"A Year in Spain" My "last gasp" attempt at posting (informative info).

[Nigel Crompton]

So today, we're here

View attachment 794858

There are four vans here, and there are actually 14 numbered places, not 10. We went for a walk, but Martin needed to come back, so we've foraged some mint and fennel to add to our salad. Hopefully we might get out for a ride tomorrow

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Hopefully, it'll be as quiet here as the previous place.

Stayed there last year - the services were being finished. Loved the mimosa (I think!) trees ...

 

[The Boofles]

Really enjoying your posts with all the information and photos - especially the vias verdes link - as I use an electric trike. We were hoping to spend more time in Northern Spain this year especially Galicia after your posts from last year but time has run out and we have to head back to Portugal.
Please keep up the great work, it is really inspirational

 

[jumartoo]

We're having a second night here and then we're going to join Stef on a motorhome area south of Santiago and on the river. I'll post details when we get there tomorrow.

Today we rode the via verde to Cerceda. The Old line doesn't go all the way, so a link has been signed, that had a bit of climb on it.

The vegetation is beginning to look autumnal, the bracken is turning, and there were leaves on the old line! and lots of black elderberries.

Autumn leaves!

Some of the old stations. The one at Cerceda is now an Albergue for the Camino pilgrims.

 

[jumartoo]

Hahaha best laid plans and all that. Cheap fuel was purchased but then we found out that today was a regional holiday so Media Markt and the supermarkets near Santiago were all closed (that one had passed us by!)

Sooo, plan B was put into force and the laundry service near our proposed parking was visited. The supermarket there was open. A real "Open all hours" Awkright type of shop, that I entered into whilst the clothes were washing and Martin went to park the van.

We're next to the River Ulla and on a "donation" parking where the "fee" is €10. Just how it works we don't understand, but we've paid for two nights.

We arrived in time for Martin to watch the football and for Stef and me to walk for a few kilometres up the river.

Tomorrow we're riding the bikes.

We've had a lovely afternoon, all together, and shared a smoked salmon, brocolli and mushroom pasta with Stef. She brought a nice bottle of red wine, some of which we can have tomorrow. And yes, we have some wine left, because we started with a local white, some of that we have left for tomorrow as well ?

 

[jumar]

Hahaha best laid plans and all that. Cheap fuel was purchased but then we found out that today was a regional holiday so Media Markt and the supermarkets near Santiago were all closed (that one had passed us by!)

Sooo, plan B was put into force and the laundry service near our proposed parking was visited. The supermarket there was open. A real "Open all hours" Awkright type of shop, that I entered into whilst the clothes were washing and Martin went to park the van.

We're next to the River Ulla and on a "donation" parking where the "fee" is €10. Just how it works we don't understand, but we've paid for two nights.

We arrived in time for Martin to watch the football and for Stef and me to walk for a few kilometres up the river.

Tomorrow we're riding the bikes.

We've had a lovely afternoon, all together, and shared a smoked salmon, brocolli and mushroom pasta with Stef. She brought a nice bottle of red wine, some of which we can have tomorrow. And yes, we have some wine left, because we started with a local white, some of that we have left for tomorrow as well ?

View attachment 795857View attachment 795861View attachment 795863View attachment 795859View attachment 795860View attachment 795858View attachment 795862

Interesting location, Riverside pitch with some shade only 8 vans out if a possible 150, mid August and a public holiday too....small outdoor bar which was used by campers and locals alike..... Donation payment of 10€ incredible to say the least....let's see what today's ride brings....

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[Barryh]

This really is an enjoyable thread to read. Keep on posting please.

 

[Kurt and Ko]

That looks like a beautiful place, enjoy & thanks for posting

 

[jumartoo]

This is our Wikiloc bike route for today. Some interesting height changes

 

[bobandjanie]

Really enjoyed following your journey Judith and Martin, this is the first time we have been lucky with the weather in the north, everything has taken longer than expected but enjoyable, our paths are not going to cross on this trip as we have to be in Portugal Saturday to house/ pet sit friends dogs.

Last night and tonight we are at
Área de AC y Caravanas A Carixa
+34 986 58 20 17

Área de AC y Caravanas A Carixa · PO-6502, 36586, Pontevedra, Spain

★★★★★ · Mobile Home Park

maps.app.goo.gl

Peaceful at night, but in the day all the cars park in the motorhome places, but great walking if you ever around here. Bob.

 

[jumartoo]

Really enjoyed following your journey Judith and Martin, this is the first time we have been lucky with the weather in the north, everything has taken longer than expected but enjoyable, our paths are not going to cross on this trip as we have to be in Portugal Saturday to house/ pet sit friends dogs.

Last night and tonight we are at
Área de AC y Caravanas A Carixa
+34 986 58 20 17

Área de AC y Caravanas A Carixa · PO-6502, 36586, Pontevedra, Spain

★★★★★ · Mobile Home Park

maps.app.goo.gl

Peaceful at night, but in the day all the cars park in the motorhome places, but great walking if you ever around here. Bob.

View attachment 796216View attachment 796217View attachment 796218View attachment 796219View attachment 796220View attachment 796221

You're only about 35km from where we are presently parked. If only ....

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[berni109]

I still find it very a strange thing to be keeping wine until the next day.
It must be a Spanish thing I don't recall coming across it elsewhere.
If we open it we drink it or use any reminder for cooking.

 

[jumartoo]

We had yet another nice ride. A bit tricky in places mainly due to undergrowth and brambles. The river was beautiful, but there's a limit to the photos that can be taken of a river, except, when we did the last loop and we crossed the suspension bridge.
There's a serviced motorhome parking right next to the bridge. Even a free place only had two occupants.

 

[bobandjanie]

You're only about 35km from where we are presently parked. If only ....

We was trying to sneak up on you but you keep moving, we head south tomorrow to find a Mercadona and get important supplies ( Oat Milk beer amongst other things) for the next six weeks.
Our relaxing trip has been cut short, friends in Javea phoned today and asked if we could sit their dogs beginning of October, we said Yes because the car needs an itv anyway. Bob.

 

[jumartoo]

We said goodbye to Stef last night because we knew we'd have left this morning before her 11.30 alarm call woke her. She lives in a different time zone to us!

We needed bike brake pads and some food for the weekend, so we did a very short drive to Padrón. Shopping successfully done, we arrived back to the motorhome parking area to find it full. This must be the worst (aesthetically) place we've stayed at yet, but it's the busiest. We've decided to stay here on the hardstanding, sheltered from the strong winds that are blowing, and sit out the forecast rain.

Padrón is on the Camino Portuguese and many people have been walking into the town ever since we arrived this morning.

We have a feeling that this weekend may be a fiesta, I'm now going to ask Mr Google.

 

[royandsharont]

Did you treat yourselves to some Padron peppers whilst you were there. I love them and have made a point of visiting there the next time in Galicia

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[jumar]

Did you treat yourselves to some Padron peppers whilst you were there. I love them and have made a point of visiting there the next time in Galicia

No not here, but we've had them back home...very nice indeed...the town is bursting tonight....lots of Pilgrims heading for Santiago and being Friday all the MH parking is taken also...

 

[jumartoo]

And we're motorhome bound because it's raining pretty heavily

 

[RobbyMClark]

8 days and counting till we come over there, picking a few spots to head for.
Hope it drys up for you and Martin feels on top form soon.

 

[jumartoo]

8 days and counting till we come over there, picking a few spots to head for.
Hope it drys up for you and Martin feels on top form soon.

Thanks. It's only been raining an hour or so . We've got 30° forecast for next week, so I'm shade hunting for then.

Martin's feeling so much better now.

I hope you find some good spots. Ask away for any more info.

 

[Peavy]

Yes, beware, even south Galicia is going to be pretty warm monday.
Now in Tarragona, sunset and 28°C, wish we had some rain

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[DBK]

Stayed there last year - the services were being finished. Loved the mimosa (I think!) trees ...

View attachment 794929

That's Persian Silk Tree I think and an interesting find. . It is sometimes called a Mimosa but it isn't one. The flowers just look mimosa-ish.

Albizia julibrissin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Gingernuts]

Thanks. It's only been raining an hour or so . We've got 30° forecast for next week, so I'm shade hunting for then.

Martin's feeling so much better now.

I hope you find some good spots. Ask away for any more info.

Hi jumartoo I really enjoy your blog, I am currently in Porto in my van but leisurely heading home to Scotland soon. If Stef would like to learn some Scottish colloquialisms just give me a shout, I used to speak fluent German years ago so maybe she could refresh me in exchange
Alex

 

[jumartoo]

Hi jumartoo I really enjoy your blog, I am currently in Porto in my van but leisurely heading home to Scotland soon. If Stef would like to learn some Scottish colloquialisms just give me a shout, I used to speak fluent German years ago so maybe she could refresh me in exchange
Alex

Stef is Spanish. I don't think she speaks much German. Her English is excellent though, and she has been making notes from things we've been telling her. She now knows what a "Karen" is

We've probably parted company now until we get back to Murcia in the autumn. She has to return to Murcia very soon to go back to work. Her students will be learning some new English expressions this term.

 

[jumartoo]

Yes, beware, even south Galicia is going to be pretty warm monday.
Now in Tarragona, sunset and 28°C, wish we had some rain
View attachment 796598

It's still battering down on the roof, it's not going to make sleeping very easy. And ... it's still warm inside the van.

 

[jumartoo]

That's Persian Silk Tree I think and an interesting find. . It is sometimes called a Mimosa but it isn't one. The flowers just look mimosa-ish.

Albizia julibrissin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

They are beautiful trees aren't they? I didn't know what it was, thanks.

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[Gingernuts]

Stef is Spanish. I don't think she speaks much German. Her English is excellent though, and she has been making notes from things we've been telling her. She now knows what a "Karen" is

We've probably parted company now until we get back to Murcia in the autumn. She has to return to Murcia very soon to go back to work. Her students will be learning some new English expressions this term.

Stef is Spanish. I don't think she speaks much German. Her English is excellent though, and she has been making notes from things we've been telling her. She now knows what a "Karen" is

We've probably parted company now until we get back to Murcia in the autumn. She has to return to Murcia very soon to go back to work. Her students will be learning some new English expressions this term.

oops sorry I must’ve picked it up wrong

 

[jumartoo]

We slept fairly well, the rain eased during the night. This morning we decided to drive to a parking area south of Caldas de Reis and from where we could walk to view a waterfall. The best time ever to view, straight after heavy rain. It's very pleasant here. We walked, got wet, dried out and we're now relaxing after our lunch.

We were interrogated by a Spanish couple parked in a car next to us. The van's statistics were requested. How many does it sleep, how old, what km to a litre and how many has it driven, what's behind these (the garage) doors? etc. etc.

As they left they gave us some fresh (and some dried) Laurel (Bay Leaves) picked in the forest.

Straight after speaking to them the French guy parked on the other side came to talk. Luckily in English. He asked where we were from, and straight away said "Sheffield Wednesday". The conversation between him and Martin was then football oriented.

Some damp photos from this morning. Tomorrow, hopefully, we can get the bikes out, but possibly not until after a certain football match has finished.

 

[jumartoo]

Haha, just had a message from Estefania (Stef) she's heading here later.

She misses us

 

[jumartoo]

So Stef joined us, with an hour left before our bedtime. We had a good chat, and promised to see her (today) and we'd let her know what our, keeping cool, searches find.

We were up and out, just before 9.30 this morning. The weather was perfect. Cool, damp, and wonderful aromas. The ride was better than we expected, at first following the Camino Santiago to Caldas de Reis and then it took a 3km narrow path along the river. We popped in, and out, of tiny hamlets, through vineyards, oak forests, the hated eucalyptus areas. We went under the main road, and over a railway, all the time in pretty terrain.

We arrived back at the van at 11.38, so Martin had time to put the bikes away before he watched the footie. Stef was still in the "Land of Nod" and didn't emerge for another 30 minutes .

She then faffed about, then left us Danko sitting whilst she went to the waterfall.

We're now back in the very shady pines, at the donativo area of a few days ago. We've paid for two nights, and we're happily sitting in a lovely shady spot. We will have to visit the Awkright shop one day, but not tomorrow.

I've found a few more rides, and I'll be researching more, later.

We're still expecting Stef to turn up, although she is now running out of time to visit some places before she has to be back home.

This morning.

And Danko. Home alone A'Us!

This last photo is of the vineyards. Our thoughts were that being a stonemason when these places were being built, must have been a good job. There are thousands of stone pillars, holding up the vines.

 

[tonyl]

Hi Judith,

Kirsty has just said "Someone's posted some nice pics of Northern Spain on FaceBook". I said "Is she called Judith?". Your fame is growing!

I thought I'd point her to this thread on Fun, with loads more pictures, but the link in your signature is broken and points to your previous thread. I found it again by other means, but thought I'd let you know.

Still enjoying the thread. Can't quite believe it's as quiet as it appears to be at this time of year, or are you just good at avoiding the masses?

Tony

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