Scotland Oct 2009

Thurs 15th

Set off from home at 8.50 and had a good run to Brownhills at Chester le Street arriving at 2.10, where we had a free stopover for two nights. It had been misty and drizzly most of the day. We got tea and had a game of cards before bed.


Distance travelled 237 miles

Fri 16th

Today we went to Beamish open air museum, it was about ten minutes from Brownhills, we went at 10.30 and got back 4.30, it was very interesting.
There was a colliery with a short section of mine to go down, pit cottages, a school, a church and a home farm then on to a small town with some houses, a bank, a Masonic hall, a Co-op,

where we had lunch, further on down to the manor house, original, fortified part 1400s (fortified against Scots border raids) then there was a Waggoner’s way with working steam engine.

It was bright and sunny but a very cold wind.

Sat 17th

We were away by 0920 and arrived at the Haltwhistle site at 1030, it had rained a bit overnight and been quite cold but was a bright, sunny morning.

We booked in and then went for a drive round looking for Hadrian’s Wall, we found a bit by a fort but didn’t want to pay so carried on and went to Haltwhistle, we parked and had a walk round and got super fish and chips then a couple of things at Sainsburys, it was a glorious, sunny day but cold, the colours in the trees were lovely. Back at the van we tried to get TV going for Grand Prix but it wouldn’t work, found out that the area had gone totally digital and we had not brought our freeview box and dish!!! I had a shower and we sat and read/sudokod. The site was nice, small and by a river. Distance travelled 46 miles Site fee £8.81 x 2 = £17.62

Sun 18th

Grey, damp morning, had been a very cold night, after breakfast we went to Housestead Fort, the best preserved Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall, it was bleak and cold with a sharp wind, the remains are quite impressive, once within the wall it was very sheltered.

We carried on looking for a pub and finally found one after miles of driving up hill and down vale through very sparsely populated country (except for sheep and cows) over the border in Cumbria, The Belted Will, it was called and we had a really good meal. Back to the van, read and sewed for a while, took a short walk in the woods along the river bank – wonderful dog walk now we haven’t got dogs! Had a game of cards then shower and early night, quite a bit milder tonight.

Mon 19th

Set off at 0930 and had a wet journey, arrived at Riverview Monifieth at 2.30. We set up and had a short walk on the beach; the water – Tay estuary – was very calm.

Andre and Jean, Aaron's paretns picked us up and too us to a Premier Inn for a meal which they insisted on paying for, we had a nice meal and they stopped for a coffee before going home. Distance travelled 195 miles Site fee £18 x 3 = £54

Tue 20th

A very blustery night and grey, cool day. We went to find the Discovery, where the wedding was being held, and Inchture hotel, reception, and where we would park overnight, before heading to a bird reserve, saw many geese etc. It was not a very nice day at all. Started to rain at 6.30 and the water was very rough.

Wed 21st

Up quite early to take Emma’s dress etc to the hotel, it took nearly an hour to get to the hotel as the traffic was so bad, crawling most of the way. We unloaded the stuff then went back into Dundee to the Discovery for a wedding rehearsal. The weather was awful, wet, cold and blustery, we met the wedding coordinator and went on board, Emma was very upset that the weather made the ship inhospitable and it was suggested that the ceremony be in the wardroom, we went down to look at it and agreed that if the weather was the same tomorrow it would have to be there, the deck and bridge were bitterly cold and wet, the wind funnelling down off the water. We went back to the hotel to meet Marg & Bri who had arrived and we had a very nice lunch with them at the hotel. We then drove back to our van and sat in the warm and dry playing scrabble as the weather was too awful to be outside. Marg & Bri went back after a bit of tea and we followed a bit later. When we got to the hotel Jan & Mike had arrived and then we got together with Emma, Aaron and their friends for a few drinks. Back to van quite late.

Thurs 22nd

We left the site after breakfast, allowing time for traffic to clear, called at Tesco for food and fuel and got to the hotel for about 10.30, we were spending the night parked there. There was a lot of activity getting Emma and the bridesmaids ready and they all looked beautiful. I had a shower in Jan’s room then we had a sandwich with Jan & Mike in the van before it was time to get dressed and set off for the Discovery. There was a courtesy mini bus provided by the hotel and Marg & Bri, Jan & Mike and me were on the first trip. As we arrived at the ship the piper started playing, Ode to Joy, lovely! The weather was very different to yesterday calm and dry with the sun coming out sporadically and the wedding coordinators had set up the chairs on the bridge, which was Emma’s preferred location. Quite a bit of hanging around then waiting for others to arrive, as each group arrived the piper was playing which made for a lovely atmosphere, and then finally Emma & Rich arrived in a stretch Limo. The ceremony went very well and as Rich walked with Emma the piper played the Welsh National Anthem, cue sniffles!

There were drinks served on the deck whilst photos were being taken and Emma & Aaron were presented with a pair of crystal glasses from the ship.



Back to the hotel at last, it was beginning to get quite cold as the afternoon wore on, and a super reception, the meal was very good and Emma had decorated the tables beautifully. A late night again.

Fri 23rd

After seeing everyone off we left the van at the hotel and went to find an optician as I’d lost a pad off my glasses. We tried to find a car park in Dundee but ended up on the Tay Bridge and so went over to Newport; we parked and found an optician who charged £4 for new pads!

We had a short walk but nothing much to see, dilapidated buildings and a very small inaccessible harbour. Back over the bridge to go to Arbroath but managed to get tied up in road works and diversions, we arrived in Arbroath eventually and met Emma and Aaron’s family in a fish & chip buffet restaurant by the Bell Rock lighthouse. A very nice meal – all you could eat for £6.50. We had a very quick look round the museum then back to collect the van and get on our way. We left the hotel at 2.45 and arrived at a farm in Methven at 3.25.


We got pitched with Smart hitched up, had a bit off tea and a very early night, the weather had turned nasty again and it rained all night.

Distance travelled 23 miles Site fee £5

Sat 24th

Up and away for 9.30 heading for Lancaster but when we stopped for lunch Rich decided to head for home as the weather was awful, rain and low cloud.

We got home at 4.45. Distance travelled 343 miles

AUSTRIA Sept 2009

Thurs 17th

Having stayed overnight in Stafford with Margaret & Brian we set off for Northwich, arriving at 08.40. When we got out of the car we met up with Mary & Tom and our cases were loaded onto the coach, we were a bit worried to see Clive underneath the coach doing some repairs and when we said we would go to Tesco and get breakfast Clive told us to take our time! Tesco was disappointing as the café had been replaced with a fancy coffee bar; we made do with plasticy bacon toasties. Back at the garage Clive was still under the coach with Robert and a mechanic, we were told to get on board as it would be about half an hour. After an hour or so Clive came and told us it would be a bit longer, it was decided at some point in the morning that Sarah would drive Clive’s coach to pick up other passengers, Maureen (courier) and Hazel (Sarah’s mum) went with her. As the day wore on they were still trying to fix the problem (brake pipes) fetching parts etc. Sarah had picked up her passengers and carried on to Hull, by late afternoon it was decided that she should carry on and board the ferry but she hadn’t got her passport with her as she wasn’t on her own coach, someone came to take it to her and we heard that he had got it to her with five minutes to spare. It was 5.30pm by then and too late to get to Hull for the ferry so we had to find an hotel, some who lived near went home and Clive took us, in the now repaired coach, to a motel, “Happy Guest” we had a warm welcome and an evening meal then bed.

Fri 18th

Did not sleep well and we were up early for breakfast. Clive picked us up at 0930 and we set off for Leeds where we stopped for morning coffee at a large shopping centre, Rich managed to buy some swimming trunks as he had left his at home. We carried on to Hull where we boarded the ferry at about 6pm. We settled in our cabins then met for a drink and dinner; it was a very good buffet meal and as we were eating it we set sail. We went to the Sky lounge for a drink then bed.

Sat 19th

Slept heavily and woke with a start when the breakfast announcement was made at 0700, a great rush as we were meeting at 0745 to disembark. Rich sat with our bags while I went for breakfast and I found out that we were docking an hour later as it was the weekend so we both managed some breakfast.
We set off from Rotterdam at about 0930, Clive said that he was going to do the two days travel in one to catch up with the other coach, we didn’t stop till 1220 and it was at a McDonalds because the place we were supposed to stop was closed because of roadworks,

we were plagued with roadworks all day,
we left McDonalds at 1300 and carried on with a quick toilet stop ,coffee stop and fuel stop reaching Ulm at 2130 – 12 hours travel, we were very tired and glad to arrive, we were met by Sarah glad to have her case and a change of clothes, we had a quick meal and bed.

Sun 20th

Set off at 0930 with Sarah driving, we encountered lots of traffic hold ups including an overturned lorry down an embankment, it was very slow going, we stopped a couple of times, for coffee and toilet, and then stopped in a lay by for lunch, there were picnic tables but so many wasps about we stayed on the coach to eat after a wee behind the hedge!, we had wine with our lunch which Tom & Mary had provided. We set off again and the scenery began to change, the mountains were spectacular and we started to see typical Tyrolean houses, wooden chalet types with masses of colourful hanging baskets.

We arrived at Hotel Schloss Rosenegg at 1815 and finally got our cases, we had time for a shower and change before dinner, the meal was not wonderful and the staff were a bit disorganised so service was not good. Our room was nice, we were next to Marg & Brian & Mary & Tom in the “dungeons”, they had asked to be near the swimming pool, the hotel was on many levels and seemed to encompass quite a few buildings with a road in between, there was a stream running outside our rooms, we had to go up and down various flights of stairs to get anywhere else in the hotel. It had been hot & sunny all day.



Mon 21st

We were up early and got breakfast, it was a good breakfast with lots of choice. We met Thomas, an hotel employee, who took us on an orientation walk around the village. We walked along a pretty, wooded path by the river, there was a wooden house with beautiful hanging baskets and in the garden were some michaelmas daisies which were alive with dozens of butterflies and we then went up to the church; it was sunny and very hot.




We had a look into the church and a drink from the special spring that supposedly cures fevers and everything else, the town was named after this fever fountain, we then carried on through the town and back to the hotel. In the afternoon the coach took us into Kitzbuhel a medieval town, on the way we had lunch on the coach, a nice buffet served by Robert.
We stopped for a drink then had a walk round the town, very pretty, cobbled streets and colourful houses many with painted shutters or murals on the walls, Kitzbuhel is, like Fieberbrunn, a ski resort.

When we were back on the coach there was a birthday cake for Mary and a celebratory drink. Back at the hotel we had a swim then dinner, the food was again not very good and service bad, the staff were pleasant but there did not seem to be any organisation in the serving method, we waited ages for our main course. There was music and dancing in the bar after dinner.

Tue 22nd

We got breakfast quite early and then went on a modern coach for a trip to the Glossglockner, at 3798 m high the highest mountain in Austria, the route was along the Glossglockner High Alpine Road, a very scary ride with numerous hairpin bends and the road built out on pillars some of the time. We passed waterfalls and there was a lot of snow on the mountain tops.

When we arrived we had to get a lift up one level then get on a mini bus which took us up to a restaurant by the glacier, we had lunch with a glass of wine then walked to an observation tower to take a close look at the glacier, it was an impressive sight but is apparently melting at an alarming rate.

We saw marmots on the hillside, they were bigger than we expected, quite badger like,

and some very pretty wild flowers, gentian, edelweiss and a pretty pink, many headed crocus like flower, there were ibex about but we did not spot any. We saw eagles and alpine chough.
A bit of a mix up picking people up and some were in the wrong place so driver took us back the way we’d come instead of a different route we were going to take. Back at the hotel I had a quick swim before dinner; service was a bit better tonight. After dinner we had a “torchlight” walk with Thomas, we were all given candles and walked along a river path, about 80 of us, we stopped and had to blow our candles out to look up at the stars, it was quite spectacular and the milky way was clearly visible, Thomas then gave us a few moments of calming meditation before relighting the candles and heading back, it was certainly different but spoiled by the fact that I (and others) got candle wax on our clothes.


Wed 23rd

Today was as free day with no trips planned so we got up a bit later and walked into Fieberbrunn along the river and back, as we walked back to the town we saw at least a dozen types of wild flower in a meadow. We had lunch in a café on the corner by the hotel and while we were there we saw the cows being brought down from their summer pastures, they were driven through the streets amongst the traffic with their bells clanging, one of them was wearing a headdress that looked like a Christmas tree, the brown and white cattle that we mostly saw are Pinzgauer.

We had a rest then a swim, another rest and dinner. It had been another beautiful hot, sunny day.

Thurs 24th

Today we went to Zell Um See, we had tea and biscuits on the coach and Mary produced” Austrian” hats which we had to wear! As we were taking photos outside the coach we became quite an attraction with other tourists, they were taking our picture and having their picture taken with us.


We walked down to the lake which is very picturesque and walked along it for a while stopping to get a drink and some chips.

When we got back to Fieberbrunn we were taken up on a ski lift for apple strudel and a drink, this was very nice, a huge piece of cake, some of us then decided to go up to the next stage on the ski lift, it was fantastic with wonderful views over the town and surrounding countryside,

it was very peaceful and the sun was glorious. Back at the hotel we were treated to some Tyrolean dances before dinner.

Fri 25th

Today we had a trip to Salzburg, it was quite a distance and took a couple of hours to get there, when we got there there was a bit of a mix up as the park and ride system had stopped operating and so the coaches had to dive us to a drop off place near the town. We waited at a café in the square for a drink but did not get served so went to a market stall and had one from there. Rich & Brian were very interested in a stall of wooden objects and managed to have a conversation with the stallholder about his work.
We took a ride around the town in a landau

and then just wandered round the markets, they were very interesting with all sorts of crafts being carried out, woodworking, ironworking, stone masons, distilling, jewellery, costume making, pottery etc. it was all very interesting and we also saw quite a lot of people, men and women, in national dress, it was very pleasant wandering round in the sunshine. When we set off back to the coach we found that the city was bigger than we thought and kept finding more squares, markets and another funfair we kept the castle on our right and finally ended up in St Peter’s church yard full of mausoleums, very well maintained. We finally spotted Mary & Tom so knew we were on the right track and got back to the coach. We left at 3pm and had only travelled 10km in an almost an hour as the motorway was solid with traffic and very slow as we were by a service area a “police” van pulled both coaches over and Clive was told that he had not got the correct pass for travelling in Austria and they were fined almost £1000, they had bought passes when first entering Austria but had not been told that there were different passes for different situation, going from Fieberbrunn to Salzburg took us in and out of Germany and so different passes were needed. Tom took a collection to help with the fines. We were also told that the road would be closed for 3 hours as there was an overturned lorry. We finally set of at 7pm after hanging round the service station all this time. We arrived back at the hotel at 8.20pm; the meal this evening was at 6pm and was a special buffet, “Schlossherren” or Lord of the Manor with Austrian dancing. The meal had been saved for us so we just had it and went to bed, no time to wash and brush up, it was a nice buffet, one of the better meals, pity it was so rushed.

Sat 25th

Today we set off for home it was very misty when we started but soon cleared up to be another sunny day. We left Fieberbrunn at 0955, we had a couple of stops and lunch on the coach and had time to stop for 20 mins at Dinkelsbuhl a small, very pretty town in Germany, there were a lot of horses about and it appeared to be a hunt, some of the riders were in hunting jackets.
We set off again for Wurzburg, although this was a distance of just over 70 miles we didn’t arrive until 10pm, we were plagued by roadworks again so the going was very slow and when we got near the drivers were unable to find the hotel, we went round in circles for ages and finally had to get a local taxi to come and lead us to it, no wonder we couldn’t find it as it was halfway up a mountain along unlit twisty roads. The hotel was nice and the welcome we got was wonderful, again we did not have to wash and brush up but just had to go straight to the dining room, the service was very good and an excellent meal served quickly and efficiently by friendly staff, plenty of wine with meal. Straight to bed.


Sun 26th

I got up and had a swim before breakfast and as we were early we had a bit of a walk round, there were super views although the morning was misty. The breakfast was not as good as at the other hotel, not much variety. Just after we set off we pulled up to look at a miniature church by the roadside, we also found a walnut tree and collected quite a lot.


By the time we’d got fuel it was 11 30 before we set off, we stopped to have lunch on board the coach and then set off again at 2.30, we arrived at the Novotel Wuppertal at 5.15pm. It had been a lovely, sunny day again. Clive wanted to take us on the mono rail and most of us decided to go, Clive had seen it in 1946 when it was devastated by the war. First of all we had to find where to park, Clive got directions from locals then we had to get 40 tickets out of the machine, this took ages with the usual chaos of everyone thinking they knew best. We finally got aboard on a coach full of what we took to be football hooligans, chanting and shouting. We travelled about 10 stops and got off, it was very interesting but the city, or what we saw of it, was not very inviting, industrialised, dirty and neglected looking.


We then found that we had to get more tickets for the return journey luckily a couple of transport police turned up and helped. It was dark by the time we got back to the hotel at 8.20pm, dinner was at 8! One chap off Clive’s coach was having a go at Maureen because he wasn’t happy about a late dinner, he was very nasty, he was the only person who had moaned all holiday. Meal not bad.

Mon 28th

We left Wuppertal at 09.35 and headed for Arnhem, when we got there we thought we would be stopping for a look round but the other coach did not want to stop so we carried on and had lunch on the coach. Carried on and stopped at a small town with a windmill, walked around for a bit, I got a saddle for my bike. Back on coach and got to Rotterdam about 5.30 and boarded the ferry. Settled in cabin then met for a drink before dinner, again a nice buffet meal.

Tue 29th

Docked at 08.45, late because there had been an emergency evacuation of a crew member the night before. We stopped at an outlet village, Junction 32 at Castleford, where we had a drink and a muffin then a bit of a look round. Set off again and back at Northwich for about 2.30. Bri drove us back to Stafford and we were home by about 4.30pm.




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All in all we had a good holiday, the weather was fantastic, hot and sunny every day, reaching 70 degrees some days, the Austrian countryside was spectacular with vibrant green meadows, a lot of them being cut and turned for hay or silage, there were lots of wildflowers and impressive snow topped, mountains, we saw many birds of prey, including eagles, also a lot of brown & white Pinzgauer cows grazing on the rich grass. We had expected it to be quite cool, especially in the mountains and so had the wrong clothes with us, also we were quite late for meals a few times and did not have time to wash and change which, after long, hot journeys was a bit annoying. The distances travelled, even without the holdups, were long and very tiring, and we felt that there was not enough time to stop and enjoy the various places we went to. Overall though it was a good holiday with good company and lots of fun, the Regency Road Pullman Company is very different and the staff, Sarah, Robert, Clive & Maureen were friendly and fun and went out of their way to be helpful, the lunches we had on board the coach were good and nicely presented.

Tenby Aug 2009

Sun 23rd Aug

Having loaded the van the day before we set off at 08.20, an uneventful journey with a couple of showers and we arrived on site at 11.50. As we came to unhitch the Smart we realised that we had left the keys for it at home!! We rang Emma to ask could they fetch them for us and then realised what a cheek that was so instead Emma suggested she post them to us, still quite an effort but really appreciated. It was very wet, Rich watched the Grande Prix I crocheted and listened to music. After tea we watched a bit of TV then bed.

Distance Travelled 131 miles

Mon 24th

Quite a bright morning so we went for a walk to Amroth, a small, very pretty seaside town, the tide was in but we were told that there were miles of lovely sand.

Back to the van and it was nice enough to sit out in the sun for a while. I’d left a meal in the slow cooker which turned out alright, it was very showery again in the evening and there was a super rainbow for ages.


I was very tired so we had an early night.

Tue 25th

We both managed a shower in the van and then just waited around for the post. The keys arrived at about 2pm, we unhitched the car and started to put the awning up, this took ages as people kept stopping to talk and then the zip broke so we had to stitch it up. By the time we were finished it was tea time, after tea watched a bit of TV before bed.

Wed 26th

Woke up to a very grey, very wet morning. After breakfast we went to Tesco in Pembroke Dock for a few things and to try and get a new phone. Argos was next door to Tesco and I got one there. Marg & Bri were coming over for a couple of days so waited in for them whilst learning my new phone. M & B arrived about 1pm, we had a bit of lunch then went to find them a B&B, found a nice one in Amroth and they booked in. We then went for a bit of a drive round, the weather having improved a bit, went to Wiseman’s Bridge, Saundersfoot and Tenby, we didn’t stop anywhere. M & B went to their digs and us back to van. We went for tea and Welsh cakes at Steward’s tent which was nice. We met M & B at 6.30 at the Amroth Arms and had a nice meal, it turned out to be a nice evening.

Thurs 27th

Rain first thing but brightened up a bit later. M & B called for us and we went to Pembroke Dock looking for a museum to Sunderland Flying Boats, took us a few trips round the docks but finally found it, it was very interesting, they are raising, bit by bit, a Sunderland that sunk in the docks and restoring it. We then went to a museum in a Martello Tower, also very interesting, the weather was not too good and there was a very cool wind. We had lunch in a pub opposite the tower then went on to Pembroke Castle. Had a good look around the many remaining parts of the very large castle got a cup of tea then back to van where I cooked a quick meal. We had been invited to a badger watch at M & B’s digs but the weather had turned awful, all enveloping clouds and rain so we thought it would be off. However about 8.30 it brightened up again and they texted to say it was on. We went down and had a superb view of 4 or 5 badgers eating outside the kitchen window. Back to van and bed.

Fri 28th

Heavy rain again first thing so got up very slowly. Rich’s back was giving him pain so we didn’t go out for a while but when he felt better we went to St David’s, we got a bit lost around Haverfordwest but got there eventually. We went to Porthclais harbour first, a small inlet where people were canoeing. We then went into the town, parked and walked round for a while; we priced a boat trip then had fish and chips – lovely! We went to St Justinian’s where the boat trip would leave from and looked round the lifeboat station; there was a very strong, cool wind all day. We went back to the van via Asda where we got a couple of things, including a deep fat fryer. As we got back to the van the sky went very black and there was a thunder storm.

Sat 29th

Another grey morning, Rich watched Grande Prix and by the time it had finished it had brightened up. We went to Wisemans Bridge and parked then walked along the coast to Saundersfoot, there is a good path on the site of an old railway which goes through 3 tunnels in the rocks. Saundersfoot was very busy, lots of people on the beach and in the sea, in the sun it was very warm but there was a very cool breeze.

We walked back to the car, Wisemans Bridge was also very busy, and went back to van. We went for a coffee at the steward’s tent but only 2 other people there, our very garrulous neighbours! Rain again in the evening.

Sun 30th

Another grey, wet morning, low clouds hiding the view, stayed in, Rich watched Grand Prix, it didn’t stop raining all day so we stayed in the van.



Mon 31st

Grey, overcast and damp this morning but cleared up to blue, cloudy sky with quite strong wind. We went to Tenby and got on the park and ride to the harbour. We walked round the harbour and headland area which was very windy then went to the Tudor Merchant’s House a National Trust property, this was interesting showing how a merchant would have lived in the 14th/15th century. We then wandered round the town, very pretty with small interconnecting streets surrounded by town walls; also very busy being a Bank Holiday Monday.

We stopped for lunch at what must have been the scruffiest pub in Tenby and had a toasted sandwich, when we left we saw a notice saying Prince William had been drinking there!! We went on to Pembroke Dock to Asda and Poundland then back to van, watched an old film on TV, Rich did chips in new deep fat fryer.

Tue 1st Sept

A bit brighter but cooler and still strong wind. After breakfast we packed awning up as it was just about dry then we went to Scolton Manor near Haverfordwest, there was a lot to see, woodland walks, farm implements, blacksmith, a restored train and the manor house. We stopped for lunch and it couldn’t have been more different to yesterday, clean, bright& efficient, a couple of £s dearer but worth it. Managed to stay dry until we were leaving when there was a heavy shower. Called at Summerhill farm shop on way back, I bought a book as well as sausages and bacon etc. the girl told me that the books were being sold for charity “CRY”, Cardiac Risk in the Young, she told me that her husband had died suddenly 2 yrs ago aged 28 just 3 weeks after they had opened the shop. Back to van and into Amroth for meal. Watch TV for a while then bed.



Wed 2nd Sept

It was quite bright when we woke but showers imminent; we had breakfast and finished packing up. When we came to leave we got stuck so the steward called for the farmer with his tractor, they couldn’t start the tractor so Bob pulled us with his 4WD, it didn’t take much but everything got very muddy, hitched the Smart up and away by 11am., drove through a lot of rain, went via Rhayader and home by 2.45.

Distance travelled 147 miles




We had enjoyed ourselves despite the weather, the stewards were very friendly and helpful and the site is in a lovely position. We managed well showering in the van.

Portugal March 2009.


Fri 6th

We decide to set off early as we were all ready so we left home at 14.25; we got to Dover for 19.15 and were able to get on the 21.00 ferry. We got to Calais at 22.45 and set off for Cleres arriving at 01.45, it had been dry but started to rain as we neared Cleres, the Aire was good, well marked pitches with hedges round each one, electricity was available if wanted. It was very cold but we soon got off to sleep.


Distance travelled 393 miles Fuel £57.41

Sat 7th

Woke at 0830 local time, it was bitterly cold, 4 c, had a quick breakfast and away by 10.45, it was dry and there were sunny spells but it started mizzling mid morning. We arrived at St Maure de Touraine at about 15.00hrs but we had trouble finding the Aire, we went to a camp site first, arrived at 15.20. We got a meal then took a walk round the town to the church & chateau (ruined), it was a very old town, a bit dilapidated but peaceful, it was a lot milder than last night, we had a very early night.


Distance Travelled 218 miles Fuel €39

Sun 8th

We set off at 0835. The drive was a bit easier today all down the N10, it was cloudy but bright. There were a lot of granaries but as we got near Bordeaux we started to see vineyards. We stopped for lunch at about 12 o’clock then carried on, it was a good fairly new road and it was a bit sad to see that it had cut through villages and that there were a lot of house abandoned and garages and cafes as well, the new road had obviously affected them. We started to see some blossom on trees, gorse was blooming as well. We found the Aire at Hostens, arriving at 1.30; it was outside a camp site (closed) in a pine forest. We walked through the forest to a lake for about an hour, there were literally hundreds of trees fallen down, many had been over the track, which had been cleared, but most lay where they had fallen, either snapped in half or uprooted.

There was a site with some fossilised wood and descriptions of an ancient (500 million year old) tropical forest that had once been in the area. After we had tea another motorhome turned up with an English couple in, Mike & Elaine, we chatted and they came over for a drink and to give us some advice on our route and available stopping places, they had been doing the run for a few years and knew a lot more about it than us. They had been out since before Christmas and were returning to manage a site near Glastonbury, it was interesting talking to them and they stayed till after 10.00.

Distance travelled 212 miles


Mon 9th

It rained overnight and there was a shower as we were getting ready to leave, we set off at 0840. It was a harder drive than yesterday over the Pyrenees, although a toll road it was not very good and was very twisty in places, there was also a lot of heavy traffic, especially around San Sebastian. As we passed through mile upon mile of pine forests we saw the same devastation that we had seen by the site, hundreds of trees down, there must have been a terrific storm very recently as all that appeared to have been done was to clear roads which would have been a mammoth task. It was sunny at times but there were a few very nasty showers, when we were at the top of the mountains we saw a thin covering of hail lying on the roadside. We stopped for a sandwich at about 12.30 and watched a couple of fly catchers by the roadside. We saw Mimosa in blossom, Camellias, Primroses, Cowslips and gorse. We arrived at Haro at 1.20 in beautiful sunshine, it was a nice site with well marked out pitches and very warm, clean toilet/shower blocks, although no toilet seats, it was beside a river and ringed by distant mountain peaks, some with a scattering of snow.
We booked in, had a shower then took a walk into the town. There was nothing open except a few bars, it was a very old town with lots of houses fallen down, it had a lovely square and magnificent old buildings adorned with balconies, we watched storks soaring above the town and there were a few nests on chimney pots. Back to the van where we had tea and an early night.



Distance travelled 223 miles Fuel €54.81 Tolls €11.45.


Tue 10th

Very cold when we woke, 2c, heavy frost. Had breakfast then on the road for 0845 and it was lovely and sunny, we could see the high mountains in the distance covered with snow. The road was not too good up until Burgos, quite twisty, we passed a few small towns that all seemed to be having new estates built. Burgos was a very dirty industrial town with a pall of smoke over it, there were lots of gravel pits and cement works. After Burgos the road was dual carriageway and much easier to travel, there was snow lying in small pockets beside the road. We stopped for lunch overlooking a vast plain, an English lorry driver stopped to chat to us; we saw wagtails and skylarks as well as a large hawk (buzzard/kite?) Alongside the road there were baskets on poles with model storks on them, we presumed to attract storks to nest. We had difficulty finding the site and went round Salamanca 3 times, got there eventually at 2.15. It was lovely and warm and sunny so we got the chairs out and sat and enjoyed it. The site got quite busy, it was ok but only 2 showers, but they were clean, an English chap said he paid €20 (should have been 23) so camping cheque was good value at £10.

Distance travelled 226 miles Fuel€39




Wed 11th

Cold when we woke up, 3c, but no frost. We set off at 0850. The first part of the journey was along dual carriageway and very easy. We saw very colourful model cows alongside the motorway as well as many long horn cattle in fields. At 0920 we were pulled over by the police for a random weight check but we were waved on without having a check. As we passed onto Portugal the terrain changed dramatically and became very rugged and mountainous with granite boulders outcropping. Spring seemed to be more advanced as well with lots of blossom, mimosa, cherry etc. the trees were also greening up with new growth. We saw processional caterpillar nests in conifer trees and storks nests in trees and chimneys, there were also miles of eucalyptus trees being grown and harvested. We saw concrete channels which reminded us of the levadas in Madeira but instead of going along terraces they all went down to streams or drainage ditches. Some of the small towns we passed through had streets cobbled with granite sets. The middle part of the journey was along a winding, minor road through very pretty country with sheep, cattle, olives and corn; it all looked very green and pretty. We arrived at Evora at 2.45 (our time clocks gone back an hour), it was a large congested car park in the shadow of an ancient viaduct. Rich managed to squeeze in.

Distance travelled 272 miles Fuel€ 31.50


Thurs 12th

We did not get much sleep as the road and car park was very busy and we were a bit nervous as the only motorhome overnighting, I set alarm for 7am but it went off at 4 (3 Portuguese time!) but we didn’t realise till we were up and had breakfast! It was a lot warmer, 13degrees dropping to 12. We waited until it got light at 06.30 and set off into the sunrise with a full moon behind us. It was similar country to yesterday, lots of cattle and some sheep, we saw more storks nests and a lot of ibis, also a hoopoe flew in front of us, quite a few vines and cherry blossom, the roads were lined with big gum trees for a lot of the way. We called at a small town to find a supermarket we got stuck in narrow streets but couldn’t get to it we went on and found a Lidl in the next town, Silves. We stopped for a few groceries and carried on. We arrived at Turiscampo at10.45, after a false start at another site. We booked in and got sited; Jan had found us a nice, sunny pitch next door but one to them. We had a shower then had lunch with J & M sitting in the sun, chatted for a while then got an early night. The site is nice, large pitches, a lot are shady but we were lucky enough to have a sunny one, thanks to Jan, showers lovely and new and very clean. It had been lovely and sunny all day.

Distance travelled 160 miles Fuel €45


Fri 13th

Woke up to a lovely sunny day. There were azure magpies and serrin flying round the site.
We got the bus into Lagos, walked across the bridge to the marina,

stopped for a drink then wandered round the town and had a nice lunch in a small restaurant. We went to a supermarket for a few things and back on the bus. J & M came for a game of cards before bed.



Sat 14th

Woke up to another lovely, sunny day. Jan & I walked to the village, Espiche, to the fish market and bought fish and strawberries. We had a BBQ in the afternoon and sat and enjoyed the sun nattering.

Sun 15th

We walked into Luz, it was a long walk and very hilly and hot, it is a pretty little seaside town with a nice beach and cafes along the promenade, famous, or infamous, for the place where Madeline McCann was taken from.


Sat and read in afternoon, in evening J & M came and we showed them our Australian pics.

Mon 16th

Another hot day, we went for a buffet lunch in the site restaurant then sat in sun and read. J & M came for cards.

Tue 17th

Hot and sunny again but windy. We got the bus into Lagos and had a walk round the old town, very quaint with whitewashed houses; there were some old houses falling down and building work going on in places. We had a drink in a small café then walked along the promenade, the sea was very rough.

We walked round the marina to supermarket then back and sat in the sun out of the wind for a while before getting the bus back. Got dinner and early night.

Wed 18th

Another hot, windy day did some washing and Jan cooked dinner for us, we sat around chatting most of the afternoon then after tea had a game of cards before bed.

Thurs 19th

Cloudy and cooler this morning, by lunchtime it had brightened up a bit and we decided to go to a restaurant Jan & Mike had been to before on the outskirts of Lagos. We caught the bus and when we got off had a wander round before Jan found the restaurant, it was local and noisy but the food was very good, home cooked, fish and fresh veg with wine and sweet. We then walked on to the coast; it was still cloudy but windy, not cold though. We went down lots of steps to the beach and ther were fantastic fossilised shells &rocky cliffs with outcrops that had eroded away making stacks and archways.




We carried on to the lighthouse and down some more steps to the “grotto” even more fantastic rock formations with the sea crashing around them and sea birds wheeling above. Slogged back to the main road where J & M decided to walk to the bus station but we decided to sit at the nearest bus stop, we ended up on different buses, we had the one that went round all the outskirts and villages, got back very tired at 7.15, supper and early night.

Fri 20th

A lot calmer this morning, still a bit cloudy but that soon cleared and it was a lovely hot day. Washed sheets but otherwise sat around van all day in sun reading. Game of cards before bed.

Sat 21st

Another sunny, lazy day, walked to Espiche in morning to fish market,

got some fish and strawberries. We had a BBQ then sat around in afternoon in sun. Game of cards before bed.

Sun 22nd

Cloudy this morning, sun trying but not succeeding very well, hot when it did come out. We went for all you can eat buffet lunch at restaurant on site which was very good value, lazy afternoon game of cards before bed.

Mon 23rd

A very windy but sunny day, cool in breeze but sun hot. We caught a bus to Sagres; it is a small fishing port with quite a large newish harbour, it is the point that Christopher Columbus left from to discover the new world. We had a walk round, didn’t take long! Got some bread in supermarket then had sandwiches in a sheltered spot on harbour, overlooking road! Walked round harbour it was very exhilarating with the wind and the waves crashing on the harbour wall. While waiting for the return bus we walked on the cliffs above the harbour.



Back to van, tea and cards before bed.

Tue 24th

Another hot, sunny day, sat outside and read in morning, in afternoon had a game of boules, surprised myself by doing quite well! Team were pleased with me and we won. In the evening we met up with a group from the rally and walked into Espiche to a restaurant, http://www.algarve-retreats.co.uk/sub_page.cfm/title/Restauarants%20in%20Espiche,%20Algarve%20-%20Adega%20do%20Papagaio/section/services/editID/379 Papagaio , it was decorated with lots of parrots, ornaments and pictures, apparently Papagaio means parrot in Portuguese.

We had meats brought to the table and cooked them on a hot stone, it was very good and we had unlimited chips and wine, we had a very good evening Rich & Jan both enjoyed the wine! We staggered home after 10.30.

Wed 25th

Another hot, sunny day had a quiet day reading and sunbathing, one of the couples who had been with us last night called and they had got me a tee shirt from the restaurant (I’d asked but didn’t wait for it). In the afternoon the four of us played boules and had an early night.

Thurs 26th

A bit cloudy this morning, but warm and still, we walked to a Chinese restaurant on the way to Luz and had a very nice lunch.

We carried on into Luz, got a few things at the supermarket then got the bus back to Espiche, a lot easier than walking up the long hill. Sat in sun for rest of day, game of cards before bed.

Fri 27th

A bit cloudy this morning but soon cleared. We got the bus into Lagos, had a look around Chinese shops then R & I had lunch at café on marina and J & M went to supermarket met at bus station and back to site. Got mostly packed up before bed.



Sat 28th
Moving on to Albufiera today.
Light shower when we woke up and it had rained a bit in the night, glad we’d packed sunshade & mat away last night. Finished packing up and left by 09.30. We went into Lagos to Lidl to stock up and then met J & M on services and carried on together to Albufeira, arriving at about 11.30. We checked in with rally stewards and got ourselves sited, the ground was muddy as they had had heavy rain overnight, it did not seem as warm as in Espiche and site was not as well organised, cool wind blowing. R tried to get TV set up for Grande Prix but no joy. R & I decided to walk to Albufeira to see if there was a bar showing it, also I needed my glasses looking at as I’d lost the nose pad. It was a long, difficult walk along a busy road with lots of road works and we took a wrong turn and so walked further than we needed! We found the bar which was not going to show race and the opticians which was shut! Slogged back to site (we reckoned about 7miles in all) got tea and early night, clocks going forward tonight.

Distance travelled 39 miles

Sun 29th

Quite cold when we woke up 8c, and cold wind blowing even though sun shining, decided to have a quite day so stayed on site, it warmed up a bit in afternoon out of the wind. R & I wet to restaurant on site for a meal, hoped to see Grand Prix but no luck, meal ok.

Mon 30th

Woke up to a cold morning, 8c. We went to catch bus into Albufeira; we’d been told it was every half hour and cost 1euro 10c. We got on a bus and he charged us 1euro 90c, took us to the bus terminal and told us to get off!! We went for help at the information desk and were told that the best way into town was to walk!! There were no timetables to be had or any help. We walked into the town and I found an optician to repair my glasses, we went to the Tourist Information office then we then went and sat by the beach and ate our sandwiches.


We wandered about a bit more and then caught a little train for a trip round, it was the most uninteresting train we’d ever been on, just went round houses and back to where we started!! Walked back and got the bus back to the site, we realised that we had got on the wrong bus in the morning– a long distance rather than a local bus but were a bit put out by the lack of information or help.
In the evening we went to the quiz night organised by the rally, it was a good night even though we didn’t win we met some nice people.

Tue 31st

Cold again this morning so decided not to have a shower, the shower blocks here are not heated so it’s a bit Spartan! We went for a boules match in the afternoon, it was good fun. Game of cards before bed.

Wed April 1st

Cloudy when we woke up but not quite as cold as the last couple of days. We got the bikes off and cycled (and pushed) to the Algarve Shopping Centre, it was a hilly ride through mostly farm tracks, but as it was sunny it was not too bad.

We arrived and found something to eat, R & I had Chinese, J & M went to a small restaurant. We found the shop we were looking for, R wanted to get a site book for Spain with coordinates in which he’d been told he'd maybe get there but they didn’t have one. Had a bit of a look round but it was all designer shops so we went to the supermarket and got a few things before cycling back, mostly downhill! J & M went to bingo. The sun had been hot but there was a cool breeze all day.

Thurs 2nd

Cool again in the morning but sunny and hot later. Played boules in the afternoon and J & M were going to dinner dance but Mike was not feeling too well so Jan asked would I go with her, I’d already had tea but that didn’t matter. The meal was very nice, soup, kebabs with rice, chips & salad then a sweet, also all the wine or water you could drink and a port or brandy to finish – all very nice. We sat with some nice people, Sue & John and had a good chat. The music was a girl singing to backing tapes, mostly 60s music and very good. Jan & I had quite a few jives; we had a thoroughly good timed stayed till the end getting home at midnight.

Fri 3rd

We got the bus into Albufeira, the right one this time! Wandered about looking for a bar showing Grande Prix and found one that said they would show it so had a drink there, we then went for a meal at another small restaurant which was fish, chips & salad for €5 Walked slowly back to bus and back to site, Mike was feeling under the weather again – low blood sugar so R & I watched a DVD.

Sat 4th

Weather a bit better today, warm all day & the wind didn’t get up. R & I played boules; Jan forgot about it and was having her dinner, otherwise just sat about. Game of cards before bed.

Sun 5th

Rich & Mike went into town early to see the Grand Prix in a bar; they came back at lunch time pleased to have been able to see it. It was the hottest day yet and we just sat around.

Mon 6th

Cooler in the morning when we woke up but turned hot and sunny, though breezy. We decided to cycle to Ferreiras, a nearby town, but my bike had a puncture so J & M went ahead. Rich mended the puncture 3 times and finally got it to stay up, the ride was uphill all the way and along a busy road, we met up with J & M in the square, they were just about to return, the fish market was not open as they don’t fish on Sunday so no fish Mon. They went to find a supermarket and we had a look round a Chinese shop and had a drink in a small café before setting off back. We called at an orange seller by the side of the road, there was and “antique” display which consisted of many old farm implements, mainly for use with mules, and old chests, singer sewing machines and bedsteads full of worm and dust, we bought a bag of oranges and went back to site, it was easy, downhill all the way. As we had no fish we got some pies from the site shop for tea, Rich re-mended my bike. In the evening we went to the quiz, came joint first but lost on tie break. I was up half the night with a very upset tummy.

Tue 7th

I felt a bit better so decided to risk going out. We got the bus to go to the market, we were astonished to ride round Albufeira for nearly ¾ hr, it made quite a nice trip. It was a huge, noisy market so we decided to split up, lots of very cheap clothes, shoes etc. R & I went to get bus back but decided to walk following a couple off the site (Fred & ?), ended up walking with them, they come from very near Barry & Shelia in Lancaster. Jan & Mike weren’t back so we went to play boules borrowing some off Fred. Still didn’t feel 100% but much better. Game of cards before bed.

Wed 8th

Quite cool again this morning but soon warmed up. Rich & I walked to Lidl, just for the walk really but got a few things, it was quite a nice walk, uphill going but not hard, on the way back we took a shortcut through an old fig/almond orchard. Had a BBQ with J & M then a lazy afternoon.

Cards before bed.

Thurs 9th

26th wedding anniversary, another lovely, hot day, not much wind. We got the bus into Albufeira and walked to “The Strip", further than we expected, looked for somewhere to eat and found the English fish & chip shop, we sat down to order but when we saw that it was€15changed our minds! We found a local restaurant that did fish & chips and it was only €8.50 and very nice, complementary glass of port as well.

We separated from J & M and went to the beach at the bottom of the strip and decided to walk back along the coast path, except there wasn’t one! We scrambled about for a while and made our way along, suffering quite a few scratches, it was very dramatic and there were lots of fossils in the rocks. We finally made our way back up into the town and called for a drink before getting the bus back. When we returned to the site it was a different place to the one we’d left, it had filled up with lots of locals. Game of cards before bed.

Fri 10th

Cooler today and very windy, stayed round site had a game of boules with J & M in afternoon, cards before bed.

Sat 11th

It was not quite as cold this morning and very still, we cycled to the shopping centre, it turned very grey, windy and cloudy and we felt a bit of rain in the wind but it didn’t come to anything. R & I had a meal in the Chinese buffet again And J & M went to a restaurant. We did our bit of shopping and rode back to the site, too cool and breezy to sit out so had a read (and snooze) in the van. J & M came for cards, early night.

Sun 12th

Stayed round the site and packed up slowly over the day, another nice, sunny, breezy day. Early night.




Mon 13th

Up early and had breakfast, away by 0800. We went to a garage down the road to try and fix the tyre which had been losing pressure, air line was out of order, drove on to Ferreiras to a tyre place that was not open, went on down the road until we saw services and called in, Rich managed to fix it by changing the valve.

We carried on stopping for lunch at about I o’clock. We passed through orange & olive groves, saw many horses and mules, lots of cattle, we also saw storks nesting on pylons, sometimes 3 or 4 nests to one pylon, at one point there was a row of pylons disappearing into the distance, each with a nest on top. We passed through swarms of insects until the windscreen was covered in them, there were swifts swooping on them as well. We saw quite a few kites an eagle and a hoopoe.
We caught up with J & M not far from the site and arrived together at 3.20 (4.20 Spanish time) Gertie took us right to it! We sat in the sun for a while then had a meal in the site restaurant. The site is in a lovely spot but the facilities are not wonderful, there was free WIFI but no signal!

Distance travelled 351 miles Fuel €59.30


Tue 14th

Up early, grey skies, away by 0820. We pumped the wheel up again when we got fuel. Passed through countryside with lots of cattle again, saw many kites and storks, a hoopoe an eagle, there was lots of broom in flower, the sky was grey and cloudy but sunny spells, we passed through miles of road works and pieces of new road, Gertie got very confused! Between Valladolid & Burgos it was very industrialised and there were lots of lorries on the road – heading for the ferry at Santander or Bilbao. Less livestock and more crops. We arrived at Haro at 2.40, when we’d found a pitch we asked at reception if they could tell us of a tyre place, which they did. We decided to go and see if we could get it fixed, we found the place easily and they could not have been more helpful, we drove in and the chap immediately spotted a nail in the tyre! With no further ado he set to work and within 20 mins it was fixed!

He even fixed Rich’s bike tyre – Rich had taken the valve out to put in the van wheel, this was despite us not speaking Spanish and him not speaking English and all he charged was 15 euro. We got back to site and had tea, I’d paid for WIFI (8 euro 24 hr) so spent the rest of the evening on the computer, it rained heavily from about 8 o’clock.

Distance travelled 298 miles Fuel 37 Euro Tyre repair 15 euro

Wed 15th

Up early again and had a shower and got ready to set off, left at 0920, it was a lovely spring morning. We drove over the Pyrenees on a very twisty, bust road, there was a busy little border the scenery was completely different, very green and ordered looking with avenues of plane trees. Signs seemed to be in different languages which I presumed was the Basque language. The road was very busy with lorries around Bayonne & Bordeaux, but it was sunny most of the day. We followed Gertie to find an Aire from the book, using co-ordinates but ended in a field. When we were retracing our route a lady stopped and asked could she help, in English, she said we could park at her place, a B & B so we followed her to a lovely Chateau which was also a vineyard, she thought it would be €10 or € 20 for the night and we were just about to leave when her husband came along and said it would be free, so we stopped! She invited us to a wine tasting in the evening. We had a walk around the vineyard and saw her husband and another lady working on the vines and then got tea. We went to the 6.30 chateau at about 6.30 and Margaret introduced us to her husband Roger, a young lad, Batiste and the son of the previous owner, who was a bit simple. We sat at a bar in their kitchen and were given wine, a friend, Clothilde, and another young woman turned up and everyone was having a drink. Margaret & Roger had been in the place for 6 or 7 years and had done it up from a ruin, they had both been Swiss Bankers but had wanted a life change, she was Swedish but he had French forbears who had been in the wine business. The house was beautiful and had obviously been a lot of hard work; they had dogs, cats and sheep as well. We had a couple of drinks and then were asked if we wanted to buy a bottle of wine, we bought a bottle of burgundy, €4.75. It was a nice sunny evening, we had an early night.


Thurs 16th

Didn’t rush to get up, it was a lovely morning again. We set off at 09.30 and at St Savin, close to where we’d spent the night, we found an Aire by an information centre, we dumped our waste and I went in and got a leaflet about the 16 Aires in the region, nearby I saw lots of wild orchids. We passed through mainly farmland, lots of fields of rape, there was also lots of wisteria and miles and miles of cowslips on hedge banks.
We went to St Jean D’Angly, arriving at 12.30, where we parked by the river, there were some children having sailing lessons in small boats. We walked into the town and had a very nice lunch in a café off the square. Back to the van and sat for a while with a cup of tea before setting off again at 2.00 pm. We had a bit of trouble navigating round Chattellerault but arrived on the Aire at St Maure de Touraine at 5.15. The site was a different one to the one we’d used on the way down, a new one, it was very nice with electric hook up, toilets and showers. We took a walk round the wood which was full of wildflowers, violets, cowslips, wild strawberry, celandines etc. The chap who owned it had a workshop where he restored and made various items, horse harness, carriage wheels, wheelbarrow planters and so on, he had two beautiful horses, one, a heavy horse that he said he used to fetch logs out of the woods. There was a beautiful sunset.

Distance travelled 180 Fuel €35.79 +€2 electric +€ 3 toilet dump + €2 shower + €1 bread = €0




Fri 17th

Woke up to a beautiful spring morning, sunny with heavy, misty dew. We had showers and settled up with the owner, we set off at 100 o’clock, we were doing ok till we tried to find the Aire at St Germaine de Pasquill, we ended up on small back roads and eventually decided to forget it as it got narrower and narrower. We changed directions for Cleres and Gertie led us a right dance around Rouen, we finally exited and got to Cleres at 4 pm. On the journey we saw lots of farmland again, rape, cereal etc, we also saw many cherry trees in full blossom, cowslips again, bluebells and primroses, I saw a deer and a hare in fields. When we arrived Rich immediately fell asleep so after I’d had a cup of tea I walked into the town, it was only 5 mins walk, it is a very pretty Norman town with a small river, the Clerette, running through it with small bridges spanning it along the street. There is an ancient market hall where I got some eggs and butter, back to the van where we had tea and an early night.

Distance travelled 244 miles Fuel €41




Sat 18th

It rained overnight and was very grey and damp when we woke. We set off at 0930 and by the time we were passing Boulogne, about 11 the rain had stopped, we arrived at Sainsbury’s in Calais and stocked up with wine, we then went to a café and had a meal. We decided to go to the port and see if we could get on a ferry sooner than the one we’d booked - 0645, we arrived at 3pm and got straight on the next ferry which we did, at a charge of £23. We’d no sooner got on board than we were away, we arrived in Dover at 5pm – 4pm English Summer Time and got home at 8.15.

Distance travelled 39 miles + 258 miles Fuel €40
Total mileage 3489
Total fuel £536.46