Testimonial Picos, Pyrenees & Volcanoes Tour (in reverse) 15-23 June 2018
 The group in the Picos Mountains – great weather throughout, some lovely new guests with many regulars made for a fabulous tour (John A missing for puncture repair) |
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 We start with a pre-tour briefing |
 Photo-bombed by a local! |
 You must STOP at a solid white STOP line…”Is there a specific warning sign?” asks Jon W… |
 Yes Jon – a STOP SIGN !!! (Sorry Jon – I hope you won’t be offended!) |
| “Just returned from the Picos & Pyrenees tour. Absolutely fabulous scenery, hotels and company. As the oldest rider with the smallest bike I never once felt overwhelmed by my fellow travellers. I did take advantage of the 2 rest days, 1 in Lourdes to redeem my sins, (1 day wasn’t really long enough for that!), and 1 in Riano. The organisation by BN was once again first class. My 11th trip. hopefully, I WILL BE BACK.” | |
| Colin Shaw, 11th trip, Yamaha Tracer 700, West Sussex | |
 John A & Kevin didn’t listen to instructions !! |
 Jen’s in the lead today |
 Bikes all lined up at coffee stop |
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| “Just returned from our first tour (but not the last!) of the Picos, Pyrenees and Volcanoes. Had an amazing time, scenery fabulous and great biking roads. Very well organised, really appreciated the van to carry our luggage (especially for those of us with pillions). Met loads of nice people and had a lot of fun. Thanks to Jen for the loan of a spare camera battery and Jackie really loved her new Bike Normandy sweatshirt😘 Thanks again for a great experience. We would definitely recommend Bike Normandy to our friends.” | |
| Jon & Jackie Watson, 1st tour, BMW K1300S, Berkshire | |
 Lunch stop |
 Our first hotel… |
 Sheltering from the rain! |
 Drinks in the bar |
 Dinner is included tonight |
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| “Having visited 6 of Bike Normandy’s weekend experiences and The Italian Lakes and Swiss Alps tour two years ago we have all just come back from the Picos & Pyrenees tour. As with the weekend trips everything was organised for you, even the backup van carrying your luggage, spare fuel and tools. The hotels selected by John and Jen were above and beyond what we would have expected from a biking holiday, many with secure parking. Well organised, well researched, comes highly recommended. Thanks John and Jen for a great unforgettable tour.” | |
| Paul Tinkler, 8th trip, GSXR1000, Kent |
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 John welcomes everyone to the Tour… |
 Then sets the bar for jokes very low!! |
 With our thanks to Allan & Jane… |
 It’s their 10th Tour |
| “Dear John & Jen, thank you for another fabulous tour! Glorious sunshine, great biking roads and another host of delightful hotels. The usual meticulous planning on your part made for a very successful and stress free holiday. Always a pleasure to reunite and tour with friends! | |
| Paul & Louise Saltwell, 4th tour, Yamaha MT09 Tracer, Guernsey | |
 As well as having the European Expert on Wasps… |
 It’s Andy M’s birthday ! |
 Parking opposite our hotel |
 Always a morning briefing |
 Ready for the off – John’s leading today |
 Andy D on his Honda VFR 800 |
| “I have just been on the Picos & Pyrenees tour (France to Spain) 2018. I must state what a brilliant trip this was, with a fantastic mix of routes, roads and brilliant overnight hotels; what also makes these tours more enjoyable is the great bunch of people, enjoying the experience together as a family. Despite losing a couple of days, (due to an incident – thankyou Jen & John, you were both brilliant and extremely professional in dealing with it!) The weather was Fantastic, if a little bit too hot, and the daily distances with lunch and coffee stops was pitched just right. I really enjoyed this trip and would highly recommend it to others. My 4th Trip, and now looking forward to the Black Forest Tour.” | |
| Andy Dunmore, 4th trip, Honda VFR800, West Sussex |
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 Wood carvings en route |
 Morning coffee stop |
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 Jackie has a new BN sweatshirt |
 Kevin on his BMW R1100RT |
 “Inflatable” Jon & “M” on their BMW R1200GS |
 Dave on his Kawasaki H2 |
 Paul on his Suzuki GSXR 1000 |
 Colin on his Yamaha Tracer 700 |
 John A on his BMW K1300S |
 Ros & Andy on their Honda Blackbird |
 We’re heading into the Volcanic region |
 A free night – drinks in a local bar |
 Our morning briefing |
 It’s Sunday & only 1 pump working !! |
 What a way to travel ! |
 The Goldwing provides the music… |
 So Paul & Louise start dancing ! |
 There is a volcano – honest! |
 What a view !!! |
 Most dine inside |
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 Real bikers stay outside ! |
 The “Speedy Boys” |
 The cloud clears… |
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 We have our “Gorillas in the Mist” |
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 Thanks to “M” for the photo |
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 Album cover of the year – The Speedy Boyz feat’g I & M!! Thanks to “M” for the pic |
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 And “Girl Power” ! |
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 Thanks “M” |
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 Afternoon coffee stop |
 We stop for a photo at Rocamadour |
 Parking is in the hotel garages |
 Most have balcony views |
 We all find the nearest bar |
 Colin with John A |
 The group at the entrance to the medieval town (minus Andy D) |
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 Dinner is included in the hotel’s restaurant |
 Along with some rowdy cyclists !! |
 Carol & Max with John A & Colin |
 John & Jackie with Ros & Andy |
 Jane, Louise & Paul, Allan, “Inflatable” & “M” |
 Dave, Paul, Ian, Kevin, Mike & Simon |
 Sandra & Steve with us |
 Usual chat before we set off |
 All lined up at lunch stop |
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 Lovely coffee stop |
 Our hotel overlooks the river at Lourdes |
 Drinks in the hotel bar before watching the football |
 Next day some go for a ride-out |
 The Goldwing’s behind us… |
 Steve & Sandra hail from Spain |
 Jon & Jackie on their BMW K1300S |
 Any ideas ? A Red Kite perhaps ? |
 Stunning lunch stop |
 Us ! |
 Everyone on the ride-out (thanks to Ian for the photo) |
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 Paul & Louise |
 A rose between two thorns ! |
 Fab roads in the Pyrenees |
 Mike on his BMW K1300S |
 Paul & Louise on their Tracer 900 |
 Ian on his BMW R1200GS |
 Jon & Jackie |
 Steve & Sandra |
 Fab views at the Col D’Aspin |
 How to improve a photo of 3 BMW’s !! |
 Jon W, Mike & John A |
 The cows like our Street Triple ! (Thanks Ian) |
 Mind the locals ! |
 Lovely forest roads |
 Mike on his BMW K1300S |
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 Cloudy on the way up |
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 A party at the top of the Tourmalet |
 Music & dancing in the street ! |
 Stunning view at the top |
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 Forget the others – our sticker’s there !! |
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 Mike & Ian |
 Paul & Louise on the way down |
 Watch out for the sheep… |
 This one’s not moving |
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 Max & Carol on their Tiger 800 |
 Through tunnels |
 Steve & Sandra |
 Under netting |
 Fishing in the river |
 Fancy Dress group in our hotel |
 And why not ?! |
 At the Cathedral |
 The crowds start to gather |
 For the nightly procssion |
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 Lots of countries represented |
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 Next morning coffee stop |
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 Thanks “M” |
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 Fab views as we ride through the Pyrenees |
 See the bear paw prints ! |
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 Allan & Jane at the back |
 Just gorgeous |
 More sheep to negotiate |
 Paul on his GSXR 1000 |
 as he disappears ! |
 Thanks “M” – fab view of our lunch stop |
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 Another pretty lunch stop |
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 Amazing views |
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 Stunning colour of the lake |
 But it’s getting hotter…. |
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 Coffee at a truck stop |
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 It’s hot – but the van has air-con !! |
 At our next hotel in Spain |
 Take the lift to underground parking |
 Drinks watching the football |
 Jon lands on Jen !! |
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 Wander the back streets for tapas |
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 Just a few bottles of Rioja then ?! |
 Mike has an illuminated pillion !! |
 Dave & Colin |
 Paul |
 Morning briefing – the Picos next |
 At coffee stop… |
 The local kids have a project to do |
 The next Marc Marquez ? |
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 The kids love the bikes |
 Lunch stop |
 Jen’s in this one too |
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 Anything for a good shot ! (thanks Ian) |
 Steve & Sandra |
 Jon & Jackie |
 “Backmarkers” Allan & Jane |
 Riding into the Picos |
 Allan & Jane on their Tiger 1050 |
 A surprise in store |
 Jon & &Jackie brave the metal platform |
 A Griffon Vulture |
 The clouds arrive |
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 Kevin with cake at the top |
 Great roads to our hotel |
 The “Speedy Boys” |
 Simply stunning scenery |
 What a great view |
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 We regroup before arriving at our hotel |
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 Resident Chow-Chow Lusso |
 Drinks on the terrace |
 Dinner is included tonight |
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 Another beautiful morning |
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 Gorgeous roses surround the hotel |
 Our hotel for two nights |
 So cute ! |
 So chilled ! |
 Some of us go on a ride-out |
 Jen rides pillion |
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 See storks nesting |
 Two here |
 Jackie takes loads of photos as well |
 Allan & Jane mark a junction ! |
 Max & Carol – Kiwis visiting from Australia ! |
 Paul & Louise ride as “Back-markers” |
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 Fab roads |
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 Max & Carol on their Tiger 800 |
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 We stop for coffee- with free tapas! |
 More brilliant roads |
 Lots of hairpins |
 Sandwiches all round – 29 euros for 11 of us with drinks! |
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 Gorgeous scenery heading back |
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 Ian on his BMW R1200GS |
 Wow ! |
 Once back at the hotel Paul does not want to relinquish the orange vest !! |
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 The “Speedy Boys” went out late |
 & caught the only heavy rain of the tour !! |
 A thunderstorm passes overhead |
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 Drinks before dinner |
 Grumpy has had to give up the orange vest ! |
 A really great crowd |
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 Dinner is included again our last night |
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 This time with Andy & Kevin included |
 John thanks everyone for a great tour |
 Thanks to Allan & Jane our Backmarkers |
 “Ith it Dithco??” |
 Steve takes a turn |
 Jane’s up next |
 Then it’s Max |
 Followed by Ian |
 John shows Andy how to waft a towel!! |
 Jen reads Ken C’s cheese scones joke |
 John’s up again |
 “Are you in the air force ?” |
 Paul gives us a Tommy Cooper set… |
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 How many cars ??!! |
 A brilliant set ! |
 Another glorious morning |
 Our final briefing |
 Thanks “M” |
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 Thanks “M” |
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 Still riding in the Picos |
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 Thanks “M” |
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 Morning coffee stop |
 Find a shady cafe |
 Fred Flinstone’s perhaps ? |
 Pass fishing villages |
 Lovely lunch stop |
 Jon insists he’s not under the thumb ! |
 Us ! |
 So pretty |
 A lovely lunch to end the tour – Jackie has squid ! |
 And that’s it – everyone back to Santander for the ferry (apart from those who rode home instead) |
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A really great tour – thanks to everyone for making it such a pleasure for us as well. We look forward to seeing many of you on future tours. And for everyone who knew we were collecting our new Gordon Setter puppy “Otto” on the way home here are some more pics… |
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 Looking very serious |
 What’s this air con thing ?? |
 At least it keeps me cool |
 Time for a nap |
 Great – a new garden to explore ! |
 This hedgehog isn’t very spiky ! |
Yes, he’s settling in well – we knew he’d be trouble & he’s chewing everything !! |
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