Meet Up in Sort, Catalunya 23-27 September 2019

[daveuprite]

For anyone driving/riding south, planning to use the N147 between Poitiers and Limoges: it's being dug up and re-surfaced near Bussiere Poitevine - Saint Bonnet De Bellac (close to Motobreaks, if you know it). The official diversion is quite lengthy so you might want to take a different route south of Poitiers (via Angouleme or Perigeux maybe...).

How bad is this?
I am planning on taking this route next Sunday.
My other option is Angouleme to Perigueux which I know very well. Maybe best to just take that one anyway.

Thank you so much for the warning too. French routes are usually ok....but when they go bad they are far worse than UK A few UK trips this year and I have yet to achieve an average motorway journey speed in excess of 40mph [excluding stops]. I was told yesterday my planned destination had 40c in the last few days....not what you want on a bike in traffic.

Well I live down the road from the diverted section (so it's lovely and quiet down there right now). If you don't mind a diversion from where the roadworks start in Bussiere Poitevine, via Le Dorat, you will be back on to the N147 at Bellac and still heading south towards Limoges, probably no more than half an hour later than you would have been. The diversion ('deviation') is well-signed and you basically just follow the lorries. All depends how much of a hurry you're in.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

Thanks for the info on that.

Decision kind of made to go via Angouleme. I do it in one hop and just plan out my stops in my head as I have done it quite a few times....

28/29 September is Rocamadour hot air balloon festival ......les montgolfieres....kind of spectacular.

Seems its warmer than expected down that way at the moment....I hadn't planned on the mesh gear at this time of year.

[WillS]

Summer is still here in SW France at the moment.
Forecast for Sort is looking good for the week, possible storms at the weekend and Monday then good clear trail biking weather.
Looking forward to a great week on Catalonia trails.

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[daveuprite]

Thanks for the info on that.

Decision kind of made to go via Angouleme. I do it in one hop and just plan out my stops in my head as I have done it quite a few times....

28/29 September is Rocamadour hot air balloon festival ......les montgolfieres....kind of spectacular.

Seems its warmer than expected down that way at the moment....I hadn't planned on the mesh gear at this time of year.

Well we go off-roading on the trails all round Rocamadour and it's a stunning place. Chuck in a load of hot air balloons and it must look amazing.

Yes, still pretty warm here in France. We've had maybe 3 days of rain in the last 3 months, if that, here in Limousin.

Have a great trip.

[Nico-D]

Dave I may see you down there. I'm aiming to head off tomorrow on DRZ doing the TET on french side of Pyrenees starting at western end. depending on how it goes I may pop over the top and down to Sort, on verra !

[daveuprite]

Dave I may see you down there. I'm aiming to head off tomorrow on DRZ doing the TET on french side of Pyrenees starting at western end. depending on how it goes I may pop over the top and down to Sort, on verra !

Cool. Have a good ride, Nick. See you at the bar.

Dave

[bowber]

On my way down France now, very slowly by back roads and chemins that look interesting.

[daveuprite]

On my way down France now, very slowly by back roads and chemins that look interesting.

Good effort Steve. That's a long way on a KTM400 !

I've chucked a pair of old knobblies in the van for you to fit at the camp site and destroy up in the hills. Then hopefully your current tyres will get you home again OK.

Dave

[bowber]

I'm on the 701 Dave, hopefully I'll not need to change tyres but it'll be good to have the option.
I'm finding more dead ends than through roads but it's fun, took me 2 hours to cover 40 miles this morning
Currently south of Poitiers and heading south of you.
Did you get my text Dave?

[Sideleaner]

Sooo...all is packed and leaving early morning to pick up Cesar in Brussels and than head to Roastbeef's place for the night. See you all on Sunday !!!
Cheers.