Spain & Portugal tour prep part 1

So while its an overcast bank holiday and since its getting closer to mine and Lindsay's bike trip away we got together on Saturday to gather around maps and Tyre software to do some planning. The object was to agree on the basic route we will take through Northern Spain, into Portugual and then back into Spain again, formalise where we hope to stay each night and formulate a cost effective Camping/Hotel balance that's agreeable to our budget. This will be the longest bike trip away for me, and really looking forward to getting away from work and getting the bike loaded on the Pont Avon (ship) to Santander, Northern Spain.

Here's the sketch and sum of parts we came up with. Each stopover is listed, with a good mix of cheap hotel vs camp.

This just leaves us to find accommodation, reserve rooms and campsite pitches. Obviously, depending on weather we may change this en-route a little, but the main visits include Santiago de Compastela to see the cathedral there, Porto, in Portugal a Unesco world heritage city, the Duoro valley, and then Segovia to see the Roman Aqueduct, and some other attractions. One the way we hope to ride the best roads we can find. Ride magazines Spain and Europe guides, and Toby Ballentines excellent book 'motorcycle journeys through western Europe' are always a good starting point, so we agreed on the basic routes between the above destinations. Probably a little fine-tuning nearer the time.

That leaves a bit more preparation on the camping front. Recently, I purchased an Adventure Tarp to extend the front of my tent. This will be useful to cook under in the event of rain, and also to shield from the sun too. Basically it's nothing more than a fly sheet that attaches to the front of the tent, being elastic acted it hugs over the front and has a central pole. In the past I have placed two poles through the door eyelets for a makeshift tarp that has been useful, but the rain gathers in the middle, and it's quite short so the pitched tarp will be a much better option. Quite light to carry too. Here's a few pics.