Johnnyboxer Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 A month ago, I decided that a quick blast to Europe was in order to test my new steed. So what were the options – Hull to Zeebrugge – to expensive on ferry and maybe similar weather to UK Dover – Calais – cheaper ferry, but been there and done that numerous times Plymouth to Santander – YES! Cheaper ferry than Hull and weather should be better and cheaper fuel/living costs – that’s the one So..............booked on the Friday and left on the Sunday to return the Thursday – perfect just enough leave ! I decided to go it alone, after a couple of mates dropped out – work and women trouble! A solo trip can be most cathartic and allows you to please yourself and get to know a new bike at your own pace. The ride to Plymouth was dry, but cold and very windy – the R1100RT performed at 90mph faultlessly. Arriving at Plymouth there was plenty of likeminded bike tourists – mainly going to Maroc though (lucky souls) The Brittany Ferry – Pont Aven was as good as ever and the crossing was calm Cabins are compact, but clean and comfortable We were greeted by warm sun and blue skies The weather was 28c when we arrived in Santander – fab! So after exiting the city, I took the quieter coast road Towards Panes, through the Hermida Gorge ..................to the capital of the Picos............... Potes I had decided to base myself in the Picos, as I only had 3 days or so and I’ve been to the Picos before -3 or 4 times I wanted to stay at a hotel recommended by Timolgra, the Hotel D’Oso @ Cosgaya on the road to Funte De, out of Potes It is a superb hotel and being up in the mountains made a superb base for a few days Very cosy on autumnal October nights, in the Mountains Maybe in Summer..............!! Cosgaya is very sleepy and tranquil The next day cloudy but dry, but the low cloud soon enveloped the Mountains I took a trip over to Riano in the Covadonga National Park, over the San Gloria Pass This is the Bear trail on top of the San Gloria – 4 miles offroad back to Cosgaya, but 25 miles by road! Darkhorse may recognise this trail – we rode it in 2006 on the Adv’s, getting stopped by a Park Ranger! The mist soon comes down – there’s only about 3 mins between the 2 Pics! That night it snowed heavily in the Mountains, but next day the roads were ok................. I went up to Sotres – a remote Mountain village On my return I stopped in Potes and met up with another GS’er – Neil 23 of this parish who’d done a tour of Spain We had a few drinks and returned to our respective hotels, arranging to meet up next morning to ride the scenic route to the Ferry @ Santander Next morning, after more snow the day dawned bright, cold and sunny The run down to Potes was great We met up and set off.................. Homeward bound! At the coast things got noticeably warmer and the scenery was just as good Another good short break for less than £500, covering 1200 miles and the 12 year old RT1100 performed faultlessly – who needs a new bike! Link to comment
Francois_Dumas Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Wonderful shots of a place I've never been ! Great stuff and thanks for sharing !! Link to comment
Mark P Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 It looks a great place, definitely to be added to my list of places to go by bike! Link to comment
Paul_Burkett Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Very nice ride tale. Georgeous scenery and pics, thank you for taking us along. Link to comment
Steve1962 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Johnny, Nice report - good to see you making use of the newly acquired bike , it looks very tidy indeed [ is that a Sargent seat ? ] Steve Link to comment
Johnnyboxer Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 It is clean - although a little grubby from the trip in the last pic Here's a clean pic Yep - it's a Sargent seat - found it a week before my trip Link to comment
Traveler1 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Good report - Now have yet another addition to my list of "places to see". Thanks for sharing Link to comment
Marty Hill Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Hi Thor, A place you haven't visited? Hard to believe. J/Boxer Great trip report and it looks like a beautiful area. Thanks! Link to comment
bart_vanreeth Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Aaah yes Picos are nice. I was there in 1999. The ocean-road that leads to it is nice too.Great report thx Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.