Ekona

Day 7 Wow, one week already. Doesn't feel like it, although I already can't remember where I stayed Saturday night! Today was only ever about getting from A to Z, from Algeciras to Zamora (see what I did there?!). There were never any nice roads planned, so no video was taken as motorways are dull and I didn't really have anything to say. Okay, so I did make a little one but I'll save that for another time when I get home. Today was all about the chillaxing. The long cruise up in the sunshine which peaked at 28.5 deg c, and since the roads were clear I actually had time for a quick picnic stop which involved a pack of pretzels, a can of Red Bull and a read of the latest Total 911 mag on a picnic bench in a rest stop. Classy, I know, but it was relaxing all the same and the sun was perfect. On the downside, it did mean that I had time for photos. Not always a bad thing, unless you suddenly decide to try and be arty and do a 'thoughtful' shot of you and the car, which in reality just came out very badly as I had to wedge the camera on another bench because I forgot to pack my tripod, and run like buggery to get the pose in before the timer went off. The end result looks like this: It's kinda got all the right bits in (nice car, good looking bloke looking adoringly at the car, some greenery and some sunshine), but it looks utterly horrendous in the finish. Still, never let it be said that I don't mind a laugh at my expense So onto the hotel. I'll be frank: It's stunning. 5 stars and worth every single one of them, probably helped by having their own winery here. I'm one of only two guests here (recession is still hitting hard in Spain) so I'm being waited on hand and foot. They've taken my bags, offered to park my car for me (which I declined), just basically stopping short of sucking me off. Which I don't mind, as he had tiny lips anyway. I'm just going to stick the photos up and you can see for yourself how good this place is. Some taken on the D90, some on the JesusPhone5. The exterior: My room: Every time you order a drink you get this medley of funny colour crisps and olives: And in the restaurant: Starter of asparagus mousse and smoked sturgeon Main of oxtail in rich local red wine gravy on a bed of potato and white chocolate foam with some pink flowers and a pink foam on top Dessert of crepe with crushed oranges, cointreau and chocolate ice cream All food was as good as it looks, and is possibly the best meal I've ever had in my life. I'm not a fancy eater by any means, and have never had sturgeon or oxtail before so was a little unsure of eating them, but they were astounding. Am now back up in the room chilling out, may treat myself to a bath in a bit (ooh, get me!) and then a good night sleep. I'm going to get up a bit earlier tomorrow and grab some pics of the car parked up around the hotel, it's too good a location to waste. More mountains are planned tomorrow on the driving front, but I've just discovered that at my next stop there's the only continous Roman wall in the world around the town, Lugo, so may get over there a bit earlier and explore. One last pic, just for Rich and Dave. Spotted this and knew you guys would appreciate it

I would try them in a car first, or at least mock up your seats with some cardboard to account for the side bits. I suspect you're going to massively lose vision when looking left and right, and especially the life saver look. Not good.

So why seats with side restraints? Is it going in a track car, 'cos I wouldn't want those on a road car.

If negligence is proved, yes. Exactly the same as over here, but in that case it's your insurer who coughs up.

I've jump started all my cars at some point, Porker included. Realistically as long as you don't connect the leads the wrong way there's very little chance of damaging anything.

Frick! Everyone okay?

What if some random drops fluids and you have no idea who it was? Or you end up in a multi-vehicle accident with UK & euro drivers, with no clear person to blame? Or you drop fluids and a biker comes off and is crippled for life, and you have to pay the £250K bill? Either way, you're coming out of it many thousands out of pocket. Not worth the risk anymore, regardless of how careful you are personally.

Head gasket was my first thought, could be any number of things though. Cracked rad, dodgy water pump, loose hose... Take it a normal garage, one you can trust, it's only a Mini and doesn't need particularly specialist knowledge to service. No offence

You can't. It's physics, innit.

Oh bugger

Either of those do you?

I'd be astounded if they didn't. I'm 9.9% sure they'll fit, I've yet to see a seat that doesn't as the stock ones are huge. Interesting choice, any reason you're going for ones with side head restraint?

He wasn't too impressed no, he was the only one that was sitting still so there was a queue of people lining up taking pics of him basically And as promised, yesterday's video.

Trust me, that was by far and away the most expensive one so far, about 3x as much as all the other ones! Just for note, I'm staying here tonight and it's only costing me 50EU including breakfast.

Cheers dude, I hope it's entertaining enough to read, I'm missing quite a lot out but there's just so much footage and pics here and the laptop and interweb is too slow for me to get too much up each evening. I'm off to a place called Zamora tomorrow, pretty much direct for here. Hopefully I'll get there by mid afternoon. I did, no choice sadly due to the time constraints. Besides, if I did everything in the one trip I'd have no need to come back again would I?

Day 6 Wow. Did I make the correct decision last night to forego driving roads in lieu of visiting Gibraltar or what! Had a good run down, barely any traffic and I didn't bother setting up the GoPro nor TomTom either, so the cabin seemed very spartan and more natural. Eventually managed to get into Gib at about 2pm, weather was stunning. I've a short vid of that (well, me driving the whole of Gib pretty much) for later, so I won't say too much. And finally, the furthest south in Europe I've ever been myself, and I'm pretty sure my 911 has ever been either: That's the Europa Point lighthouse behind me, which is the only UK lighthouse not on the mainland. Sadly the hoarding means you can't see Africa in that photo, but I can guarantee that it was as clear as day to see. Very epic sight. So now I'm pretty much halfway, and as I've yet to clean the car you can see the full horror that is the body count on the numberplate: That's going to take some shifting to get it off the bumper and bonnet, I can tell you. I'm not too worried really as there's a seriously thick coat of wax protecting the paint, and even if it does ruin it which is possible in this heat, I've budgeted for a front end respray this year anyway. I then popped into the nature reserve which is waaaaay up on top of the rock, and the roads you need to use are barely big enough for two vehicles and incredibly steep, far steeper than a sports car should be climbing. The 911 was okay, although I was a little concerned at the stress I was putting on the PDK 'box so left it in 1st gear and used the revs to get me up rather than the torque in a higher gear. Probably not an issue, but a bad place to find one out. Could've done with an LSD on one very sharp corner too! Why was I in the nature reserve? Why, looking for these guys of course: Monkeys! Real Gib monkeys! Actually, they're apes, but it's more fun to shout "MONKEY!" at them in a PG Tips-stylee than just say ape normally, Had a wander around the caves there too, but I was running short of time so didn't see the war tunnels or other cool bits. Next time. The hotel I'm at tonight is stunning, old Victorian style and I've just had a mahoosive buffet dinner, t'was very much appreciated and I'm now sat in the room with dos grande beers por favor writing this. Going to get an early night I think and leave earlier tomorrow, no fun drive was planned any way but the hotel is a fricking expensive one that I splashed out on, and I want to get my money's worth

From yesterday: Today's update will come after me supper.

No power for the laptop though

Also, I have wifi on the balcony!

'Tis my own silly fault for leaving it so late before trying to organise it, would've been great to meet up with you

Day 5 Sadly today's hotel has bumped from the pikey hotel room to the posh apartments, which means I have no wifi unless I sit in reception (like I am now) and I don't fancy doing that all evening, so have bought some beers and am going to watch the football in a bit. As such, only pics today and no vids Today took me further down the coast, via Valencia and Benidorm to Just outside Cartagena. This meant oranges, orange Brits, and then some more orange Brits. It also meant... VALENCIA F1 STREET CIRCUIT BABY!! Yup, that's me sat on pole, where hopefully Lewis will be sat next year in his 2014 championship winning car (okay, a man can dream) for the Spanish GP. Surprising how much of it remains open, I could probably have had a good wander around were there not guardia just round the corner blocking a road off, and I didn't know if I was allowed to park there for long or not. Getting towed away would be really bad. Also, whilst driving through the countryside I randomly came across this parked up and had to get a couple of pics: That's an impact bumper era 911 from (I think) the late 70's, although it could be an early '80s one. Either, way it's beautiful and it was just sat there, no owner in sight sadly. Makes my car look a bit of a biffer! Spent the late afternoon wandering around Los Alcazares, which meant strolling along here: ...and having one of these: Such a hard life. Also, topless sunbathing ftw. Not from me, I hasten to add, nor did I get any pics before you ask! I'm giving serious thought to halving tomorrow's run which was due to take in some more mountain roads and heading straight for Algeciras, which means I'll be able to cross into Gibraltar and tick another box off. In fact, that's made my mind up, I'm going to do just that. Mountain driving is awesome, but I think a day off will do me good.

Bloody Wiggos everywhere!

I really, really love my GoPro.

Are they not just facelift lights sprayed up?