Driving Through Spain

[sunny-dave]

After too many irritating airports full of shops and equally as many planes with niggardly personal space that would inconvenience a midget, let alone a Dave, I've taken the plunge and will be driving the birdwatchers to the Algarve in my own car this year.

It's comfy, we can take more kit and time is not of the essence so we don't have to rush. All in all it's actually costing less than flying/hiring.

We're using the overnight ferry between Portsmouth and Northern Spain and then taking three or four days each way for the journey - staying in Paradors and alternating "driving days" with "exploring days".

So - any hints/tips about the journey - are the roads as good/empty as they seem - are pitstops for fuel/food easy enough to find in the boondocks?

Anyone know Salamanca (where we'll have a full day to explore)?

Or the coast between Santander and Bilbao (ditto) - it looks like there are some nature reserves near Laredo?

I think I've cracked the Portuguese eToll system (seems to just need me to stop at the border and register my car with a credit card) - anyone actually done this?

All info/ideas welcome - I'm quite excited about it all.

[murraymints]

We did it every year...took 2 days down to Algarve..stopped at badajoz crossing overnight...if you get to Salamanca lovely parador..stayed there a few nights....poussadas at sagres and setubal Just south of Lisbon are super too..

[murraymints]

The mountain crossing is interesting ...Take spare pants !