Across Spain
 

Part of my plan for my upcoming Morocco trip is to arrive in Bilbao at 8am on a Monday morning and then to take the ferry out from Algeciras (or Tarifa) early on the Tuesday morning. The trip (from Bilbao to Algeciras) is around 675 miles. To me it sounds possible to do in a long day (multiple drivers in the 4x4) but on reading various logs people seem to do it in 2. Is this merely to avoid burning out or am I underestimating the journey?

yea it's possible to do it, if you drive all day, dont encounter any of the numerous road works, there is no gridlock around madrid, you dont get a puncture, you dont get lost,stuck behind trucks, caught in traffic, bad weather etc, and assuming the ferry gets in on time.
take it easy, hotels are cheap, you wont arrive totally f****d and you give yourself time and room to manouvere!

The point isn't really the cost, more an efficient use of time. I would rather push through until midnight and be at a hotel in Algeciras knowing I'm good to go the next morning rather than have more driving to do. I am completely prepared to get a place somewhere further north if progress is slow. Just scoping out the likelihood of that being necessary.

My 82 year old parents got the same ferry to Bilbao and set off driving to Granada. They got to within 100km and called it a day early evening - and that was with a Citroen Xsara towing a caravan.

If there's two of you in a 4x4 (re-read the post Caminando :)) you should be able to do it. I did the reverse journey driving solo in a Navara Outlaw and did Fez to the French border in 24 hours.

The western route through Salamanca is now easier and faster than going through the centre via Madrid and there's far more motorway sections than shown on the Garmin Europe 2008 maps. There's just a short 30 mile (?) section of non-motorway or dual carriageway, and they are all autovias (free) rather than autopistes (toll).

There are roadside hostels/hotels in the motorway service roads (via servicio) that are excellent value with keenly priced evening meals. For two people maybe €40 accommodation and €25 food/drink.

Tim

Ooops! yes I boobed. It's 4 wheels not 2. Ta!:blushing:

Thanks for the route tip! I did intend to merely follow the instructions of the various route planners (which all go via Madrid). I'll certainly follow this new route now. As for missing Spain, it is unfortunate but so much easier to arrange than a shakedown in Morocco thus my desire to push through and get as much time off-road as possible.