May 19th-26th 2011 - El Gran Premio España! (BOOKING NOW!)

[Paschal]

Have a great trip, will be watching the race on telly so will keep an eye out ;->

remember to drive on the right and watch the first roundabout in France ... apart
from going around the opposite way I think the rule is traffic on the roundabout gives way to traffic joining

I say watch the first roundabout because I got off the ferry and pottered along driving on the right
and thought "this isn't too hard".. then got to the first roundabout and everything on the passenger seat
ended up in the footwell.....

http://www.france4families.com/drivingi ... heRoad.htm

Roundabouts are the same as in Ireland, except for the Arc de Triomphe which is as you say

[xpuerto]

Was talking to a French colleague today who originates from southern France. She recommended this route: (ps could still add more via points to avoid main roads) [url="http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roscoff,+France&daddr=Pornic,+France+to:Sables-d'Olonne,+France+to:Rochelle,+France+to:Marmande,+France+to:Toulouse,+France+to:Andorra+la+Vella,+Andorra+to:Avinguda+de+la+Vila+de+Madrid&geocode=FQaD5wIdsizD_ylnXK1-ReETSDFFSFvQ-e_afg%3BFUzuzgIdluvf_ymldyVWKg0FSDHNer4an59uRw%3BFbF5xQId4vjk_ykfuHnXimcESDFAsgkeUjcNBA%3BFcZQwAIdxWXu_yl1PSXJg1MBSDFAlu5gktMFBA%3BFVEDpwIdf3cCACnFaPTFEo-qEjFgshVIF2UGBA%3BFYtZmQIdhwQWACn_UnXsb7uuEjEwEEEvnPYGBA%3BFQudiAIdmDgXACkL-yVKK_WlEjGAcpmRcJQACg%3BFSKcewId4GUqAA&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=41.641105,2.757053&sspn=0.042848,0.069609&ie=UTF8&z=6"]http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roscoff,+France&daddr=Pornic,+France+to:Sables-d'Olonne,+France+to:Rochelle,+France+to:Marmande,+France+to:Toulouse,+France+to:Andorra+la+Vella,+Andorra+to:Avinguda+de+la+Vila+de+Madrid&geocode=FQaD5wIdsizD_ylnXK1-ReETSDFFSFvQ-e_afg%3BFUzuzgIdluvf_ymldyVWKg0FSDHNer4an59uRw%3BFbF5xQId4vjk_ykfuHnXimcESDFAsgkeUjcNBA%3BFcZQwAIdxWXu_yl1PSXJg1MBSDFAlu5gktMFBA%3BFVEDpwIdf3cCACnFaPTFEo-qEjFgshVIF2UGBA%3BFYtZmQIdhwQWACn_UnXsb7uuEjEwEEEvnPYGBA%3BFQudiAIdmDgXACkL-yVKK_WlEjGAcpmRcJQACg%3BFSKcewId4GUqAA&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=41.641105,2.757053&sspn=0.042848,0.069609&ie=UTF8&z=6[/url]


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I suggest this variation to avoid the heavy (and boring) traffic of the metropolitan area of Barcelona and Andorra (*): http://goo.gl/maps/vDCF

These are other options: http://goo.gl/maps/he8J, http://goo.gl/maps/zmMi

(*) Andorra is beautiful, the "Pas de la Casa" is a fantastic mountain pas and Andorra stores are full of interesting products but the traffic is scary.

[xpuerto]

Have a great trip, will be watching the race on telly so will keep an eye out ;->

remember to drive on the right and watch the first roundabout in France ... apart
from going around the opposite way I think the rule is traffic on the roundabout gives way to traffic joining

I say watch the first roundabout because I got off the ferry and pottered along driving on the right
and thought "this isn't too hard".. then got to the first roundabout and everything on the passenger seat
ended up in the footwell.....

http://www.france4families.com/drivingi ... heRoad.htm

Roundabouts are the same as in Ireland, except for the Arc de Triomphe which is as you say

When I travel the UK a couple of summers ago I adapted well to the Scottish roundabouts but when I got to London I looked to the left at the first roundabout

[leamyj]

Bear this in mind for Thursday as we are planning on travelling through Kildare heading for Carlow etc. Maybe the Dublin contingent
would be better off heading down the N11??

The western/midland group could meet as planned in Portlaoise/Carlow, not being affected by any of this??

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/AA-Roadwatch ... th-II.aspx

[xpuerto]

http://www.france4families.com/drivingi ... heRoad.htm

Spanish rules are very similar but the speed limit on motorways is temporarily (I hope) of 110 km/h.

A comment, Catalan police is different from Spanish.

Spanish Highway Patrol is the "Guardia Civil de Tráfico" (green uniforms) but in Catalonia is the "Mossos d'Esquadra" (blue uniform).

[shenab]

Bear this in mind for Thursday as we are planning on travelling through Kildare heading for Carlow etc. Maybe the Dublin contingent
would be better off heading down the N11??

The western/midland group could meet as planned in Portlaoise/Carlow, not being affected by any of this??

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/AA-Roadwatch ... th-II.aspx

Thanks John, I posted this on the Skype chat last night - hope the rest of the gang saw it! Alternative route would also be Blessington, Baltinglass to Carlow and that would avoid all of the Queenie bits!

I'm going to work that morning in Ballsbridge so will hook up with you all around Enniscorthy I guess. Will leave town around midday .. 2.20 to Rosslare according to Gmaps so we should be in plenty of time.

There is an Esso Station on the RHS of Cliff road, just before you get to the Harbour. I suggest this is our meeting point, we can fill up and travel down to the Port together.

S

[shenab]

Thanks to Allan for the update here with ref to the warning triangles, one only is required for non-Spanish registered vehicles. Two required for Spanish vehicles, but to avoid difficulties with the police it is recommended two triangles should be carried.

I'm posting the list in case our honorary Spanish members have bits to add to assist us in our packing!!

In every Car it is the law to have the below

* Warning Triangle x 2
* Spare Bulb Set
* Hi Viz jacket per person
* First Aid Kit
* Drivers License
* Passport
* Car VLC
* Car Insurance Certificate
* Headlight Beam Benders
* Ferry Booking info - Shena will bring
* Accommodation booking - Steve and Shena will bring


Tow rope
Screw Driver set - Shena
1.8 spare aux/fan and ps belts.
nb 1.6 alt belt and pas/ac belt
plug leads
sockets, spanners, pliers, vise-grips, no 10 spanner
WD40 - can never have enough, Shena x 1
Small torch - chance to use that gift we got from Cloggy!!
1 long plug lead
Spark plugs
2 cans puncture repair - Shena x 1
1 fire extinguisher
Various fuses

Fun Stuff - in case you forget

Camcorder
Camera
Sat nav
GP Tickets - incl car parking.

Necessities
Barry's Tea - Shena
Jaffa Cakes - PJ
Coffee
..
..

[Steve]

I suggest this variation to avoid the heavy (and boring) traffic of the metropolitan area of Barcelona and Andorra (*): http://goo.gl/maps/HvEG

These are other options: http://goo.gl/maps/he8J, http://goo.gl/maps/zmMi

(*) Andorra is beautiful, the "Pas de la Casa" is a fantastic mountain pas and Andorra stores are full of interesting products but the traffic is scary.

I was up at Pas de la Casa (on a bus though) for skiing, really amazing roads/views.
OK, def will have to discuss you suggestion

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[xpuerto]

* Warning Triangle x 2 - Yes
* Spare Bulb Set - No longer mandatory (try to change the mk3 light bulbs )
* Hi Viz jacket per person - per person outside the car (I've only one)
* First Aid Kit - not required (in Spain)
* Drivers License - of course
* Passport - Yes
* Car VLC - Yes
* Car Insurance Certificate - Yes
* Headlight Beam Benders - I dont know
* Ferry Booking info - Shena will bring
* Accommodation booking - Steve and Shena will bring


Beware of snakes!!!
Gasoline is more expensive in France than in Spain.
Plug adapters (Irish plugs are similar to the British BS 1363?)
Sunscreen (SFP 30 or higher), It's not a joke!
A Cap
..

[xpuerto]

I was up at Pas de la Casa (on a bus though) for skiing, really amazing roads/views.

Pas de la Casa is a beautiful road but the traffic in the capital (Andorra la Vella) and the Spanish-Andorran border is horrible.

The alternative for Coll de Puymorens (*) and Collada de Toses is just as beautiful but there is no control in the Spanish-French border.

(*) There is an alternative to take the toll tunnel.

[leamyj]

3 more days @ work, WHOO!!!!

[goseatonio]

Today I enjoyed a nice meeting in the area you're visiting next week, and I made this shots I hope you'll enjoy it.

The village is Tossa de Mar, and the road from "Tossa de Mar" to "Sant Feliu de Guixols" is really amazing.

[goseatonio]

Its said that the road from Tossa to Sant Feliu has 365 curves, one for each day of the year. To be honest, I never counted it.

[xpuerto]

A nice weather forecast!

[leamyj]

It just gets better and better