Ten Days in the Pyrenees on a 748 - June 2007

[Timk]

What can I say other than fantastic,probably the best 10 days of my life.We started off (4 of us,probably the perfect number for rooms etc and it just seemed to work so well) from Plymouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries we left on the Wednesday and Arrived in Spain the next morning raring to go,so we set off to Pamplona where they do the bull running for the first night.Its a nice place with lots of character where we spent the entire night in a bar on the bull run route drinking vino and eating Tapas.The next day we set off in earnest for the Pyrenees,the roads were simply amazing,10 times better than your favourite set of twisties and about 100 times longer.We spent a few days and nights in the Pyrenees and then hit Barcelona for Sat and Sun,where a few lads had flown out to meet us (and bought along our party clothes ).
Barcelona is a fantastic city that i will definitely be visiting again.We then set off for the Pyrenees again heading for Santander via Andorra being blown away by the quality of the roads namely the N260/N230/N240.I haven't laughed so much for years,and Each night we arrived at our location quite tired from the sheer drain of concentrating so hard on really technical fast roads(my riding has improved immensely).Ive never been so gutted to end a holiday.
There were a few bad episodes namely getting stopped by the Police leaving a mountain section for speeding a few times over the limit 364 euros each later and after the obligatory photograph,also the lad on the GSXR600 going wide on a bend and hitting gravel causing a low-side off.Luckily he had crash bungs so the damage wasnt too bad mainly cosmetic and a broken gearpeg which we managed to limp to a garage and get drilled out and replaced with a bolt which worked fine all holiday.
All in all it was an amazing 10 days,the hotels we stayed in werent booked but all had good rooms for around 30 euros each a night,the fuel was cheap and plentifull,and if you were sensible with your speed the Police werent too bad (after the fine we were strict with speed on main roads and kept the fun for the twisties).
The Duke performed brilliantly over the whole 1500-2000 miles and didnt hurt my back,wrists,arse at all which I was surprised about.

[Timk]

cont.

It also sounded the dogs bouncing off canyon walls and everyone even the die hard Jap fans got a lump when they heard it in the tunnels (some as long as 2km 8) )
Luggage wise I only took a small bag with a couple of t-shirts,shorts and wash kit and that was more than enough.Ask any questions as ive probably forgotten most of it.Pics to follow,I only got back today.

[Bananaduke]

Sounds like you had a great time!!

I'm not jealous one bit

oooh, and is at a white zoo I see on your head? I think its the best looking helmet ever. I love mine to bits. ( if its not, ignore me)

[Timk]

it is the white zoo (great lid)


few more boring ones of me trying to get my knee down

and my mate easily getting it down

[Mini Mo]

So that's what happened to the Power Rangers

[Timk]

[quote="Mini Mo"]So that's what happened to the Power Rangers

alive and well in northern spain

[Mini Mo]

LOL.

Off touring that way with a mate at the end of the summer, so any tips etc warmly welcomed

[Timk]

We travelled light and im glad we did as you can enjoy the roads more,also it might be handy to learn a little spanish as a lot of the people you come across dont speak english,according to others bikers we met,the police were a lot more active than they've ever been,we even came across an armed road block a top tip if you're into that sort of thing is getting hold of a helmet cam,weve got about 10 hours of footage which im really looking forward to seeing edited up,we all took about 100 euros a day for food,accom and petrol etc which is enough if you avoid a fine.let me know if youve got any more specific questions

[stevel]

Nice report and pics Tim, looks a great trip....roll on the next one :wink:

[andyrh]

Great write up Tim 8)

Think the police were out in force due to ETA calling off their cease fire..

So - how did the leathers fair??

[northworthy]

Originally Posted by Mini Mo

LOL.

Off touring that way with a mate at the end of the summer, so any tips etc warmly welcomed

If you are in that area of Spanish Pyrenees and have a spot of bother with the Duc (of course you won't) I can recommend the Ducati dealer in LLeida (had a slow rear punture, back end wobbled a lot at over 80mph, horrid at +100mph).

He is near main railway station approx 300yds up the same road on same side. Tel: 0973 225 138 (the female receptionist spoke good english but workshop staff only spanish - no problemos though). Went out of way to go and get new tyre for me - fitted expertly and price for Spain was very keen.

Address:
MOTO2
C/ Princep de Vianna 32
25004 LLEIDA

[Timk]

Originally Posted by stevel

Nice report and pics Tim, looks a great trip....roll on the next one :wink:

thanks,hopefully a track day this year and the TT next year

[Timk]

Originally Posted by andyrh

Great write up Tim 8)

Think the police were out in force due to ETA calling off their cease fire..

So - how did the leathers fair??

think youre right ETA were all over the news out there,the police even had us delete their roadblock off the helmet cam,
leathers stood up ok,just a bit greyer than white now,but cleaned up ok,they look a bit more lived in which is no bad thing

[Robert Anstruther]

Wow! Sounds like you had a great time! I think I have now be swayed to the ducati. I'm well looking forward to trip even the organising routes and gearing up is getting me excited!

Just a quick few questions. How many miles were you doing each day, and did you have any days off riding? Also how much would say you spent on fuel and all travelling associated costs?

Cheers, makes me yearn more and more to get going! I'll make a similar post when I eventually do it and return.

[Timk]

hi we only did a couple of hundred miles a day on average,if you get off the motorways its hard to do a lot of miles on the twisties,but thats why we went there in the first place
it was about £250 for the ferry and then about 100 euros a day for fuel accom etc,we had one day off the bikes in Barcelona,but couldnt wait to get back on them.
We parked up at the bottom of Las Ramblas in Barcelona and it was packed with people,loads of them came up to us and took photos and started chatting the girls loved the bikes there and were waving from cars beeping their horns etc.Felt like Royalty (should've taken the bikes on the night out!)