Thursday 9th December 2010

Tuesday we caught the bus into Malaga where we had a good walk around and along the beachfront. Malaga has a large port and it shows, so far the dirtiest and unattractive city we’ve been to. As we got further from the port end, the seafront did improve slightly but the overall impression was still not good, despite the sunshine!

Wednesday was spent around the camp sorting out what we were bringing home etc. As it was such a lovely day we went for a walk to admire the fabulous views and ended up at the Spanish bar/restaurant just outside the camp entrance, where we sat in the sun and had some of the cheapest drinks we’ve had so far. As we arrived a local guy who had obviously had more than his fair share was leaving, he meandered over to his horse which was tied up nearby and told it in English “Take me home”, maybe it was an English horse? It seemed to understand and plodded off as though this was a usual occurrence!
During the evening we watched a terrific storm over the hills, with  lots of sheet lightning and thunder, it must have lasted nearly an hour. Obviously this was followed by gale force winds and torrential rain!

Today we woke up to a bright sunny morning and temperatures in the 70s. We caught the bus into the next town Alhaurin De La Torre (bus driver not happy as I only had a 20 euro note, oops!) where we had a good walk round checking out the shops and had lunch in a great bar before Lynn and Sarah had their hair cut. The area has some nice newish estates with small parks and children’s play areas as well as some expensive properties (1 million euro). It seems to be an affluent area judging by the cars we saw, lots of nice Mercs, BMW;s and Audi’s. The main road through in lined with trees and well kept grass areas, it even has an exercise area for the elderly, which was being used! Most of the machines are operated from a sitting down position and are specifically designed for the less mobile, no comments please!

Monday 6th December 2010

After a very rainy night, we woke up to a cloudy but warmish morning. Some of the clouds were covering the valley but beneath the hill tops, which was very picturesque. Lynn was very impressed and I obviously explained the hours I’d spent researching it just to find that view! After a cooked breakfast (it feels like a Sunday!) we walked up to the office and saw Pavlo, who we think is Ukrainian (not Spanish) and arranged for the storage etc of “Bella”.

As the sun had come out, Lynn and I went for a walk along a country lane which had very large plots of land either side with Villas on them. Some of which were impressive others needed some work on them, they all had great size plots and views. We stopped after some time when we met a large and free Doberman, who wasn’t particularly friendly! Lynn found the house she wants near the entrance to the camp, hidden behind tall trees, long winding drive, pool, lovely gardens and great views! Roll on that lottery win!

Sunday 5th December 2010

Woke up feeling a little tired as the Spanish kids were still up and running at 1am! After breakfast we left the camp in sunshine and set of towards Malaga, a fairly short and straight forward journey along a dual carriageway, around and through some fantastic hills and across some not so fantastic ravines. As we neared Malaga some of the houses in the hills were lovely, with great views of the coast. As we followed the directions around Malaga and towards the airport we spotted a large shopping complex where we were able to stock up with food and drink as we didn’t know what the campsite would have or how easy it would be to get into the nearest town.

We’d had trouble with the satnav locating the site and were having to rely on the web page directions we had copied earlier, but as it turned out they were spot on. We went through Alhaurin De La Torre which was a very nice affluent town before heading into the hills and finding the campsite. We’re glad we stocked up as the camp “supermarket” is a freezer in the office and you need to catch the bus into the town. We have a pitch at the bottom of the camp with incredible views over the valley and hills, very quiet and peaceful. The manager wasn’t here so the site barman/warden put us on the pitch and said to return tomorrow to see Pavlo to sort everything out.

Saturday 4th December 2010

Sunny day, but windy. Some Spanish families arrived yesterday and began unloading copius amounts of food and drink into their caravans! Last night the noise wasn’t too bad but today we suspect it will be noisier. Lynn and I went for a bike ride to find the best way back to the main road which was really easy as it turns out.

This evening we decided to try the camps bar/restaurant as they advertised a menue of the day for 9 euros. We got there about 7.30pm and grabbed a table in the bar area next to a roaring log fire! The bar was busy with locals but the restaurant was very quiet. We ordered some drinks, I tried the local “Alhambra” beer which was great. After a while the waitress brought over a plate of crisps covered in mayo and several hot battered prawns, they were delicious. At which point I suggested if we sat there long enough we might get a enough free tapas instead of paying for a meal! Obviously that didn’t go down well with Lynn and Sarah! After a while we ordered our meals (with the help of the waiters dad who spoke some English) and more beer. No sooner had we done this than the waitress brought out some more tapas, this time a plate of Olives with bread and cheese, what did I say!! Anyway we had a lovely meal, three courses (plus tapas), a bottle of wine, beers and coffee for 32 euros!

Thursday 2nd December 2010

With the sun shining Lynn decided to do some washing, which sounds simple but entailed interpreting instructions from a German lady and Lynn having a ride in a golf buggy driven by a guy who thinks he’s Alonso!

After breakfast we went to explore the village on our bikes, Its similar to Bicknacre with a church and school as well as a small shop where we stocked up for a few days. It also has at least four banks? The Spanish do seem to have lots of banks a lot of which seem to be region ones?

In the afternoon Lynn and I set out on the bikes to ride along the coast. The beach is made up of small pebbles but is long and clean with showers and wooden paths dotted along it. We passed a couple of motorhomes wild camping on the beach, one next to a sign saying it was forbidden! At the far end was a lovely secluded bay and a large residential area.
Whilst we were enjoying the views I thought I could hear something, yes air hissing out of my front tyre. We found  it had been caused by a sharp thorn, so moved to a bench and began to remove the tyre. The repairs went easily enough, but as we were leaving we found my rear tyre was totally flat and had more of the thorns in it. Both of Lynns tyres also had them in but hadn’t punctured yet. Needless to say it was not so straight forward a job as we hoped and eventually did the best we could and made a hasty retreat back towards the van! We nearly made it before Lynns tyre got too flat so we had to walk the last bit. I think new inner tubes are needed as the current ones look like patchwork quilts!

Wednesday 1st December 2010

A brighter but very windy morning, left the camp by 10.30 and set off to find the dual carriage way heading towards Almeria and the Malaga. This took us through the hills and some great scenery, albeit a head for heights would have helped! We crossed lots of ravines and went through loads of tunnels. As we came out of the tunnel you were faced with a large plain set between the hills and the sea, covered with the plastic green houses. One area must have been similar to Danbury to Chelmsford. As we neared the campsite they had even started putting them on the hill sides as well.

We found the campsite easily enough and selected a pitch near the shower block and which catches some sun! The reception was the friendliest we had encountered yet and has a small supermarket, bar/restaurant on site. The rain had returned so we settled in for an evening of cards and “House”, Chris the girls are still playing as a team!

Monday 29th November 2010

The rain has returned, so no bike ride today. We logged onto the internet to check the weather and it’s not great for a couple of days, more rain is forecast. Whilst on a weather website, I thought I check the forecast for Granada, where we planned to head next to see the Alhambra. There was less rain and the weather looked better later in the week, but we noticed the temperatures are low, around 2 today, going to -2 during the day later in the week and -5 at night! Lynn pointed out this was a little chilly and maybe it would be a better idea to visit it on our way back. In other words “You must be mad if you think I’m going there with those temperatures!” So out came the maps and a quick rethink on our route. We decided to stick to the coast where it’s warmer and found a campsite just over halfway between here and Malaga called “Don Cactus” (I kid you not). We’ll then head for Malaga and the campsite where we are leaving the van. This the girls informed me was a good idea as we had lots to sort out before we fly home. There am I, thinking it was just a matter of throwing a few (Warm) clothes in a bag and jumping on a plane! Silly me!

Sarah has just seen on the internet that you’re due snow and it could be -7 during the night! Will it be a white xmas? Will Priory close due to snow?

Sunday 28th November 2010

Saturday was heavy rain all day, so we stayed in the van playing cards and watching the rain, no shorts today CB!

Sunday morning was bright and sunny, break out those shorts! So after a large cooked breakfast (Sarah is now known as “4 sausage Sarah”) we set of on foot to explore the area and hopefully wear off some of the calories! We left the camp and set off towards the beach, about a kilometre away across what is usually a desert like natural park but due to all the rain has areas of wetlands now! It must be great for birdwatchers, as we saw so many different species of birds, including two wild flamingos, feeding not 20m from us. We later learned from someone on the camp that on Sat there had been around 200 of them, must have been a bit of a squash! We wondered why these two hadn’t left as well, but decided they probably just woke up late!
When we reached the beach, the noise from the waves crashing angrily on the beach was really loud and very impressive. The wind coming straight off the sea whipped up the spray and sand, I told the girls it was a like a free facial! Great for their complexion!

The afternoon was spent back at the van sitting in the sun and drinking coffee, honest. That evening we could still hear the sound of the waves over a kilometre away, it sounded like a motorway.

Friday 26th November 2010

Left our pitch by 9.30am and managed without too much trouble to get out of the side road where the pitches were. It was very tight getting in with us having to “pinch” a bit of a Germans pitch in order to get the van round, but on the way out we didn’t have that luxury as in front of us was a garden wall! Still Sarah & Lynn are well practiced at getting Bella very close to things and guiding me out of tight spots!

We had a good run down the coast but had to use the toll road as not to, would have meant a really long detour. The toll road takes you over, round and through the hills that cover this area and must have been a mammoth task in completing, the 12 euros toll fee was worth it! The scenery was great and we came across whole plains (set between the hills and coast) covered in plastic greenhouses! Massive tunnels covering acres producing fresh fruit and veg all year round, so when you buy your fresh tomatoes from Tesco’s in January this is probably where they have come from.
We found the campsite easily enough despite the distinct lack of road signs on the roundabouts! It’s set in a natural park which gives it, its name “Cabo De Gata” and looks good from first impressions. Here for a few nights hopefully to explore the area if the weather picks up, very cloudy and a little cold with some rain. Maybe just preparing us for home!

Wednesday 24th November 2010

Spent Tuesday doing chores around the van and catching up on washing etc. Lynn and I went for a bike ride in the afternoon to find a better way back from the bus stop in Playa Honda, it was actually really easy, just walk towards the water and turn left, a short stretch of beach and you’re back in the camp and at our end! We also had a nose around a newish housing estate. Nearly all terraced and narrow, but three bedroomed for slightly cheaper than at home, plus 5 minute walk and you’re on the beach!

Today we returned to Cartagena and had a look at some of the historic sites. The bus was late so we didn’t get there until late morning, but at least after a grey start the sun had come out. We had a look round a modern art exhibition which I think is sponsored by the EU and moves every two years, I got the impression that some of it was meant to challenge the way we produce and view art? I did try and find the portrait of Einstein made out of shapes but failed miserably!


Our next stop was a Roman Casa, which was found when excavating some buildings. You can see and walk on the original Roman road and step in through what was the front door. Some walls still remain along with incredible flooring and murals from the walls. The great thing is being able to walk around  the house on a glass raised floor and really get the feeling of being inside the original house.

By now we were getting hungry and decided to walk back towards the quay area. They are doing a lot of rebuilding and it seems they shore up the front of four story building and then demolish the rear! You’re walking down a narrow street and on either side of you are just the building fronts literally two foot deep and then an empty space behind. It reminded us of the film lots at Universal studios! Anyway we returned to the restaurant we used the other day and sat in the sun again having lunch. At the end of the meal the owner brought over the bill and the sweet lemon liqueur, but this time he just left the bottle with three glasses! Happy days!! Sometime later and feeling very happy we set off to find the department store we had found on the internet to buy our luggage for the trip home. We had searched everywhere but couldn’t find any, nor had we come across many larger stores so we were pinning our hopes on this one!

After a long walk across the city (not sure why it took so long but Lynn was navigating and was very happy!), we found the store which was like a posh Debenhams. We did a little xmas shopping and then bought a couple of holdalls for the flights back home, the luggage was very expensive! As we left the store Lynn informed us that we only had 45 mins to catch the bus and it had taken us that long to cover a shorter distance. So we set off at a quick pace despite the rain making the pavement very slippery, this mock marble looks great in the sun but is like ice when wet! I have to say with flawless navigation from Lynn we reached the bus depot with just enough time to buy the tickets and run for the bus, catching it just before it left!

Monday 22nd November 2010

We spent the weekend exploring the area on foot and bike, you can walk around  the water’s edge in either direction for miles. The finger of land which creates the Mar Menor is built up with apartment blocks and one main highway through the middle which has lots of shops and restaurants, it's obviously been designed based on an American beach resort. You can cycle along the length of it, mostly on a cycle lane which is great. On Saturday we came across a small beach, inland side, with around 20 Kite Surfers, these guys were flying about, some literally! It looked great fun! It also has lovely marinas dotted about and the inland sea is great for water sports.

Monday we caught the bus into Cartegena, not being too sure what to expect as it is a naval port, we were pleasantly surprised. The city is small and is undergoing refurbishment all over; the local papers are making a big thing about cruise ships starting to dock here now, so I guess they are trying to make it as attractive as possible. It seems to be working as the marina and quay is lovely, it has some restaurants and a massive statue of a nude male sitting crossed legged, the girls informed me it was anatomically correct and wondered if it was a true reflection of the model! I pointed out that artists like politicians always exaggerate!!

The city has some remains of Roman buildings, which were all shut as it was Monday! So we had a good wander around and spent a long lunch sitting at a restaurant near the quay. We had a great meal, with local wine and the waiter even brought out a bottle of Spanish liqueur to sweeten the bill!

Just as we were finishing a group of four Brits, three retired blokes and a 20yr old grandson, from Newcastle I would guess, staggered over to a table behind us. We'd noticed them in the square earlier, just going from bar to bar, and had obviously been drinking for the past 3-4 hours! Loud, drunk and swearing, you'd have thought blokes in their 60's would have out grown this but no. It's a wonder Europe lets us in!

We finished off the day with a walk around the shopping area before returning to the bus station. We were early for our bus which was lucky as it was obviously going to be full, mostly of Spanish OAP's from La Manga town. As usual once the bus doors opened it was every man, women and child for themselves! This lot would give Linford Christie a run for his money when it comes to getting to the front of a queue. But we made it onto the bus and got seats, the only problem was, whilst the bus picks you up from the campsite, due to the one-way system it can't drop you off there! So we were dropped off in the next village and had a short walk back to the camp. Buts that’s another story!

Friday 19th November 2010

Got an earlyish start and made great time on the journey to La Manga. Passed the outskirts of Benidorm and took the ring road around Alacante which was huge and very industrial on the outskirts. We followed the N332 for most of the way through some nice scenery including a large area of salt pans. As we were looking to change from the N332 to the toll road, we came into a large new town (not on our map) which was straight out of America, the look and feel of the place, even some of the names "Florida & Miami Hills" were very American! Anyway Lynn very confidently said "turn right here" which initially looked like a road heading into an estate but she was correct and we soon came to the slip road for the toll road!

We stayed on the toll road all the way past Cartagena and right up to the campsite where we had to come off the toll road and come back on ourselves to reach the entrance. The site is very large, 1k in length and very wide. It stretches down to the large area of water separated from the Med by a thin finger of land. We booked in and were allocated a plot nearer the water. The main roads are one way and nice and wide but the roads around the pitches are just about big enough! We had a nice pitch which gets the sun virtually all day, albeit the hedges do block alot of it out at this time of year.

Most of the outfits here are long term, with fences infront of their pitches etc. Mostly GB and German, with some massive American RV style motorhomes in an area near the top and on the main road through the camp. These are either big 5th wheelers or coach type RV, again mostly GB, but judging by the American Indian statues etc in the windows, we think they were bought out there and used for touring before being shipped back to Europe.

Thursday 18th November 2010

Woke up to a sunny morning so unhitched the bikes and went for a ride along the prom back towards Altea. Carol it has a large marina  which you’d love, the fish aren’t as big though! Had a lovely ride along the front past some posh looking cafes and a really nice manmade inland sea, must be great for swimming in the summer. Cycled along the outer wall and saw another spear fisherman, this one proudly held up two large fish he’d caught, I quite fancy a go at this! Lynn and Sarah thought I might be more of a hazard with a spear gun! Thanks.

Had lunch overlooking the sea, fantastic views, before heading back to the van. Stopped at a supermarket on route where the English influence was apparent as they had a lot of our brands, albeit very expensive.

It’s been nice being somewhere which is open and has a quiet but normal feel to it. Tomorrow we’re off to La Manga near to Cabo de Palos on the coast just west of Cartagena. Oh and next time you see Lynn ask her about the singing cleaner!

Wednesday 17th November 2010

Awoke to a cloudy and misty morning, whats going on! Having planned to take a picnic lunch and go walking into the nature park today as we think you can walk to a lighthouse set right on the edge, we decided to still go as we were sure the sun would come out and disperse the clouds. We took our shower proof jackets just in case. The park stretches along the coast and has walks across it, as its very hilly we were glad the route we wanted was tarmacked path running around the cliff edge with some fantastic views. As we entered the park it started to rain very lightly, so on went the jackets, no problem. By the time we had got to the top and the lighthouse, it was tipping it down! So we had a quick wander round it and headed back down, it had taken us about an hour to get to the top hopefully we’d be quicker coming down! We were but looked slightly drowned by the time we reached the bottom! Returned to the van for lunch and a warming coffee and brandy.

Tuesday 16th November 2010

Got going earlier as we were leaving and with some expert guidance from Lynn and Sarah managed to get out of the pitch without demolishing any trees or hitting the car parked just where I was turning! Used the aire facilities at the campsite to dump the waste water and refresh the clean. Managed to give Bella a quick wash whilst this was happening before setting off. Left Pliva via its one way system (just ignored the weight restriction!) and rejoined the N332 which took us through some fabulous countryside, quite high up through the hills and the as you came round a bend there was the Med and a great coastline. We headed for Calpe, which looked very nice, but the directions were not accurate and as we reached the start of a narrow busy high street we decided to abort it and try Altea a further down the coast. This involved going from a “straight on” lane across the “Left only” lane and generally causing a little chaos as we maneuvered  around the junction to head back the way we had come.

As we came down the road from the hills entering Altea we saw several beautiful houses set in the trees on the hills. We found the campsite off the end of a promenade and just into Albir. The site was nearly full, mostly with dutch outfits, but we manged to fing a pitch we could fit on. The site has the feel of a dutch village as most of the people are here for the winter. After setting up and lunch we decided to have a walk and explore the area.  Altea is set around a lovely bay and is busy with modern expensive looking hotels. We didn’t realise we were only 5k from Benidorm! But as we walked around the promenade and reached the Albir end where the shops and cafes were, the English influence became more apparent with everything translated into English. We even found an Indian restaurant, our first in Spain! We had a walk up towards a nature park and the views of the hills behind as well as the coast, were lovely. Sarah spotted a couple of guys in wet suits swimming out of a ting rocky alcove with spear guns! Could be painful if swimmer two isn’t careful where his pointing his spear! Despite being so close to Benidorm, Altea seems very nice, we’re looking forward to exploring more tomorrow.  

Saturday 13th November 2010

Spent Friday and Saturday around the campsite and walks along the beach, Friday one direction to a town called “Piles” I make no comment! Today in the other, both have lovely fine sandy beaches and houses located right on the beach. Most of these we think were holiday homes, some rather expensive, probably keep the yacht in the marina and have the house on the beach!

 The temperature today was high 70’s and the van display showed 80.6 for a short while! We even saw a few people, including locals, in swimming but the water temp put us off. We aim to get internet access tomorrow and catch up with the guys and update the blog etc.

As I’m not sure my emails are all getting through, Steve happy birthday for Wed, have a great day!

Thursday 11th November 2010

Had breakfast outside in the sun, before setting off on the bikes into Oliva. A cycle track takes you the 1.5k into the town alongside a small canal. Oliva was busy so we made our way to the old part higher up the hill, where we found a large old church with ornate copper covered doors. This area is made up of very small alleyways and tall buildings with lovely balconies. We came across a guided walk by the church so left our bikes and set off on foot which was much easier! We followed the signs around the old town and came across a street with cafes and shops, feeling a little hungry we stopped at the first one which was advertising English breakfasts. Not having had one for so long we couldn’t resist, the English owner said she cooks them up until midnight! We grabbed a table in the sun and sat eating a full English whilst watching the world go by. As we popped into the restaurant I caught sight of sky news I started to watch then thought better of it and returned to the sunshine.  Feeling very full we returned to our walk before collecting the bikes and cycling back to the van for some sunbathing. Sitting there in the sun Lynn said “I like this life, why didn’t we do it sooner? Where shall I begin!

With the sun getting lower Lynn and I went for a stroll around the neighbourhood. The road by the campsite has some nice normal sized houses and what we suspect are holiday homes, as we’re right on the beach. Over the other side where we cycled this morning, there are some big individually designed houses on what looks like a lovely estate, closer to the marina for access to the yacht! As we walked past the camp and came to the edge of housing we found a huge road network complete with signs, lighting etc but no houses! It seems the economic problems have hit a lot of new building developments.

Sorry we don't have any pictures but it won't let me upload them at the moment!

Wednesday 10th November 2010

Got going a little earlier as we were leaving, paid up and managed to reverse out the pitch without hitting any plant pots! This was one of the cheaper campsites we’ve stayed on but they charged the most, 6 euros a night for Sarah, she insists she’s worth it!

Had a good run down the coast using the N332 which mirrored the toll road but didn’t cost you anything! The area around Valencia was very industrial, even back up around Moncofa. But once you reached Gandia it seemed to get more scenic with green hills to our right and plains in places between them and the coast. It also seemed more prosperous with well cared for orange plantations. Still major road works going on and you actually see people working on them!

Came into Oliva which is a fair sized town and followed the directions, well tried to, but they said traffic lights followed by a roundabout, only there isn’t a roundabout! So we ended up driving through the town high street just as all the children were coming out of school, it was a little busy! The high street is the N332 which is used by everyone not on the toll road, so it’s busy with lorries etc. So it was good to see lots of local police out and about manning the pedestrian crossings, of which there were several! They were all in Hi Vis jackets and (this is for Steve) looked remarkably relaxed, smiling and chatting to the parents and kids, obviously not being hounded about the number of arrests or tickets they have issued that morning! Still it was good to see.

Having realised our mistake we continued through the town before turning around and coming back through it again. We then followed the directions to the site, which is set right by the beach! The women on reception wasn’t convinced we’d find a standard pitch big enough for “Bella” and we may have to take one of the comfort pitches which were larger but you can’t get with the ACSI discount card! So instead of 18 euros a night it would be 40!

So determined to find one big enough we set on foot. The ones that were left were a little small for us, as with sun lounges the Germans had arrived in force and taken all the bigger ones! Lol We found one that looked possible, well not as impossible as the rest! We returned to reception to complete the paperwork and then drove down to the pitch. In order to have the door on the outside we had to go past the entrance and reverse her in. Having got her onto the pitch, well sort of, we realised how tight it was, so resorted to removing the bikes and then doing a little Bristol style parking!! Eventually we made it, not sure how we’re going to get out but that’s for another day!

Tuesday 9th November 2010

Windy but sunny day so set of for a bike ride along the coast. We retraced our route from Monday and marvelled at how quiet everywhere was. As we left the promenade we cycled inland a little to find a new part of the town being built (well it was at one time!). It had a new road layout complete with cycle paths and street lighting, blocks of apartments that looked completed but totally empty, one started but now left and a couple of signs advertising new build, but not started. It was a ghost town and reminded us of the B movies when everyone has been killed and only one man and his dog survived!

We worked our way further along the coast into the next town on the coast and this seemed even more deserted, new housing estate but very little evidence of occupation or life! It seemed rather sad/creepy so we left! Back to Moncofa and some signs of life.

Back at the van we sat outside enjoying the sun and some delicious cakes we’d bought on our way back. We were then joined by a nice guy from the “Brit enclave” at the top end of the site, who stopped by for a chat ( ie dispatched by wife to find out the gossip). He explained that they had been coming here for ten years and now they were retired stayed most of the year, but when we asked about the changes to the town and the “ghost town” a mile or so away, he looked confused and didn’t know. We got the feeling he didn’t stray far from the camp!  He then asked when we were leaving as we could go and join the other Brits (this despite him thinking I was an Aussie!) at the top of the site where they had 10 amps! We explained that unfortunately we were leaving tomorrow.

Monday 8th November 2010

Woke up to a grey and rainy day so decided to leave and travel today as it wasn’t a great day for cycling. Soon packed and left, finding the N340 heading south, this is obviously a major truckers route, but a good road with occasional dual carriageway. Had a good journey down to Moncofa, where we stopped at a supermarket to restock and have lunch. We easily found the camp and went into reception to ask for a pitch etc. We were allowed to choose a pitch and after some deliberation, agreed on one near the entrance. As we walked back to our van, another GB motorhome drove in and went straight for our pitch! The guy on reception quickly signalled for us to take one on the other side and ran round to help us get in. As I was reversing in another guy came over shouting to stop as it was “Impossible” to reverse this van into the space without hitting the carefully laid out plant pots some sad person had put right along the edge of the road in front of their pitch. Now normally this would have resulted in me calmly explaining to this panicking moron that it was quite possible to reverse the van onto the pitch and if he got out of my ***** way I’d show him! But due to my new found inner peace (I read that somewhere) I merely smiled and drove frontwards into the next pitch!

We soon set up and went for a quick cycle ride along the promenade. The beach is long but covered in stones, not sure if it’s naturally like this or  if they have dumped lorry loads onto the beach to prevent it being washed away? The promenade is lovely and has low apartment blocks running along it with the odd house actually on the beach and backing onto the water! But it is deserted, not a sole anywhere! All the apartments look closed up as do all but a couple of café/bars.

Sunday 7th November 2010

Spent the day around the camp, catching up with internet stuff, including skyping home. It was also Sunday roast day! We went up to the restaurant full of excitement (daft I know!) and explained to the waitress we had a reservation. Waitress: “For Sunday lunch”? Me: “Si, well the Sunday roast” (notice my near fluent Spanish……luckily she spoke fluent English!) waitress: ”You book this with me”? “No the other waitress, the other day” Waitress “For Sunday roast”? All three of us in unison “Yes” confused look on waitress’ face!

She showed us to our table and then explained that the other waitress hadn’t passed the message on and that you had to book the roast dinners! As the other table of brits had, but we would have to have the Spanish style lunch. Major disappointment all round, but we tried to put a brave face on it. Sarah and I had salad starters and Lynn thought she had ordered asparagus but in fact it turned out to be spaghetti! This gave us a laugh! For main Sarah and I had ordered chicken and Lynn the pork, we wondered what we would get?

When they arrived the chef had done their best to recreate an English roast dinner. Lynn had two thick slices of roast pork, with gravy and Sarah and I had half a small chicken each with homemade stuffing! We all had Yorkshire puds and veg. the only thing missing was the roast potatoes which were replaced by chips, a small price to pay. We had cheesecake and tiramisu for desert all washed down with a local wine. We left feeling very full and the roast dinner craving mostly satisfied.

Saturday 6th November 2010

After breakfast we rode the bikes to the beach, a much easier route then to the town, even had some cycle paths! Behind the beach are a few hotels, apartments and the general residential area only about 500m deep. The beach was very clean and had huge mounds of sand piled up at the back with walkways every 50m or so onto it. We left the bikes locked up on the pedestrian promenade running along the back and found a quiet spot, not difficult as the beach was virtually deserted! Spent the day sunbathing and paddling in the water which was really cold. Left the beach around 3pm to head back to the van for coffee and some local butter cake, which is probably not very good for the cholesterol but tastes great!

Friday 5th November 2010

Awoke to a slightly cloudy morning but still warm enough to eat breakfast outside, even in the shade of the van, not the sort of weather we’re used to for fireworks weekend! Rode through the fields to a nearby supermarket complex, where our cycle helmets set of the store alarms so we had to leave them at customer services. Sarah went red and got the giggles as the security guard tried to sort out what was setting the alarms off, luckily he let us keep her!

Spent the afternoon back at the camp sunbathing and playing petanque, sorry Carol the girls still lost! We spotted a sign outside the camp restaurant advertising “Sunday Lunch” with a choice of Beef, Pork or Chicken, this was very exciting as we’ve really missed our roasts. Whenever we speak to the guys at home on a Sunday, they are having or have had a roast dinner! So we booked a table and will wait to see what it’s like!

Thursday 4th November 2010

Woke up to sunny morning so had breakfast outside, is this really November? Set off on the bikes along a track through fields of Orange & Olive trees as well as artichokes and one or two as yet unidentified crops! Reached Pensicola after about 3 or 4 kilometres mostly downhill hill but not all!

Came across there smallish harbour and port above which was the old town. We decided to explore, but as it was full of tiny and very steep streets, we left the bikes locked to the fence at the bottom. The old town was lovely, very interesting as it had been the seat of two or three Popes, the main one being Pope Luna (I think!) who had numerous improvements made including a secret passage only visible from the sea! As we climbed around the outside we came to a restaurant with spectacular views over the coast and out across the Mediterranean so we stopped for lunch sitting right by the outer wall. Had a lovely lunch looking out across the sea and occasionally watching the locals do a 90 degree into a side road you could stand in the middle and touch both sides!

The ride home was harder as it was mostly uphill and the sight of Bella and a comfy chair was very appealing!

Wednesday 3rd November 2010

Left Vilanova in sunshine and blue skies, seemed a little strange having been there for over two weeks but we’re all looking forward to finding new places and going further south! We headed back towards Barcelona Airport and found the garage that we hoped sold LPG, it did and after a few minutes of head scratching sorting out which adapter to use (we had to use the Italian adaptor not the Spanish one!), we filled up the tanks and topped up Bella with diesel while we were there. It’s definitely cheaper here, Diesel is about £1 per litre maybe a little less and LPG under 50p a litre. Having finished we began looking for a way to head south along the toll road, but with nothing obvious we decided to head for the airport, they always have plenty of roundabouts….don’t they? After doing a loop around an airport carpark we still couldn’t see a single sign for the way out! We decided to follow the route the buses were taking as they must leave at some point? They do but via the front of the terminals, we had to laugh as only a few days ago whilst picking up Em we had joked “Glad we didn’t have to bring the motorhome along here”. We did acquire a few strange looks from taxi drivers and passengers but found our way out past zone C where Emma flew from!

The rest of the journey was uneventful having decided to take the toll road south to enable us to get to Peniscola at a reasonable time. The scenary was great, mountain ranges to our right (and occasionally in front as we drove through them via tunnels) and the Med to our left. At one time the outside temperature read 80!

We found the campsite easily enough and checked in for few nights. The site is quite small but very clean and the pitches are large enough for us, level and covered in imitation grass! The showers are hot and clean as well as being nice and close. The site has an American feel to it with cabins and a huge neon sign illuminated at night above the lovely but expensive Spa. 

Tuesday 2nd November 2010 (2)

Sunday was “Halloween” and the site was busy with Spanish families. We had a Spanish motorhome next to us with what turned out to be grandparents. By late afternoon there were nineteen family members around the tables eating and drinking. This was followed by group singing to guitar, which made for a great atmosphere. But as the drink flowed the more the singing slipped of key! By the evening most of the children on the site were dressed up and having a ball doing trick or treat around the chalets! Chris you missed a great opportunity!

Monday was a bank holiday and had the XXXX weather to go with it! The Spanish (mostly hungover!) spent the morning saying their goodbyes and departing. We gave Bella a good clean inside and out  before sorting out where we were going to head to next. We’d like to get some LPG as we’ve used one tank and have started the second, with LPG in short supply here its best to keep topped up. We had thought we would have to go back on the motorway to north of Barcelona, where one of the services is shown as selling it. But I think I’ve found a garage that has it near the airport which is considerably shorter, we’ll see! In the evening we decided to cheer ourselves up and head for the bar and a game of cards! We’d been playing an hour or so when we got roped into playing, wait for it……………… yep bloody BINGO! Stop laughing! After a couple of Spanish brandies it didn’t seem so bad!

Tuesday was just like being home after a bank holiday. Blazing sunshine! It’s been a lovely day really hot and even the breeze is warm. We caught the bus into Villanova as we needed to get some cash out and I needed to find a dentist as a filling seemed to have come loose, great! The camp reception had given us details of a dentist but it wasn’t where they had marked the map, so we chose one in the high street. They were excellent, very friendly and the dentist spoke enough English to get by. We only had to wait round 20mins before he saw me and said the filling was fine but I had an infection in the gum, gave me a prescription for antibiotics etc and said I should be fine. Much nicer (and cheaper) than the one we use at home!

Spent the rest of the morning rambling up and down, or should that be down and up Las Rambles, anyway had lunch sitting in the sun at a pavement café before heading for the bus. Oh yes, Sarah bought some new tops in a really nice (expensive) shop, she looks very Spanish in it! Early xmas presents!

On return to the camp it was so warm we spent the afternoon swimming and sunbathing! This is very strange for the 2^nd Nov! But really really great!! As it’s our last night here we had takeaway chicken and chips, delicious! Setting off for Peniscole tomorrow, will update as soon as we can. Bye for now, Lynn Rob & Sarah.

Tuesday 2nd November 2010 (1)

Emma’s visit was eagerly awaited and we couldn’t wait to pick her up from the airport! Having the hire car made this much easier. As it was Chris and Carols last day we all had dinner in the restaurant on the campsite. The food was good, especially the skewered meats, which are hung on the skewer over your plate, but when they say “Chicken with prunes and pine nuts” they mean just that, no veg or potatoes! Had to order some extra chips!

Sarah and I teamed up for the petanque and maintained the winning streak, we developed the knack of saving the game at the last moment by knocking Lynn or Emma’s boules out of the way! Great fun!

We took Emma into Barcelona and up to see the Sagrada familia where she showed off deciphering the meaning of the towers and architecture, very impressive! We then made our way to the Quadrat d’Or (Golden Square), where in amongst all the modern buildings are some of the city’s best examples of Modernista buildings, all wavey lines and mosaic decoration. It also led us to the city’s Las Ramlas (pedestrian high street to you and me) which housed lots of very expensive designer shops! As you can imagine our progress slowed considerably!! Sarah & Em treated us to lunch at a tapas bar, where we entered into the Spanish ethos of long lunches over good food, wine and of course company. Two bottles of wine and numerous tapas we emerged feeling relaxed and ready for more sightseeing! P.S. Lynn made friends with a young spanish man whilst in the restaurant, you just can't take her anywhere! LOL (I'm going to pay for this addition!)
We continued along the Ramlas before heading towards the old town, where we found a street market and lots of interesting shops down the alleyways. Sarah was determined to find her favourite shop so far, its called “Happy Pills” and looks just like a hospital dispensary! But instead of pills you buy sweets, which you can put in hospital style containers and fix appropriate or in some cases inappropriate labels! After much wandering around in circles (my fault!) we eventually found it. Emma was so excited by the various sweets she was squashing into the bottles she’d chosen, she kept dropping the sweets onto the floor!

The next day was spent relaxing around the camp in the sun, followed by dinner in the restaurant. We discovered that they’re very generous with their measures! Saturday came all too quick and after a great morning finishing our Petanque tournament (Sarah and I were victorious), we had Paella for lunch and then it was time to take Em to the airport. The time went far too quickly but it was great seeing her and we consoled ourselves by saying it’s not long to Christmas!

Monday 1st November 2010

Sorry we haven’t updated the blog but we’ve been far too busy having fun! Chris and Carol came out to stay in a chalet on site and then Emma came out to stay with us. It was great to see them all and we enjoyed having friends and family around again. We carried on the sporting challenges between the men and women and I’m happy to say Chris and I remain undefeated!! Sorry Fiona! We ruled supreme at petanque and Chris showed that his natural ability for table tennis is still there! Lynn continually moaned about the spin he could achieve with his balls! The girls came up with a cunning plan, ply the boys with drink and then challenge them at Scrabble! Good idea but we won that too!! It was close and we were a little lucky but we won and that’s what counts!

With Chris having the car we managed to explore the nearby towns and beaches, which were lovely. We had a great stroll (more like a 5 mile route march!) along a beach as Carol spotted a marina she wanted to see. Had a nice lunch by the marina with Spanish “Bravas” and large beers going down well. We then strolled back along the beach (another 5 miles!) to the car, before driving to “Stiges” which Chris wanted to visit, something about “Village People” and parades! The town was lovely, great seafront with lovely beaches etc. After persuading Carol the marina she could see in the distance was actually in Barcelona, we settled for a drink at a café on the end of a jetty, watching the sun go down and the fish in the sea next to us, the water was really clear and still had one or two people swimming in it.

Afterwards we explored the town and found a small Tapas bar in a back street which Chris had found on the internet, (he really knows a lot about this town!). We had a great meal in an authentic Tapas bar, trying lots of different dishes and a bottle of local wine. Sarah is now hooked on their Choritzo sausage and Lynn actually ate some of the calamari and loved it! Sorry boys looks like we may have to share next time we’re in prezzo’s! Chris & Carol thanks for a lovely day and a great meal.

After recuperating at the camp for a day we headed by train to Barcelona, which was really nice. Another lovely sunny day and warm enough for shorts and T shirts! Had a great day exploring the city, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia was interesting but looked more like a building site! We found the park with its woolly mammoth, fountain and amateur high wire artists, if you can call two foot off the ground high wire! Chris found Spain’s version of the “Arc De Triumph”, which as far as we could discover was celebrating the fact it was built? We then headed into the old town with its tiny alley ways full of shops and cafés. By now the sun was low and the wind was getting up so we popped into a café for a warming coffee. Lynn thought she had ordered a large black coffee, so did Chris as he’d said “I’ll have one of those as well please” but when they turned up Lynn had a dble espresso and Chris “I’ve sneezed more than that” a single! They couldn’t wrap two fingers round the tiny cups let alone their hands! I’d gone for a hot chocolate which took ages to arrive, much to everyones amusement. But when it did it was worth it! A large cup of melted chocolate and some hot sugar coated dough fingers to dip into it! Wonderful!

We decided to head home and as we sat on the train we watched the temperature drop, by the time we got off at Vilanova it was freezing cold and windy. Chris decided to show he didn’t feel the cold and walk back to the car with just his T shirt on! Or was it because Carol had his Fleece? We had dinner in WOKS a Chinese buffet where you collect what you want on a plate and then they cook it for you, eat as much as you like, so we did!

Chris and Carol, it was really great seeing you both and we hope you enjoyed your time here as much as we did, looking forward to seeing you on skype. See I didn’t even mention the swimming hats!!!! Oh and Marion says hi or something!

Wed 20th October 2010

W spent a couple of days around the campsite, the indoor pool is lovely and the garden outside is a real sun trap! Afternoons spent swimming and sunbathing! Yesterday we took the local bus which stops outside the camp, into Vilanova. Had a wander around and found a large indoor market selling every type of fish you could think of and a few more. We then walked down to the marina and had lunch at a cafe over looking it, before moving onto the beach area which is great, lovely sandy beach kept really clean and tidy. Caught the bus back in time for a quick swim and sunbathe.

The bar had the champions league matches on in the evening so after dinner we went up to watch the Arsenal match. The evenings are chilly so I wimped out and put jeans on for the first time since left England!

Looking forward to seeing Chris and Carol tomorrow and of course Em next week!

Saturday 16th October 2010

Left early and had a good run down to Spain where we crossed the border at 10.20am. The border was very busy with shops and lorries, it looked like a huge truck depot! We continued along the N11 towards Barcelona, which is obviously the (non toll road) truck route. We past a couple of women standing by the roadside waiting for a lift or something, then one went to pull her top down as we went past and the next was dressed in hot pants! Some had come prepared and had seats and parasols! Well it was sunny and temperatures in the 70’s!

Having made good time we decided to go straight for the campsite south of Bacelona where Carol, Chris & Emma are joining us. Arrived mid afternoon to find the camp fairly busy, the girl on reception explained a lot would leave Sunday evening and it would be quieter during the week. At weekend the Spanish arrive enmass! They gave us a pitch and an escort to find it, unable to get into the road the pitches were off, so were moved a road up where we had a good pitch on the end.

Had a walk around and found the supermarket, bar & restaurant etc, looks really nice with lots to do including two outdoor and one indoor pool. One of which has fantastic views over the coast. Sarah is very concerned about having to wear a swimming hat for the indoor one! This should be fun!

Friday 15th October 2010

Well the day started off well, sunny morning, left the camp in good time and set off to find the D618. Last night we had looked at the map and found that rather than go all the way back to Perpignan, we could go a much more direct route along the D618, which even brought us in on the right road to the Aire we wanted in Amelie-les-Bains. Sure enough not far down the road off a large roundabout we found the D618, it took us into a village, but the signs said no entry for over 12ton lorries or vehicles exceeding 10m in length. As we came out of the village following the signs the road narrowed and then we saw the single track road leading off into the hills. We stopped to look for a way to turn round but that wasn’t going to happen unless we shrank into a mini! A couple of French young men walked past and seeing our hesitation stopped and said that it was OK big lorries go along it. OK then, can’t go back got to go forward!

Please bear in mind Sarah and I don’t like heights!!

The road was just wide enough for us to get through and as we climbed it had a rocky face to our right and a sheer drop to our left! It twisted through 120 degree bends and bridges (just wide enough) in between tight bends! We only just managed to get the rear end out before the front end hit the sheer wall of rock! First and second gear were the order of the day as we slowly crept our way up and down. We past a cyclist who had to stop and let us slowly edge past, but no other traffic for ages. Eventually we had a car behind us but we managed to find a wider spot just after a bridge to let the past. After what seemed like ages we had climbed really high and began to come down when we reached a small village and saw a road sign with our destination on it! Great! Must be getting close! Then we saw the 31 before it, Lynn looked at the map yes not yet a third of the way there yet! We slowly continued through stunning scenery I suspect, but I had my eyes (on 6” stalks) firmly on the road and Sarah was staring intently out the right hand side window! As we got about halfway and at our highest point I did see the snow capped mountains (God they looked close!) the road started to widen and you could let a motorbike past us if you were careful! We started to meet the odd car, luckily either at a passing place or near enough for them to reverse! Generally I stopped as far over as I could and they drove past at warp factor five, with inches to spare! After what seemed like a life time we came down again and entered Amelie-les Bains, a busy spa town. We found a large car park with several motorhomes in it, so we joined them and parked up to catch our breath! Bloody hell, don’t want to do that again! Oh and when you see us ask about the goats!

We went for a walk and found the Aire which was small and down a steep slope, not very inviting so we decided to stay where we were. Had a walk around the town which was very pretty and full of OAPs! I reckon the average age here is 80! Bought some local wine (5lts!) and french pastries to aid our recovery!

Thursday 14th October 2010

After breakfast (fresh bread and croissants delivered to reception), we did some chores i.e. sat in the sun whilst the washing machine did its job! Then set off for a bike ride, followed a route our dutch neighbours had given us, along tracks and lanes back to the town with two names! On entry the signs on each side of the road spell it differently, Millars or Millas! Too much wine for the sign writer at lunch time?

We had a great cycle around the town, had lunch by a ford, where the water was rushing past having come off the mountains. The big kid amongst us played “Pooh Sticks”, I’ll give you a clue it wasn’t me or Sarah! Rode home past some lakes and a large ford spanning a river which was blocked by trees etc and had a JCB digger very gingerly making its way out to the middle to try and clear it, not for the faint hearted. The views were great and the mountains in the distance had snow on the top of them.

Wednesday 13th October 2010

Left Narbonne for the campsite west of Perpignan. Had a lovely drive past some large vineyards and great views. Took the ring road around Perpignan (phew) and headed west through some lovely villages to the campsite. The area had obviously had bad rain overnight (turned out it had been for three days!) The book said they take large motorhomes, hmmm, they seemed slightly surprised at ours and the owners daughter explained in perfect English, that they would put us on a camp road so we didn’t get stuck! We needed to refresh all the water so reversed into the parking area where the waste/water was. Had to do 6 point turn to get anywhere near it and soon attracted some interest from Frenchmen staying here, who shifted plant pots, barrels etc to assist. One even began to try and dismantle the wooden sleepers protecting the disposal point! We explained that wasn’t necessary! After we had finished, the owner took us to a lovely spot in amongst three empty pitches and indicated we should stop there on the road! Very private and secluded, not far from the shower block etc. Lovely small site, owners very, very,  friendly.

Tuesday 12th October 2010

After a good night’s sleep we woke up to sunshine. Lynn and I walked into Narbonne and then spent the day around the van watching a circus set up over the road. Had a chat to some expats who live in Spain and a couple from France. The ones from Spain said it was cheaper there and they loved living there. Obviously the couple now living in France preferred it here and wasn’t keen on Spain! The repair man arrived and fixed the barrier, which took all day. Once he had started there was a mass exodus of vans leaving whilst the barriers were up, including the Belgium who had been there four or five days!

Monday 11th October 2010

After a night of gales, van being rocked and the water levels rising! We had our breakfast, nothing stops the bread man! And left for Narbonne and a dry footing! Arrived at the Aire and pulled up to the barrier, entered our details and waited for the ticket to be issued by the machine and the barrier to raise, you guessed it neither happened! Lynn and Sarah spoke to someone via the help intercom who said they would send someone. We looked at the time, 11.30am, hmmm, unlikely to get anyone here before midday and then it’s a two hour lunch! So we settled in for a long wait! Gradually other vans arrived and with each one we (Lynn, they automatically go to her side!) had to explain why we were sitting there and yes we had gone backwards and forwards to the barrier, put our details in etc etc. We may be English but no we’re not stupid! It was raining now and Lynn was losing her sense of humour, to the point where one particularly irritating women was lucky to escape with her life, and they say I’m the one with the short fuse! A Belgium guy from a large motorhome in the Aire came  over and explained he had reported the fault at 11am that morning and went on to tell the women at the other end of the intercom what he thought of their response! Others tried the same, whilst an Aussie waiting behind us and I discussed the option of just removing the barrier! We decided the local police response would probably be more effective so we settled for lunch, handy when you have your home with you! Around 4pm a guy arrived and asked us to pull forward even closer to the barrier, then tried everything again, still didn’t work. He left and returned with another guy this time in a yellow flori jacket, getting serious! They couldn’t fix it so after some encouragement from the French motor-homers (we now stretched out onto the busy road!) they just raised the barriers and let us in.

Sunday 10th October 2010

Saturday 9^th October 2010

A local baker arrived delivering fresh baguettes and croissants- good start to the day. Having the beach so close is huge bonus, even when the wind is a little blustery, making it more spectacular. Enjoyed spotting the wildlife- jellyfish (2 at least a foot in diameter!) and a small snake- at the water’s edge. Ended up near a rocky jetty where Sarah became the local ‘David Bailey’- 50 photos of waves!! Gotta love waves! Returned to ‘Bella’ and the scrabble tournament continued with a great competitive spirit! Imagine this….the scores are close…in an instant dad puts down the big one –‘JUST’ triple word, double letter with j, adding t to another word- 68 in total! The tears began to flow! The evening ended in high spirits thanks to the wine and the ipod playing…but was slightly affected by ones great dancing skills (begins with D and ends in D!) 

Sarah and Lynn xx

Sunday 10^th October 2010

The bread man appeared again…but brought the rain….heavy rain…gale force winds! Great mixture!

Spent the day in ‘Bella’ playing cards and watching the lake build up around us. Maybe being so close to the beach was not such a great idea! Yet impressive views of a powerful ocean!

Sarah and Mum xx

Friday 8th October 2010

Easy journey to the Aire at Narbonne plage, only took 20 minutes. Large hard standing Aire with a few trees and only a sand dune bank separating it from the beach and the Med. Set up, had coffee and went for a walk along the beach towards the town. The weather forecast had been cloudy with some rain, but the clouds cleared and the sun came out, warm enough for SATS (Shorts And T Shirts) and paddling, waves rolling in and miles of lovely sandy beach, fantastic. Spent the afternoon walking along the beach to the town marina and back, then sat in the sun with a beer or two (wine for the girls) drinking to your health, especially to you Sally just about 4.15pm here, 3.15pm your time. A lot of German vans here, some big ones and a couple towing “Focus” size cars on trailers, one has a car and a moped on the trailer!

Thursday 7th October 2010

Decided to stay an extra night and spend the day cycling along the “Canal De Robine” which was only a couple of minutes away. Had a great day cycled over 20k from Narbonne out to the large bay on the coast. Lovely views and very quiet, only saw a few other cyclists and four or five boats on the canal. Stopped by a lock on the way out to watch boats going through and spotted a bar/restaurant on the other side. Stopped off there on the way back for wine and a chocolate desert with ice cream and raspberry coulis, it was delicious! Great spot by the lock, slightly bohemian crowd wearing very brightly coloured trousers! Lynn has started to use her gears and is now turning into a speed freak! Went to a Decathlon store on our return to the van (walking distance) and bought cycling helmets and a saddle cushion for Sarah, if it works Lynn wants one!

Whilst typing this a guy from another van has come out and started walking around having a nose and leg stretch. Nick he is the spitting image of your dad, even the way he walks and stands! We’ve nicknamed him “Nicks dad” and as Sarah and Lynn have the best view out the window (go figure!) they’re giving me updates on what his up to. Moving on to Narbonne-plage tomorrow to see what the coast is like.

Wednesday 6th October 2010

Tuesday 5^th October

Walked into the town (5mins) and bought fresh bread and Pain au chocolat for breakfast. Left nice and early and made our way towards Narbonne. The Aire was situated on the east side of town and wasn’t easy to get to. We had a cunning plan! Came through Narbonne from the north and headed east only to find the road we wanted was blocked “Diversion”, and the others Sally Sat Nav suggested were like farm tracks! Continued away from Narbonne for a while before turning round and heading back into Narbonne. This time we found the signs for the area we wanted and the Sat Nav kept it’s signal, driving through the city was interesting! Found the aire by a sports stadium, with a cycle track/footpath into the centre along the canal which only took ten minutes.

Spent the afternoon in lovely sunshine (high 70’s) walking around Narbonne, great walk in and very historic centre. Found a hairdressers in a small square and booked Lynn in for tomorrow! Returned to the van to watch the locals run round the sports field, some of them were very serious runners. Also rugby training taking place, Lynn enjoyed watching them!

Walked into the centre and left Lynn at the hairdressers whilst Sarah and I had explored the back streets, where we found the street with the expensive boutiques . Sarah enjoyed looking in them and found a lovely dress, asked how much, 275 euros! OK, moving swiftly on! Returned to collect Lynn who had managed to avoid getting her hair dyed orange! She had been out for a few minutes and had been asked by a group of students to assist with their task of seeing how many people they could get in a plastic hoop! You just can’t leave her on her own for a second! Took Lynn back to the boutiques and had a coffee before walking back to the van for lunch. Afternoon spent looking round some shops, food shopping and sitting in the sun with a glass of wine.

Monday 4th October

After a stormy night, left in bright sunshine and a hot morning. Made our way to the Aire by the “Maries” office in Puicheric, only to find it had gone! A new road system had taken some of the carpark which housed the Aire. Sarah and I went into the mayors office and spoke to the lady inside, who explained (in french) it had gone, but we could stay the night parked outside if we wished, but there was not any water etc. Since this was no problem for us and the town looked interesting we decided to stay and parked between two rows of trees at the side of the building. At which point the high winds and rain returned! Had lunch whilst the storm blew itself out and then went for a walk around the old town in sunshine. The town was in the center of the wine region and had a distillery, I swear you get drunk just walking past it! There were tractors with trailers and large tankers coming and going all the time. Found the towns cemetery which was full of very impressive family crips and a fabulous old church high on the hill. Walked along a small canal which led to the Canal de Midi and the river Aude which runs through the town. All the shops were closed so we returned later, they were still closed but one of two local wine producers shops was open! Bought two box’s of wine (6lts) for 13 euros, the old man in the shop was very proud of the fact his wine was organic. Returned to the van for cheese and wine, very very good!

Saturday 2nd October 2010

Saturday 2nd september 2010

Spoke too soon, cloudy/windy today and it doesn't look like changing for a couple of days! Went for a walk into the nearby village through the vines. Bought our bread etc and had a look round, small hilltop village, fantastic views. Came back for lunch and scrabble, Lynn now winning by two games! Em where are you! Sarah winning at cards! Chris get your horse moving, this is like "Custers Last Stand" and the indians are getting over confident!! Great to see some more "followers" Lynn says a big "Hi".

Friday 1st September 2010

Arrived at the campsite in lovely sunshine, only four other vans here all in a group, we chose a pitch overlooking the lake on our own! Sitting in the sun drinking wine within 15 mins of pulling onto the pitch! Much warmer than the last campsite, door still open at 8pm, much more like it.

Thursday 30^th September

Arrived at the campsite in Le Bastide De Serou on Tuesday and booked three nights. Campsite very quiet, found a large pitch (well using two normal ones!) lovely views, very sunny and near the loos!

Wednesday, we went for a bike ride along a disused railway line, told it had a couple of inclines but was basically flat. It began to go uphill albeit fairly gently from the point we joined it and continued uphill for two to three miles! Fantastic views and a lovely sunny day made up for it. Once we had reached the top we didn’t go far  down the other side as we realised we would have to come back up! Had a picnic lunch near the top and enjoyed the freewheel downhill.

Thursday, cloudy over the hills. Gave “Bella” a clean before going for a walk around the town, following a small map from the reception. Took us past old mills and along the stream that runs through the town and our campsite, about 9k.

Rainy afternoon, so relaxing in the van. Sarah on “SIMS”, Lynn reading and I’m doing the blog and sorting out the photos I’ve taken over the past couple of days. Planned our route to Carcassonne for tomorrow, only one suitable campsite close to it so we’re keeping our fingers crossed it’s OK!

27th September 2010

Hi guys, making the most of the free wifi and updating with todays visit to Lourdes! Thanks for all the comments it's great to read them. Mac if you're reading this thanks for putting the bins out!

Arrived at the campsite just on the outskirts of Lourdes yesterday, uneventful trip and the camp is grassy and level, bloody marvellous!

Walked into Lourdes today (yes in sunshine again) Lynn says I have to say sorry for that! So "sorry". The church and cave are great, very peaceful and in a fabulous location with the river running by it and the mountains as a back drop. However the town you walk through to get to it is like Southend seafront on steriods! Had a great time walking round the chapels and you can actually walk into the cave where Bernadette is supposed to have had her visions and collected the water with healing powers, this has been kept very simple. You can sense the reverence the people coming here hold it in.

Had a lovely lunch just outside the religious area, overlooking the mountains etc. Hoping to add some photos below! Will update again as soon as we can.