Hacia Cataluña

Once you cross the border from France, the Spanish Pyrenees are a different story. Keen to avoid the Cadi tunnel and its €10 fee, I opted for the winding 50km N-road down to Ripoll, and what a decision... Flawless, wide (mountain road wide) roads wrap right along the ridge of the mountains and mean you can see approaching traffic (nada) a longgggg, long way ahead.  These are roads made for bikes - or bikes are made for these roads?! I can't explain exactly how perfect these roads are but anyone who has ridden them will relate, and if you haven't, do so! The ability to use both lanes and the sharpness of the turns had me, for the first time, wishing to be on a different bike - or atleast a luggage free one. Your confidence soars as you dip left and right across endless corners: I was really pushing the limits of 3" wide tyres and on a particulary tight corner I managed to get a knee down - unfortunately along with the rest of my body and the bike! Somehow the bike came off with not a scratch though still (unlike the rain covers). Highly recommended.

Highlights: N-152

Le chemin le moins fréquenté...

Strange monument in the woods, 

miles from the nearest village or main road.

Enormous derelict chateau along a quiet country road. 

I had the place to myself - In the hour I looked around for, only one car passed by.

Garmin's shortest 'road'

Taking the lesser used road you definitely end up seeing the most interesting things. I did bring with me a GPS however I soon realised it obviously has a tendency to lead you down the fastest, most direct, and therefore generally uninteresting roads available. Changing the settings to 'shortest route' is a good change up and will shortcut you along some great minor roads (on a 125, its not even any slower), however be warned, what the satnav may class as a road may not be exactly what you had in mind! For me, I have found it best to just drive roughly in the right direction, using road signs and taking whichever roads look interesting, only referring to the satnav when really lost - which is surprisingly barely ever!

Size Isn't Everything

Louis and his prized 2011 Aprilia RS50

125cc ain't nuttin' - In Bergerac I came across this guy, who was travelling from Brittany to the Costa del Sol - with plans to ride across North Africa - on a 2-stroke sports 50cc. Apart from the engine overheating and the obvious aching, and headache, that comes from riding it for several hours, he was confident of its touring ability (especially its advantage through towns) and more concerned with the risk of it being nicked. Its not the bike, its where you go on it...