Lenny's Heading for Portugal - Maybe (3 Viewers)

[john lillie]

did warn you it might rain a bit......

 

[Lenny HB]

did warn you it might rain a bit......

A bit!

 

[Lenny HB]

When you said "We use Autoroute as well with a GPS receiver, last couple of trips I've posted the route at the end" this looks like a useful piece of kit, when you get a mo, can you tell us what piece of kit you have.

Hi Les, we use a laptop the program is Microsoft Autoroute unfortunately they discontinued it in 2014, the last version was Autoroute 2013. Some of the latest roads obviously aren't on it but it is a brillant program for route planning. I use it with a Blooth GPS receiver so it then acts like a satnav and you can record route trails. Most POI's can be converted to run in Autoroute.
Autoroute had a licence that allowed you to load it onto one PC & one laptop but appears a bit more flexable since they discontinued it. You may be able to pick up a copy, I can't help as mine was bought as a download from Amazon and will only install via a download doing an online install from my Amazon account. Bluetooth GPS receivers don't appear to be available anymore but quite a few USB ones avalable.

Edit:
Autoroute avalible on eBay with comments like "brand new" and 100% activaction from £12 so worth a punt.

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[Lenny HB]

Now at Sintra, before if got dark managed a visit to the Castelo dos Mouros.

 

[Lenny HB]

Tonight's stop, I think we may have chosen the wrong one, a scruffy carpark at the stadium and it cost us €7. First time we have had to pay in Portugal. Seeing all the kids training when we got back to the van, looks like the money has gone to a good cause.

 

[Lenny HB]

There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Look what we found 300yds up the road.

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[john lillie]

looks lovely, we had similar from our local takeaway on Saturday, but did they remember to warm the plates?

 

[Lenny HB]

Spent today visiting a couple of Palaces, bl**dy knackering only walked 7.5 miles but most of it was up very steep hillsides.

1st off was Palacio da Pena.

 

[Lenny HB]

On the way to the next one came across this interesting house.

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[Lenny HB]

And then on to Palacio Nacional de Sintra, some amazing celings in here.

And one of the chimneys from the inside.

 

[Lenny HB]

Then we had a long drive 16 km to the coast for the night.

 

[pandas]

So much to see and you seem to have ticked off the main sites. We stayed on that coast and found an easy way to spend a few days time in Lisbon is to buy a Lisbocard in Cascais from the tourist office which paid for the train to Lisbon and entry to most of the museums and other discounts (24 hr pass). We used a campsite, which wasn't brilliant, but there is an Aire in Belem which is on the outskirts of the city. Before you leave the area Evora is worth a visit. Keep the photos coming as a delight to see some of the photos whilst it is lashing it down here in the uk.

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[Lenny HB]

We are giving Lisbon miss on this trip, probably going to start heading north east now.

 

[shawn&emma]

Some lovely countryside if you head the way you say. Castelo de Vide and Marvao are great places. Im a bit biased as thats where we stay most of time. Would have said pop in for a drink but im in a very wet kent at the moment.

Enjoy whichever route you take.

Shawn.

 

[Lenny HB]

Before you leave the area Evora is worth a visit. Keep the photos coming as a delight to see some of the photos whilst it is lashing it down here in the uk.

Was going to go there but a bit out of our way as I don't want to be having to do 300-400 miles a day to get back to Dieppe.

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[JonP]

Don't know my mates Carthago ones corroded they said they were UK made replaced them with German ones.

They were replaced by the UK supplier (UK manufactured) but alas no new tyres...

 

[JonP]

If your going to fit them use a really good wheel sealer on them it will help the longevity of them. if your really keen get the older ones refurbed in a block colour and use as winter wheels easy to swap over with your levelling jacks.

Yep that’s what the UK manufacturer told me, once the laquer is damaged usually by stone chips the surface corrodes. My replacement solid colour stayed as good as new.

 

[Lenny HB]

Decided to pay Evora a visit after all. Arrived late yesterday afternoon and had a quick wizz round this morning.

Chapel of bones a bit gruesome.

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[Lenny HB]

Heading back north, now at Cais Vila Velha De Rodao.
200yds from the Aire down by the river is the Fox do Enxarrique archaeological site, where they found the bones of what is thought to be the last European Elephant from 30,000 years ago.

 

[jumartoo]

What a great trip you've had and I'm so glad I eventually started to read it. (Note to self: Don't make assumptions based on previous experiences). I'll definitely be following your future trips.

Thank you.

 

[Lenny HB]

What a great trip you've had and I'm so glad I eventually started to read it. (Note to self: Don't make assumptions based on previous experiences). I'll definitely be following your future trips.

Thank you.

Thanks for the nice comments. I prefer doing a thread rather than a blog, I find reading blogs gets a bit monotonous I like the banter in a thread. I've done threads on our trips for the last 3 years.
This trip appears a bit rushed, tried to do and see too much. We had a hectic week before leaving had been away until late wed night and ferry Sat morning, so took a couple of extra days getting across France. Then we got engrossed in Northern Spain. It was supposed to be a Portugese trip but by the time we got to Portugal we were running out of time.
Not even had time to get the bikes out of the garage, most of the places we have been have not really been suitable for cycling so no great loss.

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[Robert Clark]

You've been to some lovely places, really enjoyed it so far.
Weather could have been better I guess, but its late in the season.

 

[Taran_Las]

Really enjoying your thread Lenny old bean........please don't come back

 

[john lillie]

ditto, look forward every day to your updates, so many places I didn't know existed, I have been to Portugal several times over the last ten years to visit my expat mate, he never took us anywhere like that!

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[Lenny HB]

Thanks boys and girls, I enjoy doing the trip threads and it gives me a nice record of the trip. Makes me feel good and that it's been worth the effort when people appreciate it

 

[jumartoo]

I also enjoy doing a thread but I sometimes almost give up, cos I think I'm talking to myself, then someone comments, then someone else and I'm encouraged to continue.

Sooo, if people want threads like this to continue just make an occasional comment .

 

[klaatu]

Love threads like this. It’s what this forum is all about, as far as I’m concerned.

I should try to do one myself, but I’m a lazy git and leave this kind of thing to my wife (elsewhere).

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[Teuchter]

A couple of shots in gloomy daylight before the rain started.

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And just around the corner this square with 45 different booths all selling the same stuff.

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Could cost you an arm and a leg here, well a leg anyway.
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Hundreds of people buying wax limbs, heads, children and candles up to 5 foot long and then they go and throw them on the barbie.
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And if thats not enough 90% of the shops in the town are like this, (one of the posher ones).

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Judging by the fotos - you aint in Pompey waiting for the ferry then!!

 

[Lenny HB]

At least that sheep loving (thought I'd better put it politely) Welshman doesn't comment too often.

 

[DBK]

Many thanks for the thread. We've been in the same area ourselves but you found some nice spots.

And I like to record our trips in a thread too. If I didn't there is no way I could remember where we have been.

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