A month ago, I decided that a quick blast to Europe was in order to test my new steed.
So what were the options –
Hull to Zeebrugge – to expensive on ferry and maybe similar weather to UK
Dover – Calais – cheaper ferry, but been there and done that numerous times
Plymouth to Santander – YES! Cheaper ferry than Hull and weather should be better and cheaper fuel/living costs – that’s the one
So..............booked on the Friday and left on the Sunday to return the Thursday – perfect just enough leave !
I decided to go it alone, after a couple of mates dropped out – work and women trouble!
A solo trip can be most cathartic and allows you to please yourself and get to know a new bike at your own pace.
The ride to Plymouth was dry, but cold and very windy – the R1100RT performed at 90mph faultlessly.
Arriving at Plymouth there was plenty of likeminded bike tourists – mainly going to Maroc though (lucky souls)
The Brittany Ferry – Pont Aven was as good as ever and the crossing was calm
Cabins are compact, but clean and comfortable
We were greeted by warm sun and blue skies
The weather was 28c when we arrived in Santander – fab!
So after exiting the city, I took the quieter coast road
Towards Panes, through the Hermida Gorge
..................to the capital of the Picos............... Potes
I had decided to base myself in the Picos, as I only had 3 days or so and I’ve been to the Picos before -3 or 4 times
I wanted to stay at a hotel recommended by Timolgra, the Hotel D’Oso @ Cosgaya on the road to Funte De, out of Potes
It is a superb hotel and being up in the mountains made a superb base for a few days
Very cosy on autumnal October nights, in the Mountains
Maybe in Summer..............!!
Cosgaya is very sleepy and tranquil
The next day cloudy but dry, but the low cloud soon enveloped the Mountains
I took a trip over to Riano in the Covadonga National Park, over the San Gloria Pass
This is the Bear trail on top of the San Gloria – 4 miles offroad back to Cosgaya, but 25 miles by road!
Darkhorse may recognise this trail – we rode it in 2006 on the Adv’s, getting stopped by a Park Ranger!
The mist soon comes down – there’s only about 3 mins between the 2 Pics!
That night it snowed heavily in the Mountains, but next day the roads were ok.................
I went up to Sotres – a remote Mountain village
On my return I stopped in Potes and met up with another GS’er – Neil 23 of this parish who’d done a tour of Spain
We had a few drinks and returned to our respective hotels, arranging to meet up next morning to ride the scenic route to the Ferry @ Santander
Next morning, after more snow the day dawned bright, cold and sunny
The run down to Potes was great
We met up and set off..................Homeward bound!
At the coast things got noticeably warmer and the scenery was just as good
Another good short break for less than £500, covering 1200 miles and the 12 year old RT1100 performed faultlessly – who needs a new bike!
So what were the options –
Hull to Zeebrugge – to expensive on ferry and maybe similar weather to UK
Dover – Calais – cheaper ferry, but been there and done that numerous times
Plymouth to Santander – YES! Cheaper ferry than Hull and weather should be better and cheaper fuel/living costs – that’s the one
So..............booked on the Friday and left on the Sunday to return the Thursday – perfect just enough leave !
I decided to go it alone, after a couple of mates dropped out – work and women trouble!
A solo trip can be most cathartic and allows you to please yourself and get to know a new bike at your own pace.
The ride to Plymouth was dry, but cold and very windy – the R1100RT performed at 90mph faultlessly.
Arriving at Plymouth there was plenty of likeminded bike tourists – mainly going to Maroc though (lucky souls)
The Brittany Ferry – Pont Aven was as good as ever and the crossing was calm
Cabins are compact, but clean and comfortable
We were greeted by warm sun and blue skies
The weather was 28c when we arrived in Santander – fab!
So after exiting the city, I took the quieter coast road
Towards Panes, through the Hermida Gorge
..................to the capital of the Picos............... Potes
I had decided to base myself in the Picos, as I only had 3 days or so and I’ve been to the Picos before -3 or 4 times
I wanted to stay at a hotel recommended by Timolgra, the Hotel D’Oso @ Cosgaya on the road to Funte De, out of Potes
It is a superb hotel and being up in the mountains made a superb base for a few days
Very cosy on autumnal October nights, in the Mountains
Maybe in Summer..............!!
Cosgaya is very sleepy and tranquil
The next day cloudy but dry, but the low cloud soon enveloped the Mountains
I took a trip over to Riano in the Covadonga National Park, over the San Gloria Pass
This is the Bear trail on top of the San Gloria – 4 miles offroad back to Cosgaya, but 25 miles by road!
Darkhorse may recognise this trail – we rode it in 2006 on the Adv’s, getting stopped by a Park Ranger!
The mist soon comes down – there’s only about 3 mins between the 2 Pics!
That night it snowed heavily in the Mountains, but next day the roads were ok.................
I went up to Sotres – a remote Mountain village
On my return I stopped in Potes and met up with another GS’er – Neil 23 of this parish who’d done a tour of Spain
We had a few drinks and returned to our respective hotels, arranging to meet up next morning to ride the scenic route to the Ferry @ Santander
Next morning, after more snow the day dawned bright, cold and sunny
The run down to Potes was great
We met up and set off..................Homeward bound!
At the coast things got noticeably warmer and the scenery was just as good
Another good short break for less than £500, covering 1200 miles and the 12 year old RT1100 performed faultlessly – who needs a new bike!
) and enough gismos to enjoy the ride, without all the unnecessary crap associated with modern Beemers (sold the 2008 12GSA with all the gadgets, to buy this and don't regret it one bit
)
......I have a hankering to visit the Picos sometime soon.....
