Journey to the end of the World in a V8
The journey is the reward
Theo Klick (Damask 1721) from Germany travelled to the North Cape in Norway in 2005 - this year he went to Cape Finsterre. Along with Gordon Hesketh-Jones, Theo really uses his V8 on quite extraordinary adventures. (Jun 06)


Cape Finisterre Lighthouse - "The end of the world". (Photo: Theo Klick)

"The journey is the reward" was the motto of our trip to Cape Finisterre in the north west of Spain with my MGBG V8. Rainer Pfeiffer, who looks after the car in his workshop, accompanied me. The car, purchased in Beaulieu three years ago, was showing 94,403 miles on the clock when I picked Rainer up from his home at 9am. The start took us through the Eifel, via Luxemburg and Verdun to the Loire. The only problem was the accelerator cable broke whilst trying to overtake some trucks. Luckily nothing happened and the repair was quickly dealt with. We followed the Loire to Tours with a small deviation to Chateau Chambord which lies idyllically in an enormous great forest. From there we went South via Poitiers, Limoges and Perigueux to Bergerac and the end of that day's driving.

Clear skies welcomed us over the Pyrenees. On the way we were "caught" by a Gendarme with a radar gun in his hand but, for some unexplained reason, he didn't stop us. Crossing the Pyrenees is an experience in its own right. The mountains are covered by forests and farmed, mainly sheep. We were reminded that this is the land of the Basques when Spanish police stopped and checked us as an anti-terrorism measure. Castro Urdiales was our next stop after Pamplona, San Sebastian and Bilbao. In Bilbao we met a red MGB Roadster. We had trouble keeping up but when we did manage it, we saw a pretty girl at the wheel. I'll never say anything about women drivers again!!

Friday, 21. April 2006. This was the day on which we brought our beautifully running V8 into St. Jacob's city: Santiago de Compostela. The route had been well signposted after the Roncesva pass in the Pyrenees because Pilgrims from all over Europe use it. We arrived around 4pm. Although we are not strictly speaking pilgrims, we did visit the old town, various churches and St. Jacob's grave. Since the Hostal dos Reis Católicos, which is near the cathedral wanted €250 for the night, we drove out towards the coast. In Noia, about 50 km from Santiago, we found the Park Hotel in heavy rain which offered a luxurious room and a dry spot in the garage for our V8.
Saturday, 22 April 2006. Cape Finisterre, here we come! Up and out at 7am to a sunny morning with a beautiful view over the calm sea.. I put on my "Oldtimer- und Veteranenfreunde Wormersdorf" sweatshirt, club jacket and cap. After a decent breakfast, we completed the last few miles in the old MG and arrive at 11.30am in the town of Finisterre after a quick stop at the fishing village of Muros. There, with the cape in sight, the engine started to play up. We had had a similar problem last year during our trip to the North Cape. After opening the bonnet and distributor, the fault was obvious: Condensator bracket broken. We replaced it and arrived happy and proud at our destination at noon after 1,558 miles.

Cape Finisterre is also the end of the Jacobs pilgrimage route. It is easy to see why this place with its waves pounding the coast was regarded by pilgrims in the Middle Ages as the edge of the plate containing the World. After adorning the telegraph pole with one of our OVWF stickers we set of for home at 3pm. We got as far as Camarinas, North of Finisterre that day. When we met an ox cart on the narrow road, we felt as if we had gone back to the Middle Ages. The two enormous oxes were pulling a load of freshly cut grass on a cart with solid wooden wheels. An old couple who obviously had a different dimension in time escorted it. Our 30 year old MG V8 must seem like a technological wonder in comparison.

The following day, a Sunday, took us to Burgos via Coruna, Lugo and Leon. Then it happened: Just before Burgos, Rainer was driving and I was studying the map, there was a blow and a bang. At first we didn't realize what had happened. Then we saw a white Nissan coming past at about 150 kph which had hit us and removed the outside mirror. Needless to say quite a shock. We chased the Nissan and got him to stop and when queried, his wife answered "well, he wanted to see the nice car from closer" The mind boggles! What could have happened! We arrived at Pamplona for the night and used the Somport pass to cross the Pyrenees at lunchtime.

Crossing the Pyrenees. (Photo: Theo Klick)

We arrived at Montauban via Pau in Southwest France, Tarbes and Auch and spent the night in Hotel "du Commerce". The final day saw us clock up 748 miles before we got home.

What a trip! 3,233 miles (5203 km) in 8 days.

V8 members planning a trip to Germany might like to visit Theo's club website www.ovfw.de as it contains some useful events information as well as interesting photos.