Getting to Madrid
Discussion
black-k1 said:
I’ve done some very long days in the past and am a great believer in using fast (boring) roads to get to your destination. This years Old Gits trip has a couple of almost 500-mile autoroute days included.
While I have no issue with long runs on motorways in Europe, they can never be described as fun, even when they involve a group of mates and intercom banter. For me, they are done purely to get you through the places I don’t want to be as quickly and efficiently as possible. If my trip is to ride in Spain then it’s Spain I want to ride in, not France. This is often important as my trips tend to be time limited due to work and/or family commitments. The fact that the ferry can get you to and from Northern Spain in about the same time, but without squared off tyres, without eyes out on stalks, without need for an AirHawk, without the need to look at adjusting the chain, etc. etc. etc., and all while not costing any more, sells the ferry option for me.
I will, in the future, do an overland ride from Suffolk to the Algarve, without the long ferry ride, but that’ll only be when I have the time to make the whole run interesting.
Agreed, having tried both options the ferry to Spain is a no brainer for me. Like you say mile after mile on the dual carriageways in France watching the distance to go on the GPS is boring as. If you want to explore France then it is a different kettle of fish and days are planned accordingly, but just to get back to Calais from the South it is pretty miserable. You mentioned the rain, last time we did it was in ridiculous heat which was equally as horrendous as the rain!While I have no issue with long runs on motorways in Europe, they can never be described as fun, even when they involve a group of mates and intercom banter. For me, they are done purely to get you through the places I don’t want to be as quickly and efficiently as possible. If my trip is to ride in Spain then it’s Spain I want to ride in, not France. This is often important as my trips tend to be time limited due to work and/or family commitments. The fact that the ferry can get you to and from Northern Spain in about the same time, but without squared off tyres, without eyes out on stalks, without need for an AirHawk, without the need to look at adjusting the chain, etc. etc. etc., and all while not costing any more, sells the ferry option for me.
I will, in the future, do an overland ride from Suffolk to the Algarve, without the long ferry ride, but that’ll only be when I have the time to make the whole run interesting.
GSA_fattie said:
crumbs what a fun sponge
you're on the wrong bike really - you know it but just won't admit it
the suggestion above of meandering about is the best, N and D roads make for perfect travel memories
you're on the wrong bike really - you know it but just won't admit it
the suggestion above of meandering about is the best, N and D roads make for perfect travel memories
I hope you're not suggesting I look at ... a ...
... GS????
You are correct about N and D roads but as I tend to only get a week at a time for my Euro trips, I could either ride the same French N and D roads every year, or get on the Autoroutes/ferry and ride a whole load of different, even more fun/interesting/exciting N and D roads for even better memories further afield.
This year, on the Old Gits trip we're doing 2 days on the autoroutes which means we get 2 extra days in the Pyrenees. It's a simple mathematical equation:
(2D x Autoroute + luggage) + (2D x Pyrenes passes - luggage) > (4D x general French N and D roads + luggage)
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
Is there a middle ground of a ferry to St. Malo, Cherbourg and then riding down, rather than Calais?
A day's riding gets you to the Pyrenees, and you're not going to square off your tyres in 700 km. Then you get to do at least a day in the Pyrenees as well.
That's precisely what we're doing next month, motorway down from Glasgow to Portsmouth, ferry to St Malo then autoroute down to San Sebastian, about 200 miles less than coming from the Chunnel.A day's riding gets you to the Pyrenees, and you're not going to square off your tyres in 700 km. Then you get to do at least a day in the Pyrenees as well.
hiccy18 said:
It's two seven hour days with well planned stops, hardly the same as Mr HairyButt up the thread! 
Agree, good audio book from Audible and you're away. Might get halfway through Wolf Hall...or a basic teach yourself Spanish!Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Thursday 11th April 20:53
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Looking at alternatives - St Malo or what else? It shaves 3 hours off Calais
Land on the French coast and go from there - the further along = no overnights on a ferry = less cost ride down through western France?
St Malo is still 1 overnight, but you ride down during the day from your area (IIRC you're M62 corridor area). So breakfast in St. Malo, then hammer down going south, aiming to finish up around Biarritz. Land on the French coast and go from there - the further along = no overnights on a ferry = less cost ride down through western France?
Benefit is that you get a day's riding rather than a day being seasick, and you get to eat proper French food rather than what's available on the boat. Brittany Ferries is decent but I'd be aiming for the Fleurs de Thym in Les Sables d'Olonne myself.
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