Lee's route is 1,400 kms, which equates to 880 miles.
At your preferred daily mileage of 200 to 250 miles, it will take between 4.5 and 3.5 days to complete. It fits with your plans, whilst hopefully demonstrating how large France is.
It only took 39 posts. Not a record but not bad just the same. Lose 15 biker bonus points for not mentioning the Millau bridge in the same breath.
Now, what about the dude's (to coin the usual expression) return journey?
Looks like between, you, Arsey, RiDE, Michelin maps, Google maps, Garmin and me the job's complete.
Let's await the trip report.
Most of all have a really great time whatever way you go.
It'd be a shame to miss out on the Cantal mountains and Puy Mary (where I had an impossibly big tranche of bilberry tart from the cafe) either coming or going. Lovely roads and scenery. Plenty of campings too,
I know I will, but I am bricking it really, thinking of going through passes, two up and loaded with luggage, I've not had much experience in these circumstances. Otherwise I'll be having a great time. I've done mountain passes last year for the very first time on my GS and was bricking it then, but came out with a grin on my face and in one piece. Two up is all together different thing, but I'm sure "fat cow" GSA will be fine.
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I know I will, but I am bricking it really, thinking of going through passes, two up and loaded with luggage, I've not had much experience in these circumstances.
but I am bricking it really, thinking of going through passes, two up and loaded with luggage
Then it's easy.... don't do it. The routes recommended by Lee (outwards) and by me (return) will not take you up or across any passes of any significance, so use them.
The highest or even mid-height non-motorway passes will very probably still be shut in May, so unless you can turn your awesome steed into a snow chained four wheel drive or tracked snow plough, you won't be going up them anyway.
You are worried about weight, so drop the tent, cooking apparatus, chairs, sleeping bags, cutlery, roll mats, air beds, hammer to bang tent pegs in with and all the other paraphernalia that one or two nights camping will necessitate. Stop in a cheap or even expensive hotel, where even the most basic does not require you to build your room on arrival and take it down in the morning.
Keep things simple. You are going on a comparatively simple nine day trip across France in spring. Why make it more complicated than it has to be? Why start bricking yourself over something you don't have to do and, if you were to do it properly, cannot do at the time of year you have chosen and / or maybe not within the time frame you've allowed if you want to enjoy yourself with other things.
Great
You are are now cooking on gas, as they say.
Cant tell right now if I am cramming it in but I shall play it by ear. Swimbo suggested we camp odd night if weather is nice. if it is raining it is a non starter. I rather have a lighter luggage when two up, so may deliberately forget the tent at home to save me lugging unnecessary weight about and not use it at the end of the trip.
It'd be a shame to miss out on the Cantal mountains and Puy Mary (where I had an impossibly big tranche of bilberry tart from the cafe) either coming or going. Lovely roads and scenery. Plenty of campings too,
apart from jetboil and a couple of mugs.
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