Hi all.
Lorraine and I decided that February would be a good month to be somewhere different - like the Mediterranean coast of Spain !!
So we are heading off late January to the channel tunnel, driving down through France - Calais, Tours, Capbreton (near Biarritz) and crossing the Spanish/French border at Irun before heading to Valencia via Pamplona and Zaragoza.
A couple of links for you that I hope to keep up to date as we go along.
Photographs: https://davemann.smugmug.com/Holidays/Spain-Holiday
Our Trip: Google maps
Left England on the 5:20 train to France, leaving behind glorious sunshine. France was wet – very wet. It rained most of the night but had stopped by the time we set off. Within 30 minutes we were driving through a winter wonderland. From Calais to Rouen it was almost white over. Snow ploughs were operating, fortunately on the north bound side, with lots of traffic crawling along behind them. We travelled through rain, sleet, hailstones and sunshine to Rouen where it really rained. Different world when we left Rouen behind – overcast but pleasant – now heading south for Le Mans and hoping to get as far as Tours before nightfall.
Unfortunately we didn’t make Tours, we decided after stopping at Le Mans to head for a village aire – big mistake !! we ended up driving down single track lanes in the dark and it took us as long as it would have to get to Tours. Good night sleep and on the road early heading for Tours and then Bordeaux.
The 80km speed limit really slows everything down – to the extent that you feel you are not going anywhere at all.
Once on the motorway we headed south to Bordeaux – long drive on a toll road – from Bordeaux we headed on towards Biaritz and an aire near CapBreton – no other vans there so a nice quiet night – in the rain.
Topped the van up with water and even had enough left to rinse the van – it was pretty grotty after 3 days in all sorts of weather.
45 minutes later we crossed the Spanish border – 857 miles after setting off and by the time we reached Zaragosa £132.42 in tolls.
After we crossed the border we headed south down the A15 which goes through the foothills of the Pyrennes towards Pamplona.
It was a steady climb and not too difficult until we reached the cloud line. the photo on the left doesn't quite show how treacherous it was as the drop on the right was a long way down.
We stopped for a coffee and to get a feel for the snow as we hadn't seen any since last winter.
Zaragoza
We stayed at the free aire near the University and sports area – 1st time we had seen more than one van in the same area – January clearly not for travelling. After a nice meal and a break we walked about a 1km to a shopping centre – 3 levels and a lot bigger than Queensgate (Peterborough). Walked and browsed and then went out and grabbed a coffee in a nice bar/café and watched the world go by. Walked back in the dark and rapidly declining temperature !!
Friday morning fairly early we set off for Valencia. Weather was sunny with a cold wind. Initially the motorway road wasn’t that good but it improved after a while and we had a good run without any TOLLS yippeeeee.
Passed vineyards, rocky hillsides, desert shrubland and cactus with very little traffic. Stopped for a coffee. The place looked ok from the road but when we got there the entry road was poor – the bar was littered with fag ends and paper sachets on the floor BUT the girl was friendly and we had a good coffee.
Me: dose café negro por favor
Waitress: 2 americanos ?
Me: yes please.
Arrived at Valencia Camper Park early afternoon and were warmly greeted, booked in for 3 nights and given loads of information. Also booked for the paella that evening – lovely. 2 brits were sat sunning themselves – him in just shorts – quick chat and then settled at the van for a beer. First time we had managed to arrive before darkness fell. Sat outside in shorts and singlet – great.
Valencia
Up and at ‘em – Metro into Valencia – the card and explanation on how to use it provided by the reception lady, everything just added to your bill. Lovely and sunny and warm, great day for strolling round a city. The city was full of super buildings with lots and lots of photo opportunities – good start for the new camera. Lots of oranges growing, amazing buildings, pretty girls dressed in traditional clothes, open air squares with fountains and cafes everywhere. Had a “menu of the day” for lunch – we were the first ones in the restaurant, Spanish eat late – smoked salmon salad, bean pea bacon and a cold egg (barely cooked) for starters, chicken and roast spuds/veg for main and a cheesecake to follow. All washed down with a glass of wine and coffee plus two bottles of water to take away – Euro31.20. Walked back via the shopping areas to the metro and went to Betera to the supermarket and then headed back to the van using the metro again. Nice day.
Having a total rest day on Sunday, sitting in the sun, eating and drinking, reading and trying to remember how to create these web pages !!!
Wednesday 30th January
Left Valencia on Monday morning and headed South towards Moraira to visit Merv and Mas and to stay in their villa for a couple of nights. On the way we headed into Denia to have a look around. Found a supermarket with parking, secured the van and set off towards the seafront. very pleasant town with a large marina which we decided to walk around - stopped to have a coffee and realised that we would have to walk back as there was no way to cross the large sea lane between the both sides of the harbour. eventually got back to the van and headed off to Merv's. little did I realise that the route the satnav was taking us was over the rather large hill rather than round it !!
Lots of switch backs and very steep plus I had to slow down for groups of cyclists who were casually going up it - they weren't even getting out of the saddle to do it. Think I have a long way to go yet !!!!
We were warmly welcomed by Merv and Mas and as you can see we managed to get the van in without too much trouble. the road outside the villa goes up to a crest that is "1in 8" - Merv drove us down it the following day and at the top all you can see is the car bonnet - the road just disappears in front of you.
After a welcoming drink and chat we sorted ourselves out and walked down to the town to a restaurant for a very nice meal and pleasant evening. Lorraine opted for Lemon Sole and I had the Oxtail stew - it wasn't quite a stew but pieces of Oxtail braised so that the meat was just falling off the bones - lovely. Had to get a taxi back as I couldn't manage the walk after walking around Denia and then walking down to the town earlier. Overall my butt is still improving.
Merv was out early to get the car MOT'd when he came back we had a leisurely breakfast and then walked into town to do some shopping, coffee's and then lunch. Lunch was tapas in a restaurant on the seafront - very enjoyable. All this eating and drinking was made easy as Merv speaks very good Spanish and likes to practice it at every opportunity. We headed up to "Cim Puig de la LLorenca" 415m high, the views from the top were fantastic. The Vuelta has finished there on a couple of occasions - apparently the route has them cycling up it twice !!
We dropped down into town and took the coast road to Calp - without Merv to drive us we would have been unlikely to see this route as it was quite a difficult road although it was through built up areas. Ended up at a ceramic shop that they knew and ended up buying one or two things to bring home. Calp was a really nice resort lovely views and a nice promenade. After a coffee and a walk it was back in the car and back to the villa for cold meats and cheese, wine and G&T's. Really nice day, Merv and Mas were perfect hosts - thank you.
We are now in Benidorm on a campsite - not a patch on the villa ! - for 4 nights. Don't forget to check out the photographs.
Wednesday 30th pm to Sunday 03rd am.
A short drive from Moraira to Benidorm, found a campsite (not the one I intended to try and get into) with space although it wasn’t really the biggest plot and if another van had moved on behind us I wouldn’t have been able to get the van out. Where Lorraine is sat is the next plot and the exit is to the left of the photograph.
Having stocked up before getting on to the site we decided to have lunch in the van followed by a slow walk around the site. There were better pitches than the one we were on but none available unfortunately. Spent the afternoon updating the blog and uploading photographs.
Wrapped up warm in our fleeces and headed downtown just as it got dark. Ended up on the promenade – really nice, very wide with lots of strolling space. It was lit up just like Blackpool all the way around the north bay and beach. Found a bar and watched the world go by with a beer before heading back (up hill) to the campsite.
Really surprised to see all the tower blocks – high rise hotels – mostly very well maintained and lit up. So many mobility scooters, singles and doubles, must be hell during the day.
Thursday arrived overcast and no sunshine – so we spent the morning lazing about reading and waiting for the clouds to disappear. After lunch we headed into town on shank’s pony – it really is very nice on the front, blue sea white waves, lots of nice buildings. Had a couple of coffees and strolled around watching the world go by. Nice to be out and about without a coat in January !!! Headed back to the van for dinner – steak and chips.
On Friday we did absolutely nothing. Lazed about eating and drinking (coffee mainly).
On Saturday we took a taxi to the very far end of the two bays that make up Benidorm, the driver suggested going all the way to the top of the rocky hill to get good views over all the area, so that’s what we did.
Great views, sea a deep blue, sky a deep blue – what more could you ask for ? (in January)
Headed down the hill towards the beach and from there walked to the old town planning to browse shops and have some lunch. Which is exactly what we did after we had a coffee (again) and watched the world go past (again).
Benidorm is strange at this time of year – we watched people walking past in gloves and hats, scarves pulled tight around their heads, puffer coats, sheepskins and next to them people in singlets suntops and shorts. Did I mention the mobility scooters ? many are tandem and the people on them have obviously hired them to get around ie not disabled. And another thing - the place was packed with people !!! it must be unbearable in July and August.
Allowed ourselves to be tempted into a tapas bar for lunch by a waitress and spent a pleasant hour eating and drinking. Tuna salad followed by rice and the smallest piece of pork you have ever seen to share. Then two fried eggs with small sausages on a bed of crisps with small green peppers followed by the main course – lobster paella – huge tureen/wok with rice, prawns and lobster. To finish – hot pineapple with ice cream – not something I would ever have ordered but it was very nice. 4 small glasses of wine and a total bill of 36.00euros.
Life is hard.
Tomorrow, Sunday, we are heading south towards Cartagena and I will update the blog in a couple of days.
Wednesday 6th
Managed to get out of the Benidorm site without hitting anything !! then headed off towards Cartagena but hoping to stop at a site that looked pretty good. Unfortunately it was fully booked and the girl said it was always fully booked throughout the winter. Pity, it looked nice and the town looked like it was worth a good walk around.
We stopped for a coffee – actually I just didn’t trust the bloody satnav and wanted to park and check the route – at a shopping centre that was completely outside, on several levels and very large – oh and also very closed !!! however there was a woman singing on the stage and lots of people wandering around. Coffee was good.
Arrived at the site for Cartagena – not too impressed. Managed to get on the last pitch right by the side of the road that went past the site. The road was clearly a rat run from one major road to another even though it was practically a single track road. The site had everything – washing machines and drier, bar, showers etc etc BUT it was a bit of a let down. The bar was anything but – everything was crowded into two small portacabins with no space at all. Two nights only so we had a full day in Cartagena. Caught the bus right into the middle of town and started doing the tourist bit. Found a coffee bar with the worst muffins you have ever had. The streets are very tight and we realised that a lot of them were just facades and behind them were huge girders holding them in place – a bit worrying. Check out the photographs.
Unfortunately it was Monday and all museums etc were closed – great. We did find the roman amphitheatre ruins and other bits but there was no access. We did find the harbour which was beautiful and had a good walk around before heading back inland and finding a lovely square with a couple of bars with open air seating. Sat and enjoyed a beer before heading for the main shopping street – as if we would miss that !!
We had a coffee and saw our bus go sailing past – so headed up the street for a while and caught the next one back to the site. We spoke to one of the brits on the site – they had been there for a month – unbelievable truly unbelievable.
On the road again Tuesday heading south along the coast but needed to find a supermarket to stock up and we could definitely do with some LPG. We did manage to get stocked up but no gas before we found our next stop over. After driving though an area of greenhouses along a single track road we arrived at the coast and saw a site with lots of vans – not the one we were heading to but just what we needed. Next to the coast, literally, lots of space, cheap and lots of sunshine. Settled in and ended up sat outside sunbathing – the cold wind that had been blowing for the last week had, at last, disappeared.
We sat down and sorted out our return crossing. Saturday 23rd overnight from St Malo which should get us back around lunchtime on Sunday 24th.
Very goodnights sleep – very quiet – slow start and then a quick tidy up and change the bedding etc and as it was nice and warm – had a little sunbathe – as you do……..
Walked down to the village, about 1k, and sat next to the sea and ordered a beer – just in time. Within 10 minutes all the tables were full of brits, there must have been 20 of them just turned up. So much for a quiet beer. Finished our beers and headed back for a nice salad lunch – and more sunbathing.
Tomorrow – Thursday – heading further south along the coast and hoping to get some LPG or else we are in trouble.
Thursday 7th
Found some gas !!!! along with many other vans who were filling up, washing the vans, doing the vindage – quite strange to find a garage with an aire next to it that so many vans were stopping at to sort themselves out at the same time.
The garage was near Aguilas and we arrived there via a route that took us through some very high hills – not quite mountains – on very twisty and narrow roads. Quite an enjoyable drive. Headed into town to a place we had seen on PARK4NIGHT but it turned out to be a huge fenced car park. Didn’t really fancy staying there so continued heading south and found a village called Palomores with a camping site. Pulled in and went to book in – usual stuff name, address, passports and textile or nature ? half the site is a nudist camp. Naturally we booked in on the textile side. It’s all closed off and you cannot see anything. (believe me I know)
Walked into one of the residential estates to get some shopping and found a nice square with lots of outdoor seating – full of brits having a drink. Had a coffee, did a little shopping and headed back. The residential areas are full of lovely villas and apartments and an equal number of half built blocks that are clearly never going to be finished – would hate to live in one of these residential estates.
Finished the day off with lots of sunbathing and wine.
Friday morning got the bikes off and headed down to the coast – only 5 minutes – nothing there and we could not cycle along the coast. Chatting to two other brits who were cycling to Garrucha and having the same problems as us ie all these residential areas are built with a closed road system. You have to know the route to get around them to get anywhere. Another couple turned up who were going our way and they knew the route – so the 6 of us set off through the estates. Eventually arrived at Garrucha and it was market day. In Spain that means that certain roads are just given over to the market – no cars, bikes or anything except pedestrians. Had a good walk around but didn’t buy anything. Found a nice place for lunch then jumped on the bikes and headed back.
Its early February and everywhere we go it is full of British people having lunch or coffee and cakes. Half the country seems to be on this coast line, it really is amazing.
Managed to take a wrong turning and ended up at the beach – "lets have a beer at that beach bar" said Lorraine. Good idea. So off we went. We didn’t bat an eyelid when we arrived and found a guy sitting talking on his phone totally naked and we didn’t bat an eyelid seeing the people on the beach (not good adverts for nudism). Having had our eyes opened (wide) we realised the bar was called “VERA Nature” and we had cycled around “Residency Nature” which was part of the larger residency which was called “Nature World”. You just have to smile.
Back to the van for a shower and then some sunbathing – naked of course !!!
Saturday 9th
Nice coastal drive from Garraucha to Mojacar. Initially parked on the beach and had a nice walk before settling in the main shopping centre for a coffee. 2 coffees with doughnuts (as standard), small glass of orange juice and water = 3.20euros. We haven’t got Valentines cards for each other so I bought LRM a new handbag and she bought me a new panama style hat.
Back to the van and headed up and around the mountain that Mojacar is built on to a campsite but it was fully booked so headed up to Mojacar and parked in the main car park. Grabbed the camera and started walking up through all the tight little streets. I remember the place as very lively with lots of little shops in a maze at the centre of the town. Unfortunately we are a bit out of season and many of the shops were closed. Definitely not the same vibe.
Found a lovely plaza to have lunch on, menu de dias, with great views over the surrounding countryside. Spent a very pleasant hour in the sun.
This guy turned up with a fur coat on that had a padded lining - we are sat in shorts and t shirts - 20+ degrees.
Back down to the beach and a campsite to setup for a couple of nights. However it was expensive 25euros a night so only stayed one night.
Eventually managed to get our passports back and pay for our stay – idle !!”£$%^& - couldn’t get out of bed so we went for a coffee and walk before we could get away.
Drove up to Colin’s apartment and managed to park up and then had to wait while he came back from walking the dog. Nice coffee and chat to catch up – he’s been out here three and half years now – before he sorted himself out and we headed up to the hills in his car to find some lunch.
Very nice lunch in a very Spanish village restaurant, then back to Colin’s to before heading off back to the beach near our favourite nudist colony. Had a lovely evening walking on the beach and watching the sea before an early night.
Now heading north again and ended up at Los Alcazares, north of Cartagena. Very well set up commercial aire, allocated pitches if you want electricity and an open area that was a free for all if you didn’t want to pay for electricity. Next to this aire is another one that has been built with solar panels as the power supply – very modern looking.
They have a very nice restaurant attached to the site so we went out for a meal – for a change !! Reasonable meal but a bit expensive but it made a change.
Spending two nights here before moving further up the coast.
Tuesday 19th February – our Anniversary.
We spent our last full day at Calp walking from the campsite down to the top of the north bay and then meandering all the way to the far end of the south bay. (Butt not too bad). Naturally we had coffees and stopped for a quite hour to enjoy a lovely lunch.
Calp
Early Saturday morning – 16th – set off up the coast to a place called Xeraco. The site has only recently opened and they were in effect testing everything before the season starts. Very nice site, well laid out and looking very good. However the black waste disposal was a tank in the middle of the site with a ramp to walk up, you then opened the top and poured your waste in. From this vantage point you could see all the campsite – and they could see you !! the showers were great – lots of hot water and big cubicles but – nowhere to hang stuff and no shelves to put your shower gel/soap on – really odd. Seemed to have looked at the big picture but forgot the small stuff that makes it better.
Sunday dawned overcast and cool. We had planned to do very little and rest up for the trek home and the weather made sure that that was exactly what we did – read, eat, drink – repeat.
Monday – a sad day – started the trek home in earnest. Heading for Zaragosa, about four and half hour’s drive up the A23. Brilliant road, dual carriageway, no tolls and not much traffic. Arrived about 5pm. Sorted ourselves out and headed into town to a shopping mall that makes meadow hall look very dated. Up to the food area and had a wine while waiting for the pasta place to open at eight o’clock.
This is a bit like Jimmy Chou’s in Peterborough except that it is all Italian and already cooked – you don’t have to pick it and get it cooked. You pay on the door and eat and drink as much as you want or can handle. 3 separate plates of food each, 2 x san Miguel, a glass of wine and a glass of sangria and two double espresso – all for 7.95euro each – and nothing to stop us doing it again – if we could!!
Back in the van we made our plans for travelling on Tuesday – over to Logrono to stay the night, then to San Sebastion via Haro (middle of Rioja country) and then into France.
A good plan but naturally it didn’t work for us – Logrono aire not available, visited Haro for fuel and wine, headed for Vitoria-Gletiez as an option. Really did not like the air there and Wednesday morning there is a market and we would have been woken by the police at 6a.m. and either moved on or been surrounded by market stalls.
Found a site in the hills above San Sebastion and headed there. It is right on the edge of a national park and quite high up, very quite so we are hoping for a good nights sleep. If I had driven from Zaragosa to San Sebastion direct it would have taken just under 3 hours. Going the way we did took about 5 hours – eye balls on cheeks at the moment.
Into France tomorrow.
Wednesday 20th
Now at a great aire – Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains – lovely lake protected by huge sand dunes. Lots of vans parked here and for some reason the barriers were up so no payment which is great because there is mains electricity as well – probably get caught trying to get out and have to pay then.
Not a great night sleep for Lorraine last night – owls, dogs, bin men (1 pm – why ?) car zooming past. All this on a hill top car parking area with nothing else there. Naturally I slept like a log – no problem.
Satnav is driving me up the wall. Dug out the older Caravan Club one that is designed for camper vans so the front of the cab now looks like a Dave Betts command module. Anyway the $%£^&* thing screwed up Biarritz and keeps trying to take us down the smallest roads it can find. Not really getting my money’s worth out of it.
I think this is the last update as tomorrow we are heading for La Rochelle and then aim to get to St Malo late on Friday. We can then leave the van in the secure aire and get the free bus into the old city for the day. Then a short drive to the ferry terminal for the 2030 sailing and home by Sunday lunchtime.
Looking forward to seeing you all again.
TheMannClan