First tour abroad. South east France.

[sunstone121266]

First like to say what a great site this is, the banter is great!

Only had the Bird for a couple of month and i am very pleased with it. Looked at loads of different bikes before deciding on a bird, was looking for a bike capable of touring. Chose it due to its comforfort and reputation. Just need some bar risers for it to save my wrists.

The trip my wife and i have planned starts on 16th June with us travelling up from Devon to folkstone and staying around there for the night. (Nothing booked yet, probably travel lodge) Next morning got the shuttle booked to France and will be heading to eurocamp in Verdon near the gorge. Going to stop around half way there for the night, not booked anywhere yet but something like a Ibis or F1 hotel. Next day head to campsite. Going to try and avoid motorways as i am guessing motorways in France are much the same as here except more expensive! We want to see a bit more of France than Concrete lanes. Plans might change and if pushed for time we might go onto motorway to make up time. Heading in neary a straight line down from Calais, Reims, Dijon and Grenoble to Castellane where the eurocamp is.

As i said got Eurocamp booked for 6 nights and are going to use it as a base to explore the area. Saw a great video on youtube about two couples on bikes going around the gorge which inspired us. Also want to visit Cannes, Monico and some of the other famous places around the coast we have heard of. All depends on weather etc.

Thinking about cutting back in a small loop going into north west Italy and the east side of Switzerland to at least see some of the alps. Again all dependant on time and weather.

Just wondering why most people seem to head to the east side of France? Has anyone on here done this route? Any tips and advice would be most welcome.

Got most of the kit needed for the trip. Got to figure out how to put route into the satnav. This is one time i will have to read the instructions before i use something! French laws still seem confussing! Guessing the police in France are much the same as here as long as you don't stand out too much they will leave you alone, unless they are having a bad day that is . lol.

Sorry its so long. Thanks in advance for any help given.

 

[stevefatnfastCBR1100xx]

you following me Sarge !!!! @tu*

 

[sunstone121266]

Hello mate. I'm not a stalker, honest..lol. I e-mailed you the other day. Did you get it?

 

[ChazUFO]

I'm arriving back on the 16th, heading back up the west side. You're going to love it all @tu*

One site I've found on the web, which I'm using to help me plan our rough route home, is best biking roads .com. Be aware, the site takes ages to load pages, just be patient,,, though might be quicker if you register? Don't know. Anyway,,, here's the direct link to the France page 503 different routes marked out by fellow bikers. Hope you find the link useful

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/motorbike-rides-in-france-/france-__804.html

 

[Dark Angel]

First tour?

• 
  Make sure your satnav?s up-to-date

• Don?t ride when you?re tired ? especially at night on ?quiet roads? ? there?s a tendency to revert to riding on the left?.

• Don?t forget to take loadsa pics and bring ?em safely back to Blighty

Oh ? and have a great time! :-0)


Gorge du Verdun/Castellane
The Alps 1
The Alps 2

 

[sunstone121266]

Thank chaz.
I have been on that site before. I thought it was my computer that was slow.. There are some good routes on there. Have you or are you going to the gorge du verdon area?

 

[sunstone121266]

Hi Dark Angel.
Thanks for the tips. Just bought a new garmin satnav.
Just got to figure out how to use it!

 

[sunstone121266]

Hey Dark angel. Just been looking at the links to your site. If the pictures are anything to go by i am sure that the trip is going to be great. Only looking on my phone at the moment as stuck in work on night shift. Will have a better look on computer tomorrow with my wife. Looks fantastic even on the small screen.

 

[Dark Angel]

Hi Dark Angel. Thanks for the tips.

...No worries, mate - avva-guddun..! @tu*

Oh!...I should have added:

• Keep a map handy - don't be totally dependent on the Garmin

...Check it out when you stop for a brew to regain a sense of where you are - and of where you're going. ;-0))

 

[ChazUFO]

Thank chaz.
I have been on that site before. I thought it was my computer that was slow.. There are some good routes on there. Have you or are you going to the gorge du verdon area?

Never been there, too far east for this trip

 

[stevefatnfastCBR1100xx]

yeah I replied to you....................looks like a few 'Birds gonna be hooning around Europe this year, I'm looking forward to getting back into the Pyranees and have plotted some cracking routes up towards Carcassonne, will have my Drift video camera on the go and er indoors taking pix from pillion

 

[Scatman Dave]

Welcome aboard.

I'm in france that weekend too! I'm taking the overnight ferry from portsmouth to Le havre on the thursday and coming back on the sunday.

Go for ibis, avoid f1's.

 

[sunstone121266]

Cheers Dave i have seen a couple of Ibis hotels that look pretty good. One even has an olimpic size swimming pool all for 37 euros a night. Can't be bad.
Managed to get out on the Bird for a very short time between showers today. Just reminded me that i need bar risers before we go. Apart from that we are nearly ready to go. 4 week on Sunday and we are off.

 

[Scatman Dave]

Most ibis in my experience have a bar. The f1's have empty vending machines and no beer. :-(

 

[stormer]

Head for Annecy great place and lake.....:bow: Day off on Sundays......everything shuts.....beer, fuel...:wank:

 

[sunstone121266]

Thanks Stormer. There are some pictures of Annecy on the links Dark Angel attached above. It does look like a nice place with lots of old buildings. I did metion to the wife about stopping over around this area as it looked so nice. Nothing set in stone for the journey home so we will add this to our want to see list.

 

[sunstone121266]

This time next week we should be on our way through the first half of France. Thats come around quick! Excited but also feel the nerves kicking in a bit now. Hasn't helped that we have been visiting my bother in hospital for the last couple of weeks due to a motorcycle accident. Trying to put it into the back of my mind and been out quite alot on the bike which helps.
Got everything together that we need now. Few spare parts, spanners etc. Got the route planned but might change it on the way. This week going to double check over the bike to make sure every thing is ok, already had service. Fitted new bar risers which has made the bike alot better on the wrists and given it a more upright riding position. That extra inch makes all the difference!!!!! My wife said it would!!

 

[sunstone121266]

We are here! Next post will be in the completed tours section. So glad we did it. Rode to saint tropez and cannes yesterday which was ok but nowhere near as good as riding through the alps. The scenery and rodes are fantastic.

 

[stevefatnfastCBR1100xx]

just got back from my 2 week trip in South of France.................missing the hot weather and great roads already !!! just need to sort pix out now and plot next years trip

cant get over how much petrol has gone up in France horrendous price even the supermarkets

 

[sunstone121266]

Well i have gone from wanting to tour the south of France to planning it to have done it. What an experience. Like Steve we are missing the good roads and great weather already. I will post details and pictures of what we did in the completed section in the next few days.