Europe Trip 2022 - 4
Monday 10th October (Day 43)
A pretty bad night for me. Breakfast was croissants and jam and then slow pack of the few items left. We then said our goodbyes to all present. We had borrowed Dave’s Spanish lpg connector to see if it worked better than ours. This meant a five mile journey in the ‘wrong’ direction. Arriving at Benissa we tried to fill the gas bottle but again it failed, still costing us €4.70. We did a quick shop and then returned to Calpe to give the connector back and then it was on to Altea to Camping San Antonio which is actually between Altea and Albir, only 12km trip. By 1.00pm we were sorted and lunch soon followed. First though I decided a lateral flow test might be a good idea. Well I was positive, so despite two plus years avoiding it I have the dreaded lurgy. I feel quite good, just a headache and a bit lethargic. Looking at the current guidelines I am still able to move about in Spain but need a mask - it could be worse. Chris, Graham, Maise, Chris and I walked along the promenade and ended up in a bar (and then another) before returning to the site. We had a late dinner, around 8.30pm as it was so warm. It would appear that today, again, we have been lucky as several times thunderstorms and torrential rain have been forecast but it would appear the mountains are holding the weather fronts at bay. After the meal the four of us played the Mexican Train Game. While playing the lightning across the bay gave us a good display and, eventually, this realised itself into rain. A heavy rain causing us all to scuttle into our motorhomes - that said it was almost 11.00pm.
Tuesday 11th October (Day 44)
A better night for me but I still had the sweats during the night. At 8.20am the ‘toot toot’ of the bread van occurred just as the site owner predicted. Not for us as we had fresh strawberries with yoghurt. Yesterday we walked along the promenade to Albir today we intended to go in the opposite direction to Altea. Around 11.00am the four of us, and Masie, set off. The weather forecast was rain so jackets and brollies in back packs. Soon after we set of a light rain fell but this lasted only ten or twenty minutes. Our destination was Altea old town at the top of the hill (where else). At one point there was a flight of steps (255 to be precise). Even after these there were more. At the very top we sat and had a coffee before visiting the church. It was a nice church quite well decorated and golden. We then meandered along the streets making our way slowly down to the promenade again. We had a second coffee to enjoy the sea view. we intended to eat in Albir around 3.00pm so off we went agin. It is about two and a half miles from one end of theorem to the other. Eventually we found a restaurant we liked the look of in Albir and had a good, not great, meal. next another stroll back to the site where I sat and dozed and Chris read. we have walked about six miles in total. Sitting outside Chris put on long trousers as it has cooled down considerably this evening.
Wednesday 12th October (Day 45)
So the bread man came at 8.10am and we got some for both breakfast and lunch from him. After showers / eat / finish packing we were ready for the off by about 9.45am. We said out goodbyes to Chris, Graham and Masie at a distance as, although I feel much better, safety is the watch word. It was a nice sunny day and warm. We had opted for quite a long day - 245 miles but almost five hours driving. It was mainly motorway which was quite boring. To add to this we have left the sea and the hills and are on the Spanish Plains - a bit like the Fens but hotter. We stopped at a very poor picnic place for lunch and then onward again arriving at Alcazar de San Juan. We are parking for free in a Carrefour car Park with six motorhome spaces. It is free with EHU, Waste disposal, Toilet disposal and fresh water. We needed some shopping and were surprised to find the Centre Commercial closed. It appears today is ‘Spanish Day’ and all shops are shut, well the Chinese ones aren’t. We walked into town about one and a half miles and, sure enough everything was like a ghost town, except the bars. So we became Spanish for the day and had a beer with some great free tapas. We sauntered back through a lovely park. On getting back around 5.00pm we saw the start of a gathering of ‘boy racers’ and, while that may be grouping them unfairly, they were revving the engines which caused the exhausts to ‘pop’. Then, occasionally, one of the group took of and back again. Eventually there were about ten of them. We were inside reading. After a while it went quiet and, mysteriously, they had all disappeared as if mum had called them in for tea. We had dinner of pork lion and afterwards read some more. We were entertained by our neighbours who appeared to be washing his van one panel at a time. Earlier another van owner washed his motorhome at he cast wash which for €4 was good value, especially as there was a raised platform. We tried to watch a dvd but the two we selected did not appeal so, eventually, we went to bed.
Thursday 13th October (Day 46)
We were asleep and then at just past midnight the world exploded with noise. A local council worker had arrived in his truck with a water bowser on the back with a generator and hose pipes. He proceed to clean the large wheeled bins to within an inch of their lives. He was SO thorough. Peace was resumed about 12.15am and sleep restored. As the Carrefour was not open yesterday we had no breakfast. So it was shower and then shop. We ate breakfast about 9.30am and put into the satnav our next stop (plan ‘D’ or ‘E’). I expected it to be about a three hour trip but it was another five! Back to plan ‘B’ - Toldeo about ninety minutes away. we had originally kid d this into touch as it was €36.60 a night. We stopped for some fuel, the dearest to date, and were parked up by just after noon. The camp site is Camping El Greco on the outskirts of Toledo. This is also the dearest stop we have have stopped at. First things first was our last wash of the holiday. While that was underway a clean on the inside of the motorhome was needed. After lunch we waked into Toledo, about thirty five minutes, and the last bit was UP hill. Toledo is a medieval city with a wealth of history involving different religions, factions and countries. The Knights Templar had an input here also. The city itself is still narrow and twisty so for traffic everything is one way. We just strolled around looking at the great buildings on our way to the Cathedral. Here we paid €10 each for an audio tour of the building. From the outside it was impressive enough but inside was better. Indeed the alter had a 25m high edifice that was gold; stunning. We spent over 90 minutes in the cathedral before leaving for a bar and a pint, to discuss whether to stay another night or move on. Stay seems to be the agreed option. Then a slow walk back to the camp site for an evening meal. The evenings are definitely chilling down quicker now so before 9.00pm we were inside.
Friday 14th October (Day 47)
Well it appears it is Chris’ turn for cvid. While not tested she has a sore throat and headache. After a shower etc we had ‘British’ sausages in a baguette for breakfast. I then tried for about the 6th time to renew my insurance. Each time the brokers were waiting for the insurance company to respond to our recent collision. I got through and they confirmed they have taken the premium and we are insured for another year. In discussing this I mentioned we would not be home for a week or more so any paperwork sent to me would not be quickly returned. They suggested I let AXA know. They put me through and AXA claimed no knowledge of the collision. So for the third time I went through the details BUT……….. after about ten minutes I was disconnected. They then sent to Chris telephone number and reference number asking me to make contact and complete the registration. The number just continually dropped out. We gave up and walked into Toldeo. We entered by another gate which was more imposing than yesterday. We then just strolled around and enjoyed the building and narrow streets. One of the convents had a strange assortment of leg irons on the outside wall - hundreds. After a stop for coffee and a people watch we visited three places; Hercules Cave and the Roman Baths (both free and uninspiring) and then the church of San Ildefonso, or Jesuits church. This was €6 for the two of us and allowed us up the tower for a panoramic view of Toledo and the surrounds. Looking around the church we found a strange display of partial skulls and other pieces of bones. The view from the top was good although as usual I did not relish the open stairs going uptake tower. Having left the church we continued to wander and eventually had tapas and a beer in a lovely bar with more people watching. We have opted to eat this evening in Toledo so made a slow journey back in the 28 degree heat for a sit and chill at the moho. Here I spent a frustrating 70 minutes trying to contact the insurance company. Eventually I did and got the collision report completed. It would appear the numpty I spoke to this morning sent a one digit wrong telephone number by text to Chris. Bloody annoying. We changed into ‘good gear’ for the meal in Toledo. 7.30pm saw us sauntering up into town again. We had decided on a Chinese meal as we had not had one since we moved house a year ago! We had selected the Dragon Kitchen which we had read good reports. It was fairly empty when we entered at about 8.10pm. You ordered on an iPad and sent it direct to the kitchen. It did mean we could google some of the dishes and in the end had a good meal although the ‘crispy duck’ was just three bits of minuscule duck, a bit of lettuce in what can only be described as a sponge taco! All very strange. That said it was a good meal. After the meal we strolled about to see the night life which was meant to be quite lively but was anything but. Back to the moho for a nightcap and bed by 11.00pm
Saturday 15th October (Day 48)
So Plan ‘A” set a while ago was for our next stop to be Salamanca. Chris’ facebook memories yesterday evening was our visit to …… Salamanca. So plan ‘A” was changed and we have decided to go to Segovia. (It sounds like an eastern European country in a Johnny English film.) The route skirted Madrid but a traffic warning for heavy traffic caused us to go via Ávila. It added forty minutes but is better than heavy city traffic. It turned out to be a good decision, or not a bad one at least. The route was over some low mountains with lots of trees changing their autumnal colour. At one point we were being flashed by on coming vehicles. A bit further on there was large number of police, an ambulance and even a Spanish HEMS. There were people sat around in the road and at least one car on its roof. On this part of out trip the birds of prey have changed from buzzards to red tailed kites. We stopped in Ávila for diesel at a good price around €0.20 per litre cheaper than elsewhere and then continued on. We were unsure whether to spend one or two nights at Camping Acueducto about 3km outside Segovia. On arrival it was decided we would stay one night as they closed tomorrow. While choosing a pitch the nice Dutch couple Albert and Miriam or ‘up’ and Miriam) from next door at the previous site waved hello! Lunch was first on the list and then the bikes were unloaded and we cycle the 3km into Segovia. Segovia is famous for several things; it is supposed to have one of the most beautiful castles in Spain, many Romanesque churches and palaces and then there is the aqueduct. This is in the centre of the town and one of the greatest Roman constructions still standing. It is almost 30m in height. We locked up out bikes and, armed with a tourist map, were off. It was very a very busy city. The first main stop was the cathedral which from the outside was quite stunning, However inside (€3 per person oap rates) was ‘Myyaah ok’. We continued on and the castle was a pretty one and solid also. We paid to go in (€7 and yes oap rates). We could not go up the tower as this is a timed event and all the tickets were sold out. The castle itself, ignoring the armoury, was a delight. A gentle stroll back in to the old town and the main square and we stopped for a beer. While drinking and people watching the Dutch neighbours walked past and we hailed them and they joined us. Albert (‘up’) and Marian are so easy to get on with. She went to Cambridge University and Up was a policeman of equivalent rank to Inspector and much chatting around pricing was had. Drinks finished we walked to the top of the aqueduct before descending to our bikes and then cycling home. There we sat outside, but for only about half an hour as it had chilled down. We packed away our chairs and tables as we are likely to eat outside tomorrow morning we think. Our next issue is that Plan ‘A’ was to take us into the Picos Mountains before catching our ferry home. As we need electric hook up, as the gas cannot be refilled, all the camp sites in the Picos mountains are now closed. A rethink is needed!
Sunday 16th October (Day 49)
Toast for breakfast, the first in 49 days and such a simple delight. Them it was get sorted to move on. We had selected a city called Burgos as it was about the only camp site we could guarantee electricity. It happened to be where ‘Up’ and Miriam intended to go. We had a good run of about there hours with a quick stop for AdBlue. On arrival at Camping Fuentes Blanca (an ACSI site) we found ourselves in a queue of about six. That said we were soon processed and parked up. Linch followed and then a cycle into Burgos about 3km of off road cycleway. Locking the bikes up we paid to visit the cathedral as it is a UNESCO site and so meant to be a ‘wow’. €16 for old ’uns. Outside it was very elaborate and good. Inside it was good but we had seen better (queues ALBI in France). El CID is buried here. After the cathedral a coffee was in order and then a walk song the river. Chris, while not covid positive, is still very bunged up so a visit to a Pharmacy was in order to get some a decongestant. A cycle back and then a laze around until a late dinner, around 8.00pm. Soon after we quickly went in as it stared to rain, well not really rain but it was late so we went in.
Monday 17th October (Day 50)
So today we awoke to some blue skies but the threat of rain. Shall we stay or shall we go? Well we stayed. After breakfast etc we continued to deliberate but finally got on our bikes and cycled into Burgos. We had been recommended to view a monastery which, while not open, was ‘worth a look’. So we overshot the city and, well, it was not. Back into the city we secured the bikes and took off on foot, just as it started rain. A coffee was in order. Then we went fore the hike to the castle as always at the top of the hill. While it afforded good views and was free entry it was disappointing, just as well they did not charge. Back down in the city we strolled around aimlessly just looking. At one point we bumped into ‘Up’ and Miriam. Again the rain started so we opted for a bit of tapas and a beer. The tapas ws unusual; once was stuffed boiled egg and a coating of some sort the other was puff pastry (I think it was filo) with bacon, leek and béchamel sauce, the third dish was potatas bravas. The rain stopped and we decided to return to the site via a garden centre (closed) and a Mercadona. Having put the for in the fridge etc we got back on our bikes to see Carteja de Miraflores. It was only a short cycle from the site. We had n idea what it was but just thought we should see. Well we arrived at 3.45pm and it did not re-open until 4.00pm so we waited. It is a Carthusian Monastery with the monks still residing. It was free to enter but we paid €2 for a guide in English. It was a gem and very interesting and we spent nearly an hour there. The monks were at prayers ad the chanting was quite haunting. Homeward bound was all down hill and having arrived we put the bicycles back onto the motorhome. We then took our chars to join ‘Up’ and Miriam for a beer and a wine. Chatting was so easy as if we had been friends for years. The threat of rain materialised just after 6.30pm and we both scuttled in.
Tuesday 18th October (Day 51)
No rush as usual. By about 9.45am Up and Miriam said their goodbyes and were off. As they went so we moved to fill with water then we also left. First stop a supermarket for some fresh milk. Then northwards towards Santander. Chris still has a bad cough so we detoured into a little village for a pharmacy for some cough mixture; it was shut. A few miles further on and success; let us hope it works. We were making our way to an aire, the Barrio Ontaneda in, would you believe, Ontaneda. It was just off route 643. We were happily driving along it when our satnav stated “take the next road on the right”. Well we did and had a lovely drive over very Dartmoor like countryside, mainly narrow roads. That said for part of the way we had fog / mist / were in the clouds and then it suddenly cleared. After about fifteen miles or so we rejoined the 643. Strange. Again great scenery with high mountainous rock faces and a twisty ‘up and down’ roads snaking between them. Spectacular views also. A very pleasant drive. At one point we had a 7km steep downward journey. Part way we stopped for a short while as I could smell our brakes and it was not a road for them to stop working. Eventually we arrived at the aire and had to work out how to get in. English instructions but still not the best. Eventually we got the barrier to open; €7 for 24 hours with full services including EHU. We soon got sorted and walked into the town. A few bars and restaurants, a supermarket (Dia), two bread shops and a few other shops mainly along the one main road. It was lovely and hot, if a bit breezy so we got the bikes off the back as we are right on the ‘Pasa Verde’; a green cycle / walking route following an old railway line. We cycled ten miles along it and then returned stopping a couple of miles short for a beer. The return journey was into a very strong wind and needed extra power from our batteries. Back at the aire it was too hot to sit in the motorhome so we got our chairs out and sat on the nearby grass for over two hours watching the sun set over the mountains, people watching on the Pasa Verde and just relaxing. Just after 7.00pm the wind had died down and we packed up and went inside.
Wednesday 19th October (Day 52)
So after breakfast which involved a went minute return walk to the brad shop we got sorted and left. It was only about an hour plus to the camp site. Again a lovely drive through the hills. Arriving at Camping Virgen del Mar, an ACSI site we booked in by about 11.00am. A lot of the pitches were quite tight but we soon got pitched up. We then walked down to the beach area and had a coffee. Bak at the site we had lunch and then trued a walk along the shoreline. This was not possible so we returned to the motorhome got our books and returned to the beach to ‘slob and read’. I decided to sleep! Around 5.00pm we returned and chilled in the motorhome as it was looking like rain. We had not decided where to eat ad looks dat the camp site menu and then opted for the local bar. Unfortunately they stoped cooking their minutes before we arrived so it was back the site for grub. It was good but not great.
Thursday 20th October (Day 53)
So we discovered ate yesterday that can park in the Port and then wander into Santander. SO after breakfast and a fill / empty routine we eft around 9.45am for the twenty minute trip to Santander Port. We checked in and parked up. While checking o they gave us the cards for our cabin which also operated the gate to exit / enter the port. While sunny and warm the wind was very strong which suggested a bump crossing of the Bay of Biscay. We strolled around and got a bit of info from the Tourist office. Santander did not really give us much of a ’wow’ factor. We started with a coffee and then it was €1 each to see the cathedral (average). After that just a stool around the old town and the market and them along the prom and back. At the motorhome we had lunch and watched the ferry from Plymouth dock. Debbie and Steve Green from the Chausson Group were on board so we stood by the exit and waved at them like wallies. Then it was time to load the ferry for the return. This was quite a slow process but we found ourselves near the front of the queue for disembarking. We found our cabin was still being cleaned so we sat in a lounge waiting to dump our stuff which we did about 3.30pm. Just after 4.00pm we were off. It turned out that the crossing was quite mild with only a moderate sea, enough to cause you to walk a bit ‘side-to-side’ but only a bit. We had an evening meal then read and people watched. It was strange as everyone was talking between groups to partners about politics. It seems that Liz Truss after 44 days as Prime Minister has resigned. Just as well as she managed to cause the £ to plummet with a disastrous budget that she warned against bringing in. That said who could be next? We shall see. Around 10.30pm we went to our cabin and sleep soon came with the gentle rocking.
Friday 21st October (Day 54)
We were showered and dressed by just before 9.00am and on deck having our breakfast. Then it was less than two hours until we docked. A quick duty free purchase and then sit and wait. We were soon called to our vehicles and, despite being expressly told not to congregate on the stairway until called, lost of numpties were doing exactly that. That meant we had to push our way by these moronic imbeciles. They could not get off until we cleared drove off the deck below their car decks. So we were around the 8th or 9th off the boat. First things first was diesel and we did not realise it but we found a garage at a good price (£1.80/l). Next was the drive to Chris’ Auntie Paddy. Before arriving we stopped at the ASDA around the corner from her and did a covid test which we both showed negative. So we telephoned Paddy and asked if we needed to bring lunch (which we did). So we arrived about 1.00pm and then chatted the afternoon and evening through. being joined by Dave and Debbie around 5.00pm who brought a spaghetti bolognaise. They left around 10.00pm and so we toddled of to Billina which we had parked in the lay-by around the corner.
Saturday 22nd October (Day 55)
A good nights sleep and we used some of the precious gas left in the bottle to heat the water for a shower. By 9.00am we were back at Paddy’s having a cup of tea before saying our goodbyes. We were unsure of our destination at this point except for a service station that had LPG to see if it was our foreign adapters or the gas bottle that was the issue. 21p of gas; so the bottle is knackered. We then drove off to the next services on the A38 to sit and decide a stop over. Eventually we settled on The Bridge PH, Tibberton, Worcestershire on the Avon Canal. It was about 140 miles to it. We stopped at another services for a quick lunch and arrived at the pub about 3.30pm. Parking was tight and the electrics connection was run out from the kitchen. But all good. We sat for a while and then decided to go for a walk along the Avon Canal. As we left… it rained and so we delayed things. About thirty minutes later it stopped and we went for walk, about three miles in total. 7.00pm saw us in the Bridge pub for a meal. It was a good meal and just the main course was too much for either of us. At 8.00pm there was live music and it was a single person playing acoustic covers. He was absolutely brilliant. He took requests fro Metallica to Ed Sheeran. Two one hour sets. 11.00pm saw us in the motorhome getting ready to retire.
Sunday 23rd October (Day 56)
As morning broke it rained - stair rods! It was about ninety minutes before it eased off and then stopped. We had not decided on tonights stop but we knew it would be a short drive. As such we took our time and had fried egg of toast and also searching around for a site near to Stratford-Upon-Avon with electrics that did not cost a fortune. Eventually we settled on Pebbly Barn Farm, Moreton-in-Marsh. We rang and they had space so off off we ent. A short stop at a Tesco today’s lunch and dinner. By about 12.15pm we were sorted at the farm. Lunch was soon had and thence walked into Moreton-in-Marsh. We are not sure whether we have been here before but it did not ‘ring any bells’. Up and down the high street with a short stop at The Bell Inn and then a walk back. We covered almost six miles. Having got back; how lucky we were. Again the heavens opened. It lasted about forty minutes and then we just had a few showers. A stir fry and then a sit and watch some UK tv.
Monday 24th October (Day 57)
Some more rain in the night but the promise of a better day. We were up ‘early’ and after a shower and breakfast we emptied both refry and black waste. We did not fill with water as today we will be home. We left just after 9.00am and our first stop was at Over Motorhomes at Stratford-Upon-Avon. It s just as well we had the coordinates of the place as it was not marked. Well it does have a sign and it is quite big but it is up a track about 500m long. We had the damage looked at and will get an estimate for the insurance company. Next we stopped at the leisure centre in Stratford to go to the Vodaphone shop to try and sort my data issues. The Vodaphone shop sorted it in just a few minutes. We returned to Bilna and were off home stopping for just a few minutes in Chatteris for today’s lunch and dinner., arriving at the bungalow at 1.20pm.
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