I did indeed! Very few roads test driver and truck as much as that one. So beautifully quiet and remote that part of world too.
Throw a spanner in the works here it don’t say it has to be a truck
The wild Atlantic way Ireland there is not a lot that comes close to it breathtaking
one road I couldn’t resist le ■■■■■■■■■■■■ / Verdon Gorges
Also the road from the steel works through Flumet to megeave
Grimsel
I have to say one section of hwy1 transcanada took my breath away one morning in 09 , I can still remember it twas a crisp morning after overnight snow and to my left was a herd o Buffalo the morning light shining of the snow on their backs and just behind then coming down a small hill were a a herd of deer in single file it was like a scene from pioneer days twas stunning.
If we’re loaded fully freighted after messing about for a few days collecting groupage then finish off Friday to Saturday at the warehouse in Porto , the planners back in England could never understand why it took all day to cover 145 miles from Porto to the Spanish border .
It was that dreaded IP5 , crawling up and down it .
The people that built it ripped off the government and fled to Brazil , the original route was supposed to better, a bit more flatter with more viaducts , but they took the money and ran .
The Jura valley area in France is one of my favourites , from Bessancon to the Italian border, now a weight limit but it does not stop the EE drivers from using it , there are picturesque lakes and river rafting camping areas .
The top of Somosierria mountain before you get to Madrid is nice too , that mountain is a radiator killer .
The Basque county is also stunning if you go off track and the same for the area around Teruel , that’s wine country.
I like the road through Teruel too.(between Valencia and Zaragoza.) Teruel is also famous for its regional hams.The road is now an autovia and an easy drive with plenty of refreshment stops.Back in my younger days the road was all single carriageway and transited every village en route.Some stretches weren’t even tarmaced.Franco’s legacy I suppose.
Gidders:
I like the road through Teruel too.(between Valencia and Zaragoza.) Teruel is also famous for its regional hams.The road is now an autovia and an easy drive with plenty of refreshment stops.Back in my younger days the road was all single carriageway and transited every village en route.Some stretches weren’t even tarmaced.Franco’s legacy I suppose.
Guess you took the unofficial Zaragoza ring road then? Via, (deep breath) La Alumina De Dona Godina?
Before they built the new motorway , I do remember the village with the red bricked medieval buildings and a castle, the village had a lot of ham legs hanging up , by the side of the road.
By turning off the dual carriageway before Zaragoza, you could save about 45 kilometres, the short cut via Almunia had plenty of decent coffee stops / restaurants and hotels with swimming pools if you got weekended there .
And of course the Bocadilos with pork, steak , bacon and eggs or the delicious Tortilla. But the Almunia road was a bit bumpy in some places and a weigh bridge along there somewhere.
Sunbilla truck stop had some decent views , hot showers, good food, either a discount from fuelling up there or they gave you cash on the percentage of how many litres you bought, the road from Pamplona to Irun was picturesque on the national 121 .
Teruel had a dinosaur museum, and when you drive from Castellon heading to Teruel , there was a restaurant owned by an Australian lady .
If you got robbed by invisible immigrants who lived in the Orange groves around Valencia, she would give you a free meal or loan you some money, but I did hear of tummy problems with poor kitchen hygiene.
Yes,Franglais,I took the road via La Almunia(etc).In fact I still do in my car.From Carinena to La Almunia now is the brand new very good single carriageway A220 and from there is the brand new A120 (a year ago) which brings you out near Gallur.It’s about 30 miles ish shorter than via Zaragoza.
I never use the autopista to Pamplona and Irun,always the N121.Just before Pamplona near the village of Tiebas is a 24hr.petrol station which sells the cheapest diesel in Spain to my knowledge.
Sunbilla truck stop was also a compulsory stop.Excellent food and facilities.The N121 from Pamplona to Irun was also very scenic.In those days,of course,you went over the top of the pass.Now it is an excellent single carriageway with a few tunnels.
Surprisingly Northern Spain is worth a mention , the Galicia area is similar to Wales and some parts are similar to Austria, with the cows in the mountains with bells on their collars .
The Brits all flock to the Costa del Sol , instead of the North , it’s the same for Northern Portugal , the sheep flock to the expensive Algarve , even Victor Meldrew went there .
The Braganza and Guimaraes area is so laid back , with steaks the size of the plate and no tourist being ripped off .
Some good views for the Mount Blanc and Frejus tunnels.
Tarmaceater:
Before they built the new motorway , I do remember the village with the red bricked medieval buildings and a castle, the village had a lot of ham legs hanging up , by the side of the road.
Daroca, probably?
jpdugene.com/camping_car/ima … daroca.jpg
Daraco , that’s the place .I bought a leg of ham back to England, but it went off , it’s the same with wine , one bottle was brilliant, so I sourced where it was bottled and bought a few boxes back , but it didn’t taste the same.