A great group joined the inaugural Spanish Cities Tour – fantastic hotels, amazing cities to explore, brilliant roads, sunshine when it mattered (with a few downpours in between!) made for a fab final tour of the year
Waiting to board the ferry
A pre-tour briefing on board
Arriving at Santander
We all re-group at the port
Then a briefing before we set off
“Dear All, this was my 2nd Tour with John & Jen this year, yet again a fantastic Tour with some Wonderful People at BN Tours. The Routes were amazing with excellent Roads, Forests, Mountains, Dams, Lakes, Reservoirs and Sweeping Twisty bends – something for All Riders. Yet again the Hotels were Sumptuous and very large with Good Breakfasts to match. I Don’t Know How You Do It ??
I look forward to the new release of Tours for Next Year as I’m sure I’ll be on one of them. My only gripe was the Weather – Rain in Spain Mainly on The Plane !! (spelling on Purpoise!)“
Fred Chambers, 5th trip, Triumph Explorer 1200, Surrey
After just 40km of motorway we’re on lovely roads
Through quaint villages
With an afternoon coffee stop
In a really pretty town
“Hi John & Jen, thanks again for another great trip – echoing everything Fred has said. Have lasting withdrawal symptoms not riding the bike everyday but looking forward to next year. Thanks to everyone for their company, hopefully see you on another trip. Best wishes,“
Gordon (10 trips) & Alison (8 trips) Barr, BMW R1250 RT, Essex
Lynne
Stuart
And of course John!!
“Hi John, Jen and all,
To be absolutely honest I’m not sure what you could have done better as it was all so well organised…I thought the two rest days were needed and were scheduled in about the right time. The planning around the days, the routes the petrol stops, the coffee stops, the parking for bikes was all brilliant and very well communicated. I thought the balance between the laid on meals and doing our own thing was about right as well. The routes were also great.
I suppose the only thing I would say is that the last two places we stopped at (Ponferrada and Llanes) seemed like an anti-climax compared to the others. This may have nothing to do with the places and just the feeling with the weather, the trip coming to an end and not having much time to look around, but it was just how I felt at the time.
Overall though it was an absolute blast. It was great meeting everyone and it was lovely that everyone was so friendly and welcoming in spite of me being the newbie. I very much look forward to doing another trip next year and may be meeting some of you again!! Many thanks again for all your hard work and efforts.”
Clive Dodgson, 1st tour, BMW K1300S, West Sussex
Our first 4* hotel
We meet in reception
The guys enjoying a beer
“Hi everyone, it was really great meeting you all, a few familiar faces and many new ones. I felt it was a really lovely group and everyone seemed to really get along.
Another great trip and one we had been looking forward to since we saw the Segovia viaduct from the covid year tour. It did not disappoint and was much bigger than I had expected. It is incredible the amount of UNESCO cities in riding distance. I think I dragged Stuart round every church and up every tower in one of the cities!
A great variety of roads from a series of hairpins to long incredibly straight roads. The gorge ride down to Llanes was a great, incredibly long, twisty road which had some awesome views at the top. It was a real challenge on my new bike of 2 weeks (I’d had to swap in order to have a bike for the trip), and it being a bit tall for me but I managed to keep upright even through a difficult set of road works. Thank you to everyone for being understanding and thanks to John for helping with the chain issues.
The hotels were in great locations and easy to get into the cities when we had our free nights – but several of us often ended up in the same places which ended up being a real laugh. Looking forward to the next adventure.”
Lynne Wareing, 11th trip, Triumph Tiger 660 Sport, Manchester
We head into town
The group with Jen in Vitoria Gasteiz
“Hi Jen, John and everyone,
Angela and I really enjoyed the trip and thanks for the excellent planning, organisation and running of the tour. It was our first group trip and it was made even better by sharing the experience with all the great people we met.”
Andrew & Angela Wragg, 2nd tour (1 self guided), BMW R1200 GS Adv, Yorkshire
Time for drinks before dinner
It’s a short stroll to the restaurant
Dinner is included tonight
Gordon’s done 10 trips!
John has a joke…
Ta-dah!!
Fred is not travelling light!
Always a morning briefing
After the mist – there is a view!
Ride through Rioja vineyards
Funny pigs!
Scenic sweepers
Morning coffee stop
Stuart’s planning to upgrade his bike!!
Twisties next
A bumpy road round the lake!
But it’s fab scenery
A scruffy donkey!
Watch out for the locals!
More donkeys
This fella doesn’t want to move…
He reluctantly moves over!!
Our planned lunch stop is closed!!
Another passing local!
We stop at the next town
There are several cafes
Fuel is shut – but time for waterproofs!
Eagles overhead
A torrential downpour!!
Fortunately it’s short-lived
Afternoon fuel & coffee stop
Approaching Segovia
After Ian’s BMW broke down (no pic!)
Our 3* hotel in the town centre
A short stroll through town…
Takes you down to the Aqueduct
Stuart & Lynne
It’s a free night tonight
The Cathedral
Ian arrives by taxi!!
Our hotel by night
The Cathedral by night
The next morning…
Hot air balloons over the Cathedral
Morning briefing & Ian’s in the van!!
A day of brilliant roads but few pics!
Morning coffee stop
Jen’s leading (hence no road pics!!)
Gordon & Alison – BMW R1250 RT
Stuart – Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro
Lynne – Triumph Tiger 660 Sport
Paul & Pauline – KTM Super Adventure S
Paul – BMW 1200 GS
Ron – BMW R1300 GS
Clive – BMW K1300 S
Sheldon & Elaine – Triumph Tiger 1200 XRX
Mick & Judy – BMW F900 XR
Andrew & Angela – BMW R1200 GS Adv
Fred – Triumph Explorer 1200
After missing a marker – Stuart…
& Paul B rejoin the group!!
Bullring at lunch stop
Lynne’s new(!) chain is hanging off!!
John makes some adjustments
Our next 3* hotel for two nights
Has a lovely pool…
But it’s closed!! Beers instead!!
Lynne wanted a swim too (it will be open next year!)
Sheldon’s not listening!!
Fab view of Toledo from our hotel
A free night – walk down to the town
There had been a wedding
So we peeked inside the church
The guys are on the beers!
It’s the “Donkey Oty” route Fred!!!
Lovely buildings
Churches everywhere
The Cathedral
We had fab tapas with Stuart & Lynne
A stag party!
Covered walkways
The Cathedral by night
The Jewish quarter
John!
Toledo by night
It’s a lovely morning
Another hot air balloon
A day off to explore the city
The church is covered in manacles
We have a jug AND two glasses of sangria!!
While Stuart & Lynne have marzipan cake
Toledo was the home of El Greco
Museum of Instruments of Torture
Some original medieval road
Many gateways to the city
The hospital
The bullring
Back at the hotel – drinks on the terrace
Dinner is included tonight…
Which has to improve for next year!!
Next day Mick’s bike has a puncture!
How many men does it take…??
Our morning briefing
Morning coffee stop
Mick’s puncture needs another repair
A temporary fix so Judy goes in the van!
Amazing Basilica at lunch stop
You MUST take a look inside!
There’s lots of cafes
Brilliant roads
Our next 4* hotel
It’s a free night tonight
It’s a lovely walled city
With lots of restaurants
What a cutie!
Many of us dine in the same restaurant
Morning briefing
Morning coffee stop
Lovely scenery
There are some real hairpins!
Great views
Lunch stop
So many hams!
Our next 4* hotel for two nights
It’s an old Palace
Our hotel’s opposite the Convent
New Cathedral & Bell Tower
Old Cathedral
The Plaza Mayor in Salamanca
Stuart & Lynne thought they’d escaped!!
The Plaza lights up at night
The city is fab by night
Next day is a day off to explore
Inside the Convent
You won’t see this very often!!
We climb up the Bell Tower
Only 200 steps!!
You also get to see inside the Cathedral
Not so tall in olden days!
Up in the Bell Tower
Us!
Paul, Clive & Ron made it too!
The indoor market
There’s lots of statues
The Library
Good night Salamanca!
A lovely morning…
Briefing in the garage
But the heavens opened again!
We ride across a huge dam
Unfortunately no Golden Eagles
Coffee stop in Portugal
A procession of the Fire Brigade
Lunch stop
Lynne’s chain needs adjusting again!
We cross another dam
Then some fab sweepers
Fuel & coffee stop
More brilliant roads
A twisty mountain pass
Quaint cobbled villages
At our next 4* hotel…
Time for drinks before dinner
Then stroll into town
Fred’s found his double!!
We’re dining in the square
But first head down to the castle
For a group photo
Fred’s not taking any nonsense!!
Wander back to the restaurant
Dinner is included tonight
Order pork knuckle if you’re eating for two!!
Hands up for tiramisu…
A lovely young waiter
We’re offered some shots…
Alison can’t decide!!
Our 4* hotel
First thing – a mountain road
Followed by brilliant sweepers
Morning coffee stop
All in the same cafe!!
We head into the Picos de Europa
We stop for a photo shoot
Stunning views
Our stickers there!!
Stop here for lunch
There are LOTS of twisties
Tunnels
Afternoon coffee stop
Our final 4* hotel
Fred’s happy!
Time to explore the town
Before we meet for dinner
Stuart’s keeping Judy warm – Mick wasn’t!
Dinner is included tonight
John thanks Fred – our part-time back-marker!
John kicks off the jokes…
Gordon’s up next
We’re “treated” to the penguin joke!!
Lynne has a tale to tell…
Next day the t-shirt shop is open!
Final morning briefing
We say goodbye to Gordon & Alison
All back to Santander
Our bike goes in the van
We’re on the new ferry “Salamanca” (rather apt!)
And that’s all folks! Thanks to everyone for making this such a super inaugural tour – we were really pleased it went so well and with a really great group too! We look forward to seeing many of you again next year. Ride safe & keep well, John & Jen.
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