Picos de Europa Revisited

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

After not going away in the bike in 2018 abroad - 2019 was rapidly disappearing too, so when I saw a small company on FB advertising that they had some spaces for a 7 day trip to the Picos - I thought that would be good, for a couple of reasons

a) longest ride would be to Plymouth
b) Spain would be warmer than uk in October
c) MC Indianos Classic Rally was in at same time in Colombres - 11km away from hotel
d) 5 nights in same hotel would be good to relax & chill
e) I have been to the Picos maybe a dozen times so knew it had good roads, food and vistas

So I paid up and joined 16 others in a variety of bikes - only 2 GS's was a plus

Departure date soon came around on 8/10 and we were notified by BF there would be a 4 hour delay - so the plan was to meet in a pub in Plymouth to have a meal before boarding to kill some time

We dined at the aptly named Golden Hind - a non descript chain pub but food was ok

We got to ferry at 7.30pm just as RedRick Esq was disembarking

It could be one of those Tour groups (fortunately it wasn't)

Crossing was calm and a taste of things to come

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

4 hours late meant 4 hours late docking

So it was dark and approaching 9pm when we left Santander town

The tour leader led the way and once on the motorway it seemed Everyman for himself as the 'starburst' effect took hold - not a good start

I knew the way, so wasn't too fazed and the ageing satnav did it's job done the autovia to Unquera (I rode alone as it turned out)

Arriving at Panes I thought everyone would be there - but not a bit of it

Hey ho - this set a theme

Fortunately the tour leader had made it - so I could get my room sorted

Time for a local beer

Then food

Spanish vegetarian option - fried eggs & chips

Pudding

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

Next day dawned bright and sunny - however it was frosty up the mountains

Hotel with church on the corner

Hotel cat

We stayed here and it was very good - excellent & simple foods - fabulous fabada and paellas

https://hotelcovadonga.net

Brief notes on the days lunch stop - if you could find it - a map proved handy

Roads up to San Gloria

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

Posada de Valdeon was lovely

Onto Cangas de Onis

Nutty · Oct 18, 2019

Nice one, JB.

Did you know anyone on the trip, or was it a load of strangers?

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

Friday saw the group take the road to Puntanansa out of Panes which was a road unknown to me - it was a stunner

At a coffee stop we got caught up with some of the classic bikes on the Colombres Rally doing the 5000 curves ride

Stunning scenery

Lunch was at Cervera de Pisguera in Palencia

harry the cat · Oct 18, 2019

Shit menu for a Posada or a lack of imagination? :green gri

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

The Nutty KTMer said:
Nice one, JB.

Did you know anyone on the trip, or was it a load of strangers?

Nope
I knew nobody before the trip
Made connections with 3-4 other good guys for a potential trip in 2020
Good to meet up with others and in the end it turned our a pretty good group with plenty of fun

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

harry the cat said:
Shit menu for a Posada or a lack of imagination?

It was just a very old bar in Riano ?

We just had a coffee

️

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

After lunch in Cervera - the others went over to Riano but I decided to split and ride the stunning valley roads and check out a few churches and a pass or two - ending up in Potes

Back down L'Hermida

DC · Oct 18, 2019

fantastic way of reporting a trip , a few words and let the pictures do the talking ...weather looks superb , glad you had a top time

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

Today we went to the coast at Lastres, via Arriondas and found a couple of stunning roads

Lastres

Lunch

After lunch we went to the rally at Colombres which was rammed

Nice RD500

So then I rode off to Pechon

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

Sunday was our last full day and again it was a group ride towards Puntanansa and onto Cabo Mayor - a pedestrianised typical old Asturian village which was very quaint
It was very windy first thing with a lot of tree debris in the bends - charmin'

On the way to Puntanansa

This was another great road

One of the benefits of touring at this time of year is the opportunity to forage

Sweet chestnuts were ripe for harvesting - these will be great once seasoned on the woodburner at home in a few weeks

Phil Magill · Oct 18, 2019

Love this photo :thumb2

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 18, 2019

Homeward bound for an afternoon ferry gave us an opportunity for one last 'Menu del dia' on the coast road to Santander and an uneventful run in

It's a big ferry

Once checked in, we waited to board

One chap with an Ariel Square Four too the opportunity to adjust his tappets in the ferry lanes

Weather turned moody - a sign of things to come ......

Return across the Biscay was rough and once dined I retired back to my cabin at 9pm to sleep through it and woke up the next day 13 hours later when the storm had passed and we entered to Western Approaches and had a light breakfast

Once again the ferry was later docking than anticipated and I was glad that I had booked an overnight halt at Princetown on Dartmoor overlooking the Prison before riding home to Yorkshire the next day

Overall a cracking trip and new friends made and old & familiar roads revisited

JohnnyBoxer · Oct 19, 2019

DC said:
fantastic way of reporting a trip , a few words and let the pictures do the talking ...weather looks superb , glad you had a top time

Thanks DC

The stunning scenery made taking pictures easy

It was a fab trip - as it turned out

brut33 · Oct 19, 2019

I agree with DC about this report, enough writing with plenty of pictures.
For me it's very useful re the road recommendations as I'll be there next year albeit a
short visit and more of a ride through to my destination. Some useful pointers noted.
I looks a fantastic place, thanks for posting.

PS, Not enough pictures of food.

Nutty · Oct 19, 2019

Nice report JB.

Potes looked a lot quieter than when we were there!

Nutty · Oct 19, 2019

brut33 said:
PS, Not enough pictures of food.

Agreed!

Bounce · Oct 19, 2019

The Nutty KTMer said:
Nice report JB.

Potes looked a lot quieter than when we were there!

....it was peak holiday season that's why

Glad you enjoyed your trip JB, and made a few new contacts

Picos de Europa Revisited

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