Motorcycle tour of France on a BMW 1250 GSA and Triumph Tiger 900

This tour has been postponed 3 times for various reasons over the past 3 years! Sue has always wanted to re visit The Loire Valley and its beautiful chateaux and vineyards ever since she spent a month there about 30 years ago, so this was always going to be a special trip.
This first episode sees us wending our way down to Plymouth to catch the Santander ferry and making our way across Northern Spain to cross the Pyrenees and head north through France. it seemed logical to go via Spain than head south down through France.
We stop in a couple of lovely places we wouldn’t normally visit and enjoy some great weather. We hope you enjoy this first episode on our way to France and please like and comment if you do – every little helps! Thanks for watching!

Accommodation:- Puente Colgante Boutique Hotel £102.39 (Booking.com), Hotel Rio Bidasoa £111.70 (Booking.com)
The Route:- Middle Wallop – Winterbourne Abbas – Plymouth – Santander – Portugalete – Hondarribia.

We had a coffee stop in Winterbourne Abbas at The Coach House Inn and we’ll definitely use it for an overnight stop on our next trip to Plymouth. If you’re heading down that way and need an overnight stop, here are the contact details:-

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well here we are folks we’re in the little village of middle wallup in Hampshire we rode three and a half hours down yesterday and we stayed in the George the George nice little Pub where are we off today well we’re heading down to Plymouth to get a ferry to Sant ande and to do the lair Valley trip that we’ve planned four times now and this is fourth time lucky yeah so we’re off on another MMD adventure to do the tour to France we’re going to go via Spain right up over the panes up through FR and hopefully the weather will hold out anyway we’ll catch you on the road [Music] [Music] so this was our plan route cross the Pyrenees and head for the little town of anglet to meet some special friends for lunch before our first overnight stop in Mont deor Sam the next day we would head for the beautiful Old Town of Burak for a two night stop over before heading off to the morar Village of orur sugam infamously destroyed by the SS in World War II stop four would take us to tours in the middle of the beautiful L Valley for a 3-day break where hopefully we’re going to sample some wines in a Vineyard tour and look at some beautiful Shadows of the L Valley and then on towards shadow dooso where we’re going to have an overnight stay in a real family run Shadow before finishing off in Normandy at a last stop of [Music] [Music] doville we decided to do the long ride from bedfordshire to Plymouth in two stages and stayed in a pub in Middle wallup before heading down to the ferry we hadn’t started filming so didn’t do a full review of the first night’s accommodation but suffice to say the photographer who took the marketing pictures for booking.com he’s clearly very talented we drove through the little Dorset Village of winterborn abis on the main A35 and stopped at the Coach House in for a coffee we didn’t see the rooms but Angela and the team were lovely the menu looked good and it seemed like a great place for a stop over well we just stopped here in winterborn ABS for a quick coffee on on the way to Plymouth and look what we found it’s great little Pub next time we come down to Plymouth this is where we’re going to stop it’s only about 2 hours from this for and they’re really friendly aren’t they really friendly yeah details are in the notes below if you call Direct and mention midlife motorcycled Iris to Angela she’ll give you a good deal and so fortified by our coffee break we headed off for the 2-hour ride down to Plymouth and if the sky looks a bit threatening and ominous well it certainly was there was a torrential down po we slly reped out to a little bit of drizzle by the time we arrived in Plymouth it just highlights again one of the down sides of sailing from Plymouth is there is actually no shelter so whether you’re waiting 1 hour or 3 hours you’re always going to be exposed to the elements how it’s supposed to be wish you stay stay here right with me I can’t shake that feeling that we s say goodbye to soon [Music] [Music] wish you [Music] stay stay here beside me this isn’t how it’s supposed to be we should stay stay here right with me happy days here we are Sunny [Music] Plymouth standing here in the pouring rain think they have a better system by now wouldn’t it for hours got a coffee to be hi business opportunity Dar they’ll open the coffee shop so the sun came out and it brightened up just in time to board don’t I just miss you more than anything it’s way too quiet in the house I’m just wasted on the couch cuz I don’t want to feel anything wish you stay stay here beside me this isn’t how it’s supposed to be wish you stay stayed here right so we just checked into our room on the P vent and it’s now beer: Bo just got our painting of course beautiful IPA [Applause] [Music] W and sprit and we’re just setting off and it’s actually just 5 minutes ahead of time so and it’s a ramed fairy then again would be wouldn’t it Bank weekend in h turn anyway this hope it’s a smooth Crossing checking L Cheers [Music] it’s always lovely when people come over to say hi and while we were on board enjoying beer o00 we bumped into Adam who follows the channel [Music] yeah look at the weather now glorious and yesterday it was pouring down in the middle of bay of [Music] bisc yeah Lely D so what do you think of the crossing last night I didn’t know anything about it one trouble sickness tablet and I was out for the count yeah perfect look at this we found a doggy area oh makes me miss Harley bring your dogs for exercise and play here we are just about to disembark pretty busy as usual s’s squished in there pretty tightly [Music] [Music] because it was a very busy Ferry being Bank holdy weekend and there were literally hundreds of bikers to process getting through uh customs and passport control took forever it took us about an hour and a half after we docked before we even got out of the port of sant and there so we decided to take the fast route and the a RS to get to a hotel a [Music] [Music] puug GTI is a town lying to the west of bil Bao in the Bas country of Northern Spain it’s got a population of just under 50,000 and for us it was just the perfect location for an overnight stop [Music] [Music] oh here we are room 316 um yeah it looks great let’s have a look check out the bathroom first of all yeah nice modern shower in a tub very bright spacious and we have a room with a view what do you think that looks like a car transporter look get across that’s what it does look at that what a great view what do you think of this hotel then we’ve only just moved in but well in terms of location it’s fantastic yeah the room is bright so we need to go find find uh somewhere to get beer oock and some food but yeah brilliant pretty convenient ride as well from the very yeah we as long as you’re happy to blast along the motorway yeah that was great just over an hour and then about another hour trying to find the garage to parking wow look at that car [Music] transported I guess the people are on other side aren’t they those little carriages on side wow I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like that it turns out that the biscaya bridge was the first transporter Bridge built in the world with a metal structure and it carries 3 million Travelers every year [Music] interesting wonder how old it is and in 2006 the bridge was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO it’s now 5 7 we’re in puga and we still have not be yet that’s outrageous that’s how far behind schedule we are but the weather’s nice the hotel’s nice so we’re just heading to see if we can find a bar so one surva one white [Music] wine why keep your pants [Music] up let got the flags out [Music] [Music] this is the pedestrianized area that we inadvertently roll through on the way trying to find the hotel and specifically which to park the B so starting with fish soup it smells very much like lobster Beast doesn’t it you want our main chicken stew oh look good well the fish soup is great gets amazing Cheers Cheers so is the Puente kante Boutique Hotel a good place to stop off on your way toour from Sant ande This Modern boutique hotel is located right on the shore of the nerian river and was only an hour’s ride from Sant andere so it’s great if like us you arrive on a late afternoon Ferry it’s graded four stars on booking.com our room number 315 was bright and spacious with a balcony overlooking the water and busy pedestrian area with cafes and restaurants we had plenty of storage space a large TV coffee machine and the good size on Suite had a tub and a strong shower we didn’t have a great deal of interaction with the staff but the guy reception restaurant staff were helpful and friendly people generally eat late in Spain and here was no exception whilst there was a number of places to eat close to the hotel none were actually open until 8:00 p.m. so we chose to have a pre- dinner drink in our evening meal at the hotel restaurant which is clearly very popular with the locals and got very busy the fish soup and chicken stew were tasty and the three course menu for €30 included a reasonable bottle of rioka so all in all pretty good value for money like many Spanish Town hotels the car park was underground so very secure there was a charge for using the car park which seems to be the norm in Spain the most challenging part was finding the entrance in a largely pedestrianized area as’s a convenient stop over to or from Sant there the pente colante is a good place to stay [Music] [Music] the following morning brought us some glorious weather as we headed for our 3-hour ride further east to the little town of Hond Ria right next to the French border [Music] after over an hours riding we were well overdue for a coffee stop we noticed a little cafe restaurant just outside of the town of Durango [Music] fore [Music] for sing [Music] fore speee [Music] Pap we’ve just stopped on rout as you can see it’s a glorious day and there’s a magnificent view over there spectac [Music] spee [Music] fore [Music] [Music] foree n n n n n n n no no n n n n no no n n n n n n n n n [Music] [Music] headlights on the highway if you only knew being back here always makes me think of you when the world is sleeping please think of me with a road coming back back again come back to me yeah I remember the long drive still late nights in your car I remember it all windows down and empty streets you were all I used to know you and I forever forever ago and you used to drive me home now I drive alone you and I forever forever forever [Music] ago this town so quiet this time of year with a Road a head coming back again coming back to me I remember the long drive till late nights in your car I remember all windows down the streets you were all I used to know you and I forever forever ago and you used drive me home no I drive alone you and I forever forever [Music] forever and strangely for the second time on this trip we had difficulty in actually locating our hotel when we arrived at a destination and I knew it was around here somewhere but happily a passing cyclist was very helpful and basically said follow me and I’ll guide you in forever forever forever go I feel hard I F fast my love for you last last forever forever forever go feel hard I F fast my love for you will last forever forever forever know down in the streets you were all I used to know you and I forever forever ago you used to drive me home no I drive alone you and I forever forever forever go forever forever forever [Applause] [Music] forever so how we are folks we’ve arrived in Honda Rivia and as you can see beautiful weather let’s hope it stays like this shall we uh we had about 3 and 1 half 3 and 3/4 hour ride today but anyway it looks an interesting quirky little place let’s go and check out our room before we wander around the Old [Music] Town room 212 [Music] it’s quite modern actually bathroom with a shower it’s perfectly fine storage gear TV nice little bed and guess what we’ve got our own private little patio area look at this really nice actually is that pool belong to the hotel as well yeah yeah there’s a pool down there um I suspect it’ be a tad too cold for us but it’s very quiet place isn’t it lovely room’s nice this is lovely it’s interesting like a wild garden going on a nice place to sit and have an evening [Music] be it’s too hot for that was a pleasant interlude just a a small beer cuz it’s very very hot and a bit of an explore if we go back get changed and come out for beer: proper and some nice tappers at that what do you think is it beautiful it’s gorgeous it’s very gorgeous it’s a [Music] reallyy so this is proper beer o clock beer and sangria clock cheers [Music] [Music] [Music] it’s a library big screen TV and a bar so if you’re visiting Honda ribia would we recommend this little hotel the Rio bidasoa Hotel is in the historic town of hondar ribia the center and the old town with its castle and walls are just a short walk away the buildings lining the main walkways all seem impeccably maintained and the whole place feels a bit up Market the hotel which which is rated fourstar on booking.com is very modern as was our bedroom which had a comfortable double bed wall mounted Smart TV great for Bing engine on MMD videos a coffee machine and a good siiz wardrobe the onsuite shower was so efficient that it quickly flooded the entire bathroom but that’s always better than having to run around to get wet there was also a door leading onto a large Terrace area complete with garden furniture it overlooked the grounds and the hotel swimming pool which appeared very pretty but was a tad on the chili side for us to try Cy the young guy reception was very welcoming and marked up a local map with places of interest and where to find beer oock and evening food the lady in the bar was also very friendly and helpful there is a restaurant at the hotel which seems to have a very good reputation sadly it is only open towards the end of the week and we didn’t really fancy the pizza offered at the bar so we wandered back into the town center and had tap pass breakfast wasn’t included in the room price so with a 4-Hour ride ahead the following day including our usual overdose of coffee stops we decided to grab a snack on the road there is a lot of tarmacked flat car parking at the rear bidasoa and the spaces were plenty big enough for two bikes the parking area isn’t locked but it’s very secure we really enjoyed our stay in this lovely town which is very conveniently close to the French border [Music] [Music] [Music]