TRIP TO PORTUGAL & SPAIN JAN 2010
Fuel £58.42
Sunday Jan 24th
We set off from home at 0610 and had a good run to Dover arriving at 1030, we checked in, had a sandwich and Rich had a nap. The ferry was punctual leaving at 12.20, it was a calm crossing and we arrived in Calais and first went to Sainsbury’s and Auchan for wine and fuel.
We left there at 3.40 (French time) and arrived in Cleres at 6.30. We had a quick meal and an early night. There was evidence of lots of snow on the roadsides, some drifts hanging on and sodden, waterlogged fields, the roads were dry and although cloudy it was quite bright.
Miles travelled Fuel €59
Monday Jan 25th
Had a good nights sleep but heard it raining for most of the night, quite heavy at times. Didn’t get up till 9 o’clock and the rain had stopped and it was quite bright. We set off at 10.30 heading for Rouen, we managed to get past without going wrong, just outside Rouen there is an island with concrete cows on it,
the next island has Roman columns, after that one we saw real goats grazing by the roadside. We called at an Aire at Marboue to have our lunch, it was a nice Aire, just off the main road and by a river, there was a children’s playground and a boules pitch there as well as lots of picnic tables by the river. We set off again and called for fuel, it was a lovely, sunny afternoon, we saw kestrels, some deer and even a stoat running across the road. We arrived at St Maure de Touraine at 4.15, got dinner and an early night again.
Miles travelled 213 Fuel €51
Tuesday Jan 26th
Woke quite late again, so dark in mornings, there had been a very heavy ground frost and there was a solid grey sky. We set off at 0930 down the N10 and passed Poitier, by mid morning it had brightened up a bit, we stopped in a very busy motorway Aire for lunch, just outside Bordeaux, the road was very busy passing Bordeaux, lots of lorries. We saw at least a dozen kestrels and some deer, we noticed that the landscape was changing and were soon passing vineyards; the sun came out in the afternoon. We were interested to see that where the storm had blown down thousands of trees last year it was mostly cleared up, lots of timber lorries on road and one large area was flattened with mountains of logs piled.
We found the town where the Aire was, Parentis en Born, but went up and down looking for it, finally found it in Super U car park, we emptied toilet and waste water then parked behind the supermarket.
Tea and another early night.
Miles travelled 246 fuel €56.87
Wed Jan 27th
Managed to get up a bit earlier, while it was still dark, got breakfast and went to get some milk in Super U but it was not open. As we set off the sun was appearing over the horizon huge and red, it was quite spectacular, as we left Parentis en Born we saw flocks of what we took to be flamingos, there were several groups flying in V formation and we saw some on the ground on a ploughed field they appeared to be grazing and they were browny buff coloured? As we neared the border with Spain we noticed road signs in dual language, French & Basque. Passing San Sebastian was a nightmare, busy roads, very twisty and full of lorries. We were surprised to see less snow than last year, in fact none! Just a very faint scattering on a short stretch, it was very cold and there was snow higher up but no great depth. We arrived at Miranda de Ebro and called at a Le Clerc to get some milk and filled up with fuel as it was cheap, we then went straight to the Aire, Gertie did well, and in fact she got us through the nightmare traffic superbly. There was a proper water tap and facilities to empty toilet and waste but the parking was beside the river and a bit muddy, also quite near the town we filled up with water and parked and ate our lunch, as we sat there we saw 6 cormorants on a tree and one struggling to swim against the strong current, we also saw a wren.
It was only about 2.30 and we decided that we would move to the site at Haro that we’d used before as we weren’t too happy about where we were, I’d not slept too well the night before being in a car park. We drove through Miranda de Ebro which is a big industrial town, lots of traffic, and arrived at Haro at 3 o’clock and booked in. We got tea and then had a shower – bliss after 3 days without and great to wash my hair!
Miles travelled 219 fuel €34.53
Thurs Jan 28th
Up quite early and set off at 08.45, as we left the site there were workmen coming in with all sorts of heavy machinery, looked like they were going to tarmac the roads. There was a nice sunrise again, just outside Haro there was snow lying in the furrows between the vines.
The road bypassed Burgos, Gertie got confused, she also got confused in Salamanca and we ended up in the city centre. After Burgos we noticed that there was no snow it was still very cold though even though there was clear blue skies, there was ice on puddles and furrows in the fields, on some roadsides where the sun hadn’t reached there were icicles formed on rocks where water had seeped. It was a good road, new motorway for most of the way, the scenery was rolling, undulating plains, mostly ploughed or showing new spring growth, after Beja it changed and was a lot more rocky, we also saw olive trees for the first time after Beja. We saw lots of larks hopping on the roadside, quite a few kites, some eagles and a couple of lapwings, there were a few storks starting to make nests. The sun had shone out of a cloudless sky all day and it got very hot in the van. We decided not to stop at Salamanca but to push on to Plascencia where we arrived at 2.50.
We booked in and it was lovely and sunny so we had a short walk round the site, the place was alive with azure magpies, they were in all the trees, lots of sparrows and chaffinches and kites flying over, there were some horses in a field above the site with a deer in the pen with them. Tea, shower and early night.
Miles travelled 296
Fri Jan 29th
We were up early, while it was still dark, and got away by 0800, we called for fuel at the first motorway station and headed for Seville, the sun rose at about 0845 big & bright in a cloudless sky.
The scenery at first was short rounded trees which we think are cork oak, then it was quite agricultural with many herds of cows and sheep, with lambs, we saw stork & lapwing. As we got beyond Caceres it seemed to get colder and there was a heavy frost on the ground, as we neared Merida we saw eucalyptus trees and beyond there we saw miles of vines, olive groves and fruit trees, there was more arable land with spring growth showing but very waterlogged and then rocky, boulder strewn areas with more cork oaks. As we approached Seville we saw our first orange groves.
We stopped for lunch just beyond Seville and just after we set off there was a traffic jam with armed police by the side of the carriageway we crawled for about a mile then had to filter into one lane, again waved on by armed police, with machine gun! There was an area of small cones and several police vehicles, two vehicles appeared to have been stopped with “stingers”, more police with whistles were waving us through and I saw one policeman with his machine gun pointing in the window of one of the stopped vehicles, we’ll never know what that was all about! The day continued bright and sunny with cloudless blue skies, I saw some swallows and more storks nesting on pylons, we also drove through more orange groves; there were yellow flowers-Oxalis?-on the verges and blossom on the trees (almond?) As we drove into Portugal it started to get a bit cloudy,
we arrived at the site in Albufiera at 2.45 (1.45 Portuguese time) we booked in pitched the van and apart from asking at reception for some gravel for the pitch that was all we did, tired after a long day’s travel. It was 17 degrees and sunny but cloudy with a coolish breeze. We got tea and played cards before bed. – Gravel didn’t come!
Distance travelled 349 miles fuel €99
Total miles 1722 Total fuel €367 0r £321.82
Sat Jan 30th
Had a really good nights sleep and woke feeling a lot better, sunny morning but heavy dew, temperature 6c, it had been 0-3 all other mornings. After breakfast had a bit of a clean & cupboard sort out, Rich washed van, sat out for a bit as sun was nice. Had a text off Vicki with the sad news that Eleanor had died last night.
After lunch went for a game of boules, my team won! It clouded over & got very chilly. After tea I went to terrace to get wifi, got on line but emails didn’t go, it was very dark and couldn’t see, will try again tomorrow.
Sun Jan 31st
Woke up to cloudy skies but it felt warmer 10c. Did not do much this morning but I had another go at emails and think I’ve sorted it. We walked into town, all through the road works, very quiet in town, we wandered around a bit then found a restaurant to have a meal, it was a super restaurant, local but had a tourist menu, Rich had a huge T. bone for €9, it was done to perfection, I had the menu of the day, pate, soup, fish/pork chops, I had the fish, sweet, half bottle of wine and coffee, very good value at €9.50. As we got back to the square we saw our bus in the stand so did not have to walk back. Lazy afternoon reading etc, I came out in a weird itchy rash, like urticaria but very small lumps in clusters, was it something I ate?, we didn’t want anything to eat so played cards before bed.
Mon Feb 1st
Woke to clear skies and a heavy dew again, 6c. I did some washing quite a load as it was all the stuff we travelled down in. We went to reception again to see about the gravel, I managed to get a sympathy card from the rally steward and wrote a letter to Peter, as I was doing that the gravel arrived. We had lunch then put the sunshade, windbreak & mat out. We then walked up the road to the orange seller and got a big bag of oranges, not a very pleasant walk alongside the busy, rubbish strewn main road but we did see blossom trees (almond) which smelt very sweet.
We sat outside as it was such a lovely day, clear blue sky warm and sunny. I sent a couple of emails then got tea. Played cards, new card shuffler broke!!
Tue Feb 2nd
Grey and a bit overcast first thing but sun came through; Rich was not feeling too good so we sat quiet for a while. We set off about 10.15 for the market, we got a bit lost through the houses and ended up going through the gypsy shanty town, a couple of dogs came barking and sniffing but otherwise no problem, there was a young woman doing housework in a shack made of tin sheeting and cardboard with an earth floor, she had 3 children and there was a dog in a plastic kennel outside,we think we arepoor but when you see something like that you realise we're not. We wandered round the market for quite a while, it wasn’t as busy as last year and didn’t seem quite as big, maybe because it is a bit earlier in the year. We got some carrots, figs, eggs and nuts.
We walked down to Lidl and got some bread then walked back to the site, the sun was warm but there was a very chilly wind. We were a bit late for boules, and too tired! Had a sit down then a BBQ steak for tea. Played cards for a while and I watched a film.
Wed Feb 3rd
It rained quite a bit in the night and was still raining when we got up. As we were sitting having a cup of tea a breakdown truck pulled up, it went to the van behind us and we watched them as they had a look under the bonnet and then start to pull it off the pitch, the couple were having to unload a lot of stuff as it was being winched onto the truck and taken away, luckily it had stopped raining by now but there was a cool breeze. I went over to ask if they wanted any help, to leave stuff with us or stay in the warm while it was being seen to, they said that they were going to go with it to see what was going on but would be very grateful if we could look after their dog, Hattie a spaniel, of course we didn’t mind at all. As it happened there was only one seat in the truck so if Val wanted to go the driver said that she would have to lie down in the back of their van so the police couldn’t see her! As the van was not tied down on the truck at all she declined and came and sat with us and had a coffee. After a while she went to use the internet and left Hattie with us, she was very good made no fuss at all and just slept. After I’d had a sandwich I went up to email and I hadn’t been there long when her husband came back so we went back to get Hattie. It was still quite cool so we watched a film in the afternoon then got tea and had a game of Tri-ominoes, Emma had given it to Rich for Christmas, it was quite good, took a lot of thinking about. It had started to rain again as we had tea and rained solidly all evening, and was still raining when we went to bed.
Thurs Feb 4th
Woke up to rain again, it did clear by mid morning and the sun came out a bit. The lady who’s dog we had looked after brought us over a bottle of wine to say “thank you”, a nice gesture but unnecessary. We cycled to the shopping mall, David from the next door van came with us, his wife didn’t want to come, not much for cycling, we were attacked by a pack of about 10 dogs as we cycled by some houses didn’t actually touch us though we just kept going and ignored them. When we were parking our bikes a security guard on a quad bike told us we couldn’t stay there (tied to a post at the back where we’d parked last year) and he escorted us to bike racks at the front and explained how to use them! We had a look round then got a few things in the supermarket and had lunch at a chicken grill, it was ok and good value at €4.99, it came to €21 though because we were charged for the starters, bread, pate & cheese, the mall was very quiet. We cycled back a lot quicker as it is downhill; the lanes were very potholed and wet, not too muddy as it is so stony. We got back in time for boules, it got very chilly and started to rain, Rich’s team got the wooden spoon. I went up to send emails and it bucketed down. Got a bit of tea then played Tri-ominoes and cards.
Fri Feb 5th
It had rained again in the night but it was a clear blue sky when we got up with sun rising. It was such a nice day that we did not do a lot but sat and enjoyed the sunshine In the evening we went to the line dancing, as the sun went down we heard the cicadas chirping. I went to the dancing with Joyce from the next van and David, her husband, and Rich stayed in the bar. The dancing was enjoyable, we did a few easy ones, some I hadn’t done before and a few I knew. I’d met the teacher at the sinks earlier and we’d been talking about dancing, she’d asked me which ones I knew so I told her a few, when she played one of them I was the only one ho got up! A bit embarrassing but I had to just go for it, it happened again a bit later on so I ended up doing 2 solos, except for the teacher, still it was fun. As we were leaving another couple said they were going into the bar for the Karaoke so we went to watch, Rich had had enough as they’d been doing it for a while so he went home and I stayed with Joyce & David till about 11.30, as we walked back to vans it was a beautiful starry night, but cold.
Sat Feb 6th
Awake to another clear, cold morning. I washed the sheets and then we walked to Lidl for a few things, back for lunch then a game of boules, it was a lovely, sunny day. Tri-ominoes & cards before an early night.
Sun Feb 7th
Grey and quite cool this morning, I put a meal in the slow cooker then we went into town,
we caught a bus down wandered around a bit then walked back via Lidl to get some bread. After tea (chops a bit tough) game of tri-ominoes and cards and bed.
Mon Feb 8th
Rained overnight and overcast but mild (14c) when we got up. We met at rally tent to go on walk, it started to look grey and overcast, threatening to rain, we set off anyway, 54 of us, as we left the site gates it started to pour down, we were the only 2 who had not got our waterproofs with us! We carried on anyway and slogged up a hill in the heaviest downpour imaginable for about 15 minutes, we were thoroughly soaked through to the skin, then the sun came and we carried on and got drier as we went, 26 dropped out, those with the serious walking boots and sticks!
The walk lasted about 2½ hours and would have been interesting but we did not have time to look around but just kept up with leader. We ended up at the café across the road from the site where we had a drink and toastie and stayed to chat for quiet a while with David and Joyce, the leaders and their cronies all sat round one big table.
We went back to site and sat around vans talking til we got tea and went up to the quiz night which was quite good, we missed being first by 1 point.
Tue Feb 9th
Sunny but white clouds this morning and we just stayed round the van. We played boules in the afternoon and Bob put our names down for a game tomorrow against locals.
In the evening we went up to a local restaurant up the road with Joyce and David, we walked up the main road to it, it was a large, barn like place and the girls serving were very friendly but had little English, the food was not wonderful but good value for money €6.50 for 3 courses plus wine, had a good evening chatting with Joyce and David but we suddenly looked round and the place had emptied at about 9.30 so walked back, I was a bit upset to find I had lost one of my good earrings.
Wed Feb 10th
Rained overnight and raining heavily when we got up, we had a good look for my earring, we’d found the back in the van, Rich got the metal detector out and I walked up to gate looking, Rich found one cheap earring but not mine. We were not looking forward to boules in the rain but Bob had said it would go on come hail rain or snow. As we were having our cup of tea Bob came round to tell us the match was cancelled much to our relief.
The rain did ease up a bit in the afternoon and so we went for a short walk up the road looking for my earring, and we found it!! It had been run over and the stone was missing but I think it can be repaired, (it was too expensive when I asked). Stayed in the van and played cards till bedtime.
Thurs Feb 11th
Richie’s birthday 65 !! We went into Albufeira and Rich got 2 pairs of shoes, I tried to return a clock I’d bought the other day which didn’t work, the shop keeper didn’t want to know, (Chinese shop) she did change it with very bad grace but I don’t think this one will work either, (it did eventually). I found a hairdresser and got my hair cut, was quite pleased with it and for €10 couldn’t grumble. We had a short walk on the beach watching the breakers then went for a meal at the same place we’d been to the other day, special of the day €9.5. We got the bus back and were just in time to play boules. It had been a nice, sunny day, a bit cloudy and cool breeze out of the sun but much better than yesterday. We did most of the packing.
Fri Feb 12th
Heard it raining about 6am and it didn’t stop, we waited until it stopped but it didn’t so eventually we had to pack the rest of the stuff, mat & windbreaks, in the pouring rain paddling inches deep in water!
We both got soaked to the skin. We drove up to Lidl to stock up and finally left Albufeira at 11.05. It was raining very heavily and just outside Albufeira we saw a car upside down on the opposite carriageway with emergency services attending. We arrived in El Roccio at 1.30 (2.30 Spanish time) I went to rally tent and had to wait for ages in the rain before anyone came out, when the steward, Mick, did come and told us which pitch was ours we asked for a different one a bit nearer the facilities and he wasn't very pleased, said the one he'd offered us was not as waterlogged but we had the one we wanted, we didn't want to have to go too far in the rain for showers etc. we got pitched again getting soaked. Didn’t set up just stayed in out of the rain, it was very cold after Albufeira.
The site was a lot neater than Albufeira but smaller pitches, all hedged around, the showers were quite good and clean and washing sinks indoors.
Miles travelled 129
We enjoyed the rally and the site, despite being very wet, was good, free wifi is a bonus, the rally activities were ok, we enjoyed the quiz and I enjoyed the dancing the stewards were always available and had a well organised tent, we found the stewards a bit cliquey but all the ralliers were very friendly, the shower/toilet block was scrupulously clean always.
Sat Feb 13th
Heard it raining in the night but it was not raining when we got up, it was grey and cloudy though and a keen wind, felt cold. After breakfast we put up the awning and mat then walked in to El Roccio, it is a very strange town, looks like the towns you see in Mexico in westerns, no paved roads just very wide, potholed, sandy streets, it was very quite as we walked in but when we got to the square there were quite a lot of people about, there were various shops selling clothes for riders, very specific for the horsemen and flamenco dresses for women,
there were also shops selling religious souvenirs as the town is a place of pilgrimage, we went into the church and it is fantastic with a statue of the Virgin Mary and a towering, gold alter.
We saw what we thought were swallows nests on the outside of the church but when we looked they were actually sparrows going in and out of them. As we walked round we saw a few people on horses, there were 3 young boys showing off, they stopped and posed for us and they were fantastic riders with the horses prancing about, they had to try out their English on us as they rode by.
We called for a coffee at a café and as we were there a couple of men on horseback came and were served outside without dismounting; there was a special, high shelf for them to put their food and drinks on.
We walked back to the site and I paid for a weeks internet, €14.90.
I sent a few emails and looked at my photos then we had tea, a couple of games before bed.
Sun Feb 14th
It was cold again this morning 6c, grey sky but quite bright, while we were having breakfast the stewards came round with a red carnation for me and some chocolates for Rich as it was St Valentines day, there is a dinner dance tonight but at €25 a head we won’t be going, not that we would have anyway!
Rich got the bikes down and I made some sandwiches and we rode into El Roccio, quite difficult on the soft, wet sand. As we approached we heard loud bangs and drums and there were great crowds of people, we locked the bikes up and followed the crowds.
It was a religious parade, there were drums and pipes (like recorders) being played and banners carried as well as a large “Gold” representation on the Virgin Mary, rockets or flares were being set off at intervals with a resounding bang. We followed the parade to the church where they waited for a while, the bells started ringing and they were let into the church. We wlked towards the lake and there were ponies giving rides to children, some very small and some pulling small carts as well. We called at a café for a coffee and then went and sat by the lake to eat our sandwich, although it was bright there was a cold wind. We walked back to the church and had a look at the side chapel where people lit candles, it was amazing, the roof and walls were black and there was a large extractor fan taking the smoke out, it was amazingly warm with the heat from hundreds of candles. We called at another café so we could use the toilet, there was a large queue and a woman handing out toilet paper and taking money, I joined the queue, there were 2 toilets, one men’s one ladies, the ladies were allowed in the men’s if there was no man waiting but the attendant had to spray air freshener in it first, if a man came along he jumped the queue, also a young mother with a small girl was allowed to jump the queue for the girl but she waited her turn for herself, one of the strangest toilet encounters I’ve had. We saw a few horses but today seemed to be all about religion.
We cycled back to the van calling at the supermarket for a couple of things. It started to rain while we were having tea and rained all night.
Mon Feb 15th
We were woken by someone (steward’s wife) banging on the door and shouting “your awning is full of water!!” we shot out of bed, it was still quite dark, and found that the awning was almost collapsed, one of the legs had given way and it was bulging with water, Rich went out and got the broom to push it up and the broom handle broke! He managed to move one of the legs and the water cascaded down. It was still raining heavily and continued most of the morning, but it was a lot milder than yesterday 10c. I had not been able to get the internet yesterday and still couldn’t this morning, the girl on reception had said if it went wrong it was nothing to do with them and I had to ring the number on the card, I went to ask the steward’s advice and he said “nonsense it is their responsibility” and that he would sort it out for me, he came round a while later with Fernandez, the Spanish liaison officer, who said that the internet was out in the area and he would let me know when it was back, I hope that he allows for missed days.
As I am typing this the sun has actually come out, there is a patch of blue sky and it has stopped raining!
The rest of the day was sunshine (brief) and showers (heavy) we just stayed in the van, watched a film, sewed etc.
Tue Feb 16th
When we got up the sky was not as overall grey as it had been, more broken cloud and it felt warmer, it rained a lot in the night and as we were getting up though. I put a casserole in the slow cooker and as the morning went on it looked better weather so I did some washing and hung it out it was very windy but sunny. In the afternoon there was a game of boules in the “road” so we joined in, very different to other games, men against women (some of the women were men as there were not enough real ones) up and down the road, it made a change though to get out and meet people, the women won 2 games to none.
Tea, a few games and bed.
Wed Feb 17th
Rained again overnight, still raining when we got up, it eased off and was bright but very windy. I did a bit more washing but had to keep my eye on it as it kept blowing off the line.
In the afternoon we had a lift to a Chinese Buffet meal, it was in Heulva which took nearly an hour to get to, the ride was through the Donana National Park which is huge, very flat and sandy with gum trees and pines, we saw mimosa starting to blossom and buds coming on trees, there was a lot of standing water and at one point the road was flooded right over both carriageways. Heulva is a port and very industrialised, gas works, fertiliser, oil, cement all sorts, not pretty and quite smelly. When we got to the restaurant it was in a huge concrete edifice. The meal was super, all you could eat for €9.95, there was lots of salads and starters and also a big section where you chose your fresh food and had it cooked there and then, the choice was fantastic, fish, meat, veg of all kinds, really enjoyable. Mike, the steward, was talking to us and saying that it was situated within a football stadium, the oldest club in Spain, 1899, which explained the strange concrete building. It was really odd because as we were there, 3pm (2pm at home) Eleanor’s funeral was being held in the stadium in Shrewsbury, I was feeling a bit emotional as it was but that really choked me. After the meal we went on to a shopping mall where there was a C & A, I got a nice top. We drove back to the site and Sue & Adrian, our drivers, said they would take us to the market on Fri. It was still dry and sunny but very breezy.
Thurs Feb 18th
Woke up to grey skies again and as we got breakfast it started to rain and didn’t stop all day, the wind had dropped and it was heavy drizzle that felt like you were walking through clouds and really soaked you. Stayed in van. Rich did not feel too good so we had an early night and I watched a film.
Fri Feb 19th
A bit better day, sunny with a wind and clouds but not overcast. I did a bit of washing and then we were taken to Almonte by Sue & Adrian, who had taken us to Huelva. We parked at Mercadona and agreed to meet back there later, we all went to the indoor market where I bought some meat and fish
and then we left the group and walked around the street market and on to Mercadona where we stocked up, taking advantage of having a car to carry shopping. Back at the van it was a nice afternoon so we at outside for a while in the sun – lovely! I cooked the chops I’d bought at the market and they were quite nice. Played a few games before bed.
Sat Feb 20th
Woke up to clear skies and a very heavy dew, Mick, the steward, had told us about a bike ride we could go on so we decided to go. We went through El Rocio and turned off into the park through some fancy pillared gates and cycled on a nice tarmac road for about 5kms we ended up at the Acebon Palace which was a hunting lodge originally but is now an information centre, there were interesting exhibits about the local life and culture, we had a good look at them and then went on the board walk around the marshy grounds.
The walk was quite a long one and took us over peaty, flooded marshes and then into woodland, there were pine trees, cork oaks and eucalyptus, the broom was just coming into flower, we carried on hoping that the walk would be a circular one taking us back to the car park, where we’d left our bikes, we started to see people who’d been in front of us coming back but carried on anyway and found that the board walk was under water, as we both had sandals and short trousers on we decided to paddle through it and it did eventually lead us back to the car park.
As we cycled back through the park I’m sure I saw a Lynx, there were signs warning that they were about and I saw a very large, dark cat just about to cross the road, not quite as big as a Jack Russell, it turned back as soon as it saw us so couldn’t make a positive identification. We cycled back to El Rocio and found it very difficult going on the wet, sandy streets, we were also having to dodge vehicles winding their way round pot holes, no such thing, we got a bit lost so stopped for a drink and then managed to find our way and get back to the site, we had probably cycled about 12 miles. We got back too late to play boules but after the game they had a “tea party” so we all went and sat by the rally tent and had a drink and biscuit. The couple from over the road asked us if we’d like to go with them, they were getting the bus to a nearby town where there was a festival, the bus didn’t go till 5pm and didn’t get back till after 11pm so we said no, Rich’s back was hurting after the bike ride. I got on line again as they have decided to give me the 2 days I lost.
Sun Feb 21st
There was very heavy rain overnight with bursts of very strong wind but when we got up the sky was clearing. We walked into town and the streets were wetter than ever with streams running down them. We walked around for a bit and got some strawberries. We met Phil & Shelia from the site and stood in the church watching the service, the choir was wonderful, more like flamenco guitar music. We went to a café for a drink and then watched another parade when the heavens opened, we sheltered for a while and started back when it stopped, we had nearly got out of town when it rained again in torrents, we had to run for shelter and wait it out, eventually got back rather wet.
In the evening we went to the rally meal at the site restaurant, €12 for 3 courses and a drink, there was also a happy hour where drinks were half price, it was a good evening, we sat with Shelia & Phil, Sue & Adrian and June & Brian, after the meal Brian played his banjo and sang a few songs.
Mon Feb 22nd
Not too bad a morning, a bit blustery but sunny, I did a bit of washing and had a bit of a clean of the van then went to the “coffee morning” ie all sitting around outside while Mick told us the weeks programme, pity we didn’t have one last week so we’d have known about a few things, it was impossible because of the rain though last week. Had a short stroll round the site area.
The road alongside the site led out into the country on the outskirts of town, there were a lot of horses hobbled without much grazing, they looked awfully poor and skinny, in sharp contrast to the horses we’d seen being ridden around the town which were glossy and well fed with manes and tails combed cut and curled. Although it was quite warm and sunny the wind was very strong, at least it kept the rain away.
We went to the quiz evening and were on a team with Shelia & Phil, came 2nd to last but it was a bit of fun, raining when we walked back.
The site was not bad, well ordered pitches but not all that big, it was unfortunate that there had been so much rain as it made it impossible to go anywhere without getting sand and damp into the van, it also meant that things had to be cancelled and we were unable to go into the park. The showers and toilets were clean, not as spotless as Albufeira though and smaller, the stewards were not as available as on other rallies but were helpful when asked, we felt we got of on the wrong foot by asking to have a different pitch to the one allocated, Mick liked to direct everyone on to pitch and off and Christine waved a chequered flag whenever anyone left.
We were glad to have come to El Rocio, it is certainly a very different town to any we’ve ever seen, it seems to exist only for the religious festival which happens at Pentecost, there are large houses which are owned by Catholic Brotherhoods from all over Spain, they are only used during the pilgrimage, they are mostly built in a square block around a central courtyard and each one has a bell over the gate and usually the name of the brotherhood and the year it was founded. We saw a couple of parades on Sunday where they take their banners out and parade to the church with drums, pipes and large baskets of flowers, many people carry large staffs with gold or silver ornamented tops as well as the banners, they all seam to wear religious medals. The church has a fantastic gold covered alter wall with a statue of the Virgin central. We stood and listened to part of a service and the choir sung beautifully from a balcony, more like Flamenco music with guitars and tambourines.
In the town most of the shops were selling items to do with the pilgrimage, religious icons, medals, souveniers and candles, other shops sold accoutrements for horses and the specialised clothing associated with the region, short jackets, tight trousers, flat boater type hats for the men with leather chaps and boots, wonderful flamenco dresses for the women, they apparently have to have this years style, last years won’t do.
Tue Feb 23rd
Got packed up and said goodbye to people, we managed to get off pitch without Mick “helping” and Christine didn’t have time to get her flag out but everyone was waving as we left. It is quite sad to leave a place and people that you have got used to and liked.
We left the site at 0950 and went for fuel, there was a car in a terrible state, obviously rolled just outside the site, and opposite the fuel station a man was lunging his horse, we saw Shelia & Phil as we drove past the site they were on their way to Seville. It was a bright, sunny morning with a strong wind, it stayed dry till we were past Seville and then we had some very heavy showers, we seemed to drive out of them and were soon on a smaller road, very narrow and twisting, the damage from the rain was very obvious with nearly all the fields having channels gouged out by the water, in some places there were gorges down the fields, there were olive groves with sodden silt all over them and vineyards in the same condition, mud everywhere. The narrow road we were on seemed in danger of collapsing in many places and at one point it had given way and there were workmen directing traffic whilst it was shored up with huge rocks. It was quite different country, very green and hilly, lots of cattle. As we left Arcos we saw 2 eagles very low over the road. We arrived at Los Gazules camp site at 1.15 and booked in; luckily there was gravel on the pitch so it was quite clean. We had a walk up the road outside the site into a park, as we walked we were joined by 2 dogs, a Samoyed and Jack Russell type, bit like TIa. There were 2 horses just loose in the road, they were very nervous of us and a whole pack of dogs, it was very rugged country and would be a lovely walk with more time and better weather, it was still sunny, breezy and quite warm. We went to check at the restaurant and decided to eat there. There were a British couple parked by us and I had a chat to them, saw eagles overhead as we were talking, we also saw vultures overhead, soaring very high. I went for a shower and was there at the same time as the lady I had been talking to, she was surprised when I turned mine on that hers lost pressure and changed temperature, she had been the only one on site up till then, it was quite amusing both of us trying to get our temperature right. We had our meal in the restaurant, €30 for 2 people, bread & olives, tuna salad, ham & cheese, a bottle of water & a bottle of Rioja, for our main course we both had steak & chips, the whole meal was very nice and plenty of it, unfortunately the steak was very tough but we had had enough to eat so just ate what we could of it. The television was on in the room and there was a lot of news coverage of the flooding in Spain, it is very wide spread. It was quite a warm evening and we as we chatted to the other couple on the way back we saw bats flying around and frogs were croaking loudly. I watched a film, the temperature was 16c.
Miles travelled 137 Fuel €49 Site fee €12.50
Wed Feb 24th
There was heavy rain in the night and we woke up to grey skies, it was warmer though 15c, there were birds twittering in the trees, we were told that they were serin. We set off at 09.20, we had been worried about getting off the pitch but Rich managed it quite easily, we retraced our footsteps for quite a way as there was a road closed in the nearest town, we had not gone far when a largish, brown speckled, blunt headed bird flew in front of us, we both thought it was an owl, further along the road we were pleased to see a farmer taking hay out to his cattle, usually they seemed to have to forage for what they could get, the hay was being carried by a donkey, 6 bales loading the poor thing down. There was more evidence of flood damage, quite a lot of slippages on the banks of the road; a few of them were being repaired and you could see at a couple of places that the silt had been bulldozed off the carriageway. We passed out of cattle country and the terrain became more rugged, rocky with many cork oaks and as we climbed higher there were wind farms as far as the eye could see, we saw eagles, kites, vultures and storks, there were lots of storks by a reservoir we passed, one flew overhead with a beak full of twigs.
We arrived at La Linea and after a false start got ourselves across the border to Gibraltar, we found Morrisons, thank goodness for Gertie as it seemed very roundabout route. It was very strange to be suddenly thrust back into “England”, the store was exactly the same as those at home with all the familiar brands and English speaking staff, we stocked up with food, especially bacon, butter & cereals, I got a bottle of gin for under £4, we took it back to the van then thought we would try and park, we followed signs to a car park at the foot of the cable car, thinking we would then go up to the top, the car park would not take any vehicle over 1.5 tons, we carried on along ever narrower and steeper streets and it was not allowed to park anywhere, we eventually managed to negotiate our way out of the town and over the border. We then found the patch of waste ground we had heard about and as there were a few Motorhomes there we parked up and walked back across the border. We picked up a taxi which took us on a guided tour, €70. It was very interesting and the driver gave us a lot of information, he said that they do not want to belong to Spain and had quite recently had a referendum, they are all bi-lingual and proud to be British, he had a British father who arrived with the Navy and married a Gibraltan, he had family in Norwich and his son was going to Norwich University, their whole lifestyle is probably more British than the British.
We visited St. Michael’s cave first this was amazing one of the most spectacular caves we have seen, it is used as a theatre at times, as we came out we saw a monkey running off with some postcards from a stand, being chased by the stall holder. We then went to a viewing point where they feed the apes, the driver gave us some peanuts and asked would we like to have a monkey sit on us, I declined but while Rich was deciding a huge one – the alpha male – came and sat on his head!
We then went to the siege tunnels, another interesting place, started in the 1780s as a defence position with gun ports it was enlarged in the 2nd World War to include a hospital which was never used. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and when we were dropped off went back to the van and set off again, we had another false start trying to get away and ended up in some more narrow back streets, we left at 4pm and set off along the coast road past Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella, it was very different scenery, mostly built up with lots of new buildings, hotels and touristy areas. The day had been warm and sunny and along the coast there seemed a lot less evidence of flooding and it was the first day for ages we had not had any rain. We arrived at el Pino Camping, Torrox-Costa at 6.25 booked in and got tea. It was a warm evening and the 3rd night we had not put the fire on, things are looking up!
Miles travelled 193 Fuel £25 (filled up at Morrisons 69p litre)
Site fee €13
Thurs Feb 25th
We had not been very impressed with the site as the pitch we were on was very awkward to get onto and was sloping we were parked under avocado trees ,but when we walked around this morning we saw that there were better pitches on a terrace above us, there was also a very well stocked shop with some English items run by an English man. We walked out of the site and tried to get to the sea but didn’t, it seemed a nice place though and was a pleasant, warm morning, we asked in the shop and were told it was about 10 minutes walk the front but we’d turned left not right. We left at 11am and it was similar scenery to yesterday, not quite as intensively built up though, the new road was good with a couple of tunnels, we turned off onto a smaller road and passed Nerja, as we were just beyond it I saw a gorge with what looked like a fantastic 3 tiered, brick aqueduct straddling it. We stopped at one point to have a look at the view then carried on, unfortunately we had not got co-ordinates and got a bit lost ending up going round Almunecar, we eventually found the camp site after going round La Herradura on all the back roads, twist, narrow and hilly, at one point the road had been washed away completely so they had just closed that side of it! We booked in and it seemed a very small site with lots of trees making it difficult to get around and get pitched, we found a pitch on a terrace with no trees so went there.
There seemed to be lots of vans that had been there for a long time, well entrenched with fences and plants, we spoke to the couple nearest to us and they had been out since Boxing Day. The showers and toilets were old fashioned with plenty of hot water to showers but not wash basins, each plot had it’s own sink, except the one we were on but there was one a few feet away. We walked into town along the sea front and it seemed to be a nice little town, palm trees on the beach and tiled pavements,
plenty of restaurants with reasonable menus of the day, from €9, we stopped for a drink at the far end and there were people parascending, then we walked back, we reckoned it must have been a couple of miles and there were at least 30 cafes & restaurants, there is a town centre away from the sea front as well.
It was a pleasant temperature and although overcast was very bright it did not seem to be as waterlogged as everywhere else we’d been although there was water flowing over the road in a couple of places. Got tea and had a couple of games before bed. It started to rain as we had tea but not as heavily as it had been before.
Miles travelled 28 Site fee €17.50
Fri Feb 26th
There were a few light showers in the night but we woke to bright cloudy skies with the sun breaking through, 15c. We set off at 10.00am and tootled quietly along, the road was very twisty and was along the coast with awful drops down to the rocky shore below, at one point we saw a lorry that had jack-knifed and gone over the edge, it’s cab was dangling in space and it was only the trailer that was keeping it from plunging hundreds of feet down onto houses below. At one point there was road works where they were repairing the road that had caved in.
We detoured to have a look at another site and found a beach where there were a couple of vans overnighting, we thought we would not mind staying there so made a not of it. We arrived at Castillo De Banos at 11.30 and looked for a good pitch, as we were looking a couple said they were going tomorrow so we decided to park overnight in the next pitch and move tomorrow, it was a reasonably level pitch and had 16amp electricity rather than the 5amp on most of the site, it was also in sight and sound of the sea. We found the rally stewards, David & Marion, very pleasant and helpful and the amount of things to do advertised in the tent were many and varied, I immediately put our names down for the rally meal, fish & chips and a trip up into the mountains, chatting to them they were saying that they were ordering washing machines and having them delivered here so we decided to get one, we had been thinking about it for a while and the washing is such a pain that it has got to be easier. We went to the bar to get on the internet, which is free, it was not ideal as there were no plugs so decided to pay to have it in the van for the time we are here. We found everyone on the site very friendly and on a walk round were stopping to talk to nearly everyone, we saw a couple who had been at Albufeira last year and Sue & Adrian from El Rocio. We had a short walk on the beach, it is a small beach and more gravely than sandy but still lovely to hear it and mooch along the shore.
Miles travelled 35
Sat Feb 27th
The couple next door left as we were having breakfast, there had been some doubt as to whether they would go or not as there had been reports of road closures due to land slips but they did get off, so after we'd had breakfast we moved over, it is a lovely, level pitch with quite a bit of sun and we got the awning and windbreaks out.
There had been a “scrapheap challenge” to make a musical instrument out of rubbish; a chap across the road had been making pan pipes out of bamboo since yesterday. We went up to see the judging and it was very funny, as well as his pan pipes he had made a music stand out of bamboo and put a piece of “music” on it he’d got a mate to be conductor with a baton made of bamboo, they made a play of adjusting the stand as it was a bit uneven then he tapped his baton and started conducting, another group had made a drum and a guitar and maracas, one of them had a carrier bag with drain pipes in it for bagpipes, people are very ingenious.
In the afternoon a group of us walked to La Mamola, the next little town, we started going along the beach then had to go along the main road, rather than go through the road tunnel we scrambled down to the beach again and went that way, it is a small town with a short promenade, the beach is closed off as work is going on there. We went to a café and had a drink and a chat and then walked back. It was warm enough to eat outside. After tea we met up with the couple whose dog we had looked after in Albufeira.
It had been a lovely warm day 20c at one point and we’d been warm enough to wear shorts and sit out for a while.
Later in the evening, just as it got dark, a storm blew up, very fierce wind but still warm so we had to go out and lash the awning down 2 or 3 times. The storm carried on all evening and was quite scary, there was no rain but very strong gale force winds and it was very warm, 23c at 11.30pm, an awning from behind us got blown away. The electricity kept going off during the storm.
Sun Feb 28th
It was a lot calmer this morning and cooler, just a bit breezy, we tidied up the storm damage, luckily not much just leaves and debris in the awning plus tent pegs and bits, including a towel up a tree, from the awning that got blown down, Rich checked that all the pegs were secure and we were glad that we had not had any damage. We were told that there would be a BBQ and “silly games” at 1 o’clock so I got some trout out of the freezer and made some salad. We had to cook at the van but most people had portable BBQs, the couple on the next table had their dinner in a Remoska, it looked lovely, I think I will get one.
After we’d eaten we had the games, we were split into teams and had to play the games that were set up, hitting plastic golf balls into a crab basket, horseshoes, getting boules onto a target, getting balls into buckets, Aunt Sally, and how many pegs could you get of a line and hold in one hand, we did each game twice and it was good fun, got to know people and have a laugh, my team were last!
it was quite cool but the sun came out and the sky was clear and blue by about 4.30.
it was quite cool but the sun came out and the sky was clear and blue by about 4.30 but by 9 o’clock it had started to rain and very soon there was a thunder storm which passed over quite quickly,it went quite cool and we put the fire on for a while whilst we were playing cards.
Mon March 1st
There was quite a bit of rain in the night but blue skies and sun when we woke up. We walked into Castillo. It is a very small village, a few holiday apartments, one café/restaurant and a few houses, there is a small supermarket which is very well stocked though and within in it is a butcher which everybody says had good meat, we got a couple of things and walked back and sat in the sun for a while. In the afternoon we played boules and then showered ready for rally meal.
Fuel £58.42
Sunday Jan 24th
We set off from home at 0610 and had a good run to Dover arriving at 1030, we checked in, had a sandwich and Rich had a nap. The ferry was punctual leaving at 12.20, it was a calm crossing and we arrived in Calais and first went to Sainsbury’s and Auchan for wine and fuel.
We left there at 3.40 (French time) and arrived in Cleres at 6.30. We had a quick meal and an early night. There was evidence of lots of snow on the roadsides, some drifts hanging on and sodden, waterlogged fields, the roads were dry and although cloudy it was quite bright.
Miles travelled Fuel €59
Monday Jan 25th
Had a good nights sleep but heard it raining for most of the night, quite heavy at times. Didn’t get up till 9 o’clock and the rain had stopped and it was quite bright. We set off at 10.30 heading for Rouen, we managed to get past without going wrong, just outside Rouen there is an island with concrete cows on it,
the next island has Roman columns, after that one we saw real goats grazing by the roadside. We called at an Aire at Marboue to have our lunch, it was a nice Aire, just off the main road and by a river, there was a children’s playground and a boules pitch there as well as lots of picnic tables by the river. We set off again and called for fuel, it was a lovely, sunny afternoon, we saw kestrels, some deer and even a stoat running across the road. We arrived at St Maure de Touraine at 4.15, got dinner and an early night again.
Miles travelled 213 Fuel €51
Tuesday Jan 26th
Woke quite late again, so dark in mornings, there had been a very heavy ground frost and there was a solid grey sky. We set off at 0930 down the N10 and passed Poitier, by mid morning it had brightened up a bit, we stopped in a very busy motorway Aire for lunch, just outside Bordeaux, the road was very busy passing Bordeaux, lots of lorries. We saw at least a dozen kestrels and some deer, we noticed that the landscape was changing and were soon passing vineyards; the sun came out in the afternoon. We were interested to see that where the storm had blown down thousands of trees last year it was mostly cleared up, lots of timber lorries on road and one large area was flattened with mountains of logs piled.
We found the town where the Aire was, Parentis en Born, but went up and down looking for it, finally found it in Super U car park, we emptied toilet and waste water then parked behind the supermarket.
Tea and another early night.
Miles travelled 246 fuel €56.87
Wed Jan 27th
Managed to get up a bit earlier, while it was still dark, got breakfast and went to get some milk in Super U but it was not open. As we set off the sun was appearing over the horizon huge and red, it was quite spectacular, as we left Parentis en Born we saw flocks of what we took to be flamingos, there were several groups flying in V formation and we saw some on the ground on a ploughed field they appeared to be grazing and they were browny buff coloured? As we neared the border with Spain we noticed road signs in dual language, French & Basque. Passing San Sebastian was a nightmare, busy roads, very twisty and full of lorries. We were surprised to see less snow than last year, in fact none! Just a very faint scattering on a short stretch, it was very cold and there was snow higher up but no great depth. We arrived at Miranda de Ebro and called at a Le Clerc to get some milk and filled up with fuel as it was cheap, we then went straight to the Aire, Gertie did well, and in fact she got us through the nightmare traffic superbly. There was a proper water tap and facilities to empty toilet and waste but the parking was beside the river and a bit muddy, also quite near the town we filled up with water and parked and ate our lunch, as we sat there we saw 6 cormorants on a tree and one struggling to swim against the strong current, we also saw a wren.
It was only about 2.30 and we decided that we would move to the site at Haro that we’d used before as we weren’t too happy about where we were, I’d not slept too well the night before being in a car park. We drove through Miranda de Ebro which is a big industrial town, lots of traffic, and arrived at Haro at 3 o’clock and booked in. We got tea and then had a shower – bliss after 3 days without and great to wash my hair!
Miles travelled 219 fuel €34.53
Thurs Jan 28th
Up quite early and set off at 08.45, as we left the site there were workmen coming in with all sorts of heavy machinery, looked like they were going to tarmac the roads. There was a nice sunrise again, just outside Haro there was snow lying in the furrows between the vines.
The road bypassed Burgos, Gertie got confused, she also got confused in Salamanca and we ended up in the city centre. After Burgos we noticed that there was no snow it was still very cold though even though there was clear blue skies, there was ice on puddles and furrows in the fields, on some roadsides where the sun hadn’t reached there were icicles formed on rocks where water had seeped. It was a good road, new motorway for most of the way, the scenery was rolling, undulating plains, mostly ploughed or showing new spring growth, after Beja it changed and was a lot more rocky, we also saw olive trees for the first time after Beja. We saw lots of larks hopping on the roadside, quite a few kites, some eagles and a couple of lapwings, there were a few storks starting to make nests. The sun had shone out of a cloudless sky all day and it got very hot in the van. We decided not to stop at Salamanca but to push on to Plascencia where we arrived at 2.50.
We booked in and it was lovely and sunny so we had a short walk round the site, the place was alive with azure magpies, they were in all the trees, lots of sparrows and chaffinches and kites flying over, there were some horses in a field above the site with a deer in the pen with them. Tea, shower and early night.
Miles travelled 296
Fri Jan 29th
We were up early, while it was still dark, and got away by 0800, we called for fuel at the first motorway station and headed for Seville, the sun rose at about 0845 big & bright in a cloudless sky.
The scenery at first was short rounded trees which we think are cork oak, then it was quite agricultural with many herds of cows and sheep, with lambs, we saw stork & lapwing. As we got beyond Caceres it seemed to get colder and there was a heavy frost on the ground, as we neared Merida we saw eucalyptus trees and beyond there we saw miles of vines, olive groves and fruit trees, there was more arable land with spring growth showing but very waterlogged and then rocky, boulder strewn areas with more cork oaks. As we approached Seville we saw our first orange groves.
We stopped for lunch just beyond Seville and just after we set off there was a traffic jam with armed police by the side of the carriageway we crawled for about a mile then had to filter into one lane, again waved on by armed police, with machine gun! There was an area of small cones and several police vehicles, two vehicles appeared to have been stopped with “stingers”, more police with whistles were waving us through and I saw one policeman with his machine gun pointing in the window of one of the stopped vehicles, we’ll never know what that was all about! The day continued bright and sunny with cloudless blue skies, I saw some swallows and more storks nesting on pylons, we also drove through more orange groves; there were yellow flowers-Oxalis?-on the verges and blossom on the trees (almond?) As we drove into Portugal it started to get a bit cloudy,
we arrived at the site in Albufiera at 2.45 (1.45 Portuguese time) we booked in pitched the van and apart from asking at reception for some gravel for the pitch that was all we did, tired after a long day’s travel. It was 17 degrees and sunny but cloudy with a coolish breeze. We got tea and played cards before bed. – Gravel didn’t come!
Distance travelled 349 miles fuel €99
Total miles 1722 Total fuel €367 0r £321.82
Sat Jan 30th
Had a really good nights sleep and woke feeling a lot better, sunny morning but heavy dew, temperature 6c, it had been 0-3 all other mornings. After breakfast had a bit of a clean & cupboard sort out, Rich washed van, sat out for a bit as sun was nice. Had a text off Vicki with the sad news that Eleanor had died last night.
After lunch went for a game of boules, my team won! It clouded over & got very chilly. After tea I went to terrace to get wifi, got on line but emails didn’t go, it was very dark and couldn’t see, will try again tomorrow.
Sun Jan 31st
Woke up to cloudy skies but it felt warmer 10c. Did not do much this morning but I had another go at emails and think I’ve sorted it. We walked into town, all through the road works, very quiet in town, we wandered around a bit then found a restaurant to have a meal, it was a super restaurant, local but had a tourist menu, Rich had a huge T. bone for €9, it was done to perfection, I had the menu of the day, pate, soup, fish/pork chops, I had the fish, sweet, half bottle of wine and coffee, very good value at €9.50. As we got back to the square we saw our bus in the stand so did not have to walk back. Lazy afternoon reading etc, I came out in a weird itchy rash, like urticaria but very small lumps in clusters, was it something I ate?, we didn’t want anything to eat so played cards before bed.
Mon Feb 1st
Woke to clear skies and a heavy dew again, 6c. I did some washing quite a load as it was all the stuff we travelled down in. We went to reception again to see about the gravel, I managed to get a sympathy card from the rally steward and wrote a letter to Peter, as I was doing that the gravel arrived. We had lunch then put the sunshade, windbreak & mat out. We then walked up the road to the orange seller and got a big bag of oranges, not a very pleasant walk alongside the busy, rubbish strewn main road but we did see blossom trees (almond) which smelt very sweet.
We sat outside as it was such a lovely day, clear blue sky warm and sunny. I sent a couple of emails then got tea. Played cards, new card shuffler broke!!
Tue Feb 2nd
Grey and a bit overcast first thing but sun came through; Rich was not feeling too good so we sat quiet for a while. We set off about 10.15 for the market, we got a bit lost through the houses and ended up going through the gypsy shanty town, a couple of dogs came barking and sniffing but otherwise no problem, there was a young woman doing housework in a shack made of tin sheeting and cardboard with an earth floor, she had 3 children and there was a dog in a plastic kennel outside,we think we arepoor but when you see something like that you realise we're not. We wandered round the market for quite a while, it wasn’t as busy as last year and didn’t seem quite as big, maybe because it is a bit earlier in the year. We got some carrots, figs, eggs and nuts.
We walked down to Lidl and got some bread then walked back to the site, the sun was warm but there was a very chilly wind. We were a bit late for boules, and too tired! Had a sit down then a BBQ steak for tea. Played cards for a while and I watched a film.
Wed Feb 3rd
It rained quite a bit in the night and was still raining when we got up. As we were sitting having a cup of tea a breakdown truck pulled up, it went to the van behind us and we watched them as they had a look under the bonnet and then start to pull it off the pitch, the couple were having to unload a lot of stuff as it was being winched onto the truck and taken away, luckily it had stopped raining by now but there was a cool breeze. I went over to ask if they wanted any help, to leave stuff with us or stay in the warm while it was being seen to, they said that they were going to go with it to see what was going on but would be very grateful if we could look after their dog, Hattie a spaniel, of course we didn’t mind at all. As it happened there was only one seat in the truck so if Val wanted to go the driver said that she would have to lie down in the back of their van so the police couldn’t see her! As the van was not tied down on the truck at all she declined and came and sat with us and had a coffee. After a while she went to use the internet and left Hattie with us, she was very good made no fuss at all and just slept. After I’d had a sandwich I went up to email and I hadn’t been there long when her husband came back so we went back to get Hattie. It was still quite cool so we watched a film in the afternoon then got tea and had a game of Tri-ominoes, Emma had given it to Rich for Christmas, it was quite good, took a lot of thinking about. It had started to rain again as we had tea and rained solidly all evening, and was still raining when we went to bed.
Thurs Feb 4th
Woke up to rain again, it did clear by mid morning and the sun came out a bit. The lady who’s dog we had looked after brought us over a bottle of wine to say “thank you”, a nice gesture but unnecessary. We cycled to the shopping mall, David from the next door van came with us, his wife didn’t want to come, not much for cycling, we were attacked by a pack of about 10 dogs as we cycled by some houses didn’t actually touch us though we just kept going and ignored them. When we were parking our bikes a security guard on a quad bike told us we couldn’t stay there (tied to a post at the back where we’d parked last year) and he escorted us to bike racks at the front and explained how to use them! We had a look round then got a few things in the supermarket and had lunch at a chicken grill, it was ok and good value at €4.99, it came to €21 though because we were charged for the starters, bread, pate & cheese, the mall was very quiet. We cycled back a lot quicker as it is downhill; the lanes were very potholed and wet, not too muddy as it is so stony. We got back in time for boules, it got very chilly and started to rain, Rich’s team got the wooden spoon. I went up to send emails and it bucketed down. Got a bit of tea then played Tri-ominoes and cards.
Fri Feb 5th
It had rained again in the night but it was a clear blue sky when we got up with sun rising. It was such a nice day that we did not do a lot but sat and enjoyed the sunshine In the evening we went to the line dancing, as the sun went down we heard the cicadas chirping. I went to the dancing with Joyce from the next van and David, her husband, and Rich stayed in the bar. The dancing was enjoyable, we did a few easy ones, some I hadn’t done before and a few I knew. I’d met the teacher at the sinks earlier and we’d been talking about dancing, she’d asked me which ones I knew so I told her a few, when she played one of them I was the only one ho got up! A bit embarrassing but I had to just go for it, it happened again a bit later on so I ended up doing 2 solos, except for the teacher, still it was fun. As we were leaving another couple said they were going into the bar for the Karaoke so we went to watch, Rich had had enough as they’d been doing it for a while so he went home and I stayed with Joyce & David till about 11.30, as we walked back to vans it was a beautiful starry night, but cold.
Sat Feb 6th
Awake to another clear, cold morning. I washed the sheets and then we walked to Lidl for a few things, back for lunch then a game of boules, it was a lovely, sunny day. Tri-ominoes & cards before an early night.
Sun Feb 7th
Grey and quite cool this morning, I put a meal in the slow cooker then we went into town,
we caught a bus down wandered around a bit then walked back via Lidl to get some bread. After tea (chops a bit tough) game of tri-ominoes and cards and bed.
Mon Feb 8th
Rained overnight and overcast but mild (14c) when we got up. We met at rally tent to go on walk, it started to look grey and overcast, threatening to rain, we set off anyway, 54 of us, as we left the site gates it started to pour down, we were the only 2 who had not got our waterproofs with us! We carried on anyway and slogged up a hill in the heaviest downpour imaginable for about 15 minutes, we were thoroughly soaked through to the skin, then the sun came and we carried on and got drier as we went, 26 dropped out, those with the serious walking boots and sticks!
The walk lasted about 2½ hours and would have been interesting but we did not have time to look around but just kept up with leader. We ended up at the café across the road from the site where we had a drink and toastie and stayed to chat for quiet a while with David and Joyce, the leaders and their cronies all sat round one big table.
We went back to site and sat around vans talking til we got tea and went up to the quiz night which was quite good, we missed being first by 1 point.
Tue Feb 9th
Sunny but white clouds this morning and we just stayed round the van. We played boules in the afternoon and Bob put our names down for a game tomorrow against locals.
In the evening we went up to a local restaurant up the road with Joyce and David, we walked up the main road to it, it was a large, barn like place and the girls serving were very friendly but had little English, the food was not wonderful but good value for money €6.50 for 3 courses plus wine, had a good evening chatting with Joyce and David but we suddenly looked round and the place had emptied at about 9.30 so walked back, I was a bit upset to find I had lost one of my good earrings.
Wed Feb 10th
Rained overnight and raining heavily when we got up, we had a good look for my earring, we’d found the back in the van, Rich got the metal detector out and I walked up to gate looking, Rich found one cheap earring but not mine. We were not looking forward to boules in the rain but Bob had said it would go on come hail rain or snow. As we were having our cup of tea Bob came round to tell us the match was cancelled much to our relief.
The rain did ease up a bit in the afternoon and so we went for a short walk up the road looking for my earring, and we found it!! It had been run over and the stone was missing but I think it can be repaired, (it was too expensive when I asked). Stayed in the van and played cards till bedtime.
Thurs Feb 11th
Richie’s birthday 65 !! We went into Albufeira and Rich got 2 pairs of shoes, I tried to return a clock I’d bought the other day which didn’t work, the shop keeper didn’t want to know, (Chinese shop) she did change it with very bad grace but I don’t think this one will work either, (it did eventually). I found a hairdresser and got my hair cut, was quite pleased with it and for €10 couldn’t grumble. We had a short walk on the beach watching the breakers then went for a meal at the same place we’d been to the other day, special of the day €9.5. We got the bus back and were just in time to play boules. It had been a nice, sunny day, a bit cloudy and cool breeze out of the sun but much better than yesterday. We did most of the packing.
Fri Feb 12th
Heard it raining about 6am and it didn’t stop, we waited until it stopped but it didn’t so eventually we had to pack the rest of the stuff, mat & windbreaks, in the pouring rain paddling inches deep in water!
We both got soaked to the skin. We drove up to Lidl to stock up and finally left Albufeira at 11.05. It was raining very heavily and just outside Albufeira we saw a car upside down on the opposite carriageway with emergency services attending. We arrived in El Roccio at 1.30 (2.30 Spanish time) I went to rally tent and had to wait for ages in the rain before anyone came out, when the steward, Mick, did come and told us which pitch was ours we asked for a different one a bit nearer the facilities and he wasn't very pleased, said the one he'd offered us was not as waterlogged but we had the one we wanted, we didn't want to have to go too far in the rain for showers etc. we got pitched again getting soaked. Didn’t set up just stayed in out of the rain, it was very cold after Albufeira.
The site was a lot neater than Albufeira but smaller pitches, all hedged around, the showers were quite good and clean and washing sinks indoors.
Miles travelled 129
We enjoyed the rally and the site, despite being very wet, was good, free wifi is a bonus, the rally activities were ok, we enjoyed the quiz and I enjoyed the dancing the stewards were always available and had a well organised tent, we found the stewards a bit cliquey but all the ralliers were very friendly, the shower/toilet block was scrupulously clean always.
Sat Feb 13th
Heard it raining in the night but it was not raining when we got up, it was grey and cloudy though and a keen wind, felt cold. After breakfast we put up the awning and mat then walked in to El Roccio, it is a very strange town, looks like the towns you see in Mexico in westerns, no paved roads just very wide, potholed, sandy streets, it was very quite as we walked in but when we got to the square there were quite a lot of people about, there were various shops selling clothes for riders, very specific for the horsemen and flamenco dresses for women,
there were also shops selling religious souvenirs as the town is a place of pilgrimage, we went into the church and it is fantastic with a statue of the Virgin Mary and a towering, gold alter.
We saw what we thought were swallows nests on the outside of the church but when we looked they were actually sparrows going in and out of them. As we walked round we saw a few people on horses, there were 3 young boys showing off, they stopped and posed for us and they were fantastic riders with the horses prancing about, they had to try out their English on us as they rode by.
We called for a coffee at a café and as we were there a couple of men on horseback came and were served outside without dismounting; there was a special, high shelf for them to put their food and drinks on.
We walked back to the site and I paid for a weeks internet, €14.90.
I sent a few emails and looked at my photos then we had tea, a couple of games before bed.
Sun Feb 14th
It was cold again this morning 6c, grey sky but quite bright, while we were having breakfast the stewards came round with a red carnation for me and some chocolates for Rich as it was St Valentines day, there is a dinner dance tonight but at €25 a head we won’t be going, not that we would have anyway!
Rich got the bikes down and I made some sandwiches and we rode into El Roccio, quite difficult on the soft, wet sand. As we approached we heard loud bangs and drums and there were great crowds of people, we locked the bikes up and followed the crowds.
It was a religious parade, there were drums and pipes (like recorders) being played and banners carried as well as a large “Gold” representation on the Virgin Mary, rockets or flares were being set off at intervals with a resounding bang. We followed the parade to the church where they waited for a while, the bells started ringing and they were let into the church. We wlked towards the lake and there were ponies giving rides to children, some very small and some pulling small carts as well. We called at a café for a coffee and then went and sat by the lake to eat our sandwich, although it was bright there was a cold wind. We walked back to the church and had a look at the side chapel where people lit candles, it was amazing, the roof and walls were black and there was a large extractor fan taking the smoke out, it was amazingly warm with the heat from hundreds of candles. We called at another café so we could use the toilet, there was a large queue and a woman handing out toilet paper and taking money, I joined the queue, there were 2 toilets, one men’s one ladies, the ladies were allowed in the men’s if there was no man waiting but the attendant had to spray air freshener in it first, if a man came along he jumped the queue, also a young mother with a small girl was allowed to jump the queue for the girl but she waited her turn for herself, one of the strangest toilet encounters I’ve had. We saw a few horses but today seemed to be all about religion.
We cycled back to the van calling at the supermarket for a couple of things. It started to rain while we were having tea and rained all night.
Mon Feb 15th
We were woken by someone (steward’s wife) banging on the door and shouting “your awning is full of water!!” we shot out of bed, it was still quite dark, and found that the awning was almost collapsed, one of the legs had given way and it was bulging with water, Rich went out and got the broom to push it up and the broom handle broke! He managed to move one of the legs and the water cascaded down. It was still raining heavily and continued most of the morning, but it was a lot milder than yesterday 10c. I had not been able to get the internet yesterday and still couldn’t this morning, the girl on reception had said if it went wrong it was nothing to do with them and I had to ring the number on the card, I went to ask the steward’s advice and he said “nonsense it is their responsibility” and that he would sort it out for me, he came round a while later with Fernandez, the Spanish liaison officer, who said that the internet was out in the area and he would let me know when it was back, I hope that he allows for missed days.
As I am typing this the sun has actually come out, there is a patch of blue sky and it has stopped raining!
The rest of the day was sunshine (brief) and showers (heavy) we just stayed in the van, watched a film, sewed etc.
Tue Feb 16th
When we got up the sky was not as overall grey as it had been, more broken cloud and it felt warmer, it rained a lot in the night and as we were getting up though. I put a casserole in the slow cooker and as the morning went on it looked better weather so I did some washing and hung it out it was very windy but sunny. In the afternoon there was a game of boules in the “road” so we joined in, very different to other games, men against women (some of the women were men as there were not enough real ones) up and down the road, it made a change though to get out and meet people, the women won 2 games to none.
Tea, a few games and bed.
Wed Feb 17th
Rained again overnight, still raining when we got up, it eased off and was bright but very windy. I did a bit more washing but had to keep my eye on it as it kept blowing off the line.
In the afternoon we had a lift to a Chinese Buffet meal, it was in Heulva which took nearly an hour to get to, the ride was through the Donana National Park which is huge, very flat and sandy with gum trees and pines, we saw mimosa starting to blossom and buds coming on trees, there was a lot of standing water and at one point the road was flooded right over both carriageways. Heulva is a port and very industrialised, gas works, fertiliser, oil, cement all sorts, not pretty and quite smelly. When we got to the restaurant it was in a huge concrete edifice. The meal was super, all you could eat for €9.95, there was lots of salads and starters and also a big section where you chose your fresh food and had it cooked there and then, the choice was fantastic, fish, meat, veg of all kinds, really enjoyable. Mike, the steward, was talking to us and saying that it was situated within a football stadium, the oldest club in Spain, 1899, which explained the strange concrete building. It was really odd because as we were there, 3pm (2pm at home) Eleanor’s funeral was being held in the stadium in Shrewsbury, I was feeling a bit emotional as it was but that really choked me. After the meal we went on to a shopping mall where there was a C & A, I got a nice top. We drove back to the site and Sue & Adrian, our drivers, said they would take us to the market on Fri. It was still dry and sunny but very breezy.
Thurs Feb 18th
Woke up to grey skies again and as we got breakfast it started to rain and didn’t stop all day, the wind had dropped and it was heavy drizzle that felt like you were walking through clouds and really soaked you. Stayed in van. Rich did not feel too good so we had an early night and I watched a film.
Fri Feb 19th
A bit better day, sunny with a wind and clouds but not overcast. I did a bit of washing and then we were taken to Almonte by Sue & Adrian, who had taken us to Huelva. We parked at Mercadona and agreed to meet back there later, we all went to the indoor market where I bought some meat and fish
and then we left the group and walked around the street market and on to Mercadona where we stocked up, taking advantage of having a car to carry shopping. Back at the van it was a nice afternoon so we at outside for a while in the sun – lovely! I cooked the chops I’d bought at the market and they were quite nice. Played a few games before bed.
Sat Feb 20th
Woke up to clear skies and a very heavy dew, Mick, the steward, had told us about a bike ride we could go on so we decided to go. We went through El Rocio and turned off into the park through some fancy pillared gates and cycled on a nice tarmac road for about 5kms we ended up at the Acebon Palace which was a hunting lodge originally but is now an information centre, there were interesting exhibits about the local life and culture, we had a good look at them and then went on the board walk around the marshy grounds.
The walk was quite a long one and took us over peaty, flooded marshes and then into woodland, there were pine trees, cork oaks and eucalyptus, the broom was just coming into flower, we carried on hoping that the walk would be a circular one taking us back to the car park, where we’d left our bikes, we started to see people who’d been in front of us coming back but carried on anyway and found that the board walk was under water, as we both had sandals and short trousers on we decided to paddle through it and it did eventually lead us back to the car park.
As we cycled back through the park I’m sure I saw a Lynx, there were signs warning that they were about and I saw a very large, dark cat just about to cross the road, not quite as big as a Jack Russell, it turned back as soon as it saw us so couldn’t make a positive identification. We cycled back to El Rocio and found it very difficult going on the wet, sandy streets, we were also having to dodge vehicles winding their way round pot holes, no such thing, we got a bit lost so stopped for a drink and then managed to find our way and get back to the site, we had probably cycled about 12 miles. We got back too late to play boules but after the game they had a “tea party” so we all went and sat by the rally tent and had a drink and biscuit. The couple from over the road asked us if we’d like to go with them, they were getting the bus to a nearby town where there was a festival, the bus didn’t go till 5pm and didn’t get back till after 11pm so we said no, Rich’s back was hurting after the bike ride. I got on line again as they have decided to give me the 2 days I lost.
Sun Feb 21st
There was very heavy rain overnight with bursts of very strong wind but when we got up the sky was clearing. We walked into town and the streets were wetter than ever with streams running down them. We walked around for a bit and got some strawberries. We met Phil & Shelia from the site and stood in the church watching the service, the choir was wonderful, more like flamenco guitar music. We went to a café for a drink and then watched another parade when the heavens opened, we sheltered for a while and started back when it stopped, we had nearly got out of town when it rained again in torrents, we had to run for shelter and wait it out, eventually got back rather wet.
In the evening we went to the rally meal at the site restaurant, €12 for 3 courses and a drink, there was also a happy hour where drinks were half price, it was a good evening, we sat with Shelia & Phil, Sue & Adrian and June & Brian, after the meal Brian played his banjo and sang a few songs.
Mon Feb 22nd
Not too bad a morning, a bit blustery but sunny, I did a bit of washing and had a bit of a clean of the van then went to the “coffee morning” ie all sitting around outside while Mick told us the weeks programme, pity we didn’t have one last week so we’d have known about a few things, it was impossible because of the rain though last week. Had a short stroll round the site area.
The road alongside the site led out into the country on the outskirts of town, there were a lot of horses hobbled without much grazing, they looked awfully poor and skinny, in sharp contrast to the horses we’d seen being ridden around the town which were glossy and well fed with manes and tails combed cut and curled. Although it was quite warm and sunny the wind was very strong, at least it kept the rain away.
We went to the quiz evening and were on a team with Shelia & Phil, came 2nd to last but it was a bit of fun, raining when we walked back.
The site was not bad, well ordered pitches but not all that big, it was unfortunate that there had been so much rain as it made it impossible to go anywhere without getting sand and damp into the van, it also meant that things had to be cancelled and we were unable to go into the park. The showers and toilets were clean, not as spotless as Albufeira though and smaller, the stewards were not as available as on other rallies but were helpful when asked, we felt we got of on the wrong foot by asking to have a different pitch to the one allocated, Mick liked to direct everyone on to pitch and off and Christine waved a chequered flag whenever anyone left.
We were glad to have come to El Rocio, it is certainly a very different town to any we’ve ever seen, it seems to exist only for the religious festival which happens at Pentecost, there are large houses which are owned by Catholic Brotherhoods from all over Spain, they are only used during the pilgrimage, they are mostly built in a square block around a central courtyard and each one has a bell over the gate and usually the name of the brotherhood and the year it was founded. We saw a couple of parades on Sunday where they take their banners out and parade to the church with drums, pipes and large baskets of flowers, many people carry large staffs with gold or silver ornamented tops as well as the banners, they all seam to wear religious medals. The church has a fantastic gold covered alter wall with a statue of the Virgin central. We stood and listened to part of a service and the choir sung beautifully from a balcony, more like Flamenco music with guitars and tambourines.
In the town most of the shops were selling items to do with the pilgrimage, religious icons, medals, souveniers and candles, other shops sold accoutrements for horses and the specialised clothing associated with the region, short jackets, tight trousers, flat boater type hats for the men with leather chaps and boots, wonderful flamenco dresses for the women, they apparently have to have this years style, last years won’t do.
Tue Feb 23rd
Got packed up and said goodbye to people, we managed to get off pitch without Mick “helping” and Christine didn’t have time to get her flag out but everyone was waving as we left. It is quite sad to leave a place and people that you have got used to and liked.
We left the site at 0950 and went for fuel, there was a car in a terrible state, obviously rolled just outside the site, and opposite the fuel station a man was lunging his horse, we saw Shelia & Phil as we drove past the site they were on their way to Seville. It was a bright, sunny morning with a strong wind, it stayed dry till we were past Seville and then we had some very heavy showers, we seemed to drive out of them and were soon on a smaller road, very narrow and twisting, the damage from the rain was very obvious with nearly all the fields having channels gouged out by the water, in some places there were gorges down the fields, there were olive groves with sodden silt all over them and vineyards in the same condition, mud everywhere. The narrow road we were on seemed in danger of collapsing in many places and at one point it had given way and there were workmen directing traffic whilst it was shored up with huge rocks. It was quite different country, very green and hilly, lots of cattle. As we left Arcos we saw 2 eagles very low over the road. We arrived at Los Gazules camp site at 1.15 and booked in; luckily there was gravel on the pitch so it was quite clean. We had a walk up the road outside the site into a park, as we walked we were joined by 2 dogs, a Samoyed and Jack Russell type, bit like TIa. There were 2 horses just loose in the road, they were very nervous of us and a whole pack of dogs, it was very rugged country and would be a lovely walk with more time and better weather, it was still sunny, breezy and quite warm. We went to check at the restaurant and decided to eat there. There were a British couple parked by us and I had a chat to them, saw eagles overhead as we were talking, we also saw vultures overhead, soaring very high. I went for a shower and was there at the same time as the lady I had been talking to, she was surprised when I turned mine on that hers lost pressure and changed temperature, she had been the only one on site up till then, it was quite amusing both of us trying to get our temperature right. We had our meal in the restaurant, €30 for 2 people, bread & olives, tuna salad, ham & cheese, a bottle of water & a bottle of Rioja, for our main course we both had steak & chips, the whole meal was very nice and plenty of it, unfortunately the steak was very tough but we had had enough to eat so just ate what we could of it. The television was on in the room and there was a lot of news coverage of the flooding in Spain, it is very wide spread. It was quite a warm evening and we as we chatted to the other couple on the way back we saw bats flying around and frogs were croaking loudly. I watched a film, the temperature was 16c.
Miles travelled 137 Fuel €49 Site fee €12.50
Wed Feb 24th
There was heavy rain in the night and we woke up to grey skies, it was warmer though 15c, there were birds twittering in the trees, we were told that they were serin. We set off at 09.20, we had been worried about getting off the pitch but Rich managed it quite easily, we retraced our footsteps for quite a way as there was a road closed in the nearest town, we had not gone far when a largish, brown speckled, blunt headed bird flew in front of us, we both thought it was an owl, further along the road we were pleased to see a farmer taking hay out to his cattle, usually they seemed to have to forage for what they could get, the hay was being carried by a donkey, 6 bales loading the poor thing down. There was more evidence of flood damage, quite a lot of slippages on the banks of the road; a few of them were being repaired and you could see at a couple of places that the silt had been bulldozed off the carriageway. We passed out of cattle country and the terrain became more rugged, rocky with many cork oaks and as we climbed higher there were wind farms as far as the eye could see, we saw eagles, kites, vultures and storks, there were lots of storks by a reservoir we passed, one flew overhead with a beak full of twigs.
We arrived at La Linea and after a false start got ourselves across the border to Gibraltar, we found Morrisons, thank goodness for Gertie as it seemed very roundabout route. It was very strange to be suddenly thrust back into “England”, the store was exactly the same as those at home with all the familiar brands and English speaking staff, we stocked up with food, especially bacon, butter & cereals, I got a bottle of gin for under £4, we took it back to the van then thought we would try and park, we followed signs to a car park at the foot of the cable car, thinking we would then go up to the top, the car park would not take any vehicle over 1.5 tons, we carried on along ever narrower and steeper streets and it was not allowed to park anywhere, we eventually managed to negotiate our way out of the town and over the border. We then found the patch of waste ground we had heard about and as there were a few Motorhomes there we parked up and walked back across the border. We picked up a taxi which took us on a guided tour, €70. It was very interesting and the driver gave us a lot of information, he said that they do not want to belong to Spain and had quite recently had a referendum, they are all bi-lingual and proud to be British, he had a British father who arrived with the Navy and married a Gibraltan, he had family in Norwich and his son was going to Norwich University, their whole lifestyle is probably more British than the British.
We visited St. Michael’s cave first this was amazing one of the most spectacular caves we have seen, it is used as a theatre at times, as we came out we saw a monkey running off with some postcards from a stand, being chased by the stall holder. We then went to a viewing point where they feed the apes, the driver gave us some peanuts and asked would we like to have a monkey sit on us, I declined but while Rich was deciding a huge one – the alpha male – came and sat on his head!
We then went to the siege tunnels, another interesting place, started in the 1780s as a defence position with gun ports it was enlarged in the 2nd World War to include a hospital which was never used. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and when we were dropped off went back to the van and set off again, we had another false start trying to get away and ended up in some more narrow back streets, we left at 4pm and set off along the coast road past Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella, it was very different scenery, mostly built up with lots of new buildings, hotels and touristy areas. The day had been warm and sunny and along the coast there seemed a lot less evidence of flooding and it was the first day for ages we had not had any rain. We arrived at el Pino Camping, Torrox-Costa at 6.25 booked in and got tea. It was a warm evening and the 3rd night we had not put the fire on, things are looking up!
Miles travelled 193 Fuel £25 (filled up at Morrisons 69p litre)
Site fee €13
Thurs Feb 25th
We had not been very impressed with the site as the pitch we were on was very awkward to get onto and was sloping we were parked under avocado trees ,but when we walked around this morning we saw that there were better pitches on a terrace above us, there was also a very well stocked shop with some English items run by an English man. We walked out of the site and tried to get to the sea but didn’t, it seemed a nice place though and was a pleasant, warm morning, we asked in the shop and were told it was about 10 minutes walk the front but we’d turned left not right. We left at 11am and it was similar scenery to yesterday, not quite as intensively built up though, the new road was good with a couple of tunnels, we turned off onto a smaller road and passed Nerja, as we were just beyond it I saw a gorge with what looked like a fantastic 3 tiered, brick aqueduct straddling it. We stopped at one point to have a look at the view then carried on, unfortunately we had not got co-ordinates and got a bit lost ending up going round Almunecar, we eventually found the camp site after going round La Herradura on all the back roads, twist, narrow and hilly, at one point the road had been washed away completely so they had just closed that side of it! We booked in and it seemed a very small site with lots of trees making it difficult to get around and get pitched, we found a pitch on a terrace with no trees so went there.
There seemed to be lots of vans that had been there for a long time, well entrenched with fences and plants, we spoke to the couple nearest to us and they had been out since Boxing Day. The showers and toilets were old fashioned with plenty of hot water to showers but not wash basins, each plot had it’s own sink, except the one we were on but there was one a few feet away. We walked into town along the sea front and it seemed to be a nice little town, palm trees on the beach and tiled pavements,
plenty of restaurants with reasonable menus of the day, from €9, we stopped for a drink at the far end and there were people parascending, then we walked back, we reckoned it must have been a couple of miles and there were at least 30 cafes & restaurants, there is a town centre away from the sea front as well.
It was a pleasant temperature and although overcast was very bright it did not seem to be as waterlogged as everywhere else we’d been although there was water flowing over the road in a couple of places. Got tea and had a couple of games before bed. It started to rain as we had tea but not as heavily as it had been before.
Miles travelled 28 Site fee €17.50
Fri Feb 26th
There were a few light showers in the night but we woke to bright cloudy skies with the sun breaking through, 15c. We set off at 10.00am and tootled quietly along, the road was very twisty and was along the coast with awful drops down to the rocky shore below, at one point we saw a lorry that had jack-knifed and gone over the edge, it’s cab was dangling in space and it was only the trailer that was keeping it from plunging hundreds of feet down onto houses below. At one point there was road works where they were repairing the road that had caved in.
We detoured to have a look at another site and found a beach where there were a couple of vans overnighting, we thought we would not mind staying there so made a not of it. We arrived at Castillo De Banos at 11.30 and looked for a good pitch, as we were looking a couple said they were going tomorrow so we decided to park overnight in the next pitch and move tomorrow, it was a reasonably level pitch and had 16amp electricity rather than the 5amp on most of the site, it was also in sight and sound of the sea. We found the rally stewards, David & Marion, very pleasant and helpful and the amount of things to do advertised in the tent were many and varied, I immediately put our names down for the rally meal, fish & chips and a trip up into the mountains, chatting to them they were saying that they were ordering washing machines and having them delivered here so we decided to get one, we had been thinking about it for a while and the washing is such a pain that it has got to be easier. We went to the bar to get on the internet, which is free, it was not ideal as there were no plugs so decided to pay to have it in the van for the time we are here. We found everyone on the site very friendly and on a walk round were stopping to talk to nearly everyone, we saw a couple who had been at Albufeira last year and Sue & Adrian from El Rocio. We had a short walk on the beach, it is a small beach and more gravely than sandy but still lovely to hear it and mooch along the shore.
Miles travelled 35
Sat Feb 27th
The couple next door left as we were having breakfast, there had been some doubt as to whether they would go or not as there had been reports of road closures due to land slips but they did get off, so after we'd had breakfast we moved over, it is a lovely, level pitch with quite a bit of sun and we got the awning and windbreaks out.
There had been a “scrapheap challenge” to make a musical instrument out of rubbish; a chap across the road had been making pan pipes out of bamboo since yesterday. We went up to see the judging and it was very funny, as well as his pan pipes he had made a music stand out of bamboo and put a piece of “music” on it he’d got a mate to be conductor with a baton made of bamboo, they made a play of adjusting the stand as it was a bit uneven then he tapped his baton and started conducting, another group had made a drum and a guitar and maracas, one of them had a carrier bag with drain pipes in it for bagpipes, people are very ingenious.
In the afternoon a group of us walked to La Mamola, the next little town, we started going along the beach then had to go along the main road, rather than go through the road tunnel we scrambled down to the beach again and went that way, it is a small town with a short promenade, the beach is closed off as work is going on there. We went to a café and had a drink and a chat and then walked back. It was warm enough to eat outside. After tea we met up with the couple whose dog we had looked after in Albufeira.
It had been a lovely warm day 20c at one point and we’d been warm enough to wear shorts and sit out for a while.
Later in the evening, just as it got dark, a storm blew up, very fierce wind but still warm so we had to go out and lash the awning down 2 or 3 times. The storm carried on all evening and was quite scary, there was no rain but very strong gale force winds and it was very warm, 23c at 11.30pm, an awning from behind us got blown away. The electricity kept going off during the storm.
Sun Feb 28th
It was a lot calmer this morning and cooler, just a bit breezy, we tidied up the storm damage, luckily not much just leaves and debris in the awning plus tent pegs and bits, including a towel up a tree, from the awning that got blown down, Rich checked that all the pegs were secure and we were glad that we had not had any damage. We were told that there would be a BBQ and “silly games” at 1 o’clock so I got some trout out of the freezer and made some salad. We had to cook at the van but most people had portable BBQs, the couple on the next table had their dinner in a Remoska, it looked lovely, I think I will get one.
After we’d eaten we had the games, we were split into teams and had to play the games that were set up, hitting plastic golf balls into a crab basket, horseshoes, getting boules onto a target, getting balls into buckets, Aunt Sally, and how many pegs could you get of a line and hold in one hand, we did each game twice and it was good fun, got to know people and have a laugh, my team were last!
it was quite cool but the sun came out and the sky was clear and blue by about 4.30.
it was quite cool but the sun came out and the sky was clear and blue by about 4.30 but by 9 o’clock it had started to rain and very soon there was a thunder storm which passed over quite quickly,it went quite cool and we put the fire on for a while whilst we were playing cards.
Mon March 1st
There was quite a bit of rain in the night but blue skies and sun when we woke up. We walked into Castillo. It is a very small village, a few holiday apartments, one café/restaurant and a few houses, there is a small supermarket which is very well stocked though and within in it is a butcher which everybody says had good meat, we got a couple of things and walked back and sat in the sun for a while. In the afternoon we played boules and then showered ready for rally meal.
The meal was most enjoyable, really good food, soup, salad, pork chop with fried potatoes, sweet and half bottle of wine each for €10. After the meal we had a sing song, Men of Harlech and We’ll Keep a Welcome for St David’s day and then others, Marion, Steward, played keyboard, it was fun and we somehow got “volunteered” to be in a skiffle group for Saturday night! It was not a late night we left about 10pm.
Tue Mar 2nd
Grey skies when we woke this morning, quite cool, quiet morning, we walked to the beach to see the sea pounding rollers on the beach, grey and forbidding, then we had a walk round the site and out the other end. At 12.30 we met to go for a walk to a village up in the hills, the weather was not too good, cloudy and grey, threatening rain, we went out of the site through the gate we’d gone through earlier and started to walk up the river course, usually this is dry but because of all the rain it had quite a bit of water flowing, it was uphill but not too hard going, the group leader, Brian, thought that my footwear – walking sandals – was not suitable and I may get my feet wet but as they are my best walking shoes I didn’t bother, everyone else had on “serious” walking boots. It took us about an hour and we had to cross the river a couple of times, it was mostly scrambling up rocky hillside but when we reached the village there was a very steep, concrete path, as we arrived at the restaurant it started to really rain, it had been spitting all the way up. We had a good meal, salad, a sort of potato/egg mayonnaise, plenty of bread, chicken noodle soup, chicken & chips, glass of wine/beer and an ice cream €8, it was a very clean café with a resident parrot, as we ate it was raining very heavily, as we were gearing up to walk back in the rain Sue & Adrian, who had come up in their car were offering lifts so Val & I took them up on their offer, no point getting soaked unnecessarily. We got back about 3.45 and Rich arrived back at 4.30, he was wet but he’d had waterproofs and umbrella so was not too bad.
In the evening we went to the quiz night, which we didn’t win, it was a lot cooler but had stopped raining.
Wed Mar 3rd
We had to get up quite early as we were going on a trip, it was cool but bright. We got on the coach and set off towards Motril and then turned off into the mountains, Sierra Nevada, we went through a gorge and stopped for coffee and a short visit to an olive oil museum/shop, the scenery was stunning with snow capped mountains in the distance showing above lower clouds, there was a lot of water rushing down the river, greeny, snow melt water. We stopped at a dam at the end of a reservoir, Presa de Rules, it was amazing there was spray high in the air above the dam from the water gushing out and a rainbow in the mist, reminiscent of Niagara but on a much smaller scale. After we’d taken some pictures we carried on, still climbing, along narrow, mountain roads zig zagging up the mountains, there were so many hairpin bends and so many wonderful vistas but it was quite scary, in a couple of places the road was partially blocked by landslides, we were actually not going on the route we should have because it was impossible to get there, the driver was very good, a local man who lived in the mountains so knew his way around, thank goodness! We went through a town called Orgiva where there is a large hippy community, it was quite a large town, and we then carried on climbing through Caratuanas to a village called Pampaneira where we stopped for a while. It was a pretty place, all white houses built up the hillside with narrow cobbled streets, some with water flowing down them, there were half a dozen shops selling rugs and other items, nice stuff, glass jewellery, local pottery and leather goods, and a nice square all set out with tables and chairs for cafes, Rich got a drink while I had a look at the shops. Back in the coach and we climbed even higher up more hairpin bends with more landslips to a restaurant for dinner. It was a nice, clean restaurant and the meal was good, soup, almond flavoured, then ham, sausage, black pudding, sautéed potatoes and poached egg, followed by a crème caramel, there was a rose wine and a liqueur to finish, it was all very nice, we sat with a couple who we’d been in the quiz team with last night, from Handsacre. When we came out of the restaurant the weather had changed the cloud had come down and it was cold and wet and raining. We went back down a slightly different way, the other side of the valley where the reservoir was and through a spa town Lanjoran, we saw ibex on the hillside between Motril and Castillo, we got back about 5pm, it had been a very interesting trip. It started raining soon after we got back and didn’t stop all evening.
Thurs Mar 4th
It rained for most of the night and when it stopped the wind got up and was very stormy but we woke to clearer skies, the day turned out quite nice, although windy the sun was quite hot and the skies were clear except for a few small, white clouds. There was a lot of water still flowing down the road and into the awning of the couple across the road and another 2 pitches away from us, someone from the site came and gave the man a mattock and shovel to try to dig a trench to divert it, Rich borrowed the tools and dug a trench as well to help the people across the road, they decided to move pitchers anyway to the next one down. Wee didn’t do anything much, a bit of a tidy up and I made some Welsh cakes, it was nice enough to sit outside for quite a while.
In the evening we went to the restaurant for fish & chips, €5 including a bottle of wine, very nice and good value. We sat with Bernard & Pat, who we’d been on a boules team with, it was a good evening and Bernard & Pat came back for a coffee and Welsh cake, which they’d never had before.
Fri Mar 5th
When I woke up and looked out of the window there was a wonderful sunrise, the whole sky a beautiful red, I went to take a photo but the gate was closed and I couldn’t get the right angle, also by this time the moment had passed. I had an email to say that the washing machine I’d ordered would be cancelled as I hadn’t sent the extra postage so I sent a confirmation and request for a refund. I’d got a lot of washing piled up – nearly 3 weeks – so did a load, Rich helped me carrying water.
At lunch time we joined a group to go to “Nico’s” for Tapas, this involved walking over the river bed which still had quite a bit of water flowing and into a very small village quite close by, it was sunny and quite warm. It was a nice clean restaurant and Nico, the owner, was very attentive,
the food just kept coming, lots of bread, salad, potato salad, fried aubergine/courgettes, chicken, pork chops, chips, stew, fried eggs on a bed of veg, small burgers, chips, fish, pork in almond sauce, there was loads of it and it was very nice, we finished with ice cream, crème caramel or coffee, €9 a head, wonderful value, luckily it wasn’t too far to walk back. We read and dozed the afternoon away, Bernard called to ask us round for a drink at 8pm, the day turned quite cool and breezy, the washing was almost dry as it got dark so we got it in and draped it round. The Spaniards arrived at their van next to us and found the awning full of water, an animated conversation was heard and they were given a spade and started digging, unfortunately they diverted the water to our pitch. We went round to Pat & Bernard’s and sat and chatted for a couple of hours and tried Pat’s home made “Tia Maria” which was very nice, she is going to send me the recipe. It was a coincedence that their caravan had the same upholstery as we'd had done on our van
Sat Mar 6th
There were a couple of light showers in the night and we woke up to grey skies, it was a bit cooler. We washed the sheets and got them on the line and walked to the little supermarket. Walking round the site it seemed that the water problem was pretty general; every street seemed to be having a problem and some people were talking about defecting to Don Cactus, the sister site, apparently the family who own both had spent money upgrading that one. The problem with the water seems to be that, because of the exceptional rain, the water table is overflowing setting off streams that have been dormant for years, and it is certainly clean water that is flowing down all the trenches people have dug, it seems to flow faster each day. Stayed in van all day and had shower ready to go to the dance but David came round to say it was cancelled, we went up to the bar to see if anyone was about but it was very noisy with young lads watching football so we had a quick drink and left.
Sun Mar 7th
The sea calmed down in the night and was not pounding so loudly, woke to grey skies and cool. Bernard & Pat came to say goodbye as they were off to La Manga. We walked to the village supermarket for some water but they were shut so got some from site shop. We went for a walk up the river bed as it wasn’t too cold when we were walking, lots of water coming down, lots of piles of rotting cucumbers, quite a few birds about, there was quite a lot of traffic driving up the “river” and we realised that it had been a road, or track, that had been washed away so they were still using it, back to site to find that the BBQ and games had been cancelled. Getting a bit fed up with weather, you can only keep cheerful for so long when cold and damp, forecast doesn’t look any better for next week. Spent the rest of the day in the van, Rich did dig a bit more of the trench though, the sun came out for a short while but it was still cool with a few showers. . BBQd chicken from local shop with rest of our steak and it was nice. Watched a film.
Mon Mar 8th
The sea was a bit calmer for a while but still quite rough. We went to the coffee morning/meeting, quite a bit of discussion about the visit from “Carefree” and the state of the site, mainly the toilet/shower block, the TV was on in the restaurant and there were pictures of quite deep snow in Valencia and Bilbao. Washed towels as it was a great drying day, windy with some sun. A group of people in the other street were installing pipes to try and get rid of the water;
Rich had another go at our trench as well. After lunch we played boules, there were only 8 of us playing this week, 4 teams, we came 2nd. It was not a bad day but very windy and cool.
At about 5pm David called us all together to say that the water was rising in the room where the mains electricity is, they were pumping it out but if anyone wanted to move to Don Cactus, the sister site, they could, he didn’t think it would be a problem but there was a possibility that the power would go off. Most people decided to stay. As we were looking at the room to asses the problem we spotted 3 Ibex on the hillside across the road.
After tea the wind got up again and it started to rain at about 9.30.
Tue Mar 9th
The rain stopped for a while in the early hours but started again as we had breakfast, cool again but the wind had dropped. I went to get bread from the visiting baker at 9am only to be told he didn’t come till 10.30, but I saw Brian who said that the walk was off because of the rain. I went back for bread just before 11 and the baker had been and gone! We stayed in for most of the morning with the fire on watching the rain. It eased up a bit so we thought that we would walk to La Mamola as we needed to get some cash. It was actually quite warm when we were walking, although the sea continued to lash against the rocks. When we got to La Mamola the sun came out and it was pleasant, we called at the cash machine then had a drink at small café, walked to the end of the town, looked into the small supermarkets and walked back. We had to brave the cold showers in the afternoon – not pleasant! We tuned TV in to Spanish programmes and saw that there had been a lot of snow in Barcelona and the French border, caused quite a lot of disruption, roads closed, trains cancelled. The day remained still but cool and thankfully the rain held off.
While we were just finishing tea a cherry picker turned up and started to chop down a tree next door, we’d noticed that the tree had been strapped t another and when I’d looked it’d been pulled up by it’s roots and had fallen onto the Spaniard’s caravan next door. The two haps cut it down bit by bit from the cherry picker, no safety equipment, no warning cones, just 2 blokes and a chain saw! They were chucking all the branches down and we were a bit worried that some may hit us. This is the 2nd tree we’ve seen down today on the site.They moved round to the back of the tree to get to the other side and got the machine bogged down so they left it there. We went up to the quiz night and were in a team with Barbara & Tony from across the road, we didn’t win but were 2nd, as we walked back the sky was clear and the stars were very bright.
Wed Mar 10th
Woke up to sunshine!! Took advantage of weather and did a bit of washing, a lady at sinks let me use her spin dryer, what a help, she and her husband have a site in France which we have got the details of. Walked to supermarket in Castillo, went to pay Marion for meals etc and she invited us in for coffee so we had a natter to her and then spent the rest of the day sitting in the sun. They came to do a bit more to the trees but didn’t touch the one next door to us, just tatted about topping some others, they left all the branches that they had cut yesterday just where they’d dropped, Rich cleared the ones from the roadway. Tea and a few games before bed.
Thurs Mar 11th
Sunshine again this morning but a cool wind, we walked to La Mamola as there was a market there, o walk to La Mamola we first go through Castillo - half a dozen houses and a couple of apartment blocks, with water flowing down the street where they're pumping water out of basements, then on to the main road, without a barrier but after a while there is a barrier to cower behind as lorries thunder by, then you either have to walk through the road tunnel or climb down onto the beach and walk along that,
at the end of the beach there is a gully to negotiate where the water is gushing down in many streams from the floods, then you clamber up onto the "promenade" which is being repaired so has a chain link fence and machines along it with men repairing the sea wall. The market was all along the sea wall, not very good, mostly cheap clothes and shoes; we got some broad beans, strawberries and some nuts, and I bought a beautiful geranium for €2, we called for a drink and walked back. When we got back we found that Marion & David had moves as well, apparently everyone helped them. We sat out for a while but it got very cool. We went for fish & chips at 7pm and it was very good again, Marion played her keyboard for a singalong, had a good natter then back to van. As I’m writing this it is starting to rain (10pm).
Fri Mar 12th
It rained quite a bit in the night but had stopped by morning; we were pleased as we would not have been going out in the rain. We met up with Bob & Margaret, who were giving us a lift to Almuneca but it was decided we would go with Barbara & Norman as they had a larger vehicle with more leg room, we drove to Almuneca, following Bob, the roads were very bad in a couple of places with great cracks across them, a bit worrying as they sre so close to cliffs! When we arrived we spent ages looking for 2 parking spaces, in the end Bob parked Norman let us out, arranging to meet later and then went to find a parking place. It was a huge market, no fruit or veg though, lots of clothes, shoes, watches, sunglasses, Rich got a pair of clip ons for driving, been looking for ages. We finished in the market, having bought rain capes, fruit basket, knives & nuts, then we went to a nearby Chinese shop, we met the others at MacDonald’s for a coffee and Barbara & Norman said they were going to get some food and go and eat it on the beach so we said we would join them, we called at a supermarket and then dropped most of shopping off into car and found a bench to sit and picnic, it was lovely and warm and sunny. After we’d eaten we walked on round the corner and found the older part of the town with a lovely promenade with cafes on the beach, we met some others off the site as we walked along, almost at the end of the promenade we saw some people with a King Charles Spaniel that had been paralysed and had some wheels for his back legs, he was only young and was running round after a ball, we gathered that a vet had given him an injection that had caused the damage. We walked back to the car and then drove back to site arriving about 5pm as we neared Castillo it got cooler and we didn’t think that they had had the lovely weather we had. We had had a super day out, Almuneca is a very nice town and the fact that it was warm and sunny was a bonus, Barbara & Norman were good company and it was good of them to take us. We got our tea then went to play whist, Bob said he’d give us lessons, we quite enjoyed it and I didn’t do too badly having never played before.
Sat Mar 13th
Quite sunny first thing but cool, I washed the sheets and Bob asked did I want to go to the butchers with them to the next town, Castello de Ferras, so I went and got some steak. The Spaniards in the caravans next to us had arrived and were moving pitches, we thought that they would go away from the rally area but they went on two of the better pitches at the bottom of row C. It was quite a cool day.
. We went up to the “dance” it was in the “Plastic Palace” and it started raining as we went up, there were only 8 couples there altogether I put a skirt and sandals on, thinking it was appropriate but it was cold and damp, everyone else was in trousers, Barbara had on trousers, socks, boot, 2 jumpers and her husband’s long johns! And still she was cold, David was playing music on his sound system and we just sat and nattered with Barbara & Norman, between songs Val gave us a bit of entertainment, she read out a poem she had written about the digging etc on site, it was very good, she also did Victoria Wood’s “Ballad of Barry & Freda”, she got the Irish couple up to sing and me and another woman to do actions to “Alloutta”, I did “A Mother’s Lament” as a bonus! We stopped till 9.30 then went home.
Sun Mar 14th
It was quite sunny when we woke up, cool though, there was due to be a BBQ then games at 1.30 but it clashed with the grand Prix, Barbara & Tony ha arranged to watch it in the bar with Rich, I walked up with them at 12 and ate Richie’s omelette then went back to the van and sat outside doing a bit of sewing. Barbara came to check on Henry (her dog) so I said I would look after him, I took him a walk round the site, having to lift him over all the puddles as he has a nasty wound on his back leg which he has been seeing the vat about, he has a plastic collar to stop him chewing his stitches. He settled down once we were back at the van but we hadn’t been sitting long when there was an almighty rumble of thunder, I got the sheets off the line, put the chairs away and had just got inside when Barbara came back, we had arranged to have our BBQ with them after the games but when I went to see about them David said they would probably be called off as the sky over the hills was very threatening, sure enough the rain started so we stayed in the van and watched a film. Rich BBQd our streak in the thunder storm
Mon Mar 15th
Woke up to sun again but still a bit cool, Barbara called round and asked would we like to go out for the day so we said yes please, we were only going to go to the coffee morning. We met them at 10.30 and decided to go to La Herradura as we’d told them about the site there and they said they would like to see it. When we got there we parked and had a walk round the site which they thought was nice, then we had a walk along the sea front, it was lovely, warm and sunny, we had our picnic in a small park with benches it was very peaceful. After we’d eaten we decided to walk around the headland a bit but as we got round the corner we saw that the road was closed to traffic, this was the road we had driven on a couple of weeks ago, we walked round the corner and saw why the road was closed, it was completely blocked by a rock fall, quite a sight, as we walked back we asked a local – in pantomime – when it had happened and he said 3 nights ago and it woke them up with an awful noise. We walked for a while longer then drove back, we stopped at Lidl and Al Campisto and also a do it yourself store, it had been a lovely day hot and sunny. Barbara & Norman thought that La Herradura would be a nice place to stay.
When we got Back Rich did not feel very well and went straight to sleep, I had a shower ready to go out, at 7pm I was busy typing this when David called to see if we were going to dinner, I thought it was 8 not 7, quickly got dressed and left Rich sleeping, entered room to round of applause! Barbara & Norman had not arrived either and rushed in after David had called on them as well, another round of applause, the meal was a lot more subdued then previously, only 12 couples there, Rich was missing and the other Barbara as she had had the bug. Didn’t stay late and when I got back Rich was sleeping, it was a still, starlit night but I woke at 2pm and the surf was pounding so loudly I thought it was a gale, by the time I checked it out I was wide awake and didn’t get back to sleep for ages.
Tue Mar 16th
Rich felt a bit better this morning, another bright sunny morning and the sun felt really warm for the first time, had a lie in till Rich felt like moving. I did a bit of washing and went to see if we’d got a lift to the Alhambra tomorrow, David & Doreen are taking us, they’d been at El Rocio at the same time as us but we hadn’t seen much of them. Sat in the sun for rest of morning and after lunch Rich felt better so we went for a walk along the old road to Castello de Ferres, everyone had said that it had collapsed quite spectacularly so we thought we’d have a look. We must have walked a good couple of miles, we didn’t get as far as the collapse but did see some very large cracks in the road surface, at least 4” deep in places, but the road hadn’t been closed, not a lot of traffic on it though, it was sunny but windy with a clear blue sky but the surf was still pounding. We called at Nico’s for a drink and then back to site, there seemed to be more water than ever going down the river.. After tea we went to the Plastic Palace for a Beetle Drive, it was different and a bit of fun, said goodbye to Barbara & Norman as they are leaving tomorrow.
Wed Mar 17th
Got up early to go to the Alhambra, we got a lift with David & Doreen; it was a nice sunny morning. We had not been on the road long when we went round a corner to find a boulder the size of a house in our carriageway! Braked and swerved and got round it. We arrived at 10.30 found a parking space and headed for the entrance; we paid and got an audio commentary for $4. We decided to stick together with David & Doreen as the visits to the main palace were timed and if we went together we would be out together. We found our way to the Palace Carlos V which was a huge square building but once inside it was circular, open to the sky with great pillars made from the most unusual material which looked like large pebbles in concrete smoothed until it looked like marble, we stopped for a coffee and then it was time to go into the Palacios Nazaries, we had to wait to be let in, it seemed that only so many are allowed in at a time. It was absolutely stunning, talk about the wow factor! Huge high ceilings intricately carved, all the walls tiled and carved, archways with pierced, carved stonework giving views over the town of Granada or into cool, shady courtyards,
it was just amazing, there were lots of rooms, each seemed grander than the last and courtyards with fountains and trees for shade, it was unfortunate that we were in amongst lots of coach tours and school trips, it was difficult to get round and impossible to get the tranquil feel of the place as it would have been. We met up with David & Doreen outside and then walked around the Alcazaba, the most amazing gardens, again with lots of water trickling and spouting for a relaxing ambience, there were shady walks with high, hedges, tiled walks with more carved archways with views, as we left there we were watching two cats having a “stand off” by a tree and then we were watching some small lizards, as we watched them one of the cats crept round the tree and shot his paw out, grabbed a lizard and ate it! We then went on to the Generalife which was the fortified part of the complex, again lots to see, climbed the Vela Tower which has a bell on top (famous), from the top we could see caves that people live in. We called for a drink and I had 2 cakes I was so hungry, 3pm by then, it had been a great visit, so much to see, a lovely hot day but tiring, lots of steps and a very big complex , would like to go back again as there was so much to take in. We got back by 4.30, quicker than we went, it was downhill! David was a very fast, erratic driver so glad to get back.
As soon as we got back we packed up the site, we washed the groundsheet in the water being pumped out of the “function room”, we noticed that the tree on our pitch, the one we’d lashed our awning to, was falling over and it’s roots being pulled up, told one of the site workers who just shrugged! We had showers got beans on toast then had a couple of games of cards and bed, I was very tired and felt a bit off, it had been a long day and I had not eaten properly, hope I’m not getting the bug, David has it today.
Thurs Mar 18th
Up quite early, overcast but bright, finished packing and said goodbye to everyone, David was up and about and said he felt a bit better, Tony also was better. Set off at 0950, we called at the supermarket in Banos for some meat the on the road. The first part of the journey was a bit hairy as the roads were in a bad state, stop go boards in a couple of places where it had collapsed over the edge and was being repaired, in other places there were huge cracks and the surface was badly buckled, we were glad to get off the coast road. All the way to Almeria and beyond there were miles and miles of plastic greenhouses, from the coast to the foothills and sometimes up the hills as well, it was not very scenic. As we got further along it changed and was very rocky, dramatic and unforgiving looking, in parts it looked like a moonscape and in others like an enormous quarry with the hills looking like huge, conical piles of stone. The colours of the rocks was amazing and varied, in places grey, red, orange, purple, yellow, as the road was quite new and cut through hills it was fascinating to see the rock strata in the cuts, as I said before all colours and all shapes. We stopped for fuel and a sandwich and after that, round about the Rio Almanzora; the scenery changed again and was a wide, cultivated valley with farms and fruit trees, quite pretty after the grim, rocky hills earlier, the day was overcast but bright. We arrived at the Mar Menor at 2.20 and found that the site had changed, it is now fenced off from the beach and a bit smaller, Rich drove through hoping to park on front but the receptionist chased us and told us to go back! We parked in the top corner. It did try to rain a bit but only a few spots. We had a short walk round then got tea going.
Miles travelled 208 Fuel €55
It was sad to leave the rally, despite the water we had enjoyed it, we had met some nice people, had some good evenings and enjoyable trips, David & Marion were very nice and ran a good rally, and they managed to stay upbeat and cheerful despite the setbacks.
The site was not bad; it is only 2 star after all, the toilet/shower block could do with an upgrade, although they were washed thoroughly every day, everywhere hosed down and scrubbed, the inside of the doors were not cleaned and were covered in graffiti, locks were a bit iffy, and tiles cracked. The bar was ok with reasonable priced drinks and happy hour when all drinks were €1, Tapas sometimes came with a drink. The little shop was ok for water and cheap wine but did not have a lot of stock, fresh bread was available, this did not matter as the supermarket in Banos was brilliant, well stocked with all you could want, and more, and a very good butcher, and only 2 minutes walk away. It was difficult to hold rally activities in the restaurant as it got very noisy and smoky, the “Plastic Palace” was also available, this was a terrace area with blinds and awning – like a large safari room – and ok if warm and dry but on cold, wet evenings not nice to hold a dance in, there was supposed to be a room available but it had flooded, all the time we were there there was a continuous stream of water being pumped out of it, this was very useful for washing ground sheets. Some of the trees were too low on the pitches and seemed a bit unsafe, 2 fell down while we were there and one on our pitch was going, being pulled out by the roots. The main problem of course was water, this could not be helped, it was an unprecedented event, there had been so much rain and presumably the water table was too full, the water started to flow down the site when it rained but just got worse and worse, the site owners did nothing about it except make tools available for people to dig ditches to try and divert it, there were a few days of frantic digging and pitch moving but it didn’t do much good every road was a quagmire and people were paddling in their awnings.
Fri Mar 19th
We woke up to lovely, warm sunshine, so nice that we ate breakfast outside, unfortunately it didn’t last and although it stayed quite warm it became overcast and there were a couple of light showers. I had a shower but it was cold, not pleasant! Rich had one later in the day and it was hot, they had had a problem. I did a bit of washing and we stayed and had a quiet day. We watched a lot of bats flying round as it began to get dark. A couple of games and bed.
Sat Mar 20th
Overcast again this morning but quite warm, after breakfast we cycled into Los Alcazares. We mooched round the Chinese shops, bought a few things and then went to the Chinese restaurant for a meal, still very good value, and prices not gone up. WE noticed a dew changes in the town, different shops open others closed, it looked a bit shabbier to me but that may have been because the sun was not shining. We called at Mercadona on the way back and once back on site we had a chat to a chap we’d met a couple of times before then a lazy afternoon sleeping off food and wine. Packed up what few things we’d had out and had a lovely. Hot shower. As it was going dark we watched the bats again and a breeze sprang up giving us a hazy view of the strip for the first time today, there had been a heavy haze all day. There was not a lot of bird life around, sparrows, blackbird, robin and a couple of parrots flew over, and we did see one swift and larks as we rode into town. After dinner a wind blew up and the Strip was visible for the first time, it started to rain, we had a couple of games before bed.
Sun Mar 21st
We woke up to grey skies and rain but it was quite warm, 16c. We packed up and were on the road by 0915. It was not a very nice journey, scenery not pretty or dramatic just uninteresting and it was grey and raining which didn’t help, we went up to Elche inland bypassing Torreveija, then bypassed Alicante and went inland up what we thought were toll roads but Gertie took us on them and we didn’t have to pay, we passed Valencia and stopped for fuel and a sandwich, then on past Castellon and Benicassim arriving at Orepesa at 1.50, the scenery improved a bit and there were lots of almond and olive trees, it had rained on and off most of the day but was dry when we arrived. We set up and then went for a walk to the beach, there was a board walk which made it easy walking but we hadn’t got far when it started to rain even though it was still warm, 20c, so we went back to the van. It was a very stony beach but the sea was quite calm, there was an abandoned camp site next door to the one we were on with rubbish just left abandoned, a real mess. Our site was nice with big pitches, a bit tight to get in on some, nice toilet/shower block with plenty of hot water.
After tea we went to the indoor swimming pool, it was about 12ft x 6ft, you could just about do 3 strokes down the length but it was so hot it was lovely like a hot bath and it had fierce jets so we had a good soak and then went back to bed, very relaxing.
Miles travelled 227 Fuel €52 Site fee €11(ACSI)
Mon Mar 22nd
We were up and away by 0915, it had rained most of the night and was a grey and overcast, but warm, morning. Most of our route today was built up areas, through old Spanish towns and shopping areas strung along the main road. We passed over the Delta De Le Ebre which was very flat and laid out in neat fields. We made our way to Tarragona as we wanted to call at a caravan sales place I’d seen on the internet, we wanted to look at some kitchen tents, all the Spanish & Germans seem to have them and they seem like a good alternative to an awning, I’d got GPS off the internet but we hadn’t counted on there being a new road which bypassed the place we wanted, we took next turn off and got back to it. We didn’t see one we wanted to buy but got a good idea of what we are looking for. We stopped for a short while for a sandwich then carried on through miles of fruit & olive trees; there were a lot of quarries and cement works, very ugly and lots of nurseries selling trees, some pruned into fancy shapes. After Tarragona there were also lots of vineyards, we went inland to Villefranca and on to Barcelona via a quite hilly road, the roads round Barcelona were their usual nightmare, lane swapping to get on different sections of road, Spanish drivers etc, Rich did a sterling job as usual. We arrived at Mataro at just gone 3pm and booked in to the site, it was a nice site with a restaurant and shop, a few animals, and a pool, not open yet, it was across a road and railway line from the beach. We walked round the site and under a tunnel to the, very small, beach. The site runs a shuttle bus to all the local amenities, free in low season, and also a bus to Barcelona which is a big plus, toilet/showers ok. The weather had been grey and overcast all day, it rained in the evening. I’d been sneezing all day, think I’m getting a cold.
Miles travelled 202 Site fees €15 (ACSI)
Tue Mar 23rd
Woke up to a very heavy mist, I had had a bad night as I’d started a cold and had difficulty sleeping for sneezing etc. We set off at 0905 and it was very misty all along the coast, there was a car with its front end bashed in almost outside the site. Once we turned away from the coast and started to climb on the N11 towards Girona the mist cleared and it was a nice sunny day. The scenery was very different again, quite green and lots of vines. We were amazed to see prostitutes (well that’s what we assumed they were) they’d be sitting or standing by the side of the road all tarted up, make up, black tights, boots and not much else! This was both sides of the border from Girona to Perpignan. As we left Perpignan we passed a deserted town or camp, it seemed to be some kind of a monument as I saw a marker stone but could not read it, must look it up sometime. After Perpignan Gertie threw a fit and put us on a back road, D5, no idea why, probably got confused by new bits of road. We ended up on a narrow, twisting, mountainous road – the Burway X 100, luckily we met very little traffic coming towards us as there was very little room to pass and we were on the outside bends! There were a few cyclists huffing and puffing up and down, she wanted to take us further on this type of road but once we’d sussed out what had happened we over rode her and headed for the N9, we passed through a couple of remote towns tucked away in the hills but managed to eventually get back on track. We managed to get past Narbonne and headed for Carcassonne, when we arrived we ended up going round the town a couple of times as Gertie got confused again, we even found ourselves passing under a bridge with 2.9 metres clearance, our height is 2.9! We eventually found the site by following road signs not Gertie, arriving at 2.40, a long, hard drive. We set up then sat in the sun for an hour, it was a lovely, warm evening with a bit of a breeze. Felt really rough so had an early night
Miles travelled 189 Fuel €55.77
Wed Mar 24th
Rained a bit in the night and it was overcast in the morning, I woke up feeling dreadful, got up slowly took a few more tablets and sat quiet for a while, I began to feel a bit better and the day brightened a bit so we decided to go into Carcassonne, a short walk from the site along a small stream bordered by huge, gnarled plane trees, we saw a few daffodils on the bank. We had a look round Carcassonne which is a mediaeval walled town, all cobbles and narrow alleys, it was interesting but seemed to be nothing but cafes and tourist shops, quite good quality goods on sale though, also the ubiquitous parties of school children running and shrieking about the place. We stopped at a small café and had a bowl of onion soup which was very nice, warming and filling, the café seemed to be family run, a young woman and her father out front with maman in the kitchen. After this we had another walk round and then made our way round the outskirts of the walls and down onto street level, we had a look for a shop for food but didn’t find one so went back to the van. Had a BBQ and then packed up the van. A couple of games and bed.
Site fees €32.50
Thurs Mar 25th
Woke up to quite a bright morning, I felt a lot better, headache gone just a bit sinusy, thank goodness. We set off at 0915 past Beziers, Pezenas and Montpellier, Gertie threw another fit and wanted to take us a long way round so we over rode hr again. We stopped at a small Aldi for a few groceries but it was not a very good one we found a Le Clerc for fuel and I got a couple of more things there. We found a caravan accessory showroom and went to see if we could get a replacement water filler cap (Rich left ours at Mataro, I think he’s just stopped kicking himself!) the shop was closed for lunch till 3pm so we decided to wait, about 50mins so we had a rest. We managed to get a cap and a brush Rich wanted. Carried on past Nimes and got past there fine but once again we ended up in the wrong place and going round in circles, we eventually found the Aire at Comps a small town on the river Rhone, it was very pleasant by the river under trees. There was another Aire behind what we took to be a flood defence wall, more square and organised looking and by a boules court. We had a walk round the town, very small, then while I was getting tea a chap came up selling goats cheese, I bought some and it made a good starter, then a couple of lads came round trying to bum a cigarette. The weather had been mixed, quite bright at times then cloudy and threatening rain, cool and breezy, the country we passed through was mostly vines and there were workers in a lot of the fields dressed for winter and looking very cold.
Miles travelled 162 Fuel €48
Fri Mar 26th
Windy and light rain overnight, started raining heavily as we were having breakfast. We set off at 0905 and followed the Rhone valley, it was a much prettier route than previous days, lots of vines and blossom with a backdrop of hills and the river appearing every now and then, we passed Montelimar which seems to be the home of nougat, then through Valence and still following the Rhone valley to an Aire at Touron arriving at 12, it was on a large, busy car park by the river and there was a fun fair set up there as well. We had our lunch and then had a walk round, there was a castle built onto the rocks and we walked halfway over a footbridge and back round the car park, we decided to move as the fair may have been a bit noisy, the Aire was filling up as we left. We carried on to Beausemblant and arrived at 1.45 and found a nice, quite Aire behind some house in the small town. I did a bit of washing and had a sweep out, Rich cleaned windows then we sat in lovely sun for a couple of hours while dinner cooked, the only drawback was the church clock bell which chimed twice on every hour and at one point chimed 45 times!! The Aire filled up by evening. It was so sunny and breezy that washing dried, wished I’d done more! We had a couple of games before settling down.
Miles travelled 113
Sat Mar 27th
A nice, quiet night, the church bell must switch off overnight, a grey morning, we set off at 0900 and continued along the Rhone valley. We had to pass Lyon and it was a very industrialised area with chemical works and quarries, not very pretty, as well as many vineyards, we passed a small, pretty town called Lozanne and then the scenery became more rural, there was lots of mistletoe in the trees and we saw cowslips by the road side, there were also a lot of timber mills and piles of timber everywhere. We were travelling on D roads which were narrow and winding but scenic, but the weather was not too good, grey and damp. We heard an odd noise from the van, similar to the other day, and pulled in for a break but found nothing so carried on, as we came to a small town called Aigueperse we saw a crown by the war memorial holding some sort of ceremony, one of the men turned to look at us as we passed and pointed to our wheel, another man marshalling traffic did the same so we pulled up and found the tyre absolutely flat, we’d been running on the rim and Rich hadn’t felt it at all! I called our insurers and after calling me back to say the policy had run out said they would get someone out, this was about 1.15 and by now it was raining heavily. Rich got out and started to get van jacked up and wheel off, and then we sat and waited, very cold, for man to arrive. When he arrived he got on with the job, Rich trying to hold umbrella over him, they both got soaked, he got the wheel changed only to find that the spare was flat!! So much for servicing!! They pumped it up as much as possible with Richie’s small pump and he told us where the nearest garage was so we went very steadily to there, it was 2.45 by now, it was only a small village garage but we managed to get it pumped up and went on our way. We were only a few miles from our destination, Dompierre-les-Ormes, and arrived at 3.30. There was no one at reception but a notice to tell us to find a pitch which we did, we parked and got electric hooked up and Rich went to find where the facilities were only to find the whole block wasn’t working, it was bucketing down with rain all this time with a fierce, cold wind. I explored a bit further and found another small block that was working so that was ok. We finally got in and got warm and tried to dry everything out, at least the electric is 16amps. It seems like a nice site in an idyllic setting with great views which would be lovely in nice weather. We had tea then a shower and an early night.
Miles travelled 120 Fuel €68.74 Site fee €15.20 (ACSI)
Sun Mar 28th
Woke up to rain and grey skies, set off at 0900, it continued raining most of the day. We went past Charolles and saw lots of Charolaise cows around, we were looking for a supermarket as we’d run out of tea butr being Sunday in France had no luck, we saw one or two that said they were open Sun morning but couldn’t get to them, we tried to find a couple, going off the motorway then gave up, we weren’t sure of the time, whether the clocks had changed or not, they had. The roads were so quiet that we decided to get beyond Orleans the look for an Aire; in fact the roads were that quiet that we only overtook twice all day. We couldn’t find an Aire and carried on to Chartres and the Aire we went for turned out to be a municipal camp site so we decided to stay. We had to park on roadway as grass too wet, no problem as site almost empty. It had just about stopped raining but once we’d set up there was another heavy shower. There was a stadium across from the site and lots of activity going on with band music. Once the shower passed we walked into Chartres, through a very muddy park and along the river, we walked to the cathedral and had a look inside, it was very impressive, vast and full of carvings but there was a service going on so we didn’t linger, the town was very nice with cobbled streets, half timbered houses and some lovely shops that I would have liked to mooch around. We found our way back out of town and back to site; it was very muddy and seemed to have been flooded recently. Had tea quite late for us because of walk and clock change.
Miles travelled 255 Site fees €13.10 (ACSI)
Mon Mar 29th
Woke up to a lovely, spring morning, birds singing a woodpecker pecking away all the trees hazed with green and sun shining, what a change, I saw a nuthatch in tree behind the van. We set off at 10.20 and first went to LeClerc to fill up with fuel and get some tea bags, then on past Dreux and Evereux – the most boring of French roads – and on to Les Andelys arriving at 1 o’clock. We set up, had a bite to eat and then went for a walk round the town and along the river, the sun was shining and although there was a breeze it was pleasant, we sat for a while watching a “boatel” getting ready to leave. We went to a Routier across the road from the site and had a super meal, trouble was we couldn’t eat all that was offered, there was a great selection of salad then a choice of steak, rabbit in mustard sauce or stuffed endive, I had steak Rich had rabbit, then there was cheese and dessert which we couldn’t manage, the owner didn’t speak English but there was a customer in who was English so he told us the options. As we walked there there was a terrific thunder storm, luckily the rain held off till we got there, but was very heavy for an hour or so.
Miles travelled 76 Fuel €37.50
As soon as we got back we packed up the site, we washed the groundsheet in the water being pumped out of the “function room”, we noticed that the tree on our pitch, the one we’d lashed our awning to, was falling over and it’s roots being pulled up, told one of the site workers who just shrugged! We had showers got beans on toast then had a couple of games of cards and bed, I was very tired and felt a bit off, it had been a long day and I had not eaten properly, hope I’m not getting the bug, David has it today.
Thurs Mar 18th
Up quite early, overcast but bright, finished packing and said goodbye to everyone, David was up and about and said he felt a bit better, Tony also was better. Set off at 0950, we called at the supermarket in Banos for some meat the on the road. The first part of the journey was a bit hairy as the roads were in a bad state, stop go boards in a couple of places where it had collapsed over the edge and was being repaired, in other places there were huge cracks and the surface was badly buckled, we were glad to get off the coast road. All the way to Almeria and beyond there were miles and miles of plastic greenhouses, from the coast to the foothills and sometimes up the hills as well, it was not very scenic. As we got further along it changed and was very rocky, dramatic and unforgiving looking, in parts it looked like a moonscape and in others like an enormous quarry with the hills looking like huge, conical piles of stone. The colours of the rocks was amazing and varied, in places grey, red, orange, purple, yellow, as the road was quite new and cut through hills it was fascinating to see the rock strata in the cuts, as I said before all colours and all shapes. We stopped for fuel and a sandwich and after that, round about the Rio Almanzora; the scenery changed again and was a wide, cultivated valley with farms and fruit trees, quite pretty after the grim, rocky hills earlier, the day was overcast but bright. We arrived at the Mar Menor at 2.20 and found that the site had changed, it is now fenced off from the beach and a bit smaller, Rich drove through hoping to park on front but the receptionist chased us and told us to go back! We parked in the top corner. It did try to rain a bit but only a few spots. We had a short walk round then got tea going.
Miles travelled 208 Fuel €55
It was sad to leave the rally, despite the water we had enjoyed it, we had met some nice people, had some good evenings and enjoyable trips, David & Marion were very nice and ran a good rally, and they managed to stay upbeat and cheerful despite the setbacks.
The site was not bad; it is only 2 star after all, the toilet/shower block could do with an upgrade, although they were washed thoroughly every day, everywhere hosed down and scrubbed, the inside of the doors were not cleaned and were covered in graffiti, locks were a bit iffy, and tiles cracked. The bar was ok with reasonable priced drinks and happy hour when all drinks were €1, Tapas sometimes came with a drink. The little shop was ok for water and cheap wine but did not have a lot of stock, fresh bread was available, this did not matter as the supermarket in Banos was brilliant, well stocked with all you could want, and more, and a very good butcher, and only 2 minutes walk away. It was difficult to hold rally activities in the restaurant as it got very noisy and smoky, the “Plastic Palace” was also available, this was a terrace area with blinds and awning – like a large safari room – and ok if warm and dry but on cold, wet evenings not nice to hold a dance in, there was supposed to be a room available but it had flooded, all the time we were there there was a continuous stream of water being pumped out of it, this was very useful for washing ground sheets. Some of the trees were too low on the pitches and seemed a bit unsafe, 2 fell down while we were there and one on our pitch was going, being pulled out by the roots. The main problem of course was water, this could not be helped, it was an unprecedented event, there had been so much rain and presumably the water table was too full, the water started to flow down the site when it rained but just got worse and worse, the site owners did nothing about it except make tools available for people to dig ditches to try and divert it, there were a few days of frantic digging and pitch moving but it didn’t do much good every road was a quagmire and people were paddling in their awnings.
Fri Mar 19th
We woke up to lovely, warm sunshine, so nice that we ate breakfast outside, unfortunately it didn’t last and although it stayed quite warm it became overcast and there were a couple of light showers. I had a shower but it was cold, not pleasant! Rich had one later in the day and it was hot, they had had a problem. I did a bit of washing and we stayed and had a quiet day. We watched a lot of bats flying round as it began to get dark. A couple of games and bed.
Sat Mar 20th
Overcast again this morning but quite warm, after breakfast we cycled into Los Alcazares. We mooched round the Chinese shops, bought a few things and then went to the Chinese restaurant for a meal, still very good value, and prices not gone up. WE noticed a dew changes in the town, different shops open others closed, it looked a bit shabbier to me but that may have been because the sun was not shining. We called at Mercadona on the way back and once back on site we had a chat to a chap we’d met a couple of times before then a lazy afternoon sleeping off food and wine. Packed up what few things we’d had out and had a lovely. Hot shower. As it was going dark we watched the bats again and a breeze sprang up giving us a hazy view of the strip for the first time today, there had been a heavy haze all day. There was not a lot of bird life around, sparrows, blackbird, robin and a couple of parrots flew over, and we did see one swift and larks as we rode into town. After dinner a wind blew up and the Strip was visible for the first time, it started to rain, we had a couple of games before bed.
Sun Mar 21st
We woke up to grey skies and rain but it was quite warm, 16c. We packed up and were on the road by 0915. It was not a very nice journey, scenery not pretty or dramatic just uninteresting and it was grey and raining which didn’t help, we went up to Elche inland bypassing Torreveija, then bypassed Alicante and went inland up what we thought were toll roads but Gertie took us on them and we didn’t have to pay, we passed Valencia and stopped for fuel and a sandwich, then on past Castellon and Benicassim arriving at Orepesa at 1.50, the scenery improved a bit and there were lots of almond and olive trees, it had rained on and off most of the day but was dry when we arrived. We set up and then went for a walk to the beach, there was a board walk which made it easy walking but we hadn’t got far when it started to rain even though it was still warm, 20c, so we went back to the van. It was a very stony beach but the sea was quite calm, there was an abandoned camp site next door to the one we were on with rubbish just left abandoned, a real mess. Our site was nice with big pitches, a bit tight to get in on some, nice toilet/shower block with plenty of hot water.
After tea we went to the indoor swimming pool, it was about 12ft x 6ft, you could just about do 3 strokes down the length but it was so hot it was lovely like a hot bath and it had fierce jets so we had a good soak and then went back to bed, very relaxing.
Miles travelled 227 Fuel €52 Site fee €11(ACSI)
Mon Mar 22nd
We were up and away by 0915, it had rained most of the night and was a grey and overcast, but warm, morning. Most of our route today was built up areas, through old Spanish towns and shopping areas strung along the main road. We passed over the Delta De Le Ebre which was very flat and laid out in neat fields. We made our way to Tarragona as we wanted to call at a caravan sales place I’d seen on the internet, we wanted to look at some kitchen tents, all the Spanish & Germans seem to have them and they seem like a good alternative to an awning, I’d got GPS off the internet but we hadn’t counted on there being a new road which bypassed the place we wanted, we took next turn off and got back to it. We didn’t see one we wanted to buy but got a good idea of what we are looking for. We stopped for a short while for a sandwich then carried on through miles of fruit & olive trees; there were a lot of quarries and cement works, very ugly and lots of nurseries selling trees, some pruned into fancy shapes. After Tarragona there were also lots of vineyards, we went inland to Villefranca and on to Barcelona via a quite hilly road, the roads round Barcelona were their usual nightmare, lane swapping to get on different sections of road, Spanish drivers etc, Rich did a sterling job as usual. We arrived at Mataro at just gone 3pm and booked in to the site, it was a nice site with a restaurant and shop, a few animals, and a pool, not open yet, it was across a road and railway line from the beach. We walked round the site and under a tunnel to the, very small, beach. The site runs a shuttle bus to all the local amenities, free in low season, and also a bus to Barcelona which is a big plus, toilet/showers ok. The weather had been grey and overcast all day, it rained in the evening. I’d been sneezing all day, think I’m getting a cold.
Miles travelled 202 Site fees €15 (ACSI)
Tue Mar 23rd
Woke up to a very heavy mist, I had had a bad night as I’d started a cold and had difficulty sleeping for sneezing etc. We set off at 0905 and it was very misty all along the coast, there was a car with its front end bashed in almost outside the site. Once we turned away from the coast and started to climb on the N11 towards Girona the mist cleared and it was a nice sunny day. The scenery was very different again, quite green and lots of vines. We were amazed to see prostitutes (well that’s what we assumed they were) they’d be sitting or standing by the side of the road all tarted up, make up, black tights, boots and not much else! This was both sides of the border from Girona to Perpignan. As we left Perpignan we passed a deserted town or camp, it seemed to be some kind of a monument as I saw a marker stone but could not read it, must look it up sometime. After Perpignan Gertie threw a fit and put us on a back road, D5, no idea why, probably got confused by new bits of road. We ended up on a narrow, twisting, mountainous road – the Burway X 100, luckily we met very little traffic coming towards us as there was very little room to pass and we were on the outside bends! There were a few cyclists huffing and puffing up and down, she wanted to take us further on this type of road but once we’d sussed out what had happened we over rode her and headed for the N9, we passed through a couple of remote towns tucked away in the hills but managed to eventually get back on track. We managed to get past Narbonne and headed for Carcassonne, when we arrived we ended up going round the town a couple of times as Gertie got confused again, we even found ourselves passing under a bridge with 2.9 metres clearance, our height is 2.9! We eventually found the site by following road signs not Gertie, arriving at 2.40, a long, hard drive. We set up then sat in the sun for an hour, it was a lovely, warm evening with a bit of a breeze. Felt really rough so had an early night
Miles travelled 189 Fuel €55.77
Wed Mar 24th
Rained a bit in the night and it was overcast in the morning, I woke up feeling dreadful, got up slowly took a few more tablets and sat quiet for a while, I began to feel a bit better and the day brightened a bit so we decided to go into Carcassonne, a short walk from the site along a small stream bordered by huge, gnarled plane trees, we saw a few daffodils on the bank. We had a look round Carcassonne which is a mediaeval walled town, all cobbles and narrow alleys, it was interesting but seemed to be nothing but cafes and tourist shops, quite good quality goods on sale though, also the ubiquitous parties of school children running and shrieking about the place. We stopped at a small café and had a bowl of onion soup which was very nice, warming and filling, the café seemed to be family run, a young woman and her father out front with maman in the kitchen. After this we had another walk round and then made our way round the outskirts of the walls and down onto street level, we had a look for a shop for food but didn’t find one so went back to the van. Had a BBQ and then packed up the van. A couple of games and bed.
Site fees €32.50
Thurs Mar 25th
Woke up to quite a bright morning, I felt a lot better, headache gone just a bit sinusy, thank goodness. We set off at 0915 past Beziers, Pezenas and Montpellier, Gertie threw another fit and wanted to take us a long way round so we over rode hr again. We stopped at a small Aldi for a few groceries but it was not a very good one we found a Le Clerc for fuel and I got a couple of more things there. We found a caravan accessory showroom and went to see if we could get a replacement water filler cap (Rich left ours at Mataro, I think he’s just stopped kicking himself!) the shop was closed for lunch till 3pm so we decided to wait, about 50mins so we had a rest. We managed to get a cap and a brush Rich wanted. Carried on past Nimes and got past there fine but once again we ended up in the wrong place and going round in circles, we eventually found the Aire at Comps a small town on the river Rhone, it was very pleasant by the river under trees. There was another Aire behind what we took to be a flood defence wall, more square and organised looking and by a boules court. We had a walk round the town, very small, then while I was getting tea a chap came up selling goats cheese, I bought some and it made a good starter, then a couple of lads came round trying to bum a cigarette. The weather had been mixed, quite bright at times then cloudy and threatening rain, cool and breezy, the country we passed through was mostly vines and there were workers in a lot of the fields dressed for winter and looking very cold.
Miles travelled 162 Fuel €48
Fri Mar 26th
Windy and light rain overnight, started raining heavily as we were having breakfast. We set off at 0905 and followed the Rhone valley, it was a much prettier route than previous days, lots of vines and blossom with a backdrop of hills and the river appearing every now and then, we passed Montelimar which seems to be the home of nougat, then through Valence and still following the Rhone valley to an Aire at Touron arriving at 12, it was on a large, busy car park by the river and there was a fun fair set up there as well. We had our lunch and then had a walk round, there was a castle built onto the rocks and we walked halfway over a footbridge and back round the car park, we decided to move as the fair may have been a bit noisy, the Aire was filling up as we left. We carried on to Beausemblant and arrived at 1.45 and found a nice, quite Aire behind some house in the small town. I did a bit of washing and had a sweep out, Rich cleaned windows then we sat in lovely sun for a couple of hours while dinner cooked, the only drawback was the church clock bell which chimed twice on every hour and at one point chimed 45 times!! The Aire filled up by evening. It was so sunny and breezy that washing dried, wished I’d done more! We had a couple of games before settling down.
Miles travelled 113
Sat Mar 27th
A nice, quiet night, the church bell must switch off overnight, a grey morning, we set off at 0900 and continued along the Rhone valley. We had to pass Lyon and it was a very industrialised area with chemical works and quarries, not very pretty, as well as many vineyards, we passed a small, pretty town called Lozanne and then the scenery became more rural, there was lots of mistletoe in the trees and we saw cowslips by the road side, there were also a lot of timber mills and piles of timber everywhere. We were travelling on D roads which were narrow and winding but scenic, but the weather was not too good, grey and damp. We heard an odd noise from the van, similar to the other day, and pulled in for a break but found nothing so carried on, as we came to a small town called Aigueperse we saw a crown by the war memorial holding some sort of ceremony, one of the men turned to look at us as we passed and pointed to our wheel, another man marshalling traffic did the same so we pulled up and found the tyre absolutely flat, we’d been running on the rim and Rich hadn’t felt it at all! I called our insurers and after calling me back to say the policy had run out said they would get someone out, this was about 1.15 and by now it was raining heavily. Rich got out and started to get van jacked up and wheel off, and then we sat and waited, very cold, for man to arrive. When he arrived he got on with the job, Rich trying to hold umbrella over him, they both got soaked, he got the wheel changed only to find that the spare was flat!! So much for servicing!! They pumped it up as much as possible with Richie’s small pump and he told us where the nearest garage was so we went very steadily to there, it was 2.45 by now, it was only a small village garage but we managed to get it pumped up and went on our way. We were only a few miles from our destination, Dompierre-les-Ormes, and arrived at 3.30. There was no one at reception but a notice to tell us to find a pitch which we did, we parked and got electric hooked up and Rich went to find where the facilities were only to find the whole block wasn’t working, it was bucketing down with rain all this time with a fierce, cold wind. I explored a bit further and found another small block that was working so that was ok. We finally got in and got warm and tried to dry everything out, at least the electric is 16amps. It seems like a nice site in an idyllic setting with great views which would be lovely in nice weather. We had tea then a shower and an early night.
Miles travelled 120 Fuel €68.74 Site fee €15.20 (ACSI)
Sun Mar 28th
Woke up to rain and grey skies, set off at 0900, it continued raining most of the day. We went past Charolles and saw lots of Charolaise cows around, we were looking for a supermarket as we’d run out of tea butr being Sunday in France had no luck, we saw one or two that said they were open Sun morning but couldn’t get to them, we tried to find a couple, going off the motorway then gave up, we weren’t sure of the time, whether the clocks had changed or not, they had. The roads were so quiet that we decided to get beyond Orleans the look for an Aire; in fact the roads were that quiet that we only overtook twice all day. We couldn’t find an Aire and carried on to Chartres and the Aire we went for turned out to be a municipal camp site so we decided to stay. We had to park on roadway as grass too wet, no problem as site almost empty. It had just about stopped raining but once we’d set up there was another heavy shower. There was a stadium across from the site and lots of activity going on with band music. Once the shower passed we walked into Chartres, through a very muddy park and along the river, we walked to the cathedral and had a look inside, it was very impressive, vast and full of carvings but there was a service going on so we didn’t linger, the town was very nice with cobbled streets, half timbered houses and some lovely shops that I would have liked to mooch around. We found our way back out of town and back to site; it was very muddy and seemed to have been flooded recently. Had tea quite late for us because of walk and clock change.
Miles travelled 255 Site fees €13.10 (ACSI)
Mon Mar 29th
Woke up to a lovely, spring morning, birds singing a woodpecker pecking away all the trees hazed with green and sun shining, what a change, I saw a nuthatch in tree behind the van. We set off at 10.20 and first went to LeClerc to fill up with fuel and get some tea bags, then on past Dreux and Evereux – the most boring of French roads – and on to Les Andelys arriving at 1 o’clock. We set up, had a bite to eat and then went for a walk round the town and along the river, the sun was shining and although there was a breeze it was pleasant, we sat for a while watching a “boatel” getting ready to leave. We went to a Routier across the road from the site and had a super meal, trouble was we couldn’t eat all that was offered, there was a great selection of salad then a choice of steak, rabbit in mustard sauce or stuffed endive, I had steak Rich had rabbit, then there was cheese and dessert which we couldn’t manage, the owner didn’t speak English but there was a customer in who was English so he told us the options. As we walked there there was a terrific thunder storm, luckily the rain held off till we got there, but was very heavy for an hour or so.
Miles travelled 76 Fuel €37.50
Tue Mar 30th
A very blustery morning, we packed a picnic and climbed up to the Chateau, it was quite a stiff climb but well worth it, the views were terrific, we were almost the only people up there, about 4 other people and a dog, also the obligatory school party! They were no trouble though they kept in a group by the teacher being taught and weren’t let run riot.
We were going to have picnic by the river but the wind was very fierce so decided to have it back at van, I called at a boulangerie and got some fresh bread and a lovely meringue. The afternoon continued grey and windy with a thunder storm and hail, it was alternately sunny and windy or raining heavily. I tripped the electric getting tea. We had a few games before bed and I “chatted” to Emma on IM.
Wed Mar 31st
We managed to trip the electric again getting breakfast. Got away at 11.15, managed to get off the grass ok, others were getting stuck, we lent our yellow grip strips to neighbours who had bogged down, the site was not particularly wet, but once you spun you’d had it. We arrived at Marielle- Sur-Seine at 12 oclock, a lovely Aire by the side of the Seine with marked pitches, a notice said it was €5 but also said only between 1 st April and 31st Oct. we drove to another Aire in a neighbouring village which was also on the Seine, it was like a mini site with electricity if wanted but we decided to go back to the first one.
We parked up and walked into small town, it was bitterly cold with a strong wind, we had lunch and decided that we would go to Calais tomorrow and see if we could get on next ferry, we had five days left but would be driving around using fuel and it was to cold to get out and sight see so we decided to cut our losses. The afternoon was mixture of sunshine and showers some hail, but there was always a very cold wind. We sat and watched large ships and barges going up and down, the river came up over the bank but then started to go down and we realised that it is tidal; it went down a very long way. We were going to go to a restaurant that was right by the Aire but it was closed so we walked into town and found the butcher still open and got a couple of pork chops and cooked them in the van, they were absolutely beautiful. We had a few games before a quite late night.
Miles travelled 55 Site fees €30
Thurs Apr 1st
We were up quite early to a grey, damp morning and we left the Aire at 08.30 it continued to be very windy. We drove up through Yvetot, and by passed Neufchatel-en-Bray, Abbeville, Montreuil and Boulogne, between Nouvion and Montreuil by a small place called Vron a lorry threw up a large stone that hit the windscreen, bounced off the Luton and hit the windscreen again, a crack immediately appeared at the top of the windscreen, it started at about 2” long and we watched it creep down the windscreen at an alarming rate. Driving through parts of France we saw a scattering of snow on the verges. We arrived at Sainsbury’s at 12.00 and bought the wine we wanted, I tried to ring the insurance and Autoglass about the windscreen but was just put on hold so gave up, we decided to go straight to the port and see if we could get on a ferry then ring once we were in England. We made three false starts to get to Sea France desk but finally made it and when I asked could we change out booking she said yes there’s one leaving in 5 minutes so before we knew it we were on board and sailing. We arrived in Dover at 1.45 local time. We stopped in a lay-by and contacted Autoglass who assured us that the windscreen would not shatter on us so we rang Wyn and arranged to call there and spend the night, it was dryer and quite bright in England but still very cold.
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