Protected: Mountains all the way – tour Information page

Introduction Firstly we would like to thank you for choosing to book your holiday with Overland Motorcycle Tours. Self-guided tours and guided tours Please note that the information on this page has been written for both our Self-guided tour and guided tours. Please, please, please make the effort to read all the following information thoroughly and make sure you understand and have digested everything if you have any questions after please get in touch with us as soon as possible.Naturally, our ultimate goal is for everybody to enjoy the tour as much as possible so some of the below points may seem a little harsh - But please remember this is a group tour, so everybody needs to look after each other, remain safe and be considerate to other members in the group. Basic French road signs Riding on the continent need not be a daunting prospect. Here you will find some practical advice and useful information including the sometimes confusing Priorite a Droit rule that is unique to France. It is very difficult to find a definitive answer to the new laws in France, the information below is only a guide. We are only including the French part as their rules often get misunderstood, it’s not practical for us to give you rules for every country, so please do your own research. Please note: It is your responsibility to know and obey the rules of the road in each country we visit. The above sign is unique to France. It means at the next junction, which is not necessarily a crossroads, priority is to the right (priorité à droite). The sign applies only to the upcoming junction, which will usually be within the next 100 to 150m. At this type of junction, there are no road markings and an approaching vehicle must give way to a vehicle on its right. So you must give way to traffic entering ‘your’ road from a minor road on the right. You are probably thinking that’s bonkers! And to be honest it is, but it’s the rules of the road in France. The motorists in France are generally very bike-friendly and they will often give way to you in such a situation. But this can’t be taken for granted and in the event of a collision via this scenario it will be legally your fault. The above sign means the opposite of the above, it tells you that at the next junction, again not necessarily a crossroads, you the main road traffic have priority (passage protégé). The minor roads at this type of junction will have road markings and Give Way signs with the legend CEDEZ LE PASSAGE, or octagonal STOP signs. The above sign will often be seen as you enter a town. From here on, priorité à droite applies at all junctions. Its use is increasing in French cities because it calms traffic and promotes caution at junctions, as an alternative to speed bumps. In urban riding, you must be constantly aware of the need to give way to traffic entering from the right. Keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you and its nothing to worry about. The above sign will be seen on main roads at the exit from a town, indicating that from here onwards the main road traffic has priority. he above sign (cedez le passage) you may see on the approach to a roundabout, it means you must give way to traffic on the roundabout. If you do not see this sign, you have the right of way and traffic on the roundabout must give way to you. (Although I would always proceed with caution and never take for granted that the traffic will give way). You may also see this sign on main roads, it means you must give way to a smaller minor turning. France - unfortunately, the French keep changing the rules regarding motorcycle riding so we have included a link with a bit more info. French info link here The drop off system - marking system explained When following the tour guide or riding as a group we use a 2nd man drop-off marking system If you are unsure how this works please read – MORE INFO HERE Your responsibilities and our assumptions Our tours are based around group riding so you need to look after each other by marking junctions, riding safely, being tolerant of each other and sometimes having a little patience with less experienced riders.As described we naturally assume that you have read all the relevant information on the website including the tour itinerary and made the judgment that the tour is suitable for both rider and pillion. We assume that you are fully aware of the route, destinations, approximate mileage, types of roads and will have made the judgment that it is an appropriate tour for your experience level and ability. It’s impossible for us to ‘vet’ a rider before meeting them and despite our very best efforts to describe and grade our tours the best we can, we do occasionally get riders book on a tour that is totally inappropriate to their riding experience and abilities. If you haven’t read the tour itinerary and haven’t read the website and been honest about your own ability/experience then I’m afraid we cannot be held responsible if you are ‘out of your depth’ with the types of roads and daily mileages. We expect you to be a competent and proficient bike rider and know how to ride a motorcycle and be in full control of your machine at all times after all this is a motorcycle tour, we are not a training school and the safety of the group is our priority. It would be totally irresponsible of us to allow a dangerous or incompetent rider to continue to ride within the group. This does not mean you have to be a ‘fast’ rider, it simply means you have to be able to ride a motorcycle properly and safely whilst still making progress and without riding dangerously below the recognized speed limits. In exceptional circumstances, we do have to ask people to ride separately from the main group. If we feel the need to ask you to ride separately there is no point taking it personally, it is certainly not intended that way. It does not mean you will be excluded from the social aspect of the tour in the evenings or that you can’t still enjoy the tour - Remember the tour is what you make of it! We have to reserve the right to ask members to leave the group for the safety and overall enjoyment of the tour. We believe we cater for an extremely large-scale of different abilities and experience levels. However, we cannot cater for ‘extreme cases’ of bad riding, for people who aren’t making progress and riding dangerously below the recognized speed limits or for people who have simply not read the tour itinerary and made the correct judgment the tour is suitable to them. That is why we provide comprehensive GPS data and maps of the route, it makes self-navigation easy.Some people actually choose to ride separately from the main group. We will always be on hand to give advice and encourage anybody who wishes to ride separately, either alone or as part of a smaller independent group to do so. This method actually suits some people better because you can ride entirely at your own pace, stop more frequently and explore on your own terms – Even turn around and ride a particularly good stretch of road again! (Why not!?) If you cannot keep pace with the main group or if we deem your riding to be incompetent, unsafe or if you’re simply not making satisfactory progress then in accordance with our terms and conditions we reserve the right at our absolute discretion to ask you to leave the group and ride separately. Getting stopped by the Police In Europe:- The Police do occasionally make spot checks and will usually only want to see your documents and may occasionally ask you to take a breath test. Please remember that the drink-drive limit is lower than in the UK. Speed limits Please obey the speed limits in the towns, villages and restricted areas. As foreign motorcyclists, we always get a fantastic reception from the locals in all the countries we visit and we want to ensure this continues. So please keep your speed down in built-up areas, but don’t worry there will be plenty of opportunities to explore your bike's capabilities and have some fun! Furthermore, if there is a Police presence they will generally be located in the populated areas.If you get caught speeding there is no point in arguing. It will probably make matters worse and increase the on the spot fine. Usual costs are between £60 and £100 but at least you don’t get points on your license! Documents you must carry at all times whilst riding 1) Passport2) V5 Vehicle Registration document (The original copy and in your own name)3) Motorcycle Insurance details (Don’t forget to tell your insurance company you are traveling in Europe)4) Driving Licence (Both parts if applicable)5) Personal Travel Insurance details (Including the emergency number)6) Breakdown cover details (Included the emergency number)7) EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)8) It’s always a good idea to carry photocopies of your passports back page and other documents and carry them separately from your main paperwork. It can save a lot of grief at customs or with the Police if the worst should happen and you lose the originals.9) Carry a note with your driving license of any allergies you may have and any medication you take in Latin.10) If you have any dietary allergies bring a translation in each language that you can show to the chef in a restaurant etc.11) Program the tour leader’s mobile number into your phone beforehand, the number can be found on the tour PDF.12) Don’t forget to always carry the hotel details with you. Your bike insurance Don’t forget to let your insurance company know you are traveling in Europe. It is in almost every insurance policy’s terms & conditions that you are required to notify them if you intend to travel to Europe, neglecting to do so may compromise any claims you may need to make. Travel Insurance, breakdown insurance cover & repatriation Please remember that it is a condition of participation in any of our tours that you hold valid and adequate breakdown/ recovery insurance which will include repatriation of you, your pillion (if applicable) and your motorcycle. Participants must also arrange adequate personal and medical travel insurance to cover treatment and repatriation in the event of accident/illness and also, cancelation cover. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR INSURANCE INCLUDES REPATRIATION COVER FOR ACCIDENTS AND NOT JUST BREAKDOWNS FOR BOTH YOU, YOUR PILLION, AND YOUR MOTORCYCLE. Credit/debit cards A lot of petrol stations on the continent are unmanned and only accept credit/debit cards. So you should carry either and make sure you notify your bank you are traveling abroad. It’s also a good idea to make sure your mobile phone works abroad. If unsure check with your provider. Suggested kit list The best advice is to pack light, you won’t need half the things you think you need. Most people bring way too much with them and end up with a heavy and cumbersome bike. This obviously affects the handling of your bike and also the maneuverability, especially at slow speeds. (which is often the cause of slow speed drops whilst turning around etc)We have compiled a brief list below: 1) Leathers or textile protective clothing: Preferably two-piece.2) Helmet (tinted visors are fine – we don’t ride in the dark (usually!)3) Sunscreen / Insect repellent4) Toiletries (Hotels provide soap/shampoo)5) Motorcycle waterproofs / spare gloves6) Evening wear – Jeans, casual trousers, T-shirts etc. No formal wear is required. (Remember pack light, you won’t need as many clothes as you think)7) Jumper/fleece, light waterproof jacket etc8) Light shoes, trainers, flip-flops etc9) Some basic painkillers and any prescription drugs you may take.10) Antihistamines if you suffer from hay fever / Allergies11) Travel plug12) Money, credit cards, mobile phone etc13) Bring a Map (& Satnav if you have one)14) Tea bags (If you drink tea you rarely get ‘Yorkshire Tea’ on the Continent)15) Snacks are always a good idea – especially if you’re diabeticAgain we emphasize to pack light – Just because you have a top box and panniers doesn’t mean you have to fill them up! Bike bits 1) You should display a GB sticker on the rear of your motorcycle.2) spare bulbs for your motorcycle.3) Each person is required to carry a Reflective hi-viz vest (you do not have to wear this)4) Panniers, tank bag, rucksack etc5) Good quality motorcycle lock and chain6) A small helmet lock can be useful.7) Chain Lube (if Required)8) Spare fuses9) A very basic tool kit for adjusting your chain etc10) Spare keys for your bike/ Panniers and any disc locks/Chains etc11) Oil for your bike (Remember your bike may burn more oil than normal on this kind of journey)12) A spare battery for the alarm fob (if you have an alarm)13) Puncture repair kit.14) We always base our fuel stops around the bike with the smallest tank range in the group, however, if you have a particularly small tank range – Say under 120 miles it is a good idea to keep a 2-meter long piece of clear tubing under your seat. If the worst were to happen you can always borrow a few liters of fuel from a bike with a larger tank. Tyre's - Puncture repair kits We strongly urge you to carry a puncture repair kit. Punctures are by far the most common cause of motorbike breakdowns, so it makes sense to carry a simple get you home puncture repair kit, especially if you don't want to face a long delay. The best repair kits include pliers to pull out nails, clean and seal the hole, and CO2 cylinders to re-inflate your Tyre. These can be purchased from e-bay or any decent motorcycle shop for around £15.00. A small price to pay to save a lot of grief! Bike preparation This may be stating the obvious but you need to make sure your bike is serviced up and in tip-top condition. You need to make sure the tires, brake pads, chain, and sprockets, etc have enough life left in them for the duration of the tour. If you are in any doubt replace the worn parts before the tour. Consider that we will (hopefully) be riding on hot abrasive roads so your tires will wear quicker than they do at home commuting to work etc and your brakes will wear faster as we may be riding on steep mountain roads. Bike fitness & Comfort Breaks If you (and pillion if applicable) are not ‘bike fit’ you will struggle on any motorcycle tour. What we mean is if you (and pillion) only ride very occasionally and only for short distances it’s only natural it will come as a shock when you start riding hundreds of miles each day, day after day. So get out there and brush up on your skills on some longer rides before-hand. It’s really not advisable to make an organized motorcycle tour the first time you decide to ride 250+ miles in one day and if you do chances are you are really going to struggle. (Just common sense stuff) Lunch, coffee, petrol stops etc There are many factors affecting our route that may occur, therefore we do not know the exact location and opening times of every café, restaurant, petrol station and toilet location, etc. We normally stop for a coffee in the morning after a couple of hours riding at a place we see open, lunch will be taken between 12 – 2 pm at a place that is suitable and can accommodate the group. We don’t do full sit down lunches in restaurants as they simply take too long, plus that is not always possible in remote areas. The service in restaurants can be very slow and with a group, it swallows up 2 or 3 hours of the day. So instead we use local bakers and Pâtisserie’s, or possibly just eat a sandwich or snack during a fuel stop. Whatever happens, we will not see you go hungry, we like our food too.However, if you have a medical condition that requires you to eat regularly (such as diabetes) it is highly advisable to bring some snacks with you. It can sometimes be difficult to find snacks etc in remote places especially in France on Sunday’s – Nothings open! Petrol stops will naturally be taken around the bike in the group with the smallest tank and so on. Currency The easiest thing to do is to bring Euros. It is also a wise idea to bring a credit/debit card which you can use in an ATM. Do not bother with Travellers Cheques they are difficult to cash. I wouldn’t personally recommend the post office pre-paid Euro credit cards either as they never seem to work! The weather Again come prepared! Just like the UK, the one thing you can’t plan for is the weather. We run our tours at appropriate times of the year where the areas we visit should, in theory, be warm and dry as a rule - BUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! It can and does rain in Europe, even in the summer. If you have booked a tour which includes riding in the mountains (most tours do at some point) then you need to come prepared for just about any kind of weather. The mountains have their own microclimates and at altitude, anything can happen – In rare cases, it can even snow in August! Granted this is extremely rare, but again just like the UK the weather can throw all sorts of unexpected conditions at you, so pack accordingly. What happens if it rains? When it rains you will get wet! It’s as simple as that I’m afraid. Braving the elements is part of motorcycling – You may not ‘choose’ to ride in the rain whilst at home, but when on tour you have no option as we have the next night’s accommodation booked. Obviously, if it’s just a ride out day returning back to the same hotel you have the option to choose.As a rule of thumb, the tour leader would not change or deviate from the route if it's raining. So if you wanted to go directly to the hotel along the motorway etc then you would be required to make your own way and meet at the hotel. However, if the tour leader deemed the weather conditions to be severe they may change the route for the safety of the group at their discretion. Again we politely remind you that you always have the freedom to choose your own route. Accidents In the event of an accident, the tour leader will take the appropriate action – This may mean that the tour has to continue un-guided until the appropriate measures have been taken. However, the tour leader will continue guiding the tour as quickly as possible and your patience and understanding will be appreciated. Beer/alcohol at lunchtimes It’s not advisable to drink beer at lunchtimes no matter how tempting it may be, as previously mentioned the drink-drive limit in Europe is much lower than in the UK. Also, you are riding within a group so the other members of the group may not be comfortable with you drinking a beer, even if it’s a half. If you insist on drinking beer at lunchtimes please don’t be offended when we ask you to ride alone. Daily start times We normally set off from each hotel between 8.00am – 9.00am (you will be advised the exact start time each day by the tour guide). You should have done any safety checks, oil checks, adjusted your chain, etc and have already fitted your luggage to the bike, given your hotel room key back to reception and are on the bike ready to go on time. If you are late please do not expect the group or tour leader to wait for you. It’s unfair to keep a group of people waiting because you can’t get out of bed in the morning! Sorry if that sounds harsh, but remember it’s a group tour so we can’t all wait for you. Hotel standards We believe our tours to be some of the most keenly priced on the market, we use a mixture of hotels. We choose our hotels with bike security, location, cleanliness, comfort, and facilities in mind. Please be aware that the hotel standards will vary depending on location – Just like the UK some areas/cities are simply more expensive to stay in than others.A very high percentage of our customers are pleasantly surprised by the standard of accommodation they receive and believe our tours to be a good value for money - we hope you do too. Racial abuse etc We will not tolerate any kind of racial abuse – If you are found to be racially abusing anybody you will be expelled from the tour and left behind it’s as simple as that I’m afraid.We get clients from all walks of life and from all types of race, color, and creed. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding any type of abuse. Any form of threatening behavior, verbal, racial or physical abuse against another member of the group or to the tour leader will result in you being kicked off the tour, no refund will be given. A general note about the tour itinerary and routes Guiding a group of bikes across Europe is not an exact science. Our route, mileages, and destinations are a fair indication of our schedule. However, they are not intended to be absolute statements of fact. Tour mileages are always approximate and changes of the route can occur due to weather conditions, road closures, road works or if some mountain passes remain closed (Plus many other reasons). The tour route itself is flexible and your tour leader may decide to choose an alternative route to reach a destination at their discretion. We are extremely proud of our routes as a lot of time and effort has gone into them. We do not simply travel from A-B, we literally take the ‘scenic route’ on the best motorcycling roads in the area. This means we ride twisty scenic roads whenever possible, we avoid boring straight/flat roads, dual carriageways and motorways as much as time constraints and the terrain allow. If you do not find our routes agreeable then we politely remind you that you have the freedom to select your own route to our destinations should you wish. Please come prepared Although this tour is guided you need to come prepared in case the system does break down and it is your responsibility to ensure you have a Map or Sat Nav with you.You need to be aware that it’s not always possible for the tour leader to come and find you if you get separated from the group. In reality, unless you have only gone wrong by a few miles, or unless we can meet up at some kind of landmark along the way that is well signposted you are going to have to self-navigate to the hotel. Tip: A car sat nav in a waterproof case/tank bag and connected to the battery via a cigarette lighter does exactly the same job as an expensive motorbike sat nav. They can be picked up for less than £70.00 brand new and under £50.00 second hand (eBay). If you own a smartphone you can buy GPS apps/software for your phone – Some even provide free versions and work without a data connection, ie MAPS.ME If you do take a wrong turn and get lost then do one of the following:- 1) If you do become separated from the group then stop and collect your thoughts. Try and give the Tour leader a call. If you don’t get an answer it’s best to send a Whatsapp message. Depending on how far you have gone wrong you may be able to meet up further along the journey. If this isn’t possible then get your maps or sat nav out and plot a route to the evening’s hotel. The chances are that if you do the above, you will come across the group who have probably stopped and re-grouped a few miles up the road. REMEMBER DON’T PANIC – IT’S AN ADVENTURE! 2) If you get lost in a large town or city (usually looking for the hotel) do one of the following: a) Write down the name of the hotel and road it is on with a pen or your phone.b) Find a local and ask them the way or show them the name of the hotel.c) Find a taxi and ask the driver to drive in front and lead you to the hotel. You will have to pay them a fare but in a busy city, this works an absolute treat! 3) Although we HATE motorways, they are sometimes a necessary evil. If you take a wrong turn on the motorway find a safe place to pull off and stop. Have a look at your map or sat nav and make your own way to the hotel. luckily this rarely happens because we seldom use motorways. Maps & GPS coordinates Please remember these routes should not be taken as gospel, they are merely a guide. So please don’t get hung up on exactly where each way-marker is (including the hotel waymarkers) and exactly what road we are on etc. As previously mentioned the itinerary is flexible and the likelihood of us sticking to the exact routes is highly unlikely. There are always many factors to consider such as; road closures, accidents, delays, group ability,weather conditions, plus many other factors. The GPS route files which we will email to you, are in a GPX type file. If you have a sat nav you should be able to load these into your device. These files are digital satellite navigation itinerary files, you will not be able to open or view them on your PC using windows, etc. You need to send them to your Sat Nav via a USB cable/copy to a memory card which fits your device or open them with your GPS software. If for some reason your particular model does not support GPX files, then you are able to convert the GPX files into the relevant type for your particular brand and model of sat nav by using a free ITN converter such as this one:- ITN Converter link here PLEASE NOTE: there is an ever-increasing amount of different make’s and types of sat nav’s on the market and I’m afraid we don’t know how to operate every single one! So, please read the instructions, call the manufacturer's helpline or visit their website for assistance. Following your sat nav – If you wish to ride within the group you need to participate in the marking system. If you follow your sat nav instead of looking out for the markers you may get separated from the group and may cause the entire system to break down. (Sat Nav’s are all different and regularly send you a slightly different way) We kindly ask you not share the GPX files and tour information, as we have spent a lot of time and effort reccying routes, and also many hours putting together the GPX files and tour information for your convenience. Please also note the files are tagged. GPS Settings and Avoidances We recommend for this tour that you set your unit (if the settings allow) to avoid unpaved roads and toll roads (unless you are riding with a guide and told differently or we need to use a toll road in case of bad weather or re-set to go directly to the hotel). We also recommend setting the unit to do a u-turn instead of recalculating (again if the settings allow) the reason for this is if you have made a mistake without noticing! you could end up on a long detour. Obviously please find a safe place to turn around if you need to, even if means going a couple of miles out of the way! Interactive maps Below you will find the full interactive maps via Google maps of the entire tour which you can zoom in and out plus toggle around etc, just click on the links you can’t break them so have a play. You are also able to view the maps in terrain, Google Earth and satellite format. As with the GPS data please remember these are merely a guide. So please don’t get hung up on exactly where each way-marker is etc. Day 1 Santander to Aguilar de Campoo Extra notes - in case of bad weather or if you are short of time we would recommend using the GPX route 1B which avoids the Pots n Pans route over the mountain pass. The google maps link below is route 1A which inc Pots n Pans. When you reach the top of the pass there's a small road on the right which leads to a viewpoint its also on the GPX file (Please send us a photo) Day 1 map link Day 2 Aguilar de Campoo to Pamplona Day 2 map link Day 3 Pamplona to Lourdes Day 3 map link Day 4 Lourdes to Sort Day 4 map link Day 5 Either enjoy a day off or please find below a Route from Sort along some of our favorite roads. Day 5 map link Day 6 Sort to Jaca Extra note- after leaving Sort you will go through Tremp then Puente de Montañana. Just after Puente de Montañana, There is a turning into the old village of Montañana (see .gpx files or google link below) if you like old villages its worth a stop. After leaving the village we normally head back to Puente de Montañana (right turn onto the main road) for coffee. Day 6 map link Day 7 Jaca to Vitoria-Gasteiz Extra Note - The narrow road after the small village of Anso is asphalted but in need of repair/resurfacing for a couple of miles. From Jaca its 58km / 35miles to Anso. It's worth sticking with as it's been resurfaced after reaching the top. Day 7 map link Day 8 Vitoria-Gasteiz to Santander Day 8 map link Important - before departure, we will send out via email the sat-nav GPX routes and tour PDF. Please print the PDF information (or save the PDF to your phone) and bring it with you as it contains the hotel locations, tour guide telephone number and crossing times. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.We look forward to meeting you soonRubber side down!The Team @ Overland Motorcycle Tours (c) Overland Motorcycle Tours