|
Pete posted so many photos I decided to go with the presentation
method below for the majority of his photos. Clicking thumbnails to open full size
images is ok for a few images but I think this is much slicker,
especially considering the number of images.
Javascript courtesy of
www.i-code.co.uk
I've posted a few more photos below within his story just to give
you a break from the long read!
France or bust 2005, the report by
Peterrose June 2005
Last year I did a report on my France holiday on the SV and know
several of you found it of interest under the title " France or
bust, the report ", so this year I will do the same. Here it is,
hope it may help some more of you.
The plan.... take a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao ( North Spain )
ride in a zig zag across the Pyrenees, camping in my tent and
popping in to see Nigel and Maz (www.motorcycletoursfrance.co.uk) for a coffee and to try Tracy's
bunny tail knickers on ( pointless drivel, here I come again) Well
the best laid plans etc......
I booked the ferry, The Pride of Bilbao, for £320 return with a
cabin to myself. A bit steep I thought but couldn't get a better
deal. The ferry is okay, food was surprisingly good and the booze
cheap. It left at 6 pm on Friday evening and you land at 8 am Sunday
morning.
Now my wife had been looking up camp sites for me to stay at but
came across the Thompson web site as they have cabins just near
Barcelona.
She found they had a auction bit where they sell off un-booked
holidays cheap. Did I say cheap?, well she found an 8 berth cabin, 3
bedrooms, separate toilet, shower, cooker, fridge, freezer, air con
etc fully equipped normal price £750 for a week just 3 miles outside
St Tropez for £10.
Book it I said and so I dropped the idea of taking a tent and would
just book hotels/B&B's for the few nights when I'd be on the road.
So I come off the ferry and head for Vitoria Gasteiz ( south ) then
turned east to Pamplona and on and up into the Pyrenees. Good
weather, roads views etc. Stopped off in a small mountain village
almost on the French boarder, booked into a hotel and found that
every restaurant, shop etc was shut as it was Sunday night. Dropped
my video camera and smashed it too.
Never mind, tomorrow would be a better day.....
Monday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right, up early, check weather report on telly... Massive thunder
storms, lightning etc...all over northan Spain, all the Pyrenees and
all south of France so wet weather gear right ? wrong.. I didn't
pack any 'cause I'm a tough biker and have never owned any. So off I
go over the top and down into France heading for Pau and turning off
for Lourdes, a God forsaken place I'm told and best to be avoided if
at all possible.
Weather okay till about midday, when I meet up with some German
bikers on a 1200 bandit and a BMW dirt bike thing. We stop for a
coffee and watch a cloud come UP the mountain and cover us so we
can't see 50 feet in any direction. The it starts to rain....and
thunder....all around us, then we get hail just to top it off. It
hurts as I'd taken my quilt lining out before I left home.....'cause
I'm tough, right ? So we go along at 30 mph, cold, wet and in pain,
shit scared of the lightening coming down all around me.
Cows, horses and sheep were wandering around on the roads, totally
unworried by the noise of my exhausts. Still I'd got a good choice
of partners for the night, some of them cows are real attracive you
know.
Headed for the A64 Tarbes to Foix road to keep me out of the
mountains and the worst of the rain and headed for Nigel and Maz in
Perpignan.
Well it pissed it down, non stop. My boots overflowed with water,
even inside my helmet was wet as I'd forgotten the air vent on the
top was open....
By about 7 pm I'd had enough and my luck changed, I passed a
bar/hotel with a Joe Bar flag outside. lioke a french Ogri, so I
turned back and went in.
Run by an biker I was made welcome as I dripped all over his floor.
I went to my room to change when I found that all my bags were full
of water too, so EVERYTHING I'd got was wet including my passport,
money, camera, etc. So I put some clean wet clothes on and spent the
night chatting to this guy who used to be in the music business,
worked for Mr Branson and knows the Spice girls etc etc... very
interesting stuff.
 Tuesday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Put on my still wet gear and boots and squelched out to my bike.
Carried on heading for Nigel's place and got there some time in the
afternoon.
What a welcome you get there... you'll have seen the photos of my
bed on Nigel's thread " Oh my god, Peter Rose is coming !! " where
else can you get that, eh! Who else would let you wear their
daughters underwear. And who else would let you.. well, best not
mention that here or they'll be starting a sub level of pointless
drivel.
So the food and drink flowed, Nigel lit the BBQ and we ate under the
stars.
I hung my wet clothes all over the house to dry. Chains were lubed
and nuts got tightened and Maz showed me the cellar
We all slept soundly..............................
Wednesday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We got up and chained Maz to the office desk, nothing kinky, just
had to make sure she stayed to do some work. Us men, well Nigel and
I, jumped on our bikes and roared off to do the coast road, fuck me,
I'm not used to sharp bends like this, 2nd and 3rd gear hard on the
brakes then off again for a hundred yards before on the brakes
again.
Nigel gave me the run down, " Just follow me, were on the same
bikes, same tyres, if I can do it ,so can you " .....yeah, right got
myself in a right muddle, going in that bit to fast, then having to
brake, getting the line wrong, then changing gears, trying to find
the right one.
if you ever follow Nigel, just stay in 3rd, got better when I did
that but was feeling flustered and couldn't get it right.
Nigel was leaving darkies coming out of the corners, well so was I
mate, big ones in my knickers as I locked up twice probably as i was
looking at the 1000 foot drop two foot from my front wheel.
So we got to the restaurant owned by the guy who has his own private
motorbike museum, but more of that in a minute.
We had a cracking meal, with a bottle of real nice wine and all
washed down with some large brandies and coffee. Scallops. sizzling
garlic prawns and steaks with fried artichokes (we think) to name
just a few I can remember.
We then staggered upstairs to see the museum, words can't describe
it, probably hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of bikes and
biking stuff, from photos, signed helmets by every famous rider you
can think of. An old BMW 900 in the faded silver grey from about
1976, with ZERO miles on it. About 18 MV's, with the keys in so we
could fire them up, Ducati's, new and old, some bikes are one of
only a dozen or so ever made, I can see it all in my mind but can't
put it into words, just go and see it for yourself.
So we fumble our way back to the bikes, Nigel is starting to do this
neat trick of becoming two of himself, he gets onto two SV's at the
same time, weird.
We set off on some faster roads with bigger bends, more my style,
chopping it up through the traffic, overtaking, undertaking, this is
more like it. Both the Nigel's are riding fast when we come up
behind two police cars, now I think " Nigel mate, don't overtake the
police cars....we don't wanna get stopped here,....No Nigel don't...
NIGEL !!! They don't slow down and blast past the two police cars in
perfect formation, Oh fuck, I gotta follow them as only they know
the way home... You could never do that in England without being
pulled and being done for everything under the sun.
We we all get back safely and we release both the Maz's to go cook
our tea.
Maz finds some whiskey and Stones and gives me a large one
The barbee was fired up again and we ate out under the stars again,
Maz plonked a big Catalan sausage on the table, I was tempted to
plonk a big English one on the table too, but when she started
chopping it up with her big knife I thought again. We ate a superb
meal, drank some great local wine and took photos of ourselves in
compromising situations.
We all slept soundly........................
Next day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well all good things come to an end, and I had to go. Nigel had to
pull poor Maz off my leg she was clinging too in tears. I handed
over all Tracy's underwear which nearly had me in tears too. Even
Nigel was close to tears.
Then I remembered to pay them for all the food and drink I'd
consumed and they skipped off quite happily into the sunset.
I headed off towards Narbonne, Beziers, etc round to St Tropez. now
I had the opposite problem with the weather, the sun had come out
big time. it got hotter and hotter. the roads were good as in you
could go as fast as you wanted, I took it up to 150 mph to test that
the panniers would stay on, they did. i then settled for my 7000
rpm/113 mph cruise with blips up to 125 + for bends and playing with
other bikes to break up the boredom of motorway life. I got an all
time low on the petrol range of just 82 miles from fully full to the
reserve light coming on
Meet interesting bikers at every petrol stop, including a old guy on
a 125 vespa type scooter thing who was riding all over Europe from
Portugal to Somewhere in Russia and back. You don't need a big bike
to be a real biker.
I rode forever and finally got to the camp site at about 5 pm that
evening.
Fantastic site, right on the beach 3 miles from St Tropaz.
Hardly any English there, several good bars, cafes ,restaurants on
the beach.
Nudist beach 100 yards away, never seen so many willies and bums at
once...... well not since. er...anyway, chalet was fantastic, beer
in the fridge ready for me. took photos but they were on a wet
floppy and didn't come out.
I was knackered and so sleep soundly that night.........
And the next...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up and off to the beach, swim, sunbath, eat, sleep..... normal
holiday stuff.
Went into St Tropaz, mind blowing place, the people, the money, saw
Mclaren F1, saw a top Ferrari then 2 more came round the corner, I'd
never seen one before..!!! Some of the women are out of this world,
they'd have to be to go out with these guys with thier 18 million
pound boats... only the very best.. and their outfits .... they made
Pamela Anderson look like a swamp donkey.
I hung out there every night for a couple of hours, the only SV
there. got a bit of interest as I don't think there are many around
there at all. Loads of trick Harleys, big dirt bikes, flash cars and
some quads.
Spent 4 nights at the camp and didn't ride the SV much other than to
the town every night. £10 well spent.
 Some time
later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So there I was, getting ready to start heading home, when my wife
phones me... Had Maz been talking ! Had she found another burn in
the carpet ?? No, she'd been on the internet again, ( Shit, he
hasn't found the stuff in my laptop hidden under " Maintenance
schedules " had she ??? ) No, she'd found another Thompson * berth
chalet just near Barcelona at a 6 star campsite with two swimming
pools , normal high season price £1750 for two weeks, going for £10,
yes, £10 book it baby I said, and can you re schedule my ferry
tickets at the same time darling.
Did I mention she can cook too ? God, if I wasn't married to that
woman I'd marry her.
Anyway, off I set for the very long run down past Nigel's and to a
place called Pals, near Girona in Spain. You don't need tattoo's and
a Harley to be a hard arsed biker, just ride 500 odd miles in 35
degree in the shade heat in full bike gear in one go. What can I
say, fill up, sweat, ride fast for 45 minutes, stop , sweat, fill
up, drink, smoke, sweat, ride for 45 mins and repeat several times.
Get to camp site 12 hours later dripping with sweat.
Strangely my backside didn't get sore this year, a muscle in the
back of my neck ached from the wind pressure otherwise all okay.
this campsite was good, massive pool, just few miles from beach and
an old town on a hill. thank God for air con. I sat out by the pool
from 10 till 2 everyday, went back and cooked a meal, laid down on
bed and read books till 6-7pm then went back in the pool, and spent
the evenings with some Scottish family I meet. Well, there weren't
any sheep or cows around so don't blame me.
one evening I rode the really twisty road, same type as I rode with
Nigel, from St Feliu de Guixois to Lioret de Mar. This time I lft it
in 3rd, went into the corners a few mph slower , so didn't have to
start breaking hard at the last moment and went round them a lot
smoother, powering out better, really getting smoother and feeling a
lot better in myself. Still cocked up some bends but there were lots
I got right, it felt really good.
Next morning the only thing wrong was my left hand. sort of tingly
numb, my little finger was curled up and i didn't have much strength
to grip with.
not to much of a problem as I use my right hand for all that " home
entertainment " stuff but I guessed it would go away after a day or
so.
Slept well............
 I don't know what day it
was.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I stayed at the site for about 5 nights I think, then set off to try
to do the Pyrenees again.
Had a really good ride all the way up to Andorra. took the twisty
route, the roads varied from fast long sweepers to 1st gear bends on
rough surfaces, snow and ice right by the road side and yet still
sweltering heat.
My left hand was getting worse, I couldn't turn the key with it and
I couldn't undo my helmet, write , use a fork etc. could hardly pull
the clutch in, that was a worry, it hurt a bit and was getting very
curled up with the little finger and the one next to it useless. I
was using my first two fingers only on the clutch so after the 678th
bend they begin to hurt too.
Down hill now all the way to Foix again and back along a really fast
100 - 120 mph long twisty bends, rippin it up , blowin cars away,
came up behind a group of 20 odd bikes, blew them all off except 2,
we raced up to 145 mph for several miles, we stayed together until
my fuel light came on and I pulled into a petrol station.
Stopped the night near Tarbes, I was having serious trouble with my
hand. Couldn't do much with it, my forearm was solid and I had
twinges in my upper arm with little muscles twitching away
painfully. I didn't cry though, i'm a tough biker
I took some coproximol tablets and sleep soundly............
Last day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up and on the road early, rode from about 9 am till 7 pm with an
hour stop on the beach at Biarritz. roads up until then from Tarbes
, the N117 was a fast straightish road, then tried to do the coast
road along to Spain but there was so much Sunday traffic, small
towns with traffic lights etc I got pissed off with that and went on
the Auto route main road, down past Donostia s Sebastian to Bilbao.
This was a surprise, fast sweeping bends, 120 + cruising with hills
and mountains all around, the roads wound up and down and was a real
joy to ride, had some fun with some cars, until I totally miss read
the road as it forked as it went round a corners and over a brow of
a hill, I got a glimpse of the left hand fork, when i needed the
right fork, and was going in about 20 mph too fast.
I did the skilful controlled breaking manoeuvre, you know , the one
that looks like shear panic braking to a casual bystander and as the
armaco barrier came ever closer I thought of Chainsaws advice on
these matters " just loosen up and lean it over, it will get through
".
Yeah, easy to say when your sat at your laptop, in your comfy settee
with a beer in your hand. Try saying it at 120 mph and your already
on the gravel and shit over the white line and all you want to do is
lean it UP to stop the wheels going out from under you.
I'd got that horrible feeling you get when you know your going to
crash, when it's skidding towards that car or tree and your waiting
for the pain and the crunching sound of metal.
I tipped it over with a view to laying it down so putting the bike
between me and the barrier, I could see the dirt and grass, bits of
rubbish and my tyres were on then rather than the tarmac and it held
there for a couple of seconds before slowly pulling back away again
onto the road.
There was no skill involved, it just didn't go down or hit nothing,
but I eased off a bit and pretended I was interested in the views
and so was happy crawling along for the next half hour.
got to Bilbao, found a hotel and nursed my hand and fell asleep on
the bed and missed dinner.
Was hungry that night................
 The day
after the last day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well up and off to the ferry, got there early and so had long wait
but loads of bikers to talk to, several Goldwings there to take the
piss outta. Everyone had tales of near misses, heroic adventures,
maidens taken ,used and cast aside. I too was full of shit and so we
boarded eventually and I changed, went off to the disco , just to
watch the boobs bounce around. I can't dance.
Meet up with some more bikers, told more lies and took the piss
outta the Goldwings, asked him what he rode......... anyway next day
we arrive at Portsmouth and am told we have a 90 minute delay as
half the British navy is there having a party 'cause Nelson beat the
" BLUES " a few years ago. Yes, that's right, the blues, we can't
say the French and Spanish as it's now officially politically
incorrect. Straight up. We mustn't upset the stinking garlic greasy
frog legged bastards, no offence to any French or Spanish members on
the site of course......but we did thrash your arse didn't we?
Seriously, I wish we'd lost, then we'd be ruled by them and we could
ride around at silly speeds, I locked up my rear wheel going over a
red traffic light on a zebra crossing the wrong way up a one way
street and nearly ran over a pedestrian right in front of two police
cars. He just looked at me and didn't even frown. Hats of to the
French and Spanish police, respect my friends.
So off the boat late 'cause of Nelson and the heavens opened, it
pissed it down all the way home. 40 mph on the m25, traffic jam in
the Dartford tunnel
but i had my number plate covered over so blasted it up to 140 on
the A11, fuck the cameras, home at 10 pm.
The wife , Whom I'd been having some very lustful thoughts about had
left for Spain that morning , so I won't see her for another week.
Damn and blast, I had a little something to give her, in several
ways, and it wasn't a bunch of flowers.
So I'm checking the bike and mileage out, here we go. I did 2617
miles, my chain has gone after a total of 10300 miles, and the rear
tyre has done an amazing 5600 and is still legal, but starting to
handle a bit strange.
Metzeler Roadtecs rule.
I've booked in for a full service. New oil, filter, plugs,
valves/shims done, coolant, chain, sprockets, tyre, thats due just
after the SV meet so look forward to a big burn out.
Arse okay this time, but hand still playing up, maybe a nerve in my
upper back/neck, like siatica in the leg, booked into an osteopath
next Tuesday.
I'm looking after my Daughter this week, already done meals, washing
etc. miss my wife, did you know she can cook too !
Well that's it..... I came . I saw, I tried on Tracy's bunny tale
knickers....I got put in pointless drivel.
Pete ******************* One last
photo from Maz...........even on hols Pete needs to get a
sv1000.zyns forum fix!
 And here's Pete's
wife's' recommended websites for finding those holiday deals
mentioned earlier:
www.auctions.latedeals.com
www.cruise-addicts.com
www.medhotels.com
www.lastminute.com
www.pricerunner.co.uk
www.holiday-direct.co.uk
www.thomsonauctions.co.uk
www.online-travel.co.uk
www.teletexholidays.com
www.bookatrip.com
www.ocean-florida.com
Top |
