Spring in the Picos & Pyrenees

[Tricky]

Was hot, humid (25-30 degrees even in the mountains) but brilliant.

Sunday 17/05

The plan was to get the Plymouth to Santander Ferry on Sunday 17/05 spend a few days in the Picos and then go on to wherever or whatever took our fancy. The only downside being that we had to be back in Calais for a week on the following Wednesday (27/05).

Ignoring any beauty pageants taking place in Swindon etc we headed direct for Plymouth and were quickly ushered onto the Port Aven ready for the 4pm sailing.

Leaving Plymouth

Once out in the channel it got a bit choppy and someone had a few of these and then someone did a bit of this

It was better up at the front.

A good nights kip (ie being rocked to sleep like a baby) did the trick.

Monday 18/05

Santander Monday morning.

Down below we were last in the queue behind the Nottingham Chapter of the Hells Angels. Yo bruvers

Once off the boat we headed for an old favourite on here the Hotel Oso near Potes. No GSers present this time and the staff said it had been a very quiet start to the season. Maybe its the credit crunch...

The welcoming committee.

Tuesday 19/05

Started cloudy so we decided to check out the cable car at Fuente De. Last year when we came this way I wimped out of it due to my phobia of heights. This year I was determined to “Face the Fear”.

All parked up.

Here she cometh.

I shut my eyes for 2 mins and due to the CC being full of younger people than me, resisted the inclination to scream like a big girl.

Made it. Yippee!

The views made it worth all the palaver.

Steady... I may be up here but I aint gonna stand on that thang.

Julie didn't either.

Snowww...

Very nice… BUT we wanted to go riding so what goes up etc etc

Bugger

No problem.

As a reward I treated myself to the lovely N621 to Riano.

We then followed the sweeping N625 towards Cangus de Onis and Covadonga.

We stopped half way for a coffee at this little shop.

Shortly afterwards we got held up in an RTA, luckily no one was hurt, but the road was completely blocked. It meant turning back and returning to Potes and the Hotel.

Covadonga and its pink Basilica would have to wait until tomorrow.

 

[Tricky]

On the way back to the Oso I cuddled an old friend.

I know you just can't bare to look at the associated ugliness of a GS and a V Strom together.

Wednesday 20/05

After breakfast we packed up and headed north for Panes. We then picked up the stunning AS114 heading west to Cangas.

Empty roads and sweeping bends and err lots of sunshine.

Perfect

We stopped for a break at Cangas de Onis.

Next up was to go see the beautiful pink basilica at Covadonga.

We spent so much time there that it was decided to spend the night in the locality. I did think about if the Monastery next door had any spare rooms

I don't think Julie would have been impressed with me taking her away to romantic Spain, then disappearing into a Monastery however...

Luckily for me the Hotel next door had rooms and not to pricy either (65 euros inc breakfast).

Sweet.

More of the Church.

Lots of these little critters about.

And some strange feet. The empty spaces are where they've legged it...

Nice Chapel where you can pray and then throw flowers into the water below.

For Thursday we decided to head for the Pyrenees and use Jaca as a jumping off point.

 

[gwilly]

well done Richard, it looks like you all had a wonderful time.......

 

[Tricky]

well done Richard, it looks like you all had a wonderful time.......

Thanks John and hope all well with you. Not long to your little trip eh?


Thursday 21/05

We hit the motorway to Pamplona so we could spend maximum time in the Pyrenees, as the weather forecast was looking good.

Arrived at Jaca late afternoon after following the nice N240. We booked into the Hotel Mur which was cheapish... only downside being that we had to put the bikes in the underground tourist car park 1/2 mile away. Cost 10 euro's each for the night.

At least we had a good view of the fortress which looked Romanesque and Medieval. It also had it's own collection of Deer.

Friday 22/05

Leaving Jaca on the N330 we headed towards Sabinanigo and to pick up the N260. This road is great and follows the Pyrenees west to east on the Spanish side all the way to the Med.

A small detour on the A136 took us up to the pass at Portalet.

Lots of Frenchies come across the border for cheap booze and food.

Both the A136 and N260 are a joy to behold and we headed east to Ainsa.

A decent bolthole was found on the main road in Ainsa. A group of Brit bikers on various sports tackle joined us. Everyone had enjoyed themselves.

Julie found a wall colour in the Hotel that even matched her hair.

Saturday 23/05


Now we had a decision to make. The weather had turned misty and wet (but still very humid) on the Spanish side so I enquired at the tourist info about the weather on the northern French side? Err… no idea was the reply we only do Spain…

But its only 20 miles up the road? Never mind if its raining on one side of the mountains it will normally be ok on the other side…. yes??? no???

Oh bollocks, lets go north anyway.

Wet road but blue sky ahead.

Very nice on the French side.

Found this Hotel in St Lary- Soulan. Smelt of cats piss on the stairs but rooms where ok and it was cheap.

So we booked in for two nights

It was nice to get the panniers off the bike and we did the Col de Peyresourde and del Portillon in the afternoon.

Got back in time to see this lot having a singsong.

St Lary was ok,all be it a bit touristy.

I retired to the room to chill out.

A few cans of Leffe and Word mag.

 

[Tricky]

Sunday 24/05

More Cols!!!

First up is the Col de Aspin. On the road up we got mist and more mist. I kept thinking about the film Dumb and Dumber... ASPEN!!

Lloyd: I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen.
Harry: Oh, I don't know, Lloyd. The French are assholes.

Nice at the top mind. Lots of friendly mountain cows

If Aspin was good then the Col de Tourmalet was even better.

Lots of snow.

We went up a little side road to get higher.

Not bad only 700 metres less than the Stelvio.

But no go the other side.

Oh well more excuses for extra snowy pics.

We decended into the Andes.

Llamas anyone...

Nice Alpine flowers gave us a reality check.

Coffee at the Ski shops.

And cheap French fuel (yeah right... maybe in 1955 )

My friends had my lunch ready by a waterfall lower down.

Monday morning would see us start to head for home via Oradour-sur-Glane and the Loire Vally.

 

[Tricky]

Monday 25/05

Trying to keep off the autoroutes until Wednesday we followed the N21 via Auch, Agen, Bergerac and Perigueux. This road is a national route and made a change from the tight mountain routes of the previous few days.

From Perigueux we followed mainly D roads which although narrow in places were deserted.

Stopped for a break at Dinos Bar (? and Grill).

Thin Lizzy fans take note.

Nice painting on the wall. Well done Dino.

We reach Oradour by late afternoon. Am sure many on here will know what happened there on 10 June 1944. But for those who don't here's a link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oradour-sur-Glane

The new village was built after the war to replicate the old one.

View of the Church from the main street.

The other side.

There was a gathering strom as we viewed the ruins from the road. You can only enter the ruined village via the visitors centre (we would do that tomorrow).

Statue at the entrance to the new Oradour.

Tuesday 26/05

We went to the Visitors Centre and then into the ruins.

Walking around the ruins was incredibly moving and brought the true sadness of what happened into perspective.

No further words are necessary really.

Just like to add that if your ever nearby Oradour sur Glane is well worth a visit.

 

[Tricky]

We left Oradour at mid day and headed for Saumar (on the Loire) via Poitiers sticking to the national roads.

Found a cheap Hotel in Saumar near the railway station. The Hotel was run by a little gay man who let us park the bikes in his garage FOC.

Thanks pal.

Nice KTM near the Chateau.

Look I've been to France... again.

Wednesday was boring autoroute to Calais and the Tunnel. Nothing to see or report on this day. So move along please.

Report ends. Cheers

 

[OzMatt]

I hate you guys, always posting reports from the Pyrenees.

What's with the loafers, you'll make the orange crowd think we all wear them.

 

[Tricky]

What's with the loafers, you'll make the orange crowd think we all wear them.

Ah yes.

Leffe & Loafers are the new Pipe & Slippers.

 

[mermoto]

Great pics Tricky - particularly like the shot with the shoes and beer!

Mermoto

 

[Jeannot]

Great reports, great pics and look like you had a wonderful weather. May try to do the Loire Valley next year (wife permitting).
JC

 

[MattW]

Great report and pics

I dropped a lens cap of that viewing platform a couple of years ago - don't suppose you spotted it?

 

[bob the grizz]

trip

Looks like you had a great trip?

We did the pecos last year in June with the worst rain in 50 years, it's good to see what the area looks like in the sun, I think a return trip is due to appreciate it all
We did Oradour in 07 very moving, well worth the visit for any one who can make the trip.
Ride safe

 

[Hairnet600]

must do that

nice report how much was the ferry would you recommend plymouth rather than from portsmouth

 

[Mr K]

Leffe in cans??

What is the World coming to?

Lots of great memory jiggling pictures in there mate.

 

[Tricky]

must do that

nice report how much was the ferry would you recommend plymouth rather than from portsmouth

Just over £200 (one way). This includes an inside cabin for two. You can rough it in a reclining chair (steady... ) for about £150 I think.

It's the second time we've gone via Plymouth. Portsmouth is nearer (for us) but ? used take longer and involved an extra night on the boat.

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

 

[Gazzabart]

great report

wow great pics n write up