A Bigger Little Adventure, (in a bigger van)

[Armytwowheels]

This morning we bid a fond farewell to all at Parc Verger, (after nicking some of their Sloes to make sloe gin) and making tentative plans to return in July as we make our way back North. It was lovely to meet the Munchies, Bridget, Laneside and of course Lisa and Franc.

After a damp start, which turned into a very warm and humid day, still 19c out now at 6pm, this evening finds us on the outskirts of Bordeaux tucked away amongst the vines at Château St Ahon. Not in the Aires book but you can find it on Camper Contact, site number 22977. I think they are also in the French Passion scheme as it is mentiond on their website. We have resisted the wine tasting this evening, but plan to visit their shop tomorrow on the way out!

 

[Dazzlin]

A bit behind you. Montpeyroux at the top of the A75.
Catch up in Calpe!

 

[Armytwowheels]

Sounds like a good plan. We haven't decided where we are staying yet but will let you know.

 

[Armytwowheels]

We have arrived! Mediterranean Camper, Calpe.
It's sunny, hot, full and cramped but we are in and set up. Who knows how long for?

 

[Eve]

Hi I am in Calpe same site as you ,arrived today are you still here.?

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[Armytwowheels]

Hi I am in Calpe same site as you ,arrived today are you still here.?

Yes we are, will come and find you tomorrow. Hope you had a good journey down here.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Have been enjoying the warmth of this time of year in Spain, not too warm but pleasant cycling weather.

After a couple of enjoyable rides to get the legs going we did a gear/knee crunching climb of a ride today! Due to my poor map reading we ending going up a near vertical road away from the Calpe/Moriara Coast, even the cars were coming past in 2nd gear, or they sounded like it! After nearly running over a snake, which retreated at an impressive speed, we finally reached the top of the hills over looking the coast. It was a bugger of a climb and this photo does not show any of height I hoped it would.

We then found an alternative route back down - a perfectly laid black ribbon of tarmac with some dream hairpin bends, with clear views of any on coming traffic (except there wasn't any) and had a fantastic adrenalin rush of a ride down to Moriara for coffee on the seafront. Although we resisted the Soberano with the coffee today as we decided our mid-ride rehydration strategy was not quite what it should be!

 

[Armytwowheels]

It's been a subdued couple of days, feeling a bit guilty for enjoying ourselves after the events in Paris and Kenya. It feels wrong somehow to just carry on as normal when so many are in turmoil. We are out during the day exploring the countryside and living a very privileged life, then catch up with news in the evening which brings us back down to earth with a bump. How can our world be in such a mess..............

Just a few photos of our cycle ride in the hills above Calpe yesterday - hot and hilly but every enjoyable.

 

[horshamjack]

Enjoying the thread guys, the van looks a cracker, enjoy your time in Spain.
We are holed up in Peniche enjoying the great weather, catch up with you somewhere in Morocco no doubt
Be lucky
Marc and Sam

 

[Armytwowheels]

Hello to you two.
We are enjoying Spain and some gorgeous weather just now. The only down side of where we are is that dogs are not allowed on the beach, but we went in search of another site today and found one right on a dog friendly beach just along the coast. Do you remember Max and Izzy going crazy on the beach in Morocco? What was it called Quwikki Beach or something?

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[Armytwowheels]

Not much been happening down our way over the last couple of days, except some serious relaxing and chilling. Today the weather took a turn for the worst but still warm. This evening we are awaiting the invasion of the fire engine dwellers aka @Dazzlin and that dangerous solo motorhomer @Eve for beer/gin o'clock.

I did try complaining about Eve, what with her being by herself and all that, but the site owners were having non on it.

 

[Eve]

It's a tuff old life being a solo,dog crying,neibours complaining,and I am dangerous as well, enjoyed my G&T,and spag Bol company to die for, thank you for a lovely evening photo does not do it justice,had to leave the young ones to it, 9 pm and they where drinking coffee without brandy. What more can I say,said my good byes!!!!

 

[Mr Ed]

Coffee without brandy???????We were looking forward to catching up with the two wheels but might have to reconsider.Can't wait to get on 't road,but not till new year.See you then,safe travelling. Martin

 

[Armytwowheels]

Never fear Martin, we did indeed have brandy with our coffee and a bottle of Sloe Gin too. You should have seen the empties I had to take to the bottle bank this morning! Goodness knows what Colin and Daz are talking about here!

After a delicate start to the day and the big clear up from last night, we have left Calpe and moved a few kilometres along the coast to Altea. We are in a tiny campsite (just 4 vans) right on the beach and the weather is getting back to something like.

 

[Bobnmyrtle]

Try the Col de Ratas, on a good day of course. You will love it

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[Armytwowheels]

Try the Col de Ratas, on a good day of course. You will love it

Did the Rats about 10 years ago, not sure I would get up there now, too fat and lardy.

 

[Popeye]

Are you posting all those piccies just to make me envious........ lurve the blog Babes, give my best to Colin and keep the thread going too. .. Griff

 

[Armytwowheels]

Are you posting all those piccies just to make me envious........ lurve the blog Babes, give my best to Colin and keep the thread going too. .. Griff

Yes because we want you to get your finger out and come and join us!

 

[Popeye]

The plans are afoot.........

 

[Armytwowheels]

The plans are afoot.........

That's good to hear.

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[Bridget]

Goodness knows what Colin and Daz are talking about here!

How about... " so , anyway, I found the best thing in the end was to hold my hands up and say.....absolutely Sandra, darling, anything you say goes! What was that you wanted????.."

ps Sorry I missed you yesterday or did you move on quick when you knew I was coming

 

[Armytwowheels]

After settling in to our tiny campsite in Altea, getting to know our Dutch and Belgian neighbours, who are very nice and friendly. Yesterday we had a good walk around the town and have fallen a little in love with it.
Altea old town

And after climbing up to the top to see this.....

..........we then had to take on refreshments before descending to sea level.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Today the sun was shining, the wind dropped there was only one thing to do........GET THE BOATS OFF THE ROOF!

After unpacking nearly everything out of the lockers to find all the bits and bobs that go with the boats, (haven't used them since the Dorset meet in June, we finally set off for a couple of hours paddling around L'Olla bay in between Altea and Calpa.
This one is for @Popeye

We had a really good sighting of a King Fisher in this little bay. I didn't know they fed from salt water.

 

[Ambilkate]

loving the Pic Sandra x

 

[lorger]

Great pics place looks lovely, nice hill for some hill sessions for you and Colin

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[Carol]

Living the dream, loving following your adventure keep it coming

 

[DBK]

We had a really good sighting of a King Fisher in this little bay. I didn't know they fed from salt water.

Probably almost the only place they feed around there at times, given the lack of suitable rivers and streams, especially in summer when there is no rain.

When I lived in Kingsbridge in Devon we used to see them sometimes fishing in the harbour, sitting on mooring ropes and looking down for baby mullet etc.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Probably almost the only place they feed around there at times, given the lack of suitable rivers and streams, especially in summer when there is no rain.

When I lived in Kingsbridge in Devon we used to see them sometimes fishing in the harbour, sitting on mooring ropes and looking down for baby mullet etc.

Thanks for that, I will keep a closer eye at for them. It was a proper sighting too, not just a flash of blue and left thinking was it a KF or not.

 

[Puddleduck]

I am so jealous....... got new kayaks earlier this year but with Martin's op and all the other "stuff" going in we've only had one of them in water so far ... and that was round a neighbours' pond!

Love the photos.......

 

[Armytwowheels]

I am so jealous....... got new kayaks earlier this year but with Martin's op and all the other "stuff" going in we've only had one of them in water so far ... and that was round a neighbours' pond!

Love the photos.......

Your time will come PD. That wa only he 2nd time we have used them since buying them in June. It was a good job we got them out yesterday as the sea is a surfers sea today. The local surfers must have know from the weather forecast as they were out on their boards very early. I should imagine it is quite rare along this bit of coast for it to be a surfers sea.

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