Might nick a few ideas from your trip btw dinan is a nice place to stop
Pyrenees & Normandy 2019
- Thread starter sven
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Great trip and photos! I've been to a few of these places but not for ages.
The Pont Valentre used to boast it was the most photographed thing outside of Paris. I think Millau viaduct might have overtaken it now.
Riding down the Tourmalet in very thick fog was one of the scariest things I've ever done.
Nice parador meal!
Carcassone should be cheesey, but it's impossible not to be impressed with the view as you approach.
The Pont Valentre used to boast it was the most photographed thing outside of Paris. I think Millau viaduct might have overtaken it now.
Riding down the Tourmalet in very thick fog was one of the scariest things I've ever done.
Nice parador meal!
Carcassone should be cheesey, but it's impossible not to be impressed with the view as you approach.
Some great pix....bring back many happy memories....BUT.....a serious chip deficit is evident....just not enough.
Day 9: Carcassonne - Rocamadour
I really enjoyed the ride from Carcassonne to Millau in 2007, but picked some very wiggly roads this time which turned out to be very narrow poorly surface roads through forests on the whole.
After lunch in Millau the roads up to Rocamadour were more open and faster. I managed to reach the hotel without seeing the town, so maximum brownie points were earned when Trudi got off the bike and walked around the corner to the front of the hotel. Dinner was a bit of a disappointment as it’s the first time I’ve received a well done steak in France; I wanted a medium and asking for well done normally guarantees a perfectly cooked medium, but this was a proper 1970’s well-done-almost-cremated Bernie Inn style steak
I really enjoyed the ride from Carcassonne to Millau in 2007, but picked some very wiggly roads this time which turned out to be very narrow poorly surface roads through forests on the whole.
After lunch in Millau the roads up to Rocamadour were more open and faster. I managed to reach the hotel without seeing the town, so maximum brownie points were earned when Trudi got off the bike and walked around the corner to the front of the hotel. Dinner was a bit of a disappointment as it’s the first time I’ve received a well done steak in France; I wanted a medium and asking for well done normally guarantees a perfectly cooked medium, but this was a proper 1970’s well-done-almost-cremated Bernie Inn style steak
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Lovely.....cracking pictures and the roads/scenery/weather/food/beer looked marvellous; just over 4 weeks for me & his lordship to be on the ferry to the Picos
You're going to Spain? You should've mentioned it.
Day 10: Rocamadour & Sarlat-La-Canada
A lazy day today which started off with two hot air balloons passing our bedroom window and then exploring Rocamadour. What a beautiful place to spend a morning.
We then headed over to Sarlat for the afternoon to explore the equally beautiful old town.
A perfect day was completed by a lovely pizza and some local wheat beer instead of blooody awful French food.
A lazy day today which started off with two hot air balloons passing our bedroom window and then exploring Rocamadour. What a beautiful place to spend a morning.
We then headed over to Sarlat for the afternoon to explore the equally beautiful old town.
A perfect day was completed by a lovely pizza and some local wheat beer instead of blooody awful French food.
I reckon you guys would love Albarracín near Teruel. Getting there the roads are awesome, the place itself is amazing and of course the Spanish the food ... 
Excellent pics and account. Brings back some happy memories.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
Day 10: Rocamadour - Chinon
I arrived too late to visit Oradour-sur-Glane in 2007, so made sure I visited this time. It’s a very somber place where over 600 men, women and children were executed by the Nazis in 1944 in retribution for the assassination of a German officer.
Chinon was the destination for the night as it was about halfway to Normandy and looked interesting. The Hotel Diderot was very quaint (and expensive!) and earned yet more brownie points. After some nice local beers at the hotel we headed into town for another Lebanese meal. The old town was pretty, but a little rundown.
I arrived too late to visit Oradour-sur-Glane in 2007, so made sure I visited this time. It’s a very somber place where over 600 men, women and children were executed by the Nazis in 1944 in retribution for the assassination of a German officer.
Chinon was the destination for the night as it was about halfway to Normandy and looked interesting. The Hotel Diderot was very quaint (and expensive!) and earned yet more brownie points. After some nice local beers at the hotel we headed into town for another Lebanese meal. The old town was pretty, but a little rundown.
Day 11: Chinon - St Aubin-Sur-Mer
The weather forecast in Normandy wasn’t good, but it was nice as we meandered down the Loire Valley to Saumur to visit the tank museum. They have a great collection, especially WW2 German stuff.
Afterwards the ride northwards was pretty dull on wide open and frequently straight roads. Apart from a quick shower around Le Mans we arrived at our campsite without getting wet, which was surprising as the BMW riders in the adjacent chalets had there bike gear drying in the evening sun. It’d been horrendous at times during the day apparently.
I’d actually stayed at the campsite before in 2010, but it hadn’t crossed my mind to book there for the D-Day 75th anniversary, so a big thank you to Mark (Easyrider5258) for starting his Open Invite thread as accommodation in Normandy was sold out a year in advance
The weather forecast in Normandy wasn’t good, but it was nice as we meandered down the Loire Valley to Saumur to visit the tank museum. They have a great collection, especially WW2 German stuff.
Afterwards the ride northwards was pretty dull on wide open and frequently straight roads. Apart from a quick shower around Le Mans we arrived at our campsite without getting wet, which was surprising as the BMW riders in the adjacent chalets had there bike gear drying in the evening sun. It’d been horrendous at times during the day apparently.
I’d actually stayed at the campsite before in 2010, but it hadn’t crossed my mind to book there for the D-Day 75th anniversary, so a big thank you to Mark (Easyrider5258) for starting his Open Invite thread as accommodation in Normandy was sold out a year in advance
Day 12: Normandy D-Day -1
I was really looking forward to today as parachute drops from Dakota’s were planned at Sannerville, which is as near Pegasus Bridge. We first had to battle past the traffic at Pegasus Bridge before visiting the Merville Batterie.
The crowds and traffic around Sannerville were horrendous, but it was worth the effort. I was slightly disappointed that there were only 12 Dak’s instead of the 30+ promised, but it was worth the effort
I was really looking forward to today as parachute drops from Dakota’s were planned at Sannerville, which is as near Pegasus Bridge. We first had to battle past the traffic at Pegasus Bridge before visiting the Merville Batterie.
The crowds and traffic around Sannerville were horrendous, but it was worth the effort. I was slightly disappointed that there were only 12 Dak’s instead of the 30+ promised, but it was worth the effort
Day 13: Normandy D-Day
I was awoken early by the WW2 re-enactors leaving the campsite before 5am in their jeeps and old bikes to get to Arromanches-les-Bains before the police blockaded the VIP routes.
After a fruitless attempt at trying to cross the closed roads (along with hundreds of other people - the police had to call for reinforcements at one major roundabout as the motorists were turning ugly), we had a wander around the Canadian encampment in the next village before returning to the chalet for a spot of lunch and some vino.
It was then a lazy afternoon walking 4 miles to the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer.....except that was also closed to the public for a special event for veterans and their families.
Oh well, back to St Aubin-Sur-Mer for tea
I was awoken early by the WW2 re-enactors leaving the campsite before 5am in their jeeps and old bikes to get to Arromanches-les-Bains before the police blockaded the VIP routes.
After a fruitless attempt at trying to cross the closed roads (along with hundreds of other people - the police had to call for reinforcements at one major roundabout as the motorists were turning ugly), we had a wander around the Canadian encampment in the next village before returning to the chalet for a spot of lunch and some vino.
It was then a lazy afternoon walking 4 miles to the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer.....except that was also closed to the public for a special event for veterans and their families.
Oh well, back to St Aubin-Sur-Mer for tea
Most enjoyable trip report so far,excellent pictures again. The Picos looks stunning, may plan a trip for my 60th next year. Looking forward to reading more Sven
You might want to check your map before planning a trip to the Picos as Sven didn’t go anywhere near them !!!.
Great pics though Sven.
If you want to score even more brownie points try the Lion d’Or in Romorantin sur Lanthenay.
Be surprised if it didn’t go down well - especially if you start with Champagne cocktails in the courtyard!
Be surprised if it didn’t go down well - especially if you start with Champagne cocktails in the courtyard!
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