Trip to Northern Spain Last week

[rodbargee]

As billed in what have you done today this is a very peremptory report of our trip to Northern Spain ....

We got the Plymouth to Santander, Britany ferries (the Pont Avon) On Sunday the 19th at five in the afternoon. participants the usual four Me rodbargee, Reburner late of this parish, and M+R No forum affiliation the same crew that we discover have been going away as a four for the last 15 years as previously documneted hereabouts. Before that we've been going away the three of us every year since roughly 1995 though one extra member dropped out 15 years ago when Reburner took his place. I shall spare you the ferry pics but This is the usual packing regime a Mercedes vito with one bike in and three in a sturdy box trailer plus us in the Vito




we get thrown off the Ferry 24 Hrs later at around five PM and drive the 250 KMeters to where we are staying near the town of Luanco on the coast bar a couple of miles as the crow flies. the Villa is a converted cow shed as a garage and on top a big lounge has been built with a big windows the older part of the house gives us four bedrooms a kitchen a barbeque area small snug and one bathroom between us. The property as has been added to over time is really badly arranged fridge in the top lounge a floor above the kitchen type of badly organised but comfy none the less Big plus points a spacious lockable garage

My bike and Reburners' hiding behind the camera. more to follow


the first day post ferry we had a bimble around went to the coast and ventured down into the national park to sample a few roads

One of the Stops with a nice high up view


As previously learnt when we did the N216 down From Pamplona a few years ago if there's horse shit in the car park there's a fair chance of some loose horses about! as indeed we found later on wandering loose on the road and in grassland next to the road. Beware! cattle too. the sun was fantastic as are the road surfaces but wildlife with a mind of its own is to be watched out for...





High up as usual into the snowline had there been any You can just see the masts



Another high up stop off back in the snow line, had there been any



You can just see the masts



There is also some massive engineering goings on in the bigger ports making huge wind turbines and places not unlike Forgemasters
sorry didnt get any snaps as was a ride past rather than stop oppertunity.

[rodbargee]

replying to this as I cant remember the photo limit per post

the National park was the next one along from the Picos where we've been previously ( remember in the Picos is probably sunny on the other side of the mountain where you are ) probably. not a complaint on the weather not a drop fell on us this year, nice warm high teens early twenties then hot in the evening as you sit out and have the odd beer. The roads in the park were great, and taken this year a little Slower than perhaps once we had done. but A "WIN" as no visit to A+E this year. Though if you do fall off Pamplona has a very swish A+E as reburner has attested.

[Count Steer]

replying to this as I cant remember the photo limit per post

Dunno if there is one at the moment. I think @weeksy made some changes after imgur went AWOL.

[weeksy]

Nah, there isn’t a limit.

There’s an attachment limit though

Edit, there was. It was 3

It’s now 10

[rodbargee]

Next outing after a few "didnt we do well" avoiding the Ambulance beers was a trip West alomng the coast a bit, there are three Types of road you can choose the big Motorway that runs the full length of the top of Spain out to Finestaire the old coast road and a smaller N road which is nice you can mix and match as well as going off exploring on smaller stuff where you can come across places like this for a fishy lunch




This was isobels bar run by an attractive seventy year old good self plublisist and jolly good deep fried anchovys in CUDILLERO



Cant put my finger on the name of this almost Italian, amalfi looking settlement but will insert it if I come across it. you can wander al over this Northen coastline (And we did) not unlike the north east coast of the UK coming across villages and towns like whitby Staithes and Runswick all charming and all with their own identities.... another coffee stop and a market to browse





More riding and cliff top lunch



More scenery

[Count Steer]

Cracking pix.

Particularly like that last one.

[Skub]

Looks like a grand jolly. Cheers for the share. Blue sky has been rare here the past while,so it's nice to get some vicarious action.

[rodbargee]

last Saterday was our final riding day and we zapped along the motorway for a half hour or so and rode back on the twisty N roads it gave us more twisty time with out having to repeat ourselves. On our return we packed the bikes up and went to Santander for the two o'clock ferry to Portsmouth again it goes really slowly, but a bouncy crossing over the bay of biscay off at 6 pm Monday unload reburner and M at Sainsburys carpark just outside the port A3? and drive back to leeds dropping R off and I carry on to the dales getting home 0300 on Monday night/ Tues Morning Oi Thank you and goodnight BIkes de boxed as I had to be in Leeds this morning Tuesday by 1100 am so then came back to the Dales with the vito Great riding and stunning weather. The trees in N Spain had just started to drop some leaves but well behind here prfect conditions for once only a couple of leaf strewn corners we didnt like the look of thats global warming for you, nice when you can get it.

[rodbargee]

Nice attic accomodation at a stop

[rodbargee]

Nice attic accomodation at a stop
Our resident wolf



old and new bits confusingly put together

[rodbargee]

[.....]

I can't remember if it's the N111, but there's a road from pamplona north all the way to France, which is top notch.
N121B, thank you Google maps

[rodbargee]

N260

[rodbargee]

all photos magically back online after complaining still cant logon to the site using safari or chrome