Spain Portugal 2015 Spring.
 

I'm going out again in the Spring time, if my leg pick's up. Dover and ride down. Anyone looking for some time out. I can book everything. Just get your Azz at Dover and I'll do the rest.

Date's are flexible. Between the start of May until the second week in June. Once I know date's I can book the flat.
:welcome::funmeterno::Beach::palm:
John933

This is still on. I'm surprised no one is interested. I do a few of these each year.
John933

perhaps some more info would help, routes, times, which tyre your booking the flat for etc...:clap:

I thought most of it was in the first post. Flat is just out side Faro. Crossing at Dover. So it's a ride down. No route carved in stone. Date's are flexible to meet any one else's requirement. Any time from the start of May until the second third week in June. Hope that help's.
John933

I only saw this.....

That's OK.... May be it was me. If you want to know more just ask.
:blushing::funmeteryes::oops2:


John933

Hi, i live in the centre of Spain, you are welcome at home if you are ridding in this area.,:thumbup1:

Just saw this
 

Hi John I posted this in another in thread in section only a few moments ago

Start of quote "Hi Romulus, like you I am leaving the UK but on Thur 30 April riding to Dover, ferry over to Calais on Fri 31st then on to Perpignan via Milau bridge. From there its down south through Spain and then up north through Portugal and heading to Normandy where I have to be for the 24th May. It's my first solo trip out of the UK (gone in groups before) and I have no route and no plans. My only considerations so far are no more than 300 mile a day absolute max and camping couching all the way eating crisps and cheese sarnies in a bid to keep costs down. I will be leaving Normandy on the 29th May back to Calais, ferry back to Dover, camp somewhere for a night and then home by Sat 30th.

I am fairly certain that at some point we will not be too far from each other?" end of quote

My aim is meet up with some of the people I have met on various self sufficiency forums and hopefully stay with a few of them to see how they are doing it. It would appear though that we will be in roughly the same places at near enough the same times? Just a thought.

PS
 

PS while my language skills may be somewhat rudimentary I can say 2 beers please in around 4 languages, anything else I just point and pray:rofl:

I 've read this, and time has moved on. To get a good price on the flat I had to comite to a booking. So the booking date's in Portugal is the 15 of May. Which is a Friday. My old bones are not up to camping. I also find that sharing a cheap hotel is about the same price or a little over a camp site. The up side is you don't have to lug a tent around. Less to carrier is always good.


I've not booked to crossing yet. So that is still open. I do know I can make Portugal in three day's. But that's a bit more than 300 mile's a day's. The down side to me is I go the same way each year. Don't get lost know where to get a cheap over night, all the usual thing's. If I do that I would have to leave on the morning of the 12 of May. Two over night's. First is as far down as I can get in to France. Then the second night would be a place in Spain. Leavening the last day to get to the flat. Next year I'm thinking of going the long way round and leavening a few day's earlier than I would usual do. See a bit more, you know the story. So if I left on the 9 or the 10, of May. That would give me a few more day's to see round. So you can see I'm flexible in the way I look at my travel.


So my question's are.
Can you adjust your date's to bring them forward?


Normandy where I have to be for the 24th. This I think is carved in stone.


Or are you looking at sharing the flat in the Algarve for the time you have spare?
John933

Thank you. I'll keep that in mind. I have a map. Will post.
John933

Hi John that route so far is similar to mine in as far as riding south goes. I will be riding back up through Portugal across Spain and back into western France to Normandy. I am likely to be in the area that you are in a for a couple of days. I would be happy to pay for a couple of nights stay in the flat if there is secure parking? My route and timetable will governed by the people I meet along the way and nothing is set in stone apart from Normandy where I am meeting a bike group from my hometown and going back home with them. I will be in Dover on the 29th/30th of April if you fancy meeting up for a brew and a chat? I will be catching ferry to Calais on the morning of May 1st.

GM

So near yet so far. Look's like we are both doing the same but two weeks apart. I really can't move my date's. Let leave it for a while. As I know things change. Have another look at it near the date.
John933

Hi All (greenmanalishi)

I'm likely to be in the Algarve area/Southern Spain between 9th - 13th May (depends on my route)

Happy to go for a few beer with anyone who happens to be in the area also. My stops are not even remotely planned so am flexible on which bar bier

Rich

I woun't be there until the 15.


John933

Hi John
I'm planning my first solo Spain/Portugal 'expedition' starting at the beginning of May for 4 or 5 weeks.. Nothing set in stone yet, other than visiting Lisbon and getting a few days sailing in Gibralta.
I am planning on getting the ferry across to Santander.
I'd be keen to discuss your route nearer the date and arrange to meet up for some of the time if possible.
Thanks
Mike
:scooter:
Summer will soon be here!!!

Hi Mike.


Can I just say hold off with the booking on the Santander ferry. I know a lot of people use it. But riding down through France can save you a lot over the ferry. I make my way down to Portugal twice a year. Never used the Santander ferry due to cost. To stop off in Lisbon I'm easy. That would mean catching the ferry in Dover on the 11 of May. Two night's on the road to get there, and an extra night in Lisbon. I can't see why not.
John933

That's a bloody funny way to cross Spain - you'd be better off on Easyjet!

Seriously, that coastal motorway is probably the worst section of road in Europe, certainly in Spain. Congested, mindlessly boring scenery wise and hideously expensive - bikes pay the same till as cars - and unsafe, at least some of the urban myths about gangs preying on hapless tourists at service stations is true!

OK, if you just want¡ng to get to your villa in faro in a hurry - back to the Easyjet/bike rental option? - then just ride right through the middle: crossing into Spain at the Somport Pass to Sabiñánigo and Huesca and the you're on almost empty motorway all the way down via Zaragoza to Teruel and beyond - all free - from where you can pick up the rest of your route from somewhere like Utiel.

BTW - is there anything really special about Faro? I've never had a good experience in Portugal but I'm the sort that say's 'Never say Die!' and Mrs S and I keep promising each other a winter in the sun - or rather away from the intense cold that we 'enjoy' living in the Pyrenees :palm:

Regs

Simon

I can't beleive anyone on a bike would cross Spain on a motorcycle using main roads / motorways, unless they are a slave to their satnav. I have been crossing Spain to Portugal by bike almost every year since the 1980s. Spanish country roads are empty and many of them are amongst the best biking roads in Europe, for scenery and for the ride. The main roads on the other hand are often packed with trucks, straight as an arrow and BORING.
Portugal is also a lovely country, but the rural roads are slow and twisty, at least they are in the centre, which is the part I know best. But that presents you with the opportunity to stop off at a cafe, since it is a nation of little cafes and just watch the world go by.