Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
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Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
I had a couple of weeks off work and decided it would be good to head off to find some sunshine and adventure in Andorra so on Thursday the 23rd I made the long ride from Bristol to Folkestone on the Innova.
I caught the Chunnel across to Calais, always a pleasure and easy journey. I love it that if you do arrive early on a bike that they will quite often offer you an earlier crossing. Once in Calais I just had a 20 mile trip to find my hotel.
I’m quite a meticulous planner and had a route all set up and various stop off points but the benefit of travelling on your own is you can change your plans as and when you fancy. So I headed down south stopping at Senlis, Avallon, Clermont-Ferrand and then Avignon. From there I took a hard right and headed across to Carcassonne and then over the border into Andorra.
I had planned to ride the Smugglers trail while there and got a few shocked looks from the ‘adventure’ bike riders on their T700s that a Brit had ridden all the way down here on a 125 and had completed the trail as well.
From there I headed across the Pyrenees to Lourdes and started heading back up via Bergerac, Chinon, and Mont St Michel, then across to Fecamp, Calais and back home.
The Innova performed faultlessly. It was light enough on the trails, kept up speed on the 80kmph backroads, and carried myself and all my luggage with ease.
I’ve recently fitted (cobbled) the Givi wingracks to the sides so took hard luggage this trip. A much better idea when travelling solo as you can visit shops/castles and feel pretty comfortable that your gear is safe.
I ended up riding 2400 miles, which cost £101 in petrol. You can’t get adventures cheaper than that
Some of the highlights were the Carcassonne walls at night, the balcony roads around Avignon, and the very quiet roads on the continent.
Right. Where to next year
I caught the Chunnel across to Calais, always a pleasure and easy journey. I love it that if you do arrive early on a bike that they will quite often offer you an earlier crossing. Once in Calais I just had a 20 mile trip to find my hotel.
I’m quite a meticulous planner and had a route all set up and various stop off points but the benefit of travelling on your own is you can change your plans as and when you fancy. So I headed down south stopping at Senlis, Avallon, Clermont-Ferrand and then Avignon. From there I took a hard right and headed across to Carcassonne and then over the border into Andorra.
I had planned to ride the Smugglers trail while there and got a few shocked looks from the ‘adventure’ bike riders on their T700s that a Brit had ridden all the way down here on a 125 and had completed the trail as well.
From there I headed across the Pyrenees to Lourdes and started heading back up via Bergerac, Chinon, and Mont St Michel, then across to Fecamp, Calais and back home.
The Innova performed faultlessly. It was light enough on the trails, kept up speed on the 80kmph backroads, and carried myself and all my luggage with ease.
I’ve recently fitted (cobbled) the Givi wingracks to the sides so took hard luggage this trip. A much better idea when travelling solo as you can visit shops/castles and feel pretty comfortable that your gear is safe.
I ended up riding 2400 miles, which cost £101 in petrol. You can’t get adventures cheaper than that
Some of the highlights were the Carcassonne walls at night, the balcony roads around Avignon, and the very quiet roads on the continent.
Right. Where to next year
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
Nice route
Im in Chinon this Sunday (every 3rd Sunday in the month) for the antique market that sits next to the river.
However it will be a lot quieter and less stalls as the wealthy holiday home Brits,Yanks & Aussies have fled now the suns gone.
Last journey from Mont St Michael (a worthwhile visit for those who haven't been but food prices steep as captive audience) was on the Strom thou' where the rain followed me all the way to the tunnel.
Folk are always amazed at the small bike traveller as they are used to the 'peds grouped in town squares (or outside the local MaccyD that are spreading in France like Covid )
Im in Chinon this Sunday (every 3rd Sunday in the month) for the antique market that sits next to the river.
However it will be a lot quieter and less stalls as the wealthy holiday home Brits,Yanks & Aussies have fled now the suns gone.
Last journey from Mont St Michael (a worthwhile visit for those who haven't been but food prices steep as captive audience) was on the Strom thou' where the rain followed me all the way to the tunnel.
Folk are always amazed at the small bike traveller as they are used to the 'peds grouped in town squares (or outside the local MaccyD that are spreading in France like Covid )
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
That must have been lovely.
- ally
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
100 quid
what a bargain!
what a bargain!
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
Just Wonderful, wish it had been me…….
Jim
Jim
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
Cracking account, and pics, thanks for sharing it here.
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Re: Riding to Andorra on the Innova. 2400 miles later…
My pleasure
The only problem about long trips is that you can’t wait to do the next one
The only problem about long trips is that you can’t wait to do the next one
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