CW ‘Riderclub’ Summer Tour 2010

Spain and France 27th June to 9th July

At time of writing (January 2010) we still have a few places left on our 26th annual summer tour.

This hotel-based tour starts in Spain and progresses back through France.

The cost of the tour includes hotel accommodation with breakfast, evening meals where stated, accompanying service vehicle and ferry fares.

Most of the time we’ll be staying half-board in the hotels, and on those nights wine and coffee is included with the evening meals. There are a few nights during the tour where you will have the option of eating in the hotel or eating out in one of the many bistros or restaurants on offer close by, full details are given in the ‘Itinerary’ section below. We’ve chosen all the hotels for their quality and great locations, and all of them are air-conditioned.

Our tours are accompanied by a back-up van with some spares, tyres, oils and a spare bike (insured ‘any rider’) in case anyone has a problem.


The four hotel locations on the Tour are as follows:

Sos del Rey Catolico
Our first hotel will be the Parador at Sos del Rey Catlolico in the Spanish Pyrenees, south east of Pamplona.

We visited here a couple of years ago but only for two nights, and that wasn’t enough to properly explore some of the fantastic roads in the area.  For our 2010 Tour I’ve booked us in at Sos for three nights. I’ll be leading an optional ride to St Jean Pied de Port on one of the free days, and I’d also like to have a look at Pamplona. I’ve often been past it but never had time to explore.

Sos is a beautiful medieval fortified village, quite a large village, and unusually for Spain it remains mostly unspoilt by modern development. It is one of the so-called ‘five villages’ – hilltop villages built with complex street layouts on steeply rising ground, especially designed to confuse attackers and always give defenders the advantage. In fact the street layout of Sos is so complicated you will be advised to take a map with you or you won’t easily find your way back to the Parador. There are a couple of interesting bars and eateries in the town in which to pass some time. This is very much ‘unspoilt Spain’ and I guarantee you a really interesting stay.

The Parador has a good restaurant so I’ve booked us half-board for our three nights there, and the cost of the tour includes wine and coffee with our evening meals. 

Carcassonne
This is one of those places that once visited you will always want to return to, and there’s certainly a treat in store for those who haven’t yet seen it. The largest citadel in Europe, Carcassonne nestles in the foothills of the Pyrennees, dominating the heights above the river Aude.

There are two parts to Carcassonne, the ancient citadel with its massive double-walled ramparts that encompass a sizeable old town, and the ‘new town’ across the river. The new town is in reality a very old town (13th c) and although there has been quite a lot of modern construction the town has existed as overspill from the citadel since the middle ages.  There is a busy shopping centre and a really good market.


Our hotel is one that we’ve used on several occasions and is situated between the citadel and the ‘new town’ so is just few hundred meters from both the centres of the citadel and the town. The hotel has a panoramic restaurant with a wonderful view of the citadel, especially at night when it is spectacularly illuminated. There is a sauna and pool in the hotel.

From Carcassonne the Mediterranean is within easy reach and the riding in any direction is stunning. This is the heart of Cathar country and there are many wonderful old fortresses in the region.  In common with all the regions of France this area has it’s own distinctive cuisine, with a heavy accent on the wild herbs of the region. The most famous local dish is cassoulet, which can become addictive (my wife, Rosie, says I’m a cassoulet addict but it’s not true because I could give it up any time I want).

Of our three nights at Carcassonne the first and last nights include evening meals at the hotel, with the second night giving you the opportunity to explore the many choices of restaurants and bistros close by.

Figeac
Riding north from Carcassonne we’ll be crossing the rivers Tarn and Aveyron to the medieval town of Figeac. This is a town that we had intended to visit this year, and I was sorry that we had to pass it up in the end. This picturesque town is situated in the Quercy region, famous for the rare ‘black truffle’, and lies on the river Célé, a tributary of the Lot. We’ll be staying at Figeac for three nights so there will be ample opportunity to explore the Lot Valley and surrounding region. Must-see places include dramatic Rocamadour and the prehistoric cave paintings at Pech-Merle, while the immediate area is well supplied with beautiful and ancient villages to explore. If you feel like relaxing during your visit, a quiet ramble through the ancient streets of Figeac itself and a session in the hotel swimming pool might be more your thing.

Our hotel directly overlooks the river Célé, and is a modern and well-appointed conversion of a building with 13th century origins. The first night at Figeac will include dinner at the hotel but the subsequent two nights provide the option of trying one of the restaurants in the town if you prefer.

Blois
Our last 2 nights of the tour will be spent at elegant Blois on the river Loire.
A last chance for some sight-seeing, which in the Loire Valley generally means visiting chateaux. Cheverny, Chenonceau, Chambord and Amboise are within easy reach, among many others. For epicureans there are some of the famous Loire vineyards to visit, and a choice of wine caves if you need some free samples.  Blois itself offers all the shopping opportunities you could want, or once again you might just prefer to relax and enjoy the hotel pool and large bar area.

Our hotel is situated right next to the Loire and it’s only a few steps to the main shopping streets.

The last evening of the tour will be spent together in a private space in the hotel enjoying a communal farewell dinner and no doubt enthusiastically toasting the end of a wonderful trip with some of the superb Loire wine on offer.

Itinerary

Sunday 27th June 2010
Outward crossing via Brittany Ferries Plymouth – Santander, on the ‘Pont Aven’.    Departs Plymouth 16.30.
Dinner on board (not included)
Overnight 2-berth cabins with en suite facilities provided.

Monday 28th June
Arrive Santander 13.00
Ride to Sos del Rey Catolico.
Dinner at Hotel included.

Tuesday 29th June
At leisure at Sos.
Optional ride-out to St Jean Pied de Port
Dinner at Hotel included

Wednesday 30th June
At leisure at Sos.
Optional organised sight-seeing ride-out.
Dinner at Hotel included

Thursday 1st July
Ride to Carcassonne
Dinner at Hotel included

Friday 2nd July
At leisure at Carcassonne.
Optional ride-out to Cathar castle (Montsegur).
Free evening – dinner not included

Saturday 3rd July
At leisure at Carcassonne
Optional ride-out to Camargue
Dinner at Hotel included

Sunday 4th July
Ride to Figeac
Dinner at Hotel included

Monday 5th July
At leisure at Figeac
Optional ride-out to Rocamadour
Free evening – dinner not included

Tuesday 6th July
At leisure at Figeac
Optional sightseeing ride-out
Free evening – dinner not included

Wednesday 7th July
Ride to Blois
Free evening – dinner not included

Thursday 8th July
At leisure at Blois
Optional ride-out to a Chateau.
Dinner at Hotel included

Friday 9th July
Ride to Caen/Ouistreham for Brittany Ferries Portsmouth service, on the ‘Mont St Michel’
Departs Ouistreham 16.30, arrives Portsmouth 21.15
Day-cabins with en suite facilities provided.


Riding
For those of you who haven’t yet been on a CW Continental tour I should emphasise that there is no time that riding as a group is obligatory in any way. I know that group riding can be a concern for those who prefer to chose your own pace of riding at all times. When riding between ferry port and hotel, and from hotel to hotel, all guests are provided with a highlighted map and route guideance sheet showing a ‘recommended route’ that is in no way obligatory, and each guest can chose to ride alone or with others, on the recommended route or an alternative route of their choice, entirely as they wish. The back-up van will of course follow the recommended route.
The only time that there may be some group riding is on the optional sight-seeing ride-outs on the free days, and then everyone can chose their own pace if they wish as the destination will always be known.
We have always created a relaxed and stress-free atmosphere on our Tours.

Price
The only amendment to the prices given below would be the result of a significant adverse movement in the current (January 2010) pound/Euro exchange rate, and by accepting this invitation you are accepting those booking terms.

Single bike and rider on twin-share basis
(sharing twin-bedded hotel rooms and 2-berth ferry cabins)        £1,359

Single bike and rider on sole-occupancy basis
(own hotel rooms, own ferry cabins)                    £1,698

Rider plus pillion on one motorcycle                    £2,467


If you would like any further information please contact me with any questions, either by phone or email at dave@cwmotorcycles.co.uk

If you would like to go ahead and book yourself on the Tour we require £200 per person as a booking deposit. Further staged payment will be requested at the end of February and April, with the balance due in May.

There is a maximum as well as a minimum number of participants, and reservations will be allocated strictly on a ‘first come first served’ basis.


Dave Wyndham
CW Motorcycles