Author Topic: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland  (Read 3627 times)

fram

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« on: July 21, 2017, 05:51:36 pm »
APRIL:  Inverness airport after much preparation and planning.  Mrs Fram's bike was fine but mine wouldn't go through the X ray machine, so the front wheel had to come off at the last moment.  Easy-jet were great with the bikes - not a mark on the packages.  It seemed a shame to have to discard all the wrapping etc at Bristol airport.



En route to Plymouth:



MAY,  Santander from the Somo ferry:



Beautiful Basque country:

Zubieta hostel to ourselves:

Wonderful dance festival in St Jean Pied de Port:

We roughly followed a Camino route North-east towards the Loire.

In the Dordogne:

We joined Eurovelo 6 at Nevers:

Most French campsites were very welcoming.   A small municipal site had just opened for the season between the Rhône/Rhine canal and the river Doubs near Orchamps:

Entering Besançon through the canal tunnel:

We left the lovely route 6 after Mulhouse because we were ultimately heading to Strasbourg after a wander along the wine route and the odd hill climb in the Vosges foothills.




Joining Eurovelo route 5 at Strasbourg:

We followed the Sarre/Saar into Germany, then joined the Mosel (Moselle).
Mosel vineyards:

Joining the Rhine (Eurovelo15) at Koblenz:

Cologne cathedral:

Approaching Hook of Holland:

Bike parking in Amsterdam:

Crossing the Tweed (again) on Sustrans route 1

Approaching Edinburgh:


We then followed route 1, route 775, route 77 and finally route 7 home.
A lovely trip.
« Last Edit: July 24, 2017, 04:09:50 pm by fram »

lewis noble

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 566
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2017, 06:34:22 pm »
Brilliant photos, and a good trip!  Raining in Edinburgh I see . . . .

Thanks
 

fram

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2017, 07:38:34 pm »
Thanks.  The Scottish Borders were particularly wet, so our longest café stop in the 11 weeks we were away was in at the Greenhouse Café in Melrose.  Wondered how the Sustrans routes would seem after mainland Europe and I'm pleased to say they were very good:  well planned, scenic, much better surfaces than the worst (in Germany) and we only got a bit lost (Dunfermline-a common problem apparently).  It was unfortunate that the campsite at Kelso indicated on two maps and Google turned out to be retirement chalets.  The campsites at Innerleithen and Dunkeld were lovely and welcoming.
2809 miles by the way.

jags

  • Guest
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2017, 08:02:08 pm »
Class 8)

sg37409

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 166
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2017, 09:45:34 am »
Excellent

fram

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2017, 04:34:28 pm »
Thank you - the "retirement" trip has delayed those "What do I do now?" moments!  Before hitting my retirement date and heading off I considered starting a "crazyguyona..." journal, as colleagues had said they'd like to follow our journey; but I simply set up a Facebook page instead, which was quick and easy to use as we travelled.  If you're interested, it's Highland Pedallers.

jags

  • Guest
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2017, 07:29:53 pm »
i will check that out later ,looks like you guys had a fantastic tour well done .
where too next.

jags.

Matt2matt2002

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1893
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2017, 02:40:17 pm »
Hi Fran
Great to read about your trip
I did crazy G and a Facebook group.
Crazy for the cycle touring friends and FaceB for friends.
Covered both bases.
Never drink and drive. You may hit a bump  and spill your drink

bikerwaser

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 110
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2017, 07:41:17 pm »
Great Photos. Thanks for sharing !


fram

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Re: Scotland-Santander-Strasbourg-Scotland
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2017, 10:14:33 pm »
You're very welcome.  Thank you.  We're still at the "How do we follow that?" stage, Jags, so only vague ideas.  "Chapeau" Matt!  I only just managed the Facebook posts while we were away.  Maybe a retrospective write up on Crazy Guy over the long winter nights, if that's possible on that site; but the memory's fading already...