Picos de Europa, Pyrenees, Andorra, Spain and more.....
Discussion
Road trip 2015
Sunday 26th
Set off on the 1645 Ferry from Stromness, good drive down to Premier Inn Inverness, got lost (first of many detours on this trip I think) .
Monday 27th
Set off for Northamptonshire after a good breakfast. Lots of snow lying around and forecast, but we beat the weather down. Arrived after a few detours at 1700, more detours to get some wine and a beer. Nice meal across the road from the Hotel at the Harvester, grilled ribs and chicken, bed by 2300.
Tuesday 28th
Up at 0600 and had breakfast at 0630. Car change day today!! Good run down to Sidcup, arrived at 0900 but only got seen at 1000. Lots and lots of paperwork - all irrelevant - but had to be done. Kathleen made a good job of transferring the luggage from the XKR to the XK and delighted with the car.
From this....
To this .....
Set off around 1200 to Portsmouth and arrived at 1400. Parked up in the queue and had a swift beer and wine before boarding. Straight forward affair, lovely parking space and the cabin is WOW!! Settled in and had a beer again before setting sail. Had a look around the ship, ready for tea in the restaurant. Lovely meal, Prawns, salmon, cheese, puddings and white wine... Watching Frank Sinatra tribute then a bit of the magic show before bed.
Wednesday 29th
Up at 0700, lovely morning, sunshine and blue seas. Breakfast in the cabin at 0730, showered and relaxed in the sunshine. Had a wander round, lunch in the fancy restaurant again, buffet this time. Had a snooze in the afternoon, watched loads of dolphin jumping.
Arrived Santander around 1800, drove the long way round to the hotel. Checked in and asked about parking, they said car would be safe on the street but I wasn't so sure. Went for the Santemar where we stayed the last time and asked if we could use their car park. 24 euros no problem so sigh of relief and shifted the car off the street. Went for the Tapas bar for Squid, patatas bravas and chorizo. Lovely it was, bed by 2330.....
Thursday 30th
Up early and went for a stroll along the seafront.
Breakfast was good, set off at 0900 for Fuente de. Roads were great, arrived just outside FD at a wee place called Potes.
Had a Sidra and tea then headed for FD. Up in the cable car to a snow covered Picos and lovely views with Golden Eagles everywhere.
Headed for Riano, very high twisty road and slow going..
Stopped for petrol and carried on to next village through some great canyon scenery, then on to the motorway for a dash back to Santander arriving 1830. Ready for tea after buying some wine for Kathleen and a beer for me.. Walked along the promenade a bit and headed back for the Bodega for a 3 course meal for 14 euros each. Lovely it was zzzzzz.
To be continued ..................
Sunday 26th
Set off on the 1645 Ferry from Stromness, good drive down to Premier Inn Inverness, got lost (first of many detours on this trip I think) .
Monday 27th
Set off for Northamptonshire after a good breakfast. Lots of snow lying around and forecast, but we beat the weather down. Arrived after a few detours at 1700, more detours to get some wine and a beer. Nice meal across the road from the Hotel at the Harvester, grilled ribs and chicken, bed by 2300.
Tuesday 28th
Up at 0600 and had breakfast at 0630. Car change day today!! Good run down to Sidcup, arrived at 0900 but only got seen at 1000. Lots and lots of paperwork - all irrelevant - but had to be done. Kathleen made a good job of transferring the luggage from the XKR to the XK and delighted with the car.
From this....
To this .....
Set off around 1200 to Portsmouth and arrived at 1400. Parked up in the queue and had a swift beer and wine before boarding. Straight forward affair, lovely parking space and the cabin is WOW!! Settled in and had a beer again before setting sail. Had a look around the ship, ready for tea in the restaurant. Lovely meal, Prawns, salmon, cheese, puddings and white wine... Watching Frank Sinatra tribute then a bit of the magic show before bed.
Wednesday 29th
Up at 0700, lovely morning, sunshine and blue seas. Breakfast in the cabin at 0730, showered and relaxed in the sunshine. Had a wander round, lunch in the fancy restaurant again, buffet this time. Had a snooze in the afternoon, watched loads of dolphin jumping.
Arrived Santander around 1800, drove the long way round to the hotel. Checked in and asked about parking, they said car would be safe on the street but I wasn't so sure. Went for the Santemar where we stayed the last time and asked if we could use their car park. 24 euros no problem so sigh of relief and shifted the car off the street. Went for the Tapas bar for Squid, patatas bravas and chorizo. Lovely it was, bed by 2330.....
Thursday 30th
Up early and went for a stroll along the seafront.
Breakfast was good, set off at 0900 for Fuente de. Roads were great, arrived just outside FD at a wee place called Potes.
Had a Sidra and tea then headed for FD. Up in the cable car to a snow covered Picos and lovely views with Golden Eagles everywhere.
Headed for Riano, very high twisty road and slow going..
Stopped for petrol and carried on to next village through some great canyon scenery, then on to the motorway for a dash back to Santander arriving 1830. Ready for tea after buying some wine for Kathleen and a beer for me.. Walked along the promenade a bit and headed back for the Bodega for a 3 course meal for 14 euros each. Lovely it was zzzzzz.
To be continued ..................
Edited by CarbonXKR on Thursday 21st May 21:56
Friday 1st
Walk before breakfast with Kathleen and away from hotel and underway by 930. Motorway and some tolls, different route than last trip passing south of Pamplona. Arrived Biescas at 1430 and checked in lovely room.
Walked to restaurants and had a cool beer and some patatas bravas and pimientos with salt. Back and washed the car with showroom shine and parked up at the back of the hotel.
Showered diary done and ready for tea. Had a lovely feed, soup, cod, chocolate cake for me and salad, veal and cheese cake for Kathleen. Nice bottle of local wine and then bed.
Saturday 2nd
Went for a stroll before breakfast, nice spread and well fed. Set off on a hike never realised it was mostly uphill, hard slog and turned back after an hour and half.
Lovely meal in evening, Hake, shrimps, chocolate brownie for me and chicken, pear for Kathleen.
Sunday 3rd
Set off around 945 for Andorra.
Rain to start then cleared up nicely. Long twisty drive, few stops and made the lovely hotel at Bixessari around 1700. Really nice welcome, great suite and beautiful views. Tea at 2000, mixed grill, salads what a feed.
To be continued .........
Walk before breakfast with Kathleen and away from hotel and underway by 930. Motorway and some tolls, different route than last trip passing south of Pamplona. Arrived Biescas at 1430 and checked in lovely room.
Walked to restaurants and had a cool beer and some patatas bravas and pimientos with salt. Back and washed the car with showroom shine and parked up at the back of the hotel.
Showered diary done and ready for tea. Had a lovely feed, soup, cod, chocolate cake for me and salad, veal and cheese cake for Kathleen. Nice bottle of local wine and then bed.
Saturday 2nd
Went for a stroll before breakfast, nice spread and well fed. Set off on a hike never realised it was mostly uphill, hard slog and turned back after an hour and half.
Lovely meal in evening, Hake, shrimps, chocolate brownie for me and chicken, pear for Kathleen.
Sunday 3rd
Set off around 945 for Andorra.
Rain to start then cleared up nicely. Long twisty drive, few stops and made the lovely hotel at Bixessari around 1700. Really nice welcome, great suite and beautiful views. Tea at 2000, mixed grill, salads what a feed.
To be continued .........
Excellent write up. Look forward to the rest. My 14 day tour is coming up in 4 weeks and looks like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zE9ghe0smUa...
This map is not accurate in terms of absolute detail because of the limitations of waypoints but gives a general idea.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zE9ghe0smUa...
This map is not accurate in terms of absolute detail because of the limitations of waypoints but gives a general idea.
Zed 44 said:
Excellent write up. Look forward to the rest. My 14 day tour is coming up in 4 weeks and looks like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zE9ghe0smUa...
This map is not accurate in terms of absolute detail because of the limitations of waypoints but gives a general idea.
Good write up..https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zE9ghe0smUa...
This map is not accurate in terms of absolute detail because of the limitations of waypoints but gives a general idea.
I shall be in the same region as your self from the 28th of next month, Give us a wave.....
Monday 4th
Said our goodbyes to Roxanne after breakfast and headed across the border to France. Stopped at duty free for whisky and wine...very cheap.
Huge tolls for the french auto route, finally made our accommodation at 1530.
Quirky room, no food available so we drove to Millau to photograph the bridge and stopped for Pizzas. Back to the room for wine, whisky and early night.
Tuesday 5th
Up at 0730 and had breakfast of some brioche, sheep yoghurt, fruit and jam....not impressed really. Paid the €100 and left...forgot to say the shower was crap and the cat sh*t on our doorstep!
Nice rural drive for the first few miles then flat out on toll road all the way to Cannes. Arrived after a circular tour of the front and parked below. Cases in then off to Le Croisette front for beer and wine.
Back and cleaned the car, Kathleen unpacked everything and we organise the suitcases again before drinks on the balcony.
Off out and found the restaurant lane and had a nice meal of mussels, Bream, apple tart....
Wednesday 6th
Lovely breakfast and set off for Monaco along for seafront. Very nice drive and views, takes an age though.
Parked in a multi storey and walked along to get square and then around for harbours to see the super yachts. Had an expensive wine and beer and then headed back along the motorway. 2.5 hours to get there, 30 mins on return.
Parked up at the hotel and went and bought wine and water. Chilling out on the balcony....
Off for tea, stopped at a tiny restaurant after being wooed by Lily a skinny loud waitress, food okay....nothing special, but a good laugh.
Thursday 7th
Set off from Cannes after nice breakfast and short detour. Lots of tolls and high speed motorways and arrived at the hotel in Platja D'Aro - Costa Brava - around 1600.
Lovely room overlooking for sea, had a nice meal in the restaurant, squid for Kathleen and Hake for me.
Zzzzzz.
Friday 8th
Breakfast at 830, lovely spread! Off to the pool and sunbathing until 1230 then walked in to town to buy a hat each for tomorrow. Had a beer and wine, bought a litre of local wine for €1.75 and went for Tapas.
Back to hotel and lay at home pool for a bit before shower and off to Platja D'Aro for tea.
Never went, ate in the hotel again, was too good.
Fish again for me and duck for Kathleen.
Said our goodbyes to Roxanne after breakfast and headed across the border to France. Stopped at duty free for whisky and wine...very cheap.
Huge tolls for the french auto route, finally made our accommodation at 1530.
Quirky room, no food available so we drove to Millau to photograph the bridge and stopped for Pizzas. Back to the room for wine, whisky and early night.
Tuesday 5th
Up at 0730 and had breakfast of some brioche, sheep yoghurt, fruit and jam....not impressed really. Paid the €100 and left...forgot to say the shower was crap and the cat sh*t on our doorstep!
Nice rural drive for the first few miles then flat out on toll road all the way to Cannes. Arrived after a circular tour of the front and parked below. Cases in then off to Le Croisette front for beer and wine.
Back and cleaned the car, Kathleen unpacked everything and we organise the suitcases again before drinks on the balcony.
Off out and found the restaurant lane and had a nice meal of mussels, Bream, apple tart....
Wednesday 6th
Lovely breakfast and set off for Monaco along for seafront. Very nice drive and views, takes an age though.
Parked in a multi storey and walked along to get square and then around for harbours to see the super yachts. Had an expensive wine and beer and then headed back along the motorway. 2.5 hours to get there, 30 mins on return.
Parked up at the hotel and went and bought wine and water. Chilling out on the balcony....
Off for tea, stopped at a tiny restaurant after being wooed by Lily a skinny loud waitress, food okay....nothing special, but a good laugh.
Thursday 7th
Set off from Cannes after nice breakfast and short detour. Lots of tolls and high speed motorways and arrived at the hotel in Platja D'Aro - Costa Brava - around 1600.
Lovely room overlooking for sea, had a nice meal in the restaurant, squid for Kathleen and Hake for me.
Zzzzzz.
Friday 8th
Breakfast at 830, lovely spread! Off to the pool and sunbathing until 1230 then walked in to town to buy a hat each for tomorrow. Had a beer and wine, bought a litre of local wine for €1.75 and went for Tapas.
Back to hotel and lay at home pool for a bit before shower and off to Platja D'Aro for tea.
Never went, ate in the hotel again, was too good.
Fish again for me and duck for Kathleen.
Edited by CarbonXKR on Friday 22 May 21:12
Enjoying the write-up. It's whetting my appetite and not just for the food. Looking forward to the next installment.
BTW, how did you know it was a cat that shat on your door step? They usually bury their turds. Dogs, on the other hand, usually make a cursory attempt with their back paws from about 18" away to shower it with grass or dirt before going off and leaving some innocent human to walk in it. I'm somewhat of an expert at this. Where I live, dogs rule.
BTW, how did you know it was a cat that shat on your door step? They usually bury their turds. Dogs, on the other hand, usually make a cursory attempt with their back paws from about 18" away to shower it with grass or dirt before going off and leaving some innocent human to walk in it. I'm somewhat of an expert at this. Where I live, dogs rule.
Saturday 9th
Breakfast then off to the Spanish Grand Prix at 0900. Signs on motorways saying exit 12,13,=14 for the circuit, my ticket said 15.... disaster! Off ramp and straight in to a town with no signs. Set up stupid sat Nav again and back on track. Arrived by time to a very warm circuit and long walk to our stand. Great day, very hot, not too busy and away after qualifying.
Back to the hotel without a hitch,
Showered and off for tea in the hotel again. Lovely mussels for starters, squid then truffles for me. Kathleen had foie gras, lamb and vanilla tea pudding. Nice bottle of white picked by the waiter, was very good....
Sunday 10th
Farewell to the Silken Park San Jorge, we will miss you. 492 miles to Santander..... Good start, petrol taken 90 miles out and cleared Barcelona by 1030.
Past Lleida by midday, stopped for a sandwich and made a little French boys day by letting him sit in the car and have a play. Cleared Zaragoza by 1400, through the Rioja region and onwards to Santander.
Arrived at the Santemar hotel in the room by 1700. Some nice old cars in the lobby........
Away for Tapas at the Bodega. Had baby cuttlefish (chopitos) , meatballs, Patatas Bravas and chorizo.
Back to the room by 2130, hard work the long drives so very sleepy.
Zzzzzzzz.
Monday 11th
Breakfast was fine, shop for some wine, off for petrol and pulled up at check in for the ferry at 1030.
Told we had a one and a half hours delay so went for a stroll around Santander. Wandered back and had a drink in the cafe.
Boarded and away by 1700, bit later than schedule. Lovely meal and wine at night, langoustines, sole and chocolate mousse.
Breakfast then off to the Spanish Grand Prix at 0900. Signs on motorways saying exit 12,13,=14 for the circuit, my ticket said 15.... disaster! Off ramp and straight in to a town with no signs. Set up stupid sat Nav again and back on track. Arrived by time to a very warm circuit and long walk to our stand. Great day, very hot, not too busy and away after qualifying.
Back to the hotel without a hitch,
Showered and off for tea in the hotel again. Lovely mussels for starters, squid then truffles for me. Kathleen had foie gras, lamb and vanilla tea pudding. Nice bottle of white picked by the waiter, was very good....
Sunday 10th
Farewell to the Silken Park San Jorge, we will miss you. 492 miles to Santander..... Good start, petrol taken 90 miles out and cleared Barcelona by 1030.
Past Lleida by midday, stopped for a sandwich and made a little French boys day by letting him sit in the car and have a play. Cleared Zaragoza by 1400, through the Rioja region and onwards to Santander.
Arrived at the Santemar hotel in the room by 1700. Some nice old cars in the lobby........
Away for Tapas at the Bodega. Had baby cuttlefish (chopitos) , meatballs, Patatas Bravas and chorizo.
Back to the room by 2130, hard work the long drives so very sleepy.
Zzzzzzzz.
Monday 11th
Breakfast was fine, shop for some wine, off for petrol and pulled up at check in for the ferry at 1030.
Told we had a one and a half hours delay so went for a stroll around Santander. Wandered back and had a drink in the cafe.
Boarded and away by 1700, bit later than schedule. Lovely meal and wine at night, langoustines, sole and chocolate mousse.
So all in we did around 3800 miles and achieved 26.5 mpg in the Jag 5.0 XK Portfolio. Anyone interested in our route as follows........
Santander to Picos de Europa tour return day trip..... https://goo.gl/maps/xd8iR
Santander to Biescas, this route has lots of new motorway and is well worth getting on to the old road past Pamplona to see the lake and views ............ https://goo.gl/maps/uccAf
Biescas to Bixessari, Andorra, takes a lot longer than the distance would suggest ........ https://goo.gl/maps/TYTv2
Andorra to St. Jean D'Alcas, lovely run through some wonderful countryside, some tolls .......... https://goo.gl/maps/C1WBL
St. Jean D'Alcas to Cannes, lots of motorway and not a huge amount to see, expensive tolls ......... https://goo.gl/maps/JyFmn
Cannes to Platja D'Aro, good fast roads, cruise control all the way, some tolls, lovely scenery ....... https://goo.gl/maps/sQwyZ
Platja D'Aro to Santander, more scenic than I thought it would be, especially going through La Rioja region, smooth smooth roads, no traffic, very fast and lots of tolls. ......... https://goo.gl/maps/nV5rq
Great trip
Santander to Picos de Europa tour return day trip..... https://goo.gl/maps/xd8iR
Santander to Biescas, this route has lots of new motorway and is well worth getting on to the old road past Pamplona to see the lake and views ............ https://goo.gl/maps/uccAf
Biescas to Bixessari, Andorra, takes a lot longer than the distance would suggest ........ https://goo.gl/maps/TYTv2
Andorra to St. Jean D'Alcas, lovely run through some wonderful countryside, some tolls .......... https://goo.gl/maps/C1WBL
St. Jean D'Alcas to Cannes, lots of motorway and not a huge amount to see, expensive tolls ......... https://goo.gl/maps/JyFmn
Cannes to Platja D'Aro, good fast roads, cruise control all the way, some tolls, lovely scenery ....... https://goo.gl/maps/sQwyZ
Platja D'Aro to Santander, more scenic than I thought it would be, especially going through La Rioja region, smooth smooth roads, no traffic, very fast and lots of tolls. ......... https://goo.gl/maps/nV5rq
Great trip
Lots of autoroutes there. Did you actually drive those routes or was that a Googlemaps approximation?
I started using this site as Google maps has become useless for transferring itn files to TomTom or Garmin
https://www.motogoloco.com/map/
I started using this site as Google maps has become useless for transferring itn files to TomTom or Garmin
https://www.motogoloco.com/map/
Zed 44 said:
Lots of autoroutes there. Did you actually drive those routes or was that a Googlemaps approximation?
I started using this site as Google maps has become useless for transferring itn files to TomTom or Garmin
https://www.motogoloco.com/map/
Used the Jag satnav with 2013 maps but had planned to use mostly autoroutes for the long hauls. When I entered in "avoid tolls", it nearly doubled the time for the journey so opted for tolls instead.I started using this site as Google maps has become useless for transferring itn files to TomTom or Garmin
https://www.motogoloco.com/map/
Don said:
What a terrific trip.
Mrs Don and I love the Picos. Been a few times. Took the Porsche one year on the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry. We created quite a stir wherever we went. (It's bright red). El Coche Rojo!
Our first time to the Picos. Very nice it was, different in some ways to the Pyrenees but similar twisty roads with minimal traffic and not a pothole in sight until you hit the UK roads.....Mrs Don and I love the Picos. Been a few times. Took the Porsche one year on the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry. We created quite a stir wherever we went. (It's bright red). El Coche Rojo!
...... Great trip and write up. My wife was very impressed with the food pics (She's a big foody).
I've covered many of those roads many times. Next time if your heading east from Santander, drop me a line, I know a lovely lovely route there missing all but the new motorway that skirts the lake before Jaca, it goes via Logrono and south pof Pamplona.
I can also recommend a secure parking hotel in Jaca if required.
If I can find the money to sort the front suspension on my dear old 911, I should be there probs now mid September.
I've covered many of those roads many times. Next time if your heading east from Santander, drop me a line, I know a lovely lovely route there missing all but the new motorway that skirts the lake before Jaca, it goes via Logrono and south pof Pamplona.
I can also recommend a secure parking hotel in Jaca if required.
If I can find the money to sort the front suspension on my dear old 911, I should be there probs now mid September.
Wozy68 said:
Great trip and write up. My wife was very impressed with the food pics (She's a big foody).
I've covered many of those roads many times. Next time if your heading east from Santander, drop me a line, I know a lovely lovely route there missing all but the new motorway that skirts the lake before Jaca, it goes via Logrono and south pof Pamplona.
I can also recommend a secure parking hotel in Jaca if required.
If I can find the money to sort the front suspension on my dear old 911, I should be there probs now mid September.
I'd be interested in knowing about that route as I/we will be passing that way twice this summer. Also the hotel, just to see if it's the same one I booked.I've covered many of those roads many times. Next time if your heading east from Santander, drop me a line, I know a lovely lovely route there missing all but the new motorway that skirts the lake before Jaca, it goes via Logrono and south pof Pamplona.
I can also recommend a secure parking hotel in Jaca if required.
If I can find the money to sort the front suspension on my dear old 911, I should be there probs now mid September.
Zed 44 said:
I'd be interested in knowing about that route as I/we will be passing that way twice this summer. Also the hotel, just to see if it's the same one I booked.
Morning Zed I'll put it on here and then anyone else can use it.
Head west out of Santander to Torrelavga, then take the N623 south for around 20 miles where you fork off easterly (Ebro lake is to your right) on to the N232 signposted ONA. This is a lovely fast and sweeping road in places, but narrow and slow in others.
From ONA (Petrol station and small café here) carry on the N232 all the way to Logrono (keeping off the autoroute which at times runs beside it).
From Logrono centre take the north easterly A-12 which is a free duel carriageway for around 20 miles until reaching Estella and heading east on the minor classed NA-132 to Tafalla. From here carry on the NA-132 until Sanguesa, then around six miles north to meet up with the A21 to head east for Jaca
The N-232 and NA-132 are fantastic roads. 95% of this route is on empty well tarmacked roads with some of the finest open scenery in the north of the country IMO..
Love it.
Hotel in Jaca is a 10 minute walk to the centre of the town and is on the right as you enter the suburbs from the west.
We stay here because it has secure underground parking and a couple of lads need this for their motorbikes, not because Jaca feels unsafe..
http://www.eurostarsreinafelicia.com/EN/hotel.html
EDIT. Jaca centre is nice, there's a small well stocked wine shop there where you can sit and have a drink and (if memory serves) Tapas.
I sat there ordering vino in my finest Spanish and all was going well until I expressed my delight in their locally sourced Rioja.
We had driven for mile after mile in and through the Rioja reason so I just presumed we were still in it. Nope, we had moved across the 'border' and we were now in the Province of Huesca.
The locals have a problem with the better known Rioja. I may as well said I preferred Manchester United to Liverpool, whilst drinking in a bar next to Anfield.
Biggo mistako to make o.
All finished amicably though.
Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 26th May 10:29
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