You will have no problem camping in France during the summer - I presume you are intending to use campsites. I think "camping sauvage" is not recommended or even allowed. You will manage without speaking French, although making the effort to learn a few everyday words, such as bonjour, merci and s'il vous plait, would be appreciated.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

That's a great suggestion, it is exactly what I have done for the past 5 years.

About the only thing I can add is that there are different classifications of roads in France - motorways, 'national' roads, and 'departmental' roads. Departmental roads are the tertiary roads, they tend to be nice, pokey, two-lane windy roads that go through all sorts of interesting places. Even if I have to cross from one side of France to another, I will preferentially choose the departmental roads because the trip is so much nicer, more interesting, more relaxing on these D roads. When you are looking at a map, just look for road numbers that start with a D.

Michael

Having lived in the Limousin south western France for 2 years I feel its a safe place for travelling and parking your bikes but watch out for speed traps and obey the 110km restrictions ok
We are about to open a B & B catering for bikers travelling down france
Parking inside and secure a self-catering appartment or B & B and are situated 2 minutes from the A20 one of the main auto routes through France. Would be nice to see some bike travellers
Also a great place for off-roading here the thing is you just get on your bike and go where you want !! maybe worth a trip to have a non-restricted play off road !

Hello John:

It likely won't be a logistical problem, but you might find that people in France are a bit more sensitive about switching over to English from their own mother language than people in other countries. It's hard to express the nuance of this well - I guess what I am trying to say is that if you visit (for example) Poland, and you don't speak Polish, no-one there will really expect you to speak Polish, so they will not be offended by that. They'll go out of their way to communicate with you as best they can.

People in France can sometimes have an expectation that because you are in France, you should be able to communicate with them in their own language. If you are suitably diplomatic about things (for example, learn how to say "I'm sorry, I'm from Australia, I don't speak French well" in the French language, and use this comment frequently), then folks will do the best they can to communicate with you in your own language, or via pantomime, or whatever.

It is interesting to note that I speak Canadian French (a dialect of French) well, but people in France don't speak or understand this dialect. So, if I start up a conversation by speaking Canadian French, more often than not the person I am speaking to will reply to me in English (this because they know Canada has two languages). However - If I was to start off the same conversation with the same person using English, they might reply to me in French.

Hope you understand what I am trying to say... I think it all boils down to people being a little bit more sensitive about language in France than in other countries.

Michael

Hi Meeks

You seem a bit insecure about travelling. And are you taking the piss about your mother? Is your post & your name a wind-up? I think it is.

My advice is to chain your mother to the bike at night. If you hear her scream you can shout for help and phone the cops from under your bed while she fights the thieves.

Naughty boy!

You seem a bit timid about camping. You say its "not allowed" and "not recommended". With respect, you really should stay at home and wait for permission from the local authority before going out.

Denis,

My user name is a lifelond nickname I have had from friends for a loooooooooong time.

The thread is not a wind up, and I must say, it has been most helpful.

Not timid about travelling or doing big miles, but to be honest, I have never ridden abroad before, and as I value my life and bike, wanted any tips I could possibly get. Which I have, thanks to all.

Wind up.....lol- my mum is really worried though, er, and my nan, and girlfriend, etc.

ps. good point about the old dear.

Hi guys,

a nice stop for bikers is the casa holly, clos to exit nr: 2 or 3 highway to barcelona, a old finca only for motorcyclists, with swimming pool and a lot of facilities for motos. Germanowned. I think they have their own website. Spanish side of the border.

Good repair shop for any kind of motorcycles is Moto Transfer in Barcelona,Street Bolivar, close to Parque Guell, I met the owner Sergio a long time ago in Argentina on a bike trip, he fixes everything: Tel 0034-93 219 8179(I think).

Have fun in Spain, perhaps the best country for riding bikes!

El Aleman - Jens

Thanks for that El Aleman - I'll bear that in mind....

http://www.casa-holly.de/

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If there's a will there's a way so I will anyway!
http://www.buyaikhaya.blogspot.com

Have found the french willing to speak English every time I've visited, some times after having made a very poor atempt in French first .
It seems to be in places like calais and boulogne where they not as forthcoming with english, most likley due to the number of us they go over on a 'boose cruise' and asume every one speaks english .
French Canadians on the other hand can be a damn funny bunch, had problems in a shop last time I was there as i dont speak French. Not that I expect every one to speak english, but at least an effort to communicate would be nice. Its easy to see why a lot of canadians dont like the french!

BTW the reason Meeks's family are worried is that he has a knack of getting knocked off every few months and has an appalling sense of direction

Do we really have to put up with idiots like this who feel the need to launch an unprovoked attack on someone who is only trying to give a sensible response to someone elses's question?

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

It seems we do Harleyrider. Best not to respond.
It was good to meet you the other week. Can you manage to get to Yorkshire this weekend?

It was good to meet you too - and the others. Unfortunately we can't make it this weekend, we'd already arranged to got to the Stafford bike show. (and I'm a bit worried about camping out at this time of year without my hot water bottle!)
Are you going to the main meet in Derbyshire? and how are your plans coming along for the Spanish trip?

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

(and I'm a bit worried about camping out at this time of year without my hot water bottle!)
rofl
there could be one of two solutions to this..
one, cut a lot of braken or grass and stack it thickly under where you want to pitch your tent. as it composts it will keep you warm. ( use a polythene sheet beween the compost and the tent)
two dig out a trench, and light a fire in it. put stones over the fire, and when it is nearly finished, cover with sand/soil/turf. then pitch your tent over it.
It will stay warm for about two days, whereas the compost will last a week.