That sounds absolutely great.
And that's truly something to admire! Spanish is difficult, compared to other languages.
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"A Year in Spain" My "last gasp" attempt at posting (informative info).
- Thread starter jumartoo
- Start date
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I've just read a Facebook friends post about the partial eclipse of the moon seen here, so I've just been out with my camera. It took a bit of persuading to get it to focus, but eventually ...
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Today was all planned to the nth degree. A bike ride (the clock change made it feel a bit strange) with plenty of time to get back and have a leisurely lunch, leaving sufficient time for (someone) to have a siesta before settling on the sofa to watch footy.
A Manchester Derby, I think.
Imagine the angst when 2 minutes before kick off it was discovered that the TV subscription expired yesterday
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Anyway, the subscription was reinstalled less than 30 minutes into the match.
We did a ride that took us near to our old area behind Totana, and then up into the hills. There were two official vehicles parked on a bend, and it just happened that we knew one of the forest workers. We had a nice chat with him before continuing uphill.
I'd found a walking route with a cave to visit. We rode nearby today, ut not near enough to leave the bikes and slog uphill, so that's saved for another trip.
I've borrowed a photo of the cave view.
The Eye of the Dragon cave is up there, somewhere.
And my "borrowed" photo.
Lunch was easy. One pan pasta, mushrooms and brocolli, with smoked salmon and (sorry) prawns.
A Manchester Derby, I think.
Imagine the angst when 2 minutes before kick off it was discovered that the TV subscription expired yesterday
.Anyway, the subscription was reinstalled less than 30 minutes into the match.
We did a ride that took us near to our old area behind Totana, and then up into the hills. There were two official vehicles parked on a bend, and it just happened that we knew one of the forest workers. We had a nice chat with him before continuing uphill.
I'd found a walking route with a cave to visit. We rode nearby today, ut not near enough to leave the bikes and slog uphill, so that's saved for another trip.
I've borrowed a photo of the cave view.
The Eye of the Dragon cave is up there, somewhere.
And my "borrowed" photo.
Lunch was easy. One pan pasta, mushrooms and brocolli, with smoked salmon and (sorry) prawns.
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We had an easy day, and met up for lunch on Monday with old friends who live in Aguilas.
Yaho, at Puerto de Mazarron, lived up to its good reputation and we had another lovely meal there.
Yesterday we spent at home, and during our home time, we decided that we no longer needed our, unused, except for making paellas, BBQ so, it was put for sale on a local page. It soon went, so the money we got for it then bought us an air fryer.
Yaho, at Puerto de Mazarron, lived up to its good reputation and we had another lovely meal there.
Yesterday we spent at home, and during our home time, we decided that we no longer needed our, unused, except for making paellas, BBQ so, it was put for sale on a local page. It soon went, so the money we got for it then bought us an air fryer.
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Today, we went to the mountains of Sierra Espuña, to do what used to be a favourite ride of mine.
This mountain ride was last done by me over two years ago, and it was slightly more difficult now, or seemed so. Anyway, we both survived it with no mishaps.
It's a lovely cross section of the northern(ish) side of Sierra Espuña.
Some years ago, Martin had to go out with Andre's, the owner (at that time) of the camping at El Berro, looking for a girl (from the Czech Republic) who had gone out on a hired bike on this same route (but in the opposite direction). She set off at 4.30 pm in the middle of winter. It was always going to be a challenge, in the dark, without the puncture that the bike tyre suffered.
Her boyfriend went to reception when it was dark and she'd not arrived back. We were there, chatting to Angela, so the rescue was put into force. We had to wait to get a key for the gates, so time was ticking...
I can't imagine her thoughts, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, in a foreign country, pushing a broken down bike!
Martin said, at the time, that she was soooooooo very relieved to see car lights.
I'd hate to have a puncture, there, in daylight!!!
Our parking spot. Unfortunately, motorhomes are now banned from 22.00 until 08.00
The climbing area of Leiva. We used to climb there in our early years here.
The "Caracol" snail trail, on a lovely mountain walk. A Classic route.
Prado Mayor. With, mostly abandoned, houses.
This mountain ride was last done by me over two years ago, and it was slightly more difficult now, or seemed so. Anyway, we both survived it with no mishaps.
It's a lovely cross section of the northern(ish) side of Sierra Espuña.
Some years ago, Martin had to go out with Andre's, the owner (at that time) of the camping at El Berro, looking for a girl (from the Czech Republic) who had gone out on a hired bike on this same route (but in the opposite direction). She set off at 4.30 pm in the middle of winter. It was always going to be a challenge, in the dark, without the puncture that the bike tyre suffered.
Her boyfriend went to reception when it was dark and she'd not arrived back. We were there, chatting to Angela, so the rescue was put into force. We had to wait to get a key for the gates, so time was ticking...
I can't imagine her thoughts, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, in a foreign country, pushing a broken down bike!
Martin said, at the time, that she was soooooooo very relieved to see car lights.
I'd hate to have a puncture, there, in daylight!!!
Our parking spot. Unfortunately, motorhomes are now banned from 22.00 until 08.00
The climbing area of Leiva. We used to climb there in our early years here.
The "Caracol" snail trail, on a lovely mountain walk. A Classic route.
Prado Mayor. With, mostly abandoned, houses.
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Croquetas, then?
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Croquetas, then?
Love them, but never made them. Maybe a whole new way of cooking coming to an apartment in Alhama de Murcia
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Since February, (and the very first day of Martin's stint as President) our apartment block acquired a NFH (neighbour from hell). Talk about being thrown into the deep end .
She (A Brit, unfortunately, but I won't say from where) arrived with a kid, a friend, the friends kid, and their various friends and acquaintances. Two dogs, and one (or two) cats.
From day one, we had noise. Barking dog noise and then, when mum left the kids on their own to travel to Dubai, or work until the early hours, we had teenage music noise.
What's even funnier, although not for us at the time, is that they had rented the apartment directly underneath us. The "President" (and his lomg suffering wife) bore the brunt 
. "Security" were almost on speed dial.
We then left for the summer and had our, almost 5 months away, and came back to the beautiful news that NFH was leaving.
Yesterday, as Martin was "doing" van electrics, I went out and " litter picked" a good few kilos of dehydrated dog poo.
We're hoping that our peaceful place in the sun is back to its former peace.
.She (A Brit, unfortunately, but I won't say from where) arrived with a kid, a friend, the friends kid, and their various friends and acquaintances. Two dogs, and one (or two) cats.
From day one, we had noise. Barking dog noise and then, when mum left the kids on their own to travel to Dubai, or work until the early hours, we had teenage music noise.
What's even funnier, although not for us at the time, is that they had rented the apartment directly underneath us
. The "President" (and his lomg suffering wife) bore the brunt . "Security" were almost on speed dial.We then left for the summer and had our, almost 5 months away, and came back to the beautiful news that NFH was leaving.
Yesterday, as Martin was "doing" van electrics, I went out and " litter picked" a good few kilos of dehydrated dog poo.
We're hoping that our peaceful place in the sun is back to its former peace.
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And.... anyway, we're off on a local trip from Sunday, for four days or so.
We'll be visiting some of the official motorhome parking areas in the north of our region.
I'll be posting some brilliant photos
We'll be visiting some of the official motorhome parking areas in the north of our region.
I'll be posting some brilliant photos
NFHSince February, (and the very first day of Martin's stint as President) our apartment block acquired a NFH (neighbour from hell). Talk about being thrown into the deep end
She (A Brit, unfortunately, but I won't say from where) arrived with a kid, a friend, the friends kid, and their various friends and acquaintances. Two dogs, and one (or two) cats.
From day one, we had noise. Barking dog noise and then, when mum left the kids on their own to travel to Dubai, or work until the early hours, we had teenage music noise.
What's even funnier, although not for us at the time, is that they had rented the apartment directly underneath us
We then left for the summer and had our, almost 5 months away, and came back to the beautiful news that NFH was leaving.
Yesterday, as Martin was "doing" van electrics, I went out and " litter picked" a good few kilos of dehydrated dog poo.
View attachment 830292
We're hoping that our peaceful place in the sun is back to its former peace.
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So, the plan is, on Sunday we're heading over to the camperstop at Casas Nuevas. Two nights/one day and a ride there. Then, maybe the camperstop at Caravaca de la Cruz and a ride from there.
Then, we wanted to park at the restaurant above Moratalla, to have a meal there, after a ride,, but the restaurant isn't open until Friday, soooo we may give that a miss and go to Bullas instead.
My future posts will show just how accurate our planning is
Then, we wanted to park at the restaurant above Moratalla, to have a meal there, after a ride,, but the restaurant isn't open until Friday, soooo we may give that a miss and go to Bullas instead.
My future posts will show just how accurate our planning is
Enjoy
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Thank you.
I'm, strangely, looking forward to a motorhome trip, even after our recent 4.5 months away and with only a few weeks back home
Yes whenever we get home I usually want to be away again, is that telling me something 
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Yes it is...it's telling you to benefit from freedom to explore, enjoy your motorhome and live a life that suits you....sorry I got carried away...thought I was explaining what we do...Yes whenever we get home I usually want to be away again, is that telling me something
Mikey RV
LIFE MEMBER
Happy travels.
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Well ....... after saying adios or rather Ha det to our near Norwegian neighbours who go back to Norway on Thursday, and then hola (Hallo) to Jan and Eli, more Norwegian friends, who arrived yesterday, for Jan to take it easy, for two weeks, after some hospital surgery, we got away.
Motorhome washed (necessary cos we couldn't see through the windscreen), a top up of diesel and a slightly bigger top up of LPG, we arrived at the tiny, quiet village of Casas Nuevas, on the north side of Sierra Espuña. Here is a purpose built, very well constructed, motorhome parking area.
For some reason, and we haven't found out why yet, the parking is reasonably full, but the area next to us is full of even more motorhomes, with people wearing the same coloured tops.
Obviously a rally, of some description, and we definitely need to know where they're going next, to avoid them all.
I hope they're not going to Caravaca and we're hoping it's only a weekend meet here 
They spent over an hour on the service point (we thought they thought it was a very level sport to park)
Motorhome washed (necessary cos we couldn't see through the windscreen), a top up of diesel and a slightly bigger top up of LPG, we arrived at the tiny, quiet village of Casas Nuevas, on the north side of Sierra Espuña. Here is a purpose built, very well constructed, motorhome parking area.
For some reason, and we haven't found out why yet, the parking is reasonably full, but the area next to us is full of even more motorhomes, with people wearing the same coloured tops.
Obviously a rally, of some description, and we definitely need to know where they're going next, to avoid them all
.I hope they're not going to Caravaca
and we're hoping it's only a weekend meet here They spent over an hour on the service point (we thought they thought it was a very level sport to park
)
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Tomorrow, we're riding an old favourite ride of ours. Normally this area is at our three quarter point, but for the first time ever we're starting and finishing here.
And spending another night, before leaving to go to Caravaca de la Cruz, and their official motorhome area.
And spending another night, before leaving to go to Caravaca de la Cruz, and their official motorhome area.
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So today we rode a favourite ride, but starting from here, instead of already being tired on the next bit..
The 50+ motorhomes we saw yesterday had gone when we rode past this morning. They all went quietly. We are about 6 right now. Us, a Dutch van, and a German one, and, possibly, legit Spanish
The 50+ motorhomes we saw yesterday had gone when we rode past this morning. They all went quietly. We are about 6 right now. Us, a Dutch van, and a German one, and, possibly, legit Spanish
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We rode past the archaeological site of La Almoloya. There's a tarmacced road (of sorts) to within a few hundred metres of a big, but sloping, parking area. The last part is on a gravel track.
We visited the site a few years ago, so didn't go again today, but these were from our visit in 2021 when we walked there.
We visited the site a few years ago, so didn't go again today, but these were from our visit in 2021 when we walked there.
We are hoping to have a winter trip , starting in December.
Looking at the area you are now exploring it seems to have all the options we like.
Our daughter and family are going to be out with us for a time.
Could I ask about the New year and Epiphany celebrations in Murcia as last year we were in Almeria and it was one of the highlights of our 8 year old granddaughter’s trip.
Looking at the area you are now exploring it seems to have all the options we like.
Our daughter and family are going to be out with us for a time.
Could I ask about the New year and Epiphany celebrations in Murcia as last year we were in Almeria and it was one of the highlights of our 8 year old granddaughter’s trip.
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We don't make such a big deal of any celebrations nowadays, but some of the villages and towns around here put on some good celebrations, especially when the Three Kings arrive.
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This morning, it was cold, heating on. I suggested a ride en route to Caravaca, from the town of Bullas. We shopped at Aldi, in Mula, because we were going right past their door, and it gave the sun a bit longer to warm the air.
Bullas is a typical Murcian town with its own wine industry. You can buy wine in boxes from one of the bodegas there, Bodega de Rosario. We like to carry the 5 ltr boxes in the van, it saves on the weight of glass, but we didn't need any today!
There's a huge, scrappy, parking area for Salto del Usero, and where we park to do some of our rides. It's on P4N and could be OK to overnight. There is no official motorhome area, because Bullas has a campsite!
Our ride was, again, lovely. A perfect temperature for riding and with some nice autumnal colours from the "preparing to sleep" fruit trees.
Salto de Usero (a tiny gorge with, unusual for here, running water)
Along the early part of our ride.
We're going around that rock.
Looking back to where I took the previous photo.
Just look at the blue, yellow and red
And then our return route brought us back across the upper part of the water.
And a view back across to all the colours in one, although the blue is a bit pale!
Caravaca photos will be forthcoming ...
Bullas is a typical Murcian town with its own wine industry. You can buy wine in boxes from one of the bodegas there, Bodega de Rosario. We like to carry the 5 ltr boxes in the van, it saves on the weight of glass, but we didn't need any today!
There's a huge, scrappy, parking area for Salto del Usero, and where we park to do some of our rides. It's on P4N and could be OK to overnight. There is no official motorhome area, because Bullas has a campsite!
Our ride was, again, lovely. A perfect temperature for riding and with some nice autumnal colours from the "preparing to sleep" fruit trees.
Salto de Usero (a tiny gorge with, unusual for here, running water)
Along the early part of our ride.
We're going around that rock.
Looking back to where I took the previous photo.
Just look at the blue, yellow and red
And then our return route brought us back across the upper part of the water.
And a view back across to all the colours in one, although the blue is a bit pale!
Caravaca photos will be forthcoming ...
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The motorhome parking at Caravaca is almost full (one space left). We've never known it this busy, especially at this time of year.
It's going to be an interesting winter experience for us.
It's going to be an interesting winter experience for us.
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Early morning at Caravaca today. We're not as close together as it looks. And a mass exodus has begun!
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There are a couple of Spanish registered, but Brit occupied vans. A couple in one and, in the other, a panel van, a woman with five dogs. Not tiny dogs either 
Wow that looks pretty close parking, I wouldn’t like that and the closeness just in case something happened. 5 dogs in a pvc, it never ceases to amaze me how some dog owners live with their pets, each to their own of course 
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Wow that looks pretty close parking, I wouldn’t like that and the closeness just in case something happened. 5 dogs in a pvc, it never ceases to amaze me how some dog owners live with their pets, each to their own of course
By British standards, it is quite close, but not as close as the photo makes it look. And, as far as the authorities are concerned, we are only parking, after all.
We much prefer to be alone, or with only one or two others. Last night was exceptional (in our previous experience), we're hoping there will be less tonight.
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