New Long Trip... Luxemburg to Faro to Galicia to lux...

[MonsieurX]

Hey there,

If anyone is interested in joining, im going down to Faro Portugal for 2.5 weeks and back to Luxembourg in 3 weeks total trip...

Yes im taking the Atom... I was so miserable in the 5 series last year - but it poured all day non stop... not sure my box of belgium beer would have made it to Switzerland in one piece...

3 days to go down there with stops in Angouleme (say hello to Monza), Madrid (say hello to friends from Ecuador), then Faro visit friends form Lux, surf, eat, drink, and drive!

2.5 weeks later (time is relative down there), im heading up Lisboa, lovely roads near Cintra, Nazareh (surf spot), Porto, and then a special road, then the coast of galicia... back to France and Angouleme and finally Lux.

Each day is about 800KMs - return might be slower cause of twisty roads... Im still planning the coast return trip...

Any tips, things to see, places to stay or roads to absolutely drive welcome...

Tech stuff:
Looks like 5500KMs, will 5 liters of oil be enough? I have the NA 245...
Any idea if i'll need to change tires half way? Im getting fresh Yoko 052 for the trip...

If you want to come along, i dont think there will be problems.

Driving through southern Spain is going to be very hot... Any good advice?

Thanks in advance
X

[nfcf]

5l over 5k seems excessive. Last year I did over 5k and the oil level didn't move (k24 but still)

Queijadas de sintra are very nice and worth trying/picking up if you are going through Sintra.

In Porto I'd try a francesinha and white port if you've not had either before. Been a while so I can't recommend anywhere to go for food/drink. Given the reduced number of tourists this year I'd try and go to Majestic Café (decent food and nice architecture) and possibly Livraria Lello (nice architecture but you apparently have to pay to get in now?!).

On the way back you could possibly stay at A Casa da Botica and Hotel Costa Esmeralda Suites (not stayed at the second one yet but I'm planning to next year).

Oh and I find putting a camel back (or other drinks container) half filled with water in the freezer the the night before makes the hot weather much easier to deal with.

[phil4]

Driving through southern Spain is going to be very hot... Any good advice?

Try the motorbike trick of soaking your clothing.

[Steve Gibson]

This is worth a read, Xavier. The Sportugal trip in 2017. Some nice hotels and roads in Graeme's planning, later in the thread.

viewtopic.php?f=64&t=16619&hilit=sportugal

[MonsieurX]

thanks so far guys!

Steve, i still have to go through that Sportugal trip you did... Lot of homework

[GraemeW]

Monsieurx

I would advise against 800kms a day in an Atom. Not everyday. I’ve done a number of Euro trips in the Atom and we average around 250km a day which is about right. Occasionally we push it a bit longer just to get somewhere but haven’t done 800km.

It will be very tiring driving that far in a day especially if it’s hot as well. Yes I know it can be done but I wouldn’t think it fun.

As to roads, yes Portugal has many great atomic roads. I used to live there, sadly not with an atom. Another option heading north after Lisbon is to head inland towards Covilha and Sierra de Estrella Park. Some splendid roads there. Porto where I used to live doesn’t have many good Atom roads but is a great place to visit

Into Spain some of the best roads of the SPortugal 2017 trip were on the routes through Galicia into Asturias and Cantabria. Actual routes on the link Steve sent. Empty roads, perfectly surfaced, and in the mountains so plenty of twisties. I’m going to back there someday

[MonsieurX]

Thanks for the tips GraemeW

After a lot and a lot of looking... Im still going to do 3x 800KMs per day to go down there. I figured the return to be a bit shorter per day in KMs... 5-600KMs. Still in the planning

Still going to be 6 hour drives. We'll see... Im not going to rush

[autobackup]

Rather you than me - good luck if you think that you will cover 800kms in 6 hours as I think that it's far more likely to take nearer to 10 to 11 hours - which, in itself, would be an extremely impressive AVERAGE of circa 80 kms/hr including comfort breaks, food and refuelling!!

Good luck - I hope that you manage to achieve your planned itinerary!

[MonsieurX]

It's more like 800KMs in 8-10 hours on the way there. To be seen. Im not rushing.
I've done a trip Lux to Clastre (fr) circuit which is 400KMs (sub zero temps) - track day (quite technical) - 400KMs back (without brakes). (I wouldn't recommend this circuit for Atoms...)

My plan (somewhat revised day by day) is to do 800KMs in two days to Madrid, 3rd day 900KMs to Faro (because nicer roads that might be less scorching hot than via Sevilla - thanks to Calimoto app.)

Then i have either the Atom or a rent a car to visit for 2.5 weeks. I know Lisbon already up to Peniche. So i will resume the north trip (via the highway North of Nazare - which i will visit earlier (along with Tarifa, and other hot surf spots).

Then on the return trip i go from Faro to Porto (4-5 hours drive), so i think i will stay somewhere north of Porto - to gain time on the return trip.

From there it's Mountain to Geres, Ourense, back to the beach, Vigo and do the coast (if not too boring). Then i go to A Coruna, Leon, Asturiss (somewhere to visit a friend), then towards Biarritz and then home... 600KMs average i think... x 4-5 days.

I dont have much time for sight visiting but if the mountain/beach roads are boring or too dangerous, i can shorten up or stay somewhere cozy a few days

The hardest part so far is finding a secured parking hotel near Madrid... Still have to call hotels or find somewhere secluded...

[Steve Gibson]

We've parked Atoms in several car parks around northern Spain. Usually just outside the hotel we are using. With a car cover on, they attract very little attention.

[MonsieurX]

need a car cover now

[Steve Gibson]

https://www.specialisedcovers.com/outdoor-car-covers/

I have no connection to them. But I've used one of their covers for 12 years. They're well made.

[nfcf]

I might be too relaxed then as I never bothered to look for secure hotel parking when travelling in the nomad.

[MonsieurX]

I might be too relaxed then as I never bothered to look for secure hotel parking when travelling in the nomad.
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Depends on the places. In Madrid... No way.. .seriously, not going to take any chances. The car cover was a great idea!