pedestrianised what was an adjacent public car park. I had to park in a nearby street in a bay for 3 bikes which was full when I arrived. The motor museum next door is good for an hour or two. 3 euros for over 60s!
Sierra de Gredos: another favourite area in Spain and I rode along the excellent AV941from El Barco de Ávila to where it meets the N502, then rode over the Puerto del Pico and onwards to Ciudad Real.
Ciudad Real: nice enough if not spectacular city. Hotel Sercotel Guidiana was good with free garage parking, cafe bar and restaurant. Plaza Mayor was a pleasant place to sit for a drink and tapas. Seemed to be few tourists, just local families going about their day in the early evening. By now I was noticeably ailing, thinking the spring flowers (hillsides covered in yellow broom shrubs in bloom) had caused my hay fever to flare up. It was also getting very hot, 35C today.
Roads in Andalusia: they are in a pretty shocking condition compared to Castilla–La Mancha. Even the short section of toll free motorway I used to get into Cordoba was crap. You even get to one point where they warn you "shit road for 26km" but I was in the middle of nowhere in the Sierra de Andújar and had no alternative route other than backtracking for many km. Glad I had the V85 not the RS!
Cordoba: an impressive place but rather over-run with British and American tourists in the daytime and pretty quiet in the later evening. I was not able to get the best from it as I was quite unwell by now, I had a chesty cold not hay fever. 40C temperatures not great with wheezy breathing. A few short walks to view the sites but I did not do any tours. Glad I had a spare day to do not much. The Hotel Central Cordoba had a good location but was a pretty basic place but at least the aircon worked. Very expensive for the standard. It has a parking garage if you are willing to pay €21 euros, or park in the street about 200m away. I used the garage. If I visit Cordoba again, it will be a winter city break!
Over the next 2 days I had planned pretty long routes through natural parks, Sierras etc but being quite poorly, I took the free motorway to Alarcon. Impressive Parador in a castle over a deep gorge. Underwhelming as a hotel that no longer represents good value, especially the food. Working aircon would have been nice. With rain about and still unwell, I took the motorway to Santo Domingo de Silos too. I was glad not to be a few miles west as there was a spectacular lightning over the Sierras north of Madrid. I only caught the edge of the storm fortunately, for about 20 minutes. Just before reaching Ste Domingo I caught another much heavier storm. I dived into a petrol station, filled up and stayed there for a half hour with a local chap on a GS doing the same! See accommodation reviews.
Feeling a bit better, I rode up through the Sierra de la Demanda and Arlazon Gorge before heading up through some excellent roads north of Burgos into Cantabria and the lovely Vega de Pas. Thanks to the Garmin, rather than take the route through the valley, I was sent up a pass to 1200m into cloud. 15km at very slow speed using the Garmin to prewarn about sharp bends. Hotel reviewed in accommodation.
Last day as posted above on a couple of passes between Vega de Pas and the coast.
Weather: quite a variation: not much rain fortunately but quite chilly in the first few days with 7C mornings. 30C by Salamanca, 40C in Cordoba and back to mid 20s in Cantabria and Santander.
Brittany Ferries: easy check in, bikes strapped down by crew, both Plymouth and Santander are better than they used to be with quicker passport control. Pont Aven is showing its age. Some of the fittings are not great. The bow door refused to open on arrival in Santander, 90 minute delay whilst the spun the ship around and got everyone out via the stern. Loose light switches in the cabin, intermittent flush switch on the toilet. Unimpressed by the food: they use decent meat in a goulash for example but have no flavour in the sauce. Seemed to be the same whether using the main restaurant or cafeteria.
Time of year: this was my first trip in May/June. I usually go after 20 Sept into early October. Much of a muchness, both fairly quiet times of the year with highly variable weather. I have had 40C this year in late May and in early October in previous trips, where up to 30C is more typical.
I have many more pictures which I need to sort through and might post some in due course.
Cantabria - I started and finished the trip in the Cantabrian Mountains, the area east of the Picos and so much nicer in my view as the roads are better and quieter. Quite possibly my favourite part of Spain. Limpias, Ormas and Vega de Pas are good bases for daytrips into these mountains. See accommodation section for hotels recommended.
Pamplona: a pleasant city and in range to loop into the Pyrenees, although low cloud meant I decided to change my planned route. I will return to Puerto La Pierre Saint Martin on a clear day when I can enjoy the views. I used Hotel Yoldi in the city centre, free parking on the street nearby which I am happy to use in that part of Spain. Basic hotel with popular cafe/bar frequented by local business types at lunchtime and pensioners after 6pm. Decent breakfast.
Salamanca: really nice city. A combination of being very touristy and a very young vibe from the huge student population. Decent value compared to Cordoba that applies a big tourist tax. Underwhelmed by the Hotel Casino del Tormes. Seems on its last legs with very few guests. The casino and restaurant are not open and the city has pedestrianised what was an adjacent public car park. I had to park in a nearby street in a bay for 3 bikes which was full when I arrived. The motor museum next door is good for an hour or two. 3 euros for over 60s!
Sierra de Gredos: another favourite area in Spain and I rode along the excellent AV941from El Barco de Ávila to where it meets the N502, then rode over the Puerto del Pico and onwards to Ciudad Real.
Ciudad Real: nice enough if not spectacular city. Hotel Sercotel Guidiana was good with free garage parking, cafe bar and restaurant. Plaza Mayor was a pleasant place to sit for a drink and tapas. Seemed to be few tourists, just local families going about their day in the early evening. By now I was noticeably ailing, thinking the spring flowers (hillsides covered in yellow broom shrubs in bloom) had caused my hay fever to flare up. It was also getting very hot, 35C today.
Roads in Andalusia: they are in a pretty shocking condition compared to Castilla–La Mancha. Even the short section of toll free motorway I used to get into Cordoba was crap. You even get to one point where they warn you "shit road for 26km" but I was in the middle of nowhere in the Sierra de Andújar and had no alternative route other than backtracking for many km. Glad I had the V85 not the RS!
Cordoba: an impressive place but rather over-run with British and American tourists in the daytime and pretty quiet in the later evening. I was not able to get the best from it as I was quite unwell by now, I had a chesty cold not hay fever. 40C temperatures not great with wheezy breathing. A few short walks to view the sites but I did not do any tours. Glad I had a spare day to do not much. The Hotel Central Cordoba had a good location but was a pretty basic place but at least the aircon worked. Very expensive for the standard. It has a parking garage if you are willing to pay €21 euros, or park in the street about 200m away. I used the garage. If I visit Cordoba again, it will be a winter city break!
Over the next 2 days I had planned pretty long routes through natural parks, Sierras etc but being quite poorly, I took the free motorway to Alarcon. Impressive Parador in a castle over a deep gorge. Underwhelming as a hotel that no longer represents good value, especially the food. Working aircon would have been nice. With rain about and still unwell, I took the motorway to Santo Domingo de Silos too. I was glad not to be a few miles west as there was a spectacular lightning over the Sierras north of Madrid. I only caught the edge of the storm fortunately, for about 20 minutes. Just before reaching Ste Domingo I caught another much heavier storm. I dived into a petrol station, filled up and stayed there for a half hour with a local chap on a GS doing the same! See accommodation reviews.
Feeling a bit better, I rode up through the Sierra de la Demanda and Arlazon Gorge before heading up through some excellent roads north of Burgos into Cantabria and the lovely Vega de Pas. Thanks to the Garmin, rather than take the route through the valley, I was sent up a pass to 1200m into cloud. 15km at very slow speed using the Garmin to prewarn about sharp bends. Hotel reviewed in accommodation.
Last day as posted above on a couple of passes between Vega de Pas and the coast.
Weather: quite a variation: not much rain fortunately but quite chilly in the first few days with 7C mornings. 30C by Salamanca, 40C in Cordoba and back to mid 20s in Cantabria and Santander.
Brittany Ferries: easy check in, bikes strapped down by crew, both Plymouth and Santander are better than they used to be with quicker passport control. Pont Aven is showing its age. Some of the fittings are not great. The bow door refused to open on arrival in Santander, 90 minute delay whilst the spun the ship around and got everyone out via the stern. Loose light switches in the cabin, intermittent flush switch on the toilet. Unimpressed by the food: they use decent meat in a goulash for example but have no flavour in the sauce. Seemed to be the same whether using the main restaurant or cafeteria.
Time of year: this was my first trip in May/June. I usually go after 20 Sept into early October. Much of a muchness, both fairly quiet times of the year with highly variable weather. I have had 40C this year in late May and in early October in previous trips, where up to 30C is more typical.
I have many more pictures which I need to sort through and might post some in due course.
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