Rwc13
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So we started our journey to the Algarve on Friday afternoon. The plan was to stop overnight in Portsmouth, get the ferry to Santander ealy Saturday morning, arrive Santander Sunday morning, and drive to the Algarve through the day Sunday.
However, halfway to Portsmouth I get a text saying our Brittany Ferry has been cancelled!!! No apology, just that and to call a number.
When I call them, I get an incredibly rude woman, who fails to sound the slightest bit apologetic, and tells me my only option is to wait until Sunday night and get the ferry arriving Santander Tuesday morning, so losing 2 days of our holiday. My daughter is only with us til the following Sunday so that just wasn't acceptable.
So, we make a dash for the Eurotunnel, get a train about 9pm and stay the night in northern France.
The following day, leaving at 7am, I am expecting that we will manage about 800-1000 miles of the 1300 miles total, but we barely manage 600. The traffic down to Bordeaux was shocking. We didn't see a single accident or road works, but the continuous bunching and stop start seemed to be caused by idiot french drivers undertaking and then pushing their way into a queue of steadily fast moving traffic, causing everybody to brake and often stop. I've never experienced anything like it. It was horrendous.
Anyway, after 15 hours and 600 miles we made it to northern Spain to stay the night.
Here the journey changed completely. We did the 650 miles to the Algarve the following day in 8 hours. The road were amazing, mostly empty, and the drivers we encountered all courteous and sensible. And we never saw a police car in the whole 650 miles, or an accident, or road works, or a queue.
And I have to say, the roads through and around the Pyrenees and northern Spain were absolutely gorgeous. The countryside was breathtaking and the roads smooth, entertaining and quiet. Would love to return just to drive them at some point in future.
So conclusions, I will try to avoid ever driving through France again, particularly the road down to Bordeaux. I will certainly drive through Spain and Portugal again, perhaps returning at some point just to drive the roads in and around the Pyrenees. If am hugely disappointed with the attitude of Brittany Ferries to ruining the start of our carefully planned holiday. I will be seeking compensation on my return and thinking of other ways to get to northern Spain in future. I am sure Benny will proclaim it being their French roots, and he may be right...........
However, halfway to Portsmouth I get a text saying our Brittany Ferry has been cancelled!!! No apology, just that and to call a number.
When I call them, I get an incredibly rude woman, who fails to sound the slightest bit apologetic, and tells me my only option is to wait until Sunday night and get the ferry arriving Santander Tuesday morning, so losing 2 days of our holiday. My daughter is only with us til the following Sunday so that just wasn't acceptable.
So, we make a dash for the Eurotunnel, get a train about 9pm and stay the night in northern France.
The following day, leaving at 7am, I am expecting that we will manage about 800-1000 miles of the 1300 miles total, but we barely manage 600. The traffic down to Bordeaux was shocking. We didn't see a single accident or road works, but the continuous bunching and stop start seemed to be caused by idiot french drivers undertaking and then pushing their way into a queue of steadily fast moving traffic, causing everybody to brake and often stop. I've never experienced anything like it. It was horrendous.
Anyway, after 15 hours and 600 miles we made it to northern Spain to stay the night.
Here the journey changed completely. We did the 650 miles to the Algarve the following day in 8 hours. The road were amazing, mostly empty, and the drivers we encountered all courteous and sensible. And we never saw a police car in the whole 650 miles, or an accident, or road works, or a queue.
And I have to say, the roads through and around the Pyrenees and northern Spain were absolutely gorgeous. The countryside was breathtaking and the roads smooth, entertaining and quiet. Would love to return just to drive them at some point in future.
So conclusions, I will try to avoid ever driving through France again, particularly the road down to Bordeaux. I will certainly drive through Spain and Portugal again, perhaps returning at some point just to drive the roads in and around the Pyrenees. If am hugely disappointed with the attitude of Brittany Ferries to ruining the start of our carefully planned holiday. I will be seeking compensation on my return and thinking of other ways to get to northern Spain in future. I am sure Benny will proclaim it being their French roots, and he may be right...........
