Trip of a life time !! Pyrenees AND Alps !
Discussion
akadk said:
I would not want to do 880 in 12 hrs !!
I think those days are over now, driving fast for long periods in France is far too risky!I've done a few 14hr drives in my EVO 6 which has non reclining seats, that's not fun and it probably took 14hrs because of the amount of fuel stops (every 180 miles)
at my hotel in Sort now
amazing day on the N260
will post a write up later
I did the C28 but sadly it was pissing it down with rain and 4degrees ... so couldnt enjoy it.
checked weather and sods law it looks like it will be like that tomorrow also, but then by dry and Sunny on Weds when I am not here !!
amazing day on the N260
will post a write up later
I did the C28 but sadly it was pissing it down with rain and 4degrees ... so couldnt enjoy it.
checked weather and sods law it looks like it will be like that tomorrow also, but then by dry and Sunny on Weds when I am not here !!
started the day in Pau,
then set off into the Pyrenee's ... always a good start when you see this
started climbing, on the French side
this place is stunning
Finally made it to the top of th Col, 1,700 meters up
absolutely breath taking !
Then, into Spain, I hit the N260
Wow, the road is absolutely stunning.
From the very first mile it totally blew me away !
The sun came out, and it got up to 25 degrees, and very hot.
As I headed further east, I drove into rain clouds, and the weather turned
Then took the C28 to Veihla and climbed to over 2,000 meters.
Saw a whole load of Lotus' drivers
Made it to Sort, would highly recommend the Hotel Les Brases, and there is a awesome Rock Cafe down the road, where I had an awesome handmade burger and fries and 2 beers for 10euro !
Bring on more mountains tomorrow !
then set off into the Pyrenee's ... always a good start when you see this
started climbing, on the French side
this place is stunning
Finally made it to the top of th Col, 1,700 meters up
absolutely breath taking !
Then, into Spain, I hit the N260
Wow, the road is absolutely stunning.
From the very first mile it totally blew me away !
The sun came out, and it got up to 25 degrees, and very hot.
As I headed further east, I drove into rain clouds, and the weather turned
Then took the C28 to Veihla and climbed to over 2,000 meters.
Saw a whole load of Lotus' drivers
Made it to Sort, would highly recommend the Hotel Les Brases, and there is a awesome Rock Cafe down the road, where I had an awesome handmade burger and fries and 2 beers for 10euro !
Bring on more mountains tomorrow !
Edited by akadk on Monday 30th May 20:52
Edited by akadk on Monday 30th May 20:54
akadk said:
also, why didnt anyone warn that fuel is so much cheaper in Spain !!
I filled up in Pau at 1.56 a litre, and 30 miles away in Spain its 1.36 !!
Nice pictures, but I can't understand why someone with a Jag and a Ferrari is obsessed with mpg and cheap petrol. Am I missing something?I filled up in Pau at 1.56 a litre, and 30 miles away in Spain its 1.36 !!
Just got to Barcelona, well, staying in a hotel opposite Corcuit De Catalunya, so outside Barca.
Full report coming later, but WOW
The N152 is simply the best road I have ever ever driven ever!
I did it both ways, it was so good.
Absolutely breath taking !!
Ps. As said, MPG is just something I've always liked to track whether I'm driving a A2 TDI or a V8 Jag....but only when I'm cruising....but when I'm in the mountains, MPG goes out of the window and it's all about the noise!
Full report coming later, but WOW
The N152 is simply the best road I have ever ever driven ever!
I did it both ways, it was so good.
Absolutely breath taking !!
Ps. As said, MPG is just something I've always liked to track whether I'm driving a A2 TDI or a V8 Jag....but only when I'm cruising....but when I'm in the mountains, MPG goes out of the window and it's all about the noise!
akadk said:
Just got to Barcelona, well, staying in a hotel opposite Corcuit De Catalunya, so outside Barca.
Full report coming later, but WOW
The N152 is simply the best road I have ever ever driven ever!
I did it both ways, it was so good.
Absolutely breath taking !!
Ps. As said, MPG is just something I've always liked to track whether I'm driving a A2 TDI or a V8 Jag....but only when I'm cruising....but when I'm in the mountains, MPG goes out of the window and it's all about the noise!
I usually CRINGE when I hear blokes discussing MPG and it doesn't make any difference once you've bought the car anyway BUT I can see why you are curious, I became way more curious when I noticed that I average 23mpg in my Clio 182 and 17mpg in my V10 Toerag, my EVO I can't be bothered to even work out, I just know that I get nervous when people walk behind it with a lit cigarette!Full report coming later, but WOW
The N152 is simply the best road I have ever ever driven ever!
I did it both ways, it was so good.
Absolutely breath taking !!
Ps. As said, MPG is just something I've always liked to track whether I'm driving a A2 TDI or a V8 Jag....but only when I'm cruising....but when I'm in the mountains, MPG goes out of the window and it's all about the noise!
so, my final day in the Pyrenees
nice leisurely start, as was under no time pressure today.
Got into the car about 0930, and the sun was out and it was 18c !
filled up just outside Sort ... if Carlsberg made petrol stations!!
carried on along the N260, and I thought I had dreamt the day before, but no, this road is the road that keeps on giving ! It was just amazing !!
after a little while, it straightened out a little, and I was able to stick the cruise control on, and just enjoy the scenery
until I reached the N152
So, the N152 is a section of the N260 and I was looking forward to this immensely ... first off, look at it on a map and its mind boggling, also it features on top driving roads so was intrigued to see what it is all about.
but, just as I turned onto it, my day was nearly ruined ... i got reversed into !!!
luckily no damage done .. one of those moments when the car in front doesnt know whether to go straight or take the turning so stops ... then decides to reverse to make the turn ... I'm thinking "he's got to have seen me " ... he keeps reversing ... so I start beeping the horn ... no, he keeps reversing !! I beep more franticly and he keeps going !! I think eventually he realised I was there and ever so slightly kiss my front bumper ....
the irony of this all .... it was a Jaguar XF !! the only F'ing Jaguar I've seen on the whole trip !!!! LOL
any way, that wasnt going to dampen my spirits ...
found a place to pull off and took a break to have some food and drink, and set up the go pro's
I must have been there for 15 minutes at least, and didnt see a single car go past ... this bodes well i thought !
so, off I set, onto the N152
WOW !
what can i say about this road
it has stunning scenery
the surface is great
its wide
it has the most collection of curves I have ever experienced
2nd gear turns, 3rd gear sweeps and 4th gear blats ...
28 miles of relentless driving pleasure !
I really cant do it justice, but it is positively the best driving experience I have had to date and I have driving all the UK has to offer, and alot of top European roads ...
I GoPro'd it all, in car and also front facing camera on bonnet.
the N152 takes you up to the Col de Toses, up to 1,700 meters - its a great climb, not too steep
There is a huge drop on one side for a while, which is a little disconcerting ! it was basically empty
I have Carbon Ceramic brakes on my F-TYPE R at home, and I could have done with them here ... this is possibly the only road I have driven where CCB's would have excelled vs. Steels ... and while the Steel's held up, I was very concious of not overheating them, or the fluid - but in the end I never had any issues.
I made it to the other side, and after cooling down the car, stopped for a beer to collect my thoughts and reflect.
I thought, f**k it, I'm in no rush to get to Barca, so I'm gonna go and drive it again !!!
I'm so glad I did
As with most roads, they are very different in either direction
And heading back was an even better experience!
I was hugging the rock face this time, instead of the death drop, which physiologically allowed me to push the car harder and faster, also I had better visibility, and was climbing more than I was descending .. .
As I was nearly back at the start, a motorbike went past and gave me the "slow down" gesture ... I thought maybe police up ahead ... but no ... these bad boys had made it onto the road !
they would have dented the bonnet thats for sure !
WOW
N152 - what a superb way to end my Pyrenee adventure .... the cherry on the icing on top of a very big cake
I then cruised to Barcelona ... got to hotel
and they upgraded my room !
So, that is the Pyrenee's done - wow
they completely exceeded expectations, without a doubt
If anyone is even considering this trip - do it, without hesitation, its insane
nice leisurely start, as was under no time pressure today.
Got into the car about 0930, and the sun was out and it was 18c !
filled up just outside Sort ... if Carlsberg made petrol stations!!
carried on along the N260, and I thought I had dreamt the day before, but no, this road is the road that keeps on giving ! It was just amazing !!
after a little while, it straightened out a little, and I was able to stick the cruise control on, and just enjoy the scenery
until I reached the N152
So, the N152 is a section of the N260 and I was looking forward to this immensely ... first off, look at it on a map and its mind boggling, also it features on top driving roads so was intrigued to see what it is all about.
but, just as I turned onto it, my day was nearly ruined ... i got reversed into !!!
luckily no damage done .. one of those moments when the car in front doesnt know whether to go straight or take the turning so stops ... then decides to reverse to make the turn ... I'm thinking "he's got to have seen me " ... he keeps reversing ... so I start beeping the horn ... no, he keeps reversing !! I beep more franticly and he keeps going !! I think eventually he realised I was there and ever so slightly kiss my front bumper ....
the irony of this all .... it was a Jaguar XF !! the only F'ing Jaguar I've seen on the whole trip !!!! LOL
any way, that wasnt going to dampen my spirits ...
found a place to pull off and took a break to have some food and drink, and set up the go pro's
I must have been there for 15 minutes at least, and didnt see a single car go past ... this bodes well i thought !
so, off I set, onto the N152
WOW !
what can i say about this road
it has stunning scenery
the surface is great
its wide
it has the most collection of curves I have ever experienced
2nd gear turns, 3rd gear sweeps and 4th gear blats ...
28 miles of relentless driving pleasure !
I really cant do it justice, but it is positively the best driving experience I have had to date and I have driving all the UK has to offer, and alot of top European roads ...
I GoPro'd it all, in car and also front facing camera on bonnet.
the N152 takes you up to the Col de Toses, up to 1,700 meters - its a great climb, not too steep
There is a huge drop on one side for a while, which is a little disconcerting ! it was basically empty
I have Carbon Ceramic brakes on my F-TYPE R at home, and I could have done with them here ... this is possibly the only road I have driven where CCB's would have excelled vs. Steels ... and while the Steel's held up, I was very concious of not overheating them, or the fluid - but in the end I never had any issues.
I made it to the other side, and after cooling down the car, stopped for a beer to collect my thoughts and reflect.
I thought, f**k it, I'm in no rush to get to Barca, so I'm gonna go and drive it again !!!
I'm so glad I did
As with most roads, they are very different in either direction
And heading back was an even better experience!
I was hugging the rock face this time, instead of the death drop, which physiologically allowed me to push the car harder and faster, also I had better visibility, and was climbing more than I was descending .. .
As I was nearly back at the start, a motorbike went past and gave me the "slow down" gesture ... I thought maybe police up ahead ... but no ... these bad boys had made it onto the road !
they would have dented the bonnet thats for sure !
WOW
N152 - what a superb way to end my Pyrenee adventure .... the cherry on the icing on top of a very big cake
I then cruised to Barcelona ... got to hotel
and they upgraded my room !
So, that is the Pyrenee's done - wow
they completely exceeded expectations, without a doubt
If anyone is even considering this trip - do it, without hesitation, its insane
i will edit together a vid when im back in UK
but here is a teaser vid
https://youtu.be/kGZcsmf_wY4
(no apologies for the choice of music btw !)
but here is a teaser vid
https://youtu.be/kGZcsmf_wY4
(no apologies for the choice of music btw !)
hhhmmmmmm ... checking weather for the Alps on Saturday and Sunday and it doesnt look good
temps no issue, just the fecking rain that is plaguing europe right now, it wont have cleared
still, if its bad, I'll sack it off and hit the autoroute, as I'm time pressured for that anyhow and heavy rain in the alps wont be fun !
temps no issue, just the fecking rain that is plaguing europe right now, it wont have cleared
still, if its bad, I'll sack it off and hit the autoroute, as I'm time pressured for that anyhow and heavy rain in the alps wont be fun !
Zed 44 said:
The problem with this thread is that the best kept secret may be getting out of the bag.
Let all those who think that the Alps and Scotland are the best places to go keep on thinking that.
Agree. Let all those who think that the Alps and Scotland are the best places to go keep on thinking that.
OP .... Great write up ....... Just keep those roads to yourself
I know that petrol stop very well ... a couple of miles east out of Sort.Hate to say it (though you might be lucky) but the traffic is the killer in the Alps.
Spain all the way
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff