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This time we're off to the Western Isles of Scotland!

In Conclusion

The trip was always meant as an experiment, to see if we were happy to stay away from home for an extended period and we could manage in the “confines” of the van. As regards the latter, of course, one of the main considerations when we bought “Bertie” was to have enough room for extended tours, and in this we feel we have been successful.

So, would we do it again? The answer is an unmitigated YES, although with the experience under our belts, it would be done slightly differently. To start with, we would leave a little earlier, although family commitments preclude before New Year. We would then travel directly to the far south of Spain, not in any particular rush, but so that we could get to the better weather sooner and then stay there for a longer period, perhaps as long as a month on a nice site to take advantage of the tremendous discounts.

After that we would look more at touring Spain properly – we missed visiting some of the larger cities, quite deliberately as this time it was an exploration trip. Once the weather started to improve we would then start heading north through Portugal – we feel the weather did not give us the chance to do it proper justice. Our intention would then be a slow return home, probably in early April, although this would also mean some technical changes such as MoT and insurance renewal considerations.

We came home with a list of fairly minor changes to equipment and kit taken with us. On stripping the van ready for service and MoT on our return, we realised that there was hardly anything we hadn’t used and so wouldn’t put back. Three weeks worth of personal clothes and bedding, taking the opportunity to use a site laundry every couple of weeks, worked very well (yes, we DID bring back unworn stuff but it was “just in case”).

Everything else appeared to go smoothly – drawing cash at machines as we went along isn’t the cheapest way of financing but we didn’t want to carry large amounts of Euros; perhaps we need to look at that. We were a little surprised that a goodly number of places we stayed at did not accept credit/debit cards.

The Gaslow refillable gas system was ideal as it was simplicity itself and, although there were not many filling opportunities in Spain (other countries being much better) our low usage, due to electrical hook-up and warm temperatures, meant it was never a problem. It was easy to work a gas-refill into our travel plans.

Navigation was easy; we used a netbook running Autoroute 2011 with the satellite navigation add-on for general way-finding and a basic Garmin nuvi250 satnav to generally forecast the road as we went along and then to find our destination. We carried Michelin National maps for general reference but found following the signposts was, mostly, the easiest way to get where we were going.

For campsites we had a fairly comprehensive database on the netbook, which could be called up as and when we needed it, the ACSI site books (very worth having, saved us quite a lot of money), the Caravan Club European sites handbook, All the Aires France and All the Aires Spain & Portugal, plus a couple of oddments picked up along the way. Additionally we carried the Rough Guides to Spain and Portugal which provided us with plenty of other information. We never booked a site in advance and only once were turned away, though a couple of times it was close….

So, what about the “numbers”? We kept a record of everything we spent.

We travelled 4341 miles and were away from home 58 nights. We used 742.5 litres of diesel giving an average consumption of 26.5 mpg. Fuel prices tended to be fairly even throughout the trip, generally the same numbers in euros as in pounds in the UK. Supermarket filling stations were always the cheapest. We refilled with 56 litres of gas costing £36.91 (66p per litre, shame the engine won’t run on it!), most of this used on the journey down and on the way back. We spent £545.59 on campsite fees, finding Spain much more expensive than Portugal (we spent hardly anything in France, using the Aires which, at this time of year, were usually free).

Our food costs were somewhat less than our normal – although we did take quite a lot of stuff with us, we still noticed that shopping in the supermarkets was a little less expensive than in the UK. We’re lucky in having a decent size fridge with a small freezer box that proved quite adequate for our needs and shopping regularly helped.

But the overall costs reveal the real story. Ignoring indirect expenses such as depreciation, insurance etc. but including our spending money (we’re not extravagant) the holiday cost us the princely sum of……… £37.23p per day, for the two of us. Not bad eh?

Roll on next year!

Tuesday 5 March 2013

This is the last leg of our trip, well the continental bit; we've still got the run home in the UK of course.

The route up to Calais is familiar to us, having done it at least twice before. Called in to Auchan to refuel with cheap diesel for the last time and also refill the gas, though we don’t actually need it.

All other errands having been completed, we then went to the harbour aire to park up for the day, arriving at lunchtime. And it was so warm, we got the chairs out and sat in the sun!

It's warmer than Spain!

This is a popular aire with motorhomers of all nations and we spent a pleasant hour chatting with the neighbours before getting chips from the chip van (we’re oh so Continental in our eating habits) for our tea. 

We were asked if Britain was a good place for motorhomers. Our reply was that we’re all over here, so draw your own conclusions!

Homeward bound!

And so we say farewell to France, together with Spain and Portugal (and not forgetting Gibraltar!) Hopefully it will not be too long before we are back.

(When we get round to it, we'll post a summary of our thoughts and observations, just to tidy it all up and make a permanent record)

Monday 4 March 2013

An early start to enable us to get back on schedule into a bright sunny day, if a little cold (like freezing?) at first.  A bit of cross-country then fast N and D roads quickly got us around Chartres (would have liked to have a look at this city but we don’t have the time to spare on this occasion) and on the road to Rouen. Unlike our journey down, Rouen was no problem, and we managed to get a glimpse of the cathedral.

Rouen Cathedral

From there it was another good fast run to Abbeville – we could have used the motorway, this section being toll-free but we stuck to our principles. Although Calais was within reach we decided not to stretch the day too much and headed for the coast at Le Crotoy, in the Baie de Somme. The book told us of a nice aire here so that’s where we aimed for. A quite large sandy park, overlooking the harbour was being enjoyed by several other motorhomes but we managed to get a good spot before the crowds flooded in – not really, it was plenty big enough for the 30 or so vans eventually parked up.

Across the harbour at Le Crotoy

A walk along the front and into the small town – not much happening until the season opens in 3 weeks’ time, though there will then be a good choice of restaurants, mainly seafood. Back to the van and enjoy a quiet night before the last, short, run up to Calais tomorrow.  It’s nearly over!

(Some consolation – we heard from our friend Tony that it’s pouring rain at La Manga!)

Sunday 3 March 2013

Another “get some miles behind us” day so it’s just a repeat of yesterday except that now we’re on typical French roads – long, straight and tree-lined passing through towns and villages.

Unfortunately it became apparent that although we could easily make our target area, there were no stopping places there! All the campsites we've seen are closed at this time of year, leaving only aires so a rethink. The couple we met at Millau had recommended Beaugency so a quick check of the map showed it would only be a short diversion, although we would (again!) be short of our target.

Not to mind, it’s now sunny and warm so an early stop wouldn't go amiss. And we were happy to do so as Beaugency is a lovely little town and has connections with St. Joan D’Arc. The aire is right on the banks of the River Loire next to a popular car park and petanque courts, both very busy.

The River Loire

St Joan D'Arc

The bridge at Beaugency

Tomorrow we’re going to have to do some serious miles.

Saturday 2 March 2013

Very cold overnight, ice and frost where the sun had not yet reached, but it WAS sunny so after the usual routine, back up onto the A75 to continue the run north. From Millau the road climbs steadily, peaking at over 3700ft.

However as we climbed so the weather once again decided to spoil the fun and once over the top we were engulfed in freezing fog with snow still lying in the fields and the trees frosted over. Brrrr!

Descending towards Clermont Ferrand the mist abated but the sky remained grey and cold. Once clear of this major conurbation we went back onto the D roads, which now became typical French, miles of long straight stretches interspersed with towns and villages. At our lunch stop we changed our plans for the route home to avoid Paris and instead head for Orleans and Rouen, mainly because there were few aires on our original route whereas there were plenty going via Rouen. To this end we noted what looked to be quite a nice spot at Moulins and after a bit of a fracas (trying to go to the wrong place!) found a very quiet ex-campsite by the river just over the bridge.

Still cold and grey, we’ll leave our usual exploratory walk tonight!

Friday 1 March 2013

A very wet night and well into the day. From Sant Feliu we headed on up to the border using ordinary roads and through the border town of La Jonqera – what an absolute dump of a place!

But from there on the scenery started improving as we got further into France. After a stop for lunch even the weather started improving and before long we were heading up into the area known as the mid-Pyrenees. After struggling through several small towns and villages, and being way behind schedule, we decided to take the A75 motorway. Okay, it’s against our principles but at least it was free and anyway we would only have been running alongside it on the D-roads.

As we climbed so the weather broke and before long we were once again in brilliant sunshine. Our rate of progress indicated that Millau was a good place to stop so we programmed the aire into the box. As we dropped down into the Tarn Gorge, in which Millau is situated, the scenery was spectacular. Bren tried a few photos from the van but, as always, they do no justice to reality. Here’s a couple anyway.

Dropping down to Millau

The Millau Viaduct carrying the A75

Settled in, cuppa and then a walk round this lovely town. We decided that this was an area we would love to come back to and explore properly.

Thursday 28 February 2013

Awoken at 3.00 am to thunderstorm and torrential rain - yep we were right, we've seen the last of the sun! Still raining at getting up time so it was a very wet and bedraggled Terry (who volunteered!) servicing the van.

Today we start our return home in earnest, working our way up the coast into France then north across country. We won't bore you with a blow by blow account, just show you a few pictures we took between the showers.

Roundabout art, near Cambrils

More just up the road

We by-passed Tarragona then headed for Barcelona and here's where it all went wrong! We discovered our planned route took in toll roads, and being the cheapskates that we are, we don't use toll roads! Now anyone who has driven around Barcelona will know that it is worse than Spaghetti Junction and inevitably we managed to get onto the Ave. Diagonal, the main road that runs straight through the middle. In rush hour. Well T has been here before so just carry on and take some pictures while we're at it. At least it had stopped raining!

No idea. Somewhere off the Ave. Diagonal

Lots of roundabouts, lots of traffic lights and millions of black and yellow taxis.

This building was at the bottom end of the Diagonal, and the area is now totally different to what T remembers. There was also a dearth of road signs, trying to follow the netbook was hopeless so inevitably we got lost, ending up in the commercial port area and having to retrace our steps. Eventually, in a little side street somewhere, we came across a signpost! At last, no longer lost Not where we wanted to be but not lost.










So we were spat out back on the coast road and found our way back onto our route. The sea was very rough with large waves crashing onto the narrow beaches, threatening the railway which was all that was between us and a good wetting.

Now way behind our schedule we revised our plans for a stop. Fortunately a bit of research told us of a couple of aires just beyond Lloret de Mar so we headed there, an area visited more than a few times in T's professional past.

For once the book got the directions right and we came straight to the aire at Feliu de Guixol, near the bus station, and joined several more vans for the night. Then it started raining again.

Wednesday 27 February 2013

The wind has dropped, the sun is shining, we've managed to position the van so we've got full sun all day.

So we're going to make the most of it!

Must remember not to leave the camera lying around!

We might not get another chance - tomorrow we're starting north properly.

(Note: Blog might get a bit erratic from hereon - depends on getting WiFi)

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Yesterday was a stay put day; although the sun was shining brilliantly out of a blue sky, there was a strong cold wind blowing so the day was spent "indoors", planning our journey home.

So today we've programmed a further run up the coast, again sticking to ordinary roads wherever possible. But the whole countryside has changed to extensive industrial development, including a huge Ford plant just north of Valencia, which we skirted on the Ronda. There also appeared to be quite a number of factories in the ceramic industry. The towns and villages were very ordinary, quite different to what we'd found further south, obviously serving the local industry. 

There was even a shortage of supermarkets: gone were the edge-of-town retail parks and we were well into the day before we spotted a Carrefour in Vila Real, off the main road and a bit of a pig to get to but we managed.

Not quite sure where this was....... Cullera?

So we spent most of the day in quite heavy traffic which was obviously avoiding the toll AP-7 motorway, although the N340 is a very good road.

Castello de la Plana

We had thought we might get to just south of Tarragona but trying to find a water pump (failed again!) and the heavy traffic meant that by stopping time we were only as far as Peniscola. Not to worry as there were several campsites, one of which had been personally recommended so we spent 20mins going round in a big circle (again) trying to find the entrance to Spa Natura Resort, which is a little way outside the town.

Spa Natura Resort

And before you all jump to conclusions it's NaturA, not NaturISTa! (It ain't warm enough for that!)

A very well laid out, medium-sized site with lots of amenities, including a pool and health club. We were offered 2 types of pitch, a basic (i.e.cheap) and a much nicer fully serviced, roomy place, complete with AstroTurf for surfacing! We booked for 2 nights.

Sunday 24 February 2013

Moving on today - La Manga is a very large site and although very nice it is a little noisy from passing site "traffic" i.e. gabby people! So, off north again in brilliant sunshine and on the way try to find a new water-pump - for the domestics, not the engine - as it is getting very noisy and we don't want it to fail at an inopportune moment. Of course it is Sunday (and to keep it simple, the first place didn't have the right model, although I could probably have adapted what they did have, and all the rest were closed. We'll try again later.)

More roundabout art in Elche
Mummy and baby giraffe

We're definitely on the Costa Blanca now and, past Alicante with its large airport, the coastline is mostly continuous modern towns and villages, dedicated to, or supporting, tourism. The countryside just inland is also quite mountainous, the ground rising around 5 km from the coast and we could see the ubiquitous white Spanish villages climbing the slopes. There also seemed to be quite a lot of new development too.

Inland from Benidorm

Of course, there is one name that covers the whole gamut of tourism, and that is Benidorm. Passing the town that gave Spain it's tourist industry, it is quite obvious that it is nowhere else!

Skyline of Benidorm

Out of interest the picture shows what once was the tallest hotel in the region (and Terry has actually stayed there - another story) but on the very left of the picture is a new construction, nearing completion, which looks like it will take that crown. We tried to get a photo as we passed; it consists of two narrow towers joined across at the very top by a futuristic-looking bridge of several floors - won't get us staying there!

For our stop, we'd picked out several places, including Benidorm, but the day was still young so we continued along quite a scenic road to Calp (or Calpe - many places in this area are also spelled in Catalan)
and after missing the turnoff found a very nice town. Unfortunately the campsite, right on the edge of town, was full. We've noticed that, from being deserted in the south, as we've moved into the popular holiday areas so the campsites are getting more full, with many people staying for long periods, 2-3 months is not uncommon.

Cap de la Nau - Javea

So we continued up the coast to Javea (Xabia) to another ACSI site on the edge of the town, which we had a fine old time of finding, circling it at least once before we found our way in. We could see it but...... At first we thought we were going to be turned away here too, but for 2 nights the nice lady found us a space.

A short walk took us to a suburb of the main town right on a lovely beach with restaurants, bars, gift shops and the supporting commerce. Back to the site as it got dark and started to turn very cool.

Friday/Saturday 22/23 February 2013

There's really nothing to report, we stayed put at Caravanning La Manga. A little shopping, a little cleaning and a lot of lazing about. The weather has been warm and dry although occasional clouds and breezy winds have reduced our ability to enjoy the sun. We are still wandering around in shorts and T-shirts though!

We've now decided on a date to return home and have booked a ferry for March 6. So, although we're already on our route, it's time for some serious planning so that we're not rushing up the motorways but then again not having to kill time. We were going to route back across Spain to the SW France border then more or less back the way we came, but think that we've a better choice of stopovers if we continue along the coast, past Barcelona and into France via Perpignan then north.

So tomorrow we'll head for one last extended stop and then start to make our way home.

Thursday 21 February 2013

Well, we got unstuck OK and the day is warm and sunny again so after breakfast, service the van and on our way.

Target today La Manga, just east of Cartagena. Used the autovia for a while before turning off at Vera to find a supermarket for, you guessed it, more supplies. From then on we took the minor roads, really enjoying the scenery. A couple of roads were marked as special tourist routes and were into the mountains - it would have been much quicker to use the toll motorway, but we don't do rush and we don't do tolls. Photos really cannot do credit to the real thing, but here's a couple of tries.

Aguilas

A mountain road somewhere today

More scenic roundabouts

Cartagena from a distance

Cartagena was another fine clean, tidy and bustling city. We drove through the centre looking to refill our gas bottles, such facilities being rare in Spain, though plentiful elsewhere in Europe. The obliging attendant told us he expected Spain to start catching up in the next 12 months.

Our destination, La Manga del Mar Menor, was about half an hour away and situated on the southern end of the Mar Menor, or Little Sea, a sea lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow spit of land. It has been quite comprehensively developed as a tourist area and La Manga Caravanning is HUGE. As well as around 100 holiday chalets and some "permanent" units, there are around 950 touring pitches, each a nice size, surrounded by hedges for privacy and fully serviced, with all the facilities we could possibly need. We don't normally go in for this type of site but it is an ACSI, (a discount scheme operated all around Europe) and is only 14 euros which is cheap for Spain.

Sunset

So we booked in for 3 nights and after settling in, went for a walk around the complex. (The bar/restaurant is offering English fish and chips tomorrow!) before returning to the van just as it got dark.

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Dull and cloudy day yesterday, as forecast, so we didn't do much. However, overnight we appear to have had Spain's entire annual rainfall in 5 hours. And this morning.....

Err, Houston we have a problem...

Stepped out of the door into 3 inches of mud. Tony managed to get off okay but when we tried to move we just sank in.

Oops

We could probably have got off but as we were not leaving today, on the advice of some Germans who came to assist, decided to not make matters worse and wait for the ground to dry out - they said it would be okay tomorrow. Another (Brit) told us the site manager would pull us off if it became necessary.

So, apart from getting a bit muddy whilst trying to do the tanks etc., we left it at that. And as I write this the sun has come out and things are drying rapidly. We'll let you know!

Monday 18 February 2013

Moving on today to meet up with a work colleague at Las Negras, in the Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar. Our route is again along the coastal roads, stopping off at Adra for some supplies, and through the various towns and villages. Initially there were more acres of plastic but they ended past Adra and the scenery again became hilly dry and brown, with white-painted villages clinging to the hillsides.

The town of Puebla Vicar was very smart and seemed to have something of a roundabout-art fetish. Numerous junctions on the main road through the town all had different themes, sculptures, call them what you will, so here are a few piccies we managed to catch as we went along.

The town of Almeria, which we ploughed straight through the middle of, is the port for ferries to Melilla in Morocco and was obviously geared to that activity. We got a little mixed up in ferry traffic that had just arrived but no problems, just busy. Leaving the town, our route now took us off the main road into the Parque Natural, for a change satnav, netbook and the signposts all agreeing! As the name implies, there was no cultivation and few villages, just a rolling, sometimes mountainous countryside which eventually dropped down to the sea at Las Negras.

A small seaside village, the large campsite of El Nautico de la Caleta is situated about 1km along a narrow road in its own bay surrounded on the other three sides by steep-sided hills. The site was virtually empty so that we could pitch wherever we wanted – in theory. However almost all the pitches were covered, for shade in the summer, and we could not get the van underneath so rather than take up eight or ten bays by parking in the middle, we chose to pitch together with Tony in an open piece of land. We still had all the facilities available to us but we felt that this site could be restrictive to motorhomes larger than campervans during the full season. Nevertheless the English-speaking receptionist could not have been more friendly and helpful, so we booked in for 3 nights.

Later we had an acceptable, if not memorable, dinner at the restaurant overlooking the beach.

Sunday 17 February 2013

Washing Day

Less sunny today but a nice breeze makes it an ideal time to catch up with the chores.

It's blackcurrant juice, honest!

A time to sit in the sun, feet up with a nice cool drink and listening to the waves gently breaking on the beach 10m away!

Saturday 16 February 2013

Continuing onward  our intention is to avoid motorways wherever we can and also take a look at the towns and cities as we pass. We are in absolutely no rush.

So first we headed into the city of Malaga, the place where millions have started their holidays on the Costa del Sol for so many years. Busy as expected, we found it quite attractive, not at all like you might think although it is a large city.

We think this was at
Rincon de la Victoria

Working our way out east along the coast, the countryside started to get more mountainous. The N340, in places becoming the autovia A7, has been well reconstructed and is a delight to drive on, by-passing town centres but staying close enough to provide a proper feel of the typical Spanish way of life. There is far less evidence of tourism here, as generally the topography doesn’t lend itself to blocks of hotels and holiday apartments.

We paused for lunch just after Nerja, again a lovely, slightly touristy town, at one of the parking places made out of the old road which, you can see from the pictures, gave spectacular views along the coastline. The road is often up and down, in and out of valleys falling down to the sea and it made a super drive. We attempted to take more photos but the views always seemed to appear suddenly and with no opportunity to stop.

Looking south to Nerja

Typical beach

La Calleta

This, for instance, was La Calletta, a fort built on and into a large hill and overlooking La Herradura (we think!), but trying to get a good picture from the moving van was a challenge and the photo does not do it justice. 

But it does at least provide us with memory reminders, (so yah boo sucks to you!!!)

Sierra Nevada

Whilst at Torremolinos, we thought we could see snow-topped mountains to the north, and during the afternoon we caught glimpses of the Sierra Nevada range, which goes up to almost 12,000ft. A reminder that, despite the warm sunshine we are enjoying, it is February.

Fields of plastic sheeting

Climbing up out of Almunecar, we started seeing lots of plastic covered structures and dropping down onto the coastal plain we saw the land virtually covered with them. This is where, of course, all the winter grown fruit, tomatoes and such, is produced and exported all over Europe. Coupled with the somewhat industrialised area around Motril, this was a less attractive part of the coast, but everybody has to make a living and if this is where it grows well then that is as it must be.

The countryside now changed to the more crumbly brown desert type landscape, lacking much in the way of vegetation, and the villages more separated. The day was getting on and we had earlier identified three possible campsites. The first was right on an unattractive, flat beach and did not appeal. The second was right in the centre of Castell de Ferro, a nice looking town, but not for us. The third was a little further on, again set on a narrow beach at Castillo de Banos which, apart from being the last of the three, looked quite attractive.

At first it seemed quite crowded, but we were told that the Camping and Caravanning Club were holding one of their annual rallies here and had taken over half the site. The rest was just fine, busy but not overly so and, joy of joys, each pitch had water and waste connections as well as electric! No more humping heavy water carriers.

We settled down with mugs of tea to enjoy the late afternoon sun.

Friday 15 February 2013

Once the domestic chores are out of the way spent the rest of the day with the kids on the beach.

Some piccies just for the family!

Adam

Mollie

Uncle Terry, can we............

Again Mummy

We're moving on tomorrow