Pyrenees 2008

Hi all
we can't join the Meeting in Sort, so we have been in the Pyrenees the week before.
Here's our small report. Enjoy



First a little overview:


Normaly, when we do this tour, we went on the highway for 2 days and reach Spain. This time we made it differend. "Holiday from the first day on".
Se we went to Plansee - Lech Valley - Hochtannbergpass - Lake Konstanz on small roads.


Still a lot of snow at 1700 m at this time of the year

From Lake Kostanz we start to cross Swiss in the more north area. This is lower but even fun.


before Luzern


Luzern center

from Luzern to Interlaken, place of Eiger, Jungfrau and Mönch.

Lake Brienz


Tina resting

After 2 slow days we reached the Rhone Valley.

Les Diablerets

Hopping over the Col de la Forclaz takes us to Chamonix. Place of Europe's highest mountain - the Mont Blanc. Here some impressions:


Mer de Glace


far high


big

From here up to Megeve. We wanted to pass Col de la Madeleine, but still was closed, because too much snow. :-( - So we went to Grenoble.
In the mountains behind the first thunderstorm tried to catch us, but we won with a 5 min advance.


Thunderstorm comming from left side

Next day we took the highway for a short while to reach the pyrenees. On a break we saw this.


not 501 - a 403

At Narbonne we left the highway torwards the Pyrenees. We followed the beautyful D 613 to reach Ax les Thermes. Normaly we would went to Andorra from here, but not this time.

Impressions between Narbonne and Ax

Flora


small houses


Cols


fantastic playgrounds for children


comfort - instead of tent

Next day we wanted to follow the route of the great pass-roads of the Tour de France. But some heavy rain let us go out and use the highway between St. Gaudens and Pau.


Tinas new friend


Fabio Casartelli died here - Tour 95


near Pau

From Pau on we decided to go to Spain. Next days we played with the rain. Most time we won - sometimes rain won. We take some time in the area "Embalse de Yesa" - Pamplona - "Valles de Roncal".

here some pics


french - spanish border looking to France


this is not Aragon


this is Navarra


near Roncal


down to Yesa


Embalse de Yesa


looking for vultures (Gyps fulvus)


we spent the night in this town


impressiv


I think we have only 4 of 3000 pics of Tina without helmet. this is one.

We tried to meet up with Aurel, but the weather was too bad in his area. Even sometimes in our. So next day we reached the spanish desert. A favourite place of Aurel. Pics from our crossing of "Bardenas Reales de Navarra".


entry


view


warm


most photographed


in the middle


far to go


wow


rain shows up


impressiv

We had a great time there. So next was to go in small steps to "Jaca-area" - "Sort-Area" and of course "Castellbo".
Next set of pictures taken between Bardenas and Campo.


Uncastillo


more Flora


Mallos de Riglos


typical fun sports


Mallos from other side


breathtaking "San Juan de la Pena"


Geologists love this


I love this view


some towns are empty since a while


snow - still a lot for this time of the year


water


other fun sport - Canyoning


near Ainsa

We spent 2 nights in Campo and had a good tour in the area. To Ainsa down to Barbastro and up on the other valley - so much differend locations. Landscape changes so often. Here some pics.


Sierra de Guara


Salinas de Hoz


Graus


down from Barbaruens (we wanted to go off-road, but locals said "too dangerous").

Last small step was to go to Castellbo. The place we spent so many times. It's a small jump to Andorra from there for shopping and filling gas. We know the most tracks in this area. "Mucho aqua" was what we get told first, so some tracks might not be possible. Let's see the pics.


near Espui


Col de Canto - Sort in the Valley


Castellbo - our view


behind Civis - going to Andorra - avoiding border-control


Andorra - going to Ordino

So much tarmac - but, here it is - our off-road-day. Down to Col de Nagro - passing Col de Boixols - going to Tremp - and then crossing Serra de Boumort - End in Organya. Pics please - yes


above Tremp


begin of the Serra


rocks


view


typical curve


at the top


better view


over the top ;-)


the way down


not so wet


Tina is preparing the track


She thinks it is not wet enough, so more please


down in the valley

:-( finally - time to go home - 4 days left, so we are not in a hurry. We get down to Perpignan (in rain and very cold) - followed the Med. Sea - crossed the Camargue - visited the film festival in Cannes for 15 min - passed Monaco - and followed the italian coast to Savona. Next day in Rain up to Milano - Como - St. Moritz and last night in Zernez (Swiss).

Home via Ofenpass - Reschen - Landeck - Fernpass - Garmisch.

Last set of pics:


La Grande Motte


Arles


near Cannes


Indiana Jones - next door - didn't see him


looking down to Monaco


Italy - typical look


last night at the "south"


Zernez


Reschen - lost town.

So - that it was. We hope you enjoyed the pics. If you have any questions regarding this tour - feel free to ask us.

have fun

Andreas + Bettina

Hi,

Beautiful pictures and very nice ride except for the weather !

Phenomenal pictures! Every year we watch the tour de France and it makes me want to go, but man, you pictures inspire more than just 'want' - I think I'll start planning a European trip in 2012 or so. I can't wait to see more of your trip!

Great report and pics. Thanks for sharing. Now you have to visit the desert of Tabernas in Almeria, SE of Spain. I'll be waiting for you.

Thanks for your kind replies.

duhgee: keep me informed - it's worth a visit.

maropa9: yes, you are right. This is a area i've been not so often. Last year i was close. Look at http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238474. ;-)

Fantastic pix......and always good to talk with a fellow Peugeot 403 enthusiast.....pix taken in 1966.......

That is some beautiful country you travelled through. Your pics are excellent! Thanks for the tour.

Fabulous ride report. I have the area around the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau on my list of places to see someday, just because I've claimed Mönch as "my mountain." Beautiful, just beautiful.

--Doug Moench

Wow! Great pictures. Thanks for posting them <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>​

When I was born, my father had a 403. So my first car trip was in a 403...

Spectacular photos!

nice ride u had here !
thanks for showing only the beach of La Grande Motte
this is where I live and I must confess ..... the look of the town is.... special.

Nice shots.... especially the one without helmet
/thierry

Superfotos!!

Another place you should visit is the south of Aragón; the "Maestrazgo". Worth to spend some days exploring it, especially with your bike!

Lovely photos from what looks like a spectacular ride. Thank you for posting them for us to see and dream about...

@ vander: Maestrazgo - have been in Albarracin - close but not in the "real area"

@kktos: you inspired me with your ride-report - traces of kimangao. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319704&highlight=traces (for the others don't know the link)

ok, got some more pics left.


Fernpass - close to home


Rapperswil - Suisse


les Diablerets


for Olirider and funhouse


2 at Col de Port


Oloron Sainte-Marie - close to the Pyrenees


near Roncal


3 big birds - sorry for shaking - no stativ


rice - not in Asia - near Bardenas


2 more - waiting for dead animals


this is fun -- near Ainsa


historic bridge


behind Espui - typical style - watch the roof of the house in front


Col de Canto


for those loving flower pics


another view of La Grande Motte - kktos - watch the alt. 6m below sealevel. ;-)


Flamingos and Salt


Aigues-Mortes


Lake Rose - Senegal ;-) --- no - Southfrance


one more from Arles


even Arles - you know who painted this?


Franken van Gogh


Italy - Imperia

we hope you enjoy our "little extra".

have fun
Andreas + Bettina

Andreas and Bettina strikes again . Love your RR, as always great pics and nice ride , thanks for sharing

Thanks a lot!
Next stike might be Estland, Letland, Lithuania and Finland in August / September. We will see.
Should also go on with "Bavaria, Austria - Reports".
Still have to learn a lot in "making better pics".

Andreas

Andreas,
when u were here:


Les Salines d'Aigues Mortes
you were at 1 minute of the location where Kimangao took his picts, at the begining of the RR. It's called Pointe de L'espiguette. If you dont know the place, next time u'll here, I'll show you
And your bilder are wunderbar.
/thierry