Spain September 2007

We were able to borrow Brenda & Doug's house in Los Alcazares, Murcia, Spain for a reasonable sum so we decided to go with Margaret & Brian and booked cheap flights with Ryanair - £122.50 each return.

Tue 11th

We set off mid morning & drove to Stafford where we had a meal at the Luck Penny with Marg & Bri, Bri then drove us to East Midland Airport. We arrived in good time and got priority boarding passes. The flight took off a few minutes early - about 17:15. It was a good flight and we landed at Murcia 15 minutes early at 21:00 local time. Dave, a friend of Doug & Brenda's, met us and drove us to the house. It was a very warm night, but Dave told us it had rained that day. We decided to find the Chinese Restaurant, Richie knew where it was. After wandering around for about 3/4 hour finally found it! Had a nice meal and left as they were closing at midnight.

Wed 12th

It was a warm day but cloudy and breezy, the rain the day before had left sand all over the terraces so R & B washed them down. After unpacking we went to nearest supermarket, El Arbol and bought food and drink. We had lunch then walked around the area for a while, we were looking to find a tourist information office but didn't. Cooked some pork steaks that we had bought but they were not very successful - strange meat, strange oven?!

Thurs 13th

A Hot day with a breeze. After lunch we went to the beach for a swim, it was a bit choppy but very nice. Back for siesta. Went to Chinese Restaurant again. It was very good value with a special menue for around £5 our money, includind sangria and prawn crackers to start, a large spring roll, a main course of your choice and half a bottle of wine each, it finished with a liquer and they left the bottle, we were also given a bottle of wine to take home, so very good value.

Fri 14th

Another very hot day, we walked along to the shopping centre by the Mercadona supermarket. Found an "English" paper shop, the man in there told us about The Post Box where we could arrange car hire. We also found a bar. the "Ilu" where the men would be able to watch the Grande Prix. We arranged the car hire for next Wed. then had a snack at a kiosk and walked back. Cooked bacon and egg for tea.

Sat 15th

After breakfast we went to the beach for a swim, it was very hot and sea very calm. R & B went to bar to watch Grande Prix practice, V & M had a walk and then went to meet the men. We walked back along the sea front and stopped at a beach bar for a meal. V & M had fish which was ok but men had steak which they could not eat.

Sun 16th

After breakfast took a walk the other way along the sea to Playa Carrion, a small marina. Another very hot day. Back for lunch then the men went to Ilu to watch the race. V & M stayed in shade and read. In the evening we went to the Chinese restaurant again and strolled back along beach.

Mon 17th

After breakfast did some washing and tidying round then went for a swim. Had lunch then went to supermarket, bought some chicken which we cooked and then ate outside, quite nice and a lovely evening.

Tue 18th

Another very hot day, went round market in streets by the house then after lunch went for a swim. Went to a bar by the church for evening meal but the service was bad and food not very good.

Wed 19th

Went and collected the hire car at 10am then went back to house to make some sandwiches and drove down the "Strip" of La Manga, saw two police cars attending an incident where there was a body lying on the pavement shrouded in a sheet, very unsettling. Stopped by water on way back to eat picnic. Went to Chinese restaurant again.

Thurs 20th

Drove to San Pedro del Pinatar and on to Lo Pagan. Walked along the salt/mud flats, watched dozens of people covering themselves in the black, smelly mud - supposed to be a cure all! Saw many birds, Flocks of flamingoes, duck, little grebes, plover, sandpipers.
Started off cloudy but warm and as we finished the walk the sun came out very hot again. Called at a cafe for a meal, the service was very slow but fish and chips was ok.

Fri 21st

Drove to Cartagena, had a drink and walk round harbour then got on a double decker open topped tour bus to go round the town, it started to rain while we were on the bus but not a lot. We then walked round the town for a while and as it started to rain again went into a cafe. Great difficulty understanding menu/waiter, ended up with tortilla and salad which was quite nice. While we were in the cafe a group of people with a donkey dresed up like Romans and beating on drums went by, advertising some sort of festival, we think. As they came back down they all stopped for a drink, the donkey left his calling card all over the street!! We walked back towards the harbour there were green parrots flying all around we went up the steps through the old town walls to a park where there was a good lookout point over the harbour and town. In the evening we cooked bacon & egg and watched a terrific thunder storm with very heavy rain.

Sat 22nd

There was very heavy rain overnight and it was overcast in the morning, but still warm. The rain deposited red sand all over terraces again.
We went out to go to Almoradi for a market but got a bit lost, as it was raining we decided to give up and went back to Pilar de la Horadada and found teh Chinese restaurant there. We had a very good meal and very resonable, we felt it was even better value than the one in Los Alcazares. Did a bit of shopping at Alsi then went back to the house. The evening turned fine so went for a walk alonf front.

Sun 23rd

Went to a huge market at Cabo de Palos. We then went on to the lighthouse and walked up to it then around the harbour, we had a drink then went back to Los Bolones for a meal. The Oasis restaurant we wanted to go to was closed so went to a Spanish one Bar Rierpi, not a bad meal. Back for a rest then stroll along the front.

Mon 24th

Drove to Portman which is an old military establishment, looked at old amunition stores and gun emplacements then went back down and sat and had a picnic before returning to the house. In the afternoon we had a swim and went to the Chinese restaurant or the last time.

Tue 25th

In the morning we packed, washe the sheets, towels etc and cleaned the house and terraces. Went to Los Bolonese again to get a meal at Oasis but it did not open in the daytime weekdays. Went to the Village which was almost next door and did English food. It was run by an English man and we had English food ordered from someone who understood us for the first time in the holiday! Sat and read until time to go to the airport at 21:00. Got booked in and flight was on time, good flight landed at 23:20 ome time. Drove to Stafford where we stayed the ight with M & B then drove home Wed morning.

Morecambe August 2007

Sat Aug 24th 2007

We set off about 8am and met up with Emma and family at Mile End Roundabout near Oswestry. We filled up with fuel then set off. We arrived at Red Bank Farm camping site, Bolton-le-Sands, by about 11am. The site was larger than expected, two big fields plus some statics, and very busy. It is on a working farm and there were animals that the children could pet. Sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits etc.
We sited ourselves ourselves in the middle but there was plenty of space.Took quite a bit of setting up with Emma having her trailer tent for the first time and our awning playing up in the wind, finally set up by about 1pm. It was sunny but very windy. After a bit of lunch we took Emma's dogs to the beach, not your usual sandy beach but vast areas of muddy sand with wonderful views towards the Lake District one way and Morecambe the other. There was an old car stuck halfway out to sea, spoke to a chap who had been cockle picking on a quad bike he said it was idiots trying to "off road".

Sun 25th

After breakfast Veronica, Emma, Shannon & James went to a car boot sale seen advertised at Carnforth, not a lot there so didn't stop. Went on to Morecambe. Managed to park on the street and had a walk around the Festivel Market, a large undercover market and there was also a continental market outside. Walked down the town and stopped at Winter Gardens where there was a flea market the building looked interesting so we booked a tour for later. Walked on down to Lifeboat shop. Went back for the tour of the Winter Gardens, it was very interesting, it has been closed for many years but is still basically intact and people are trying to get it restored, click the following link to find out more. http://www.thewintergardensmorecambe.co.uk/

Went back to site and had another walk on beach. It had been another sunny but windy day.

Mon 26th

Took a bike ride along the coast and salt marshes. Saw heron,hawks, plover& oyster catchers amongst others. After lunch went to Heysham to have a look at the port, not able to see much or get very close. Called at Morrisons for a bit of shopping then back to site. Barry & Shelia, who live in Lancaster, came to visit and we had a BBQ. The evening was a bit less windy so able to sit out.

Tue Aug 27th

In the morning we went to the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis at Milnthope just north of Carnforth. It was a brilliant little place with plenty to see and hands on activities for the children.

The following link takes you to their site. http://www.wildlifeoasis.co.uk/ .
We carried on th Leighton Hall which was not far away and had a picnic in the garden before a guided tour of the house. A large country house that is still lived in. There was also a hawk flying demonstration but the bird flew off!!
Back to site for BBQ and another walk on beach. A bit of drizzle in evening but otherwise dry.

Wed Aug 28th

In the morning we went to Lancaster, we intended to go round the castle but when we got there it was swarming with uniformed men and we discovered it is a working prison and the prison wardens were on strike!. We enquired and found out that you can go ound but the enterance is the other side, we decided against it. We went down a very steep path with lots of steps to the river bank, it was very interesting as we got there to see the tide coming in very quickly against the flow of the river. We went to the Maritime Museum which was interesting and then on to Williamson Park where we had a picnic sitting in the sun by a lake. We walked on round the park which is dominated by the Ashton Memorial.
This is a large building which can be seen for miles around, built by Lord Ashton in memory of his wife in Edwardian times. Emma spotted signs for the Pendle Witch trail and we decided to follow them, ended up on a wild goose chase up on the moors, very nice views though. Back to site and a walk on the beach, Shannon & James "fell " in the mud and got covered all over, had to shower them off then clean showers out!! Warm & sunny again but site very windy. Had a few games with children before bed.

Thurs 29th

Went in to Morecambe again. Looked round market which was a lot quieter than at weekend, then walked on down and had a look at Eric Morecambe's memorial.
Took Shannon & James on funfair then walked down the Stone Jetty and had a drink in cafe, it was very windy again. Back to van for lunch, walked to sea at high tide then tried to fly kites. When the tide went out Shannon & James went to have fun in the mud again, this time in swim wear!!
After tea a few games again then bed.

Fri 30th

When we woke up the sky was very grey & threatening looked like rain coming so we started to pack up so that the tent and awning would be dry. Quick bacon butty then on the road by 10am.