A couple of years ago me and the wife were on holiday in Lake Como and when we were walking around I heard a right racket coming along the narrow street in Bellagio where we were staying. Along came a smokey group of about 8-10 two stroke scooters, some two up and many packed with camping equipment and after they had passed I noticed that they were all UK registered and I remember at the time saying to the wife "Sod coming all that way on a small two stroke scooter"! Lovely smell though.

There's a guy riding all the way to Italy on a classic ss90 small frame scooter .

Re Portugal short-cuts, tonight's paper mentioned that LD Lines is starting a new Poole to Santander freight/passenger route from next week. The first 500 tickets are "only" £399 for a car and couple.

http://ldlines.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I never knew about Nantes - Gijon.

Bugger £400 I've just priced a car on the tunnel for £159 for upto 9 passengers and a bike is £70 odd.

You also have to factor in fuel, tolls ,overnight stops ,wear and tear on scooter and tyres and the physical effort of doing it .Arriving fresh at 8am or what ever time it docks on North Spainish coast with easy scenic run to Portugal is worth considering .Doing 1000 miles in 2 days you will need a day to get over that .In fact I wouldnt bother going that far you have from Santander you have Spanish Picos mountains as soon as you get off the boat and Pynanees 2 hours away .Just my opinion

Earl wrote:Bugger £400 I've just priced a car on the tunnel for £159 for upto 9 passengers and a bike is £70 odd.

Bugger that too.
Cos I live in the South/East,my local paper is much cheaper but it only Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 17th Nov/17th Dec. Wait for it..??? £23 Return..