No rain in Spain

After an eventful time in Bordeaux including learning not to trust the GPS...after we set it to Blaye to see the fortifications built in 1321....it seems all they needed was a GPS to keep us away. we arrived exactly opposite Blaye in Lamarque with a fast flowing river to cross. Gave up and headed for the nearest vineyard instead.7.30pm by the time we hit the road so only made it as far as Bicarosse for the night only to find everything totally booked out as was a holiday weekend! Was 10pm and pretty cold, lovely hotel lady rang a friend and found a pension at the beach for the night for us. We think we had the best meal in France that night..home cooked seafood fresh as fresh with pureed vegetables. Destination next day San Sebastian, Spain.
West coast from Biscarosse to Biarritz is quite barren with massive plantations of pine trees to stop the erosion from the constant wind..not scenic at all so took the plunge and ventured onto the autoroute...blimey, quel terreur! About 5000 trucks and 1 moto..was relieved to see 1 campervan..also regretting it no doubt as they tried to go fast enough to keep ahead of the multi trailer trucks. Ron loved it! and settled in right away. we hurtled south for 2 1/2 hrs non-stop..except to toss some euros at the auto toll booths and hope the arm went up.

San Sebastian has been a highlight.

We got wet!

Rained all the way into Bordeaux from Talmont but had to keep going as had booked in to Ducati Bordeux for the 1000km service. Dried out in the hotel and then

filled in a couple of hours in the showroom waiting for '1 mille revision' of bike.

Heading to Spain next so no more Chocolate Eclairs for a few days.

Ports and seafood

La Rochelle. a stop by the sea for a stroll and bite to eat. Watched a guy schucking oysters outside the restaurant..he saw us and passed us one to try then held up his tray of seafood posing when saw camera...so funny, his boss came flying out and whacked him on the head and told him off for showing off and posing like he was chef fameux. everyone had a laugh...oysters were fab to eat. the food is not only fresh and nutritious but is very reasonable..the most we have paid so far for a dinner is last night in Le Port ....20 euro for 4 courses...terrine and bread, 6 oysters each, fish or steak, creme brulee. Don't seem to eat lunch...although have had a chocolate eclair every day ! just have bread, cheese and coffee then bigger meal later in the day.

Language is good fun...they love it if you try, and really don't speak English out of the big towns.
Only one episode where asked for 'table for two svp' and promptly got sat at the bar and given two beers! needless to say Ron fell off his stool laughing at me!

made it to Bordeaux 

Old and older

At last another post. it seems we cannot have quaint and old AND wifi but we will try and catch up.

We have covered 1000km now from Normandy / Bretagne to Bordeaux - every day another adventure. Have tried all the roads, A-D and finding the D roads the most fun for a bike. Using autoroutes but not the toll roads...too many gigantic trucks, speed time / distance cameras on the straights. 

Finished up in a medieval town Vitres, found a tiny hotel within a castle tower. it staggers us how people live in these castles and ancient buildings, we would expect them to be protected but they just use them..very cool. always comfortable, basic, ensuite but alas no tea or coffee which we crave after being wind blown all day. although i did find the off button on my helmet vent on day 3!

Headed to La Rochelle but stopped too many times along the way...suddenly over the wall glimpsed the fairytale French Chateau.A girl appeared and said ok to wander around the grounds for some pics. Some Australians there planning their wedding...blimey 

Springtime

Behind the hotel carpark......went for a stroll around the village....France in Springtime

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Portsmouth to St Malo to Normandy

Road trip started finally headed out of Alton to Portsmouth through beautiful English countryside, hedgerows, spring flowers and manicured fields.

Had just rained so had to be extra careful with new tyres. Felt so good to be underway. Straight to ferry terminal but no cabins left for Caen sailing that night. One available to St Malo so grabbed that booking for 8.30pm 10hr crossing then went off to find a map of where that might be going to land us.

Portsmouth is a surprise from the sea, fascinating and a bit scary seeing about 10 gigantic naval vessels in dock, aircraft carrier included. After being amongst boys and motorbikes for days this was all about the real big boys toys (photos on camera and still trying to move to mobile device...hmmm frustrating!)

From then on it has all been bonjour and 'THINK RIGHT'!
Set the GPS for the Normandy coast via Cancale (oysters) for breakfast, best laid plans went awry when gendarmes kept barring us from our route due to a two day cycle race all the way around the Normandy coast. felt like we were the motorcycle press following them but saw heaps of tiny villages and farms as we got diverted. GPS earned its keep big time! Cycling is huge here and very respected, seem to have priority no matter what your cycle is. its common to see the baguette across the handlebars of some ancient bike. eventually ventured on to the autoroute to get to Grandcamp-Maisy, about 300kms.

Radar zones on autoroutes well signposted and no-one speeds at all! must be huge fines. radar detectors illegal. it seems that is working well here to keep speeds down. 110kph but down to 90 off the autoroutes.

Enjoyed our history lesson through Normandy...it is strange for us to see another country so close across the sea and the war stories are sobering. we even had the sea fog rolling in but managed a photo of a floating pontoon which they built huge numbers of out of ship

junk in just 2weeks to drive the landing craft off the ships, 25,000 men landed..

London

Long haul flights should come with a health warning..29 hours is a big price to pay for a holiday but its all about heading south now. the motorbike issues are all sorted..nothing happens fast that requires forms and departments. after a bus from Heathrow that took 1 hr to go 20 kms then a train to Alton...a bit of an eye opener of what traffic is really like here. starting road trip now..delayed by a stomach bug (Rachel) and after two sunny days now drizzling. hilarious hotel stay, we thought Fawlty Towers was a comedy show but now we know it was a reality show. with our gear on, bags and helmets we have to walk sideways in passages and duck the head. Clambered to attic room on 3rd floor, collapsed on bed, phone rang, given wrong room, 'you should be in 9 next to 38'. receptionist always on phone, too busy to help us, food dreadful. oh well at least the bike is all good  :