Bardenas Reales ......

No guests for a few days, so we took the opportunity to have a couple of days away in our VW Campervan.  Phil had heard of the semi desert area in the Navarre region of Spain and it looked like an interesting place to visit.  All packed, dogs ready (Buster waiting patiently), we set off!

Somport Valley

We took the easy option to cross the Pyrenees using the Somport Tunnel which lead us to Pamplona and then south to Bardenas Realas Natural Park. We visited the information centre only to be told that the Park was shutting in half an hour and did not allow camping so we set off to a town nearby where we where told campers were allowed. It turned out to be the car park of the sports centre but that suited us well for that night.

Somport Valley

Bardenas Reales

After a quiet night we made an early start for the desert area and were rewarded with a fine sunny day with very few other visitors.

Bardenas Reales

Bardenas Reales

Bardenas Reales

Here is Phil searching for fossils in the rock.

Beautiful wild flower meadow

Ride out to Col du Tourmalet

Leaving the village overcast we went in search of some sun!

The cloud was low in the mountains and we wondered if we would be able to climb out of it on Tourmalet, but we were not sure how far we would get up the pass.  As it turned out not very far, the road was only partially clear 1km out of La Mongie, although we had to ride round the 'Route Barree' sign.  However we did manage to get above the cloud line and find some sun and much needed warmth.

On the way back down we stopped to look at an avalanche which had a stream flowing from beneath it.

Trimming .....

Yesterday was devoted to tidying up the courtyard at Pyrenees Motorcycle Tours.  Phil was up the ladder taking out the dead leaves of the palm tree, earlier he was repainting the front doors in glorious sunshine - 25 degress!

Quote "Best biking day ever"!

What a beautiful day for a ride out!  With temperatures in the low 20's in the valley, dipping down to about 10 in the high mountains.

The scenery is just breathtaking at this time of year with the snow still on the mountains, sun shinning, wild flowers in the meadows, streams in full flow with the snow melt, roads are dry and clean and barely any traffic.

There were 6 of us in total, Doug on his Triumph Bonneville T100, Martin and Barry both had Triumph 1050 Tigers, local boy Ken on the KTM 990SM, Sarah out on her Honda Hornet for the first time this year and Phil on his Triumph 955i Tiger.  They left Chez Bouillon at 9.30am heading for Col d'Aspin.  The chosen route was a loop into Spain which has just about everything from amazing views of deep gorges to sweeping bends.

They didn't get back until 8pm, so a long day for all in the saddle, a quote from Martin 'BEST BIKING DAY EVER'!

  

The rain has gone and Chez Bouillon is basking in glorious sunshine, long may it last :)  Harry has just managed to get in on the picture!

Phil, Rob and Luke enjoying a cold beer in La Rochelle:)  Looks cold there too!

This morning our guests that had been staying with us the previous 3 nights prepared to leave, all going in different directions; Steve and Julie going to Spain, Nick and Julie the Millau Bridge, Rob and Luke headed north to La Rochelle joined by Phil (Ross) who stayed with us last night in the Gite.

After waving bye bye to them all we started cleaning the house from top to bottom getting every thing ready for our next  visitors who arrive Thursday, father and two sons.