UK to Portugal via France & Spain December/January advice

[realboss7669]

Making this trip Dec 19th through to 10th Jan. Can anyone give any advice on weather conditions to be expected etc. I have driven this route and ridden it a number of times but not in Dec/Jan.

We will go via St Jean De Luz to bypass Pyrenees potential major extreme weather zones but I have been caught even here in bad storms. Just wondered if anyone had been through this and any advice.

I have a Hein Gericke PSX XCR suit and my missus has the best of the few ladies HG suits available. Hers has full insulation where mine doesnt. Cant afford a Master V yet so will be wearing lots of thermal underlayers, plus have heated grips and buying heated gloves for the good lady!

Any advice welcome though as I say.

Cheers

 

[Dakota XT]

It depends how far south you're heading in Spain, but for southern areas you can expect day time temperatures of 5-15C with lots of sunshine, to torrential rain with flash floods and everything in between.

At 8am this morning it was 2C, but by 3pm this afternoon it was 28C. Two weeks ago it rained enough over 3 days to fill our (then empty) 1.25m deep pool.

 

[bingbong]

Well in northern europe I guess its guaranteed to be cold. All you can hope for is no rain. Last year in Portugal (Lisbon area) the weather was nice and very sunny except for xmas day. I remember it being about 15c during the day and half that at night. But then again it could rain for 2 weeks non stop aswell
You'll have fun anyway
Where in Portugal are you going to?

 

[tommymoto]

I have crossed the Pyrenees in January in a car and it was really heavy snowfall. Although the snow ploughs are very good they keep the traffic moving but I am not sure about doing it on a bike.

 

[Crapaud]

I did exactly this trip a few years ago when we rode down to Lisbon for start of Dakar. We took ferry from Poole to Caen. During crossing on Dec 27th we noticed snow starting to settle on outside deck. By the time we arrived in France there was thick snow everywhere and we struggled to even get bike up ramp to passport control. Abandoned bike at Customs post and ran across road to get last room in hotel. Following morning, French Police would not allow any bikes or lorries to leave as there was thick snow on roads. French were parking up all lorries on hardshoulder of roads. I know British over-react to a few mm of snow but French only act when it is serious.
Eventually at lunchtime, the police relented and let us leave. We rode at about 10 mph sliding everywhere. Took ages just to get to next town. Once south of Loire it improved and normal speeds possible. Stopped near St Jean de Luz in early hours of morning for a few hours sleep at pre-booked Formula 1 hotel. Left at 5 am and made it to Lisbon that evening, around 1,500 miles in day and a half. Very hardcore but memorable.
Return trip was almost as bad. Madrid to Caen around 800 miles in one hit sharing roads with snow ploughs and gritters.

Top tip - make sure your heated grips work and consider investing in heated jacket.

 

[Steptoe]

I've ridden the bike across France and down through central Spain in late december and back in january.

On the way down the Bordeaux area was -6 , apparently it was unusual for it to be that cold , but it does get very chilly.
No trouble sticking to the main auto route across the edge of Pyrenees.

Northern Spain was also very cold. Vitoria was bitterly cold, and the area around Burgos the roads were covered with thick ice, small comfort seeing the snow/ice clearing lorries constantly on the road.

I was very comfortable with muffs, guacho and heated clothing.

Burgos. Thick ice on the roads and fog. 4.30am Bring it on. Madrid for breakfast and it had warmed up no end. Torremolinos for tea and it was even hotter.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Well I suppose it could be crisp and sunny, but I've ridden through Northern Spain several times around that time of year and experienced nothing but extreme cold. Don't take any notice of weather forecasts for Bilbao as that's at sea level. As you climb away from the coast the temperature plummets.

Thermal underwear, heated jacket, gouchos and handlebar muffs for me.

Tim

 

[Dakota XT]

Seeing the snow chains reminded me that if there is snow on a mountain pass in Spain, the police won't allow any vehicles through that don't have snow chains on. If there's a lot of snow, they will shut the passes completely, so plan your route according to the weather.

We had some bad weather here about 2-3 weeks ago (didn't you get caught in it Tim) and there were some villages in northern Spain completely cut off with 2m drifts of snow.

 

[realboss7669]

Weather

Thanks to all of you for the advice. I am heading to Lagos in the Algarve and am used to the weather in Portugal and southern Spain but its the Pyrenees area that I am most concerned about (including the area several hundred miles either side)

Hmm, I think I may have to invest in a heated jacket as well for the missus and I

Guess its all part of the adventure, although I am not careless so will be very wary of conditions.

Cheers again

 

[patzx12]

I will probably be heading down to the Costa about a week before you.
I have done quite a few trips on bikes and driven down a few times in December - January and I never experienced weather bad enough to stop you riding. I was in Andorra in December 03 and the roads were clear. I was riding in the Algarve last Christmas and we got plenty of rain but no cold and the dry days were like an Irish spring.
I would only travel by day.
The weather is a lottery as you say part of the adventure.
Should be OK early december in France and if January is bad an option is to leave the bike in storage and get a cheap flight home returning when the weather clears.
I ride every day and I am really enjoying the cold weather, there is something clean and fresh about it (West coast Ireland).

 

[naza]

help in Portugal

Hi RealBoss7669

Should you need anything while riding trough Portugal, send-me an email before leaving, and i'll guive you my GSM number, wich you can use to call me in case of any need, or if you just want to make a "pit stop" on these lattitudes while heading south. I'm right in the center on the coastline, about 90k north of Lisbon. It's a very nice little village, very friendly, and i'm allways glad to have some GS riders company for a beer.

miguel@azevedoecastro.eu

Cheers!

MAC

 

[realboss7669]

Thanks Patzx12 thats very useful information too. We have decided to take headed gloves only, but in addition to our thermal motobike suits we're heading to M&S to buy ourselves some good old fashioned thermal long johns and vests. We will be stopping quite often for coffees and food so should be ok.

Hi RealBoss7669

Should you need anything while riding trough Portugal, send-me an email before leaving, and i'll guive you my GSM number, wich you can use to call me in case of any need, or if you just want to make a "pit stop" on these lattitudes while heading south. I'm right in the center on the coastline, about 90k north of Lisbon. It's a very nice little village, very friendly, and i'm allways glad to have some GS riders company for a beer.

miguel@azevedoecastro.eu

Cheers!

MAC

Hey Mac, thanks for this bud am always up for a nice cool beer, especially a Portuguese one! Very kind offer to assist us if we need it, and greatly appreciated

We might not get to you on the route down as we are on a deadline to reach Lagos before Christmas Eve, but on the way back I may get in touch.

I grew up in Portugal (age 7 through to age 17) and for me its home just as much as the UK is. First thing I will be doing is getting a (meia de leite) coffee (bem escuro), then heading to our favourite restaurant for Bife a Nort (tender steaks cooked in the style from the north of Portugal) which are served with those mega size tasty chicken sausages! Great winter food!

My wife's F650 GS is at my parents apartment in Lagos as the waterpump failed this summer when we arrived. I have it booked in for a repair over Christmas so she will be riding down on the back of my 1150 GSA and then riding back on her own bike.

Thanks again and hope to hook up with you on our journey.

Best regards

 

[patzx12]

Hi, Handlebar muffs do a great job and I think they are for sale on here.
just wondering why do you go through France? when you guy's have to UK - Spain direct ferries?

 

[realboss7669]

Hi, Handlebar muffs do a great job and I think they are for sale on here.
just wondering why do you go through France? when you guy's have to UK - Spain direct ferries?

Well, for us its the price, and the journey. UK to Spain return is usually £400-500. Bay of Biscay can be notorious for bad crossings too, and I prefer to spend more time riding than feeling sick!

However, we use LD Ferries which are fairly new but offer a brilliant and reasonably priced crossing. Most of the kitchen and restaurant staff are Portuguese as well, and they are efficient, attentative, and the food is much better. Been on a few other ferries with other companies and been greeted by restaurant staff who are bored as its just a job. The restaurants can be aweful in terms of food quality. There are other companies who have good standards but often you pay a premium. LD are reasonably priced in my experience.

If LD did a UK to Spain ferry I would probably go on it as long as it wasnt too expensive.

Cheers for the advice on handlebar muffs! Will look them up.

 

[zzrman]

I can strongly recommend taking in the N502/EX316 between Talavera de la Reina and Casa de Don Pedro or the N502 and then taking a right onto the EX 102 through Guadalupe and on to Merida.

 

[realboss7669]

I can strongly recommend taking in the N502/EX316 between Talavera de la Reina and Casa de Don Pedro or the N502 and then taking a right onto the EX 102 through Guadalupe and on to Merida.

Thanks very much I will look it up. Was it dust track or a-road? Thanks for the tip. I love exploring around Spain and Portugal.

 

[Dakota XT]

I know you're still a while off your trip, but the weather for Northern Spain today is:

The wintery conditions seen in the north and centre of the country are now forecast to head towards the South East.

Heavy snowfalls are complicating traffic flow in the north of Spain as the rain there moves south to be replaced by colder temperatures and freezing.

Tyre chains are needed on nearly 40 mountain passes of the main road network because of the snow, 12 passes are closed completely, and five regions of the country remain on yellow alert for harsh weather this morning - Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid.

Cataluña and the Baleraic Isalnds are also on alert for high winds and possible storms this morning.

The treat of flooding has receded in the Basque Country as the rain heads south.

The Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET, is forecasting snow tomorrow in the SE of the mainland above 700/900 metres and moderate freezing temperatures in the centre and north.

Heavy rain is forecast for later in the south of Andalucía and in the area of the strait.

 

[patzx12]

It may be better for me to take the Millau - Barcelona - Malaga route ?

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

It may be better for me to take the Millau - Barcelona - Malaga route ?

It is OK at the moment but can change quickly, gorgeous here but cold. Millau is cold today but no snow on the Larzac. The mail problem with that route is around Clermont Ferrand. Give me a shout nearer your departure date and I will check for you.

 

[realboss7669]

It is OK at the moment but can change quickly, gorgeous here but cold. Millau is cold today but no snow on the Larzac. The mail problem with that route is around Clermont Ferrand. Give me a shout nearer your departure date and I will check for you.

Would anyone recommend me taking tyre chains?? Plan is to blast my way through France and Spain without exploring too much as got to reach the Algarve by Christmas Eve. The word 'blast' may not be well suited though if there's snow and ice!!

We do have a backup plan in the form of a people carrier with tow hook and trailer ; as per my original posts although we are going to visit parents for Christmas in Portugal, in doing so we are bringing my wifes motorbike (F650GS single cylinder) back to the UK after we were forced to ditch it there with waterpump failure.

Although my wife is a real tomboy I see no point in trying to be a tough guy by riding through thick snow if it puts her safety at risk too. Hence I think we will monitor the weather a day or so before we are due to leave (19th December) and if its looking real bad we may opt to take the people carrier and trailer. Will just have to change our ferry booking!!

However we have set our hearts on riding, and have muffs (spare set for the missus' bike too!), heated inner soles, and thermal underclothing ready