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8 Mar 2011
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I have ridden all the way from the Madrid to the channel in a day, so it can be done but it wasn't fun! It was a challenge at the time...
Why do you want to head to Spain? Why not head East and ride the Alps instead since your trip is so short?
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8 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: portugal
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Hi, read with interest the comments and have to say I agree about the long ride to clemont from the coast. dull on the motorways and expensive.
the comment about the ferry from santander has point.we've done both routes numerous times, cheaper by ferry and spains roads are emptier and the fuel cheaper.the sun is likely to shine too!
we dont bother with france now..
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9 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dave ett
I have ridden all the way from the Madrid to the channel in a day, so it can be done but it wasn't fun! It was a challenge at the time...
Why do you want to head to Spain? Why not head East and ride the Alps instead since your trip is so short?
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Many years ago I met a biker near Calais who'd just ridden non stop from somewhere around Valencia on a Guzzi Le Mans. He could hardly walk when he got off the bike 
Tony's doing the trip in May - not the best month in the Alps IMHO. Still snowed up on some of the higher passes, cold from the melting snow and looking miserable with the vegetation still recovering from winter. Spain sounds like a much better bet to me.
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9 Mar 2011
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Are you going to Clermont for any special reason?
If not I would ask you to consider your route carefully.
If it were me I would take the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo and have a cabin. That way you arrive early morning ready to go. Follow the non peage road to Rennes-Nantes. Poitiers then towards Bordeaux. Stop for the night ( along the RN10) ? then the next day is an easy ride to spain where you can follow the Pyrenees to the med coast.
Come back up to Millau then cross to the A10 near Rocamadour then after Limoges follow to poitiers and up returning via Samur. (take the overnight ferry Caen/ouistreham to Portsmouth. All non peage.
Note however that you can overnight bivouac at rest areas on both the peage and other roads.
Timings, St malo to Bordeaux on the route I suggested is less than 8 hours on an Enfield.
if you want more info just ask here or message me.
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12 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Feb 2011
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Hi,
If you want some good riding while you're at Platja d'Aro (not a great place to be to be honest!) I've devised this route for another guy stopping down the coast at Lloret de Mar.
There are also several route over the Pyrenees!
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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30 Mar 2011
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Location: Wakefield, UK
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Further all the advice about avoiding the Tolls or Peage,
If you do use them, always go to a manned booth, never ever an automated one. Bikers pay a good deal less, but the auto-booth can't differentiate between a bike and a car
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26 Apr 2011
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Join Date: Feb 2011
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Hi Martin, et al
Regarding your very good point about the automatic toll booths: as of last week (Easter 2011) four main toll stations have been 'supressed' (fabulous thought!) by the Spanish motorway Czars!
So, on the AP7 apart from Martorell near Barcelona, you only have to collect a ticket as you whizz by, paying for the whole at the various exits.
This gibes you an uninterrupted ride from Barcelona to Valencia (I'm sure) and inland on the AP2 as far as Zaragoza (I think!)
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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