Hello and FYYFF, the second longer tour on our BMW Gummikuh took us to spain in 2016. As we reached the wonderful Pyrenees, we started to follow the Camino de Santiago on the north route and back on the central route. Camino de Santiago? More Info here -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_de_Santiago -- In 2017 more than 300 000 people reached Santiago de Compostela. If you start in France it is a nice 800 km walk. Here's an overview of our tour - to give you an idea. So let's start - as somebody said years ago - this thread is nothing without pics. Every log tour starts with a "start-pic". First part is making km - but we went on small roads along the alps, crossed black forest in the south and entered the highway in France. We passed Clermont Ferrand and went to Bordeaux. Terrasson - very nice town - Impressions near the river flowers and old town blue, withe, red (and green) bridge swan explore We moved on and reached the Atlantic. We placed our tent at Mimizan. Camping Mimizan (Camping Mimizan plage was complet) Near the Camping we found a very beautyful "way of flowers" and a lake. Lets see. Mimizan lake lake Promenade Fleurie Flower we also found 3 of these ones End of lake typical view in this area named "Landes" so we went on to reach Spain. Bayonne, Biaritz, Border -- direction San Sebastian. We followed the Coast. (not on Highway) Impressions of the Biskay beach near Zarautz and we found the first .... Vulture look, look, they are there. small detail on a wall nearby. in August north spain is very crowded. The Spanish people spent their holidays in the "colder" north. take a swim old town on the way to Santander crossing rivers "rias". Then we left the coast and went into the "Picos de Europa". first view. nice road deeper into the Picos find the vultures in this pic. nice work by nature Mountain ok -- next -- more vultures. or pilgirms, or ... to be continued have fun Andreas
so - let's go on with vultures? pilgrims? It's Tina - looking for.... Vulture. - Very cool ones. Sitting in the sun, spreading their wings. a dead mine nearby let the sun shine in hey - something is comming the police came - all birds gone away, but ... 2 min later ... police gone - bandada de buitres back. -- maybe the think - "fuck the p..." ;-) we went on to the heart of the picos de Europa near Potes monument of a bear Fuente de Tina is looking for .... no, not what you think - she looks for the cable some years ago we've been up there with our Africa Twin - is no longer allowed to go up by moto huge cloud in a old small town near between Fuente de and Potes was cold here puerto San Glorio close to Cares valley leaving picos - going west Riano going more west easy off road near Puerto San Isidro into a ski resort high mountain road Embalse de Casares landscape changes often Embalse de los barros de luna nice modern bridge going north again, near Cangas del Narcea other view Embalse de Salime following this river for many km to reach the sea again along the coast going west. Camino de Santiago nearby. Cantabrian coast still followed the coast until Viveiro breaking the waves near Viveiro Viveiro close to our Hotel from Viveiro we went south-west and reached the target. Santiago place before the church It started raining, and we went on our way back home. The way back followed now the main ... Camino de Santiago. We saw pilgrims every day - sometimes it was difficult to find a room -- when you need a Hostal - you should leave the main route for some km. so -- in the next part we will write about ... pilgrims?, vultures? pilgirms? bikes? Tina? have fun Andreas
and on we go. Tour-outline for the way back -- Santiago de Compostela - Orense - Ponferrada - Astorga - Leon - Palencia - Logrono - Pamplona - Roncesvalles (Startpoint in spain for many pilgrims). enough reading - here are the pics. Ponferrada Church pilgrims ?? mirror between Ponferrada and Astorga you cross higher mountains. some cursader wait here for the pilgrims a few km later - highest point of the part - easy with bike, hard if you walk info more info hard to get lost criticism give aways look down dir. Astorga art near the road sunflowers Astorga gift shop main church broad land very broad Palencia also Palencia Palenzuela Cool birds on a farm totaly crazy 3 m span Santo Domingo de Silos for a short break you know this bird? the boss of the valley fossilized trees of Hacinas Hacinas where are the curves? lake close to the Pyrenees Roncesvalles - one just started his walk - it's motivating to see only 790 km left. ok - here we left the Camino de Santiago and went into the Pyrenees. So still one more to come next -- no pilgrims -- vultures - ... to be continued. have fun Andreas
Now let's go into the Pyrenees. First let's have a look at some .... birds. good explained more and a real one. All seen in a valley near Lumbier, not far away from Embalse de Yesa. Changeing the region on small roads into Valle de Roncal. In this area we saw vultures the first time round 20 years ago. they are still here sometimes close to us, sometimes a bit away. find the one in this pic Huge beautyful anyway impressiv Tina found more some easy off road near Torla, at the famous Ordessa Nat. Park from here only walking or cool your feed in the river always good info in spain Bujaruelo, also the name of our hotel in Torla so much things to see way down easy offroad - but not much - road block at the national park near Fanlo last look dir. Torla you find often little towns where all people have gone. easy off road from Chia to Plan easy to ride a bit shadow for a short brake still we have ... observer La Pobla de Segur Camping Castellbo -- we stay there since more than 25 years. Castellbo most times cold water. we know the most gravel roads in this area view the other typ of animals we love to find - horses Leaving Castellbo to reach home we went south dir. Prades. berries Perpignan - Nimes - than we decided to stay at the Med. sea. -- enjoying french coffee and Croisants short break at the highway french info above Monaco watch the rich ferry to .. ? Following the coast till Genova impressions as you all know -- German beach outfit sometimes you are very close to the Med. Italian coast Savona - here you also can take a ferry to Corse, or Sardinia So -- check our last day -- South tyrol - apple region back in the crowded alps - for a small ATIC-Meeting (we meet our Africa Twin friends in Arsie) dolomites -- Passo Manghen Bike point near the top of the pass passo di Lavaze -- on to Sterzing - Passo Brennero -- Mittenwald -- Kochel and finaly -- at the Geramn Camino de Santiago (close to our home) back home. Hope you all enjoyed our little report. have fun Andreas
