Woke up 2 years ago and decided to goto Spain
Discussion
Woke up 2 years ago and decided to goto Spain
I have been into cars for over 40 years and more recently have been dreaming about buying myself a Porsche, saw them win a few times at Le Mans.
Two years ago I went to the launch of the new Boxster 981 and then the following month I saw an interesting post from a PH user, Redback911, about a trip across Europe. This got me thinking that I would like to do something like this one day.
So twelve months of dreaming and a good dose of man maths bought me round to buying a brand new Boxster 981 PDK which I took delivery of last September.
Now many hours followed of planning routes on Google maps gave me my planned itinerary. I did once in 1982 drive across to Munich but was all autobahn so for this first proper European driving holiday I am going to keep it to one and a bit countries.
Plan as follows
Day 1 Leave Portsmouth on Brittany Ferries to Bilbao on Sunday 11th May
Day 3 Straight off the ferry to the Vizcaya transporter Bridge in Bilbao and then down to the Guggenheim Museum and, for me, to mainly look at the architecture .
Found a secure underground car park only about 300 metres away.
Then onto Biescas via Pamplona(not stopping here). Biescas is a small town near the start of the famous N260.
Day 4 A long day of 550kms. Almost the full length of the N260 with a detour into Andorra, I want to drive one of the highest roads in Europe, nearly 8000ft. Then drop down to a hotel in Campdevonol .
Day 5 I am going to partly retrace my steps and then spend a night in Pamplona. Hoping to do the loop suggested by Wozy of Sort to Vielha.
Day 6 A slightly easier day starting by walking the route the bulls take! Then onto Leon and A66 to Oviedo and staying at what must be one of the most futuristic hotels, Ayre Hotel.
Day 7 Drive through the Picos de Europa and onto Santander for a bit of the requisite souvenir shopping before catching the evening ferry back.
I’m going by myself so no ‘Are we there yet?’ from rest of family!!
Car is cleaned, tyres blown up, oil ok, full of Tesco 98 Momentum and ready to go. Tolltickets tag purchased and supply of euros ready
Camera and laptop ready so hope to post up a few pictures on here
Link to Google maps showing the first half of the trip. Do not know how to make this an image in this post
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Ram%C3%B3n+Ru...
A big thanks to Daniel to give me the inspiration and excitement to undertake this adventure
I have been into cars for over 40 years and more recently have been dreaming about buying myself a Porsche, saw them win a few times at Le Mans.
Two years ago I went to the launch of the new Boxster 981 and then the following month I saw an interesting post from a PH user, Redback911, about a trip across Europe. This got me thinking that I would like to do something like this one day.
So twelve months of dreaming and a good dose of man maths bought me round to buying a brand new Boxster 981 PDK which I took delivery of last September.
Now many hours followed of planning routes on Google maps gave me my planned itinerary. I did once in 1982 drive across to Munich but was all autobahn so for this first proper European driving holiday I am going to keep it to one and a bit countries.
Plan as follows
Day 1 Leave Portsmouth on Brittany Ferries to Bilbao on Sunday 11th May
Day 3 Straight off the ferry to the Vizcaya transporter Bridge in Bilbao and then down to the Guggenheim Museum and, for me, to mainly look at the architecture .
Found a secure underground car park only about 300 metres away.
Then onto Biescas via Pamplona(not stopping here). Biescas is a small town near the start of the famous N260.
Day 4 A long day of 550kms. Almost the full length of the N260 with a detour into Andorra, I want to drive one of the highest roads in Europe, nearly 8000ft. Then drop down to a hotel in Campdevonol .
Day 5 I am going to partly retrace my steps and then spend a night in Pamplona. Hoping to do the loop suggested by Wozy of Sort to Vielha.
Day 6 A slightly easier day starting by walking the route the bulls take! Then onto Leon and A66 to Oviedo and staying at what must be one of the most futuristic hotels, Ayre Hotel.
Day 7 Drive through the Picos de Europa and onto Santander for a bit of the requisite souvenir shopping before catching the evening ferry back.
I’m going by myself so no ‘Are we there yet?’ from rest of family!!
Car is cleaned, tyres blown up, oil ok, full of Tesco 98 Momentum and ready to go. Tolltickets tag purchased and supply of euros ready
Camera and laptop ready so hope to post up a few pictures on here
Link to Google maps showing the first half of the trip. Do not know how to make this an image in this post
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Ram%C3%B3n+Ru...
A big thanks to Daniel to give me the inspiration and excitement to undertake this adventure
I blew up the tyres before our Scottich hoon last week.
20 minutes up the road TPMS alam on a rear showing down to 1.9 bar.
Pulled into services airline area to find lots of hissing from a hole caused by a clip on balance weight in the middle of a nearly new Michelin 305!
We blew it up hard and headed for my regular tyre co who had been warned we'd need a new tyre, they sourced one 20 miles away, collected it and we were back on the road in less than 2 hrs.
Hope your trip goes well, looking forward to the reports and pics.
dw
20 minutes up the road TPMS alam on a rear showing down to 1.9 bar.
Pulled into services airline area to find lots of hissing from a hole caused by a clip on balance weight in the middle of a nearly new Michelin 305!
We blew it up hard and headed for my regular tyre co who had been warned we'd need a new tyre, they sourced one 20 miles away, collected it and we were back on the road in less than 2 hrs.
Hope your trip goes well, looking forward to the reports and pics.
dw
Have a great trip matey, I'll be there myself by the 3rd of july. Glad yr doing the Sort to Vielha part of the trip (amongst others).
N261 north to Santander in the Pictus de Europe on the way back to the ferry. Almost as good as the N260 Imo
Enjoy your trip in your new motor
N261 north to Santander in the Pictus de Europe on the way back to the ferry. Almost as good as the N260 Imo
Enjoy your trip in your new motor
Edited by Wozy68 on Friday 9th May 22:58
Been touring this area of Spain for the last 4 years on our annual bike trip, Done most of what you are planning and have to say you have researched very well . You will have a fantastic time. The n260 and the branch off to Sort/Vielha is one of my favourite roads but beware livestock and their deposits. Less of a problem in a car though.
Road into and out of Andorra also very good but Andorra itself wasnt to my likng/Pamplona on the other hand is fascinating. Enjoy
Road into and out of Andorra also very good but Andorra itself wasnt to my likng/Pamplona on the other hand is fascinating. Enjoy
We went to Spain last year, went through France, lovely trip in the 986 down there. Wasn't so great driving back to Calais in one hit with a face swollen by the onset of mumps though, I looked like Desperate Dan. The fact that they don't sell pain killers in French service stations didn't help much either.
Still it looks like you may have been following us!
Still it looks like you may have been following us!
PowerMalc said:
Woke up 2 years ago and decided to goto Spain...
...I’m going by myself so no ‘Are we there yet?’ from rest of family!!
A big thanks to Daniel to give me the inspiration and excitement to undertake this adventure
Woot! Nice one, Epic Trip ahead. Give my best to the N260 :-)...I’m going by myself so no ‘Are we there yet?’ from rest of family!!
A big thanks to Daniel to give me the inspiration and excitement to undertake this adventure
[quote=Wozy68]Have a great trip matey, I'll be there myself by the 3rd of july. Glad yr doing the Sort to Vielha part of the trip (amongst others).
N261 north to Santander in the Pictus de Europe on the way back to the ferry. Almost as good as the N260 Imo
Enjoy your trip in your new motor
Wozy can I just check that the road from Pictus de Europe to Santander is the N621 not the N261? - i am finalising our trip which i will report on 1 June to 8 June.
Cheers
N261 north to Santander in the Pictus de Europe on the way back to the ferry. Almost as good as the N260 Imo
Enjoy your trip in your new motor
Wozy can I just check that the road from Pictus de Europe to Santander is the N621 not the N261? - i am finalising our trip which i will report on 1 June to 8 June.
Cheers
Singh911]ozy68 said:
Have a great trip matey, I'll be there myself by the 3rd of july. Glad yr doing the Sort to Vielha part of the trip (amongst others).
N261 north to Santander in the Pictus de Europe on the way back to the ferry. Almost as good as the N260 Imo
Enjoy your trip in your new motor
Wozy can I just check that the road from Pictus de Europe to Santander is the N621 not the N261? - i am finalising our trip which i will report on 1 June to 8 June.
Cheers
N261 through Riano. It starts in Leon and is a little confusing to start with as at times its listed as the N265 as well. This road is on the eastern fringes of the region and is quite stunning. Allow yourself plenty of time for the ferry if you decide to go this way. N261 north to Santander in the Pictus de Europe on the way back to the ferry. Almost as good as the N260 Imo
Enjoy your trip in your new motor
Wozy can I just check that the road from Pictus de Europe to Santander is the N621 not the N261? - i am finalising our trip which i will report on 1 June to 8 June.
Cheers
Finally I'd suggest taking the CA131 to Santander via N634 at the end of the 621 rather than the motorway, lovely scenery and goes through a couple of nice coastal towns. It's a very nice way.to finish the trip if you have time
Edited by Wozy68 on Sunday 11th May 04:03
RiccardoG said:
Enjoy the trip, its probably one of the best ways to enjoy a modern Porsche. I've done a couple in my 997 and they were my favourite times with it, in fact, its mostly the only thing I use it for.
I couldn't agree with this more, even the older ones. After driving in Europe, when coming back to the UK you realise what an utter awful place it is to drive a high performance car/bike it is now.Have a fantastic time.
I'm planning a crazy epic trip myself July/August. Crazy because in GT3 world, I'm actually going to put more mileage on my GT3, in one trip than most GT owners are allowed to do in one year lol.
Calais to Albert ( to visit WW1 graves, and pay respects ) then onto the Milau Viaduct, next the Spainish Pyrenness right to left, next Madrid, final destination, Ayamonte. Relax for 7 days, then do it all again
I'm planning a crazy epic trip myself July/August. Crazy because in GT3 world, I'm actually going to put more mileage on my GT3, in one trip than most GT owners are allowed to do in one year lol.
Calais to Albert ( to visit WW1 graves, and pay respects ) then onto the Milau Viaduct, next the Spainish Pyrenness right to left, next Madrid, final destination, Ayamonte. Relax for 7 days, then do it all again
Finally arrived in Bilbao after two sleepless nights on the ferry.
My new car has now been christened with the rain
It was pouring as I made my way down to Vizcaya Bridge and Guggenheim Museum.
Going across on the transporter bridge gives you a strange sensation as you glide across about 20 feet above the water.
Onto the museum in the downpour but it stopped soon after I got there, had a walk round the outside but did not go in, not into the Arts.
How about this for the spider from alien hell
Had a fairly easy driving day of mostly motorway, big day tomorrow of about 400kms of the N260 so an early start..
Vey pleased with my new car it has performed faultlessly. Kept it to 65mph today and just filling the tank gave me 37.7mpg I'm sure it will be a lot less at the end of tomorrow
My new car has now been christened with the rain
It was pouring as I made my way down to Vizcaya Bridge and Guggenheim Museum.Going across on the transporter bridge gives you a strange sensation as you glide across about 20 feet above the water.
Onto the museum in the downpour but it stopped soon after I got there, had a walk round the outside but did not go in, not into the Arts.
How about this for the spider from alien hell
Had a fairly easy driving day of mostly motorway, big day tomorrow of about 400kms of the N260 so an early start..
Vey pleased with my new car it has performed faultlessly. Kept it to 65mph today and just filling the tank gave me 37.7mpg I'm sure it will be a lot less at the end of tomorrow
Edited by PowerMalc on Tuesday 13th May 20:12
Wow what a day!
270 miles of the N260 at an average speed of 39mph, 30.8 mpg and 7 hours driving.
Went from Biescas to Campdevanol via Andorra and France.
I underestimated how long it would take to drive roads like these. Coming out of Biescas took me 30 minutes to cover 16 miles which had me worrying if I would make the hotel today!!
Will have to see if I can shorten my 500km drive to Pamplona tomorrow
The road did eventually open up a bit and I must have turned hundreds if not thousands of corners. Very tiring and demanding lots of concentration but extremely rewarding and satisfying if you like driving as I do.
I blasted out of one hairpin in 2nd alongside this canyon wall and the noise sounded and felt like it was coming from 3 flat sixes!! These are the car moments that I will remember for ever. I got to the hotel on an adrenaline high.
Andorra was a strange place. It was busy but nowhere to easily park and seemed like two towns at each end split by an 8000ft mountain pass. Filled up with 98RON at £1.09 a litre
Plenty of French police/customs checking cars on the french side, they did not stop me as you can not get a 50" Plsma TV in a Boxster
Taken at the highest point in Andorra at 7800 feet. Was sunny but only 8oC
Shot of very narrow canyon taken at a standstill
270 miles of the N260 at an average speed of 39mph, 30.8 mpg and 7 hours driving.
Went from Biescas to Campdevanol via Andorra and France.
I underestimated how long it would take to drive roads like these. Coming out of Biescas took me 30 minutes to cover 16 miles which had me worrying if I would make the hotel today!!
Will have to see if I can shorten my 500km drive to Pamplona tomorrow
The road did eventually open up a bit and I must have turned hundreds if not thousands of corners. Very tiring and demanding lots of concentration but extremely rewarding and satisfying if you like driving as I do.
I blasted out of one hairpin in 2nd alongside this canyon wall and the noise sounded and felt like it was coming from 3 flat sixes!! These are the car moments that I will remember for ever. I got to the hotel on an adrenaline high.
Andorra was a strange place. It was busy but nowhere to easily park and seemed like two towns at each end split by an 8000ft mountain pass. Filled up with 98RON at £1.09 a litre
Plenty of French police/customs checking cars on the french side, they did not stop me as you can not get a 50" Plsma TV in a Boxster
Taken at the highest point in Andorra at 7800 feet. Was sunny but only 8oC
Shot of very narrow canyon taken at a standstill
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff