We left this :-
And woke up this morning to this :-
By the way, it's 2.45pm and still snowing, we have around 6"/ 15 cm at the moment
Ah well
Friday 4 March 2016
Tuesday 1 March 2016
March 1st, Landivy in the Mayenne region of France. Happy St Davids day to our Welsh friends.
We arrived here yesterday after a long arduous journey.
Day 30, 23nd Feb. Nice sunny day. It had been our intention to visit a friend over near Lourdes, but following a 'phone call she advised that the mountains were rather difficult, so we decided to go round rather than through them. We headed up to Barcelona and ended at a seaside place called Benicassin, and the aire was situaetd by the side of the road but we had a quiet night and the facilities were fine. It has to be remembered that we were having trouble with the RV having lost 5th gear, so we were limited to only 50 mph so it was taking a long time to cover fairly short distances.
We realised that it would take much longer than we had anticipated to get out of Spain.
Day 31, 24th Feb, Happy Birthday Lynne.
Another warm and sunny day. Today we only managed to reach Taragonna and found a little village nearby called Bellvei de Penedes with a lovely little private aire with full facilities. It was in a lovely location, but------------------the railway was at the end of the garden and from midnight to dawn I counted 27 trains passing the site, ah well.
Day 32, 24th. Weather rather cold and we crossed in to France having had a wonderful journey through some marvelous scenery.( still having trouble putting pictures in---sorry)Just before the border we stopped a a huge supermarket and stocked up with cheap Spanish stuff and diesel too. As we crossed the border in to France we were surprised to see border guards checking vehicles going into Spain, but not those leaving, strange!. The night was spent at a place called Boulou by a sports centre with lovely views.
(managed some piccies !!)
It was a lovely litle town with a very nice boulangerie that had some very naughty cakes !!!! It was a very popular aire next to the cemetery and many vans were unable to park up, but the neighbours were very quiet !
Day 33 26th Happy Birthday Aunt Carol.
Went past Perpignon and on to the Narbonne region by the coast and headed up towards Clermont Ferrand, but it was such a long way that we decided to stop off en route at a place called La Couvertoirade. This is a fabulous 11c fortified Knights Templar hospital village and completely locked in a time warp, we were blown away (literally that night !!) It was just like a film set.
Day 34 27th
Awoke to a very cold, misty and wet morning and drove more than 280 miles to Clermond Ferrand. Whilst the journey was wonderful, it was tiringly long and we camped in the city at a designated 'camping car' aire, noisy but very welcome. Telephoned our friend Mick who managed to arrange our ferry for us and also offered us the use of his holiday home in Landivy.
Day 35, 28th
Sue was dreadfully poorly this morning, although she did improve as the day progressed. I decided that we should take the fastest route, so we went on the toll roads, for the first time. We travelled to Tours in the Loire ( 42.40 euro !!!!!), but along the river we found a lovely little aire right by the river. Just us and one other van and a lovely peaceful night.
Day 36, 29th. Happy Birthday Alison Stafford.
Sue was a lot better this morning, so we decided to make the trip over to Micks place, avoiding the expensive toll roads and had a very pleasant journey, which is where we are now.
Day 37, 1st of March
Sues BP was extremely high again but we spent the morning getting the van ready for our homeward journey. By lunchtime she was felling a lot better so we went to our favourite little resturant in the next village and called at the local supermarket and replaced our gas cylinder. Whilst re-positioning the van, I managed to get it bogged down in his field and had to get a local farmer to drag me out with his tractor. But tomorrow we set off for home via St Hillare du Harcourt for the Wednesday market, then to Lidl for our wine, and then off to a little aire by Sword Beach for the night and catch the 8.30 ferry in the morning, the 3rd.
May I thank everyone for your good wishes and concern over Sues health, I have to admit that I have been a tad scared at times, but with Gods help we are almost through it now, so it seems that this is a good point to say------here endeth the 'Oppys do Europe.
Byeee
We arrived here yesterday after a long arduous journey.
Day 30, 23nd Feb. Nice sunny day. It had been our intention to visit a friend over near Lourdes, but following a 'phone call she advised that the mountains were rather difficult, so we decided to go round rather than through them. We headed up to Barcelona and ended at a seaside place called Benicassin, and the aire was situaetd by the side of the road but we had a quiet night and the facilities were fine. It has to be remembered that we were having trouble with the RV having lost 5th gear, so we were limited to only 50 mph so it was taking a long time to cover fairly short distances.
We realised that it would take much longer than we had anticipated to get out of Spain.
Day 31, 24th Feb, Happy Birthday Lynne.
Another warm and sunny day. Today we only managed to reach Taragonna and found a little village nearby called Bellvei de Penedes with a lovely little private aire with full facilities. It was in a lovely location, but------------------the railway was at the end of the garden and from midnight to dawn I counted 27 trains passing the site, ah well.
Day 32, 24th. Weather rather cold and we crossed in to France having had a wonderful journey through some marvelous scenery.( still having trouble putting pictures in---sorry)Just before the border we stopped a a huge supermarket and stocked up with cheap Spanish stuff and diesel too. As we crossed the border in to France we were surprised to see border guards checking vehicles going into Spain, but not those leaving, strange!. The night was spent at a place called Boulou by a sports centre with lovely views.
It was a lovely litle town with a very nice boulangerie that had some very naughty cakes !!!! It was a very popular aire next to the cemetery and many vans were unable to park up, but the neighbours were very quiet !
Day 33 26th Happy Birthday Aunt Carol.
Went past Perpignon and on to the Narbonne region by the coast and headed up towards Clermont Ferrand, but it was such a long way that we decided to stop off en route at a place called La Couvertoirade. This is a fabulous 11c fortified Knights Templar hospital village and completely locked in a time warp, we were blown away (literally that night !!) It was just like a film set.
Awoke to a very cold, misty and wet morning and drove more than 280 miles to Clermond Ferrand. Whilst the journey was wonderful, it was tiringly long and we camped in the city at a designated 'camping car' aire, noisy but very welcome. Telephoned our friend Mick who managed to arrange our ferry for us and also offered us the use of his holiday home in Landivy.
Day 35, 28th
Sue was dreadfully poorly this morning, although she did improve as the day progressed. I decided that we should take the fastest route, so we went on the toll roads, for the first time. We travelled to Tours in the Loire ( 42.40 euro !!!!!), but along the river we found a lovely little aire right by the river. Just us and one other van and a lovely peaceful night.
Day 36, 29th. Happy Birthday Alison Stafford.
Sue was a lot better this morning, so we decided to make the trip over to Micks place, avoiding the expensive toll roads and had a very pleasant journey, which is where we are now.
Day 37, 1st of March
Sues BP was extremely high again but we spent the morning getting the van ready for our homeward journey. By lunchtime she was felling a lot better so we went to our favourite little resturant in the next village and called at the local supermarket and replaced our gas cylinder. Whilst re-positioning the van, I managed to get it bogged down in his field and had to get a local farmer to drag me out with his tractor. But tomorrow we set off for home via St Hillare du Harcourt for the Wednesday market, then to Lidl for our wine, and then off to a little aire by Sword Beach for the night and catch the 8.30 ferry in the morning, the 3rd.
May I thank everyone for your good wishes and concern over Sues health, I have to admit that I have been a tad scared at times, but with Gods help we are almost through it now, so it seems that this is a good point to say------here endeth the 'Oppys do Europe.
Byeee
Monday 22 February 2016
22nd Feb; Hi folks, Sadly over the last few days Sue's blood pressure has gone through the roof and her tablets are having little effect, so we are going to have to curtail our adventure and head for home in the morning. It's going to take a week or so, but it needs to be done so this is where the 'Oppy's web log thingy ends for the moment anyway-------------sorry, but thanks for staying with us
Peter & Sue
Peter & Sue
Sunday 21 February 2016
Today 21st Feb., day 28. Just south of Javea at El Arenal
Back to day 24. 17th
A day spent exploring the port area of Almerimar. It was very windy, but for the local kite surfers it was terrific
Day 25:
Travelled only 65 miles today to a quaint little town called Cabo Gato and wild camped right on the beach, along with ten or so other wild campers including 'Ducato' from our 'Wild Campers' group. A very dramatic location whith many attractions for the summer visitors, but sadly we forgot to take any photo's, but if you do get down there it's well worth a visit
Day 26
We travelled to the town of Calanegra by a very scenic and wibblely wobbely route through the mountains and joined half a dozen vans, again alongside a lovely beach albeit a black one.
Day 27
Costa del Sol. Arrived at El Arenal, Sunshine at last, but still no pictures-------------yet, I really must figure out how to move pictures about on the computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The main thing of note on the 238 km journey down here was the loss of our 5th gear. But having checked with various knowledgeable folks, it appears that the 5th gear is a separate entity, so the other 4 will work fine, it'll just mean that we will have to travel a tad more slowly. We are on a proper campsite with lots of facilities including very slow wiffy until Tuesday and then it's off again to who knows where. We discovered a wonderful Nepalese restaurant about10 minutes walk away and splashed out the best curry that we have ever had that included a 'doggy bag' that fed us tonight.
Done it----you clever boy!!!
Tonight being Day 28
Today started of fine, although it became cloudy around midday and cooled down. We walked down to the seafront which was really nice with lots of families enjoying the weather and a surfing competition. Sue managed to find a beachside cafe' that served hot chocolate and churros, that encapsulates Spain for her, me? I had a coffee. Being on a campsite means it's clean knickers time again. There are wonderful laundry facilities here for 3 euro's a go. We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting to folks on site, it appears that there are more Brits here than in the UK
Back to day 24. 17th
A day spent exploring the port area of Almerimar. It was very windy, but for the local kite surfers it was terrific
Travelled only 65 miles today to a quaint little town called Cabo Gato and wild camped right on the beach, along with ten or so other wild campers including 'Ducato' from our 'Wild Campers' group. A very dramatic location whith many attractions for the summer visitors, but sadly we forgot to take any photo's, but if you do get down there it's well worth a visit
Day 26
We travelled to the town of Calanegra by a very scenic and wibblely wobbely route through the mountains and joined half a dozen vans, again alongside a lovely beach albeit a black one.
Day 27
Costa del Sol. Arrived at El Arenal, Sunshine at last, but still no pictures-------------yet, I really must figure out how to move pictures about on the computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The main thing of note on the 238 km journey down here was the loss of our 5th gear. But having checked with various knowledgeable folks, it appears that the 5th gear is a separate entity, so the other 4 will work fine, it'll just mean that we will have to travel a tad more slowly. We are on a proper campsite with lots of facilities including very slow wiffy until Tuesday and then it's off again to who knows where. We discovered a wonderful Nepalese restaurant about10 minutes walk away and splashed out the best curry that we have ever had that included a 'doggy bag' that fed us tonight.
Tonight being Day 28
Today started of fine, although it became cloudy around midday and cooled down. We walked down to the seafront which was really nice with lots of families enjoying the weather and a surfing competition. Sue managed to find a beachside cafe' that served hot chocolate and churros, that encapsulates Spain for her, me? I had a coffee. Being on a campsite means it's clean knickers time again. There are wonderful laundry facilities here for 3 euro's a go. We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting to folks on site, it appears that there are more Brits here than in the UK
Tuesday 16 February 2016
Feb 16th, day 23 and we are in Almerimar
I last updated a few days ago when we were in, or rather near to Granada and our intention was to visit the Alhambra
Feb 13th, day 20 dawned cold, dull and overcast, but we wrapped up and took the bus down in to Granada. After a couple of hours wandering around looking in shops, we had a coffee and caught the bus back. After lunch we drove down to the local Lidl and back again, exciting stuff eh !! We met a really nice couple of Brits, Rob and Jan Jones (well Welsh anyway) on site who were desparately trying to catch up with the rugby, but because there was a pretty good (paid for) wifi system, they watched it on our laptop computer and we shared a bottle or two in their van later on in the evening.
Wales won
Feb 14th, Valentines day. After a night of heavy rain, the day dawned wet and 'orrible. Sue and I exchanged cards, had breakfast and watched the rain, checked the weather forecast and decided to write the rest of the day off. Rob and Jan popped over to say ta ta and return a couple of camping books prior to their onward journey to Malaga.
Feb 15th Alhambra day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This much anticipated trip started off flamin' wet and cold, but we took the bus down into town and after a coffee, we took a taxi up to the Alhambra palace. The experience defies description. The place is more than we could ever have imagined, we had several hours of jaw dropping delight. The rain even stopped and the sun came out. The pictures do not do it justice, but the memory will last us a lifetime
We had to stay over for another night, which brings us to today:
Feb 16th, day 23 and we are in Almerimar
We got up this morning and the temp in our van was 3c. Enough is enough, so we have scooted off to the coast and are now spending a couple of nights on the harbourside in the town of Almerimar and the temp was 23c in the van when we arrived here.
.
I last updated a few days ago when we were in, or rather near to Granada and our intention was to visit the Alhambra
Feb 13th, day 20 dawned cold, dull and overcast, but we wrapped up and took the bus down in to Granada. After a couple of hours wandering around looking in shops, we had a coffee and caught the bus back. After lunch we drove down to the local Lidl and back again, exciting stuff eh !! We met a really nice couple of Brits, Rob and Jan Jones (well Welsh anyway) on site who were desparately trying to catch up with the rugby, but because there was a pretty good (paid for) wifi system, they watched it on our laptop computer and we shared a bottle or two in their van later on in the evening.
Feb 14th, Valentines day. After a night of heavy rain, the day dawned wet and 'orrible. Sue and I exchanged cards, had breakfast and watched the rain, checked the weather forecast and decided to write the rest of the day off. Rob and Jan popped over to say ta ta and return a couple of camping books prior to their onward journey to Malaga.
Feb 15th Alhambra day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This much anticipated trip started off flamin' wet and cold, but we took the bus down into town and after a coffee, we took a taxi up to the Alhambra palace. The experience defies description. The place is more than we could ever have imagined, we had several hours of jaw dropping delight. The rain even stopped and the sun came out. The pictures do not do it justice, but the memory will last us a lifetime
We had to stay over for another night, which brings us to today:
Feb 16th, day 23 and we are in Almerimar
We got up this morning and the temp in our van was 3c. Enough is enough, so we have scooted off to the coast and are now spending a couple of nights on the harbourside in the town of Almerimar and the temp was 23c in the van when we arrived here.
.
Friday 12 February 2016
Granada, I'm falling under your spell, and if you could speak what a
facinating tale you would tell!!!!!!!, or so the song goes. So now it's
the 12th, the story so far :----
Monday 8th, day 15 :
After a quiet day riding around the area we decided that the Algarve was not a place for the 'Oppys, but we did have a wonderful meal down by the water ( at Alvor) which lifted the Portugal experience for us, but overall we were not impressed. The following day we went to Silves, day 16. It is a superb medieval town and after a morning wander around, in the rain, we stopped at a restaurant that had been recommended to us and had a 4 course lunch with a bottle of wine for 15 euros total !!.Then an after lunch walk led us up in to the higher part of the town where there was some wonderful medieval architecture and the ruins of the original fortifications. And because it was Shrove Tuesday, we had crepes at a local caff.
Day 17,10th. Today we had a long drive through in to Spain and arrived at the town of Huelva, a port town with a very large statue of Christopher Collumbus looking out to sea. We spent the night there, a rather wet one too. The rain was bouncing off our roof sounding for all the world like frozen peas being dropped from a great height, we left first thing in the morning.
Our impressions of Portugal as a holiday destination are not great. Whilst some parts of the southern coastal region may be to some folks taste, it didn't suit us. As we came in from the north it was very much like travelling through the Carpathian region of Eastern Europe. The poverty and the subsistance level farming was very similar to that in eastern Hungary and western Romania and it was a little sad to see. But now we are in Spain.
Day 18. Aiming towards Seville today, after another long drive, we spent the night at the town of Marchena. The aire was at the bottom of the town and together with about half a dozen other vans, we had a peaceful night. The aire was overlooking a sports area and park with lots of orange trees. The town is a right mish mash of buildings. At the bottom of the town are all the 'modern' flats, then as you go up the hill you pass some semi derelict areas and then the town really blossomed with some wonderful old houses, churches (of course) and the remains of the original Roman wall.
Day 19, Feb 12th--------------------Granada !!
After another long drive, 156 miles, and the last for a while, we have arrived at a campsite (with wifi!!) just outside Granada at a place called Suspiro Del Moro. It is raining------again!!! All this liquid sunshine is playing havoc with my joints! We are spending tomorrow doing the tourist thing, Sunday being Valentines Day we will probably spend on site and Monday we have booked to go to the Alhambra for the day. No pictures today, although we passed through miles and miles of olive grove en route.
So that's it, we're sat in our tin 'ut and it's raining. Toodle Pip 'till next time.
Monday 8th, day 15 :
After a quiet day riding around the area we decided that the Algarve was not a place for the 'Oppys, but we did have a wonderful meal down by the water ( at Alvor) which lifted the Portugal experience for us, but overall we were not impressed. The following day we went to Silves, day 16. It is a superb medieval town and after a morning wander around, in the rain, we stopped at a restaurant that had been recommended to us and had a 4 course lunch with a bottle of wine for 15 euros total !!.Then an after lunch walk led us up in to the higher part of the town where there was some wonderful medieval architecture and the ruins of the original fortifications. And because it was Shrove Tuesday, we had crepes at a local caff.
Day 17,10th. Today we had a long drive through in to Spain and arrived at the town of Huelva, a port town with a very large statue of Christopher Collumbus looking out to sea. We spent the night there, a rather wet one too. The rain was bouncing off our roof sounding for all the world like frozen peas being dropped from a great height, we left first thing in the morning.
Day 18. Aiming towards Seville today, after another long drive, we spent the night at the town of Marchena. The aire was at the bottom of the town and together with about half a dozen other vans, we had a peaceful night. The aire was overlooking a sports area and park with lots of orange trees. The town is a right mish mash of buildings. At the bottom of the town are all the 'modern' flats, then as you go up the hill you pass some semi derelict areas and then the town really blossomed with some wonderful old houses, churches (of course) and the remains of the original Roman wall.
After another long drive, 156 miles, and the last for a while, we have arrived at a campsite (with wifi!!) just outside Granada at a place called Suspiro Del Moro. It is raining------again!!! All this liquid sunshine is playing havoc with my joints! We are spending tomorrow doing the tourist thing, Sunday being Valentines Day we will probably spend on site and Monday we have booked to go to the Alhambra for the day. No pictures today, although we passed through miles and miles of olive grove en route.
So that's it, we're sat in our tin 'ut and it's raining. Toodle Pip 'till next time.
Saturday 30 January 2016
Well we've survived 'till Saturday
Well it's Saturday the 30th and I'm sat here with the obligatory glass of red, and it's raining. The story so far goes like this ; Monday as we gently amble down towards Portsmouth, the phone rings and it's Britany Ferries telling us that because the weather is going to be 'orrible, we are sailing at midnight and not 8 the following morning, so we upped the pace. The crossing was dreadful, even I had to take a pill (the first time in my life), but 7am Wedesday we landed at Santander and the adventure began.
We had intended to take a couple of days crossing Spain, but when we arrived at our first intended stop we were unimpressed, but nearby there was the most wonderful Roman villa at Pedrosa de la Vega, close by Leon. The mosaics were the most fabulous we have ever seen.
After we moved from there I realised that to get into Portugal would be a realativly easy trip, so we went.
We arrived at our overnight stop at a place called Braganca and the free aire was at the base a of a 15c citadel, which was truly magnificent. The weather all the way was wet and windy though, but the journey through the mountains was wonderful.
Day 4, the 28th. The morning was spent looking round the town, and after lunch we headed off .
Again through magnificent scenery and arrived at Paso de Regua and another free aire on the banks of the river Douro and home of the Port wine.
Day 5. As we left we entered more mountains, but they were covered with terraces of vines and olives, and as we passed the 500mtr mark, the scenery was truly stunning. We headed for the coastal town of Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal.
The free aire there was dreadful, but the city was beautiful with much stunning architecture, but after a couple of hours wandering round we decided to bite the bullet---------------and actually pay for a campsite for a couple of nights, so this is where we are now. Just a few kilometres south of Aviero at a place called Vagueira in amongst the pines on a lovely campsite, and where we met up with our first Brits (well one's a Brummie). So until I hit more free wifi, that's it for now. Nite Nite & cheers
We had intended to take a couple of days crossing Spain, but when we arrived at our first intended stop we were unimpressed, but nearby there was the most wonderful Roman villa at Pedrosa de la Vega, close by Leon. The mosaics were the most fabulous we have ever seen.
We arrived at our overnight stop at a place called Braganca and the free aire was at the base a of a 15c citadel, which was truly magnificent. The weather all the way was wet and windy though, but the journey through the mountains was wonderful.
Again through magnificent scenery and arrived at Paso de Regua and another free aire on the banks of the river Douro and home of the Port wine.
Day 5. As we left we entered more mountains, but they were covered with terraces of vines and olives, and as we passed the 500mtr mark, the scenery was truly stunning. We headed for the coastal town of Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal.
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