Off tommorow...

[Joe]

Can't find my original thread but... I'm off tomorrow!

Well tonight actually...night ride down to Portsmouth to catch the ferry to Santander.

Feeling massively unprepared (don't even have a map of northern Spain!) and slightly nervous

The idea is to ride along the coast towards the French border, aim to cross the Pyrenees via the Tourmalet and then head to Dieppe via whichever route takes my fancy (possibly heading as far as Ventoux before heading north!).

Wishing I'd done a bit more research as I only have three weeks max!

Any last minute advice??

Will post bike pics when she's all loaded up, naturally

 

[Tim Bennet.]

. . . aim to cross the Pyrenees via the Tourmalet . . .

Any last minute advice??

Yes - I really think you need to get that map ASAP; the Tourmalet doesn't 'cross' the Pyrenees as the bottom at both sides are in France!

 

[Amanda P]

Good luck!

(Well, you did ask). I've arrived in places with no map - just heightens the sense of adventure. You can surely pick one up in Santander - try the tourist office first thing. Often ferries have tourist offices on board, and it'd be a surprise if the boat's shop didn't sell road maps.

 

[asterix]

Yes - I really think you need to get that map ASAP; the Tourmalet doesn't 'cross' the Pyrenees as the bottom at both sides are in France!

You can cross the Pyrennees, Atlantic to Med or vice versa. And enter Spain for a while as you do so. VFM.

Anyway, isn't Santander a bank?

Anyway, whatever.. I am sure you will have a great ride and wish you luck (with the weather and stuff).

 

[rsb62rsb]

Good luck and enjoy it.. it sounds great :-)

 

[betty swollocks]

You'll have plenty of time.
In 1992 when I was thirty six I did Cherbourg to Santander in nine days.
This included Tourmalet, Aubisque and Marie-Blanque.
Enjoy and bon courage!

 

[Joe]

Well I'm back! With 1800km in the legs.
I did indeed have plenty of time. Got quite into bashing out the miles though, and crossed from pyrenees to Dieppe in 6 days. Would have stayed down there longer if I'd known! Still it was a great tour and I am already planning the next one!

Great weather (nudging 40 at times) up until today when I only just reached the ferry in time thanks to torrential rain and a headwind (and navigation issues!)
Pyrenees were awesome though. Climbed the Marie Blanc one day, then Aubisque and Tourmalet the next, what an experience!
Marie Blanc almost broke me with every kilometer getting steeper. Aubisque was stunning in the freezing fog (sweat turned to ice on way up before I broke through the cloud to glorious sunshine at the summit), zero visibility made for a hairy and surreal descent. Tourmalet was just epic but despite putting on every item of clothing I had I was struggling to steer due to uncontrollable shivering
Thoroughly recommended! Northern Spain is great too....hills, smooooth roads and really good drivers!

Shameless summit pics galore:

 

[betty swollocks]

Congrats!

Any more pics?

I like looking at pics.

 

[Joe]

Thanks!
Err heres a few more then
These are about as good as it gets from me I'm afraid. I struggle to stop for photo oppurtunities when in the saddle for 8+ hours a day! So mostly snapped on the go or at food stops. Some stunning scenery on the descents too but having too much fun to stop!

 

[RedBike]

Increadably jealous just looking at those pics!

 

[dubman]

Looks great Joe , well done

 

[Ben M]

Looks like you had a great time. Planning tours beforehand is over-rated imho.

Thoroughly recommended! Northern Spain is great too....hills, smooooth roads

Good what our tax money can fund eh?

 

[Crankarm]

The Col de Marie Blanque is a killer as it is straight up no bends to take respite. IIRC the gradient is never less than 10%. It's a special part of the world the Pyrenees and the Basque. Excellent cycling country. Glad you had a good time.

 

[doog]

well done mate..looks brilliant...you look as fit as a racing snake so that must have helped