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Pyrenees & Picos 2017

Created: 11 Oct 2016
Oct 11

This was a nice tour to wind down after Norway and Croatia. Once again the weather played ball and we had sunshine from start to finish.

Well this was our last European tour of the season and one we have done many times so I was able to relax and was hoping for no surprises.

We left the UK in Indian summer conditions and had a good crossing to Zeebrugge; for once the ferry was on time only to be held up by immigration who had obviously slept in! Once under way we had the usual satnav instructions to turn this way or the other (these things are starting to get on my nerves) but thankfully I have done this route many times, so despite its best efforts we got to our hotel near Troyes to meet up with those riders who had come via Eurotunnel.

The next day the French countryside was looking its best, as we rode though the Chablis region, past the volcanic domes of the Massif Central to our hotel in the Aubrac region. Dinner was some of the excellent beef  to be found in that part of the world followed by what can only be called ‘heaven’ for my partner Val in the form of the biggest Pavlova you have ever seen.

Unfortunately en-route two of our riders had a coming together resulting in one couple having to go home. Whilst the other continued minus a pannier, thankfully no one seriously hurt and as usual highlights the importance of Travel and Breakdown Insurance, as ‘stuff happens’.

Continuing south, we stopped briefly for photos at the Millau Bridge before trying a new route over the tops to Andorra. Thankfully I had put in the notes only to use this if the weather was good (which it was) as it was demanding to say the least – bit like Stelvio but half the width – however, we were rewarded with fantastic views and that kind of euphoria that comes with having survived.

Coming into Andorra, it looked its best until entering the capital Andorra la Vella, which is not my favourite place at the best of times and certainly not when you miss your turning. (But I don’t think anyone noticed !)

Stopping 2 nights at 2 different hotels the next 4 days were spent riding along the Pyrenees, the good weather continued and the usual temperature triggered thunderstorms obligingly kept to the evenings, only catching the odd rider out.

Only a short hop from the Pyrenees to the Rioja region, we were trying a new hotel, which proved popular and everyone generally was chilling out, which could have been a result of the chinking plastic bags coming out of the local supermarket.

The Picos were next, a cross country route taking us over a mountain and a quick shower before depositing us back into the sunshine and dry. Thankfully the tarmac gods had been there before us, and what was a twisty scenic but rather bumpy road previously had been transformed into yet another ‘fun’ road.

Our final days were spent at our bike friendly hotel in the Picos. Everyone disappeared in different directions, mountain roads, cable cars, the beach whatever took their fancy – the area has much to offer. Our return was from Bilbao which is somewhere we have not used for many years. I was a little apprehensive regarding the timing – only to find that there is new stretch of A8 replacing the congested N634. That got us to the ferry terminal with plenty of time where there is a snack bar and toilets… how civilised after Santander.

Having attached the sun to the rail of the ferry we had another great crossing before emerging out the bowels of the ship in Portsmouth to the Friday afternoon traffic jam.

A great way to finish our European tours, a great crowd, good food and hotels and some cracking roads, roll on 2017.

PS: Many thanks to Olwen for contributing some great photos. More great pictures from 'Woody' at https://1drv.ms/f/s!AutrpCD0jYhXkCACsB2X3LCky8Ys

 

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