Ian and helga go south !!

[ianthebuilder]

I'm missing something here I couldn't eat a Sunday roast when it's 25c+ outside ! A roast dinner is for cold winter days!! Now for me tapas, moule frites etc is something I could manage!!

Ahh anthea, that's why I went at 6 o'clock babe,, nice and cool, I couldn't eat one in that heat either!!! X

 

[Anthea M]

Was it good?

 

[ianthebuilder]

Was it good?

7/10. Not brill. But filled a gap!!! X

 

[ianthebuilder]

Good evening,,

I have had a very quiet day today!!

Shot out to the bank and fag shop this morning, drew some money out for my new, second van awning!!! Lol.

And it was very windy today, thought it might be good to dry washing but probably a mistake that I realised I'd made when 4/5 motorhomers all came to helga knocking on the door with my shirts and boxers in their hands!!!

But all good cause they found them all !

Now I'm sitting having a final cup of tea with my new found friend, who is returning to U.K. At about 4am in the morning,, I will miss her ( a bit) we have had a good laugh here, and the company has been nice, hooefully we will catch up again in uk !!!

I will ( for all the people who don't know who it is) reveal all when I'm nearing the end of this amazing journey!!!

So I must say I'm a bit excited about getting the canopy tomorrow, that then is one less thing I need to get in uk !!!

Bit of Tv now, a few more brews, and a good nights kip, will post in the morning and let you know how canopy work goes!!!

Sleep well xxxxxx.

 

[Anthea M]

And you Ian, sweet dreams!!LOL

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[ianthebuilder]

Good morning,,,

Well I slept well,,,,again!!!

I'm having a few nice cups of tea, watching bbc news, and it's a chilly morning ( for Benidorm), was quite windy last night, apparently? I slept through it!!

So the bloke with the canopy should be here about 9-9/30 and hopefully we won't have any dramas( but you never know) !!!

So my mate has flown home and I hope she gets home ok, I've just seen the weather in uk is nice, plenty of sun!! So that will suit her, and you I hope!!

Ok, so I'm leaving here on Friday morning, and I'm heading into France..
I will not try and get to France the first day but I will have a final stop over in Spain somewhere beforehand,,,,

I will have a good few days to get to Dunkirk and that's good, because even though I won't have time to see France properly I'm sure I will get an idea of what it's all about!!! So more language problems anticipated,,,, lol.

So the route I'm going to take has been donated to me by Gus Lopez, and I'm sure it's going to be fine!!!!

Now I'm going to have another brew, watch some depressing news except about the queens 90th( good on you Liz) ,,,,, and get slowly into my mind over the next few days thoughts about returning to the uk!!!

Chat later,, have a good morning!! Xxx

 

[Welsh girl]

Better weather than here in Cabarenco waiting for ferry. Chucking it down. Let's have some better weather in Britain yeay. Is it really hot there now?

 

[ianthebuilder]

Better weather than here in Cabarenco waiting for ferry. Chucking it down. Let's have some better weather in Britain yeay. Is it really hot there now?

I don't know if it's hot , girl, but it looks nice and sunny, better than Benidorm !! They do give it colder there at weekend, but till then I'm sure you will enjoy the sun!! Better than the rain your getting anyway!! Have a safe journey, enjoy!! Xx

 

[Scout]

Morning Ian, looks like you lucked in with the canapy and possilbilty of BIG work..

 

[ianthebuilder]

Morning Ian, looks like you lucked in with the canapy and possilbilty of BIG work..

I hope so mate,, canopy today is all I'm thinking about at the mo,, the work may be a while but nevertheless it's much appreciated!!
To be honest, I have never had a drama finding work in my life, it's just different now with no permanent house and base to live in,, but it does allow me the freedom to travel and see much more of the U.K.,, I would like to see Wales, Cornwall, Scotland,etc I have neglected the uk so far in life, and maybe that's my loss?? But I can put that right over the coming times !!!

I do think that staying in an area while working gives you a much better take on the area instead of just being a tourist for the weekend etc!! Xx How you feeling scout???

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[Onemanandhisdog]

Ian, you might want to exercise your right (with your flexible ticket) to come back 2 days early.

Yorkshire tea bags are half price in Tesco Express! £2.25, 1.4p a tea bag!!!

Those savings alone could fund next winter with the amount you get through!

 

[chaser]

Hi Ian
Nice to see you have slowed down and enjoying stopping in one place , all good experience for next time, if I could just post one more thing to help, when in France , try to keep off the motorways, get on the B roads , they all go the same way but you will get a better feel of the country, the motorways can be a bit bleak , mile after mile of the same thing, don't want to get put off before you have started.

 

[buttons]

Hi Ian
Nice to see you have slowed down and enjoying stopping in one place , all good experience for next time, if I could just post one more thing to help, when in France , try to keep off the motorways, get on the B roads , they all go the same way but you will get a better feel of the country, the motorways can be a bit bleak , mile after mile of the same thing, don't want to get put off before you have started.

I think he would be better using the Route Nationale or “N” roads, not sure where the B roads will take him......

 

[buttons]

The weather here in outer London today is fantastic Ian, not a cloud and warm in the sun. I have just put a full line of washing out that will be dry by lunch time. Having said that I had to scrape ice from my windscreen this morning.
There is plenty of building work in and around London at the mo but the cost of living-in or getting into london can make a hole in the good money. My youngest son is in the building trade so I have some idea what it is like. Have a safe and enjoyable ride home Blighty is bracing itself.......

 

[chaser]

I think he would be better using the Route Nationale or “N” roads, not sure where the B roads will take him......

By b I just ment not motorways

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[ukbill]

best idea i reckon ian is stay in spain as long as possible then shoot through france like a bat outta hell,otherwise you will need to work longer uf ya need to restock ya cash,france is expensive mate

 

[ukbill]

anyway sod uk get ya arse on the ferry from barcelona to genoa,and i will cya around lake garda,nice and warm and i got real tea lol

 

[chaser]

best idea i reckon ian is stay in spain as long as possible then shoot through france like a bat outta hell,otherwise you will need to work longer uf ya need to restock ya cash,france is expensive mate

Expensive if you stay on the mway as well

 

[ukbill]

no matter wat way ya go france is like ripoff britain

 

[Scout]

How you feeling scout???

ok mate thanks, bit sore and still waiting, I think I'll learn that old Diana Ross song

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[ianthebuilder]

Well, what a happy bunny I am!!

Canopy fitted straight onto exsisting bracket, comes out lovely, ( a bit windy so we didn't have it out for long! ( I will extend and take and post a pic tomorrow, or later if wind drops) and what's more the material is blue!! The same blue as in the graphics on helga!! Bonus!!! Now there is a small dent to it about half way down, but doesn't hamper operations at all , so I'm well pleased,,350 euros ,,, I think that's a bargain for it,4.500 Mts,, longer than my original by 500 ml,,,, Comes out about 3 Mts I think? I will pic and post asap!! I'm off to the caravan shop in a bit to get good pegs and I think I will but the orange ratchet straps some of you have reccomended( purely for colour) so I can see them better!! What a good morning so far!!!!!

Now as with regarding to France, I will use the route Gus Lopez has reccomended cause I'm sure it will be ok,, he does it regular and that's good enough for me,,, I have bought an acsi book and card so that's good, I now have the location of sites in France ( I don't have an Aires book for France) and I am looking foreward to travelling through !!!!

So a bit more tea, a bit more feeling happy about canopy, a walk up the caravan shop, and then a nice relaxing afternoon( I hope) so I will chat later, xxxxx. Enjoy whatever your doing!! Xxx

 

[gus-lopez]

Well, what a happy bunny I am!!

Canopy fitted straight onto exsisting bracket, comes out lovely, ( a bit windy so we didn't have it out for long! ( I will extend and take and post a pic tomorrow, or later if wind drops) and what's more the material is blue!! The same blue as in the graphics on helga!! Bonus!!! Now there is a small dent to it about half way down, but doesn't hamper operations at all , so I'm well pleased,,350 euros ,,, I think that's a bargain for it,4.500 Mts,, longer than my original by 500 ml,,,, Comes out about 3 Mts I think? I will pic and post asap!! I'm off to the caravan shop in a bit to get good pegs and I think I will but the orange ratchet straps some of you have reccomended( purely for colour) so I can see them better!! What a good morning so far!!!!!

Now as with regarding to France, I will use the route Gus Lopez has reccomended cause I'm sure it will be ok,, he does it regular and that's good enough for me,,, I have bought an acsi book and card so that's good, I now have the location of sites in France ( I don't have an Aires book for France) and I am looking foreward to travelling through !!!!

So a bit more tea, a bit more feeling happy about canopy, a walk up the caravan shop, and then a nice relaxing afternoon( I hope) so I will chat later, xxxxx. Enjoy whatever your doing!! Xxx

No ,that is my second choice route. These days I go Som -port but When we spoke before it wouldn't be any good for you if the tunnel was closed & you had to go over the top. Also the Spanish side leading up to the tunnels is stunning but not if you don't like heights.
On the route I gave you via Beziers etc; be careful when stopping in service stations ,etc; around Barcelona . You'd be using aires anyway at night.

 

[Clarky]

If Gus's route is via Beziers I would assume it is also via the A75.
If so it is a fabulous drive with some stunning views on a well surfaced and free road.
One of my favourite routes across France.

Richard.

 

[Scout]

if your buying pegs, make sure you get rock pegs, not the skinney "not any good for anything" pegs

 

[busby]

If Gus's route is via Beziers I would assume it is also via the A75.
If so it is a fabulous drive with some stunning views on a well surfaced and free road.
One of my favourite routes across France.

Richard.

Free other than the MILLAU bridge,, but well worth the toll to cross it. BUSBY.

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[ianthebuilder]

Just a sneak preview for you of helgas new hat!!! Fantastic well pleased, can't wait till wind drops and I have pegs etc!!! What a result!!! Xxx

 

[Anthea M]

Helga looks very glamorous with her new canopy/awning !I bet you are well pleased and it will help to keep your fridge cool and more importantly keep you from sunburn!!

 

[ianthebuilder]

Helga looks very glamorous with her new canopy/awning !I bet you are well pleased and it will help to keep your fridge cool and more importantly keep you from sunburn!!

Haha. Yes it's lovely anthea, but a bit too late to save me from the burn!!! Lolol. Xx

 

[pollensabob]

Lovely job Ian well done, hope you have a safe journey back to UK. A helpful site I use is All Motorhome parkings at Link Removed
Very helpful lists all the Aires camping etc
Bob

 

[Clarky]

Free other than the MILLAU bridge,, but well worth the toll to cross it. BUSBY.

It's easy and fairly quick to cut out the bridge if you don't want to pay the toll.
The route through Millau is good and just skirts round the edge of town. I timed it when we went that way about 10 days ago and it took 30 minutes from leaving the motorway to rejoining. The views as you drop down into Millau are superb including a great view of the bridge.

Richard.

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