Our 2 week European tour 2016
Discussion
Salgar said:
Bordtea said:
Berz said:
How much does a trip like this cost per day when you're staying at airbnb/hostels instead of hotels? Fuel, food, accommodation; anything else to budget for?
I did a very similar trip a couple of months ago with two friends trying to keep it as cheap as possible within reason. We did 2300 miles over 9 days, took the ferry rather than the tunnel - significantly cheaper - and it ended up costing around £600-650 for direct costs (food, accom, petrol, breakdown cover, ferry etc). My Speed Triple averaged 46mpg over the whole trip. That figure doesn't include the fact that I almost went through an entire rear tyre, and did a few bits and bobs like oil/filter change before we left. I pre-booked all accomodation and averaged £20 each per night, most breakfasts/lunches were supermarket bought (some hotels had brekky included) although we did eat out for dinner every night, followed by a couple of beers.
Oh also, £200 for the spain ferry, £40? for the dover one.
black-k1 said:
Salgar said:
Bordtea said:
Berz said:
How much does a trip like this cost per day when you're staying at airbnb/hostels instead of hotels? Fuel, food, accommodation; anything else to budget for?
I did a very similar trip a couple of months ago with two friends trying to keep it as cheap as possible within reason. We did 2300 miles over 9 days, took the ferry rather than the tunnel - significantly cheaper - and it ended up costing around £600-650 for direct costs (food, accom, petrol, breakdown cover, ferry etc). My Speed Triple averaged 46mpg over the whole trip. That figure doesn't include the fact that I almost went through an entire rear tyre, and did a few bits and bobs like oil/filter change before we left. I pre-booked all accomodation and averaged £20 each per night, most breakfasts/lunches were supermarket bought (some hotels had brekky included) although we did eat out for dinner every night, followed by a couple of beers.
Oh also, £200 for the spain ferry, £40? for the dover one.
black-k1 said:
Salgar said:
Bordtea said:
Berz said:
How much does a trip like this cost per day when you're staying at airbnb/hostels instead of hotels? Fuel, food, accommodation; anything else to budget for?
I did a very similar trip a couple of months ago with two friends trying to keep it as cheap as possible within reason. We did 2300 miles over 9 days, took the ferry rather than the tunnel - significantly cheaper - and it ended up costing around £600-650 for direct costs (food, accom, petrol, breakdown cover, ferry etc). My Speed Triple averaged 46mpg over the whole trip. That figure doesn't include the fact that I almost went through an entire rear tyre, and did a few bits and bobs like oil/filter change before we left. I pre-booked all accomodation and averaged £20 each per night, most breakfasts/lunches were supermarket bought (some hotels had brekky included) although we did eat out for dinner every night, followed by a couple of beers.
Oh also, £200 for the spain ferry, £40? for the dover one.
Here is some more of this!
Day 6 - 250 Miles - Aosta to Barcelonette - Route Napoleon
Having had breakfast in the airbnb with an American guy who thought that Switzerland had no speed limits on their highways (yes actually), I was tempted to let him find out the hard way that that wasn’t true. We went over the Petit St Bernard pass to Bourg-st-maurice. I wanted to go over this road because Bourg is probably the place I’ve visited outside of the UK the most, I used to go there a lot when the OH lived there in the winter. I used to fly out on a Friday night and drive from Geneva and then leave on a Monday morning at 2am to get to work for 9am. I took a photo of her old flat that I still have a key for somewhere. The pass itself was quite good but the road down from La Rosiere has a monstrous number of hairpins, felt like a long time for a short distance but it was good viewing none the less. We then rode down the N90 from Bourg-SM to Albertville, which I absolutely loved because I’ve wanted to do it on a bike for years after all those midnight drives in hire cars on it. I rode it a bit like a maniac but it was definitely one of my personal highlights. We then did some brief motorway to Grenoble before heading down the north half of the route napoleon, it was also a great, fast, flowing road and very empty. After getting to Gap we turned off towards Barcelonette, we had been warned that there was a closed road just before our airbnb and had planned to arrive after 4:30 when it would be opening. Upon our arrival to said road at 5pm, it was still closed. Luckily, just before we arrived, it started to rain really very heavily. And so we stood in the road with many other cars and motorcyclists for an hour in very heavy rain which helped me determine exactly which gear was waterproof and which wasn’t. Most of it was semi waterproof I would say. Luckily our airbnb had a big garage for us to park in and a very nice place to sit and debate whether we really were hungry enough to get on our bikes and go to the nearest town to find food. I’m glad we did in the end because it was one of the best meals of Tartiflette and Cafe Gourmand. Near the end of the meal the restaurant invited in a man who sat by himself waving a knife around and shouted a lot at everyone, and us, and the waiting staff. Everyone in the restaurant promptly left, as did we. I was quite tired by the end of this day, it was a lot of miles and time and I has arse pain and was riding like a granny by the end.
Tim doing his thing outside our Aosta Airbnb
Bourg-st-mauirce
Everything in France
Lac de Serre-Ponçon
Lac de Serre-Ponçon
An hour+ of standing in the rain in the road
Day 7 - 126 Miles - Barcelonette to Nice - Cols
Today we rode up the Col de Bonnette which claims to be the highest paved road in Europe. The views were amazing and it was a very quiet road. It was surprisingly long and highest point is a slight detour off the road. It was a nice piece of road. We then went to the Col de Turini which is very nearby, this was also beautiful but it wasn’t a great road to ride, a lot narrower and more twisty and hairpinny than the Bonnette. This was a relatively short day of riding, although it still took quite a few hours do to our route. We then went straight to Nice, checked in at the airbnb, washed all of our clothes, and then took a train to Monaco which is only about 15 minutes away by train, walked most of the ‘track’ and saw the casino. Didn’t see any super amazing cars, just your boggo Ferraris. Odd place. Went back to Nice for a bit of a walk around and some food then caught an Uber back to the b&b.
All of the above are the Col de La Bonnette
Nice
Monaco
Monte Carlo Casino
Dat hairpin
Monaco F1 Tunnel
Nice Port
Very Nice Port
Day 6 - 250 Miles - Aosta to Barcelonette - Route Napoleon
Having had breakfast in the airbnb with an American guy who thought that Switzerland had no speed limits on their highways (yes actually), I was tempted to let him find out the hard way that that wasn’t true. We went over the Petit St Bernard pass to Bourg-st-maurice. I wanted to go over this road because Bourg is probably the place I’ve visited outside of the UK the most, I used to go there a lot when the OH lived there in the winter. I used to fly out on a Friday night and drive from Geneva and then leave on a Monday morning at 2am to get to work for 9am. I took a photo of her old flat that I still have a key for somewhere. The pass itself was quite good but the road down from La Rosiere has a monstrous number of hairpins, felt like a long time for a short distance but it was good viewing none the less. We then rode down the N90 from Bourg-SM to Albertville, which I absolutely loved because I’ve wanted to do it on a bike for years after all those midnight drives in hire cars on it. I rode it a bit like a maniac but it was definitely one of my personal highlights. We then did some brief motorway to Grenoble before heading down the north half of the route napoleon, it was also a great, fast, flowing road and very empty. After getting to Gap we turned off towards Barcelonette, we had been warned that there was a closed road just before our airbnb and had planned to arrive after 4:30 when it would be opening. Upon our arrival to said road at 5pm, it was still closed. Luckily, just before we arrived, it started to rain really very heavily. And so we stood in the road with many other cars and motorcyclists for an hour in very heavy rain which helped me determine exactly which gear was waterproof and which wasn’t. Most of it was semi waterproof I would say. Luckily our airbnb had a big garage for us to park in and a very nice place to sit and debate whether we really were hungry enough to get on our bikes and go to the nearest town to find food. I’m glad we did in the end because it was one of the best meals of Tartiflette and Cafe Gourmand. Near the end of the meal the restaurant invited in a man who sat by himself waving a knife around and shouted a lot at everyone, and us, and the waiting staff. Everyone in the restaurant promptly left, as did we. I was quite tired by the end of this day, it was a lot of miles and time and I has arse pain and was riding like a granny by the end.
Tim doing his thing outside our Aosta Airbnb
Bourg-st-mauirce
Everything in France
Lac de Serre-Ponçon
Lac de Serre-Ponçon
An hour+ of standing in the rain in the road
Day 7 - 126 Miles - Barcelonette to Nice - Cols
Today we rode up the Col de Bonnette which claims to be the highest paved road in Europe. The views were amazing and it was a very quiet road. It was surprisingly long and highest point is a slight detour off the road. It was a nice piece of road. We then went to the Col de Turini which is very nearby, this was also beautiful but it wasn’t a great road to ride, a lot narrower and more twisty and hairpinny than the Bonnette. This was a relatively short day of riding, although it still took quite a few hours do to our route. We then went straight to Nice, checked in at the airbnb, washed all of our clothes, and then took a train to Monaco which is only about 15 minutes away by train, walked most of the ‘track’ and saw the casino. Didn’t see any super amazing cars, just your boggo Ferraris. Odd place. Went back to Nice for a bit of a walk around and some food then caught an Uber back to the b&b.
All of the above are the Col de La Bonnette
Nice
Monaco
Monte Carlo Casino
Dat hairpin
Monaco F1 Tunnel
Nice Port
Very Nice Port
Realised I never finished this.
Day 8 - 217 Miles - Nice to Nimes - Verdon Gorge
At breakfast at the Intermache they took our helmets at the door for 'terrorist reasons' which was interesting. We rode up the Route Napoleon to Castellane then turned left to go down the Verdon Gorge, fun roads. Lots of sweeping bends and not many hairpins, which by now was nice, there are only so many times I can go on to the other side of the road going around a hairpin before there is a bus there. We had lunch in a nice hilltop village Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. We then went the rest of the way via motorways and it started HAMMERING it down just as we arrived at Nimes, we got fairly wet waiting for the camp hench french man who gave us the keys to his flat which contained a 'bass bazooka' which we used for all of 19 seconds.
This again
Rain, so much rain
Brief rain respite at the Arena of Nimes
Day 9 - 261 Miles - Nimes to Carcassonne via Millau Viaduct
At breakfast today, I ate one of the best things that I've ever put in my mouth. It was called a Brioche Suisse, 10/10 would Brioche Suisse again. Jizz. We kinda chose the route at random to get to the Millau Viaduct as there weren't really any major roads going there. For the most part it was quite good, except at one point we were on a road that wasn't even one lane wide going down the side of a hill between two bigger roads. I was glad for my suspension settings then! We got to Millau for lunch and the view of the bridge from far away is quite something, it's so tall. I would recommend going to see it. We spent a few hours riding around seeing it from different places and riding across it, there are some pretty good roads around it where we went slightly faster than is recommended. We then motorway'd to Carcassonne and had a very nice airbnb on the edge of the new town only a few minutes walk from the old city. We mooched around the old town having a look at the old stuff. Lovely.
A rest
Millau
Somewhere
BRIDGE
TALLNESS
The one second from the left is the hight of the Eiffel Tower
Small truck
Carcassonne
Day 8 - 217 Miles - Nice to Nimes - Verdon Gorge
At breakfast at the Intermache they took our helmets at the door for 'terrorist reasons' which was interesting. We rode up the Route Napoleon to Castellane then turned left to go down the Verdon Gorge, fun roads. Lots of sweeping bends and not many hairpins, which by now was nice, there are only so many times I can go on to the other side of the road going around a hairpin before there is a bus there. We had lunch in a nice hilltop village Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. We then went the rest of the way via motorways and it started HAMMERING it down just as we arrived at Nimes, we got fairly wet waiting for the camp hench french man who gave us the keys to his flat which contained a 'bass bazooka' which we used for all of 19 seconds.
This again
Rain, so much rain
Brief rain respite at the Arena of Nimes
Day 9 - 261 Miles - Nimes to Carcassonne via Millau Viaduct
At breakfast today, I ate one of the best things that I've ever put in my mouth. It was called a Brioche Suisse, 10/10 would Brioche Suisse again. Jizz. We kinda chose the route at random to get to the Millau Viaduct as there weren't really any major roads going there. For the most part it was quite good, except at one point we were on a road that wasn't even one lane wide going down the side of a hill between two bigger roads. I was glad for my suspension settings then! We got to Millau for lunch and the view of the bridge from far away is quite something, it's so tall. I would recommend going to see it. We spent a few hours riding around seeing it from different places and riding across it, there are some pretty good roads around it where we went slightly faster than is recommended. We then motorway'd to Carcassonne and had a very nice airbnb on the edge of the new town only a few minutes walk from the old city. We mooched around the old town having a look at the old stuff. Lovely.
A rest
Millau
Somewhere
BRIDGE
TALLNESS
The one second from the left is the hight of the Eiffel Tower
Small truck
Carcassonne
Edited by Salgar on Monday 2nd January 19:17
Some beautiful scenery on your trip.
I have been to most of the places you went through and done most of the passes, would go back and do it again in a heartbeat. We were there in September in a hired mini convertible, also visiting a lot of these places. Something about being on the bike makes it all that bit better.
I have been to most of the places you went through and done most of the passes, would go back and do it again in a heartbeat. We were there in September in a hired mini convertible, also visiting a lot of these places. Something about being on the bike makes it all that bit better.
BobSaunders said:
Amazing. Really interested in how you finish the loop.
Would be interested in understanding what you took on the bike, and what you felt you needed or what you did not need in the end.
Will do a small gear review at the end, this was the second trip I've ever done and I think I did much better this time.Would be interested in understanding what you took on the bike, and what you felt you needed or what you did not need in the end.
BobSaunders said:
Amazing. Really interested in how you finish the loop.
Would be interested in understanding what you took on the bike, and what you felt you needed or what you did not need in the end.
Hi bob, I know you didn't ask me, but I've done lots of trips like this. Less is more imo.Would be interested in understanding what you took on the bike, and what you felt you needed or what you did not need in the end.
The lighter the bike the more fun I had. Top box is good, personally don't have one now so have a roll bag and tank bag
Tank bag for phone, wallet, sunglasses visor cleaner etc, I've got power to mine so I can charge stuff on the go, it's only a small tank bag as I don't like too big a bag, always take puncture kit a small amount of tools.
I wear Kevlar jeans and a airtex jacket when going in the summer, both very good quality ones, jeans are Rokker so waterproof when need, I have a very light wind proof jacket for underneath and also a two piece waterproof set in the roll bag iif and when it's needed. A waterproof set of gloves and a summer pair. Spare visor ( I dropped my lid in the alps a few years ago and knackered visor) won't be doing that again!
4-5 t shirts pair of jeans, shorts and a smarter shirt, down puffer jacket just in case( fits underneath windproof and airtex jacket and is good enough for near freezing temps, I hate being cold or hot!
Socks and crackers and a few toiletries.
People tend to take far too much when they go away, as long as you've got money anything can be purchased on the way.
Day 10 - 251 Miles - Carcassonne to Andorra
Started today with another Brioche Suisse, already a good day. After a quick blast on the motorway down to Spain, we started making our way across the Pyrenees, at first I was worried it wasn't going to be very good, because it was all very slow 60kph roads and villages joined on to each other. But at some point just before we crossed the border that stopped, and opened up into completely empty beautiful road. We stopped for a while on the road and we saw no cars come past for 10 minutes, only cow bells and scenery.
Then on to the N260 which we were on for all the rest of the day, and the next day. It was honestly one of the best roads of the trip, it had everything from mountain pass style roads to very very fast long sweeping bits to gorgey gorgeousness and the weather was great the whole time. We ended up this day in Andorra, we were slightly early for the airbnb so we ended up taking a trip to Soldeu which I instantly regretted because I was knackered, and Andorra is an extremely odd place that appears to essentially be one road, and 1500 fuel stations, and very little else. Unfortunately I didn't take many photos on this day because I was too busy riding.
Also, on this day we had one of the strangest lunches I've ever had. It was a sausage, 9 chips (actually 9), and about 20 beans (they were similar to baked beans, but also, they were not baked beans at all). It was rural Spain at its finest.
Started today with another Brioche Suisse, already a good day. After a quick blast on the motorway down to Spain, we started making our way across the Pyrenees, at first I was worried it wasn't going to be very good, because it was all very slow 60kph roads and villages joined on to each other. But at some point just before we crossed the border that stopped, and opened up into completely empty beautiful road. We stopped for a while on the road and we saw no cars come past for 10 minutes, only cow bells and scenery.
Then on to the N260 which we were on for all the rest of the day, and the next day. It was honestly one of the best roads of the trip, it had everything from mountain pass style roads to very very fast long sweeping bits to gorgey gorgeousness and the weather was great the whole time. We ended up this day in Andorra, we were slightly early for the airbnb so we ended up taking a trip to Soldeu which I instantly regretted because I was knackered, and Andorra is an extremely odd place that appears to essentially be one road, and 1500 fuel stations, and very little else. Unfortunately I didn't take many photos on this day because I was too busy riding.
Also, on this day we had one of the strangest lunches I've ever had. It was a sausage, 9 chips (actually 9), and about 20 beans (they were similar to baked beans, but also, they were not baked beans at all). It was rural Spain at its finest.
myvision said:
Nice I hope to do my first European trip next year.
There's still space with the Old Gits if you're quick http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
Andy XRV said:
Great blog and some really nice photos. May I ask what camera you used?
It's a Canon Powershot S110. What a fantastic thread. It looks like you had an amazing time. I certainly envy you that long trip with such brilliant roads.
The section when you are going through the Swiss Alpine passes reminds me of the trip we did in our air cooled 911 a couple of years ago.
The Grimsel and Furka passes were amazing, but I did struggle to keep the power on through some of the tighter hairpins given the rather unnerving and sometimes unfenced drops on the outside of the bends. In fact, I'm pretty sure cyclist rather embarrassingly overtook me on one of the downhill stretches but my excuse was that I was admiring the view.
:-)
We must get back there some time with the motorcycles and try and take in some of the Spanish roads as well.
I like the idea of riding down, enjoying the good roads and then coming back on the Spanish ferry rather than trying to slog back quickly on the motorways.
The section when you are going through the Swiss Alpine passes reminds me of the trip we did in our air cooled 911 a couple of years ago.
The Grimsel and Furka passes were amazing, but I did struggle to keep the power on through some of the tighter hairpins given the rather unnerving and sometimes unfenced drops on the outside of the bends. In fact, I'm pretty sure cyclist rather embarrassingly overtook me on one of the downhill stretches but my excuse was that I was admiring the view.
:-)
We must get back there some time with the motorcycles and try and take in some of the Spanish roads as well.
I like the idea of riding down, enjoying the good roads and then coming back on the Spanish ferry rather than trying to slog back quickly on the motorways.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff