gauvins

Plans are seriously firming up. It'll be Paris CDG T3 > Downtown Lisbon, leaving CDG on May 25th or so and hotel booked in Lisbon on June 22nd. Leisurely and several zero-days on hand.

I am quite familiar with France, but Spain and inland Portugal will be new to me. Here's the 1-minute route as suggested by cycle.travel route. Comments/suggestions for the St-Jean-de-Luz > Lisbon segment are welcome. (My wife and daughter will fly to Lisbon. The plan is to cycle back to Madrid, over a 5-week period. Route should go through Seville and Granada).

One question, perhaps -- what about discreet camping in Spain? Everyone does it? You go to jail for sure? (or somewhere in between) Or don't bother -- hostels are cheap, nice and everywhere?

Thanks as always

axolotl

It's a shame that you are bypassing the Douro valley in Portugal.

If those 5 weeks for cycling from Lisbon to Madrid begin around June 23, Andalucia (southern Spain around Seville & Granada) is quite likely to be dangerously hot for cycling.

imi

Last year I crossed the Pyrenees from Hendaye to Pamplona (on the EV1), and can totally recommend it. It started off as a via verde and then a stunningly beautiful climb.

The summer weather in southern europe has become pretty unpredictable. Nowadays, I prepare for >40 C and torrential storms wherever I am.

Zamora to Porto, then down the coast to Lisboa would be an alternative

I’ve been sleeping under the stars since the 70’s all over europe, but don’t put a tent up. It used to be fine to sleep on beaches, but this has changed especially around the mediterranean. The Atlantic coast is still ok away from towns. Inland, just find somewhere just before dark, and leave early.

gauvins

As I said, this is *very* preliminary. So you'd suggest something like this? (perhaps name a few towns that shouldn't be missed. I've just clicked along what looked like the Douro river. Lots of steep climbs. Certainly room for improvement).

WRT heat -- yeah... I guess that we'll see. Very hot, but very dry as well. We should be good up to 40. I'll try to map July temperature across the country so I can understand what we're up against. (i.e. mountains can play a major role, I have no idea at this point in time)

Thanks for the feedback

Atlas Shrugged

I followed a similar route Lisbon to San Sebastián 5 years ago. Excellent ride. Stayed in small hotels very reasonable. Keep your route choice open as there are amazing secondary roads and small towns.

imi

I’m used to riding in 30-35 C, but last summer I had a couple of weeks in france of 38-40 C. The difference was brutal.

I got up at first light and started riding with lights as the first few hours of the day were blissfully cooler. After midday, the sun drained me. Later in the day didn’t help much, as the temperature only sunk by a degree or two.

gauvins

Same for us. Between Lyon and Avignon. Perhaps related to the fact that normal human body temperature is 37c. We were riding before noon, finding a spot with a swimming pool for the rest of the day.

Came across info yesterday (Seville bring a ghost town in July/August) having us revisiting our plans. It's likely we'll stick with Spain. Plan is to ride the coast if heat wave is forecast.

axolotl

My suggestion is that you get into the eastern part of the Douro valley and follow along the river, passing through Paso de Regua. It's a beautiful valley and doesn't have a lot of steep climbs as long as you stay along the river.

eta: It's much easier to see this on a detailed paper map which shows relief and has markings for steep climbs, than on the map in your link.

imi

The spanish mediterranean coast is basically f’ed from overdevelopment, plastic agriculture, and heavy traffic ☹️

gauvins

Sorry. My post was ambiguous. I meant the Atlantic seaboard.

indyfabz

It was that way 24 years ago when I was there. Those plastic farms just south of El Ejido were miserable. I cannot imagine it now. I was along the coast in April and it was pretty busy. Spent time in the Malaga area during the height of summer back in the 80s. It was a zoo. Also, the prevailing winds are west to east. And it’s not exactly like it’s going to be cool.

niknak

I don't have experience with this route, but the Altravesur in Southern Spain looks amazing. If you stay high in the mountains it might be cooler. You can likely use the regional trains to help get to the start and to Madrid from the end if you don't have enough time to ride it all.

Kelly I

Here is my journal of our ride in Spain/Portugal in june/July, 2023. We were warned by many of the brutal heat, but we only travel during school vacations. My husband doesn't mind the heat, I left early on the extra hot days. We appreciated it when we got to the mountains and temperatures weren't so bad. Ice is very hard to come by. Gas stations were our best source. Having cold drinks made all of the difference.

I was not so sure about European travel, but had an excellent trip. We plan to return in 2025, riding from Frankfurt to Lisbon.

IDK if my journal will help you. Here it is, just in case: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/gotagorda/

str

There will be sure no difference in temperature on the route. It will be HOT!

str

Wild camping is forbidden here in Spain. Just look for hidden places

str

you could include this one, have done it several times. very beautiful!
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/130176168

djb

only 27.4 % max grade and only 3000 meters climbing over 100k? ---pffffft , bof , too easy!

Atlas Shrugged

Fully loaded with a touring set up no less.

gauvins

Tapas power!

djb

At least str is a big fan of that book, The Bearable Lightness of Being, by Kundera
(he's not a heavily loaded type of feller)

Still, a hell of a ride. Beyond me.

str

these things happen when one leaves the mainstream roads. its all tarmac, not one meter off road. little roads in the mountains.

str

Thats a very nice one... read it two times.

str

yeah, for "whole household" touring maybe too much )

setup: no tent, sleeping bag, mattress, little cooker for tea and food, clothing.

djb

must be a beautiful ride. I would have to train a heck of a lot to even hope to be able to do it though.
And of course, not bring the whole household, just a few rooms.
Many many years ago, like 30, I've probably done sort of the equivalent, climbing maybe 2200m in a day, but carrying a small household--but 30 years on it would take some serious training to be capable of that again--and I'm ok with doing what I can now.

str

""" just a few rooms""" 😂🙃

of course we did walk the several +20% ramps