Hi Dan,

I am very interested to hear how your trip planning is coming along and how your trip itself will go.

I am also planning an almost identical trip as yours, although i am in the very early stages of planning my trip. My trip will be next year 2009.

I have a house in Calpe on the costa blanca, not too far from your destination of Catral (about 150kms i think). I intend to ride down on my bike while my wife and kids will fly down as normal.

I have been allowing in my mind for four to five seperate days of travelling to reach Calpe.

Day 1. South Wales to the ferry port. I have not decided on the ferry port yet but this will depend upon the ultimate route that i decide on. My first night will be spent just a short ride from the french ferry terminal.

Day 2. Onward through france and like you, i want to avoid the motorways. I intend to take the trip fairly leisurely and would assume no more than 200 miles in a day. So another night in France

Day 3. I have a cousin living in the south of France near the Pyrenees on the mediterranean side. I dont know if its possible to reach him on day 3, this is where i hope that your trip may help me with judging the distance covered on the roads etc.

Day 4. From my cousin ??? into Spain and down toward catalunya somewhere south of Barcelona.

Day 5. Straight on the A7 / AP7 (the only motorway that i intend to use) to Calpe. This would be a long day with about 400 kms to cover, but all on motorway.

I have a Brand new XL 650 V6 Transalp, 2007 model. I bought the bike in Nov 2007 and i have not been on a bike for ten years so I am rebuilding my confidence and skills in preparation for this trip and hopefully many more similar trips in the future.

One option that i have thought of to make the return Journey more interesting would be to ride to Santander or Bilbao for the ferry to Portsmouth or Plymouth.

I am new to this, so any advice or tips on this trip in particular would be appreciated.

Thanks

Lee

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