22-08-2019, 09:15 PM
Have I lost the plot?
Having just about run out of big hills to climb around here, I thought I would try a different tack. Some friends of mine have walked the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in Western Spain. Sadly my many years of sport and motorcycling has meant that my knees aren't up to much more these days than a gentle stroll to the boulangerie or our local hostellerie, so long distance walking is out, I'm afraid. However, with a view to trying to emulate the worthy pilgrims, I'm going to do it in my RP saloon. The challenge is to do it as close to the designated pathways as is reasonably possible in a vehicle, and I will be setting off on 19th September.
Pilgrimages aren't meant to be easy and this run will be a test for both me and the car.
As you probably are aware, the engine has recently been rebored and is going very nicely. I'm now in the process of going through the car from front to back, checking everything over and making sure all is shipshape for what is going to be a 3000km return journey that will take me 8 days. Not quite as epic as going across Russia, but I'm going to do it alone and without back-up. Why? You might ask. Because I can.
The first day is going to be a long one, as I need to get as near to the Pyrennées as possible because day 2 will take me over the mountains and I'll not be going very fast (not on the uphill bits anyway). I've booked my first overnight stop near Lourdes which is 262 miles from here. I shall set off early!
Day 2 will take me over the Col de Pourtalet (1794m) and then on to Calahorra, a journey of 211 miles.
Day 3 will get me to Léon (239 miles) but it's mainly flat running.
Day 4 should get me to Santiago de Compostella after a further 200 miles.
The return journey will take a slightly different route, although for Day 5 I will backtrack to Léon as there aren't many options in that part of Spain. However,
Day 6 will be another long day of 265 miles to Tudela, to get me ready for
Day 7 which will be through Andorra to Ax les Thermes, including the Port d'Envilara at 2407 metres (can't pass that up can I?), another long day of 276 miles, but I should be used to it by then and the car should be nicely run in.
Day 8 should get me home. It's a fairly flat run of 215 miles.
Your advice is sought for what tools I should take with me, and what spares might be a good idea. I've got most things but I don't want to overload the car trying to take everything that's on my garage shelves. I've got breakdown cover should something happen that I can't fix myself, and I think I can cope with most things.
I'm hoping that with preparation for the worst I can hope for the best, as Jack Reacher says.
Wish me luck!
(I'm thinking of changing my pseudo to Mad Jack Mac Mad the winner of last year's Mr Mad competition....)
I will post a daily update once I'm under way, hopefully with some pics as well.
Bruce
Having just about run out of big hills to climb around here, I thought I would try a different tack. Some friends of mine have walked the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in Western Spain. Sadly my many years of sport and motorcycling has meant that my knees aren't up to much more these days than a gentle stroll to the boulangerie or our local hostellerie, so long distance walking is out, I'm afraid. However, with a view to trying to emulate the worthy pilgrims, I'm going to do it in my RP saloon. The challenge is to do it as close to the designated pathways as is reasonably possible in a vehicle, and I will be setting off on 19th September.
Pilgrimages aren't meant to be easy and this run will be a test for both me and the car.
As you probably are aware, the engine has recently been rebored and is going very nicely. I'm now in the process of going through the car from front to back, checking everything over and making sure all is shipshape for what is going to be a 3000km return journey that will take me 8 days. Not quite as epic as going across Russia, but I'm going to do it alone and without back-up. Why? You might ask. Because I can.
The first day is going to be a long one, as I need to get as near to the Pyrennées as possible because day 2 will take me over the mountains and I'll not be going very fast (not on the uphill bits anyway). I've booked my first overnight stop near Lourdes which is 262 miles from here. I shall set off early!
Day 2 will take me over the Col de Pourtalet (1794m) and then on to Calahorra, a journey of 211 miles.
Day 3 will get me to Léon (239 miles) but it's mainly flat running.
Day 4 should get me to Santiago de Compostella after a further 200 miles.
The return journey will take a slightly different route, although for Day 5 I will backtrack to Léon as there aren't many options in that part of Spain. However,
Day 6 will be another long day of 265 miles to Tudela, to get me ready for
Day 7 which will be through Andorra to Ax les Thermes, including the Port d'Envilara at 2407 metres (can't pass that up can I?), another long day of 276 miles, but I should be used to it by then and the car should be nicely run in.
Day 8 should get me home. It's a fairly flat run of 215 miles.
Your advice is sought for what tools I should take with me, and what spares might be a good idea. I've got most things but I don't want to overload the car trying to take everything that's on my garage shelves. I've got breakdown cover should something happen that I can't fix myself, and I think I can cope with most things.
I'm hoping that with preparation for the worst I can hope for the best, as Jack Reacher says.
Wish me luck!
(I'm thinking of changing my pseudo to Mad Jack Mac Mad the winner of last year's Mr Mad competition....)
I will post a daily update once I'm under way, hopefully with some pics as well.
Bruce