Monday 13th/14th June
With rain forecast we decided to have an easy start and take the quick route from Potes to Santander, this put us at the head of the queue for boarding and with time to have a couple of beers in the town before sailing. The wind was getting up and as the boat headed out into the Bay of Biscay it started to pitch and roll, making walking difficult..not ideal! We had a snack and then decided to ride it out in the cabin..in the morning the sea had calmed down and it was time for a good breakfast. Surprise, surprise, who should we meet there..our Spanish Harley rider friend Juan! We swapped stories and routes and finally we saw land..the IOW. Sunny in Portsmouth, which was unexpected, but 30 mins into the ride home it poured down but then brightened up and arrived home safe.
Into Portsmouth harbour
Summary of the trip
2024 miles round trip..probably the best roads ever this time! We started in the Picos de Europa/Cantabria region of Northern Spain, beautiful scenery and great roads. Then West towards Lugo criss-crossing ourselves riding the very best combination of twisty and sweeping roads. All with super smooth, grippy surface and strangely completely empty..no speed cameras, no police and no traffic, all through stunning mountains and valleys. We headed South into Portugal and rode probably the best road ever, the N103 from Braga to Braganca..140kms of every type of corner, truly biking heaven. Then South to the Alto Douro wine region and the picturesque N222, another great road. Finally heading back North into Spain and back to the Picos.
Only a couple of minor incidents throughout..Bernard nearly collected a mad cyclist who was tearing down one of the mountain roads as we were riding up, and me nearly high siding on a patch of water that I hadn’t seen as I put the power on exiting a bend…but nearly doesn’t count J
Stayed in some great value hotels, 3 course meal incl bottle of wine, 8.50 euro can’t be bad! Shame about the dry crusty ham & cheese rolls for lunch, an acquired taste.
Having ridden extensively throughout France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Alps, Slovenia, Romania and the Pyrenees I can really say that this trip had the best combination of biking roads and scenery of any of them..this was biking heaven.
My thanks therefore go to Bernard for his research and meticulous planning of the route..even if at times he can become a Tom Tom control freak J
Can’t wait for the next adventure!!!
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- Bernard’s favourite..ham & cheese
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- Happy
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- Our hotel in Potes
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- Just cheese in mine
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- High up on the N222
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- Vineyards Alto Douro
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- Happy bikers
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- The Picos
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- On top of the Picos
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- Loads of bikes
