Safe Return Doubtful

TransCantabrica 2023 – the old ways

Day 1 – to Abbeville

Whatever slant you try to put on it the motorway journey down through England is pretty uninspiring.

My usual plan to stop overnight at Brill was shelved this time, as the Folkestone vets, from where I collect Roja’s certificate, has changed its opening hours, back from 8.30 to 10 am, meaning I need to collect it the evening before.

Though, by chance, this worked out for the best.

I was down to Folkestone without any significant delay, and without the M6 Toll road, having left home just after 9. Approaching Folkestone, I checked to see if my Eurotunnel booking could be brought forward, cheaply, which at quiet times it often can. They only open these opportunities an hour or two beforehand.

Fortunately it was possible, to the 6.20 pm crossing, with zero cost.

The terminal was incredibly quiet, considering it’s half term for some schools. I was offered the 5.20 crossing, which worked out even better.

I’ve driven for just over an hour to Abbeville and parked up at the sports complex on the edge of town.

There’s a chance now, that I can hit the north west Spanish coast with three days of 7 – 8 hours of driving each day. I had originally planned for another.

This is the plan for the next 90 odd days..

I’ve spent many winter hours working on a route through the mountains with hiking and cycling opportunities. The rough idea being the Camino dos Faros route on the Galician coast, and as March arrives, head into the Geres-Pineda mountains, then to Montesinho, and then traverse the Canatbrians across to Basque Country.

I’ve no doubt I’ll wander off the route, but it certainly was fun planning it.

Mapy.cz