Spain - where to ? Must see?

Wapping said:

I don’t buy into this Alps thing at all.

The bod tells us that he has 14 full days between getting off the boat and getting back onto it. Of these 14 days he has allowed two full days..........................before this lot have you going to the Eagle’s Nest or Zermatt (we have already had the obligatory Millau) or Scotland, tell us which way the wind is filling your sails.

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leedude03 said:

as Rasher says with only 14 days to play with and a limit of around 6hrs a day i would spend my time in the french alps, maybe a bit of the swiss alps as well, and also germany black forest on the way back. you will not go far wrong with Rashers suggestion.
but if spain is a must then the spanish side of the pyrenees would be my choice.

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Wapping said:

I don’t buy into this Alps thing at all.

The bod tells us that he has 14 full days between getting off the boat and getting back onto it. Of these 14 days he has allowed two full days to get from the Dutch terminal to lets say the top end of Spain / bottom end of France; let’s call that the Pyrenees. He knows what he can do, so let’s just accept that. That leaves 12 days. He then tells us two days to come back; let’s just accept that too. That gives him his 10 full days, in Spain. Even if we cut off two days to increase his crossing of France and back to three days there and three days back, that leaves him eight full days in Spain. That is longer than many bods get who take the ferry to Santander and back.

The RiDE magazine has several suggestions for 10 day and less jaunts. Even a 10 day suggestion could be shortened to eight with a bit of imagination.

Come on OP, before this lot have you going to the Eagle’s Nest or Zermatt (we have already had the obligatory Millau) or Scotland, tell us which way the wind is filling your sails.

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Arsey said:

Shame the OP isn’t going next week as he could have joined up with the lovely and well-rounded none racist Stuart W for a cultural tour around Asturias......

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Tripleblack13 said:

Done the rest of Europe to death.

If the weather is on side I’ll be heading to the Balkans. Spain is plan B.

I’m well travelled on 2 wheels... Plan for the trip is the Balkans, Transalpina, Slovakia etc.

But if the weather doesn’t play then plan B is head south to the sun and Spain. Hence my question about Spain routes.

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Wapping said:

So there you have it boys and girls, no more Alps nonsense.

Spanish routes, 10 days, end of September. Places to go, places to see, (great) roads to ride, places to stay, the whole nine yards. All as a Plan B.


OP have you looked at the RiDE magazine suggested routes? Really, they are designed (in part at least) to cater for someone like you who, though well travelled and having bashed off the whole of the rest of Europe, doesn’t have the time (or maybe inclination) to formulate Plan B over the next three or so weeks, map and imagination to hand.

C’mon, you know you can cross France in two days, sort of on the diagonal. There is enough ideas on the RiDE site and / or in the links posted earlier to build a jaunt for 10 days. Failing that, here’s another idea:

Go into Waterstones or any half decent bookshop and get Michelin’s Green Guide to Spain. In it you’ll find some great ideas of pre-planned routes of assorted lengths, that link up interesting places to see. They have been doing it for years and really do have it off pat. Don’t like the roads they suggest but you do like the places? Easy, take a half decent Michelin map and plot the alternatives. You can do it with a bit of effort. Better still, then post your plans and ideas up here and maybe a little trip report when you get back. If it’s good, we can sticky it as a really excellent 10 days away.

Over to you....

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Arsey said:

Keep going after Picos to Western Asturias. Turn left at Navia and head south down the AS-12.
Cracking road as far as you want to go. We normally head to Chaves in Portugal and stay at the Fort de Sao Francisco hotel . Cheap and stunning with great restaurant.

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My mate will be armed with the Ride guide so we’ve been working through that.

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Wapping said:

As to scale, Spain is a little bit smaller than France, at 506,000 sq km versus 644,000 sq km. By way of population, Spain is smaller, at 47,000,000 versus France’s 67,000,000. Neither are crowded, if you get my drift.

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wessie said:

I arrive in Bilbao on 19 Sept and return home via Santander on 29 Sept

I have used the Ride guide and Michelin maps for research plus this website is nice https://www.lespyrenees.net/route_des_cols for the French Cols

This is a google map of the N260 and I will ride sections of this: https://goo.gl/maps/ijQcvmrysd72

I'm heading to Sort to begin with via an overnight stop in the Parador at Sos del Rey Católico. Riding mainly scenic roads rather than motorways. After a couple of nights in Sort I might head for Carcassone for another 2 nights, taking 1 day off the bike to roam around the ramparts. Head west on the French Cols and spend 2 nights in Pau, again a day off the bike if my body needs it or a loop south in the mountains. From there, cross back into Spain to stay in Jaca for a couple of nights. Last night is going to be in a Rioja Finca at Entrena before heading to Santander for a late afternoon ferry.

I'll be by myself. PM if your dates overlap and you want to meet up for a beer.

Oh, I have booked hotels but they can all be cancelled for free a few days before arrival and I will be altering the plan if the Pyrenees will be wet or covered in low cloud. That could be any direction but most likely to be Spain or Portugal.

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Outtomunch said:

One of Spain's (and mine, but no longer ) best kept secrets is the Júcar gorge and environs in Castilla-La Mancha.

It's well off the beaten track but the roads are empty and fun, the scenery stunning (think Don Quixote and windmills as well as the aforementioned gorge), nobody will speak a word of English and the food is simple, local and lovely. Oh, and people still live in caves ~ have a Google if that appeals as there's a hotel just opened in Alcalá del Júcar (picture below) where you can stay in a cave if you fancy it (not sure about secure parking for bikermates though ).

<a href="https://andressotoscastello.smugmug.com/UkGSer/n-5CFLKf/i-9xRLNmX/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9xRLNmX/0/f29d57d0/L/i-9xRLNmX-L.jpg" alt="Bridge over Jucar at Alcala del Jucar"></a>

Andres

PS Madrid is a shit hole. Do not go to Madrid

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Tripleblack13 said:

Gotta say......

This is the first time I’ve asked for some route ideas on this forum.
I value the extensive experience of others and happily share mine. I’ve covered many thousands of miles over the years in Europe and would happily share that knowledge if asked.

Of course my self and my mate are doing our home work, of course I’ve got imagination and inclination, so I’m slightly surprised by some responses and assumptions that I’m a travel novice or that I’m being somewhat lazy by trying to pic the brains of others.

Having not toured Spain I’m a stranger to the place so surely the thing to do is ask those that are in the know

But for those who have shared their knowledge I’m most grateful. Cheers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Edvard Munch said:

How's this for lazy..............

I'm not recommending this piece of exciting PEMC journalism but having been down there a few times it's not a bad route at all and worth putting in the pot so to speak, west east along the mountains and back together with hotel recommendations. Good roads and a bit of a med seaside break thrown in:



and just to make your heart beat even faster there's a part 2:

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