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28 Apr 2013
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Stoney Kincardineshire
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Thanks for the heads up on Toby Ballentines ''Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe'' I managed to locate one on an auction site for an extravagent £2.50, so the planning for our trip is underway.
For the Pyrenees is it best to base ourselves in France or Spain. I know the economic climate can change and it is all down to personal preference but fuel (biggest expense) and campsite fees which is the cheapest??
We have a soft spot for France and the food but also like to have new experiences.
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Only dead fish go with the flow
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28 Apr 2013
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: King's Lynn UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milimut1
Thanks for the heads up on Toby Ballentines ''Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe'' I managed to locate one on an auction site for an extravagent £2.50, so the planning for our trip is underway.
For the Pyrenees is it best to base ourselves in France or Spain. I know the economic climate can change and it is all down to personal preference but fuel (biggest expense) and campsite fees which is the cheapest??
We have a soft spot for France and the food but also like to have new experiences.
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Stick this in to Googol map's.
municipal camping Lannemezan
A good place to start looking from. If you are going to use one of these. Try booking for three day's or more. Get a discount if you ask. Petrol in Spain is cheaper than France. But not by much, just a few penny's a litre. It about half way along the Pyrenees. So you can ride to the north or to the south. Easy.
France is much cheaper to camp than Spain. If you are going to up stick's after a few day's have a look at Perpignan on the lower south French coast. Then looking in to riding some of Spain. The road's and place's around there are great. Could even get away with a bit a fly camping in the back road's of Spain.
John933
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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.
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6 May 2013
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Spain
Posts: 107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milimut1
Thanks for the heads up on Toby Ballentines ''Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe'' I managed to locate one on an auction site for an extravagent £2.50, so the planning for our trip is underway.
For the Pyrenees is it best to base ourselves in France or Spain. I know the economic climate can change and it is all down to personal preference but fuel (biggest expense) and campsite fees which is the cheapest??
We have a soft spot for France and the food but also like to have new experiences.
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It all comes down to preference these days. Fuel is pretty much the same nowadays but the camping issue raises its ugly head time and again!
The problem is trying to compare like with like: Spanish campsites have bars/restaurants that are usually open from 08.00 - 23.00, swimming pools as often as not, always hot water in the showers and absolutely always free wifi!
Municipal campsites in Spain hardly exist but when the do they are usually the same as commercial ones, but some tikes they are managed badly. One that I wholeheartedly recommend is at Ochagavia in Navarre - an outstanding location to explore the western end of the Pyrenees.
Luxury campsites in France are pretty much the same in my experience and bar bills there are horrendous 
There's loads more on my blog - see below. But the important thing is just get here and have fun finding out for yourself!
Enjoy
Simon
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The Spanish Biker - the invaluable guide to motorcycling in Spain.
The Spanish Biker LLP: Events, Guide and Support Services
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22 May 2013
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HUBB regular
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: hull, east yorkshire
Posts: 23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milimut1
Thanks for the heads up on Toby Ballentines ''Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe'' I managed to locate one on an auction site for an extravagent £2.50, so the planning for our trip is underway.
For the Pyrenees is it best to base ourselves in France or Spain. I know the economic climate can change and it is all down to personal preference but fuel (biggest expense) and campsite fees which is the cheapest??
We have a soft spot for France and the food but also like to have new experiences.
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I'm currently reading Toby Ballentines book as well at the moment, had to pay far more than two and half quid for it though!!, Good old amazon! Ha ha!.
Iv'e got myself booked on the Plymouth/Roscoff ferry for a fortnight trip in early july, plan on spending about 3 days riding down the west side of france then spending week in the pyrennes before meeting up with some friends for last few days in Perpignan. Iv'e been scanning for apartments for the week in the pyrennes recently and found some good links via The Spanish Biker's blog, Cheers!. Any tips/links on legal requirements whilst riding in France or Spain would be appreciated, i.e hi-viz, lightbulbs etc, just read thread on reflective stickers on helmets with deep joy!!
Thanks in advance.
Keith.
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6 Jun 2013
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R.I.P. - 2020
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cotes d'Armor, France.
Posts: 377
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ullukk
I'm currently reading Toby Ballentines book as well at the moment, had to pay far more than two and half quid for it though!!, Good old amazon! Ha ha!.
Iv'e got myself booked on the Plymouth/Roscoff ferry for a fortnight trip in early july, plan on spending about 3 days riding down the west side of france then spending week in the pyrennes before meeting up with some friends for last few days in Perpignan. Iv'e been scanning for apartments for the week in the pyrennes recently and found some good links via The Spanish Biker's blog, Cheers!. Any tips/links on legal requirements whilst riding in France or Spain would be appreciated, i.e hi-viz, lightbulbs etc, just read thread on reflective stickers on helmets with deep joy!!
Thanks in advance.
Keith.
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For riding tips and legal requirements for France, you might like to have a look at this forum, which has a section on the legal requirement and tips for France in the download section. ( how do I know?? Well,- I put it together!).
Bike Club France • Portal
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-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' ( www.lltgl.org.uk)
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13 Jun 2013
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: hull, east yorkshire
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pongo
For riding tips and legal requirements for France, you might like to have a look at this forum, which has a section on the legal requirement and tips for France in the download section. ( how do I know?? Well,- I put it together!).
Bike Club France • Portal |
Thanks for the link mate, good stuff!!
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8 Jun 2013
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Spain
Posts: 107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ullukk
I'm currently reading Toby Ballentines book as well at the moment, had to pay far more than two and half quid for it though!!, Good old amazon! Ha ha!.
Iv'e got myself booked on the Plymouth/Roscoff ferry for a fortnight trip in early july, plan on spending about 3 days riding down the west side of france then spending week in the pyrennes before meeting up with some friends for last few days in Perpignan. Iv'e been scanning for apartments for the week in the pyrennes recently and found some good links via The Spanish Biker's blog, Cheers!. Any tips/links on legal requirements whilst riding in France or Spain would be appreciated, i.e hi-viz, lightbulbs etc, just read thread on reflective stickers on helmets with deep joy!!
Thanks in advance.
Keith.
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Hi Keith,
Thanks for the kind words about my blog
Hope you're having a great time despite the weather 
Regs
Simon
__________________
The Spanish Biker - the invaluable guide to motorcycling in Spain.
The Spanish Biker LLP: Events, Guide and Support Services
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12 Jun 2013
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Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,134
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There is a shopping mall between France and Spain called 'Andorra', it is worthwhile to stop in there to get a cheap tank of gas and some low-priced cigarettes and hooch.
Don't buy the gas at the first station you see, the fuel is always much less expensive in the center of Andorra than it is at the stations near the border.
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13 Jun 2013
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HUBB regular
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: hull, east yorkshire
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanEuropean
There is a shopping mall between France and Spain called 'Andorra', it is worthwhile to stop in there to get a cheap tank of gas and some low-priced cigarettes and hooch.
Don't buy the gas at the first station you see, the fuel is always much less expensive in the center of Andorra than it is at the stations near the border.
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Thanks for the advice on Andorra mate, i was thinking of maybe spending a couple of days there during my week or so round the Pyrennes so i'll be stocking up!!
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14 Jun 2013
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Spain
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Hi,
I don't think PanEuropean was recommending Andorra as a place to stay - it's an incredible dump! Meanwhile in both France and Spain you can stay at lots of lovely places within an hour's good riding of the frontier.
If you do go in though the best place for bike shops is in Santa Coloma - there are brilliant bargains there if you just turn up on spec, but you'll be disappointed if you are looking out for something in particular as the range isn't very wide.
You can get smokes anywhere - some shops have pallet loads of the popular brands in the foyer!
Regs
Simon
__________________
The Spanish Biker - the invaluable guide to motorcycling in Spain.
The Spanish Biker LLP: Events, Guide and Support Services
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22 Jun 2013
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: hull, east yorkshire
Posts: 23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSpanishBiker
Hi,
I don't think PanEuropean was recommending Andorra as a place to stay - it's an incredible dump! Meanwhile in both France and Spain you can stay at lots of lovely places within an hour's good riding of the frontier.
If you do go in though the best place for bike shops is in Santa Coloma - there are brilliant bargains there if you just turn up on spec, but you'll be disappointed if you are looking out for something in particular as the range isn't very wide.
You can get smokes anywhere - some shops have pallet loads of the popular brands in the foyer!
Regs
Simon
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Hello Simon,
Thanks for the info on Andorra mate, must admit i was suprised to read that you described it as an incredible dump!!, iv'e never been so i personally couldn't comment on the place, think i'll pay a visit on my route east anyway but not that bothered either way about staying. I set sail to France on the 1st of July via Plymouth/Roscoff ferry, intend on travelling south down the west side of France for 3 days before heading over the border to Vielha to stay for the weekend, the following weekend me and the missis are meeting up with some friends forra few days near Perpignan, still not sure where to stay/visit on the trip eastwards from Vielha to South/East France yet so any recommendations would be appreciated.
Cheers.
Keith.
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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