Avoiding San Pedro – the toll road

Cruised up to the finca this weekend. Round trip is around 350kms.

Here we are at Chilches. We usually stop here to let the dog out for a walk.

For the first time ever we used a toll road in Spain for the section between Marbella and Estepona, to avoid San Pedro de Alcantara.

Cost – two euros 55 cents (one way).

Reason – roadworks that are apparently going to last for the next 18 months and are causing huge delays.

Verdict – very nice. Worth two euros 55 cents. Possibly made up for in fuel efficiency by not sitting in traffic jams.

Note – toll road costs go up over the summer period so according to Via Michelin this goes up to five euros 72 cents. Probably still worth doing to avoid delays which will be even worse in summer.

The stretch of toll road is around 23km with a rest area/filling station/shop/cafeteria/toilets/parking etc on both sides of the road. Note, the shop prices seemed somewhat dear, but they maybe don’t get a lot of punters. Loads of space and great for dog walking. Clean toilets.

On non-toll roads in Spain the slip roads are terrible, you have to go from a standing start to meet traffic travelling at minimum 80kmph. Here, you actually get a decent slip road to get up enough speed to pull onto the motorway, plus there isn’t too much traffic anyway.

Another observation, the tunnels on the toll road are so much better lit. How bizarre.

It was pretty scenery and a great bit of road. Naturally, less traffic, as we all want to save two euros and 55 cents. Not any more. We’ll be using it again.

Mileage

Around 350 kms

Cost

Around £23 for diesel and €5.10 in tolls

As a comparison the bus trip is around €26 for one person (both ways), before you even think about getting something to eat, and takes around twice as long.

109 ambulance

 Went for a walk this arvo, and set off down the street. Suddenly realised it would be more sensible to go uphill.

Whereupon, I spotted this fine 109 ambulance.

After chatting for a bit, I ran off down the street to get Adrian who needed to be alerted immediately to the presence of a Land Rover being fiddled on very nearby.

1981, fitted with a 19J four cylinder turbo diesel, Kenlowe fan, and Defender front end. Of course Adrian may have got some of this wrong. The engine looked very well fitted, pix next time maybe. Previously fitted with a V8.

Then I left them to it.

A good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Yes?

Mine was spent taking pictures of Fedra – here.

POSTED BY ROUGHSEASINTHEMED AT 17:36

The price of fuel

Having very smugly written about the price of petrol/diesel back in March, when it was 54.9p a litre, I thought an update was in order.

I am not quite so smug now. Just as well we don’t drive much. At this rate it will soon be through the £1 barrier.

Similar prices elsewhere, 89p (petrol) and 83p (diesel) at the BP garage.

POSTED BY ROUGHSEASINTHEMED AT 13:28