Spain September 2025

[Phil Magill]

Day 18



Today will be a explore around the old town of La Rochelle, it was a lovely day and I had planned a visit to the aquarium but the place was rammed with people with long queues waiting to get in. So I carried on, looking at all the expensive yachts moored in the various marinas.



Count how many yachts are in this marina.

I was curious about this strange looking yacht.

After a Google search I found out it’s a very expensive racing yacht.

The old town is very nice.

No matter where you go in the world, you will always find an Irish bar.

 

[Phil Magill]

Day 19



Today I move further north to be close to Cherbourg, I set the satnav to a meandering route to Agneaux, near Saint-Lo where I stop for the night in the La Demeure de Cathy B&B ( GPS 49.115451 -1.109828 ) a lovely old house which seems to be popular with cyclists. The bike was locked in the garage, the room was really nice, it’s an old style B&B were you have to share the bathroom.

Cathy the host is a lovely woman who served up a lovely evening meal and breakfast.

 

[Phil Magill]

Day 20



I’ve about 60 miles to cover to get to Cherbourg, so I leave the B&B as late as I could because I received an email from Irish Ferries, the ferry was running 4 hours late because of the stormy weather, so I’m going to have to mooch around the Normandy WW2 sites to kill some time.



Spent a few hours in this place, it was quite good, I liked the Dakota Simulator, sitting in the aircraft waiting to parachute out.

Tank could do with a lick of paint.

Then I went to Omaha Beach, imagine landing on this beach on D Day, trying to make your way off a landing craft, machine gun bullets cutting down people all around you.

The American cemetery is so well looked after, lots of coach parties visiting, many American citizens and French teenage school kids being taught some history.

I love that no matter which angle you look through the crosses they are always in a straight line.

Remember the movie Saving Private Ryan, well when Speilberg was making the Band of Brothers series, 2 veterans, Bill Garnere and Babe Heffron told him a story about 2 brothers who were killed and that there was a third brother somewhere, so Speilberg hatched a plan for a movie.

In reality the US military knew where the third brother was and sent him home to promote the buying of War Bonds, so there was never a rescue mission.



Here’s the headstones of the two brothers who were killed.

With still some time to kill, the new sailing time is 8-30pm I went to the German cemetery at La Cambe, a more low key place but still well looked after.

I carried on slowly killing time because of the late ferry due to storm Amy and got to Cherbourg port at 7pm, the ferry didn’t dock until 8pm then it couldn’t be unloaded because the ramp had broken.

Eventually boarded the ship at 10-30pm and went straight to bed, I was shattered.



The night sky over Cherbourg.

The sailing wasn’t too bad, there was a bit of rolling of the ship.





A very enjoyable 3201 mile ride with a bit of excitement/uncertainty thrown in with the ferries.

 

[MAR.600]

Day 9



Today I will be crossing the border into Portugal, I packed my stuff onto the bike and went for breakfast in the hotel, when a bearded person came into the breakfast room wearing smart casuals and a pair of bright red stilettos with 6” heels, how strange.

It’s a strange old world, I’m just stuck in my old fashioned ways.



I set the satnav to take a curvy route to Manteigas in Portugal and off I went along almost traffic free country roads, it was a lovely day for riding.



It’s lunchtime and this is a lovely place to stop for lunch in a small café.



Not much water in this reservoir also.

Arrived at the Serravale B&B in Manteigas (GPS 40.395259 -7.538166) and was welcomed like a dear old friend by Elsa, the owner, a really lovely woman, who helps all her guests get the best out of their stay, giving advice on where to eat in the village or what walking trails to take and she makes sure all of her guests have her phone number in case they need help anywhere in Portugal.

The B&B has 2 double rooms and 2 twin rooms and the breakfast is all local produce.

Parking is on the pavement at the side of the B&B.

If you can’t move it then make a feature out of it.

Hi
Cracking write up. Your bike is it a low suspension f800gs. What kind of mpg did you manage on a smaller tank.

 

[Oldrat]

Great trip report Phil. Fab pictures too.

It looks like you and the BM are gelling.

 

[Phil Magill]

Hi
Cracking write up. Your bike is it a low suspension f800gs. What kind of mpg did you manage on a smaller tank.

Yes the bike is a low suspension, alas I'm cursed with short legs but I can get my feet to the ground with this bike

The last bike I was able to get both my feet to the ground was an old Honda XBR500 in the early 90's.

I was getting about 65 mpg but I tend to pootle around, my days of being a speed demon are long gone

 

[MAR.600]

Yes the bike is a low suspension, alas I'm cursed with short legs but I can get my feet to the ground with this bike

The last bike I was able to get both my feet to the ground was an old Honda XBR500 in the early 90's.

I was getting about 65 mpg but I tend to pootle around, my days of being a speed demon are long gone

Snap, just bought a low suspension same colour , broke my collar bone in September fell off my Yamaha tenere 700. Cracking bike bike far too tall for my 29" in seam lol.
This bike is more manageable just the smaller tank we tend to do big miles .
But may need a rethink .
Cheers
Martin

 

[HGS]

Great report and pictures

 

[Deise]

thanks for sharing

 

[Phil Magill]

Good stuff.
With regard to that bottle of water -are you sure that the water wasn’t free, but if you wanted to buy the actual bottle to take home with you then it’s €12 ?

I don't know, I didn't ask, I wasn't keen to have €12 added to my bill for a bottle of water, I'm just a poor old pensioner

 

[Headtester]

Some cracking photos and some really interesting looking places. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[Tinytim]

Enjoyed that trip too Phil as well as @Fluffmeister's