Riding from Northcape to Gibraltar
 

Hi All,

I'm looking at doing the above ride. I know you could spend months doing the ride, which I do not have, so plan to do the ride in a short a time as possible.

The objective of the ride is simply to ride from the top of Europe to the bottom, so I appreciate that I will be missing many sites as I ride south if I do not take time to explore.

Does anybody have any info of doing the above ride? or links to other people that have done the ride. Also, how long could the above ride take if as I say the only objective is to get from the top to the bottom?

I'm riding an 1150 GSA.

Thanks
Dean.

I once rode from South Italy to Stockholm, about 3000kms in 48 hours, and another time I rode from Cadiz, Spain to Saarbrucken, Germany, 2200 kms in less than 30 hours.

Not that it made any sense, but I was totally out of money, and no tent, so couldnt stay anywhere and needed to get back home quickly.

So I guess you could do it in 3-4 days, if youre crazy enough. But I wouldnt recommend that, cos it will be very dangerous to ride, when youre too tired to do that. I would ask myself, what is the point in that.

Quite a few people on here (including me) are planning to go up to Nordkapp this summer but will be taking the scenic route.

A Dutch member, Jan, has done half the trip (to Nordkapp) already and is planning to do the rest this summer.

This is his home page:

Jan Krijtenburg homepage (Travel pages)

Why don't you send him a PM and compare notes, though I don't think he's out to break any records.

According to Google, it's 5,650kms (3,511 miles) and will take "about 2 days 12 hours" which must very optimistic! You'd have to double that at least to take in rests, sleep, and food and fuel.

The quickest route is through the top of Finland, then down the east coast of Sweden, then Denmark, Germany, France, Spain.

Google Maps=

Good luck.

Indoors.

OK, daft question by why are you finishing in Gib?

I thought Tarifa was further south - if you wanted to do the most northerly point to the most southerly.

.....having said that, we were in Tarifa last year and unlike Nordkapp/Lands End or anywhere else, there isn't really any information on it being the southernmost point (in fact, you can't even get to the very most south point as it would appear to be an military base)

Portugal had a lot more on the most westerly point (we were trying to do all four points of the compass).

Hope this helps!

Cheers for the replys so far.

As I say, the objective is to ride from the top to the bottom but I do not intend to break any records or be a danger to myself or others. I certainly wasn't thinking of 2 or 3 days - more like a couple of weeks. I also have to factor in the outward and return journey as well.

Yes, Tarifa will be the goal.

And thanks for the link to the Dutch guy's website. If you read this I hope you have a good trip to Gib on your Goldwing.

Cheers.

You can read about half of the trip on my website. The other half of the trip (to Gibraltar) I will make in 2009.
Jan Krijtenburg homepage (Travel pages)

I don't want to put a Spaniard in the works but I have just seen this on Wikipedia:

"Contrary to popular belief, the south of Malta is not Europe's most southern point; that distinction belongs to the Greek island of Gavdos."

NorhCape to Gibraltar
 

can be done in 5-6 long days,Iam actualy thinking of doing this trip this summer,not to set any record,will probably take 3-4 weeks wants to soak up the sun in the south.
I have done Stocholm to Alta(200km from NC) 1700km in one day on my 1200gs in 2004,first 1200gs at NC early may 2004.
started off at 0700 and reached Alta at midnight.
Also done Innsbruck to Oslo 1880km in 22hr,had to wait at a gas station in Germany for two hr due to torrential rain.
Fastest way from NC to Danish border is NC-Alta-Kautokeino-Karasuando-get on the E45 all the way to Karlstad-Malmø-Copenhagen .Minimum 2 days riding.

Can you tell us a little more about it ?
On my way North from Gibraltar (and Tarifa that I'll visit too) I want to go through Portugal so visiting the most Western point would be nice.

If its any help, 2006 I rode from Tarifa to just above the arctic circle in Norway (Bodo) & back via UK, not the shortest route but wanted to see family in the UK.
On the way up went through Sweeden because its much faster than Norway, then down Norway, stunning but much slower with all the ferrys & "must sees".
It took 3 weeks, 7000miles in total.
I would guess Nordkapp (Northcape) is still another 2-5 days further on.
Don't underestimate how long it takes to travel in Norway.

Europe's Most Westerly Point
 

According to my little atlas and a quick trip to Wikipedia to confirm, the most westerly point in Europe is Cabo de Roca, 40kms west of Lisbon, so not difficult to get to at all.

Now we know Nordkapp is the furthest north, and Tarifa south, I suppose the next question is what's the most easterly, somewhere in Russia I suppose, but where does Russia stop being Europe and start being Asia?

Answering my own question
 

I did a bit more browsing on Wikipedia today and if anyone's interested...

the easternmost point of mainland Europe is the easternmost point of the Komi Republic, Russia, assuming the watershed of the Urals as Europe's eastern border.

Now that would be quite a trip; Nordkapp, Komi Rep., Tarifa, Cabo da Roca.

Come on, chaps, what about it?!

I did the Nordkapp in 2006, plan on doing Tarifa and Cabo da Roca in 2009.
The most Eastern part is a nice destination for a future trip.