On the Roads of France, Spain, and Portugal (2022)

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Some memories from our driving on the roads through France, Spain, and Portugal.

From the roundabouts, tunnels, interesting roads, and traffic lights to some unique motorhomes seen along the way.

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Roundabouts

The roundabouts in France, Spain, and Portugal seem to be more than just a means of traffic management. They also seem to be a showcase for some interesting statues and artwork.

Roundabouts 9
Roundabouts 8
Roundabouts 7
Roundabouts 6
Roundabouts 5
Roundabouts 4
Roundabouts 3
Roundabouts 2
Roundabouts 13
Roundabouts 12
Roundabouts 11
Roundabouts 10
Roundabouts 1
Workers returning from a hard days shift on a Spanish roundabout
Workers returning from a hard days shift on a Spanish roundabout
Torrevieja 6
Torrevieja 5
Torrevieja 4
Torrevieja 3
Torrevieja 1
Day 128-6
one of the 10 municipalities
Urns on a roundabout
Roundabout with a fountain in the middle
Another angle for the urn roundabout
Figure of a lady in the middle of a roundabout in Mojacar
Sabinanigo 3
Sabinanigo 25
Day 127-6
Unmetalled road up in the mountains of Spain
Unmetalled road up in the mountains of Spain
A road through the Spanish orchards in bloom that has seen better days
Try dodging these potholes
A cracked mountain road in Spain. The cracks near the side of the road next to the big drop are a little concerning.
Should I be worried?
A sturdy bridge across the river linking the dirt tracks on either side. I suspect floodwater would wash anything less substantial away
Why such a sturdy bridge?
High quality road through almond trees in blossom in southern Spain
Quality road through almond trees in blossom
A dirt track through the Spanish mountains with beautiful, cloudless blue skies
Dirt track and blue skies
A narrow bridge on a road through woodland up in the Spanish mountains
Narrow bridge on a wooded mountain road
How do I keep finding such lovely mountain roads? Another unmade road through the mountains of Spain. I did drive on proper roads occasionally. Honest.
I'm sure it's safe
This was the designated parking area while we visited a monument in Spain. It was quite a trek through the woodland to get there, and when we did it was locked up tight. Guess the lack of cars should have been a clue.
Where shall I park?
A sturdy bridge across the river linking the dirt tracks on either side. I suspect floodwater would wash anything less substantial away.
Narrow but sturdy bridge
Access road to the gorge over a weak bridge
Access road to the gorge over a weak bridge
Not sure why there's a speed limit on a dirt track, but you probably wouldn't want to be going much faster than that in a motorhome anyway.
Speed limit on a dirt track
Narrow road, narrow bridge and right on a bend too.
Narrow road, narrow bridge and right on a bend too.
Not sure it's always a good thing to be able to see the road ahead. Round and round the mountain she goes.
Round and round the mountain she goes
Pampaneira, Bubion and Capileira. Three pretty whitewashed villages in the Sierra Nevada mountains
The three whitewashed villages
Narrow road through Pampaneira in the Sierra Nevada mountains
Narrow road through Pampaneira
Why use the perfectly good road on the bridge when you can use the dirt track under it? Says something about our route planning!
Why use the perfectly good road on the bridge?
Road through the Tabernas Desert
Road through the Tabernas Desert
Old and new roads running parallel throught eh Tabernas Desert
The Old and the New
Exploring the site where several films were made, on foot this time
Exploring the site where several films were made
There are some roads impassable even to Lottie!
Even I didn't try this one
We travelled up this road to find a viewpoint, but it got so perilous we had to give up and come back down
Coming back down the hill behind Mini Hollywood
A half built hotal can be seen in the distance, and the beach on the left was like being on a desserted island - playa del Algarrobico
Winding mountain road to Retamar
Access road to playa del Algarrobico beach by the half finished hotel
Access road to the beach by the half finished hotel
Narrow village road
Narrow village road
Narrow village road
Narrow village road
Narrow village road
Narrow village road
Narrow village road
Narrow village road

Some interesting roads

Although not unique to Western Europe, some of the roads we travelled along were definitely interesting, and sometimes challenging!

Tunnels

Spain in particular is more mountainous than I had appreciated – there were many, many tunnels!

Why go around when you can go through?

Sabinanigo 70
Sabinanigo 22
Sabinanigo 20
Sabinanigo 2
Sabinanigo 19
One of many tunnels on the journey down the Pyrenees
One of many tunnels
Journey down the Pyrenees
More Tunnels
Journey down the Pyrenees
Yet more tunnels
Benagebar
Benagebar
Traffic lights linked to speed cameras are used to slow traffic coming into a town or village too quickly

Traffic Calming

When you approach a village in Spain there is often a hidden speed camera linked to some traffic lights.

If you are travelling too fast the camera will cause the lights to change to red, and they will stay red for a couple of minutes. Obey the speed limit and the lights remain green.

Drivers soon learn to slow down as it is actually quicker than waiting for the lights to turn back to green. Genius.

Some Unique Motorhomes

We weren’t the only ones touring Spain. Along the way we saw some interesting motorhomes that others were using.

Motorhomes 6
Motorhomes 5
Motorhomes 4
Motorhomes 3
Motorhomes 2
Motorhomes 1
Truck converted into a home on wheels in Castell de Ferro
Truck converted into a home on wheels
Parking area adjacent to a windmill
Parking area adjacent to a windmill
This was a recognised place to park, but when we got there, there really wasn't anything there.
This was a recognised place to park, but when we got there, there really wasn't anything there.
It was a wriggle, but I managed to get her in. Yes, those are my tyre marks.
It was a wriggle, but I managed to get her in. Yes, those are my tyre marks.
Not sure how this would work if both disabled parking places were occupied
Not sure how this would work if both disabled parking places were occupied
Not sure how this would work if both disabled parking places were occupied
Not sure how this would work if both disabled parking places were occupied
Gibraltar 8
Day 127-9
Day 102
Parked on the flood plain, hope it doesn't rain
Parked on the flood plain, hope it doesn't rain
Archena
one of the 10 municipalities
one of the 10 municipalities

Designated Parking?

Sometimes parking is interesting!

I haven’t gone into great detail about anything in particular in this post, so if you would like me to expand on anything please leave a comment and I will endeavor to write another separate post on the topic.

Happy Motorhoming.

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