Motorsport Trucking to Portimao Portugal

I'm a fairly recent convert to the Audible app and I thoroughly recommend it for anyone doing a long drive. I find Alan Partridge a bit hit and miss but downloaded bis Oasthouse Podcast and I have to say it's bloody hilarious and keeps me going all day through still more cracking scenery.
 

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The scenery between Burgos and Bilbao is fantastic and must be one of the most scenic motorway drives anywhere and as I keep saying, cruising along at 54 mph allows you to really take it in and enjoy it.

After an easy 9 hour drive we pull into the services about 30 mins north of Burgos.

Again, no parking fees, all facilities available, good food at sensible prices. Oh to have this in the UK and maybe there wouldn't be such a shortage of drivers if they were treated like human beings.....!!
 

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Up early to get into Bilbao as we know customs are going to be a pain with the Carnets.

True to form, it's chaos with tehe Spanish customs making life difficult be eventually everything was sorted and we checked in a boarded the Cap Finistere for the 24 hour crossing into Portsmouth.

Loads of bikes were lined up up and I spoke to a few guys who had had a great time in Spain. Note to self, get my arse back out there on 2 wheels.......!!

The Spanish are very hot on checks so lots of dogs mooching around searching for drugs and more importantly illegal immigrants trying to stow on board. Thankfully, Bilbao doesn't have the same issues as Northern France but you still have to be very careful.
 

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The crossing was uneventful and dull. Luckily the Bay of Biscay behaved itself and was reasonably calm although I did hear a few bangs and judders through the night.

I always enjoy getting into Portsmouth and being able to see what's left of naval fleet docked in port.
 

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Time to unload and go through the slow process of immigration. Portsmouth is a nightmare in a truck as they generally only have one check post open and they do each truck in turn.....slowly. Luckily, there are only 9 trucks on the boat so it takes around half an hour to get through. I do know guys who have sat there in the queue for 3 hours which really isn't a good start to the day.

Anyway, immigration to a very thorough check on all the trucks to make sure no unwanted visitors are present.

All good, Carnet stamped in customs and out on to the wet roads of Blighty. Quite a shock after over 2 weeks of wall to wall sunshine but at least it gets the windscreen clean.

3 hours later, the truck is parked and I head home.
 

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Monday 4th October

Not quite done yet as I've got to get the tyres unload in Oldbury. As the tyres are scrap they will be shredded and used to make things like playground mats and used in teh cement making process.

Every one has to be rolled out on to the pile so it was a decent workout.

Finally all is done and I take the truck back to base, sort my gear out and head home after a great trip and experience.

Looks like I'm booked for next years trip and the question "do you fancy doing the Helsinki round next year as well?" was asked. Feck it. Why not was my reply so really looking forward to that.

Trips like this are quite a rare thing and it's not normal trucking but hope you've enjoyed my ramblings. I've been lucky enough to get the chance to do it and after that last couple of years it's been brilliant to just get away.

Right, now time to do the invoice...........:beerjug:
 

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Brilliant Chris...Loved this.

I arrived back from Portugal last night after leaving from the CTunnel on Thursday evening, obviously nowhere near as relaxing, but we did have a whole day on Saturday of chatting with neighbours and drinking cold beer and warm wine:D

French Customs stopped us as we got on the A16 toll road, about 50 clicks from Calais...They wanted to dismantle the plywood covering inside the van, there were 5 of them and they were very insistant, but my casual attitude and smooth talking:D soon had us on our way.

Next year...Might have to pop over.
 
Thanks, really enjoyed your report :thumb2

Working at home stuck in a home office (me), or gallivanting around in a a great country, with great weather, all that fresh air and open space. Nah, can't see the attraction myself. :D
 
Great read sgt; the 10.5 to the gall over here is something like; but it's not to hard to get i below that if your feeling lazy; the rd through the mountains to Bilboa is like you say; a fantastic piece of rd; infact most of the rd infastructure; and set up for a normal kind of human work environment puts us to shame; you sound like one happy bunny with the way the trip as worked out; good luck and here's to more of them for you;:beerjug:
 


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