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France/Spain trip - bike safe stop overs France/Spain trip - bike safe stop overs
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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #16  
Old 29 Mar 2006
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or not ride a bike at all!

Any tips airhead?
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  #17  
Old 30 Mar 2006
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if you are afraid to scratch or loose your bike, purchase a ratbike for travelling and leave your shiny one in your living room...

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  #18  
Old 30 Mar 2006
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Quote:
Originally posted by airhead:
if you are afraid to scratch or loose your bike, purchase a ratbike for travelling and leave your shiny one in your living room...

Why do you have to answer a question stupidly?

Can't see the problem myself about asking for safe parking?If you can avoid trouble why not do so? If you don't have anything to say, just keep your mouth shut, thanks!
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  #19  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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take it easy guys!

If it's a joke make it clear, if not, no need to make nasty comments - we all started out from the same spot - completely clueless!

And no, that's not a comment on anyone!
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  #20  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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I with you fcasado, seemed perfectly sensible enquiry to me.... a bike is much more vulnerable than a car.
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  #21  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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Meeks:

Just a further thought for you, to make your trip more enjoyable and to reduce stress, etc...

I suggest that you don't book your overnight stops in advance. There's really not much to be gained from doing that, unless you are traveling at a very busy time of year and need to book in advance in order to have any hope at all of getting a room.

Instead, just head down the road in the direction you want to go, and when you decide it's time to stop for the day, start looking around. Without any doubt you will find something quite satisfactory (price, location, security offered for your moto) within 30 to 60 minutes. By not booking ahead, you avoid all the grief and worry associated with wondering if the place will be OK, wondering if the bike security will be OK, having to ride late into the day if you are a bit behind schedlue, stuff like that.

I'm on the road in Europe at least 60 nights a year, riding recreationally, and I never, ever book ahead unless (for example) I need a roome in Cannes in the middle of the film festival or in Basel the week of the horological exhibition, etc. I have never found anything to be gained by booking ahead at locations that I have not visited before.

Michael
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  #22  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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Meeks,

Another thing I'll be using when we set off in June is a Bike cover, you can get them pretty cheap and they work quite well I think.

Michael,

That's really valuable information, my girlfriend and I will be touring Europe for 4 months and we were wondering about the need of booking acom. in advance (which can be annoying).

How about the north part of Norway?Can you get accom easily (the hyttes, sorry about the spelling)?

Thanks all

Fernando Casado
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  #23  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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Oldbmw

Do you have the lat&long of your B&B?

Thanks very much
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  #24  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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Thanks Michael and everyone else. Appreciate the info.

I'll take a casual approach to the acom but will try and hook up with Simon near nantes possibly!

The community function worked really well more useful information.

Cheers guys, safe riding.
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  #25  
Old 31 Mar 2006
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I second the opinion of not booking ahead. If you rather do a B&B or hotel option then stop in at Tourist Information in a town and they are always very helpful and will help you find a bed that suites your budget. Otherwise just ride around for a while; you will always find somewhere to stay. Don't compare it to UK as it tends to be pretty booked up in advance and caravan/camping grounds are NEVER prepared to just squeeze you in somewhere (Health and Safety gone mad).

Oldbmw we will be passing Nantes during last week of June on our way to Spain. Might come and beg for shelter. Co-ords please ;-)
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  #26  
Old 1 Apr 2006
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Thanks Bossies, what's your route if you dont mind me asking? I have no exact route planned yet, plan to let the GPS take me on roads away from the tolls on and off....
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  #27  
Old 1 Apr 2006
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you can find us here, use the zoom function..
basically take the rn249 to cholet ( follow the green signs for Poitiers) and stay there until you hit the roundabout on the Parthenay ring road. Turn left, atthe next roundabout (50 metres) turn left for samur/thouars on teh d938. a mile after Viennay ( 3km) you will see the white post on the roads that mark the entrance to the farm on the left. please send me email for further info.
http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichel...=19&image2.y=6
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  #28  
Old 3 Apr 2006
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Meeks

As Oldbmw implied. What we do on all our trips is just buy a michelin map and follow the highlighted "Green" routes. (If you don't know, the green indicates scenic routes). So from Cherbourg to Spain we will just link up the green roads as we go along. Never fails.

Going down the west coast sticking to D roads.
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  #29  
Old 4 Apr 2006
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Cool, cheers Bossies, sounds like a plan.
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  #30  
Old 4 Apr 2006
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It is my plan to also tour France during June / July I am hoping to camp as often as I can, is it possible/ Also, I do not speak the french language at the moment is that a problem today? John Daley Australia

[This message has been edited by jdaley (edited 04 April 2006).]
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