Automóveis dos Açores

13,879 · February 8, 2023

24 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

"Nothing Handles like a Rental Car"

A rental car is the fastest car in the world! See also: demonstrator cars, fleet cars, pool cars...

13,152 · February 8, 2023

It was actually a plug for @motorpunk's book, seemed an appropriate opportunity!

10,045 · February 8, 2023

5 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

... a Pininfarina designed* Matrix the other day. What's going on with that rear quarterlight?

I understand that Pinin wanted his name to be writ where folk wouldn't miss it.

11,379 · February 8, 2023

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

It was actually a plug for @motorpunk's book, seemed an appropriate opportunity!

I sometimes leave a signed copy of that in the spare wheel well of rental cars I hire, knowing someone will find it someday....

5,817 · February 8, 2023

As if this place isn't cool enough, look what the Bomberos (Fire & Rescue Service) have for their response vehicle!

@loseronelocal honey doesn't seem to be a thing here but I picked up some Gomerian palm syrup and something to go with it.

This evening's sunset at Valle Gran Rey.

5,817 · February 10, 2023

The rum seemed like a good idea at last night but I was woken at 6.00am by a considerable swell. (Not morning glory but a stiff southerly blowing us onto a leeward shore). So we upped anchor and are heading back to Tenerife making over 6 knots with two reefs in the main.
Farewell La Gomera, hope to be back next year.

5,817 · February 10, 2023

SW 4-6 making over seven and a half knots - this is the fastest I've ever sailed.

5,817 · February 11, 2023

After being woken by a swell yesterday this morning I've woken up to Abona.

7,306 · February 11, 2023

Mahindra

Whereas a local Santana

17,650 · February 12, 2023

On 2/7/2023 at 6:35 PM, Sunny Jim said:

No, he's staying on my brother's sofa. I can't imagine he'd make a good sailor!

The nearest we've come to your trip is a rather more mundane holiday on the Norfolk Broads, and ours was a little nervous of the boat.

Possibly because she can't swim, hence the lifejacket!

5,817 · February 12, 2023

Poor Jas, she looks happier in the pictures I've seen of her travelling in your van.

5,817 · February 12, 2023

Back in Tenerife now preparing for the final long passage of this trip. If the forecast is accurate we should do the 120 miles to Lanzarote in under 24 hours.

Here's a few more spots from La Gomera.

Some more of my pictures from the island can be found here Link to Dropbox

A couple of Tenerife spots

Note the giffer hat and umbrella on the rear parcel shelf!

5,817 · February 14, 2023

Well that didn't quite go as expected! Wind wasn't as forecast so rather than beating into the south of Lanzarote we continued north to La Graciosa (the smallest of the Carnary Islands). There are no roads and no cars so there won't be any chod spotting but other than that it looks a good place to be.

5,817 · February 17, 2023

No roads doesn't mean no cars after all. 4x4 chod abounds mainly bearing green ovals.

Windscreen fitters were busy.

@Cavcraftlike cockroachs Ivecos survive anywhere.

Been exploring by bike today, very different landscape to the other islands I've visited. I'll upload pictures to Dropbox when I find some WiFi.

Now it's beer o'clock, salud!

February 18, 2023

I'd missed this thread of yours Jim but just had a read through and found it so entertaining. You could travel the world documenting auto shite type cars haha! Really enjoying reading about your journey, may there be many more!

5,817 · February 19, 2023

Sun's up. Time to leave lovely La Graciosa and sail to Lanzarote.

21,841 · February 19, 2023

Stunning. I love Lanzarote - we fully intend to go back when the little'un is a bit older.

5,817 · February 19, 2023

@Dick LongbridgeI was on La Graciosa, a little island to the north of Lanzarote - you can get a ferry across and hire bikes (with kids seats if required!) to get around. If you like laid-back unspoilt locations it's idyllic - thoroughly recommend 👌

Link to my pics of La Graciosa here

5,817 · February 20, 2023

1123 miles at sea over the last nine weeks. Portugal to Madeira then on to the Canaries via the Savage Islands.

Now moored up in the marina in Arrecife, Lanzarote. I don't want to go home but I miss my dog and I've got a new car to collect. Time for some rum.

5,817 · February 20, 2023

Be careful with rum kids or you could end up looking like this...

Coffee and breakfast then a walk for some chod spotting.

5,817 · February 20, 2023

A couple of strong coffees and a huge crepe filled with humus, cheese, avocado, spinach, carrot, peppers and tomatoes cured the hangover so I went for a walk.

Today's spots in Arrecife.

Now the sensible thing to do would be to get an early night as I have to get to the airport in the morning but it's carnival here...

5,817 · May 7

Currently sat in Bristol Airport waiting for my flight. I'm off on another chod-spotting and sailing trip to the Canaries and then on to the Azores. My mate's been sending me pictures of what to expect.

37,241 · May 7

Surprising number of old Kadetts out in the Canaries. Spotted this a few weeks back.

14,074 · May 7

25 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

Currently sat in Bristol Airport waiting for my flight. I'm off on another chod-spotting and sailing trip to the Canaries and then on to the Azores. My mate's been sending me pictures of what to expect.

Watching with interest again!

5,817 · May 13

The weather has meant plans have changed somewhat. North easterlies for the foreseeable mean that we won't make it to the Azores this trip.

Spent a couple of days in Gran Canaria doing maintenance jobs on the boat and then sailed across to Tenerife. There are wind acceleration zones between the islands so it gets a bit feisty. Three reefs in the main and we were still making 8 knots in a Force 7 - it took considerable effort to keep my breakfast down.

Now anchored at San Juan. A lot of the chod I papped last year is still about but here's some new spots.