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

[HKF]

You said you would appreciate people telling you that they're interested in your thread, so here goes.

I've always struggled with understanding why people would drive every day or every other day from place to place in their MHs, rather than finding one place, setting up and settling in for at least 4 days. I just couldn't understand the effort of being constantly on the move. HOWEVER, after reading your first 9 or so pages, I'm finally starting to get it!! I think what's made the difference is two things;

• Our upgrade to lithium. It's given me less worry about running out of power and, in return, more confidence about staying in places other than 'sites'.
• Reading your posts. I now get that it's not necessary to drive for hours between one place and another and that staying in aires off-grid is very doable now and gives us more freedom. I also love how the places you've stayed at are so very different, even though you've not driven all day to get there.

I'm going through this thread, pulling out the names of places you've stayed and also some of the descriptions, as well as pictures showing what the area is like and I'm putting all that into one document (I really hope you don't mind me doing that). It's going to give me a very quick reference to the places that appeal to me and, hopefully, get me totally into the mindset of drifting around from place to place, enjoying the short journey inbetween and experiencing many different places.

So, PLEASE KEEP POSTING!! For me, I love the pictures showing the actual aires you stay at, as well as the pictures of the village or town.

Thank you for helping me to understand motorhoming a lot better than I did

 

[jumartoo]

You said you would appreciate people telling you that they're interested in your thread, so here goes.

I've always struggled with understanding why people would drive every day or every other day from place to place in their MHs, rather than finding one place, setting up and settling in for at least 4 days. I just couldn't understand the effort of being constantly on the move. HOWEVER, after reading your first 9 or so pages, I'm finally starting to get it!! I think what's made the difference is two things;

• Our upgrade to lithium. It's given me less worry about running out of power and, in return, more confidence about staying in places other than 'sites'.
• Reading your posts. I now get that it's not necessary to drive for hours between one place and another and that staying in aires off-grid is very doable now and gives us more freedom. I also love how the places you've stayed at are so very different, even though you've not driven all day to get there.

I'm going through this thread, pulling out the names of places you've stayed and also some of the descriptions, as well as pictures showing what the area is like and I'm putting all that into one document (I really hope you don't mind me doing that). It's going to give me a very quick reference to the places that appeal to me and, hopefully, get me totally into the mindset of drifting around from place to place, enjoying the short journey inbetween and experiencing many different places.

So, PLEASE KEEP POSTING!! For me, I love the pictures showing the actual aires you stay at, as well as the pictures of the village or town.

Thank you for helping me to understand motorhoming a lot better than I did

Thanks for writing this. It makes having a thread so much more worthwhile. Take as much info as you want, it's there for you to use.

I'll be keeping the thread running, definitely over this next summers trip, and I'll fill in, over the next few weeks, with some places we visited last year before I started the thread.

 

[jumartoo]

So, while I'm at home awaiting news about my new bike and/or the repair of my blue bike, I'm going to go through my photos from this time last year, and the year before.

We were limited to exploring the Murcia region during lockdown and we found some great places close to home.

 

[jumartoo]

March 2022, we went to see the fruit blossom at Cieza. We took the gravel bikes on the back of the car, and rode a route through the terraces.

There isn't a motorhome area at Cieza, yet, but I've seen mentioned on a Spanish site the possibility one will be opened. It was mentioned with another at Jumilla, and that is about to be opened.

It's worth a visit to Cieza to see the blossom. The route we rode should be on my Wikiloc.

 

[jumartoo]

May 2022 we went to stay at Finca Alegria at Cuesta Blanca, near Cartagena. We were having a nice few days away until I fell off my bike and broke my wrist .

The nearby village of Perin.

The day before .....

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[jumartoo]

The fall curtailed our rides, so we had to do some walking instead. Bad knees and a broken wrist made it more difficult, but we did what we could.

We started with local coastal walks, then into the mountains until I had my first ride in June, and we got away for the summer direct from my hospital appointment in mid July.

Oh yes, my hospital appointment was the last of the, very hot, day at 7.40 pm.

We went directly on holiday and spent the night west of Albacete. No way was I spending any more time in hot Murcia. I'd have told the Consultant anything to get away. It wasn't necessary though

The motorhome parking at San Clemente. Ignore the sewage channel remark on P4N, it's just bad translation.

 

[Peavy]

Great attitude and perseverance

 

[jumartoo]

News on the bike saga.

Martin contacted the bike shop in Madrid today to see whether the 11 March delivery was happening. The guy he spoke to said he'd look into it.

Long story short, it could be another two weeks or even more.

They've offered me an upgrade, full sus, bike for the same price we've already paid. Soooo, hopefully I'll have a new bike by Friday .

They also offered me the loan of said bike until mine does eventually arrive, but I'm going for keeping the upgrade.

I'm now getting a Cube Stereo 750SLX (I think).

 

[jumartoo]

From the Albacete area we drove for two hot days to arrive at Foz in Galicia. Foz was full. It was a week long fiesta. We went across the water to park at San Cosme de Barreiros.

We'd not quite set up, when two local kids on bikes, saw the open garage door and our bikes and came for a chat. Martin was soon doing some bike jobs for them .

Looking across to Foz and daytime fireworks.

And a nice lunch spot near the beach.

This motorhome area is the only one we've ever been on where the police regularly patrolled and actually made people put awnings, tables and chairs away.

 

[jumartoo]

Flip flopping again. Back to real time.

My actual new bike. I hope the saddle goes lower

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[dalspa]

Nice bikes, the Cubes. Son (in Canada) has an Attain. Helped a Frenchman fit a new tyre on his Cube mtb on an aire last year- it was a two man job to get it over the rim. The forks didn’t have dropouts, had to remove skewers to fit wheels - never seen that before.

 

[jumartoo]

Nice bikes, the Cubes. Son (in Canada) has an Attain. Helped a Frenchman fit a new tyre on his Cube mtb on an aire last year- it was a two man job to get it over the rim. The forks didn’t have dropouts, had to remove skewers to fit wheels - never seen that before.

We had Cubes for our first ebikes. The tyres were almost impossible to remove.

 

[jumartoo]

This morning, my first job was to feed the cats, before I fed myself.

I've been for a walk with four friends. They wanted to go to an old ruin at Fuente Alta (High Fountain). The weather was perfect, with blue skies, hardly any wind, but a warm sun. The farm was obviously built there due to having access to a water source, although it's hard to see how anyone could get anything to grow on the dry, stony, terraces.

Great view though, down to Alhama and the castle.

Going up.

I didn’t go in this one. I wasn't too sure of the remaining roof.

Rob, checking out the source of the water, and making a repair.

 

[Littlewheels]

We have had some demonstrations, waving placards, but we get the middle finger from some

This reaction to your kindness from fellow human beings, it makes me so bloody mad.
Keep up the good work the Cats love you.

 

[Jays2]

I'm conscious that our life (and this thread) is getting a bit boring. So here's a few photos from this very same area a few years ago, after we had, possibly, the last real rain.

Today crossing the "River bed". How we normally see it.
View attachment 872547

And a few years ago, after rain.

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The flowers should be looking like this.

March 2022. This year, so far there's a bit of yellow Gorse.

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It's sad to see the barren land.

That was the difference we found in Portugal, it was the green and the flowers as we traveled about.
Not in the Algarve as we did head further up.

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[suavecarve]

So, while I'm at home awaiting news about my new bike and/or the repair of my blue bike, I'm going to go through my photos from this time last year, and the year before.

We were limited to exploring the Murcia region during lockdown and we found some great places close to home.

What a great idea for a journal entry. Maps everything for you (and everyone else)

You knew I would promote journals didn't you ?

 

[jumartoo]

What a great idea for a journal entry. Maps everything for you (and everyone else)

You knew I would promote journals didn't you ?

I really must have a look at the journals, but if I'm as good keeping a journal as I am remembering to start a Polarstep, there's not much hope for a comprehensive resource

 

[suavecarve]

I really must have a look at the journals, but if I'm as good keeping a journal as I am remembering to start a Polarstep, there's not much hope for a comprehensive resource

Once you have done 2 or 3 entries it is the proverbial piece of wee wee.

If I were in possession of your knowledge for your region one journal entry entitled Murcia and post your previous under that. It will create a great map for you and quick reference guide.
If you do try and get confused give me a shout, always willing to help as you have helped me with your rather bleeding marvelous thread.

 

[Mullet Man]

May 2022 we went to stay at Finca Alegria at Cuesta Blanca, near Cartagena. We were having a nice few days away until I fell off my bike and broke my wrist .

View attachment 873976View attachment 873977View attachment 873978

The nearby village of Perin.
View attachment 873979View attachment 873980View attachment 873981View attachment 873982View attachment 873983View attachment 873984

The day before .....

Just reading this in my van at.........Finca Alegria.What a great stopover. Cycled through Perin this afternoon.Spooky. Really enjoy reading about your travels.

 

[jumartoo]

Just reading this in my van at.........Finca Alegria.What a great stopover. Cycled through Perin this afternoon.Spooky. Really enjoy reading about your travels.

Don't cycle up a particular dry river bed near Cartagena. It has stones that throw you off your bike and make you break a wrist!

Did Perin have the crocheted canopy near the church?

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[Mullet Man]

No,didn't see the canopy.Great area for cycling though. Unfortunately stopped with friends in France on the way down 2 weeks ago and they gave me an evil lurgy. My lungs are still not right, so only doing short runs at the moment. Leaving to go west tomorrow but I'll come back next spring and do it justice I hope.

 

[jumar]

Once you have done 2 or 3 entries it is the proverbial piece of wee wee.

If I were in possession of your knowledge for your region one journal entry entitled Murcia and post your previous under that. It will create a great map for you and quick reference guide.
If you do try and get confused give me a shout, always willing to help as you have helped me with your rather bleeding marvelous thread.

Behind every good Woman is a good Man..

 

[suavecarve]

Behind every good Woman is a good Man..

I should stop offering Paula's services !

 

[jumartoo]

We've more or less decided to have a trip to Don Quixote and Sancho Panza country. We touched on the edge last year in the motorhome and then did a 6 day bike ride through the area around Campo de Criptana (windmill country) and Ruidera (Lagoons).

There is a network of motorhome areas, some free, some pay at €6.05 a night for parking, with add ons for other services. Some parts seem expensive, but they're the unnecessary parts for motorhomers with fully serviced vehicles, i.e. access to showers and toilets.

Anyway. These are the ones on the network up to last year.

 

[jumartoo]

Our proposed route is, starting from where we left off a few months ago, from the parking area on the Via Verde at Robledo, and from there up to Bonillo, a free parking, with leccy, that we don't need, at the bullring.

No more planning has yet been done, but there are many motorhome areas in that region, and some good areas to explore on our bikes.

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[jumartoo]

Waiting ...... bike delivery promised for this afternoon..

 

[jumar]

Waiting ...... bike delivery promised for this afternoon..

Spanner and hammer at the ready....

 

[jumartoo]

Last spring, shortly after Easter, we went to Don Quixote country to ride a 360 km route.

The planning went well (I did it ) but I started with my (still ongoing) tinnitus the night before we left. We then got a message from our friends who were coming on the ride with us to say that David was ill, with the runs, and couldn't leave the safety of the loo.

We set off to drive to the start, keeping in touch with them via WhatsApp. My journey was awful, the drumming in my ears was so loud.

What a good start .

Anyway, we eventually all met up and we rode for six days through parts of Castilla la Mancha, where we're now considering spending part of our next trip.

A few photos of the area.

Probably all out of order, but you get an idea.

 

[jumartoo]

It's here. Unboxing.

Off early in the morning for a 2.5 hours drive and then the first ride

 

[jumar]

It's here. Unboxing.

View attachment 875296

Off early in the morning for a 2.5 hours drive and then the first ride

Prepared,charged and set up ready to go...must say it's a very nice looking bike...
It's been an epic trying to get the original ordered model....but this is a good substitute...

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