The Millau Bridge

This will be part of our return route through France. You may have seen it if you've been bored and flicked onto Mega-structures on the Discovery channel.

A few facts.....

• 2.5 km long
• 340m high
• Longest span 240m
• 270,000 tonnes
• Took 3 years to build opening in 2004

On a bike the toll is €4, a car is €8 and a HGV is €30!

Last, but not least, it was designed by a British Architect Norman Foster.

Spain's got bigger!

......well it has if you travel by motorway.


Checking the speed limits - I've found that in March this year the speed limit on Spanish motorways was reduced from 120km/h (75mph) to 110km/h (68mph).


Not that I intend to spend much time on motorways.

The Plan

Having explored the Alps a few times - it's time for the Pyrenees.

To begin we sail from Portsmouth for a hopefully calm crossing down the Bay of Biscay and land at Bilbao.


First stop the Pico mountains for a few nights.


Next back across into the Spanish Pyrenees (via Pamplona - watch out for bulls!!).


Then some beach time on the Med north of Barcelona.


The day we leave to head north we cross the Tour de France. Watch out for a red motorcycle out-rider with British plates - it could be us.


The Millau bridge is our next stop before working our way north all the way back to Cherbourg.


One fast ferry later and we are back on Blighty in Poole.


Time to get backsides into gear before we set off next Friday. One problem - I'm on the lash at a works do the night before.....!