Saturday 13 April 2013

Great memories

. Ray and Ann- our leaders, on more ways than one- many, many thanks.

. the Team- a diverse group who rubbed along incredibly well- thank you for your company and my birthday card etc etc.

. Gnomes and donkeys

. Chefchaoen, the dessert- not necessarily all good but memorable, Ouarzazate , Marrakech , Essaouira and the coast road to chic Oualidia.


And finally

Day44
Now homeward bound. The motorway was quiet, easy driving and free.We drove to Caceres where we all ate in the campsite restaurant which was excellent value as they did a menu del dia. Next day Gary and I caught the bus into the city and found Plaza Mayor and the old walled town which was full of beautiful buildings. We decided to have lunch in the square which was surprisingly warm and sheltered from the chilly wind.

Day46
A bright sunny day but very nippy. We travelled onto Tordesillas, 30k south of Valladolid . Some of us walked into the town which was attractive, particularly the Plaza Mayor , but dead as a door nail. After having an ok meal in the camp restaurant we had a silly hour playing Uno in Ray and Ann's van.

Day 47
Travelled ever northward towards Santander, back to snow topped mountains and even snow on the sides of the motorway. Steve took us to a super motorhome stop at Cabarceno, just east of Santander where there is an elephant reserve with buffalo and deer. We camped by the lake which was a lovely setting. After a few drinks in the village the men put the awnings together  because it kePt raining and we gathered underneath with our tagines, rounding off the day with UNO.

Day48
We said goodbye to Hazel, Steve and Kim as they were sailing from Santander .Then we went onto Bilbao with Ray and Ann, where we stayed overnight in the port.

Day49
We were up early so we were showered and breakfasted before boarding. This time , fortunately, we had a twin room with window. All was going well until we sailed out of the estuary. Gary and I soon felt unwell and we were soon honking in unison. Andy, a wagon driver, kindly joined in and tried to jolly us along. Eventually we plucked up our courage to move and took to our beds where we died. By 10pm it calmed a bit and by 2am became still as a duck pond. Happy birthday to me!

Day 50
We travelled home feeling much better but not at my best so any b/d celebrations went out of the window. Good to be home all in one piece.

We understand that Peter and Anette managed to limp home and will have a costly bill mending their power steering. Steve and Hazel got home safely but will have hassle with insurance companies getting the van mended. And Ray has whisked Ann off to the Docs to get her breathing sorted. We will be thinking of them all and hope that all goes well for them and we see them again soon.


Thursday 4 April 2013

Upto day 44

Hi all

After waiting 6 hours for the 1am boat which never came we finally sailed by5.30 arriving back in Spain at Algercirus by8.30 Spanish time in the dark and rain. We had a bit of unexpected hassle going through customs then drove back to Liddl car park.

We spent Sat restocking and waiting to meet up with Donna and John who had been way down south below Agadia, where it was really hot- next time I think we will be going there too!

In the evening we all went to a nearby Chinese Wok place, very swish and the food was amazing. I stuffed myself on duck pancakes and prawns of all sizes.

Day 39

I woke up with stomach ache.

We all drove to La Linea and parked up just beyond the Gibraltar frontier. What a bizarre place that is- red English letter boxes and telephone kiosks and English policemen, English shops, M and S BHS etc and English fish and chips.

Next day we went to El Puerto de Santa Maria to a campsite. They had had a lot of rain and the pitches were saturated so Hazel and Steve and Gary and I camped on the road and Ray and Ann on a pitch. We planned to  do tagines, rather hatred by the wind but ended up a riotous evening playing UNO in H and S's van.

The sun came out next day so the worshipers amongst us made the most of it. Gary and I also had a cycle , yes me on the bike, into town which has a lot going for it but lacked buzz at 6pm. It was a lovely evening and we all sat out for drinks.

On Wed  3rd Ann and Ray and G and me went by taxi and boat over to Cadiz for some sight seeing. It has to be said, it was quite rough and as we arrived the heavens opened and I found I had left my coat behind! We spent some time over coffee in one bar then ran to another where Gary and I had menu del dia. On route we fortunately passed aChinese shop where we bought a cheap pocho so I was sorted for the weather.

After lunch the sun came out for a short time so we caught the open top bus and did a tour of Cadiz- much the best way of seeing the sights on a poor day and Cadiz is rather wonderful.

When we got back it was a lovely sunny evening and we all decided that El Puerto is yet another place to come back to.

Day 44

Last night it rained and stormed most of the night and today it's  rained all the time we have been driving up the motorway to Caceres, stopping just as we arrived. We lost our leader around Seville but found him again eventually at the camping. He can't get away from us so easily. It seems like a very nice sight and we are all going out tonight to eat in the restaurant .


Going back in time- having Atlast got  some decent Internet - looking through the blog ( I think a map of Morocco and Spain would be of help- admittedly advice rather late in the day) I think I have missed out our trip from Marrakech to Essaouira, our first coastal stop . If I am repeating myself please forgive me. It didn't get much of a write up in the guide books but we well impressed. We enjoyed the souqs, the harbour the town walls and the ambience and would certainly go again. We had prawns and sardines in a harbour shack and takeaway pizza with a bottle of wine back at the van.

I hope I hav't missed out anything else of importance