Woke up, and decided to Drive to Spain.

[DoubleSix]

Wozy68 said:

DoubleSix said:

This is what I'm doing, we've actually moved our booking to the Pont Aven, Plymouth to Santander (newer boat, shorter crossing), saves putting 1000 miles on the Porsche just getting there, and god knows how much in fuel costs....

Well done that man, I've taken both ferries over the years ie from Portsmouth or Plymouth.

The Plymouth crossing is much shorter and times usually are better. Finally the ship (The Pont Aven) is far far imo better. Proper bar and entertainment.

I'll be on it on the 3rd of June heading to Santandar.

EDITED. To quickly add, the entertainment is what it is, but passable.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 24th April 13:32

I've got a bit of a wait, 19th of Aug from memory... we've had this trip arranged for some time so I was over the moon to stumble across this thread with so many tips and ideas. The hotels were causing me some headache so having a few options is a god-send!

[D.no]

HoHoHo said:

Not sure why the tunnel cost you so much?

I use it several times a month simply booking on their website, no special deals and I never pay any more than about £80 - £100 return..... When we're looking to go away for a long weekend in July it's £108 return.

Beats the ferry every time Quick, clean and flexible should you be early or late.

The tunnel was £83 for the outbound journey, and I opted for the open-ended flexible return journey at £199 simply because anything could happen during the trip, and I may decide (or be forced) to change my itinerary. I also don't like the pressure of having to be somewhere at a given date or time.

Probably not the best option in hindsight, but I've pushed the button now...

[HoHoHo]

D.no said:

The tunnel was £83 for the outbound journey, and I opted for the open-ended flexible return journey at £199 simply because anything could happen during the trip, and I may decide (or be forced) to change my itinerary. I also don't like the pressure of having to be somewhere at a given date or time.

Probably not the best option in hindsight, but I've pushed the button now...

Makes sense, however in my experience you can turn up a day or so either side of your crossing and they'll put you on the next available train FOC.

[Porkster]

WOW!! What a fantastic thread, thank you so much for posting it.
It makes such a refreashing change from the whats it worth and doom mongering broken porsche threads!!

redback911 said:

The M25 and M1 feels like a prayer wheel to Satan. Driving on the continent makes you realise how awful our lane discipline is and how tiresome our speed restrictions are. Wow, how I miss driving on the Continent.

Entering the Lakes on the dual carriageway is a joy but getting flashed by an irate driver because I happened to blast past them “a little” above the speed limit just reminded me of how sanctimonious us Brits can be.

I drive in the continent for a living and it really hits home when I come back after spending a few weeks away how poor our driving standards are including the people getting excited after you over take them.
Swiss though is like driving in a constant 'London mode' where lane changes are to be expected when ever!
You should (hopefully) notice the heavies are also more repectful as they wait for cars to pass before pulling out and the overtakee normally slows for the overtaker to prevent build up of traffic (except Germany for some reason).

Once again thanks for a great read!

[D.no]

HoHoHo said:

Makes sense, however in my experience you can turn up a day or so either side of your crossing and they'll put you on the next available train FOC.

The website reckons they'll only do that if you arrive within 2 hours of your dedicated slot. If I'd known then what I now know I'd now be better off to the tune of £126!

I'm off to check the terms and conditions of the £199 fare, as I think it also entitles you to free cancellations....

Thanks for the info.

[HoHoHo]

D.no said:

HoHoHo said:

Makes sense, however in my experience you can turn up a day or so either side of your crossing and they'll put you on the next available train FOC.

The website reckons they'll only do that if you arrive within 2 hours of your dedicated slot. If I'd known then what I now know I'd now be better off to the tune of £126!

I'm off to check the terms and conditions of the £199 fare, as I think it also entitles you to free cancellations....

Thanks for the info.

No problem

During the years I've used the Tunnel (and I've made tens of crossings) I think I've only been charged once for a different train than that booked, and that was about £3.79 from memory!

[Another Fluffer]

Just wow OP. Looks like you had an amazing time, thank you so much for all the pictures/videos makes my heart ache as I want to do something just like it!

[GinAFerry]

Hi guys,

Very interesting thread and may I compliment your taste in cars

I wanted to suggest other routes getting to Spain which might make your drive more interesting. There is a route from the operators which are LD Lines and GLDAtlantique - they offer a landbridge package starting from the uk Newhaven-Dieppe France and then StNazaire-Gijon and of course return. You then get to visit both France and Spain and enjoy the experience of visiting these countries!

The Brittany Ferries sailing to Santander from Portsmouth benefits from travelling direct without stopping, however if you did decide on driving you can find tickets from Uk to France (very popular Dover-Calais+Dover+Dunkerque) for the same duration (both roughly 2 hours) and with prices starting from £25! Of course depending on where your final destination is you will need to calculate petrol prices too!


You can visit the ferries to Spain section on http://www.aferry.co.uk/ferry-to-spain-ferries-uk.... there's a Guide to Spain and special offers. I hope this has helped, if not by any means please just skip!

Have a great day,
Gina

Edited by GinAFerry on Thursday 31st May 17:30

[Oi U]

Great thread Redback911, you have certainly thrown down the gauntlet for others to follow.
I'm a little saddened that you weren't able to make a small detour to visit the amazing Millau Bridge.
My last visit to Spain was for the Spanish GP in Barcelona when I drove some of those great roads south of the Pyrenees as well as to Millau.
Where next?
I wonder if the final edited version of this thread could live under the Roads section? Rename it Roads & Road Trips maybe??

[redback911]

Oi U said:

Great thread Redback911, you have certainly thrown down the gauntlet for others to follow.
I'm a little saddened that you weren't able to make a small detour to visit the amazing Millau Bridge.

Agreed! It was tough call and was initially on the plan. Day 9 (Barcelona to Grasse) to was supposed to be via Millau, in the end we felt the 200km detour (650km + 200km) was a little too much in one day:



Actually, the most disappointing roads - Belgium excluded ;-) were the motorways between Barcelona and Nimes. Given another opportunity we would do something along the lines of the following, and take 1.5 days to get from Barcelona to Grasse:

[DoubleSix]

Another great tip Redback911.

If you'd prefer PMs let me know as I don't wish to ruin the flow of the thread. However, few questions; do you think Jaca to Barcelona is viable in one stint and if so how long do think it would take?

[Wozy68]

DoubleSix said:

Another great tip Redback911.

If you'd prefer PMs let me know as I don't wish to ruin the flow of the thread. However, few questions; do you think Jaca to Barcelona is viable in one stint and if so how long do think it would take?

Direct or going via somewhere? Direct no probs 4 hours or so.. Via N260 then E9 (great roads) to Barcelona would take around 8 hours including fuel and beer stops. You'd be missing out though if you took the shorter trip imo. (though still great roads)

Daniel ........ Where's that vid of the N260 you promised me?

Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 25th April 20:39

[redback911]

DoubleSix said:

Another great tip Redback911.

If you'd prefer PMs let me know as I don't wish to ruin the flow of the thread. However, few questions; do you think Jaca to Barcelona is viable in one stint and if so how long do think it would take?

Definitely! Including about 300km of the N260.



Total km for the day is 470km, so factor 6-7hrs of driving and 2hrs for stops and lunch. Actually we have a great lunch stop mid-way. Let me dig it out.

[redback911]

Wozy68 said:

Daniel ........ Where's that vid of the N260 you promised me?

Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 25th April 20:39

Aha, done! Well part one (of two) at least

So will upload overnight (900mb). It shows the first 150km, from Biscas to El Pont de Suert. Will post link soon as I am up.

DoubleSix, both parts of the video will show 90% of the route I just posted or you.

Also the great restaurant is http://www.fondafarre.com/ (small hotel as well) located at Baro near Sort. It is a good mid-way to Barcalona and the food was really good. I will post some images.

Edited by redback911 on Wednesday 25th April 21:32

[redback911]

Oh, meant to add that the C16/E9 is really good in/out of the Barcelona area. Although there is a fixed speed camera on the route, see the image below.



I'll figure out the exact position for you.

[Wozy68]

lol, after El Pont de Suert the road can get really interesting. If memory serves coming back Westwards between Perves (yup) and El Pont de Suert I met a 38tonner coming the other way taking up all the road.

The road can be about the width of a decent cycle path in parts with sheer drops, and guess where I met it. Bit of opposite lock, a grin, a grimmace, a prayer and alot of luck saw me through though.

That was back in the day when I did it on a motorbike.

Thats partly why I now take the car. ..... More controllable when out of control.

EDITED To say: Great Daniel lookforward to the vid.

Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 25th April 21:06

[DoubleSix]

Top work lads, thanks. No question of missing the N260, just want to make sure my stints are realistic. Difficult isn't it? Don't want them to be so long that you don't feel you can stop for sights, lunch etc, or so short that one becomes frustrated. I'm sure all will pan out!



EDIT: Is Jaca picturesque? , what so impressed me about Redbacks' trip was that he seemed to stop in nice places and make it more than just a 'road trip', I'm taking the Mrs as co-pilot so don't just want to end up pit-stopping for sleep and water. I'd be gutted to drive out of a dull town to find a beautiful little village a few miles down the road, but I guess this is unavoidable to some extent.

Edited by DoubleSix on Wednesday 25th April 21:16

[redback911]

Wozy68 said:

lol, after El Pont de Suert the road can get really interesting. If memory serves coming back Westwards between Perves (yup) and El Pont de Suert I met a 38tonner coming the other way taking up all the road.

Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 25th April 21:06

Yup, we have a few of those types of moments. Its all going on the blooper reel

I am the same, I used to do these trips European trips on bikes. SIGH... Those were the days, when I was immortal and single...





Still getting to and from the South of France was pretty fun using the auto-train:

[Wozy68]

redback911 said:

Yup, we have a few of those types of moments. Its all going on the blooper reel

I am the same, I used to do these trips European trips on bikes. SIGH... Those were the days...





Still getting to and from the South of France was pretty fun using the auto-train:

Cooooooooool pics

Last time I did the trip on a bike was back 2007 on a Triumph 675 Daytona.

I knew I was in trouble when after 80 miles I'd got cramp on the way down the M5 to Plymouth. Only 2000 miles to go yet, up and down mountains then. .... I was in agony by the time we got back.

Fellow bikers were a Ducati 1098S, K5 GSXR, CBR600 and a 600GSXR. Great days .......... Duke was the prettiest bike there, but I still think the 675 was a close second. Sorry no pics, I took a film camera and have yet still not scanned them onto a PC.

[redback911]

Wozy68 said:

Last time I did the trip on a bike was back 2007 on a Triumph 675 Daytona.

Yum! Love the bike. Never rode one, but it certainly looked the part.

Wozy68 said:

I knew I was in trouble when after 80 miles I'd got cramp on the way down the M5 to Plymouth. Only 2000 miles to go yet, up and down mountains then. .... I was in agony by the time we got back.

Fellow bikers were a Ducati 1098S, K5 GSXR, CBR600 and a 600GSXR. Great days .......... Duke was the prettiest bike there, but I still think the 675 was a close second. Sorry no pics, I took a film camera and have yet still not scanned them onto a PC.

Great days indeed! Although if I think back I cannot believe the distances we travelled on the bikes. Pure torture on sports bikes. The trips were much simpler and more basic they were so much more rewarding. We zip about in our tin boxes on roads like the N260 but the experience is so much better on bike. Having said that I would never compromise on the fact that a car is so much practical on a trip like this. So glad I had the opportunity to ride bikes in the South of France and Italy, pure pleasure and the general attitude to bikers compared to the UK was a revelation.