Beech's Euro Tour Part Deux

[Jays2]

When we went, tried to find a campsite to stop in to no avail.
We parked up at the side of a road, left the van, we were walking away and a person walking past told us to move the van as it would be broken into.
so we parked at the Alhambra car park, not the proper camper park, just the car park, it was quite as winter.
We were in the queue to go it, the group in front of us asked if we would like a free ticket as one of the pre booked ticket holders would not be coming.
well why not, so Jan went in with the prebooked group.
My timed entry was 15 minutes later, we met up inside when we were able to.
We found it very nice and a glimpse into its past glory.
When we got back and tried to leave the car parking spot, we then had to pay the camper price, but It was a good try!

 

[Helen Ariel]

So after the Alhambra we wandered round Granada with Beech. Another beautiful Spanish city, possibly our favourite so far. We had some drinks & tapas as we meandered our way around.

We kept noticing loads of people all wearing what we thought were football scarves & tops but it turned out that the basketball Copa del Rey was being held over this weekend. Lots of outdoor events on including this music stage we happened across.

It was nice to sit in the sun and people watch. Beech was pretty chilled too.

We love a bit of street art.

Some well deserved refreshments.

Before we took Beech back to the van for a siesta.

We headed in later by ourselves for another explore. The evening light as we walked down to the city was fabulous.

Found some cracking bars, ate some excellent tapas, soaked up some evening city atmosphere, drank some lovely wines, woke up a bit groggy…

Headed to the big Carrefour and the nearby Lidl, before heading back to the campsite to chill for the day. The forecast rain arrived and was steady through the night. Much needed as the reservoirs are only at 30% capacity.

 

[Kilroy]

Best thing I've ever seen in my life!

Certainly right up there for me!

 

[jongood]

Sorry to hear you were poorly due to the Cadiz prawns. Motorhome freezers are not the best freezers in the world for freezing stuff from room temp. Best just use them for already frozen food.

Ours works a lot better on gas, we use our freezer quite a lot so if we re on ehu I manually stick it on gas, it doesnt seem to use it that fast.

 

[jongood]

Best thing I've ever seen in my life!

I loved the Alhambra, I would put it on a par with Angkor Wat or the Valley of the Kings although different scales.

I don't get people not liking the Alhambra Lenny HB #Philistine

Are you now able to park in the top carpark next to the Parador? we went about 5? years ago and had to sue a crappy campsite outside town. I would happily pay 33 euros to stay up there.

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[Lenny HB]

I don't get people not liking the Alhambra @Lenny HB #Philistine

I just think there are much nicer and more interesting places in Spain to visit. Seems like a hotch botch of buildngs & gardens. Anywhere you have to buy tickets in advance and queue up to get in puts me off the place before I get there.

 

[Helen Ariel]

I loved the Alhambra, I would put it on a par with Angkor Wat or the Valley of the Kings although different scales.

I don't get people not liking the Alhambra Lenny HB #Philistine

Are you now able to park in the top carpark next to the Parador? we went about 5? years ago and had to sue a crappy campsite outside town. I would happily pay 33 euros to stay up there.

I'd love to visit those places too! Yes there is a motorhome parking area just above the main carpark only 5 minutes walk to the Alhambra. It was a really quiet nights sleep too and level. No services but at that price we were only staying a night.

 

[125BEER]

Beer,wine,tapas and sunshine.....what more do you need....

 

[Lenny HB]

I would put it on a par with Angkor Wat

I would agree that Angkor Wat is not bad I enjoyed that.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Well we're both aching all over today as we spent all day yesterday hooning down mountain sides with some very quick riders guiding us.

We had paid a mountain bike company that's based locally to uplift and guide us for the day so basically we were taken to the tops of the mountains and got to ride downhill on singletrack trails all day.

Now this may sound undemanding but actually it is incredibly physical and involves many muscles that we don't normally use for such extended periods of time especially the glutes, quads and hand and arm muscles with all the braking that's required. There's certainly no sitting down or relaxation time and absolute concentration is required in order not to shoot of the side of the mountain or smash into the various boulders that are strewn across your path.

There was one other guy, a Scot, who was on holiday out here and 3 guides which is not the normal ratio of punters to guides but they were teaching one of the new guides the routes to take as they have a busy spell of bookings ahead.

They are a Brit run company called Ride Southern Spain who moved out here 3 years ago (on New Lives in the Sun tv programme apparently) so it's been a tricky start for their business.

We had a brilliant day and it was fun riding with others and not having to slog uphill for hours to enjoy one descent that's over before you know it.

The view above Lanjaron at 1800m was spectacular and we could, see laid out below us like a 3d map, all the places we have explored over the last few weeks including the campsite, the reservoir and dam where we overnighted, the shrine of the holy shoe, many of the walks and rides we have done and right out to the plastic greenhouses and the Med Coast.

It was quite a fitting end to this part of our trip as our 4 weeks in The Alpujarras is almost up.

Today was spent resting and reflecting as we watched my Grandad's funeral on the live feed. He was 89 and had a difficult year with illness and increasingly bad dementia so I'm thankfull he is at peace now. Xxx

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[Helen Ariel]

Not posted for awhile as it's been a whirlwind of a week.

Last Monday we packed up camp in Órgiva after a brilliant 4 weeks based there and headed to the coast for a mini holiday with friends.

We've had a break from motorhoming and spent the last 4 nights in a lovely villa in Nerja with 4 friends from the uk.

It was a lovely change of scene and great to see friends from home after so long away, though after 4 days of socialising, boozing and over eating we're ready for the healthy life!

The villa was really well equipped with pool table, table tennis and bbq area so we made the most of it and the weather was great which I was so glad about for our friends after enduring a long uk winter.

Yesterday Paul took the gang up into the mountains in their hire car and Beech and I stayed behind and did some cloud watching and hydrotherapy.

The views above Frigiliana were cracking!

We also had the promise of a great sunset in both directions along the beach, but it didn’t get much better than these pics.

Beech has enjoyed having lot's of fuss and a morning swim each day but her mobility seems to be declining. We've noticed over the last month her back legs are losing muscle and she is struggling with getting up steps recently and she has been squeaking with pain on occasion which is upsetting but probably inevitable with her being 12 and a half with arthritis.

We have added a morning dose of cbd to her vet prescribed anti inflammatory and her exercise will be shorter and flatter now.

Today it's exactly 3 weeks until we get on the Chunnel home in time for Mother's day and we are starting the last leg of our trip, gradually working our way through Spain and back into France. I'm quite excited as after 2 years of mostly vanlife we will be moving back into our home in Brighton.

Last leg to follow and we are planning on flting as much as possible on the way home after splurging on campsites and villas!

 

[Billylou]

Hi Helen Ariel, it‘ll be really interesting to read how you both get on exiting the EU at the end of your trip. You’ve mentioned before that you have UK and Irish passports between the two of you as my wife and I have. I’m assuming you’ve been away for longer than 180 days but shouldn’t need to worry about and issues at the border. If you could include a short write up of your experience we’d be really grateful. Many thanks

 

[scousebird]

Have a good trip home

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

The photos are brilliant enjoy your trip back.

 

[jockaneezer]

Have a look at YOUMOVE PLUS+ for Beech's aches and pains, it's loosened our stiff whippet up !

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[Al n Val]

Have a look at YOUMOVE PLUS+ for Beech's aches and pains, it's loosened our stiff whippet up !

Have they a version for us humans

i’m serious, i’ve nothing stiff though, just seized up

 

[Langtoftlad]

Have they a version for us humans

i’m serious, i’ve nothing stiff though, just seized up

Yes they do

 

[Al n Val]

Yes they do

please spread your good news then

Al

 

[jockaneezer]

This is the "human" stuff https://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/imove-joint-supplement-people. I can't vouch for the supplier as it's just one I picked off the web and the missus usually sorts it out, but she's winging her way to Fuertaventura to try some sun therapy on her aching knees !

 

[Helen Ariel]

Have a look at YOUMOVE PLUS+ for Beech's aches and pains, it's loosened our stiff whippet up !

Thanks she's been on yumove for years and various other supplements.

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[Helen Ariel]

Found a nice quiet, spacious spot right on the beach near Matagorda, Almeria. It was a bit of a grim drive in through miles and miles of plastic greenhouses and litter strewn everywhere in between but once there it was a great wilding spot on an unspoilt, undeveloped beach and Beech enjoyed the rock pools whilst i watched the local bird life.

We then headed into the hills on our way to the film studios at Tabernas and as we crested the top were rewarded with stunning views.

On our way we were diverted by seeing signs for some ancient ruins so stopped there for lunch but unfortunately after viewing the information in the visitor centre we couldn't walk down to the ruins as they were closing at 2pm but we'll try to come back next year as they originate from 4000bc apparently and then were a very significant settlement in the copper age. Info below.

I walked up the hill behind and you can just see the ruins behind the visitor centre.

Eventually we made it to the carpark of mini Hollywood where motorhomes can stay overnight. We could hear the last of the shows going on with cowboy music and gun shots but have no interest in paying 40 plus euros for the entry. Got a couple of photos from outside and then this morning we did a lovely walk into the ravine to the site where they filmed the oasis scene in Lawrence of Arabia.

We made a hasty retreat to the van after hearing the thunder approaching.

Now stocking up in Almeria carrefour before getting water and waste dump in readyness for a few days in the sticks out in cabo de gata.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Some pics of the hike to the site of the oasis built as a film location for Lawrence of Arabia. The weather was still pretty moody, but warm with it as we passed the Mini Hollywood.

Top of the gorge en route to the oasis.

Down the rickety wooden ‘staircase’ to the ravine floor.

Helen certainly got into the Arabian explorer vibe…

The contrast of the terrain with the sky was very vivid.

Helen had read about the crew using white plastic sheeting to build the oasis and sure enough we found some.

It was still stunning though.

As we were wandering about Helen spotted an odd piece of glass that looked really out of place. Brown at first but changed colour in the light.
Anyone recognise the logo? Have we found some film memorabilia?

More stunning vistas as we headed back to the van to drive over to the building just visible on the right in this pic.

It was another location that was used in an episode of Black Mirror, a show we really enjoyed a few years ago.

Bonus as we could also park there and go for another quick hike before we went shopping en route to Cabo de Gata.

 

[Al n Val]

Some cracking photo showing the stunning scenery and backdrop

i’m enjoying your thread thank you

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Great photos as usual . You must stay longer and keep on enjoying yourselves, there is not much to come back to here except doom and gloom.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Great photos as usual . You must stay longer and keep on enjoying yourselves, there is not much to come back to here except doom and gloom.

Whilst it's been an amazing trip there's only so long I can see amazing scenery, lie in the sun etc and after living in the van this long I'm really looking forward to having some more space, a garden to grow veggies, friends and family and I need to earn some money for next winter!

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[Helen Ariel]

Not got much data left for our last couple of weeks and not worth getting a Spanish sim now so updating when we get some WiFi. Currently sat in a Brit run bar in Mazarron waiting on a roast dinner of all things!

But back to last Monday and our wonderful visit to Cabo de Gata national park. We stayed on an unofficial aire on the very edge of the park for the night then made our way into the park to Playa los Escullos to spend the day and found a Wikilok mtb route that took us to the abandoned village and goldmine at Rodalquilar. It was quite spooky I thought.

This area is quite famous for various film locations including India Jones and The good The bad and The ugly.

We then overnighted in the tiny seaside resort of Las Negras which has a lovely cove and was almost deserted out of season.

On Wednesday morning we headed back into the park a few miles the way we had come from as we wanted to spend the day on a very special beach which was a couple of miles down a single track road and very unspoilt. We arrived quite early to find a few vans looking quite settled so I guess they got away with overnighting there as it's the off season.

What a glorious day we had there, sunbathing, reading and paddling with Beech. It's definitely my favourite bit of Spanish coast discovered so far. It's just so quiet with no roads, flight paths or development near it and on a calm sunny day the water is crystal clear and the colours in the rock and ocean are glorious.

The rolling hills of the national park are are a totally unique landscape covered with a very localised mix of wild grasses and herbs and the rocks are an amazing array of colours being rich in minerals and ores hence the extensive mining going back into the early history of habitation in the area.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Lovely photos.
Have you been to Cartegena?. That's worth a look ,lots of Roman history If your heading back that way .
But if you keep stoping off at these nice places you'll never get back home.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Sorry had to load pics in stages all done now. Will continue the next instalment later

 

[Helen Ariel]

Lol i know! We were meant to be moving on today but we don't fancy it now after a 4 course dinner in the sun! Cartagena is next on the list though! We already did the coast down as far as Valencia at the start of our trip so actually not loads left to do. Few more days in Murcia and a few around Valencia area then more bigger driving days and a couple of days around Girona area if the weather is good as there is good mtbing there

Lovely photos.
Have you been to Cartegena?. That's worth a look ,lots of Roman history If your heading back that way .
But if you keep stoping off at these nice places you'll never get back home.

 

[Helen Ariel]

After we left Cabo de Gata we headed inland to explore the Sierra Espuna regional park after a quick resupply in Lorca. We’d seen that there was good hiking and biking to be had, and the forecast was pretty good.
Motorhomes are banned in the park between 22:00 and 08:00 so we found a nice quiet park up near a picnic area just outside the park limits.
After an early night Helen and I left Beech in the van whilst we headed out for a hike. Beech was tired after a couple of exciting days and was happy with a shorter morning wander and a lazy day.

Our aim was to circumnavigate a military installation at the top of the hill. The van is parked on the saddle in the middle of the photo.
Lots to see including some old ice making buildings in various states of repair.

Back to the van and a drive on some exhilarating mountain back roads towards Alhama de Murcia where we planned to go MTBing the next day.
We found another great park up just outside the park and had a quiet night.
The next day was cracking with not a cloud in the sky as we headed of to do a Wikiloc bike ride. The gradient was not as severe as the Alpujarras but we still gained height quickly.

The water in the storage aquifers we cycled past was the most amazing colour.

And we got a different view of yesterdays hike.

Came across some interesting buildings on the way up.

And found some cracking trails on the way down.

Great views out over Murcia. It’s a region that’s growing on us a lot.

Then back to the van to pack up before a drive down to Puerto de Mazarron where we stayed last night and will stay tonight also. Sea views, bar nearby with the view below, recycling bins handy. What’s not to like? Had a lovely beach walk with Beech towards the marina and had a roast dinner.

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