Costa da Caprica - Lisbon - Portugal
The day promised big winds, over one hundred kilometres per hour, over fifty millimetres of rain so we decided to migrate south again by about three hundred kilometres.
We dodged the rain but the wind was .... well .... a bit like a Nor-wester in NZ really. Much of it was on the nose so it didn't affect us but for, I imagine, the Disco's thirst. Wind to the side also had little effect as the Giantavan's side profile is balanced around the pivot point of the wheels. Brian said that their Glampa moved around a lot so they had to cruise centre lane at times to keep it within the three lanes. Viaducts were the windiest, many with windsocks rigidly stretched.
We were shocked how much of the land was burnt in Octobers devastating bush fires. It obviously had no problem crossing six lanes of motorway in many places and seeing it all was sobering.
We were shocked how much of the land was burnt in Octobers devastating bush fires. It obviously had no problem crossing six lanes of motorway in many places and seeing it all was sobering.
We cruised the motorways, through many camera's, happy that we had registered on entering the system the day before. Eventually, we came to a conventional set of staffed toll booths. The nice lady enquired whether we had gotten a entry card at the last row of green lights to which we showed her the foreigner receipt for registering. She nicely explained that that did not apply to these roads and that she would charge us the, very reasonable, seven euros plus an additional fifty euros for not stopping for a ticket on entry. We explained nothing and handed over our card for the reaming.
 |
| Stock Image of the Ponte 25 de Abril - Suspension bridge |
Crossing the amazing Ponte 25 de Abril - Suspension bridge which is over 2km-long, a striking Golden Gate-style suspension bridge that links Lisbon with Almada the wind was huge. We were a little over halfway across when cars started pointing, tooting and waving at us. We continued across and stopped at the first opportunity along with two other cars. The man following said, your bumper bar blew off and I hit it and it exploded in plastic. I was not particularly surprised as it was damaged when we started and though I had added screws it had continued to crack. The problem being that it was now dark and we had no rear lights or number plate.
Happily the MacDonald Glamper swung in and we decided, on the spot, that as it was only seven kilometres to our campsite we would wing it. Brian tailgated me the whole way refusing to let cars between us so that others weren't affected by our lack of lights..... phew.
Had a quite a struggle getting the Giantavan into is position round narrow lanes and realise that I will probably need to man up and purchase motor-movers. As the Giantavan is huge and heavy this won't be a cheap exercise but first I need to organise lights and numberplate and the means to fit and wire them. Looks like we'll be here a few days.
 |
| Tony send this fantastic snap of our first UK house today in the snow. |
Well done getting there I say !!
ReplyDeleteJust as well you have a fellow travelers.
Think Almond may have snow !
You prompted me to add the photo Tony sent Janice. She certainly is in the snow and I see Heathrow is pretty much closed so she will be very glad that she arrived a couple of days earlier.
Delete