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Amanda and I are off to Portugal later this summer. We are taking the bike and riding down from Jed through chunnel and heading for Basque region of northern Spain via coastal region of SW France. Not having done Spain or its equally poor relation (on a bike) I would like some top tips. Would be quite happy to receive "avoid this" advice as well. I understand Portugal can be a bit hillbilly ish? Will I need to take protection? are you allowed to carry a tazer in Portugal? We are surprising friends (some surprise ) who have booked a villa near Porto? I think.

I think I would be changing the tyres before you go - to something like Pilot Road 2 or 3.

That's a lot of miles to get there, and even if you take the scenic roads down through Franceshire - you'll still get a lot of mid-tread wear on those Metzelers?

Also - have a look into cost/logistics of getting the TGV from Paris to Nice (bike and passengers)?

Mike and I met a few lads on the Portsmouth/Le Havre ferry - who were doing that on their sports bikes. With arrival in Le Havre around 08:30 - they were getting to the station in Paris around lunchtime, and arriving in Nice around 18:00.

I didn't ask them the price, but they reckoned it compared favourably with fuel/accommodation/tyre wear/tolls.

Worth a look?

Have fun!

Al

Agreed, several of my friends years ago used to do the same when going to the Bol D'Or, they always reckoned the TGV was only a tad more expensive.

Would it not be better to get the ferry to Santander or Bilbao and arrive in northern Spain cutting out all those miles.

I would take the ferry from Portmouth or Plymouth to Santander, it takes 24 hours, leaving you arriving fresh at midday, you could then spend a couple of days in the basque region, the Picos is a great place to visit on a bike, Lisbon is a very nice city, but like all cities, you have to be a bit streetwise, we have stayed in Cascais which is a very nice place, between lisbon and Estoril. The roads in the north arn't great biking roads though, twisties are few and far between.

Steve

Thanks Steve I have heard that, I think Amanda has pencilled in Donostia, Valladolid looks like next direction then over to coast. I know we will get some surprises good and bad but thats biking. My fears are that it is a simmering pot over there at the moment ready to kick off at any time.

Donestia ( San Sebastian to you and me) is a fabulous place to visit, we went last year, not the cheapest mind, and finding a hotel with parking in the old town is not easy, so we all parked along the harbour wall, there is cctv and a security guard on all night who promised to keep a vigil on the bikes, we were happy with that. Only had 1 night there, but I have vowed to return someday soon!

Steve

boxerscott wrote:I understand Portugal can be a bit hillbilly ish? Will I need to take protection? are you allowed to carry a tazer in Portugal?

Where did you get that idea? A Tazer?Why?They're illegal anyway.Standards of driving are quite bad though so be careful.

I'd definitely take the Brittany crossing to Santander - don't use P&O (if they still run a crossing), as their boat is older and a lot slower.

Wouldn't worry too much about the driving standards, though, as traffic density is so low outside the populated towns that you're unlikely to see many other people anyway.

I think the Brittany ferry sounds great. P&O dont do that run anymore...
I fancy doing that myself, I think I could even get Sandy to come along as long as there was decent lodgings available - and a promise of shopping.

On line ...Brit' Ferries.com...out 15th July back 31st July Portsmouth - Bilbao 1 bike 2 folk with cabins both ways comes to...£..oh no price you have to ring up. Well there you are.
I would book early if you want to go that way as the cabins may go.

Mike

I don't think you need to take any protection. In fact I'd advise against it. Have holidayed in Portugal for many years and never had a time when I felt I needed some form of personal protection. The police might take exception if they stopped you and found anything like a taser.

I may be wrong, but I'm sure Portugal is one of the 'safest' places in the EU.

This may well be down to their very relaxed attitudes to drugs - I believe they've decriminalised just about everything, which has lowered both addiction rates and crime rates.

Amanda has booked the ferry for the way home, Santander, could not face the ferry both ways. Tazer sounds like a good idea to me, I know they are illegal, my zorst is probably non compliant too, but hey those guys are firing rockets at each other out there Should I buy my Euros now?

boxerscott wrote: Should I buy my Euros now?

Invest in the Euro in the current economic climate? Are you completely mad

nab 301 wrote:

boxerscott wrote: Should I buy my Euros now?

Invest in the Euro in the current economic climate? Are you completely mad

Dunno I have not got accreditation to prove I am sane :wink Best rate is online with Sainsburys@ 1.21 + necta points, thats good no? surely it is only going to worsen in the forseeable future

You're from Yorkshire.................

Are you really telling us that you are taking SPENDING money?

Al