France today

rat_race

Je suis fecking off to France for 3 weeks today, on the Oscar Wilde.

Just wanted let anybody who is working, know this.

Cienciano

I hope Zascar bans you. That's evil. I'd love to head south and ferry across into Morocco on a trip.

blu3r0ri0n

Safe trip dude... +1 for ban!

Wonda-Boy

+2 for ban....if I knew where you lives I would empty a carton of tumb tacs outside you garage!!!!

I will remember this when I am heading to Germany in August.......Grrrr

dwelby101

Safe traveling!

Zascar

Instant perma Ban.

Although I shall have to ban myself next month as Je Suis also en France although only for une week.
(not on bike though, i wish)

AgileMyth

rat_race wrote: »

Je suis fecking off to France for 3 weeks today, on the Oscar Wilde.

Just wanted let anybody who is working, know this.

I've been on holidays for 5 weeks and I'll still be on holidays when you get back to work. Asia is grand this time of year. Just thought I'd let ya know!

Safe travels.

rat_race

AgileMyth wrote: »

I've been on holidays for 5 weeks and I'll still be on holidays when you get back to work. Asia is grand this time of year. Just thought I'd let ya know!

Safe travels.

Haha, actually, I'm still on holidays -- except in Ireland!

The three weeks was fun. Did almost 4.5k km, which is a lot given that we didn't pay one single toll. Went into Spain and Andorra too. Did the Pyrenees and some of the Alps (Gorge du Verdon).

Overall, it was much harder than I expected, with being too hot/cold, or with the moving to a new place every day (unpacking, thinking of security), finding new accommodation/campsites/fuel each day, and drinking at least one bottle of wine a day.

Had some terrible weather, and some lovely hot weather.

I nearly found it as difficult as cycling through France (which I did two years ago)!

All in all, a great experience. Only regret is bringing too much crap I didn't use. Other regret is bringing hiking boots instead of my moto boots...as it rained quite a bit at the start, and I got wet/cold.

I really tested the Tiger 800, it never failed me though...

Skill Magill

Did you use much oil?

rat_race

Skill Magill wrote: »

Did you use much oil?

No difference that I can see...though it is a new-ish bike with low mileage. I did hear these bikes burn oil, but I haven't noticed it at all yet. Why do you ask?

Oiled the chain with ATF fluid...works well.

Skill Magill

Cause I've put in about a litre for every thousand miles in my TDM, which I think is a lot, but it doesn't appear to be burning oil. I know some bigger bikes use a fair bit, so for your 4,500 km trip my tdm would have used about 3 litres.

rat_race

Well my mechanic put too much in, a bit higher than sight glass (I know this can be bad but it's not too much)...so it may have burned some but I can't really tell. Still plenty left. She's making some new sounds though, which is a bit of a worry. But anyway....

My friend put about a litre into his 05 GS throughout the trip.

Zascar

rat_race wrote: »

Haha, actually, I'm still on holidays -- except in Ireland! The three weeks was fun. Did almost 4.5k km, which is a lot given that we didn't pay one single toll. Went into Spain and Andorra too. Did the Pyrenees and some of the Alps (Gorge du Verdon).

Overall, it was much harder than I expected, with being too hot/cold, or with the moving to a new place every day (unpacking, thinking of security), finding new accommodation/campsites/fuel each day, and drinking at least one bottle of wine a day. Had some terrible weather, and some lovely hot weather.

I nearly found it as difficult as cycling through France (which I did two years ago)! All in all, a great experience. Only regret is bringing too much crap I didn't use. Other regret is bringing hiking boots instead of my moto boots...as it rained quite a bit at the start, and I got wet/cold. I really tested the Tiger 800, it never failed me though...

Fair play for not paying any tolls. What route did you take? Any favourite places? I had the same with the weather, got soaked to the skin a few times. I'd bring a rainproof suit next time. Did u camp or stay in hostels mostly?

Any pics?

Wonda-Boy

Yeah, pics or it didnt happen.....:D:D

Wossack

Ive a street triple, and was warned about oil consumption too, and its never lost a drop in the 6 years Ive owned it

Wonda-Boy

Wossack wrote: »

Ive a street triple, and was warned about oil consumption too, and its never lost a drop in the 6 years Ive owned it

I have the Sprint 1050st (same engine as the triple) oil is perfect.

rat_race

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

I have the Sprint 1050st (same engine as the triple) oil is perfect.

Actually, just checked the oil -- deffo some gone. I did do 4.5k KM though, with a LOT of luggage/weight and a lot of hills, so I guess it's allowed.

rat_race

Zascar wrote: »

Fair play for not paying any tolls. What route did you take? Any favourite places? I had the same with the weather, got soaked to the skin a few times. I'd bring a rainproof suit next time. Did u camp or stay in hostels mostly?

Any pics?

I'll have to upload pics and send ya a link...nothing online.

We camped and hostel'd it mostly, one or two B and B's / cheap hotels.

My favourite place? I dunno...I have been to Bordeaux before and really like it. We were always on the go and busy doing something -- very little relaxing. I liked almost everywhere we went except Clermont-Ferrand (****ty place/people). Gorge du Verdon was impressive, really gorgeous. The Pyrenees were too, when the weather was nice.

Montpelier is a cool city, as is Aix-en-Provence.

Unfortunately, I stupidly did not save the routes on my sat-nav

But basically, down the west coast of France, into Spain, over the Pyrenees, touching on the Alps, then straight up through the middle back to the ferry.

From memory:

1. Cherbourg -> Alencon (friend had family there)
2. Alencon -> La Rochelle (stopped for an hour or so in Laval, more family)
3. La Rochelle -> Arachon (camping)
4. Arachon -> Bordeaux (hostel for two nights)
5. Bordeaux -> Saint-Girons plage (camping for 2 nights)
6. Saint-Girons place -> San Sebastian
7. San Sebastian -> Jaca (stopping for lunch/wine in Roncesvalles)
8. Jaca -> El Pont de Suert (stopping for food in Ainsa, recommended!)
9. El Point de Suert -> Andora
10. Andorra -> Beziers (well, camping on the coast near the sea)
11. Beziers -> Montpellier
12. Montpellier -> Aix-en-Provence
13. Aix-en-Provence -> Castellane (Gorge du Verdon) -> Aix-en-Provence
14. Aix-en-Provence -> Clermont-Ferrand
15. Clermont-Ferrand -> Laval
16. Laval -> Some place in the middle of nowhere
17. Middle of nowhere -> Cherbourg