I did the trip a few years ago at this time of year and it was fantastic weather..We needed barely more than kevlar jeans and mesh jackets it was so hot.
Fast forward to Friday 24th May.Me on my Busa,and my mate Richard on his Triumph Tiger headed off to Poole ferry port....In the rain.The sun came out as we headed out of port,and we were on our way.
As we approached Cherbourg the skies darkened and it started getting cool.We got off the ferry and as we got going the first drops of rain started.
So we stop and don our waterproofs,and continue on to Le Mans..In the rain and temperatures of 8c..We stay off the motorways and stick to the D roads..They're quiet,twisty and fantastic fun..I just wish it was dry.
We arrive at Le Mans in the rain,find a Formula 1 hotel,get out of our wet clothes and head out for food..This turned out ok,but we paid 5 euro for a thimble full of beer..1 beer later we decide to turn in for the night hoping for a nicer day...
We awoke at 6 am to the sound of rain beating against the window and an outside temp of about 5c....Oh joy!!..After a quick breakfast,we get back into the rubber romper suits and head off again in the rain.
Todays target is Millau..About 600kms away.Again,we stick to the D roads,which are just superb..But it is still very wet and with temperatures around the 8c mark all day,it's bloody freezing..Thank god for overmits..Not cool,but oh so effective.
As we approached Clemont Ferrand,I noticed something at the side of the road..It didn't really register till we saw a car covered in it ...Bloody snow!!!!..
Oh well,onwards and upwards.The weather must improve as we get further south....It didn't...We rolled into Millau in the rain,soaked and shivering..We'd had a fantastic ride,with awesome roads and it was certainly an adventure..
Anyway,we got into the hotel room,each had hot showers,donned our glad rags and headed out for food..After a couple of rather large Leffe beers,we became very philosophical and upbeat about the trip,and were determined to enjoy the next couple of days regardless of the weather.In our mildly inebriated state,we opted for snails as a starter,and a big fat burger for mains.When in France and all that...Well,the snails were ok,but I won't bother with them again..
So,we woke Sunday morning,and a funny thing was coming through the window...Could it really be?..SUNSHINE!!!..Not a cloud in the sky.
..That was it..Within half an hour we were up,breakfasted and out on the bikes...It was cool early,but that was ok,it was sunny and the roads were dry..Whoop whoop..We went though Millau to check out the viaduct from underneath,then headed to the motorway to take advantage of the viewing point and for the ride over the bridge...It's an incredible feat of engineering..
So,on towards Barcelona via Andorra...Once again,the roads were just amazing,the sun was out and by now the temps were rising..It was about 15c,so still coolish,but after what we'd already been through,I wasn't complaning..I even took my scarf off and put the summer gloves on.
There were hundreds of bikes out..Of all nationalities..But the French and Spanish took the prize for the speed and antics up and down those Andorran switchbacks...
Andorra.
Now on to Spain,and one road you must find of you're in that region is the N260 near Bourg Madame which is the old road to Barcelona..It's a 40 km well surfaced climbing rollercoaster of a road with very little traffic,other than a few bikes..Not that fast,but technical with some stunning views...By the end of it,I was knackered..
After that,the road on to Barcelona was good if fairly uneventful,and the traffic started to build up,but it didn't matter.We were buzzing..
Monday morning started fairly overcast,with us negotiating the Barcelona rush hour traffic..After watching the locals on there bikes weaving and hurtling between the lines of traffic,we decided we weren't going to get anywhere unless we followed them..So we did...And what a buzz.It was like a video game..
So,this was the final leg on to my Mum's place in Algorfa just south of Alicante..We had about 600kms to do..Temps were only about 17c and there was a few showers on the way down and a downpour of hail...Which hurts at 120kmh..We rolled up outside mum's bar at 6 pm that evening to a very warm welcome and a cold pint..
Fast forward to Friday 24th May.Me on my Busa,and my mate Richard on his Triumph Tiger headed off to Poole ferry port....In the rain.The sun came out as we headed out of port,and we were on our way.
As we approached Cherbourg the skies darkened and it started getting cool.We got off the ferry and as we got going the first drops of rain started.
So we stop and don our waterproofs,and continue on to Le Mans..In the rain and temperatures of 8c..We stay off the motorways and stick to the D roads..They're quiet,twisty and fantastic fun..I just wish it was dry.
We arrive at Le Mans in the rain,find a Formula 1 hotel,get out of our wet clothes and head out for food..This turned out ok,but we paid 5 euro for a thimble full of beer..1 beer later we decide to turn in for the night hoping for a nicer day...
We awoke at 6 am to the sound of rain beating against the window and an outside temp of about 5c....Oh joy!!..After a quick breakfast,we get back into the rubber romper suits and head off again in the rain.
Todays target is Millau..About 600kms away.Again,we stick to the D roads,which are just superb..But it is still very wet and with temperatures around the 8c mark all day,it's bloody freezing..Thank god for overmits..Not cool,but oh so effective.
As we approached Clemont Ferrand,I noticed something at the side of the road..It didn't really register till we saw a car covered in it ...Bloody snow!!!!..
Oh well,onwards and upwards.The weather must improve as we get further south....It didn't...We rolled into Millau in the rain,soaked and shivering..We'd had a fantastic ride,with awesome roads and it was certainly an adventure..
Anyway,we got into the hotel room,each had hot showers,donned our glad rags and headed out for food..After a couple of rather large Leffe beers,we became very philosophical and upbeat about the trip,and were determined to enjoy the next couple of days regardless of the weather.In our mildly inebriated state,we opted for snails as a starter,and a big fat burger for mains.When in France and all that...Well,the snails were ok,but I won't bother with them again..
So,we woke Sunday morning,and a funny thing was coming through the window...Could it really be?..SUNSHINE!!!..Not a cloud in the sky.
..That was it..Within half an hour we were up,breakfasted and out on the bikes...It was cool early,but that was ok,it was sunny and the roads were dry..Whoop whoop..We went though Millau to check out the viaduct from underneath,then headed to the motorway to take advantage of the viewing point and for the ride over the bridge...It's an incredible feat of engineering..
So,on towards Barcelona via Andorra...Once again,the roads were just amazing,the sun was out and by now the temps were rising..It was about 15c,so still coolish,but after what we'd already been through,I wasn't complaning..I even took my scarf off and put the summer gloves on.
There were hundreds of bikes out..Of all nationalities..But the French and Spanish took the prize for the speed and antics up and down those Andorran switchbacks...
Andorra.
Now on to Spain,and one road you must find of you're in that region is the N260 near Bourg Madame which is the old road to Barcelona..It's a 40 km well surfaced climbing rollercoaster of a road with very little traffic,other than a few bikes..Not that fast,but technical with some stunning views...By the end of it,I was knackered..
After that,the road on to Barcelona was good if fairly uneventful,and the traffic started to build up,but it didn't matter.We were buzzing..
Monday morning started fairly overcast,with us negotiating the Barcelona rush hour traffic..After watching the locals on there bikes weaving and hurtling between the lines of traffic,we decided we weren't going to get anywhere unless we followed them..So we did...And what a buzz.It was like a video game..
So,this was the final leg on to my Mum's place in Algorfa just south of Alicante..We had about 600kms to do..Temps were only about 17c and there was a few showers on the way down and a downpour of hail...Which hurts at 120kmh..We rolled up outside mum's bar at 6 pm that evening to a very warm welcome and a cold pint..
