Ideas for next summer?

[Joe]

Having ridden LEJOG this summer I have been totally bitten by the touring bug and am looking for ideas for next summer

I have 4 weeks off in August but would ideally like a week at home to see family/friends etc. I know it's not everyones cup of tea but I like spending long days in the saddle . I did 100 miles a day on my LEJOG and enjoyed the mental and physical challenge that gave me!

I want to avoid trains and planes as they are alot of hassle imo, and I would also rather not be tied to specific dates.

My first thought was to get the ferry from Newhaven (near to home) to Dieppe and do a 3 week loop through france taking in some Tour climbs.
Then someone mentioned ferrys to spain and I've started looking into it. I'm thinking Portsmouth to Santander and then spend three weeks riding home via France (to Dieppe - Newhaven crossing). I could take in some classic cols on the way and it would give me options in terms of mileage as I'm heading in one direction rather than a loop.

I wanna climb Ventoux most of all, but could conceivably do Tourmalet on the way and Alpe D'eux after?

Any thoughts on this? Anyone done anything similar? I gather campsites in France are widespread and decent? Language wise I don't speak a 2nd but am always willing to have a go. I'm pretty self sufficient, and being veggie will probably do most of my own cooking, so I should get by ok? Could probably live on bread and cheese!

Any thoughts/advice/recommendations welcome. Or ideas for something completely different?

 

[palinurus]

Then someone mentioned ferrys to spain and I've started looking into it. I'm thinking Portsmouth to Santander and then spend three weeks riding home via France (to Dieppe - Newhaven crossing). I could take in some classic cols on the way and it would give me options in terms of mileage as I'm heading in one direction rather than a loop.

Sounds a good idea. Might be more fun the other way around, ride to Bilbao or Santander then ferry back. I expect you can roll up and book with little notice but I've not done it myself.

France and Spain don't do vegetarian stuff very well but if you feed yourself out of supermarkets and bakeries you'll do fine.

 

[Joe]

Forgot to mention that this is ON!

Ferry booked for early August, and well...that's as far as I've got really.

Any advice on cycling into Portsmouth or out of Santander? I'm coming along the coast from Brighton on the way in to Portsmouth.
And just looking to get onto that back road that runs parallelish to to the main coast road heading east asap on the way out of Santander. Theres a multilane multiroundabout junction near the airport that I don't particularly like the look of!

 

[onlineamiga]

Hi Joe, ive not done it myself (yet), but cycling up the west coast of france looks just absolutely bliss. All flat, cycle lanes everywhere. So you'll have a great time.

I too like the idea of a straight line tour rather than a big circle. And definately love the sound of your trip. Im planning to do Gibraltar up to Yorkshire hopefully this year if i can get the time off. Ive never toured before but theres nothing like jumping in at the deepend eh (tho i reckon ill do a couple 3 day tours before then!)

Enjoy it!

 

[Anthony]

Hi Joe I might be able to help a little. Last summer I did a tour from Portsmouth to Mont Ventoux. We took 10 days days to get there from Caen (at a comfortable 60 miles a day). Have a look at my crazyguyonabike journal for the full details and route. It is certainly worth climbing Ventoux. You could do this route then head eastwards through the Pyrenees to Santandar and do some of the cols like the Tourmalet. Or if you have time you could go into the alps aswell. Hope this helps.

 

[Anthony]

Just realised you're starting in Santander. In that case just reverse the route I said. Pyrenees - Ventoux - Alps. You will get all the good cols done and see the best bits of France.

There are loads of campsites in France that won't be a problem. I wild camped alot very easily, but that might not be your cup of tea. Don't worry too much about the language either; i'm useless at French and I got by all right by pointing

 

[Joe]

I'm defintely heading east from Santander first (ferry booked!), and would ideally like to go home on the Dieppe-Newhaven crossing, but at what point I head north will depend on legs/mood etc
I really do wanna do Ventoux though so I'll definitely take a look at your journals Antony, cheers!

Gibraltar to Yorkshire sounds great OM, and defintely agree with jumping in at the deep end being the best way!

 

[Anthony]

I too like the idea of a straight line tour rather than a big circle. And definately love the sound of your trip. Im planning to do Gibraltar up to Yorkshire hopefully this year if i can get the time off. Ive never toured before but theres nothing like jumping in at the deepend eh (tho i reckon ill do a couple 3 day tours before then!)
Enjoy it!

This is wierd because i've done a tour similar to that also. Hopefully you'll get the time off as you'll certainly have the time of your life.

 

[onlineamiga]

Hi Anthony, I found your crazyguyonabike journal and it really inspired me to do it! Ive also used the route you took as a template and then worked from there when planning mine. I'll be following your cycle tracks just about I cant wait, just gotta get the time off, im wanting to do it in September but work cant confirm whether i can have the time until June. I will know in June Sorry to hijack this thread, Anthony if you have any advice please PM me

 

[Dave Davenport]

We're doing ferry to Bilbao then back via St.Malo in August.
Re. getting to the ferry port; We stay on the lanes inland and approach Portsmouth from the north, then use the cycle path from Cosham that runs along the waterside past the Hillsea lido and the Mountbatton centre.

 

[Joe]

Had a read of your journal Anthony, good stuff!
Some of those photos have me yearning for the summer