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Italy, France, Andorra, Spain, Portugal [ride report]

Daniel Kalal

Cruisin' Guzzisti
Joined
Oct 28, 2008
Messages
301
Location
Kansas
This would be a twelve-day riding trip from Mandello del Lario, Italy to Portugal and back. That's not enough time to be too casual about mileage each day, but it's still enough to see plenty of things.

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I stayed two nights in Lecco before starting the trip from Mandello del Lario.
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with a side-trip to Bellagio
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Of course, I'd be riding a Moto Guzzi. A Stelvio.
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Italy farm house
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Colle della Maddlena is an easy pass in Italy (crossing to France).
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Dropping into France
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Barcelonnette for the night
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Many terrific roads
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Vineyards? Of course.
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typical French countryside.
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Pont-Saint-Esprit
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Aduze.
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Le Vigan
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'

La Cavalerie
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Saint-Affrique
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I didn't care for the rain, but these roads are stunningly good.
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Alet-les-Bains
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The back road to Andorra was fun. Most traffic is elsewhere on a road not nearly as interesting.
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Canillo, Andorra. Plenty of rain.
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Off the main road in Spain
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Soriguera
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When no longer than this, these tunnels left with natural walls are not a problem. But, when they are much longer, they can be disorienting. The best tunnels have white walls, good lighting, and ideally, some sort of reference points along the sides (either a painted stripe or reflectors).
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Barbastro
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It's true. The rains in Spain do fall mainly in the plains…
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Torro
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Portugal roads are nice.
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Praia de Mira
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Arganil
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Alcantara, Spain
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Sometimes the long travel of the Stelvio was really needed.
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As I said. Spanish roads are terrific.
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l'Hospitalet del l'infant
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Beaucaire, France
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Barley, I believe.
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Soon the lavender will be in bloom.
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Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
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Saint-Lautent-du-Var
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Nice
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Monte Carlo
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inland from Albisola
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Alessandria
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The River Po
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Serina
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interesting little roads between bergamo and lake como.
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Bellano and Lake Como
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And back in Mandello del Lario
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Great....and I've just booked my annual trip to Spain & Portugal so your photos have got me chomping at the bit. Can't wait!
 
Gotta love those roads with the overhanging cliffs.
Reminds me of the time when driving down from the Causses in the Massif Central and seeing a very large RV going up the road in the opposite direction. The RV driver was absolutely panicked! You could see everything through his big window. His eyes were bulging out, and knuckles completely white. His wife was walking in front checking for clearance trying to avoid the overhang. He didn't know, but it was worse further up the road. :sick: :sick:
There was no place to turn around or pull over and backing down would have been "interesting"
We still wonder to this day weather he made it or not. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Your images are wonderful and full of memories. The Tarn and Massif Central are little visited by most Americans.
 
Beautiful Daniel, thanks for the ride along.
 
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