1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (R129)
Discussion
Monday 06/11
Onwards to León. Some more super roads (mostly the N-120) and up in to some mountains. Lakes and dams en-route. I forgot to take any pics along the route but here is a picture of one of the dams shortly after leaving Ourense.
Stock photo
I was lucky with the hotel. Slap bang in the middle inside the old wall but it took me an age to figure out how to enter. Secure parking and buffet breakfast for €80 IIRC. It was as good as a Parador IMO.
I only stayed a night but it's worth a re-visit. Some random snaps of León:
Onwards to León. Some more super roads (mostly the N-120) and up in to some mountains. Lakes and dams en-route. I forgot to take any pics along the route but here is a picture of one of the dams shortly after leaving Ourense.
Stock photo
I was lucky with the hotel. Slap bang in the middle inside the old wall but it took me an age to figure out how to enter. Secure parking and buffet breakfast for €80 IIRC. It was as good as a Parador IMO.
I only stayed a night but it's worth a re-visit. Some random snaps of León:
Tuesday 07/11 to Wednesday 08/11
León to Oviedo over the mountains. This was my favorite drive of the trip. At the highest point it snowed and I came round one blind corner to be greeted by two long-haired horses.
Some more dam action:
Before check-in I called in to the Alonso museum which I last visited in 2019. Not much had changed, just the addition of the Dakar, Le Mans and Indy cars.
Some various Oviedo snaps:
No, he's not having a slash in a bar. Asturias is cider country. They pour it from high into the glass over a large bucket in case he misses
Some bars have an electric pump which does it for you:
I like Oviedo. It has a nice feel to it.
León to Oviedo over the mountains. This was my favorite drive of the trip. At the highest point it snowed and I came round one blind corner to be greeted by two long-haired horses.
Some more dam action:
Before check-in I called in to the Alonso museum which I last visited in 2019. Not much had changed, just the addition of the Dakar, Le Mans and Indy cars.
Some various Oviedo snaps:
No, he's not having a slash in a bar. Asturias is cider country. They pour it from high into the glass over a large bucket in case he misses
Some bars have an electric pump which does it for you:
I like Oviedo. It has a nice feel to it.
Thursday 09/11 to Friday 10/11
A rare venture onto the motorway to save time as I made two stops before Santander. First was to visit the undergroud caves of Soplau
A wee stop along the way
The view once the goat had moved on.
Then onto the caves:
The view opposite the café:
The train takes you down into the caves where photography was not allowed so here are a couple of stock ones
Next stop along the way was for a stretch of the legs with a walk among some redwoods/sequoias imported from California:
Onwards to Santander:
The hotel was OK but the first room (101 in case you go there) stank of damp so I asked to be moved and then had an agreeable view of the coast from a much nicer room.
I also liked Santander. I think it would be super in the spring and summer. There are plenty of grand residences and old money about the place.
And what finer last meal than a supermarket chicken with crisps and cheap local plonk.
A rare venture onto the motorway to save time as I made two stops before Santander. First was to visit the undergroud caves of Soplau
A wee stop along the way
The view once the goat had moved on.
Then onto the caves:
The view opposite the café:
The train takes you down into the caves where photography was not allowed so here are a couple of stock ones
Next stop along the way was for a stretch of the legs with a walk among some redwoods/sequoias imported from California:
Onwards to Santander:
The hotel was OK but the first room (101 in case you go there) stank of damp so I asked to be moved and then had an agreeable view of the coast from a much nicer room.
I also liked Santander. I think it would be super in the spring and summer. There are plenty of grand residences and old money about the place.
And what finer last meal than a supermarket chicken with crisps and cheap local plonk.
Some final thoughts on the trip:
Petrol used: 194.14 litres
Mileage: 1,106
Average consumption: 25.86 MPG
Lowest price in Spain/litre: €1.58 (self-service)
Highest price in Spain/lire: €1.71 (attended service)
I really like the north and north-west of Spain. It's very green and hilly and it rains quite a bit, but I knew that before going plus it's late autumn. The roads are a pleasure to drive once out of the cities. The food and drink are superb. The people are generally friendly and I can understand the accent more than the south, but not Galacian.
The hardtop was the correct decision as there was probably only one day when I could have used the top down and the new wiper blade was the best purchase. It never missed a beat and it makes a great touring car. That said, I think I will sell it soon. We shall see.
Petrol used: 194.14 litres
Mileage: 1,106
Average consumption: 25.86 MPG
Lowest price in Spain/litre: €1.58 (self-service)
Highest price in Spain/lire: €1.71 (attended service)
I really like the north and north-west of Spain. It's very green and hilly and it rains quite a bit, but I knew that before going plus it's late autumn. The roads are a pleasure to drive once out of the cities. The food and drink are superb. The people are generally friendly and I can understand the accent more than the south, but not Galacian.
The hardtop was the correct decision as there was probably only one day when I could have used the top down and the new wiper blade was the best purchase. It never missed a beat and it makes a great touring car. That said, I think I will sell it soon. We shall see.
DS129 said:
A superb write up, thank you.
Memories of a similar trip I did about 5 years ago in our SL320.
R129s are perfect long distance touring cars
They are indeed Memories of a similar trip I did about 5 years ago in our SL320.
R129s are perfect long distance touring cars
Me too I have a SL 320 and the combination of the last iteration M104 i6 with the electronic NAG 5 speed auto box is one of the nicest drivetrains I have ever driven. Simply sublime.
OP, thank you very much for a very enjoyable thread!
Fee agreed for the paint with the usual bodyshop, so once I am back from Spain I will swap over with the CL. It will be for bonnet, hardtop, match the door mouldings to the rest and general titivation.
I have picked up a windscreen crack and it is speading slowly from the top left across to the top middle. Annoying but I have three weeks before departure.
I have picked up a windscreen crack and it is speading slowly from the top left across to the top middle. Annoying but I have three weeks before departure.
I decided that the windscreen crack was lengthening a bit too much for my liking with a week to go. I called Autoglass today but I cannot have an appointment before 3 May, and it can't be done at home.
I'll put a marker pen line on it and see if it grows after the Scramble this weekend.
The CL is the first pick off the subs bench unless I manage to fix the L322 tonight/this weekend.
I'll put a marker pen line on it and see if it grows after the Scramble this weekend.
The CL is the first pick off the subs bench unless I manage to fix the L322 tonight/this weekend.
I have moved the trip to next month as I picked up a bad blister on my big toe at Bicester. My own fault for wearing shoes I rarely wear, and they were not quite bedded in. As I want to do a bit of hiking, it makes no sense to go now. I had to pay £200 more to Brittany Ferries though.
Therefore there is plenty of time until next month. I am now trying to move the Autoglass appointment to an earlier date.
Therefore there is plenty of time until next month. I am now trying to move the Autoglass appointment to an earlier date.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff