France Summer 2013

[winnsworld]

Hi all, just returned from two weeks touring France with Elaine. Completed 2,481 miles and visited the Pyrenees, the Morvan, the Correze, the Tarn Gorge and the Loire Valley.

An amazing adventure with some amazing scenery all done on an amazing GTR! (Although having to negotiate a 300Kg bike on the Pyrenees hairpins was a challenge.)

If you have some time to spare I have attempted to share our photos, some of which Elaine took as we were riding along.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bjyswgf43y3kaim/k9GXtqHMht

Regards, Graeme

[Charlie747]

That sun shine looks great 

Ive got to get me a trip in...............the pics from all look so good

Charlie

[2kwacks]

very good indeed been a few times to the French, Swiz alps and Italian lakes with my mate. we only go for 8 nights 9 days but cover around 3,500 miles so get around quite a bit wife won't go on the bike she prefers 4 wheels which is just as well really, because she would want to get there then spend all day looking in shops and relaxing in the sun that's not for me prefer to ride my pride and joy all day every day I'm taking her to Tenerife in 4 weeks for 2 weeks and she can have as much sun as she wants then, I'll be at the bar in the shade thinking of my next alps trip next year got a similar trip planned we always stop at Reims "France" the first night brilliant hotel right in the middle of the town which is a 10 hour ride including the 35 minute channel tunnel crossing from "kent" for us from Liverpool, but this time we are going to book 4 nights in Annecy "France"  and use that as a base, 6th day ride into Italy and visit lake como and lake garda and book the 6th night in genoa "Italy" 7th day start heading home through "Nice" visiting Monte Carlo and staying the 7th night in Gap "France" 8th day/night is Approx 9 hour ride back to Reims via part alps through Geneva "Switzerland" 9th day early start for the 4 hour ride to Calais for a midday crossing then the 5 hour ride to Liverpool just in time for my tea at 18.00 hours done this a few times now, first was on my 2008 ZZR1400 and the second time on my GTR1400 and found both theses bikes just soaked the miles up with ease this time, I'm not sure if I'm using my Versys 1000 or my ZZR1441 most likely will use the ZZR to make sure my mates hayabusa stays behind me it's defo hard going, but love every mile of it and can't wait till it's "go time"

[viper]

i like the camper t shirt

[O.C.]

Great scenery, good company and superb weather, one of the best biking combinations known to man 

[Lonewolf]

Very scenic photos and some lovely looking villages. That must have been a hell of a trip.

[winnsworld]

It was a great trip. Only got wet once, second day on way down trying to escape the thunderstorms...

Bike was great too. Comfortable, quick (when appropriate of course) and capable of hosting two weeks worth of clothes for us both. I am lucky here as Elaine has really taken to it and packs very light clothing that can get away without being ironed. I, on the other hand, need to wear something other than t-shirts which don't breathe and don't dry if I try to wash them out. I was thinking of buying some of those lightweight, brightly-coloured tops that runners and cyclists wear. Especially when riding in hot weather.

On reflection, some of the days had too much riding for a pillion-friendly tour (I loosely followed the tour guide to France supplement in Ride magazine). It was far too hot to be out on the bike mid-afternoon.

Anyway, lots of great memories and food for thought for the next excursion overseas. Meanwhile, off to Barnstaple, Devon this Friday for the weekend staying with friends.

[Winston Smith]

You don't need to get bright coloured ones!

I wear Nike Pro Combat (shirt and leggings)

Really good when it's hot as they are skin tight wicking material which cools you.  When the temperature drops just put a technical material shirt over the top (walking kit from Mountain Warehouse or Blacks etc) and the layers trap heat.

Don't wear cotton, it soaks sweat up, gets heavy, stinks and makes you feel cold and clammy when temps drop and wet and humid when it's warm.

The Pro Combat stuff is excellent - it is compression stuff so it is designed to fit like a second skin.  I take XXL and it looks like a kids size until it stretches when you put it on!

[patrick]

Great photos. The ones in Lourdes took me back to my visit as 14 yr old on a school trip!

[Rusty]

What a great trip ! Lovely scenery .. no wonder so many of us head to France and Europe generally for a good ride ... not forgetting Scotland though !
Glad to see you had a brilliant trip.