3 of us who ride together locally (and not so locally) have been across the water to Ireland for a short break on the bikes for the last 3 years running (as well as other Euro trips) this year we were going to do something similar to 2017 (4 or 5 days in Ireland) and perhaps spend a day in the Wicklow Mountains which we had a taste of last year.
With the Covid restrictions we left planning and booking until last minute, just as well really as the Irish Government postponed the lifting of lockdown restrictions so it didn't feel right to go there, a plan B was needed, it needed to be do-able in 4-5 days and the more "away from home" it felt the more we would enjoy it, to be sure.........
We settled for Brittany and Normandy, a ferry was booked and a route of sorts was cobbled together, accommodation was handled via Booking dot com and Plan B was a reality.
Our outbound crossing was to be a Wednesday overnight crossing from Plymouth to Rosslare, we had a late afternoon ride from South Wales down the M5 and branched off at Cullompton and headed toward Moretonhampstead then over Dartmoor National Park stopping along the way for the odd pic or two.
I am riding my Grey Ducati Multistrada 950S, Mark is riding a Red Ducati Multistrada 950S in Red Sean is riding his 1250GS HP
My bike in short break touring mode;
WE stopped briefly in Princetown, scene of many a GS "do" in decades past........
We had a great ride down, the roads were quiet and the weather was glorious, we arrived at the quayside early and waited for our ship to come in.........
Our departure was scheduled for 23.30 but we were loaded on at least a couple of hours prior to this so we had time to find our cabins and get changed and find refreshments, the ship was barely half full and all passengers were required to book a cabin or lounge chair for the crossing so public spaces were eerily quiet
Our crossing was calm and uneventful and we were greeted early next morning by the sight of Roscoff port looming into view......
Disembarked we headed South West out of Roscoff in the direction of the Amorique National Park, I have been here before albeit on 4 wheels with a friend when visiting his place in Brittany and had remarked previously that this route might be a giggle on 2 wheels, we stopped for a look around in Sizun
From here headed West, in the direction of Plogoff or Pointe Du Raz which is France' most westerly point.......almost
It's a nice spot but is completely commercialised and we were herded towards pay and display car parking which was Free for 30 minutes-we escaped at minute 29
Moments after leaving we got split up by traffic lights at roadworks so I waited for the others in the pretty coastal town of Audierne before we re-grouped.
We made our way down the coast towards Lorient where we stopped briefly to look at the Nazi U boat pens, it was very warm here 30 degrees plus, not exactly ideal for looking around interesting sites in bike gear so our visit was brief.
The remains of scuttled ships in the harbour used as an obstacle to would be attacking enemy ships remain in the harbour.
We pressed on the short distance to Auray to our booked accommodation for Thursday night, this is apparently the town where Joan of Arc met her inquisitors
Having had a recommendation from Arsey of this parish to look up the town of Sant Goustan as a good place to get a bite to eat we took a stroll in that direction once we had checked into our hotel, I showed the receptionist this photo and he said "yes....that direction.......15 minutes" this is the picture Arsey posted.
We were enjoying a cold beer soon enough
We had took a stroll before finding a table at a restaurant terrace with a great vantage point to see the sights and people watch whilst enjoying a few more beers and a sharer platter or two, sorry Nutty & Keith no food pics
Friday dawned and after breakfast we were soon loaded and on the road in the direction of Pontivy on the D767 again recommended by Arsey, Wessie and perhaps Quiten of this parish and a great ride it was too
Then we headed towards the coast to view a landmark from afar, time is tight and it looks quite busy so no visiting this trip
Mont Saint Michel
After a stop for lunch we headed up the Cherbourg peninsula toward our next stop for the night Isigny Sur Mer where we checked into the very acceptable Hotel De France, safe in the knowledge that we each had a pound of butter in the fridge at home as security for the bikes we had the additional comfort of knowing the town housed an enormous butter factory for which the town is best known in this region, we abandoned the bikes and after a freshen took a wonder around the town.
The town witnessed bloody hand to hand combat before being liberated by the allies.
Apparently Walt Disney can trace his roots back to this town.......
We found a nice little bar where the locals were mostly friendly........
So we had a few more here and things started to get "very relaxed"
So we moved on to find something to eat, and delicious they were too if a little on the small side
After a nightcap or two it was time to retire but one of us wanted to party on, Mark and I tried to persuade him it wasn't a good idea but he was having none of it so we left him to it, he wasn't very bright the next morning
With the Covid restrictions we left planning and booking until last minute, just as well really as the Irish Government postponed the lifting of lockdown restrictions so it didn't feel right to go there, a plan B was needed, it needed to be do-able in 4-5 days and the more "away from home" it felt the more we would enjoy it, to be sure.........
We settled for Brittany and Normandy, a ferry was booked and a route of sorts was cobbled together, accommodation was handled via Booking dot com and Plan B was a reality.
Our outbound crossing was to be a Wednesday overnight crossing from Plymouth to Rosslare, we had a late afternoon ride from South Wales down the M5 and branched off at Cullompton and headed toward Moretonhampstead then over Dartmoor National Park stopping along the way for the odd pic or two.
I am riding my Grey Ducati Multistrada 950S, Mark is riding a Red Ducati Multistrada 950S in Red Sean is riding his 1250GS HP
My bike in short break touring mode;
WE stopped briefly in Princetown, scene of many a GS "do" in decades past........
We had a great ride down, the roads were quiet and the weather was glorious, we arrived at the quayside early and waited for our ship to come in.........
Our departure was scheduled for 23.30 but we were loaded on at least a couple of hours prior to this so we had time to find our cabins and get changed and find refreshments, the ship was barely half full and all passengers were required to book a cabin or lounge chair for the crossing so public spaces were eerily quiet
Our crossing was calm and uneventful and we were greeted early next morning by the sight of Roscoff port looming into view......
Disembarked we headed South West out of Roscoff in the direction of the Amorique National Park, I have been here before albeit on 4 wheels with a friend when visiting his place in Brittany and had remarked previously that this route might be a giggle on 2 wheels, we stopped for a look around in Sizun
From here headed West, in the direction of Plogoff or Pointe Du Raz which is France' most westerly point.......almost
It's a nice spot but is completely commercialised and we were herded towards pay and display car parking which was Free for 30 minutes-we escaped at minute 29
Moments after leaving we got split up by traffic lights at roadworks so I waited for the others in the pretty coastal town of Audierne before we re-grouped.
We made our way down the coast towards Lorient where we stopped briefly to look at the Nazi U boat pens, it was very warm here 30 degrees plus, not exactly ideal for looking around interesting sites in bike gear so our visit was brief.
The remains of scuttled ships in the harbour used as an obstacle to would be attacking enemy ships remain in the harbour.
We pressed on the short distance to Auray to our booked accommodation for Thursday night, this is apparently the town where Joan of Arc met her inquisitors
Having had a recommendation from Arsey of this parish to look up the town of Sant Goustan as a good place to get a bite to eat we took a stroll in that direction once we had checked into our hotel, I showed the receptionist this photo and he said "yes....that direction.......15 minutes" this is the picture Arsey posted.
We were enjoying a cold beer soon enough
We had took a stroll before finding a table at a restaurant terrace with a great vantage point to see the sights and people watch whilst enjoying a few more beers and a sharer platter or two, sorry Nutty & Keith no food pics
Friday dawned and after breakfast we were soon loaded and on the road in the direction of Pontivy on the D767 again recommended by Arsey, Wessie and perhaps Quiten of this parish and a great ride it was too
Then we headed towards the coast to view a landmark from afar, time is tight and it looks quite busy so no visiting this trip Mont Saint Michel
After a stop for lunch we headed up the Cherbourg peninsula toward our next stop for the night Isigny Sur Mer where we checked into the very acceptable Hotel De France, safe in the knowledge that we each had a pound of butter in the fridge at home as security for the bikes we had the additional comfort of knowing the town housed an enormous butter factory for which the town is best known in this region, we abandoned the bikes and after a freshen took a wonder around the town.
The town witnessed bloody hand to hand combat before being liberated by the allies.
Apparently Walt Disney can trace his roots back to this town.......
We found a nice little bar where the locals were mostly friendly........
So we had a few more here and things started to get "very relaxed"
So we moved on to find something to eat, and delicious they were too if a little on the small side
After a nightcap or two it was time to retire but one of us wanted to party on, Mark and I tried to persuade him it wasn't a good idea but he was having none of it so we left him to it, he wasn't very bright the next morning
Been awhile since we last visited. Always nice to view from others perspective too.
