MGTC trip to Portugal

May - June 2018

We will be driving our 1946 MG from Wickhambrook in Suffolk UK to the Algarve in southern Portugal. Taking our time to enjoy the journey.
The car has been prepared to the best of my ability. We will see how it goes. Read more

27footprints
26days
159photos
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List of countries

Portugal
Spain
France
England

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2.7kmiles traveled

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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- May 24, 2018, 10:03 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 2,329 ft
- Spain Benavente 42.00161, -5.66142°0’6” N 5°39’40” W
Day 10
What a great drive!
May 24, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
On the N625 through the mountains. We decided to point the car towards Portugal rather than go to Santiago de Compostela because the weather forecast thunder. As it turned out it was a lovely day and what a great drive. Take a look at the photos. Over 50 miles of sweeping bends and climbs and descents. I unleashed all of my 54 horse power. It took us around six hours to do 150 miles. We ended the day knocking on the door of a modern 4 Star hotel who gave us the room for 60 euros instead of the 77 pounds hotels.com wanted for the same place. Blubelle is in an underground car park which is good as the thunder storm is about to arrive. We had a lovely meal at a truckers restaurant across the road from the hotel. Two nice courses, a bottle of red wine, water and bread for 12 euros
Addition from Mandy...The lake was out of this world beautiful...but has a sad story...7 villages lie under it _ the dam was constructed in the 80's and in the main town Riano the townspeople slept on their rooves to try and stop the demolition...sadly progress is always at a price...but the result is stunning,!

I have just edited day seven adding links to videos of the musicians.Read more
Loooks absolutely beautiful! Did you have your paints out, Amanda? Off to yoga this morning; we’all miss you. Sue xx
5/25/18Reply
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- May 25, 2018, 5:51 PM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 1,329 ft
- Portugal Torre de Moncorvo 41.174, -7.0519841°10’26” N 7°3’7” W
Day 11
nós chegamos em Portugal na chuva
May 25, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
A nice drive on empty roads from the bumpy roads of Spain to the better roads of Portugal. The weather started dry, we stopped and put up the hood just before the rain started which was on and off and heavy at times. Nothing came in the car which surprised me as we did not put in the side windows. This is the first time since I bought the car nearly three years ago that it has been driven in heavy rain.
The rain cleared as we left the mountainous area and we are now in a beautiful little sleepy town at the top of a hill called Torre de Moncorvo which you will see on the find penguin map in the north of Portugal opposite Porto. We were instant celebrities as we arrived up a long and very steep first gear cobbled road into the centre. If the sat nav had any sense it would have taken us up the road that winds gently up around the edge! Many photos were taken of the car which is now outside the beautiful old hotel Casa da Avó with the tonneau up. We had time to walk around town and visit the church before the sky turned black and the heavens opened.
Our hotel is worth a mention as it was the best so far in terms of old old fashioned luxury Casa da Avó was truly beautiful I will post some pictures.
We are still about 650klms from our destination.Read more
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- May 26, 2018, 10:01 PM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 180 ft
- Portugal Vale de Estacas 39.2416, -8.6936339°14’30” N 8°41’37” W
Day 12
Santarem - antiquity hitting hard times
May 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We arrived in this once proud stronghold of Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, Moors then Christians after 210 miles of driving.
Well done Peter and little car.
Actually just picked Santarem as has easy to reach hotel and we think we can get to Algarve tomorrow from here.
So not expecting anything we stroll (up hill) to town. Not a great tourist town but it was very interesting. Who discovered Brazil? He is buried here in the ancient church of Grace....not Vasco da Gama .... Pedro Alvarez Cabral! OK the swots among you knew that.
There is a lovely market building and lots of ancient properties in varying stages of decay...think the vandals have been busy. Lots of empty shops shut in the main streets a testament to the success of online purchasing or a decreasing population. However it was beautiful the main square all cream and white against a dark grey sky.Read more
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- May 26, 2018, 10:50 PM
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 184 ft
- Portugal Vale de Estacas 39.24158, -8.693939°14’30” N 8°41’38” W
Day 12
Driving
May 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
The roads of England even the motorways have far too many pot holes even on the M25 and to much traffic when compared to the roads of France it is a real pleasure driving in the countryside. We avoid the cities whenever possible. Spain started off very good but as we got south of the mountains the roads deteriorated to the point where we were dodging broken surfaces, holes and dimples. Portugal has by far the best roads best signage and most rescue phones on motorways. Hardly any traffic at all on the Portuguese motorways it is what England must have been like in the sixties. Petrol prices are similar in England and France, they can be 30 cents a litre cheaper in Spain. Portugal has the highest petrol price at around 1.7€ per litre.Read more
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- May 28, 2018, 11:35 PM
- 🌙 14 °C
- Altitude: 125 ft
- Portugal Ribeiro da Luz 37.08669, -8.7330937°5’12” N 8°43’59” W
Day 14
At our destination - Praia da Lux
May 28, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
We have arrived at my friend Verners house in the Algarve after well over 1600 miles, the place has a high percentage of British as it is half term. It feels nice to be able to relax and not think about the next days travel.Read more
Hi Peter. My name is David Greig. I am a member of the MG T Reg and met you in Flanders this year whilst on your way South. I have My TD on the Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry Sept 14th this year and intend returning to the UK by road following your route South in reverse.
5/30/18Reply
Tim Pitt Hi Peter/Mandy, Congratulations on your trouble free trip. No surprise to me with all the preparations and checks made by Peter before departure. I have stayed in your part of Portugal on many occasions, playing golf. (I know you don't approve!) There is a huge fish restaurant in Lagos, just down the road from Praia da Lux facing the waterfront. I cannot recall it's name but it is a converted fish market, mostly frequented by the locals so relatively good value and well worth a try during your stay.
5/31/18Reply
Glad your
5/31/18Reply
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- May 31, 2018, 11:03 PM
- 🌙 14 °C
- Altitude: 1,499 ft
- Portugal Igreja de Santa Maria 38.84202, -7.5920138°50’31” N 7°35’31” W
1
Day 17
The best Estremoz has to offer
May 31, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
After a few relaxing and totally enjoyable days with my friend Verner it is time to set off home via a different route.
We stopped at Silves and walked up to the pretty castle. I got talking to a classical guitarist who was playing outside for coins. We chatted for a good twenty minutes, he is Australian.
We stopped for lunch at MC Donald's which had about fifty motorcycles outside. It was great.
Tonight we have ended up in a five star hotel because every other in the area is booked by the motorcyclists who are part of a ride up Portugal, there are thousands of them and we enjoyed having them going past beeping and waving to us in our little car. http://www.les-a-les.com The hotel we found is a thirteenth century castle pousada called Castelo de Estremoz at the top of a cobbled hill. Four poster beds and expensive antiques in every room.
We walked down the hill into town for a meal and came across a religious ceremony so we joined the procession to the church then went and found a restaurant. It looks a nice town.Read more
Andrew Barrett-sprot Wow that is a fancy hotel!
6/1/18Reply
A taste of Malta Peter we have losts of these especially at this time of the year
6/2/18Reply
Angel From Belgium Hi Peterken and Mandy, I really think after such a trip you both deserve a 5 stars! Hope you had a good night sleep for a next day of adventure :-)
6/2/18Reply
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- Jun 2, 2018, 7:00 PM
- 🌧 18 °C
- Altitude: 3,314 ft
- Spain El Barco de Ávila 40.36048, -5.5275140°21’38” N 5°31’39” W
Day 19
3500ft up and the little car did well
June 2, 2018 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
And the old driver wasn't too bad either!
I think we must have climbed at least 2,500ft in the rain with steaming roads ...good practice for the. Pyrenees.
N B This post is one day late as it covers Fridays trip from the Castle Estremoz to El Barco d'avila. The N110 we are following is a spectacular drive on great road surface. We passed through Elvas which is a world heritage site...see the amazing aqueduct...also the town is a walled city. The hotel at El Barco didn't look so great but it's location is lovely....Roman bridge and castle surrounded by mountains. Also on this route we followed the cherry growing centre of Spain...now feeling very sick from my 1kilo purchase!Read more
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- Jun 2, 2018, 9:00 PM
- 🌧 15 °C
- Altitude: 3,484 ft
- Spain El Royo 41.90879, -2.6455741°54’32” N 2°38’44” W
Day 19
Heading for the mountains.
June 2, 2018 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Tomorrow we reach the mountains, crossing near Pamplona not on main roads so it will be a challenge.
As I write we are experiencing a thunder storm so I hope it clears up overnight or we might stay here a day longer.
We are in a lovely little hotel built 600 years ago in a village called El Royo. Chosen because it was as far as we wanted to drive today. Today's drive was on really good roads with beautiful scenery. We stopped for lunch at a tapas bar in Torrecabaileros then later for a coffee at a interesting looking town called San Esteban de Gormaz. Take a look at the pictures. We need to leave before they close the road tomorrow as the is a bicycle race coming through the village at 11am.Read more
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- Jun 3, 2018, 9:14 PM
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 584 ft
- France Lauhibar 43.16427, -1.2442443°9’51” N 1°14’39” W
Day 20
Technical update 2
June 3, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Happily nothing major to report.
There are only two fuses normally on the TC. It blew one of them a couple of days ago. The fuse was the one which by passed the ignition and feeds the ancillary items it is 35amp. The car is positive earth however I have phone chargers and sat nav wired the other way and isolated from the chassis. They have their own fuse in that line and it blew that also so that might be a clue. I couldn't find anything wrong and it hasn't done it again.

The other problem caused the car to misfire going up a mountain, by the time I found a bus stop to pull up in I had worked out it was ignition and probably not a plug. I took out the rotor arm from the distributor and cleaned it with the fine wire brush I use for cleaning spark plugs. That did the trick so within a few minutes we were back on the road.Read more
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Peter Sprot MGTC trip to Portugal
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- Jun 3, 2018, 9:41 PM
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 584 ft
- France Lauhibar 43.16427, -1.2442443°9’51” N 1°14’39” W
Day 20
encore une fois nous sommes en France
June 3, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Not as many miles as usual today because it was very twisty with many tight hair pin bends in the pyrenees. It started raining hard when we got about 3/4 way through so we stopped in a village and sheltered until it stopped. The car never missed a beat over the mountains. The steepest had it in second gear a few times with a very slow average speed.
Lunch at a roadside cafe was fun with people wanting to sit in the car for photos.
We are now just into France at St Jean Pied de Port which is where a lot of pilgrims start the journey to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It's a surprisingly lovely town clearly catering to tourists and focusing on the pilgrims. A Japanese pilgrim was earning money to continue his journey by cutting hair on the street so both of us had a haircut while he told us his story. He started two years ago in Tokyo and has traveled right across Asia and Europe hitchhiking and cutting hair to earn money as he travels. After Spain he is going to Portugal then to England then Switzerland. We have met some fascinating people in this trip.
Tonight's hotel is simple with a nice veranda overlooking the pool and garden. I think we are the only guests.Read more
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