After the success of our 2006 motorcycle tour to Chamonix Mont-Blanc we set about planning a follow-up. For our second outing we decided to move venues from the Western Alps to the Pyrenees, specifically the Pyrenees-Atlantiques and the Hautes-Pyrenees. Also, on the back of last years success the rider numbers were up from 5 to 8. The increased numbers made it tricky to agree start and end dates as some had time restraints and others didn't. The answer presented itself in the form of two start dates. The "Millau" group would start on the Sunday. The "Santander" group would start the following Wednesday. We'd all meet up somewhere in the Pyrenees on the Thursday and return home the following Tuesday.

 

The Millau riders - Pete, Kyle and Cat - would catch the Sunday night Portsmouth-Caen ferry and ride down to Millau the following day. Their first night would be spent at Hotel du Commerce in the centre of Millau. From there they'd ride to Sorede, near the coastal town of Collioure, and spend a couple of nights at Hotel Saint Jacques. This would include a day off to celebrate Cat's 40th birthday. On the Thursday they would ride to Urdos, located on the route du Col du Somport, to meet up with the others.

 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday the Santander riders - Chris B, Phil, Chris P, Gaz and Mark - would catch the midday Plymouth-Santander ferry, arriving in Spain the following morning. From Santander they'd ride to Urdos where hopefully everyone would meet up at Hotel des Voyageurs.

 

From Urdos we'd all ride to St. Lary where we'd booked to stay at Auberge de l'Isard for a couple of nights. From there we'd head to Esterencuby where we'd stay at Hotel des Sources de la Nive - an incredibly biker unfriendly hotel - for our final night. The following morning we'd ride to Santander to catch the ferry back to Plymouth, arriving in Plymouth on Tuesday morning - hopefully together...

 

For our second tour the riders were Chris B on his BMW K1200RS, Pete on his Honda Blackbird, Kyle on his Suzuki SV1000S, Phil on his BMW K1200S, Cat on his Honda VFR800, Chris P on his Honda Fireblade, Gaz on his Honda Blackbird and Mark on his Pan European.

 

 

The trip would be 8 riders, 7-10 days, 17 mountain passes and roads, and 2,569 miles for the Millau riders and 1,627 miles for the Santander riders.