Popping down to Portugal...........
 

I'm thinking about my 1st trip on the Tenere.

Plan is to take the Eurotunnel, blast through France and then take it a little easier across northern Spain then into the North of Portugal finishing just south of Porto. Had looked at Portsmouth - Santander, but decided I like riding my bike more than throwing up on a ferry.......

Four days should do it nice 'n' comfy. Planning on 10hrs a day on the road, 8'ish hrs riding, 2'ish hrs for stops. So I should arrive at wherever I'm heading about 17:00 which should give me plenty of time to find somewhere to stay. Not going to lug camping gear, just use cheap hotels, Formula 1 etc. Taking a cover for the bike so it's less noticable...hopefully !

Planning to leave on 20th March, staying a week in Portugal (the better half is flying down) then taking 5 days to come back via Andorra (if the snow isn't too bad in the Pyrenees).

Think I have most things covered, will be using soft luggage, I have my tool kit sorted, most of the spares I'll need.

Any suggestions?


Nick.

Nick,
I did the run from Home to Gib last March, the rain through France was awfull, and it comes in straight off the Atlantic so the run Gascogne may well test you to your limits if the weather is against you, take as many spare gloves as you can, even the waterproof ones will give up eventually.

5 days to get to Porto ?? wus! Managed to get from Miranda do Douro to IJmuiden in 25 hours...

Seriously, don't attempt it, nearly killed me and took a week to sort myself out after.

Have a read through my site, Destination Gibraltar - it might give you a feel for some of your trip south.

In reality, the ferry from Bilbao to Southampton isn't that much quicker than riding your bike and taking the tunnel - you are right to ride rather than sale. I've done both, and for me the tunnel gets my vote every time now.

If you haven't already, get a handlebar bag - they are great for keeping the toll money in, and they don't let the wet in, I've a Hein Gericke one but there are lots available. There's loads of stuff I could go on about, but you've probably though of most of it.

Just enjoy a nice road trip on the Z. It sounds like a nice, fun trip. Take it easy, no need to go mental. Dont forget to take loads of pictures!

Funny, I'd say the opposite... the ride is technically quicker than sailing (36 hours), but as you say GULG, it's soul destroying riding like that, and particularly if the weather is bad!

However, if you factor in the fuel/tolls/hotel/and tyre wear (there and back will ruin anything semi-knobbly), then the boat looks increasingly attractive. Especially at that time of year...

The P&O Portsmouth/Bilbao route is excellent (if you can bare the odd hen party) and sets you up nicely for the best part of northern Spain and into Portugal... oh hell, if you haven't read it, get TBM issue 159-161, it's all in there...

xxx

Thanks for the replies.

I was concidering riding down through France then coming back on the ferry, but as it's my 1st trip i wanted to maximise the time riding, I need the practice !!

I'll be on Tourances, so tyre wear will be a good thing as I'll need some TKC's when I get back.... :laughing7:

Just need a few ods and sods and I'm ready for the off. I'll do a loaded up ride either next weekend or the one after just to see what it feels like. Will be using some small soft panniers and a 30ltr roll bag. Also bought a Kriega US10 and the tank harness to use as a tank bag, fits nicley !! (Thanks Tripletom)



Nick.

I managed to circum-navigate Europe on one set of Tourances, when I got home they were knackered (cut, split in places etc, but they still had about 2.5mm of tread left. They do tend to last, pity that, I want these ones off my bike but they've only covered arounf 1000 miles, so a long way to go yet....

I'd say the Tourances will be ideal for that sort of trip/mileage... I've just stuck another set of TKCs on my bike and wasted them on 2000 miles of dull highway here in Florida (had about 40 miles of dirt one day, oh happy day!) - the rear is pretty much half worn now, so will need replacing again before I get on to the TAT...

The TKC really is the best 50/50 tyre out there for this bike, but won't last as well as the Tourance on the tarmac, obviously... however, I've finally started to consider tyres in the same way as oil and filters - they are just another consumable, and if the bike feels better on fresh rubber, I'd suck up the cost and fit the tyres you want (unfortunaly, TKCs are one of the few bike parts that actually cost more here in the US than in the UK...)

for info. I used a Metzler Karoo2 on the front of the XR last year around Europe, and that lasted well (the whole trip, around 6500 miles). The rear was a Dunlop 908RR which was surprisingly good on the tarmac too, and lasted for around 4000 miles which I thought exceptional for such an aggressive tyre... problem is the 908RR is only available in 18 inch rear...

However, due to the amount of tarmac you'll be riding, I agree that wearing out those Tourances in Europe is a great idea, then fit some TKCs!

xxx

Well, I'm packed and ready to go......

Will be off just before 6am tomorrow, so I'm sitting here thinking about what I've forgot to do..... But who cares, I've got my passport, credit card and bike, so I sorted.....

I almost managed to get all the stuff I needed into the small panniers, If I didn't need to be off the bike for a week inbetween then I would have, so as the other half is on Ryan Air 15kg baggage limit then the 30L drybag is half full of her stuff........

I'm sure I'll find a PC to give an update during the next 2 weeks.

See ya....

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...909/Packed.jpg

Have a good trip and enjoy, we'll all be waiting for progress reports, stay safe and fly the flag:tenere:

Avoid France :hahaha[1]:

Have a great time Nick!

I love Portugal! - If you can, try and ride some of the roads around Castello Branco in the north - awesome biking roads!

Good luck!

xxx

ps. it's too late now of course, but for anyone else, I'd really recommend taking a set of cush-driver rubbers (not expensive) as part of your spares collection if you are going on an extended trip... likewise a spare clutch lever - trying to ride with no clutch is not fun!

If you left home at 6am I am too late with this post but Good Luck Nick! :smilies0944:
Have a GRREAT time and give us more pics.

Barry.

All the best with the trip Nick.

..........not trying to p!ss up lot off, but...........I've just been sitting in front of the beach, watching the waves crash on the sand, with a cold beer in my hand and the warm sun on my face..........

I'm in Zarautz and what a beautiful little town it is...

http://maps.google.es/maps?f=q&sourc...,0.219727&z=12


Arrived here about 16.30, stayed inArnage, just south of Le Mans last night.

Stopping in front of the Le Mans circuit for a photo (sorry, no pic's, no SD card slot on this PC). Took a road around the back of the circuit and there were about 5 bike shops in a row, all with 20-30 bikers outside. Thinks there been some sort of bikers demonstration this weekend in France, not sure what for.......

Did 495 miles yesterday and 434 today, boy French Autoroutes are boring.....but certainly been able to put the miles, km behind, sitting at a stead 130-135kph (80 on the GPS). Bike has been fine, oil breather tube is full to busting, so need to find somewhere to emply that. My ass is a little on the delicate side, but not too bad.

I'm hitting the north Spain backroads tomorrow and planning to stop somewhere around Leon.


Take it easy.....I know I am......just off to find a nice fish restaurant......mmmmmm.


Nick.

That area is lovely - I took that route through the mountains to Leon from Bilbao - very Alpinesque! There is a corking road over the fonte de cova (I think that's how it's spelt)...

You are on track for the ride of your life down there!

xxx

Your not wrong!!

WOW!!! What a fantastic place to ride. I stuck to tarmac, but with all the tracks I could see I could have done the 250miles all off-road and there were no shortage of camping spots!!

I wore flats on my tyres on the Autoroutes through France, but I certainly wore the edges down the last two days!! I was glad of a straight road for a rest...... well almost!

I had to bail out and hit the motorway for the last 60-70 miles as the day was going fast in the mountains. I stopped for lunch here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=pt-...,0.054932&z=14

And met with three welsh blokes who where on their way to get the ferry in Santander after a ride through Burgos and Madrid.

Spent the night close to Leon.....pushed the boat out a bit and found a hotel for 20euros......

Yesterday I passed over three small mountain ranges and into Portugal via Braganza.

Arrived in Aveiro, Portugal yesterday, 1503 miles in total.

Few days rest and I get to do it all again for the ride home, although as I have been a lucky, lucky b�stard with four days of glorious sun shine I think I`ll be paying for that on the way back.......waterproofs at the ready.



Nick.

Just had a few days in the Alentejo region, just south of a town called Beja. Pity we both had the chitts ffom some dodgy pork !!

Setting off home tomorrow, decided to head back through northern Spain and not Andorra as there are some parts I want to pass through that I didn't have time for on the way down.

Here's a photo of the sort of place I passed through on the way down...

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...9/IMGP4724.jpg


The weather dont look to bad either for the trip home, looks like I'll be getting a bit wet around the French border.....oh errr missus.........




Nick.


PS. can you lot stop posting so much, theres pages of new threads to get thru !!

Portugal in October
 

Sounds like you've had an awesome trip mate an I'll be visiting Portugal in October. Our plan is to take the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander, spend 3 days riding the trails southwards and then turn around and head back north for a further 3 days.

Thought about riding through France but the addtional costs of hotels/fuel/tyres seemed to be more expensive than a return ferry crossing..........and of course, as was pointed out earlier, there are always the hen parties to look forward to:la:

Gonna be a few of us, 2 Ktm 690 enduros, 1 KTM 990 Adventure and of course a couple of Teneres. There's 10 others doing the same crossing but they are heading way south for the Moto GP at Estoril..........couldn't possibly get their pretty road bikes too dirty:crybaby:

cheers
Skippy

Just got back, 3700miles 'ish....... dont think my ar$e will be the same again...

Will post some piccies later.....


Nick.