Back on the road - Northern Spain/Portugal beckon

[VXman]

Not been out in the Motorhome properly since last summer due to my silly fire related accident (link to that here Thread 'No more touring for a while' https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/no-more-touring-for-a-while.308050/) plus my wife's back problems a month later and then her mum's passing.

However, life's getting back to normal, a little more freedom with the mother in law sadly gone, so back on the road.

Starting with 6 weeks down to Portugal, a trip originally planned for last autumn. It was going to be to Morocco as well but as I need to be back in the UK in May we'll focus on Northern Spain and Portugal. Morocco can wait.

So, thought I'd keep a record here if that's ok (done a blog in the travel journal section before but it seemed unwieldy)

Sunday 23rd.

Visited our son in Brighton as we were getting the Newhaven -Dieppe ferry the next day. Had a lovely peaceful night right on the seafront at Kings Esplanade.

Monday 24th

Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe (after popping into Asda for some last UK based essentials! Lots of Bacon, hola hoops, Cadburys picnics etc)

First time on this ferry and despite some folks negativity it was very nice. Got to pick up a couple of bargain Whiskies from Duty free!!

From Dieppe we motored down toll free roads to Nonancourt to stop at the free Aire outside the Mayors house (thanks for that recommendation suavecarve ). managed to hold back on the kebabs! Sue and Rick

The Aire was a cosy one with 6 vans parked in space for 5 (all Brits!) The Belgian that arrived late parked on the Mayors lawn! We had a beautiful peace night listening to the owls. Lovely town to wander around too.

Tomorrow - onwards towards San Sebastian but where the road will take us who knows!!

 

[Trelou]

Have a great trip. Will be watching with interest. Love San Sebastián.

 

[Mikey RV]

Happy travels.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

We’ll be doing similar from 7th (via Plymouth-Roscoff) so will follow your thread and see how the road takes us

 

[lorger]

We did similar in November and December and really loved Portugal, we found some lovely park ups and met some lovely locals. We roughly followed the N2 route, if you visit the tourist office in Chaves they will give you map and information and also a passport you can then get stamped as you go, we didn’t do this as we wondered on and off missing places.

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[Barti Ddu]

Have a great trip.
Pleased you're both on the mend.

We'd planned a 7 week trip earlier this year to Portugal - mid January to early March - but like you, we had to cancel at short notice as, "life gets in the way", as they say.

Looking forward to your updates, until we can finally get our own trip rescheduled.

 

[maison]

Great to see you fully mobile again.

Have a great trip.

 

[Carpmart]

You look incredibly familiar! Did you used to be involved with VX220 group around Milton Keynes? I did a Silverstone track day with that group… didn’t get on with the VX, so it wasn’t around for long…. would have been 15 years back now!

One point for anyone going to Nonancourt Aire, in a larger Motorhome, it’s a VERY awkward right hand turn down a narrow entrance road to get in!

 

[VXman]

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You look incredibly familiar! Did you used to be involved with VX220 group around Milton Keynes? I did a Silverstone track day with that group… didn’t get on with the VX, so it wasn’t around for long…. would have been 15 years back now!

One point for anyone going to Nonancourt Aire, in a larger Motorhome, it’s a VERY awkward right hand turn down a narrow entrance road to get in!

YES!!!! Hence my username

Still got the VX, well my 3rd actually. Had this latest one about...hmmm not sure - maybe 15 years.

It's highly modified - about 300bhp. Just does track days now. Got a few planned for the summer. Still in touch with a lot the VX220 crowd when doing track days.

Small world.

 

[VXman]

Tuesday 25th

The French provision for motorhomes come up trumps again!

Verteuil sur Charente turned out to be a cracking overnight spot. A small Aire with about 6 vans (4 Brits) right by the river. Free electric, water, grey and black waste facilities. Clean toilets 2 minutes away

5 minute walk into a beautiful historic town with another sparkly clean and toilet paper equipped toilet. (I'm becoming obsessed with public toilets - not used the onboard one for 3 days!)

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[scousebird]

Have a great trip

 

[Riverbankannie]

Keep posting, we will be following starting Santander next Thursday!

 

[maison]

Keep posting, we will be following starting Santander next Thursday!

And we will be following on the 9th April.

Looks like the U.K. may be empty soon!

 

[VXman]

Spent a fabulous 3 days in San Sebastian. A lovely (but cosy again) Aire for 5.50 euros per night. Only a 15 minute cycle ride into the old town. So much to see from beautiful churches to climbing the hill with a statue of Christ at the top for a great view of the city, the sea and the snow covered mountains in the distance.

The 'piece de resistance' though was the fabulous food and wine. We visited a tapas bar and ate a couple of dishes recommended by Anthony Bourdain in one of his programmes. It did not disappoint.

The next day we did a guided food and wine tour in a small group (a lovely Singaporean couple and an just as lovely American family - a rare thing!). 6 bars with a variety of tapas and wine in each, with a little history and town tour thrown in. Superb 3 hours.

Finally, this morning we visited the guides recommended bar for breakfast Tortilla de Patatas. WOW - never tasted one like this before!

 

[maison]

Spent a fabulous 3 days in San Sebastian. A lovely (but cosy again) Aire for 5.50 euros per night. Only a 15 minute cycle ride into the old town. So much to see from beautiful churches to climbing the hill with a statue of Christ at the top for a great view of the city, the sea and the snow covered mountains in the distance.

The 'piece de resistance' though was the fabulous food and wine. We visited a tapas bar and ate a couple of dishes recommended by Anthony Bourdain in one of his programmes. It did not disappoint.

The next day we did a guided food and wine tour in a small group (a lovely Singaporean couple and an just as lovely American family - a rare thing!). 6 bars with a variety of tapas and wine in each, with a little history and town tour thrown in. Superb 3 hours.


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Finally, this morning we visited the guides recommended bar for breakfast Tortilla de Patatas. WOW - never tasted one like this before!
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Great pictures!

How easy is it to get from the Aire into the city for people with limited walking ability? Is there a nearby bus route etc?

Mrs Maison had bi-lateral knee replacements 14 years ago which are starting to wear out so she finds longer walks and steps a bit difficult.

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[AlunandFelicie]

Great pictures!

How easy is it to get from the Aire into the city for people with limited walking ability? Is there a nearby bus route etc?

Mrs Maison had bi-lateral knee replacements 14 years ago which are starting to wear out so she finds longer walks and steps a bit difficult.

Ditto for cycling ,is it traffic free?

 

[Trelou]

Keep posting, we will be following starting Santander next Thursday!

We’ll also be bound for Santander on the 9th. Can’t wait

 

[VXman]

How easy is it to get from the Aire into the city for people with limited walking ability? Is there a nearby bus route etc?

Mrs Maison had bi-lateral knee replacements 14 years ago which are starting to wear out so she finds longer walks and steps a bit difficult.

I'm afraid I've no idea on the buses as we didn't need them. Someone did mention a bus stop next to the park up so maybe it's possible.

Ditto for cycling ,is it traffic free?

The cycle paths tend to be on the side of footpaths. Mostly off the roads but do cross them at zebra crossings and traffic light controlled crossings. The cars are very good at stopping for cyclists which is a pleasant change from the UK! So, pedestrians and traffic are all around you a lot of the time but it is very well done and well used.

 

[Debs]

Looking forward to following your trip.
We're just coming to the end of 8 weeks that we'd roughly aimed at working our way clockwise down the east coast of spain and taking in Portugal. That all changed as the weather has been so bad and we headed back east. Looks like things are settling now.

We were dithering about heading to San Sebastian a few days ago but decided on Leon instead which we'd recommend if you've not been. Fabulous place & very nice tapas.

Can I ask how you booked your tour for San Sebastian & was it the university aire? I'm already making lists for the next trip!

Have a great time.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Great write up and photos. We love San Sebastian - for all the reasons you state. Beautiful relaxed city and fantastic bars and eateries.

It's not easily served by air travel, which is a shame as it would make a fantastic city-break destination, but on the other hand, it's perhaps the lack of really massive tourism that makes it a much more chilled city compared to Barcelona, Málaga and the like.

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[MichaelT]

Great pictures!

How easy is it to get from the Aire into the city for people with limited walking ability? Is there a nearby bus route etc?

Mrs Maison had bi-lateral knee replacements 14 years ago which are starting to wear out so she finds longer walks and steps a bit difficult.

No 5 bus few minutes walk away near university (on other side of road) to old town or 15 minutes walk to funicular railway.

 

[VXman]

So we left Sam Sebastian heading towards Montesinho national park, North Portugal. I get a bit 'towned out' after a few historic towns and needed a change.

However, we came across Bourg (why do I always think Star Trek when I see that) and decided to pop in. Great free Aire 10 mins cycle from town. What a cathedral! It was closing in an hour by time we got there so we just took a wander around, hiked up the hill to a view point and decided to go back for a proper visit in the morning. 10 euros each for the cathedral but it took 2 hours to get around.

After that we again set off heading for the National park but once again got distracted (this is why I love I unplanned motorhome trips) by a beautiful river/lake/reservoir's with motorhome parking on the edge.

So an impromptu decision to stop the night here at Ricobayo (50 miles from Portugal)

I'm a bit obsessed with dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric plants and this place has it all, so I got the bike off the rack and explored the dam, hydro electric plant and surrounding villages.

Just 4 motorhomes here - parked 100 metres or so between each of us!

 

[VXman]

Can I ask how you booked your tour for San Sebastian & was it the university aire? I'm already making lists for the next trip!

Yes, we went to the university Aire. We were lucky to get on the proper motorhome section where there are about 20 places but the next morning there must have been another 40 vans in the main car park! Weirdly the services are in the main car park.

We found the tour on Viator on line. We did the food and wine one but you can get town tours too.

 

[maison]

So we left Sam Sebastian heading towards Montesinho national park, North Portugal. I get a bit 'towned out' after a few historic towns and needed a change.

However, we came across Bourg (why do I always think Star Trek when I see that) and decided to pop in. Great free Aire 10 mins cycle from town. What a cathedral! It was closing in an hour by time we got there so we just took a wander around, hiked up the hill to a view point and decided to go back for a proper visit in the morning. 10 euros each for the cathedral but it took 2 hours to get around.

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After that we again set off heading for the National park but once again got distracted (this is why I love I unplanned motorhome trips) by a beautiful river/lake/reservoir's with motorhome parking on the edge.

So an impromptu decision to stop the night here at Ricobayo (50 miles from Portugal)

I'm a bit obsessed with dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric plants and this place has it all, so I got the bike off the rack and explored the dam, hydro electric plant and surrounding villages.

Just 4 motorhomes here - parked 100 metres or so between each of us!
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Are the pictures of Burgos Cathedral?

We were there for the Good Friday Parade and it certainly looks similar.

 

[Dutch 68]

So we left Sam Sebastian heading towards Montesinho national park, North Portugal. I get a bit 'towned out' after a few historic towns and needed a change.

However, we came across Bourg (why do I always think Star Trek when I see that) and decided to pop in. Great free Aire 10 mins cycle from town. What a cathedral! It was closing in an hour by time we got there so we just took a wander around, hiked up the hill to a view point and decided to go back for a proper visit in the morning. 10 euros each for the cathedral but it took 2 hours to get around.

View attachment 1036320
View attachment 1036323

After that we again set off heading for the National park but once again got distracted (this is why I love I unplanned motorhome trips) by a beautiful river/lake/reservoir's with motorhome parking on the edge.

So an impromptu decision to stop the night here at Ricobayo (50 miles from Portugal)

I'm a bit obsessed with dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric plants and this place has it all, so I got the bike off the rack and explored the dam, hydro electric plant and surrounding villages.

Just 4 motorhomes here - parked 100 metres or so between each of us!
View attachment 1036440
View attachment 1036443
View attachment 1036447

Bourg? Is that predictive text change for Burgos ?

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[jumartoo]

Where's Bourg?

Edit just seen previous comment.