Rich check this site out mate, i dont have the maps anymore as they were left at the camp site in Santander (knew my way back from there)

STANFORD MAPS (goolge it)

Or tap in this and that will come up. It is the whole route we done and more, well worth taking as some really nice spots on way and as my pictures detailed you can camp in most area's.    Camino Natural del Ebro: GR99

The Ebro is the river, its huge so dont try crossing it unless you have a boat!!!

Regarding the law....they really p***** me and the other lads off with the fine of 105 euros each coz we didnt have lights on!!! And it was daylight. Also another copper also was going to do me for not having a mirror, but i managed to blag.

Now im not sure what the BMW is like but i would say that pretty much most of what we covered was good enough to use transalps, teneres and africa twins on without much hassle.

Only thing i would say though is some of the higher area's were pretty slim paths and not much room between rock and a long dropping ground.

Hope this helps some how, if you want any more info give me a shout and ill see if i can help.

Enjoy (only wish i was able to go with ya)

Here's some ole text from an past newsletter from ex member David Bell

PICOS TRIP MAY 2006

We were a party of six, three experienced riders riding two XR250s and one KTM EXC 250 and three novice offroad riders riding two DRZ 400s and one KTM SXC625 (yes!). We had all spent many years riding road bikes in England and in Europe on our annual trips. This year the offroad element had prevailed when deciding the venue for 2006 and this is a short summary of what happened.

Our excitement was dampened on arrival at Santander as it was raining heavily, not part of the plan ! We took off on the back roads, the rain stopped after an hour,  heading to Potes about 100km from Santander where we had prebooked into a hotel we had spotted on a previous road bike trip, it seemed dirt bike friendly and was cheap, @£19.50 a head for B&B sharing a twin room with en-suite. Its worth noting that the road CA182 from Sopena to La Hermida was excellent, full of twisties and spectacular scenery. We arrived at the hotel, La Pena Sagra at Ojedo on the outskirts of Potes and dumped our backpacks and surplus kit which ranged from me with everything for a week packed into a 25L pack plus levers, tubes, etc, strapped onto various parts of the bike to Andy who had a massive back pack containing oil, filters, an amazing array of tools and even a rubber mallet !! We all laughed at him when on the road because he had to stand up most of the time as the pressure of it all on his bum on the seat was too uncomfortable to endure for too long, he had the last laugh however..

We were the only residents in the hotel , the staff were friendly and all spoke Spanish better than we did, rooms clean and spacious. We had a quick lunch and then off to the hills. Amazingly a track started right outside the hotel garage where the bikes were parked and took us up through some small hamlets and woods to the steel firewatch tower. (Maria, you know where I mean) We had a few moments getting there dodging tree felling operations and meeting a log lorry head on in a cutting with 2 deep ruts. The emergency about turn was a bit frantic as the truck did not want to stop and filled the track wall to wall. The views from the fire tower were fantastic, tracks heading off in several directions, tracks across the valleys on other hills, snow on the high peaks, etc, etc. AND bright sunshine. This was the life! We ploughed on manfully, dust billowing behind us, up and down, through trees, switchback trails, loose shale climbs, gravel, rock, etc, etc. only stopping for photo opportunities and for us experienced riders to allow the novices to catch up. FANTASTIC.

It all came to a sudden halt when Steve on the big KTM pulled a massive unplanned wheelie on one of the steep climbs, looped the bike , and pushed the gear lever through the clutch casing. We quickly stopped the oil from pouring out and took stock, we were now miles from the hotel and nearest hard road and were contemplating a long and tricky tow back when Andy (he of the massive back pack) said the magic words I have some liquid metal. Half an hour later we were on our way with fingers crossed that it would hold. Richard , probably the most experienced of us, took it back as the clutch would not release as the casing was still pushed in against the plates. Afterwards, he said that it was a VERY INTERESTING experience !! Once back at the hotel, it was clutch cover off, straighten it out with Andys rubber mallet (he was insufferable after that) more liquid metal, oil change and it was as good as new for the rest of the trip.

After that eventful first afternoon it was time to hit the hotel bar for some liquid refreshment. The tapas were great and the meal of the day was marvellous, 8.50 Euros for three courses. We were never sure of what we were going to get but were never disappointed, something always seemed to get lost in translation.

Next day dawned bright and sunny and after breakfast we were raring to go. I had planned a route from the Spanish military maps I had bought in England so we headed out in a SE direction to Lamedo where we found the track but with a No Entry sign, a red circle on a white background. Oh well, on to plan B. We found a track heading SSW from Frama, about 2km SE from Ojedo and it turned out to be fantastic. There was a small side track towards a monastry which had a really long and steep loose sandy/gritty climb which had to be done non-stop as there was no chance of a re-start : GREAT ! Anyway, back to the main track and it emerged from the tree line into an alpine meadow where we almost expected to see Julie Andrews come skipping across the grass. More photo opportunities then onwards and upwards. The track kept climbing and then along a ridge past Pena Castillo and Corbera (1211m)  before heading North and dropping down to Tudes. There was no apparent track from here despite what the map said, but we bumped into an expat living there who pointed out the start of an unlikely track which apparently led us to Potes. He remarked that the track was a bit rugged in parts and wondered if our bikes were up to it; the challenge was on! It did lead us to Potes winding through deserted hamlets, trees, scrub, etc. and did have some technical rocky sections which even the rapidly improving novices managed to scrabble through. Steve had a puncture just as we reached Potes so we crawled to the hotel for a quick repair.

After a quick bite to eat Richard , Andy and I headed out again, the others needed to recharge their batteries. We headed in an easterly direction through Cambarco to Somaniezo where the track took us on a wonderful climb up through trees to the Ermita de Ntra Sra de la Luz where we turned left in a N direction past El Sierro. This was an interesting track mainly clinging to the mountainside and in three cases where it crossed a stream it had been washed away making it VERY INTERESTING especially with the big drop on one side. This track eventually brought us back to where we had played the afternoon before, then the steel firewatch tower and home at about 1830hrs. Time for a well earned beer. The others had wandered into Potes where they had picked up a map PICOS DE EUROPA Y COSTA ORIENTAL DE ASTURIAS 1:80,000 scale which was clearer to read than the military maps. (thank you Maria, that was good advice)

Next day dawned clear and sunny again and it was time for the big one right through the middle of the national park, unless we came across any No Entry signs. We headed W from Potes towards Fuente De and turned off N to Mogrovejo where the track started and no nasty signs. Wonderful tracks with jumps every 40 m or so where drainage bunds had been made across the track climbing in a NW direction then W past Pena de Oviedo (1309m). Later this track turned N, through a steel gate, then joined a major gravel  track which went right through the national park to Sotres. The scenery was stunning, wide open glacial bowls surrounded by towering snow capped peaks, more photo opportunities ensued at about 1650m altitude. Lunch in Sotres was tapas or how many ways can you eat pig: cured, smoked, peppered, sausaged, etc ! We headed E from Sotres on tarmac to Hito Escaranol where we turned off S along a track towards Beges. This track was awesome, at times it was about 4 wide, clinging to the side of a mountain with a drop of many hundred feet on one side, no edge protection of course, we even looked down upon soaring eagles. We hoped we didnt meet anyone coming the other way around the many blind bends. From Beges we headed SE up a very steep hairpinned track to the Collada Pelea then down a steep descent to Cabanes. From there it was tarmac to Pendes then track to Colio then La Parte then S past herds of horses with bells around their necks  to Nogalon, Rases and finally into the back of Potes. What a brilliant day, no breakdowns and everybody knackered.. More beer !

Next day dawned clear and sunny again ( the lack of variety made it hard but someone had to do it!) and we had plans for a big circular route S of Potes which linked together several tracks marked on the various maps. Hey ho, off we went towards Fuente De turning N at Enterria towards Pembes where we picked up the track which was a narrow, steep, hairpinned single trail heading NW up through trees eventually joining the trail we used yesterday, through the steel gate and then turning left (S) to Espinama. We had a short bit of tarmac to Pido then followed a gentle wooded trail heading SE beneath La Rasa to Cosgaya. At that point we should have taken a trail heading SW but found the No Vehicles sign which seriously upset our plans for the day. We then went up to Fuente De, which is an absolutely spectacular setting ringed by high mountain peaks, to try a trail heading SW. Unfortunately, that also had the No Vehicles sign. Plan C : back towards Potes and turn N to Arquebanes to a track that led N to Puerto Solibeno (1226m) then back down to Nogalon and down into Potes behind the telecom masts. This hill turned out to be one of the steepest we found, covered in shale with odd bare rock patches. It was impossible to brake other than on the rock patches as the wheels would just lock and speed would increase. It was so much fun we had to turn round and do it again. Going back up was a challenge as well. It was back to the hotel for a regroup and snack then Richard , Andy & I went off again first up to the fire watchtower then in a N direction to explore some interesting trails we had spotted on a previous day. They just kept going upwards and onwards, through trees, over rocks, etc. One hill was the steepest and longest yet and I just made it to the top on my XR250 slipping the clutch in 1^st. Perhaps the altitude was sapping the power? We then got lost and ended up in San Pedro NE of Potes. Now we knew where we were, we headed N to Salarzon and Cobena which was an interesting trail through farmed land for a change. From there was a short stretch of tarmac to Tama and Vinon then a climb up to Nogalon again then down into Potes for more beer!

The next day the novices were feeling tracked out so we spent most of the day exploring further the area around the steel fire watchtower and having photo opportunities, jumping contests, etc. We came away feeling that we had only scratched the surface of the possible trails that could be ridden without any challenge from a disgruntled rambler or anyone else.

That was to be our final offroad day as we found out that the ferry scheduled to take us back to Plymouth had been damaged in a storm and would be delayed by four days, however, Brittany Ferries offered us places on the Roscoff ferry, if we could get there..!!! Regrettably, most of our party had business commitments requiring them to return to England as planned. To cut a long story short we then got back up to Roscoff in two days by riding to Biarritz in France, NOT a pleasant journey on offroad bikes, hiring the last available van and driving up through France to catch the ferry. That episode makes a story in itself, it couldnt be made up, but as it doesnt relate to offroad activities thats all you are getting.

TO SUMMARISE, if there is anyone still reading this, if you are thinking of riding in the Picos, you must go, you will not regret it. We met very few people on the trails except in the popular part of the National Park at the weekend and everyone we met, with one exception, was friendly and helpful.

-- Edited by L'orange on Monday 26th of July 2010 04:02:58 PM

-- Edited by L'orange on Monday 26th of July 2010 04:11:48 PM

Really enjoyed reading the Picos trip.

Is there anyway of seeing some pics?

Cheers all,
Hi Feathers, did your route mostly follow the river and how far along it did you get? Im guessing a river that big has bridges in most towns.

Ill google all the place names in Picos report and see what sort of line I can pick out. Cheers Lorange, other older reports might be good especially if theyre in a different area of Spain that I can start to join up.

I laned the beemer all day yesterday and although I only went down the more challenging lanes I had a great time. Its heavy [Im not looking forward to the 1st time I have to pick it up] and turns as quick as a P&O ferry but its better than I had expected.

Hi Potus, some of the town names or road names from your route would be good, just enough for me to pick it out on a map. Although I want to stay of the tarmac as much as possible its to optimistic to think that there wont be road miles to do.

The rack was expertly made by Gaschef, sorry the photo's aren't the best.

It's disconcerting how much space you need to tour and camp when you carry tools, a few spares and cooking stuff. The rack and panniers gives me 150L of volume and it is all used! just for a 2 week trip to Spain.

No mate it's a bmw g650x

Oye Cono,estas loco!
(De chiste entiendes)

Buena suerte de veras,lo siento que no puedo irrse mi mismo.

Dos cervezas por favor senor..