Motoring to Puerto Pollensa

[Mark]

What make of sat nav is it Whaley?

Rather than navigating to a town or an address navigate to a 'point of interest'

Airports, train stations and ferry terminals are points of interest in most sat navs.
choose ferry terminals and then scroll down the list until you find the one you want.
If you are doing this a long way from the destination it will be way down the list as the list shows the nearest at the top.

If it is not in the POI list use the search while in the ferry terminals list to search for 'Barcelona', it comes up as ' Muelle de barcelona' on my tom tom and it is 868 miles away from me

screen photo of my old Tom Tom attached:

 

[clinkham]

Whaley - take a break from packing and nip out for a copy of todays Daily Telegraph. You don't need to read all the depressing stuff - just extract the DT/Brittany Ferries 10 page advatorial pull out 'Discover Cantabria'. Features the Pont Aven, of course, and just to job to get you in the mood!

 

[cherylbb]

Here's a map I did on Google to give you an idea. If you zoom in you can see where you skirt around Barcelona city to the main ferry port. (Moll Barcelona)

The address of the port is Estació Marítima Drassanes, s/n, 08039 Barcelona

Santander, Spain to Moll de Barcelona, 08039 Barcelona, Spain - Google Maps

 

[lollipop]

Whaley, positive thinking !!!. You will be fine, enjoy the experience.

 

[whaleywanderer]

Thanks all, how could anything go wrong with all the help and advice from our wonderful forum.

Mark - my Satnav is an older Tomtom XL and I will explore the options today but didn't realise I could put in ferry ports, so thanks for this.

Clinkham - just read your email so unfortunately too late to get yesterday's paper, but getting more chilled now as all the booking and organising is done, packing the car tomorrow for an early start on Tuesday.

Cheryl - Thanks a million for the map, it's really helpful.

Lollipop - Thanks for the advice and see you soon with all our stories.

Sparky - Thanks for all the 'Likes'

Sounds like I've just won an Oscar doesn't it?

Tried to cover all eventualities but inevitably there will be something that I have not covered but will deal with that if and when.

 

[med777]

Have a great adventure !

Good luck and safe journey and remember to enjoy !

Miriam x

 

[lollipop]

Good Luck for stage 1 of the journey, will be thinking of you.

 

[Mark]

For Forum members who want to 'join' Whaley on the trip south check out

Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

Use the search to find Pont Aven, then click on 'pont aven' followed by current position or track, then watch as the sytem updates every couple of minutes or so as she progresses towards Santander.

That's an interesting link, thanks

The ship that whaley should be on right now is this one:
PONT AVEN - Vessel's Details and Current Position - 9268708 - 228183600

The location right now is just past the Isle of wight travelling at 21.3 knots.

link here ( not sure if it will work)
Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions


A screen grab:

God bless the internet and all this technology

Have a good trip

 

[clinkham]

That's an interesting link, thanks

It's a pleasure

Here is the shipping forecast....(with apologies to Sparky)

Plymouth (Channel between Northern France and Cornwall):

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea State: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.


Biscay:
Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea State: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

I reckon the Pont Aven will be keeping ahead of the 'rough' seas. Hopefully!

 

[lollipop]

I do hope so for their sakes.

 

[cherylbb]

We are having a blizzard in the Peak District this morning so its a good job they went yesterday!

 

[sws97sdg]

Oh dear, I hope they have good sea legs although they should make good progress!!

 

[Sparky]

I was tracking the Pont Aven late last night and she was doing 24 knots, have just logged in now and she is out of range.

 

[sws97sdg]

That will be the gale force winds pushing them along

 

[Nick]

"I was tracking the Pont Aven late last night and she was doing 24 knots, have just logged in now and she is out of range."

Blimey Sparky, you need a job mate................alright for all you retirees !!!!

 

[lollipop]

Had message from Whaley and she says they are doing fine, Biscay like a mill pond. Due into Santeander at 5pm.

 

[sws97sdg]

Phew thats good news, seems like they may have missed the worst!

 

[clinkham]

http://http://www.webcamsantander.com/

Check out the Santander Web Cams - down the page a way is the Pont Aven alongside. @ 1840 this evening.

 

[danielle.plant]

Just a quick update i'm Whaleywander's Daughter, just heard from my mum, journey going well, they set off yesterday around 7 in the morning and had no problems with the traffic down to Portsmouth, she sent me some photos of the ferry and i have to say i was very impressed, they docked in Santander around 6pm this evening and have just reached the Hotel,(Poseda Torre de Quintana, Laredo, Cantabria) aparently there the only guests there this evening so its lovely and quiet! They've got about a 6 hr drive tomorrow to Barcelona, and the ferry leaves around 11.50pm tomorrow night and docks in Alcudia around 9am on Friday Morning, its great following there journey on google earth, you get a real picture of how things look. If i hear any more i'll keep you all posted, xxx

 

[whaleywanderer]

Well all, here we are, 1st leg over. Brittany ferries 'Pont Avon' fabulous ship, very comfortable, good accommodation, we had an outside, 4 berth cabin and it really was quite spacious. The food was excellent and quite reasonably priced.

We seem to have been managing to just keep in front of the bad weather. We left the Peak District in mist and low cloud, by the time we stopped in Northamptonshire the sun was out and when we got to Portsmouth it was almost sunbathing weather, although it had just started raining by the time we were leaving.

Woke up this morning to blue skies, the Bay of Biscay was like a millpond, never known it to be so calm, we really do seem to have had luck on our side up to know.

Leaving Santander was a bit manic but as suggested we just followed the car in front and before we knew it we were on the motorway, which was fine. Hubby doing really well keeping to the right. As was stated earlier it took our Tomtom a while to pick up the satellite but once found it navigated us well.

Staying in a fabulous hotel called 'La Torre de la Quintana' near Laredo which is about 20km outside Santander and is set in wonderful scenery (looks like Switzerland in the Summer), a tiny village location and the building could almost be described as medieval, completely reformed though. However, finding it was another matter!!

Oh bother! it's just started raining, hope it's not caught up with us. Well we set off for the second leg tomorrow, the drive to Barcelona and the Balearia ferry to Alcudia, we'll know we're close to home then.