Penguins in the Pyrenees 2012

[pingvin]

Will do comeback with our annual Alp trip next year...except we will do the Pyrenees this time. Have read most Pyrenee threads here but have a few questions. Of course I've made a plan A route, google street view is brilliant for checking how the roads are. So this here is the route so far:



First question is:

Is Andorra a OK place to stay 1 or 2 nights And is it easy to get rooms or is prebooking a good idea We will stay at more historical places as well (Pamplona 2 nights) so not a requirement that historical/cultural etc if some good bars and restaurants. And people.

If I should stay away, what places close to Andorra are good alternatives

In general, is it easy to get rooms in small and large places

[Rasher]

Only been once, I think you have the "famous" stretch of N260 in your route, it runs from Sort to Adrall - make sure you do this section.

Andorra is not a very pretty place, and I would guess quite pricey, we rode through it and to be honest apart from cheap fuel (and fags if you smoke) it did not really look to have much to offer.

The Motorcycle Journey's book has some routes for the Pyrenees.

[iomrob]

done the N260, then through Andorra about 8 years ago, brilliant, no traffic and i mean no traffic, this was at the end of July. the road was just resurfaced then, great views, often thought about going back, but the Alps win for me if im going to mountians. i do remember there was not a lot of shade when you stopped, even had to stand in a car wash to have an ice cream. are you camping?, if so there were not a lot of campsites, think i only seen one in the whole day travelling down , and it had no shade what so ever.

[pingvin]

No camping, haven't been in a tent since I was in the army Except a few beer tents that is.

N260 from Sort to Adrall is included. Easier planning route in Pyrenees than Alps, less options, but will be back for final approval

[tim]

Except a few beer tents that is.

I've been in a few of them in my time

[iomrob]

dont know if you use map or a gps, but watch the smaller roads, the white ones on a map, they are grade 3 donkey tracks.

[mingy]

your not wrong Rob this is such a road, it leads up to the col d' aspin. not a problem on a GS

[pingvin]

dont know if you use map or a gps, but watch the smaller roads, the white ones on a map, they are grade 3 donkey tracks.

Maps for planning, gps for navigating...too scary taking eyes off the road for seconds to find where I am while doing 100kph on curvy roads

Actually done spot check with google street view on all roads so hopefully not to many surprises. Not that I mind, plan on taking 690 anyway, but some of the others ride sportsbikes so preferrably tarmac withe decent surface Actually wouldn't mind riding mingys road at all.

[iomrob]

your both mad

[BourneToRide]

GPS is handy when you are coming up to a junction, but the best Pyrenees tip I can give is to look out for the "end of no overtaking" sign

These are always impossibly optimistic, but do tell you when the corner is starting to open out and you can get back on the gas, ride like a local

[pingvin]

I use GPS and I'm proud of it

Road outside Andorra, straighten out a corner like this is just vandalism

[pingvin]

the best Pyrenees tip I can give is to look out for the "end of no overtaking" sign

Like the speed before EVERY curve in the US (no matter how open), twice the speed is about right, very convenient

[Michael J]

the best Pyrenees tip I can give is to look out for the "end of no overtaking" sign

Like the speed before EVERY curve in the US (no matter how open), twice the speed is about right, very convenient

that certainly has been my experience.

[Arson]

Agree about comments for Andorra, and it can be a pain at the border. If on a touring bike, the stretch from Seu D'Urgell to Puigcerda is fast and entertaining, but can be busy. If you are on something light (or KTM?) the road from Puigcerda to Ripoll (N-152) is brilliant. Lots of places to stay non the N-260 from Vielha to Puigcerda. Did Vielha to Banyoles last year on maps, and that route is fine. I use the Col de Puymorens to Foix quite a lot coming back from Spain, but I can't say it is one of my favourites, if better than the motorway. I did the D117 to St Paul de Fenouillet once a long time ago, which I vaguely remember as quite good, but it takes a while.

[Stelios]

I have done a similar route back in 2007.

Andorra is a nice place to stay. Was overpriced then but the whole city was under construction, with huge new hotels to appear in every corner. So, i belive that you will find something cheap. Due the tax free there are tones of tourists visiting this small country, so i will suggest to book in advance. Andorra la Vella is a modern city, not bad, but nothing special.
On pyrenees, we stayed for 2 nights on Eaux-Bonnes, a small town on the French side of pyrenees. There was only one hotel in the town, but there was availability. So i believe that you will find accommodation on pyrenees easily.
Borders was really croudy. It was a huge car line when we entered from France, but we bypassed with no problem. Another huge line was on our way out of the country. We bypassed again and had a typical border check control. I have heard that they check sometimes motorcycles cause lots of bikers go to the famous tax free biker shops for really cheap equipment.

You can check some photos from my trip here:
http://motoadventures.wordpress.com/200 ... -pyrenees/

Hope i helped, if you need anything else just ask