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Portugal - UK in May 2105 - Suggestions please :) Portugal - UK in May 2105 - Suggestions please :)
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  #1  
Old 30 Dec 2014
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Maps
Hi All,

Would anyone have any suggestions for maps of Portugal - I am aware of the Michelin Regional Maps for Portugal (I think 3 cover the country in total) but they don't seem to get particularly good reviews (missing details, scale too small etc)

I had thought of taking my iPad with me should there be an option for offline mapping apps....

Thanks,

Rich
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Old 30 Dec 2014
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Hi there
Hi Romulus, like you I am leaving the UK but on Thur 30 April riding to Dover, ferry over to Calais on Fri 31st then on to Perpignan via Milau bridge. From there its down south through Spain and then up north through Portugal and heading to Normandy where I have to be for the 24th May. It's my first solo trip out of the UK (gone in groups before) and I have no route and no plans. My only considerations so far are no more than 300 mile a day absolute max and camping couching all the way eating crisps and cheese sarnies in a bid to keep costs down. I will be leaving Normandy on the 29th May back to Calais, ferry back to Dover, camp somewhere for a night and then home by Sat 30th.

I am fairly certain that at some point we will not be too far from each other?
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Old 30 Dec 2014
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Very Likely

Am thinking of putting in the miles on a few days and heading over to the HUBB meet in Germany for the last few days.

There's a post on here asking whether there'll be much in the way of English presentations, if it turns out there are - I may well head that way being as the UK's meet has been laid to fallow for 2015.

So many decisions still yet to make

Rich
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Old 30 Dec 2014
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Paper maps dont really exist below 1:200,000

There are some decent offline apps to use, but in addition to these we planned the route out on one of them, then took screenshots at the best resolution we could manage without distorting the googlemap images.

This gave us a mapping at about 1:15,000, worked very well - downside for a bike being that you dont have a navigator to keep an eye on which tile you are currently on.

We put all our routemaps online, I will find the app we used - if its the trans Portugal you're following it should be very similar to our route.

Generally internet is available on campsites, and many villages have their own free wireless network you can use.

Cheers

Pete
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Old 30 Dec 2014
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Romulus,

Just spotted you're in Somerset as well !

Anywhere near Bridgwater?

Pete
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  #6  
Old 31 Dec 2014
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Hi Pete,

Not far - Down in Yeovil.

Have friends in Bridgwater that I visit regularly (just the other side of the bridge from Riders)

Rich
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Old 31 Dec 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Romulus View Post
Hi All,

Would anyone have any suggestions for maps of Portugal - I am aware of the Michelin Regional Maps for Portugal (I think 3 cover the country in total) but they don't seem to get particularly good reviews (missing details, scale too small etc)

I had thought of taking my iPad with me should there be an option for offline mapping apps....

Thanks,

Rich

That is the problem with Portugal. There map's are not as good as OS map's in the UK. On the other hand OS map of Portugal are better than the one's you get in Portugal. It's pay your money and take your chance.
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Old 31 Dec 2014
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Why Calais? The west->East route through Normandy and Pas de Calais is a long haul. Normandy is very scenic but at the end of the trip you're unlikely to be dawdling. The back roads are often busy and progress is slow, trying to avoid Rouen complicates things too. The alternative peage is expensive and tedious.
I'd consider a channel crossing at Caen, St Malo, Le Havre or even Cherbourg, - especially if the destination were Somerset.
With Northern France almost "on your doorstep" make the most of Spain

Some interesting spanish towns:
Trujillo, Merida, Caceres: On the ancient Ruta de Plata(Silver)
If feasible detour to Trujillo just to see the main square and the statue of Pizarro.
Cordoba: Mezquita is stunning. (I'd choose this over Sevilla anytime)
Salamanca - as mentioned already

With limited time available enjoying the fab roads and scenery of the Pyrenees is more practical than traipsing all the way to the Alps - unless your visit to Germany is confirmed.

Thanks for tips about Portugal routes.
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Old 8 Jan 2015
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Romulus

Seems I dont have enough posts to pm you route details, will send you details shortly

Pete
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  #10  
Old 8 Jan 2015
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Very shortly....
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