UK to Portugal via France & Spain December/January advice

[realboss7669]

I got a bit confused there, we are arriving in Cherbourg Saturday the 13th at 18.30 I dont see much point heading out that late but if it's a OK weather wise I will make a bit of progress.
Leave it to the Irish section to act as pathfinders for this mission.

Ah! We leave the following week so I wouldnt expect you to hang around and wait for us!!!

Yep, you can be the pathfinders and advise on what the route is like! Thanks mate!

 

[realboss7669]

20C sunny and not a cloud in the sky here.

Btw, you might find this page on the DGT site easier to read if you don't know much Spanish - http://infocar.dgt.es/etraffic/TiemposDeRecorrido. You can see at a glance which mountain passes (black triangles/puertos de montaña) are still closed, or difficult to get through.

Wow another bit of weather ammunition! I feel much better prepared now!

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Patzx12, it isn't looking good for your trip down Patrick Rain or sleet up to around Bourge on Sun/Mon then snow all the way through Millau to Lodeve!
The A75 was closed for a time yesterday from Lodeve on up, I guess to clear the snow on the steep bits.
I don't think there will be enough snow to stop you but it won't be pleasant. Who knows, maybe things will improve

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

The problem with the A75 wasn't snow, it was a rock fall and was cleared fairly quickly.

 

[ogni]

Hi, Ongi, where you heading? I can see a south Europe party coming on.
Hi Reaboss, My ferry crossing is a long one I will arrive in Cherbourg on Sat at 6.30pm depending on the weather i would like to make some progress Sat night.
I want to make a pit stop in Torrevieja. PM me your mobile, If our scedules connect we could do a few km together.
Regards, Pat

Hi Pat,
i m heading for Malaga, sailing from Dover on the 26th.
Then just leg it South.
All the best on on your trip.
Ogni

 

[ogni]

Special treatment for you, I am the Yorkshire Ambassador down here!

Great,
Whats the special treatment ?
Ogni

 

[patzx12]

Hi Ogni,
We will have to try and hook up down there, I will pm you my mobile No:

 

[ogni]

Hi Ogni,
We will have to try and hook up down there, I will pm you my mobile No:

Great stuff,
I expect to be down there 29-30th.
Pm on the way.
Ogni

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Great,
Whats the special treatment ?
Ogni

You get to eat lots of slimy sh*t that the locals eat!

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

The weather forecast remains the same, ride safe Patzx12. See you Sun/Mon

 

[patzx12]

We are in Rosslare waiting to sail, the ride down from Galway was ok driving rain and wind but nothing to trouble the GT. the temp was 10c. one other intrepid biker here on a kawa es500 and no we geat, ahh the joy of youth.

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

I spoke with Patzx12 early this afternoon, they were near Tours and making good progress. Unfortunately that may change as the A75 has been closed to clear snow.

 

[ogni]

Thanks for the update,
i m only 12 days behind.
Cant wait to set of .

Ogni

 

[realboss7669]

Trip

Yeah and we are leaving this Friday so will be interesting to see what weather was like for them.

We are considering east side of Pyrenees but our preferred and more direct route to Portugal would be west coast via St Jean De Luz, Burgos Salamanca, etc. Just keeping my eye on snow warnings though as the west coast and east coast get quite different weather!

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Patzx12 was slowed down by a big snow storm that hit central France and closed the A75. He is back on the road and will probably sleep in Millau tonight. I have just been up by the bridge taking my daughter to school in St. Affrique, the road is clear and very pretty.

 

[Dakota XT]

Spain

The AP-66 toll motorway between León with Asturias has reopened.

30 mountain passes were closed by snow last night, and the DGT traffic authority was advising all drivers in the north of the country to carry tyre chains as the snowline dropped to 300 metres.

Snow chairs are also required on the A92 at La Mora in Granada.

 

[realboss7669]

Based on reviewing the weather sites I am thinking I will go LeHavre, down to Poitiers, then cut east through Limoges to Toulouse then on to Barcelona.

West of Pyrenees via San Sebastian, Burgos and Salamanca would be a more direct route for me but Burgos and Vitoria look likely to have much worse weather on that northern facing coast.

3 days to go so weather could change. Not so bothered about the cold, just dont want heavy rain, snow or ice.

 

[Hustler]

Based on reviewing the weather sites I am thinking I will go LeHavre, down to Poitiers, then cut east through Limoges to Toulouse then on to Barcelona.

West of Pyrenees via San Sebastian, Burgos and Salamanca would be a more direct route for me but Burgos and Vitoria look likely to have much worse weather on that northern facing coast.

3 days to go so weather could change. Not so bothered about the cold, just dont want heavy rain, snow or ice.

We're about an hour and a bit west of Limoges and it's very cold at the moment.
But it is getting warmer over the next few days.
Warmer being double figures, just.
Have a good trip.

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Based on reviewing the weather sites I am thinking I will go LeHavre, down to Poitiers, then cut east through Limoges to Toulouse then on to Barcelona.

West of Pyrenees via San Sebastian, Burgos and Salamanca would be a more direct route for me but Burgos and Vitoria look likely to have much worse weather on that northern facing coast.

3 days to go so weather could change. Not so bothered about the cold, just dont want heavy rain, snow or ice.

We must be looking at different weather sites, I would come straight down the A71 then the A75 and onto the A9. The forecast is good for a week.
Patzx12 is in Marbella!

 

[realboss7669]

Actually I think I will take your advice and follow your route!!

A71, A75 it is then!

Thanks