The 'Official' HISS Trip report

[Simon_100]

Hi Guys and Gal,

I've begun putting up the arrival days on the first page of this topic so we all know where we are - roughly.

Spot the deliberate mistake time: I'm not entirely sure when I'll be turning up! I'm going up to Phil's to collect my new front tyre and it makes sense for us to ride down together, but that's Phil's call as he's got a job to do!

Regs

Simon

[Freddie]

Hi Simon,
Thank you for the pointers on my route from Santandare,
I sail on the 5 pm Portsmouth to Santandare ferry,
If any one else is on this boat It would be nice to meet up ,
I plan to ride straight to Vitoria via the auto route for the Saturday evening.
And head off on Sunday towards Jaca.
Wishing every one a safe trip down,

Freddie

[Simon_100]

Hi Simon,
Thank you for the pointers on my route from Santandare,
I sail on the 5 pm Portsmouth to Santandare ferry,
If any one else is on this boat It would be nice to meet up ,
I plan to ride straight to Vitoria via the auto route for the Saturday evening.
And head off on Sunday towards Jaca.
Wishing every one a safe trip down,

Freddie

Hi Freddie,

Have a great trip and I'll see you on Monday then. It doesn't look like anyone else is coming that way but I've no doubt the ferry will be full of bikers, many of whom will be heading off down to the Pyrenees so you could end up leading a 'posse' - I have some spare Guide Books coming so you get a beer - or two! -for every new recruit you pick up on the way

You should have a great day on Sunday buzzing up and down and over the Pyrenees as we discussed - being a Sunday you'll have to watch out for cyclists on the Le Tour passes, but at least that means fewer French pensioners clogging up the roads in their Renault Clios as they seem to stay home more at the weekends!

Talking of Sundays, be careful too on the Roncesvalles pass over from Saint Jean Pied-de-Port: the trickle of pilgrims on the Way of Saint James will be turing to a flood soon, although they should be taking a day off on Sunday as far as my meagre religious education told me!

I'm glad to know you're staying at Jaca (pronounced 'Haka' by the way), it's a really nice 'city', small enough to explore in an hour or two and full of great tapas bars I know you've got some great plans form there on so we'll see you Monday afternoon/evening, when Phil-in-France will be arriving too with some of his gang, I guess.

See you soon.

Simon

[fairyplum]

Hi Simon, I am heading to France on Monday,seeing daughter and then heading on down to meet with Freddy at Jaca on the Sunday night. Looking forward to the break.

[Simon_100]

Hi Simon, I am heading to France on Monday,seeing daughter and then heading on down to meet with Freddy at Jaca on the Sunday night. Looking forward to the break.

Hi Nina,

That's very sociable of you - Jaca is a really lovely place to spend an evening - I hope Freddie treats you to some good tapas!

I've jus 'spied' the place Ted99UK and I spend a very jolly time with his friend Brian a couple of years ago - it's just around the corner from the fortress - you can't miss it!

Jacabar2.jpg (39.04 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

It's also just opposite the old city centre where there are lots more . . .

See you on Monday and have a great trip down!

Regs

Simon

[fairyplum]

Hi Simon, I am heading to France on Monday,seeing daughter and then heading on down to meet with Freddy at Jaca on the Sunday night. Looking forward to the break.

Hi Nina,

That's very sociable of you - Jaca is a really lovely place to spend an evening - I hope Freddie treats you to some good tapas!

I've jus 'spied' the place Ted99UK and I spend a very jolly time with his friend Brian a couple of years ago - it's just around the corner from the fortress - you can't miss it!

Jacabar2.jpg

It's also just opposite the old city centre where there are lots more . . .

See you on Monday and have a great trip down!

Regs

Simon

thanks, Simon.

[Simon_100]

Think nothing of it Nina,

Meanwhile, for you and everyone crossing the Port de la Bonaigüa . from Vielha to Sort - it's been a record snowfall this winter. I've just sen a 'live' photo on the telly and it's still about three metres deep over the pass!

Meanwhile, I've trawled the relevant statistics and found this graph - accurate as of today!

Screenshot2013-05-12at8.37.44AM.png (55.45 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

The dark line is the average while the 'in-fill' is this year's fall - the other's are statistical stuff about variation.

The road itself has been clear for some time now - it's been closed a record number of times this winter too! - but you'll want to wrap up before to do the ascent!

Enjoy!

Simon

PS that probably means the same for the big French passes like Tourmalet

[Simon_100]

Mornin' all,

Now time is getting close some 'housekeeping' and weather report:

Housekeeping: Jordi, the campsite owner, has confirmed our discount price again despite our relatively few numbers this year. So, we have the same 'plot' last year, about a third of the site, and everyone on it stays for €8.80 per night - that's a big saving on the regular fee, which would be €16.50. And folks can arrive early or stay on later at the same price.

I'll give Jordi all of your names so he'll have your individual 'account' ready for when you arrive - but if neither me nor Polly are about please let Jordi show you 'our' patch - last year some riders just showed up and pitched their tents every which where which caused problems

One new thing is the Tourist Tax that was introduced in Spain of €0.50 per night. There is nothing Jordi can do about that.

If anyone wants electricity of their own they have to pay the normal rate of €5.50 per night - but note I have extension cables for charging cameras, phones, etc.

The weather: well, after several days of cold, clear weather that has dried the trails us fabulously the next few days look like being very unsettled with possibly heavy showers. These will be very local, so it's be a mystery what happened on any given trail. The worst day will be tomorrow, Wednesday and after that we'll just have to wait and see. There's a 'battle' going on between the big front crossing France and the UK and a warm, wet low that is moving up across Spain - here we tend to get neither - or both!!!

Meanwhile I've been riding as many trails as I can - so if you want a sneak preview, check here.

Regs

Simon

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[Simon_100]

Well,

Guess who was the first HISSrider to take the first 'Lie-down' of the rally

Liedown1_2013-05-19.jpg (80.51 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

Actuauly that was the second, Mr X and Oilcan were far too polite to record the first and I plan forgot to take a pikkie of my bike!

Marcandchris2_2013-05-19.jpg (56.02 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

But we got to the top of a mountain or two before the weather closed in . . .

Markandchris_2013-05-19.jpg (32.02 KiB) Viewed 1540 times

More soon I'm sure

See the rest of you soon.

Regs

Simon

[sidestand]

Nice bash plate Simon :laugh: