RE: What are your tour plans 2022 - 3

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #30

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… Get up the stairs before the masses in cars get on board and clog the stair well, waiting for the lift…

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Great tips from Marco and Wessie, I will be sure to use some of these ( really must photo the door stairwell - brilliant!).
I also have hard luggage and leave all on the bike, I put all the stuff I might want on the ferry ride in the top-box where I also keep a very thin rucksack ( one that zips into its own pocket) so I empty all that I need into that before leaving the bike.

Just booked Portsmouth to Bilbao for 1st Sept, 2 of us riding down to a rented villa south of Valencia. Our OH's are flying down on the 3rd, we'll arrive on the 4th taking the scenic route down with an overnight in Cuenca. 6 days relaxing there before we head back to Bilbao for ferry home on the 10th. We had a week away in Shropshire last year, with the girls on pillion, which was my first trip away by bike. Very much looking forward to this one, a mix of a few epic days riding & plenty of time to relax in between. Useful to read the hints & tips for the ferry (Thanks Wessie) any other hints & tips gratefully received, my riding pal is a veteran of this trip having done it a dozen or so times before. Roll on September!!

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #30

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Zitat von Saw im Beitrag #29

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Hi guys
Many thanks for the feedback, useful info. I was interested partly in security but also whether I’d need to make sure I have a grab bag of stuff to avoid leaving anything in the bike luggage I may want later on the journey.
I’ll book the crossing tomorrow for early May and get a cabin 🏍😃

I’m looking forward to some of the northern routes in Portugal and hitting the N2

Best regards 👍👍

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I leave everything on the bike. I have hard luggage except for the tank bag, but nothing in there of value. I stick an overnight bag in my topbox which has my day clothes etc. Remove the bag which makes room for the helmet and gloves. I slip my Zumo 390 satnav in my pocket as I might want to edit routes during the trip. There is free wifi on board (in public areas) so you can use Google maps etc. plus you might meet some other riders that give you some ideas for places to visit. Get up the stairs before the masses in cars get on board and clog the stair well, waiting for the lift.

Another tip: don't rush to your cabin. Bikes are on first as they go into the lowest deck so the cleaners won't be finished, maybe until an hour after you board. Find yourself a quiet spot, have a coffee or beer and relax. Maybe go to the restaurant reception and book a table at a time to suit before the masses in their cars get on board. The food is usually pretty good and having the set menu with a bottle of wine is my first treat of the holiday and passes a couple of hours. You will be spending a lot less in Spain & Portugal on a similar meal but, you are on holiday so don't slum it in the cafeteria.

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First trip has just finished for us. Both to the Costa Blanca for 4 weeks. Weather was great.
Next trip is Sicily with Ryanair for a week in a couple of weeks.
Will spend a couple of weeks touring the Ardeche area of France in May/June. Not planned any later than that.
We go out on the bikes nearly every weekend anyway.