Adventure Bike Rider

Hi Dean, et al,

Thanks for your comments. I think Britfrog is right, avoid the coast roads altogether if you can. In general the further east you go the more traffic you're going to get.

A few points:

Although it looks like you're commited to staying at Llanca but you can still get some good riding - from what I know of the Costa Brava a bit further south it's as well to get up and out early to avoid the crowds - but note that the cycling contingent have the same idea! Once there I guess you're better off crossing over to France and into Britfrog's territory for day excursions inland.

At least you're staying in one of the most beautiful coastal regions! I hope to ride that coast the week after next - I think I'll avoid eating a Colera! - at the start of my Big Tour Cap de Creus - Finnesterre. I'm going to blog this more or less daily so you can keep posted!

Unless you have a bike like mine you'll have no problems finding fuel 24/7. But you might want to run dry towards the Spanish border and fill up before you cross back into France as petrol is so much cheaper here. If you want to plan his check out this site; it's in Spanish only but if you scroll down the left sidebar you'll find toe useful search tools, by province and by nearest to a given location - Just enter the name of the town or village in the 'Localidad' box and hit 'Buscar'

Traffic is at its worst at weekends, Friday nights ands Sunday evenings in particular, even to the point of being dangerous! Be especially careful of the weekend of August 27/28, when the 'Operación Returno' happens. The half of Spain (and France) who didn't take their holidays in the first two weeks in August all head home mob handed. To make matters worse trucks are banned from the AP2 Motorway from the Friday afternoon so these juggernauts simply take to the national roads, or even smaller routes!

One stretch of the N260 to be especially careful of is La seu d'Urgell - Ripoll (with aplogies to Britfrog) Thus sections gets especially busy due to it giving access to Andorra and , in the case of the Puigcerda-Ripoll section, so many folks avoiding the hefty toll through the Cadi tunnel - you've guessed it caravans and campers are the worst culprits!

It looks like you'll be coming down over the Somport pass from Pau to Jaca. I'd certauinly recommend this in preference to the Bielsas pass - they both come down to earth, as it were very close together at Jaca and Sabiñanigo respectively. Perhaps on your way home you might like the Bonaigies pass (C13 Sort to Vielha) - which is both spectacular, very quiet and gives you a lovely run up through the Gers on the French N21 through Auch, Agen, Bergerac, Perigaux . . .

Enjoy!

Simon

When I was riding the eastern end of the N260 I decided to ride the section where the motorway bypasses the N260. Not very interesting till I glanced to my right and saw this.
It was a semi-urban area not deep country which it looks like in the photo.
Just like the famous Italian Hill Towns, but who has ever heard of "Eglesia, Spain"?
Even Mr Google didn't come up with it. I had to go on Google maps to the GPS waypoint I had created, to find it, and there were a few photo's on there. This is one of them.
How many of you have seen this I wonder? I bet hardly anyone has ridden that section.

Ted.

Sorry guys I tried 3 times.
Why won't my photo's post to Forums. I always have trouble. Why can it not be straightforward? What is the problem?
It is only 111kb so it can't be too big.
Ted.

No photo’s guys so photo-only readers click off now.
I took the Condor ferry to St Malo in Brittany, arriving late so I stayed in the town.
Off early next morning and rode down to the Bordeaux area, avoiding Bordeaux city and the motorways by taking the ferry across the mouth of the Gironde estuary from Royan. Meandered down the coast which is the longest beach in Europe, about 200km. Been there before and I still like it even though it gets busier every time I go.
Headed straight down to The French Pyrenees after the beach ended and stayed in Mauleon, the unofficial capital of the French Basque Country.
Rain and very low cloud started to mess up my riding at this point so I did one very low-vis circuit at high altitude and pressed on over the Pyrenees into Spain earlier than planned because the weather was good over there.
Stayed in Jaca for 2 nights at the recommended Hotel A Boira. I add my recommendation for it.
Day 1 I did a fantastic loop from The Spanish Biker, the A1205 and A1604. Twisty as is possible, one very rough the other less so. Empty roads, Adventure Bike Heaven. A good start. I rode back to Jaca along the first section of N260 and as it was latish by then it was also empty.
Next morning early start and rode the N260 to Pobla de Segur to meet Simon The Spanish Biker. Definitely roads to die for. Just go and ride them!
I stayed near Tremp in a fabulous traditional Spanish place run by a friend of Simon. She has cooked for the King of Spain and I sure enjoyed her food and the local red wine.
Next day I started off with the N260 to La Seu D’Urgell then a big loop of sensational roads, even twistier than the N260, suggested by Simon. (What a guy!) To Ripoll. The 4008 and the 402.
Get the 402, west of Ripoll, up on your computer mapping and scroll along it at a big scale and marvel at those twisties. I had to slow right down every 20 minutes to get my head straight again before I attacked the next lot. I probably met about 5 or 6 vehicles along that entire long stretch. It is difficult to keep safe because you go for so long with NO traffic that there is a tendency to push it a bit, so when you do meet something, usually running wide on a corner, it is definitely bum-clenching. Very gravel-free which is nice.
I stayed in Ribes de Freser, as instructed by Simon, so I could hit the road at 7am back up the N260 to Puigcerda. Astonishing for such a main road but I counted 9 vehicles on the long section to nearly Puigcerda. I turned round, blasted back to Ribes, and was having a super breakfast in a “transport-café” type bar WITH PROPER BACON, well before my Hotel would have started serving breakfast at 8.30. Words fail me to describe that road, and the scenery, as the sun was coming up over the mountains as I rode along.
Britfrog (Nigel) recommends abandoning the N260 after Ripoll but I pressed on, even taking the old N260 which is still signposted (mostly) where the new motorway has sidelined the N260.
I was just thinking this is a bit of a let-down and I glanced across to my right and saw what looks exactly like the internationally famous Italian Hill Towns. I stopped and Waypointed if after marvelling at its location in a fairly urban area. “Eglesia.” I got a photo off Google Earth when I got back home but I can’t get it to post onto this Forum.
I pressed on through Figueres, ignoring the SatNav’s instruction to bypass to the south. Big mistake. Don’t do it guys. Quite horrible.
The final stretch of the N260, to Portbou on the French/Spanish border is very scenic and good riding, hugging the coast.
I stayed in Portbou before heading off the next day to join Britfrog’s Rally in St Feliu d’Amont, near Perpignan. But that’s another story.

Ted.

Ted99uk wrote:


the town is well known Ted it is called castelfolit de la roca

Great write up Ted - thanks for that. Roads I know well. Only sorry I wasn't around that weekend to meet up with you and Simon - who I popped into see on the Monday after.

I'd like add my agreement to the advice that coast roads are best avoided in August, particularly towards the end of the month (well, as Simon notes, pretty much all main roads are a nightmare around that time as holidays draw to a close) - but will also add that the temperature on the coast roads (compared with those at higher altitude) at that time of the year are pretty uncomfortable. Especially if you are unable to make good progress due to traffic.

Pat

Thanks for the invaluable advice guys !! Our way points are (hotels booked)we do not have to go to Llanca.

The way points are...

Tours, France to -
Pau, France. over the pyrenees and on to Olot, Spain. From there was going to be coast but any alternative route to the french side being Bagneres de Bigorre. from there back to Tours and home....


so a little of spanish and french side of the pyrenees is the plan

6 Days ariiving in Pau, 28th August. so its the last few Days of August.....


so any alternative suggested routes would be welcomed. I think we can make good use of Simons routes from Pau to Olot to avoid possible heavy traffic.

any sugestions for Olot to Bagneres de bigorre ??

just looking for fun filled Days of good riding and taking is some good sites, lots of photos, etc etc.

And if any of you Guys are around that at that time let us know, what ever the weather or traffic, at the end of the Day we can bank on the Beer being cold


Dean

Hi Dean,

I forgot to mention that the section of the N260 from Biescas to Boltaña will be very busy due to tourists visiting the Ordesa National Park - coaches are especially bad because much of that section is only a little wider than a country lane.

Otherwise you won't have any problems on my routes as far as Olot. Regarding Ordesa you're not missing much as far as biking is concerned as it's completely closed to traffic in summer.

If you're stopping for two nights at Olot don't forget to allow time to chug around the Garrotxa natural park - it's an amazing forested area set in small but dramatic mountains, all of which are bits of exstinct volcanoes. One of the most stunning landscapes in Catalonia - and that's saying a lot!

Back from Olot I guess is more in Britfrog's line. But my suggestion would be to go over the Col d'Ares and as far as Amelie on the French D115, then cut up to the N116 at Bouletmére, then after a dozen or so boring kilomtres to Villefranche de Conflent, where you begin a fantastic ascent up the Tet valley to Bourge Madame. Here you wave bye bye to Spain, just over the border there, and head up and over the Col de Puymorens towards Ax-les-Thermes. From then on it's definitely Britfrog's patch. But I would just add that it's not worth diverting to Andorra!

If you want a cold beer or a hot cup of tea then send me a PM at the time. I'm not sure yet, but I may be close to the N260 near La Pobla de Segur by then.

By the way it's not a holiday weekend here at the end of August!

Cheers

Simon

Mornin' all,

This is a sort of a PS to Ted - you're too kind by far!

My cooking 'friend' is Florita Mirò of Casa Lola at Talarn, just outside of Tremp. In case you all run away with the idea that she makes a habit of entertaining the King of Spain I should explain that His Highness vists the nearby military academy every other year for its passing out parade. I don't think he eats out evey time though, although Florita's prices should be well within his expenses limit! And I'm certain that Her Majesty the Queen of Spain doesn't eat out on the alternate years, when it's her job to present the gongs. Maybe she just stays in with a take-way pizza!

Enjoy yourselves - I'm still grounded!

Simon

2011 St Feliu d’Amont Pyrenees Motorcycle Rally.
The inaugural Rally took place June 1st to 3rd 2011 in the Village of St Feliu d'Amont, near Perpignan, France. In recent years these dates have coincided with blistering hot weather so it was unfortunate that this year it turned out cold, wet and very windy.
The numbers of participants was not as high as hoped for but it is a first-time running of the event and the superb organisation by a sizeable group of the village people, plus Nigel "Britfrog", was easily able to cope with the poor weather with indoor eating accommodation when necessary, and good camping facilities.
The first day was a combined ride-out through superb mountain roads and scenery and the rain didn't start in earnest till we were on the way home. It was incredibly cold though with SNOW flurries on the high altitude roads, and all the surrounding mountains were white the next morning. A lack of full winter clothing was a common problem that was not expected in the far south of France in June. Global warming had a hand in this methinks.
The second day was so grim we left the bikes parked up and went off in Nigels minivan visiting some very interesting places including a historic Cathar Castle perched on a mountaintop, and exploring a lot of very scenic roads, plus an astonishing Pre-Roman Aqueduct across a river and valley. Lunch was memorable, huddled under a portable heater in an open-sided mountain restaurant, trying not to freeze to the floor. Unbelievable weather!
The highlight of the evenings was an outdoor barbeque, except for 1 night indoors. The tradition in this region is for all barbq's to be cooked on gnarled old Vine's, grubbed up after many years growing the grapes for the local wine. Almost everywhere we went we were riding past mile after mile of vineyards. The food was very good indeed, beautifully barbq'd, and the very good local wine flowed freely.
What was special about this Rally was the interaction between the local people who were putting on the rally and the visiting rallyers. Normally when we visit a country to ride and take part in a biking event, we are more or less cut off from contact with the local people, who are just there to provide a service. Due to particular circumstances several of the participants had to leave early so the village helpers joined us for the meals instead of just staying behind the scenes.
I believe strongly that this turned out to be an inspired move, and I really hope that however many rallyers there are in future, this is retained. The connection between us in spite of language difficulties was superb for me, and made the event special.
The final day we rode down the coast in hot sun. We did a big scenic loop and back for the final nights celebrations.
The Mayor had arranged for us all to go up the bell-tower of their ancient and historically special, 1000 years old Church before dinner. Some of the long-standing village residents had never been up before apparently.
3 spectacular Cup's were awarded for various achievements and we finished rather late.
Everyone went their separate ways the next day. There was discussion about a group going down to the Catalan GP which isn't very far away. I hope they went and enjoyed it. At least it was almost dry on the day.

Thank you to all involved, for a very enjoyable event.
Ted Scott.
PS. Forgot to mention. One evening during the barbq dinner a Nightingale came and sang in the trees overhead for a few minutes. I have NEVER in my life heard one before.

Going next year Ted ? I hope too, cheers Spud

Yes, all being well I will be there.
We must work at drumming up numbers nearer the time.
Ted.

here is a pic that i have taken

britfrog wrote:

That is showing the same problem that I had trying to post a photo. It only shows a narrow vertical strip of the photo.
Is it my computer?
Could you guys see all of the photo I posted of Castelfolit?
Ted.

Ted99uk wrote:


That's weird.
If I click on the 3rd of Britfrog's photos it comes up with "previous" at the top. If I click on previous the photo opens up and shows fully.
Ted.