Beech's Euro Tour Part Deux

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you do go ,put Fatima on your list .its a place of pilgrimage.fairly Modern, but fascinating to walk around.plus the aire is free.with elsan, grey dump and water available.

The campsite at Foz de Arelho is cheap with ehu and right in the estuary ,nice beach walks

 

[Lenny HB]

Found my post on Obdios, it was Oct so market might be up and running.

Lenny's on the road to Portugal

Jeez Lenny, you must have the patience of a saint, How did you manage to stay sane and purchase 3 vans from yer men. Weekend away from sleepin on it and telling them to stuff it. How they are still open for business is astounding. Grrrrrrrr... Looks like you are having a fab time in Portugal...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Dutch 68]

It’s easy to find on the road from Chulilla. We stayed at the top of the entrance to the gorge walk/Ruta de Los Pantaneros.

Thank you, I will bookmark it!

 

[Lenny HB]

If you do go ,put Fatima on your list .its a place of pilgrimage.fairly Modern, but fascinating to walk around.plus the aire is free.with elsan, grey dump and water available.

The campsite at Foz de Arelho is cheap with ehu and right in the estuary ,nice beach walks

Foz was €4, €6 with EHU a couple of years ago it's an Aire not a site.

Agree about Fatima.

Another place you might like Costa de Lavos.

Lenny's on the road to Portugal

Lenny there is a stunning place to stopover a little south of you at Foz Do Arelho. We stayed here in 2017 and loved it. Camper Contact 10004. 4€.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Foz de Arelho top and Fatima below

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Foz was €4, €6 with EHU a couple of years ago it's an Aire not a site.

Agree about Fatima.

Another place you might like Costa de Lavos.

Lenny's on the road to Portugal

Lenny there is a stunning place to stopover a little south of you at Foz Do Arelho. We stayed here in 2017 and loved it. Camper Contact 10004. 4€.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Foz de Arelho was around 7 euros a night with ehu when we went ,organised ,had gas on sale ,washing up sinks or prep areas. Looked like a small campsite to me as you couldn't just park up anywhere and the people running it were on site..it was right in the beach

New item by James Hall

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Helen Ariel]

We stayed at the Foz D’Arelho aire for 4 nights last year. Great spot, and we’ll probably head back. I had a good surf with the locals which was ace, and we met another couple called Helen & Paul there too who we’ve kept in touch with.

 

[vin0114]

Helen Ariel Fabulous photos and information, thank you both.

 

[vin0114]

Foz de Arelho was around 7 euros a night with ehu when we went ,organised ,had gas on sale ,washing up sinks or prep areas. Looked like a small campsite to me as you couldn't just park up anywhere and the people running it were on site..it was right in the beach

New item by James Hall

photos.app.goo.gl

p.s. don't get too sunburnt Jimbohorlicks !!!

 

[Grianan]

Great blog - thanks!

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[Just smiffy]

Your going to wiz right by me…

 

[Helen Ariel]

Your going to wiz right by me…

Our route will be Murcia - Albacete - Madrid - Segovia
Then we’ll go Segovia - Salamanca - Guarda - Coimbra - Figueira de Foz

Where are you again?

 

[Just smiffy]

Our route will be Murcia - Albacete - Madrid - Segovia
Then we’ll go Segovia - Salamanca - Guarda - Coimbra - Figueira de Foz

Where are you again?

L’Albir…

 

[Shrimp]

You sound as tho you are enjoying yourselves…..but is Beech enjoying it too?

 

[Helen Ariel]

You sound as tho you are enjoying yourselves…..but is Beech enjoying it too?

She's in doggie heaven. When we were back in the UK this summer she seemed to slow right down and we were worried that she wouldn't be able to do the same adventures as previous year but now we're out here doing new exciting walks and lovely beaches she's like a pup again and has done up to 8 miles with no ill effects on her arthritis.

I'm not sure if the weather helps or if it's just that like us she thrives on new and varied excursions whereas at home it's the same old walks she's done a thousand times so she plods along.

Flirting with the big boy on the Benicassim aire.

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[Helen Ariel]

L’Albir…

You’re less than an hour away!

 

[Shrimp]

Although dogs thrive on a routine, most animals do, they really enjoy new pastures. We noticed with Gina that she loved new places with all the new smells and sights and this pup does too, as long as the home life stays regular!
Beech will be just as sparkly when she gets home, catching up on all the ‘news’ on her old walks.
Have fun.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Evening view from previous post to show the contrast with the following pic.

In the morning we noticed that there was a fire producing a huge amount of smoke that was enveloping the whole area.

Turns out it was the municipal dump that had caught fire and was still smouldering away even after the rain we’d had the day before. We drove through the smoke en route to Murcia before a pit stop at the big Decathlon & Carrefour outside Benidorm to top up our supplies.

We’d spotted a place to stay on Park4Night in the car park at the Sanctuario de Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta which has fabulous views overlooking Murcia, and has lots of great hiking & biking trails nearby. It also had a great review from a certain Northernraider so we had to go.

We had the car park to ourselves, until later on anyway, but it was mainly people visiting the church and some younger ones hanging out. The music stopped by 10pm thank goodness.

Early morning hike with Beech then we headed out on the bikes. Like the rest of Spain the climbs are steep but the descents are worth it and the views were spectacular. Fresh at 14c though, but crystal clear skies and warm in the sun.

Helen even got 2 Queen of the Mountains on the Strava app riding down the last 3 trails! Pretty impressive considering it was her first time riding them.

After a hearty dinner we settled down to watch The Wire. Far fewer cars for some reason but one did park right next to us for some reason. I realised why when I took Beech out for a last wee as it was a solo German girl in a Ford Focus estate looking for a bit of security by parking beside fellow travellers. All good until she started her engine up at 22:30 to warm her car up, but the noise of the clattery diesel, & the exhaust fumes permeating our van meant I had to tap on her window and suggest politely that it might be more considerate if she moved to the far side.

We’re now half way to Segovia, parked up in a free serviced aire underneath the castle walls of Castillo de Garcimuñoz. The village is like a ghost town.
We’re parked at the far side of the castle in the pic below.

It’s been close to freezing overnight and Helen is very happy with her new puffa jacket! No snow yet but fabulous light this morning!

 

[Northernraider]

Evening view from previous post to show the contrast with the following pic.

View attachment 560632

In the morning we noticed that there was a fire producing a huge amount of smoke that was enveloping the whole area.

View attachment 560635

Turns out it was the municipal dump that had caught fire and was still smouldering away even after the rain we’d had the day before. We drove through the smoke en route to Murcia before a pit stop at the big Decathlon & Carrefour outside Benidorm to top up our supplies.

We’d spotted a place to stay on Park4Night in the car park at the Sanctuario de Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta which has fabulous views overlooking Murcia, and has lots of great hiking & biking trails nearby. It also had a great review from a certain Northernraider so we had to go.

We had the car park to ourselves, until later on anyway, but it was mainly people visiting the church and some younger ones hanging out. The music stopped by 10pm thank goodness.

View attachment 560636

Early morning hike with Beech then we headed out on the bikes. Like the rest of Spain the climbs are steep but the descents are worth it and the views were spectacular. Fresh at 14c though, but crystal clear skies and warm in the sun.

View attachment 560637

Helen even got 2 Queen of the Mountains on the Strava app riding down the last 3 trails! Pretty impressive considering it was her first time riding them.

View attachment 560638

After a hearty dinner we settled down to watch The Wire. Far fewer cars for some reason but one did park right next to us for some reason. I realised why when I took Beech out for a last wee as it was a solo German girl in a Ford Focus estate looking for a bit of security by parking beside fellow travellers. All good until she started her engine up at 22:30 to warm her car up, but the noise of the clattery diesel, & the exhaust fumes permeating our van meant I had to tap on her window and suggest politely that it might be more considerate if she moved to the far side.

We’re now half way to Segovia, parked up in a free serviced aire underneath the castle walls of Castillo de Garcimuñoz. The village is like a ghost town.
We’re parked at the far side of the castle in the pic below.

View attachment 560649

It’s been close to freezing overnight and Helen is very happy with her new puffa jacket! No snow yet but fabulous light this morning!

View attachment 560667

Cant believe its that cold ...im complaining here in albania that its a bit dull and overcast ( raining today ) but temperature wise we have around 10° overnight and around 16/ 17 daytime

 

[Helen Ariel]

Cant believe its that cold ...im complaining here in albania that its a bit dull and overcast ( raining today ) but temperature wise we have around 10° overnight and around 16/ 17 daytime

Only because we've gone in land for a couple of days. Madrid is the highest capital city in Europe. We'll be driving past today but I'm already looking forward to the warmth of the Portuguese coast!

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[Lenny HB]

Are you aware of the new restrictions in Portugal you have to have a negative test to enter the country, not sure if applies when entering by road.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Are you aware of the new restrictions in Portugal you have to have a negative test to enter the country, not sure if applies when entering by road.

Not by road

 

[Kozikot]

Not by road

From December 1st

• Mandatory negative test for all flights arriving in Portugal, even for those who have a digital vaccination certificate, regardless of the point of origin of the flight or the passenger's nationality.
• This measure applies to air, land, sea and river borders

 

[Helen Ariel]

From December 1st

• Mandatory negative test for all flights arriving in Portugal, even for those who have a digital vaccination certificate, regardless of the point of origin of the flight or the passenger's nationality.
• This measure applies to air, land, sea and river borders

No worries if so we'll be crossing before then

 

[Helen Ariel]

We made it safely around Madrid to see our friend in the countryside about 30 minutes from Segovia. Interesting driving on the busy roads in, around & under the highest capital in Europe (Andorra excepted), with the only wintry weather coming after we’d driven up to and through the tunnel on the AP6. We could see clouds over the mountains in the distance that definitely looked like snow clouds, and sure enough we emerged from the tunnel into much colder temperatures and sleet showers.

We weren’t worried as we’d had regular updates from our friend that all the roads were clear everywhere, and the forecast on Aemet.es was that show would only be lying above 1200m.
We’ve found the Spanish Met site to be incredibly accurate on our trip so far.
We both noted that we were not seeing any other motorhomes on the road now compared with the Med coast, and once we arrived in Navas we got the feeling that we were the first tourists to have visited! Our friend has lived there for 25 years though and it was great to have her local knowledge to draw on.
She lives in a lovely rustic finca on the outskirts of the village with a real menagerie of animals - 2 dogs, 3+ cats, and chickens of all types!

Beech wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, especially when Chilli took a shine to her bed but we were all made to feel incredibly welcome and enjoyed some great food & company in front of the huge, permanently lit wood burning stove.

Afterwards we went to the local bar, and as is the way for us in Spain we were amongst the earliest arrivals! Only one other couple were there at 8pm but this gave us the chance to have a good chat with the barmaid Cynthia, much aided by Google Translate.

Lovely beer & wine with free tapas served with every drink ordered. Great to see the bar filling up with local characters and loads more tapas being placed on display. You were able to choose whichever one you wanted and they were pretty substantial.

A bracing walk the next day to a landscape with huge granite boulders blew the hangover away!

The hike which passed through an historic quarry which wasn’t on any map. They don’t even know how old it was, or what the quarried stones were used for.

It was a fabulous landscape with many more huge granite boulders dotting the land and the remnants of the quarry everywhere. Bloody cold though! Overnight temps had dropped to well below freezing and the wind chill temperature was -6c in the morning! Some change from 17c on the Med coast a couple of days earlier but a huge chunk of local beef was slow-cooking for our return, and we were given some cracking eggs and the most delicious local olive oil to take away with us.

An icicle formed below the boiler vent overnight so this was a sign that it was time to head west and into Portugal. A very different landscape to drive through and I’ve never seen as many Red Kites flying above us.

We filled up with diesel at €1.29 per litre before we crossed the border without any fuss. No sign of any checkpoints, and we drove to the pretty little village of Castelo Mendo which is about 5 miles into Portugal.

Parking right on the edge of the village.

It was quite overcast but we headed out for a 4 mile hike down to the old inland port on the Cõa River. Lots of clearly marked hiking trails around here.

All of the trees were covered in lichen which is a great sign of air quality.

Then back to the van for luxury mac & cheese with the left over beef, washed down with beer. Then more of The Wire. Best TV show ever? Possibly.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Your in the best place.,snow here and more to come.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Well what a day! Portugal is spoiling us already. I took Beech out for a short walk round Mendo this morning whilst Paul washed up and the sun popped out and warmed our bones nicely. As we rounded a corner a herd of horned sheep appeared and i quickly put Beech on the lead and moved to the side but the wizened man herding them came right over to pet Beech and his inquisitive sheep came right up too which set Beech growling a little. I was a bit flummoxed as I have hardly any Portuguese but after awhile we worked out we both spoke some French and i think if i heard correctly he grew up in France near Lille but had lived in Portugal 58 years. We had a lovely little chat and then when I got back to the van we had the most gorgeous friendly dog visit us. If he'd been a stray I'd have been sorely tempted to take him along as Beech seemed to love him too.

I may have given him a treat or 2 but look at that face and the cute white heart on his head!

We drove on an hour and a half to the historic village of Monsanto through some beautiful countryside and have just seen the most mind blowingly beautiful place we've ever visited in Portugal and taken about a thousand photos which hopefully capture some of the scale of this place. Photo bomb to follow once I've cooked us some dinner!

 

[Helen Ariel]

Great motorhome park up in the little village below Monsanto. Water tap, toilets but no dumping facility, with a nice cafe/bar on the square. It was a 4 mile round trip to hike to the castle at the top and we had the place virtually to ourselves.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Oh, nice photos and a beautiful place you found.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Some more pics from yesterday’s hike up to the castle above Monsanto. If you’re in this part of Portugal it’s a must do. Apologies for any duplication; we couldn’t stop taking pics as it was so beautiful.

Free park up in the village square.

Pre-hike lunch. 2 big toasted cheese & ham sandwiches, coffee, hot chocolate & a can of fizzy orange for €11.60. No pics as we gobbled it down too quickly!

Amazing that it’s still a working village.

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