Trip 81 - Spain - Days 1 to 7
- Sep 9, 2019
- 8 min read
Thursday 22nd August (Day 1)
So a good day / bad day start to the trip. Chris had a 13.30 Physio appointment so we had booked the 18.20 Channel Tunnel. We arrived at the tunnel by about 15.30 and they offered a 17.20 crossing. We asked if there was space on an even earlier one and were told yes but for an extra £128 which is more than the original cost we were charged. When I booked originally the earlier trains were only about £30 more so how they can charge that amount? It seems like legalised robbery. In any event we declined. Having just parked up at the terminal an employee asked if we wanted to proceed to the loading area and get an earlier train! We did and ended up on the 16.40 a full 100 minutes ahead of our planned train. So this meant we were nice and early in "La France'. It also meant that our first proposed stop was too near. We duly followed the satnav and I was quite perplexed. It took us in the right direction, towards Abbeville, but along a 'pretty route' with lots of villages and 50kph speed limits and not along the 110kph motorway. We eventually stopped just outside of Abbeville at a free Aire next to an abbey in Saint Riquier. Curry for tea and then a stroll around the village. It is a small village but with a few notable landmarks - an old prison, a very old clock tower and an even older Abbey that looks very imposing. We saw, on the way in, the bakers and wanted to find out what time it opens. 06.30 which is great ..... but not until 3rd September as they are on their holibobs! We walked around the town hoping to find another baker, but no. What do the locals do while the baker is having a three week break? Anyway after the short stroll it was back home to a cup of tea followed by bed.
Friday 23rd August (Day 2)
After a good nights sleep we left before 08.45 with just a cup of tea in us (remember the bakers shop is shut). Going through a town we picked up some croissants and drove until 10.00 when we stopped for a second cup of tea and the croissants which were really buttery and lovely. Off again to get some kilometres 'under our belt'. We were bowling along really well until we were leaving Rouen. One set of traffic lights were not in sequence and the delay was nearly an hour. Our next stop in a town called Bonneval was for a late lunch (14.00) and we sat by the river eating our pic-nic. We then had a stroll around the town which had, not unusually, an old church and some lovely old buildings alongside the river. The hospital for the town was approached through an arch giving access into what looked like a castle, hopefully inside was more modern. Anyway after an hour we were off again (Javea in Spain is our target for Tuesday). We then had a good journey with some motorway standard roads and some good 'N' roads which, while fast, had the inevitable towns and villages with 50 and 30kph speeds. We had selected another spot by a river about 18 miles north of Poitiers. It is on the edge of Naintre´on the river Vienne. It has free services although no EHU. We settled in and cooked dinner and then went for a stroll up to the Roman ruins. They date back to Augustus in the first century (just after Julius Ceasar). While they looked quite impressive they were closed and only open in July and August on Wednesday afternoons! Still a nice circular walk in the balmy mid 20's that the evening was giving us. Then we sat by the river whiling away the time late into the evening before bed.
Saturday 24th August (Day 3)
Despite the bloody trains across the river, which we didn't know about, we had a good kip. The morning started with a shower and then off we went, stopping briefly at the bourne to fill up and empty our water. Just after 09.00 we were off proper. Very quickly we found an Intermarche´. Everything we required was purchased, except fresh milk. We stopped here for breakfast. Then 'onward and upward'. Pau was our hoped for stop but that depended on traffic. Chris drove for about 120 miles before we changed over and, as we approached Bordeaux, there was a 15+ mile queue of traffic so we managed to divert off and find an alternative route. It was about 30 miles more but we were content with that, especially as the 15+ miles do not include getting around Bordeaux. We stopped for lunch at a small village and then off again. We made Pau and drove to the Aire but we're not content it was still a placebo could stop over. So we then drove to the alternative which was nearby only to realise it was only a place to fill / empty and not to stay. The temperature has been in the mid 30's and we were quite tired and in need of a stop. Le Terrier was a camp site close by and for less £14 we had a pitch with the facilities of bar, restaurant, swimming pool and everything else you would expect. It had been a trying day so beer and wine were very necessary. At 22.00 it was still mid 20 degrees. We are very happy as we are in advance of our travel target of being in Javea, Spain, by Tuesday.
Sunday 25th August (Day 4)
A good nights sleep as the temperature has gone down from 30+ to just under 20 degrees. The camp site costing just under £14 is a three star site. That said the toilets and showers were impeccable; the showers worked from just standing near them. With all the other facilities it is so cheap. Anyway by 09.30 we had left for, well the target was Teruel. The first part of the journey was the winding, climbing, approach road to the Tunnel de Somport. It is a lovely drive, only spoilt by an artic lorry that was making 40kph at the most. The queue behind it was huge and the driver wouldn't pull over to let the queue pass. Eventually, where a few dual carriageway sections appeared we all got by. The tunnel is about 8+km and then ...... Spain. This part of the journey, ignoring the lorry was the slow part. From the Spanish side it was all motorway. The A23 motorway while allowing us to travel great distances has the most boring vista that I have ever witnessed and that includes the M25 at home. However, we arrived at Terual at just before 16.00. The (free) Aire is right next to the police station which is a very grand affair. It is actually the living quarters for the police. We walked into the historic town and visited the cathedral and walked around the narrow streets soaking up the atmosphere. Teruel old town is very nice, the rest surrounding it is less pleasant. A beer in one of the squares before walking back for a relaxing time in the sun. Dinner was followed by a DVD And bed.
Monday 26th August (Day 5)
Well, while the stopover near to the Guarda Civil was safe and pleasant nobody had warned us that at 05.00 for an hour the grass was watered. We had parked, considerately, using the least amount of car park space so were overhanging the grass. At 05.00 the watering stared and it sounded like a jet wash hitting the motorhome. Eventually I moved two metres forward to avoid the noise. By about 09.30 we left with a change of plan. Instead of Javea we were to stop outside Valencia, at Camping Col Vert. Having settled in the camp site around 12.00 we took the 25 bus (€1.50 a person each way) into the city. We have been here three or so years ago but remembered little. We climbed the bell tower complete with trap door with a serious drop, and strolled around just soaking up the atmosphere. While in the city it rained as few times but it was refreshing and not an issue. as it was still very hot. Eventually we made our way to the old river. The route of the river was diverted and the original river bed made into a gardens / recreation area. After about a two mile walk we arrived at the Science Museum, one of the most iconic new builds in Valencia, if not Spain. Here we paid to go in and had two hours of interest and fun with the 'hands on' exhibits. A bus back for steak and chips (plus all the trimmings) and a chill down. Tomorrow will be Javea and where we will stop is still to be decided, the beauty of motorhoming. Camping Col Vert is not an overly attractive place but functional for our needs. We won't be staying here again though.
Tuesday 27th August (Day 6)
During the night we had a massive thunderstorm and rain. It didn't last too long and we were more fortunate than Madrid that had flash floods and hail stones four inches deep! After breakfast we moved off to Javea, about 80km. We had put in the address of Liv's parents, although Matt was of the opinion we would not manage to approach it in the motorhome. As we approached Javea we had some light rain. We followed the satnav and parked up a bit short to walk the last bit as, one of the roads was narrow and getting stuck with no turn around was not appealing. In the end we parked right outside their address (we are staying in their villa). We met Matt and Liv and her brother Jordan and parents, Steve and Louise. We got on like we were old friends almost at once. After a beer we went with Matt and Liv to a shopping centre nearby returning about 5.00pm. Then it was a few drinks before, just before 21.00, going down the road to another villa to meet some of their friends for a carbonara (for 16 people). We returned just before midnight for a nightcap before bed, quite early apparently for them, at 00.30.
Wednesday 28th August (Day 7)
So an early (ish) start. By just after 09.00 we were off in two cars to look at wedding locations for Matt and Liv who intend to marry in 2021. Two places to see today. The first place was very nice and about 18km away. The second, slightly nearer, was also nice and deemed slightly better. In addition, it is the only location that they can actually get married at and have the reception etc at the same place. This is because the great grandfather of the owner of the house was not only a great builder / engineer and built the house but was also deeply religious. He had included in the building a small church. The local Bishop. recognising his devotion, consecrated the grounds which means marriages can take place there. They can marry here as Liv is Catholic. Otherwise they would have to marry in a church and then relocate here for the reception etc. So it is really good that all seven of us scored the second place over the first. We then returned to the villa for a really lazy afternoon. Mainly chatting and very little drinking. A bit of 'pool time'. While it is almost certain that the venue is decided we will still see another one or two tomorrow, according to current thougths. For the evening Matt, Liv, Chris and I went to the port for a nice meal, while Louise stayed in and Steve took Jordan to the airport to fly home. We had a lovely meal overlooking the bay and returned home at 00.30.
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