Thursday 28th September (Day 36)
Well the night brought some wet stuff called rain, some of it more than light rain. The day started, however, warm with the promise of much better to come. After sorting ourselves out, as we were nearly out of water and full up of ‘you know what’, we were off on a two to three hour journey to Gibraltar - the Spanish side La Linea de Conception. A great run, again on mainly free motorway. There was quite a bit though that was dual carriageway, and busy, with side roads joining with no ‘run up lane’. This was causing problems for all, so I stayed quite a bit in the outside lane. By about 12.15pm we arrived at La Linea, the border with Gibraltar. We parked up and got our bikes off the motorhome to go across into Gibralter. Having entered Gib the first thing you do is cross the airport runway if it is not closed for an arrival or departure. This was a preamble to manic chaos. The bus drivers were quite good, the car drivers less so and the scooters and bikers were just plain mad. We stopped and had lunch then walked our bikes along eventually locking them up at the entry to the cable car which goes to the ‘Top of the Rock’. Up we went (£44 lighter)! What a great day we had up there though. First a lovely ride up the rock with great views. This was followed by a stroll up to O’Hara’s Gun; not surprising a gun emplacement overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar which are 25,500 yards across to Africa. It can fire a shell 29,600 yards so anything sneaking by could have a few issues. Next St Michael’s Cave; we did not know what to expect but it was a large underground cave system imaginatively lit and was quite stunning and pretty. It is as clearly used as a theatre / music venue also. Then a long walk to the Apes’ den; they are macaques not monkeys. These little buggers (and big ones) are everywhere. We saw them in and on cars, in the trees, on the paths and roads and performing endearing antics (and some decidedly not endearing). There then followed the ‘Great Siege Tunnels’; tunnels that British solders could travel along without being shot and shelled by the Spanish and French while affording a high point to shoot and shell them. Indeed the siege went on for years with many brave / foolhardy acts from both sides. Next a small tableau of the life while under siege and lastly the Moorish Castle; a tower within a tower that has survived ten sieges over the centuries. Weary after three plus hours of up hill and down dale we made our way to the town to retrieve our bikes. Today has been the most tiring to date, for me more so than the rock climb at Calpe. Having got our bikes we found a pub selling ‘Doom Bar’. We had to stop for a freshener before vegetating in the motorhome exhausted.
Photo: Cable car, Monkeys, Cave
Seige tunels, views
Friday 29th September (Day 37)
So the unanimous decision was that another day in Gibraltar was needed. We left the (€4) current site the for the more expensive €12 site which was nearer the border so we could leave the bikes. It was worth the extra with views overlooking the marina. Anyhow we walked into Gibraltar and made our way the the bus station. Yesterday a person we met mention pollution being a problem and today we could certainly ‘taste’ it, it is definitely an issue for here. We then caught a bus to Europa Point - the nearest point in Gibraltar to Africa. Being ‘oldies’ we had a hopper ticket - £2.40 for both for us for all bus journeys for the day; sometimes being old is sooooo nice. Europa Point is nothing much other than a point / lighthouse and gun site which is less than five miles from Africa which we could see. One thing we did not expect was amemorpail to the police minister who died in WW!! off the coast in a pane crash along with many other 'notables'.We got on the bus back to the main town and walked the Main Street having lunch while doing so. Then more walking around the marinas and docks until we settled for almost two hours in O’Reilys’ (an ‘Irish’ pub) for some Speckled Hen. Here we people watched, something we always enjoy, especially with a wedding party gathering. A stroll back to the motorhome, with a stop at Eroski Supermarket (Waitrose) where we bought a litre of Bells scotch for £5.99 and a Litre of Gordons gin for £4.99. With these prices and when diesel is 80p a litre also you must wonder about UK tax laws. So now a small history lesson. The Spanish want the ‘Rock’ or ‘Mons Calpe' (Hollow Rock) back. Well in 1713 they signed it over to us ‘in perpetuity’ (we beat them in a war) so we have ‘ruled’ it for over 300 years. The Spanish ‘ruled’ it from about 1504, about 200 years and the Corsairs / Turks from 700 about 800 years in total. So the Spanish come third in their claim! Tomorrow of to Sevilla.
Saturday 30th September (Day 38)
Well a change in plan. During the night, when we do a lot of thinking, Chris decided that as her legs still ached from the last two days that two days traipsing around Sevilla is not a good idea. For my part I thought that the queues for the two ‘main’ attractions would be longer at the weekend; for these reasons we decided to miss Sevilla (again) - we did so two years ago. Well there is always next time. We selected a stop over on the way to the east coast. A bit longer drive than we would normally complete but would give our legs a good rest. First though breakfast at ‘El Barco’ the harbour cafe´. Then off we go. A really good run with a stop by the woods in the Sierra Nevada mountains for lunch. Now a physics lesson: We wanted to make egg mayonnaise. The mayonnaise is in the squeezy bottle which you stand ‘upside down’ on the cap. The air in the bottle cannot escape and was last used at sea level. Having taken Chris up the Sierra Nevada (!) the air pressure at the top is less than at sea level. Thus in opening the bottle the air pressure in the bottle is higher than that at the mountain top. Opening the the bottle results in the air inside needing to equalise with the surrounding air pressure. To do so it pushes the mayonnaise out in an uncontrollable jet as the bottle (high pressure) air escapes to equalise with the outside air (low pressure). (Still with me?). Fortunately Chris was in the way so the furniture, windows, carpet etc did not get covered - only Chris! (Physics lesson over; except this is the same for brown and red sauce squeeze bottles.) Anyway after clearing up and lunch we finished the drive to the aire. Perfectly clean with toilets and loos (and all free) BUT at a petrol station. We would only stop here if desperate, and we are not. Anyway 50Km further on was another aire at Velez Rubio, with a good write up so off we went. De´ja vu kicked in as we approached as it should have as, two years ago, we stopped here. A good stop over but a less than exciting town. Again the church is claimed as the ‘best Baroque style church’ in the the Almeria region but will have to just take that on trust as, again, it is closed. We had a beer in a bar which was refreshing in more ways than one. The drink was good, it also had footy on the tv, played music and was frequented by families as they played, Jenga, Cluedo, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Uno and other games. Back at the motorhome we cooked dinner and then, finally, finished watching the last of the ‘Downton Abbey’ series - it has only taken about two years.
Sunday 1st October (Day 39)
A slow start as we had a fairly short trip today. The day was overcast and cool but it started with a FaceTime with Ashley. This was followed by a quick stop to get some diesel before a second stop to do some food shopping (they were all closed). On way we Facetimed with Matt. We eventually arrived at La Marinas near Elche, a free aire. Signs up saying ‘No Motorhomes’ and ‘tourist motorcars only’ but there were about a dozen motorhomes parked up. There was also a sandy beach and a restaurant. A quick lunch followed by a walk along the beach for a mile or two, which was very nice even in the 30 degrees sunny weather that had developed by now. We then had some R&R on the beach until about 7.00pm when we decided dinner was needed. While this was being cooked we had a FaceTime with Rich in Bermuda, to complete ‘the set’. An Indonesian curry along with a G+T (’s) was the meal. The freezer, however, is causing us some issues. To date it has been working well but some of the food is frozen solid (ie chicken) and other things defrosted (ie bacon). Hey ho a fried brecky tomorrow. Also tomorrow some shopping will be required.
Monday 2nd October (Day 40)
So the ‘big boys’ happened although it was more of an early brunch due to our tardiness to get going. We also noted the fridge didn’t seem to be coping well in the heat, which is peculiar as it has done well until now. We then cycled along the coastal path and back roads to Guadamar (the port). Here we had a coffee and people watched before starting the return journey via Mercadona. (I doubt she got excited but we twice passed the ‘lady on the white chair’.) We only bought the ‘essentials’ as tomorrow we will be driving and can shop properly. Back at La Marinas we opted for some tapas and a beer before we ‘veged’ out on the beach, while it did not feel it with a pleasant breeze the temperatures were clearly upper 20’s or lower 30’s with lovely sunshine. This free stop over is a great location. The signs that say only ‘tourist’ cars and ‘No motorhomes’ appear to only apply in the ‘high’ season as not only did no-one bother us but the restaurant wants motorhomes there as it boosts their trade. We had a great steak meal at the motorhome and tomorrow we are off ‘somewhere north’ and, even as we turn in for the night, it is a vague as that.
Tuesday 3rd October (Day 41)
We awoke to lumpy milk as it would appear that our fridge is not working, at least on gas. A bit of a nuisance with 30 defer heat! We have been in contact with Griff and Jackie and know their site which, they claim, is great. They pleaded with us to join them. It is a serious journey from here. Our decision was to go for it. Breakfast was before 8.30am as by then we were off. A great day with sunshine and temperatures in the high 20’s. Although a long journey it was mainly by no toll motorway so a trouble free trip. We stopped to buy some supplies and diesel and had another stop for lunch. Six hours saw us pulling in at Camping Nautic, at L'Ametlla de Mar, Tarragona. It is a site that is understated on the approach to it. However, we were fortunate to have shopped on the way as all the shops, bars, restaurants, even Mercadona are closed here. This is in protest to the Spanish government. Last Sunday the Catalonians had a referendum on independence. It was deemed by central government and the courts to be illegal. Leading up to the referendum ballot papers were seized, people arrested and so forth. The referendum was 90% in favour of independence. The next order of events is unclear to me but somewhere a large confrontation took place between police and Catalonians and some 900 people were hurt, indeed I have seen the videos and it is quite unpleasant to watch. So in response everything is shut. I hope just for today. Anyway returning to the camp site; it has a lovely beach, a good pool and first class facilities. Its only down side is that the restaurant and supermarket are closed until next season (three days ago). We went for a swim / snorkel in the sea which was still lovely and warm before a BBQ followed by a great chat in Griff and Jackie's’ MH. (NB the fridge is working on electric so we have a problem with gas only.)
Wednesday 4th October (Day 42)
Another sunny hot day in the upper 20’s (at least) in prospect. I strolled into town to get some croissants (hot) and while eating our meal the second major wash load was completed. Everything is spick and span (well after the afternoons hoover, carpet beat etc). Before that we went of on a cycle ride along the coast. Unsuccessful in many ways as it was a rough track, with no bar stops, quite hilly and ‘going nowhere’. We returned and had a coffee at a bar over looking the harbour. A lovely hour spent doing nothing. On our return we purchased some bread and some fresh cream cakes which looked to die for(each big enough for two people). After a late lunch we went to the beach were I snorkelled and the others swam and lazed about. I have snorkelled the Barrier Reef and Bermuda (among many other locations). I have never snorkled in a place with so many fish - thousands, both small and large(ish), not as colourful perhaps but so numerous. I had a great time but cramp in my foot caused me to limp back in. Dinner on the BBQ followed, albeit with no rush and we washed up in the dark (full moon). We then walked into the town to ‘absorb’ the night life. Quite tame but a wine made up for it.
