The group in the Volcanoes: a tour with temperatures ranging from 8.5 to a sweltering 42 degrees yet we all had a great time.


We start with a briefing at Ouistreham

Straight onto country roads

First coffee stop
“The Picos Tour (in reverse) was my fifth with BN European Tours. As ever, the organization, roads and fellow bikers were all excellent. Really nothing to complain about and much to recommend. However, it is only when the going gets tough that having John and Jen in charge really matters. We had breakdowns, extreme weather events and a diversion but they were not really a problem for John and Jen. They just handled the situation with minimum fuss. Problem solved! Had I been on my own or with friends the outcome would have been very different. Anyway, I have already booked my next tour with BN European Tours. That is the best recommendation I can make.”
John Savage, 5th tour, Honda VFR800, Peeblesshire

John’s in the lead today

Planned fuel stops
Jen & John, the pictures look great. The format of the tour made for a relaxing stress-free trip. from the moment we were collected from passport control, till we passed through passport control on the return sailing. we were looked after and treated like one of your own. Not only did we all enjoy the tour, but we came away having made a few more friends. I’d happily ride with you all on a tour again in the future. | |
Hotels were excellent (thanks for the fan!), the hotel food was great. The marker system worked much better than I thought it would and kept us moving through the day. The choice of roads was excellent, the knowledge of the towns we visited was great. Your ability to deal with issues that arose was demonstrated and in no way impacted our enjoyment on the trip. | |
This trip was great value for the money and we’re keen to see how your Portugal & Spain trip goes – although both Eddie and Leo have adopted an “A” team mentality… “you’re not getting me on that boat fool”! I’m sure they’ll come around or we will ride to the start!” |
Maurice Smith, 1st tour, BMW R1200 GSA, Lanarkshire

Leaving lunch

Afternoon coffee break

The new Scottish contingent !

Lovely scenery
Hi John & Jen, just wanted to say thanks for another enjoyable tour – we both had a great time riding some fantastic roads with stunning scenery with no stress on our part. All organised for us so all we have to concentrate on is riding our bike. That’s the beauty of going on tour with BN European Tours. Their organisation is excellent and no worrying for us as to where the next petrol, coffee or lunch stop is. We stayed in some good hotels in great locations with dinner and wine included on some nights. | |
Once again we met a great group of like minded people and we would like to thank everyone for their company on tour. We enjoyed riding with you all. Hopefully we will meet again on future tours. | |
The bike is now clean – new tyres to be fitted next week and then we are ready for our next adventure with BN on the Spain and Portugal tour in September (Our 7th Tour with BN European Tours). Can’t wait. See you soon” |
Alan & Julie Grieves, 6th tour, Ducati Multistrada, Leicestershire

It’s Maurice !

17.40 & still 29 degrees

Bikes parked opposite our first hotel

Drinks before dinner

Ken heads to the bar…

Erm – what drink would you like Sue ??!!

Nigel & Mandy
“Hi all, finally getting around to checking in from “Norn Iron”. We had an eventful run to Holyhead that evening to say the least, we were finally beaten by the rain around midnight and decided it was safer to wait in a motorway service station ’til daylight lol. It took us two full days to shake off the feeling that we were walking on a bouncy castle, a very interesting feeling indeed! | |
John and Jen, thanks for organising everything and thanks so much to all our fellow travellers for your company, you’re a lovely bunch of people and we hope to bump into you again some time. Best wishes to all,” |
Nigel & Mandy Ford, 3rd tour, Suzuki V-Strom 1000, County Londonderry

Dinner is included tonight

Wow! Ken’s done 20 trips !!

And another thing…

Sue belatedly gets her “10 Times” T-shirt – but she’s actually done 16 trips!

Coffee after dinner

Sue & Ken

So many trips!!
“Hi John & Jen, thanks for another fantastic tour. As always, great roads, company, super hotels and John’s jokes..! The Pyrenees and Picos mountain ranges, for me, were some of the best roads I’ve been lucky enough to have ridden. Be great to go back and spend some more time enjoying the fantastic scenery and brilliant twisties. And as it turns out, the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain!! Roll on Portugal & Spain next year. Can’t wait!! Cheers Simon”
Simon Brown, 7th trip, BMW S1000 XR, Surrey

Always a morning briefing

Ready for the off

Ken & Sue are our “back-markers”

How cute! Mandy & Sue

Morning coffee stop

Gorgeous flower displays

Lunch stop


Afternoon coffee stop

It’s getting warmer…

Ice creams all round

“Good tour. Thank you very much. I will be back.”
Stephen Wood, 1st tour, Honda Africa Twin, Gloucestershire



We ride into the volcanoes


The fabulous Chateau de Murol

Lovely lakes

Volcanoes everywhere

A band is playing near our hotel

Dancing in the street


Drinks in a local bar


Pete thought the breadsticks were chopsticks!!

Our hotel by night

On the Puy Mary (thanks John S)


Lunch on the top


Blueberry tart !

Eddie taking photos

Jen leads on our Street Triple R

Then Pete on his Aprilia Tuono V4

Leonor on her Kawasaki Z300

Adrian & Carole on their Tiger 1200

Fab twisties on the way down

Paul & Becky on their BMW R1250 RT

Afternoon coffee stop

Water refills



It’s only 39 degrees !!

We cross the River Dordogne

Our bike is overheating!!

It’s now 40 degrees !!

We arrive at Rocamadour


Drinks before dinner

Dinner is included tonight





Becky has a fan !

John shows Nigel how to waft a towel

Mandy & Nigel


!!

Rocamadour by night

Next morning – a hot air balloon

Fab !

An early start to avoid the heat!

Pete’s Aprilia breaks down

Our Street has to go in the van

John & Sue ride Ken’s V-Strom

Everyone takes their luggage

Simon rides as Back-marker

Problem fixed – our Street had a broken radiator cap

After a long, hot day, beers all round

A very welcome drink!

Many of us dine in the same restaurant

A day off – some go for a ride

Stephen on his Africa Twin

Stephen again

It’s Simon !

Grant on his Triumph Explorer

Mo & Leo mark the junction

Alan & Julie on their Ducati Multistrada

Pretty lunch stop


A huge market in the square

The Mairie

Our Street Triple is now working fine…

A pillion’s view

Mo’s in the lead

Mo & Leo on his BMW R1200 GSA

Mo & Leo again

On the Col d’Aspin

Friendly locals !

Stop for photos

Ken & Sue on V-Strom 1000 (thanks Simon)


Chris in front on his Explorer

Great scenery

Chris followed by Alan & Julie


Tunnels

Amazing views

Alan & Julie

Mo & Leo on the Col de Tourmalet

Stunning view

Those who came on the ride-out

Our sticker’s there !

Jen taking photos

Stephen on his Africa Twin

Hairpins on the way down

Chris

Our new logo !



More tunnels

Under nets

At Lourdes the nightly procession

You can join in

In front of the Cathedral




The next day, Sue’s dressed for the wet! (thanks John S)

Ride past the dam

Into the Pyrenees

Adrian & Carole (thanks Simon)

John S on his Honda VFR 800 (thanks Simon)

Lunch in the Pyrenees

Now in Spain

Tapas anyone ?

Ride alongside the stunning lake

Hola !!

Hola !

At our hotel take the lift…

Down to the car park


A free night in Logrono



We start in one tapas bar

Then head into the back streets

More tapas & rioja


The square at night


Boys will be boys!

For those who didn’t venture past the hotel !!

John S followed by Nigel

Morning chat – motorway instructions

A very wet morning



& Jen’s in the lead

Morning coffee stop

Lunch stop


Becky in the Picos, there is a view here !!

Mid afternoon & only 8.5 degrees !

Afternoon coffee stop



We regroup after some misty twisties

Our hotel is just round the corner

Lovely scenery

Parking by the hotel

The fab view from our hotel

Drinks before dinner

Eddie



It’s Mo’s birthday !

Dinner is included tonight


Breakfast

A gorgeous morning

Mo’s ready for a ride-out

Jen rides pillion (thanks John S)



Fab roads



Paul & Pauline on BMW R1200RS

Bungee jumping!

Nigel & Mandy on their V-Strom 1000

Paul & Pauline



Cangas for lunch

Another market by the church

Simon enjoys an ice cream

Then we pass him on the way back

Adrian & Carole again


Brilliant roads










Ken & Sue enjoyed a day off (thanks Ken)



Now that’s a Gin & Tonic !

All enjoying drinks in the sun

Ken & Sue, Jen & John

John thanks everyone for a great tour

Especially Ken as “Back-marker”

Who kicks off the jokes…

Dinner is included our last night

John S takes a turn


Paul’s up next


Then Nigel

Stephen has a few to tell

Mandy takes a turn


And Sue


There’s no stopping Mandy


Or Stephen

John’s up next

Oh Oh…

We’re treated to the Penguin joke!

Even our waiter takes a turn

Another beautiful morning

The t-shirt shop is open !

Final morning briefing

Heading into the mountains




Fantastic roads

But watch out for locals!

Glorious scenery




We take the cable car…

Stephen at the top

Stunning views

Stephen & John S brave the viewing platform


How many dare…

Mandy & Nigel

Alan & Julie

Mo has some special shots

And that’s it, everyone back to the ferry

New recruits at the bar


Calm after the roughest crossing ever…

Mo & friend!

Becky needs a sweatshirt

And finally, thanks Stephen