Road Tripping to the Pyrenees

[Gary71]

Probably one of the best trips I have ever done, can’t wait to go again

Absolutely. Even if I didn’t finish it, the days I did were worth the drive down

[Ian Gunney]

Really enjoying this James. Did some of the roads about 8 years ago with the Giulietta Register - albeit probably not as quickly!

[Anta]

Awesome thread chaps. I am driving to Chamonix in July and have been bricking it a bit but this has made me really excited for the good bits of a roadtrip. Great stuff.


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[hot66]

Friday

Today we were heading west to Bilbao for our last hotel stay as a group and where we were meeting 3 important people who were flying into Bilbao from the UK , as for some us this wasn’t the end of the trip.

Boydy was heading back up north to stay with friends near Bordeaux so we said our goodbyes at breakfast.



We were not driving direct to Bilbao, we still had a few more passes north of us to drive and as discovered yesterday when we arrived , this area was beautiful so we were looking forward to it.

After almost a week of 200 mile + per day of intense driving everyone felt today should be more of a chilled drive , so cars packed we headed off on damp roads back into France up to the first climb. Another stunning road and at the top above the tree line amazing views over the forests.










These roads were quiet apart from quite a few groups of motorcyclists so obviously a popular area as we found out at a coffee stop within the forest.





These roads were a wonderful way to spend the morning , but at After a few hours we arrived at saint-Jean-pied de port , a pretty village in France that was the beginning of a nice run back into Spain. This was a surprisingly nice twisty road and we set off at a very chilled pace taking in the scenery and reflecting on a great week of driving.

We had ‘enjoyed’ ourselves at times over this past week but today we really were behaving ourselves, so we were surprised when driving towards a small village on the French / Spanish border that bikers coming towards us were flashing and telling us to slow down .. as we entered the village we saw why, a fairly large amount of Spanish police stood around a large amount of Saudi plated Ferraris … of course as soon as they saw us we were waved down and told to park along the side of the road … I thought this was Italy all over again !





Turned out to be a document check, as according to the Ferrari drivers a lot of their group had no documents or passports on them. Based on the amount of police here and along this road we also assumed they must have attracted the attention of the police too.



The police were good with us although photographed every passport and asked to see the V5’s etc of some of the cars. After being held for about 20 mins they let us leave so we off . Turned out the road we were on to Pamplona , the N-135, was another great twisty driving road, if somewhat slippy when damp as a few of us found out .



About 20 mins up the road we spotted somewhere for lunch. Parking was busy but most of got parked up by the cafe and even though there were spaces further along , Jonathon and Michael pulled across the road to the other side where there were some empty spaces …. Who’d have thought an unmarked police car was watching them . Next thing we know they’re both stood by their cars with two police officers, and then one of the police directed Adam to park next to them too. Obviously the rest of us, top gear style, kept our distance and quickly sat down at the cafe with a coffee to watch the entertainment .




After about 10 mins, Jonathon and Michael came across to join us both having had to pay 100 euros as they crossed the solid white line when pulling into their parking space ! Adam sat down not happy … he’d been fined 100 euros too, but not for the white line as he’d crossed on the dotted bit, but the police fined him for wearing apple EarPods whilst driving ! Arguably slightly petty . We’d managed a whole week of hard driving and then the final day when were were behaving ourselves managed to have 2 interactions with the police within an hour . Maybe that’s karma

After a surprisingly good lunch, 3 course set priced menu again, and a great bit of banter with the serving girls about the police , it was the run of mixed a roads and cross country roads to our hotel just outside Bilbao.



In another master of timing , we all pulled into the car park and started to check in just as a taxi arrived with mine, Adams and Michaels wives in it. The girls had flown in to join everyone for the last night . We all had a great night of more food and more drink . It was a shame this was our last night as a group, but for some of us we still had more travel to come .

[yoda]

Interesting re the coppers in Spain. I thought they would be more relaxed than in an Alps trip where the Swiss are notoriously strict.

Would be interested in your overall view of Pyrenees vs Alps?

[hot66]

As an overall view … but also bear in mind the weather changes perspective of things and we go in May before the tourist and campers get out

Alps are good but I think too popular and yes Swiss police are not to be messed with due to their strictness on speed etc . Alpine tarmac is good and the roads more flowing but they don’t draw me back

Dolomites are potentially my favourite having done them twice now . More dramatic , tighter twisty roads with tarmac more on the rough side but I like that kind of rally stage driving. Less busy and lovely people .

Pyrenees… differentiate between France and Spanish side and a lot of the really good roads are probo not classed as Pyrenees. Don’t have the big mountains of the other 2 , but generally accepted as our best trip with a real mix of roads . Spanish side tarmac was amazing and so little traffic . French side the tarmac was more dolomites level of roughness . All great twisty roads . Spanish side on this trip nicer weather . I’d like to do a slightly modified route again at a more relaxed pace in slightly better weather stopping to have some walks etc . Interestingly less people spoke English. More than one hotel we had to use google translate with the reception. We were very lucky at our lunch stops to have jack with us who can speak Spanish almost fluently.

Personally I’ve no reason to head back to the alps . Dolomites and Pyrenees id do again tomorrow. I really really enjoyed driving in Spain and will be heading back there

There is multiple reasons the biker crowd also like Spain

[sladey]

I agree with everything James said. He also did an awesome job of organising the unorganisable rabble that we are.

Jack’s Spanish was really useful and probably helped by the fact that he learned his Spanish in South America which coupled with his swarthy appearance gave him an “Escobarian” air which didn’t do any harm.

Even with bad weather for most of the week this was an awesome trip.

[jtparr]

Looking back through my photos, I struggle to remember which day was which….it was just the best way to spend 6 days of pure driving with a group of special pals….amazing scenery…all sorts of weather, constant banter and a shared love of a passion for these incredible cars







Forgive the indulgent shot of mine….

[Boydyrs]

So what’s not been said……nothing……another fantastic trip with good bunch of guys…….best days to be alive……till next time

[markm]

I’d agree with everything that has been said by James and the rest of them. Awesome trip, dolomites & Pyrenees are better than the alps, each in their own way but both better & it won’t be long before the rest of those who do the alps catch on.

James did an absolutely fantastic job in organising a fabulous trip, even so far as to saying a flat sea for the ferry crossing both ways

[Burma-Shave]

Looks like a special trip and very evocative, great food, mechanical challenges, grubby cars and interest from the euro-fuzz,the full bit! Fantastic

[hot66]

Saturday

So time to split up as most of the group were getting the ferry in the morning from Santander but the 3 964’s were heading north to drive through France for a few days tour. This was why our wives had flown out to join us.

I won’t go into too much detail but we took 3 nights / 4 days staying in the dordogne one night at a lovely little hotel, the centre of France in the most wonderful chateau before heading up to a stylish modern hotel just outside epernay . The girls would have preferred less miles and the chance to explore more but that would have taken a lot more time . The final run up to Rotterdam was the usual poor roads and bad drivers. Additionally the weather was some of the worst I’ve driven in and the delays and standing traffic were terrible. We only just made the ferry ( party boat )

As said earlier , this had been a great trip , and for me it was great to finish off the last days touring France with the wives.

A few photos of the France leg

[willbrown]

great write up - thanks for sharing.

[Ian Comerford]

Ah you went to Brantome, nice.,

[Ollie]

Great trip and write up!! Thanks for taking the time and effort to share.