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.