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

[jumartoo]

We are now at the official motorhome area of Castro Caldelas. We went for a walk, and the sun has now come out! We heard loud fireworks (very loud) at mid day as we descended down to a small river. We later found out, as we paid Fiesta price for lunch, that today is a local fiesta. We were lucky to get parked, and even luckier to get a table for lunch without reserving. It all makes sense now.

We walked on a shady path alongside a river to a picnic area (it's on P4N but we didnt see much space for motorhomes to park) with an outdoor pool and a bar/restaurant.

We then crossed the road back into Castro Caldelas and took an old trail back through a forest, passing a church and arriving high above the town.

 Dipper

We were back in the town for 2 pm so we went straight for lunch. Now it's siesta (for Martin) and posting on here for me!

 

[MandP]

Lovely photos, thank you.We live in Cyprus, been a hot summer this year. We leave for the U.K. in a while and then onto Spain/ France. Looking forward to some cooler temps, so like you , will be avoiding anywhere too hot. We had the first rain this week, heaven.

 

[RobbyMClark]

As tomorrow is forecast to be a dry sunny day we have decided to add another night to our stay here.
I intend to play golf in the morning at least.
Still unsure whether to head east along northern coast or dive south in either a westerly or easterly direction.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Finally got the bikes down off the rack just as the heavens opened, too find that Del's had a puncture, fixed that then nipped into Comillas, bit off drizzle but not enough to stop us.

Chocolate and churros

Tuna pizza on the way back delist.!!@

eyelid check

 

[jumartoo]

As tomorrow is forecast to be a dry sunny day we have decided to add another night to our stay here.
I intend to play golf in the morning at least.
Still unsure whether to head east along northern coast or dive south in either a westerly or easterly direction.

The coast is lovely if the weather plays fair for you. Inland has some lovely places as well, so whichever way you decide to go, you'll have some great scenery.

I'm hoping for a good forecast for you

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[jumartoo]

Last night we had a quiet, but cooooold, night. Today is forecast to be the hottest this week, so by 10.00 we were out on a bike ride. And ... what a lovely ride it turned out to be. Photos don't do it justice. We dropped down from our parking at around 700m above sea level (that was a surprise to us) and up again on the other side of the valley. We then rode through a mix of forest tracks, vineyards, down and up again, then heather moorlands.

We are now at an area recommended by Stef. We've tucked the van into the only shade available. It's a viewpoint overlooking Parades de Sil, at an ermita. It's a "dark sky" area, so, although we're a bit late to see a full blue moon, we're hoping to see stars tonight ️

Tomorrow more rain is forecast for the afternoon, so plan B will be finding a laundry!

Sorry, the photos are all out of order again. So guess the route we took, including arriving here ...

 

[Chasnam]

Last night we had a quiet, but cooooold, night. Today is forecast to be the hottest this week, so by 10.00 we were out on a bike ride. And ... what a lovely ride it turned out to be. Photos don't do it justice. We dropped down from our parking at around 700m above sea level (that was a surprise to us) and up again on the other side of the valley. We then rode through a mix of forest tracks, vineyards, down and up again, then heather moorlands.

We are now at an area recommended by Stef. We've tucked the van into the only shade available. It's a viewpoint overlooking Parades de Sil, at an ermita. It's a "dark sky" area, so, although we're a bit late to see a full blue moon, we're hoping to see stars tonight ️

Tomorrow more rain is forecast for the afternoon, so plan B will be finding a laundry!

Sorry, the photos are all out of order again. So guess the route we took, including arriving here ...

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The vines look to be doing well
Chasnam

 

[jumartoo]

The vines look to be doing well
Chasnam

Strangely, on some of the rows they have white and red growing together.

They must be for bottles of Rosado

 

[jumartoo]

I was ill yesterday. I spent all day in bed sleeping, and slept well all night.

Nausea, lack of appetite, stomach pains. Today I'm so much better. Well enough to be sitting in a lavenderia watching our washing going round whilst Martin's gone shopping.

Martin's bike had a brake problem on the last ride. Yesterday he changed the pads but it leaked oil. He contacted a guy in a village 15km from where we were going to stay and he said bring it in. 90 minutes and 15€ later all was sorted.

We then looked for a new overnight spot and ended up at a place we've stayed before. The motorhome parking at A Rua. It looks scrappy, but we had a quiet night, even on a Friday.

Heading down towards A Gudiña later. Rain's forecast at some point in the day in the whole of Spain!

 

[jumartoo]

We've pulled up on a hardstanding motorhome area behind a restaurant, 4km or so east of A Gudiña, to sit out a hailstorm. We're right in the middle of it, and it's very noisy.

So far the hailstones are only about pea size

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[bigtree]

Have you been to Lago de Sanabria ?

 

[jumartoo]

And, for now .... it's passed. We've decided to stay here though because we're on a good hardstanding surface. We've got very good internet so we can research our next stage of the trip.

The last time we came through here we were on bikes, riding the Via de la Plata. We were so glad to be in a motorhome today.

 

[jumartoo]

Have you been to Lago de Sanabria ?

Years and years ago, with the previous motorhome. I'd like to go back again.

 

[bigtree]

Years and years ago, with the previous motorhome. I'd like to go back again.

We went a few years ago, there's a good wildcamping spot down at the lake behind the campsite.

 

[jumar]

Just had a beer that has Funster approval...(See attached) to save on unnecessary packaging Estrella Galicia glue their 6 packs together...brill idea, with instructions how to separate....
So back to my brake problem...for all technical riders out there...we all know our back brake controls our flow on decents, well I must have been over controlling...I trashed my rear pads in a sort space of time....and at 18€ a set it has to stop...that's what they do...
On changing my pads I accidentally unseated one of the four pistons...that leaked a little....which was enough t need fluid adding...which I don't carry...next time yes...I have a bleed kit at home...so back to the beer...,

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[jumartoo]

This day last year, it appears, we were in this area and we went to visit Las Medulas. It was hot last year.

We parked the motorhome and took a bike ride. It was lovely (wouldn't want to be there today though).

A few photos. I think it's a Roman Gold mining area. You can go right inside one of the towers.

 

[jumartoo]

We went a few years ago, there's a good wildcamping spot down at the lake behind the campsite.

Thanks. I'll check it out. The town is worth a visit if I remember rightly. We'll be looking to visit after Sunday's tourists have left.

 

[bigtree]

Thanks. I'll check it out. The town is worth a visit if I remember rightly. We'll be looking to visit after Sunday's tourists have left.

Yes the town is, there’s parking on the other side of the river.

 

[jumartoo]

I wasn't fit to download my photos yesterday so I've just done them.

The parking at the Mirador was lovely (if spoilt a tad by the amount of discarded tissues/toilet paper, discarded by car occupants, I suspect). Anyway, it was a quiet night, but cloudy, so no stars were viewed. We did get to see an early Blue Moon rising though.

The evening, poor sunset.

And yesterday morning, before the mist enveloped everything, and I took to my bed.

We've just had a sunny spell, but the storm is heading back this way. We're definitely here for the night

 

[CAB96]

Glad you are feeling better, was it just one of those passing things?

Warming up over here!

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[jumartoo]

Glad you are feeling better, was it just one of those passing things?

Warming up over here!
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Haha that's our perfect weather. Enjoy.

Thanks and yes, to feeling bad/better, it seems I had a 24 hour bug of some description.

 

[jumartoo]

Although I'm feeling OK in myself, my "innards" are gurgling and ......

We had a lot of rain last night and this morning we drove to Puebla de Sanabria for Martin to take part in a (rearranged now) video meeting.

I managed 30 minutes strolling in the old part of town and up to the castle. My innards, and the onset of more rain, got me swiftly back to the van.

We are now sitting out more bad weather (although it's part sunny atm) at a motorhome area at Mombuey. It's part of a network of areas between Spain and Portugal.

We were last in this part of Spain some years ago when we cycled the Via de la Plata from Seville to Santiago. We don't recognise anything, so far.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Just pulled into Santiago de Compostela
Chill this afternoon then bus into the city.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Ps It's not raining !!

Hope the gurgles come to nothing.

 

[jumartoo]

Ps It's not raining !!

Hope the gurgles come to nothing.

So far so good

Martin's a bit worried about me though cos I gave him half of my lunchtime glass of wine

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[scousebird]

Must be bad if you have to give wine away

 

[jumartoo]

Must be bad if you have to give wine away

I know, never been known before.

Left half my lunch as well. Not got any appetite for food or drink. Martin was the same, but about 5 weeks ago, so it can't be connected.

 

[jumar]

Standby for a Crayfish story...

 

[jumartoo]

More light rain this morning, so we decided to move towards Benevente because there's a Via Verde that passes there so, once we have dry weather, that surface should be good for riding.

By chance, I found a motorhome area north of Benevente, at the small village of San Adrian del Valle, known (or rather not known) for its mud and cave, houses.

We shopped before we left Monbuey, so spent a bit in the town that gave us a free overnight.

We parked up. It drizzled a bit, then the sky cleared and the sun has come out.

I went to get our shoes to go to walk to see the cave houses. I was stopped by .... Colin the Crayfish .... waving at me, right outside our garage door.

Martin used my litter picker to carry him back to the river. Maybe he shouldn't have been released, but he was ".... AWAY ..."

 

[jumartoo]

An old (very old) guy in overalls, riding an old (very old) bike has cycled by a couple of times. He heads back with one courgette, or one bunch of some other greenery.

He then reappeared on foot, looking over the fence to the ditch heading down to the river. He disappeared, then came back with, possibly, his grandson, or even great grandson. They both peered over the fence and then scanned the length of the ditch.

Were they looking for Colin???

Is he the village mascot?

We're keeping very quiet

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