Barcelona and back - Done

Sorry I've not updated this sooner. I've been a bit busy.

Instead of doing one huge essay I'll split the write up into sections to make it easier to read. Pictures will be added tonight as they're on my laptop at home.

Part 1 - Peterborough to Calais (157 miles, roughly)

Originally we aimed to set off for Calais straight from work at half 5, but as with all great plans, this didn't happen. After sorting the luggage out, setting off and me realising I'd forgotten my Euros we managed to get away by about half 6. There was a lot of traffic over Dartford, and with us unsure whther we made it in time we switched into fairl fast filtering mode. Little did we know we'd be filtering at much dafter speeds later on in the trip.

This part of the journey went pretty much without a hitch. The ferry was due to sail at 21:25. I think we got there at about 21:15, so they let us straight on.

The woman at the check-in booth asked Rob (who was in front as he had the **** nav) where we were going and why.
Rob: Barcelona
Woman: Why?
R: Why not?
W: Fair does, when do you return?
R: Thursday
W: You're riding there and coming straight back?!
R: Yes
W: Mentalist

She waved him through, I got up to the booth and she laughed, shook her head and waved me through.

On the ferry, we had some tea, accompanied by a black coffee with four sugars. I never drink coffee - I absolutely hate the stuff. And after the trip I'll make sure I never drink it again. Horrible stuff.

We landed in Calais at 00:00 French time. Time for the hardcore part, to be updated tonight.

EDIT: How do I edit the thread title?

Originally Posted by MCN_LiamM

Sorry I've not updated this sooner. I've been a bit busy.

Instead of doing one huge essay I'll split the write up into sections to make it easier to read. Pictures will be added tonight as they're on my laptop at home.

Part 1 - Peterborough to Calais (157 miles, roughly)

Originally we aimed to set off for Calais straight from work at half 5, but as with all great plans, this didn't happen. After sorting the luggage out, setting off and me realising I'd forgotten my Euros we managed to get away by about half 6. There was a lot of traffic over Dartford, and with us unsure whther we made it in time we switched into fairl fast filtering mode. Little did we know we'd be filtering at much dafter speeds later on in the trip.

This part of the journey went pretty much without a hitch. The ferry was due to sail at 21:25. I think we got there at about 21:15, so they let us straight on.

The woman at the check-in booth asked Rob (who was in front as he had the **** nav) where we were going and why.
Rob: Barcelona
Woman: Why?
R: Why not?
W: Fair does, when do you return?
R: Thursday
W: You're riding there and coming straight back?!
R: Yes
W: Mentalist

She waved him through, I got up to the booth and she laughed, shook her head and waved me through.

On the ferry, we had some tea, accompanied by a black coffee with four sugars. I never drink coffee - I absolutely hate the stuff. And after the trip I'll make sure I never drink it again. Horrible stuff.

We landed in Calais at 00:00 French time. Time for the hardcore part, to be updated tonight.

EDIT: How do I edit the thread title?

So far so good
I think you'll need to PM Fizzwheel to get the title changed, or maybe any mod from this section...

I thank you

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Stu

That was 400 miles (although not Autoroute) so think what 1900 would be

Yeh but they took 3-4 days with stops to kip and rest to do 1900, we did 400 in a day. Was it really only 400miles? I seem to remember it being closer to 600 for some reason. Point i was making is that everyon should do a trip to Europe on a bike, be it a long day trip or a mega mileage 3 or 4 days

Anyway, not derailing yout thread Laim, looking forward to the pics now too.

Not to worry Spiderman.

Just read your post about 400 miles in a day and realised that's just under half what we we're doing in a day!

In a way it's made my passion for biking even stronger than it was, but at the same time it hasn't. Can't really explain it.

Still, hopefully it was the first of many trips to Europe.

If there's and ORG EU trips in the pipeline I might be tempted.

[Spiderman]

Yeh i really wanna go into Europe again this year but i gotta get a new job first before i can consider any of that

I dont know how you mean "it's made my passion for biking even stronger than it was, but at the same time it hasn't." Has the experience put you off biking in some way, or just made you realise how inconsiderate to bikes people in this country really are, lol.

I've definitely noticed how much people hate us in this country.

They go out of their way in Europe to let you get passed. (Apart from in Paris)

The motorways in France are a lot quieter than over here. There was a point in France where we travelled for a full tank of fuel and the only car we saw was a Clio in front of us.

[STRAMASHER]

Originally Posted by MCN_LiamM

I've definitely noticed how much people hate us in this country.

.... and as soon as you come back off the ferry how much you hate them! I was wanting a scrap 5mins off the Dover ferry.

I take it that the wee granny/ Nun in the Clio was ahead of you Young Team cos they ALL pelt about the m/ways at 100-110MPH!?

(and probably seen you from miles back, moved a little left and were already in the correct lane, waiting for you to pass! Love the standard of driving in France/Spain)

How did you find the quality of the traffic light GP in Barca? Little automatic bastids everywhere "jumping the start"! Cheats!

Originally Posted by STRAMASHER

How did you find the quality of the traffic light GP in Barca? Little automatic bastids everywhere "jumping the start"! Cheats!

The Clio was doing about a ton so withme being restricted we just sat behind it.

Barcelona is fun. We pulled up at some traffic lights and a scooter rider pulled up at the side of us. Waited for a while then set off while the lights were still on red! We were proper confuddled. It changed to green shortly afterwards, though. They're telepathic!

It also took us a while to realise that as a pedestrian, when the green man says go, the traffic light doesn't change to red, it just flashes amber. So of course, the scooteristi come charging up to the crossing while everybody is walking across and weave in between you if it's not too busy! Mental!

[Spiderman]

I was in Sicily a couple of years back to visit a friend. He's in the US Navy and she is an ex essex girl.
One of the first things they said to me was "You have to see the state of the drivers here, its friggin chaos! These italians are nutters!!"

And you know what, its so wasn't. They just took the attitude that the road signs, all the road signs were there as guidance only. My friends lived up a fairly steep hill in Catania and the best bit to me was the fact that in the mornings as everyone was heading down hill, they would just "create" a second downhill lane! The cars comming uphill would drive over on the dirt at the side of the road a bit bit more to allow for it. And later in the day when everyone was going the other way they "create" a second lane going uphill. Easy. Bear in mind that there are only 2 lanes here as a normal road, just the fact that everyone was sensible enough and respectful enough for other traffic meant it worked well. And all the time there were scooters galore buzzing thru it all too. The amount of hand signals (friendly helpfull ones as opposed to the usual we see here) and communication with other roads users of all kinds was the thing that really impressed me.
Only saw one accident in the 13days we were there and guess what...a tourist had run into the back of a local.