Summer in Spain (again) (5 Viewers)

[jumar]

Revised bike route planned..there are nothing but big hills behind us and the Atlantic in front...looks like fun...

 

[jumar]

The bikes are prepared while all the other residents sleep...the area is the official beach parking...

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[jumartoo]

As Martin said, and showed, our ride was up a big climb, to the windfarm we could see from sea-level.

It was an exhilarating ride, not least because of the string wind we battled in. They definitely know where to put the turbines. We climbed much higher than the white cross.

We then climbed up to the turbines and followed the road, up a bit more, before it started to descend.

Muros, we think.

 

[jumartoo]

Once back down the hill we were in warm sun with less wind (although it's blowing a hooley now). We rode through numerous small hamlets, some of them had narrow, worn sandstone, surfaces on alleys between buildings that we could just get the bikes through.

We stopped after one of these to fill my water container up at a fuente shown to us by a local.

We then went off road, on tracks and then a marked long distance route before we got back to the coast at the horreo of Carnota. On the way we passed a water tank for fire fighting.

We checked out this parking on our way back, and we're now trying to shelter from the wind. I want to walk down to the beach, but I'm waiting until later. It's another huge grassy area just before the dunes.

 

[jumartoo]

It's too windy so, like the three bears, we're trying the third parking area. It's in the pines so more sheltered. It also has a service point so it's good for tomorrow morning when we leave.

By total coincidence the parcel drop off is at the Repsol garage that we're going to for LPG and the parcel has already been dropped off.

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[jumar]

It's too windy so, like the three bears, we're trying the third parking area. It's in the pines so more sheltered. It also has a service point so it's good for tomorrow morning when we leave.

By total coincidence the parcel drop off is at the Repsol garage that we're going to for LPG and the parcel has already been dropped off.

A good decision to move...far more comfortably situated...facing west...good sunset expected

 

[jumartoo]

An even better decision to move. It's much calmer here and the coast is stunning. Unfortunately my camera doesn't cope too well with shooting into the sun.

 

[jumar]

An even better decision to move. It's much calmer here and the coast is stunning. Unfortunately my camera doesn't cope too well with shooting into the sun.

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A calm night and incredibly quiet, everyone here are very respectful to their neighbours
It's weekend and the end of August, we could say the end of our summer vacation in the wonderful regions of Northern Spain...but not the end of our travels...
Last night we stood on the edge of the sand dunes and agreed that, what we are seeing is one of the most wonderful views we have seen in all the years of worldwide exploring.

 

[Razamataz]

Great Thread…. You paint a good picture of Espania

 

[Kurt and Ko]

What a stunning place and your photos have captured it wonderfully. Thanks so much for showing us what is out there to discover.

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[Wanders from Glos]

A calm night and incredibly quiet, everyone here are very respectful to their neighbours
It's weekend and the end of August, we could say the end of our summer vacation in the wonderful regions of Northern Spain...but not the end of our travels...
Last night we stood on the edge of the sand dunes and agreed that, what we are seeing is one of the most wonderful views we have seen in all the years of worldwide exploring.

Sounds wonderful, I lost where this is?

 

[jumar]

Sounds wonderful, I lost where this is?

 

[jumartoo]

Sounds wonderful, I lost where this is?

It's the official motorhome parking area a few kilometres away from Carnota, and south of the Ézaro waterfall.

Haha snap Martin x

 

[jumartoo]

We've just been having a discussion about the prevalence of car campers. There are quite a few here. We've seen more this year than ever before.

There's also a car caravan and a small van with toilet tent, tables and chairs and a cooking stove on another table, right next to us. They're both obviously camping, but these are, at least, being responsible.

What will happen in the future? Time will tell, but we've seen quite a few "no motorhomes" signs on this stretch of coast already.

 

[Peavy]

We've just been having a discussion about the prevalence of car campers. There are quite a few here. We've seen more this year than ever before.

There's also a car caravan and a small van with toilet tent, tables and chairs and a cooking stove on another table, right next to us. They're both obviously camping, but these are, at least, being responsible.

What will happen in the future? Time will tell, but we've seen quite a few "no motorhomes" signs on this stretch of coast already.

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To me is clear, these people must go to a camping.
Irresponsible behavior that harms us all.
Authorities put us in the same bag and we'll be banned everywhere

what we are seeing is one of the most wonderful views we have seen in all the years of worldwide exploring.

That's big words. Fantastic!

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[jumartoo]

To me is clear, these people must go to a camping.
Irresponsible behavior that harms us all.
Authorities put us in the same bag and we'll be banned everywhere

That's big words. Fantastic!

To make things worse, neither of those "camping" have Spanish registered vehicles.

We've spoken to such people before, in the Murcia region, and they really don't care. They might never come back anyway.

We can only stick to the rules and do our bit

 

[jumartoo]

We have an appointment in Padron at 11 am on Monday, so we decided to head that way once we'd filled the LPG and collected the parcel. We didn't get very far and stopped at this barbecue area/playground.

We had a disturbed night's sleep. Firstly bloomin' mozzies and then at 3.30, for 10 minutes, the sprinkler system came on for the gardens and washed the back and side of our van. It wasn't too strong, not like the ones at the motorhome area at Berdeogas, which are like a jetwash.

We're going for a ride from here to the reservoir of Fervenza. It's dull but not raining.

I don't know what the stone lines are for, but they're too wide apart for our van!

A fisherman has recently arrived. He's going river fishing just down the road, we'll stop to look when we set off. He's shown Martin where we can get water. Another very friendly guy and another that thought Martin was French

 

[jumartoo]

We've had a good ride in dull, misty conditions. This is definitely making leaving Galicia soon much easier to do.

Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos, just some of the Roman Bridge at Brandomil. Since we were last there they have uncovered a part of an old road, and just around the corner we also saw an archaeological site with work in progress, but no information as to what it is.

We crossed the reservoir on a substantial bridge used by a track through the forest.

And that's about it for today

We had soup for lunch. Yes it IS still August in Spain, followed by a bowl of mussels. The plan is to stay here again tonight and then tomorrow go to the laundrette at Mazaricos we used a few weeks ago and head down towards Padrón ready for the van's aircon regas. We definitely expect to need that on the way back south.

 

[jumar]

What's all this.... fog, smog, mist or mizzle, whatever it is...we don't like it....OK, it's the 1st September but this transition into Autumn is quite rapid...
We are planning our route back Murcia carefully, taking the best part of a week to complete.
We are aware that 34°c will greet us...but needs must....
A mix of driving days and sporting days should see us home on time next Sunday, a total of 1,100 km.... hopefully in a van that has a functional Air Con, without it's going to need some careful planning... tomorrow's 11 am appointment should determine this..
Once home, I hope our new Roamer will arrive soon after...the new inverter has been despatched and will be received by our neighbours... cables, fuses etc will be ordered in a couple of days to arrive next week...
I've managed to buy what was needed to make live some 220v supplied from the inverter...firstly isolating them from the charger circuit...just 3 will be inverter fed..1 floor, 1 near hob, 1 in garage....we never use 220v EHU but the remaining circuit is available.gus-lopez has kindly offered to assist in the final stages, which may be required if the front seat needs to be lifted out..

 

[jumartoo]

Look where I am ..... again

I recommend Sunday mornings for using launderettes. This one, anyway.

Martin's taken the van just around the corner to service it.

We're then heading towards Padrón, but will stop short because I think it's market day there so parking will be tight until later.

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[gus-lopez]

another that thought Martin was French

I'm usually Belgian?

Look where I am ..... again

I recommend Sunday mornings for using launderettes. This one, anyway.

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Martin's taken the van just around the corner to service it.

We're then heading towards Padrón, but will stop short because I think it's market day there so parking will be tight until later.

Air conditioned ,tv & a coffee machine? You never said there was a coffee machine.

 

[jumar]

Same as the one I'm installing in the camper..

 

[Langtoftlad]

Unfortunately my camera doesn't cope too well with shooting into the sun.

No camera does - and yours seems to have coped well

 

[Langtoftlad]

What will happen in the future? Time will tell, but we've seen quite a few "no motorhomes" signs on this stretch of coast already.

Probably [hopefully] will go the same way as New Zealand who now have a recent law saying all campers have to have self contained facilities.
Whether or not common sense will prevail, or whether it'll just be easier to ban all motorhomes [due to a lack of understanding] and will people obey any such laws/restrictions?

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/new-zealand-camping-laws-update

 

[jumartoo]

We're parked just north of Padrón at a parking area next to a church and the starting point for a walk.

When we arrived a guy was parked under some trees in his car. He asked Martin if we'd like to park there, and he moved. How nice was that? So we've got the only shade, and after this mornings grey skies, we now have blue and it's quite warm.

We went to do half of the walk. It was pleasantly cool under chestnut trees. We crossed the river to make our way back and came to a small sign. Path closed for tree felling. Not on a Sunday, we decided, and continued. No work was being done. At the end of the closed bit we came to the big sign. Too late

The closed bit

With sign (at the end the way we walked)

We're enjoying the shade. Martin's watching football.

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[jumar]

FACT...

Got AirCon checked out and Re-gassed in Camper...which has caused a major effect on the coolness, both in the van and the general climate in Galicia...the mechanic must have discharged a great cloud of gas as it's 17°c here....where just 4 days ago it was 29°c..
Got a feeling we might need Autumn bedclothes tonight...and the heater on whilst travelling....
Not a waste of money though...back home is still Supa hot....but moderating...

 

[jumartoo]

I must admit that yesterday afternoon I was a bit down. It was grey and dreary and the motorhome area wasn't inspiring and our summer trip is now in its last week.

However, that down feeling has gone and we've had a lovely day today. First we drove to Cea and parked the van near the sports centre and went for a nice, if windy, ride.

Pumpkins (I don't know why they're that colour in the photo).

And the Monestary of Oseira, a huge complex.

 

[jumartoo]

From Cea we drove 99km to our present spot at the Castle of Monterei overlooking Verin. We got shade from the only trees casting it on the parking area when we arrived.

We've had a look around the outside of the castle, we hadn't registered for the free guided tour, but it might have been a bit technical for us anyway, especially if it was given in Gallego.

Looking over Verin.

Couple of makers marks

And an arty shot by Martin

Tomorrow's plan is another reasonable drive to Puebla de Sanabria and the Camping Carpark area there and a ride up into the natural park.

 

[jumartoo]

Just over an hours drive this morning and we're at the motorhome parking north of Puebla de Sanabria. This used to be a fully serviced area but the service point is now closed. Overnight parking is allowed. There were about 15 vehicles here when we arrived. When we got back from our ride they'd all left. So far were still Billy no Mates.

It's sad to see the huge amount of toilet roll dotted around the bushes at the edges of the parking. Overnighting here might be the next to go.

We came here because it was difficult to plan a circular route. There are a lot of outlying villages and hamlets with a road that only goes as far as them. We did manage a route though, with some muddy and gravel sections. Some of the tiny hamlets were definitely going back in time. I didn't take photos because in every case people were out on the streets chatting to their neighbours. They all gave us a cheery buenos dias, and some of them said sentences we didn't understand .

We're parked alongside the river Corneira, near a small weir. There's a small beach area just beyond, and a chiringuito that, surprisingly, is open.

 

[jumar]

Having got the Aircon Re-Gassed a few days ago....now trying the Heating....it's 9°c just now....which in Spanish Terms is close to Freezing....still got shorts on but my Sandals will have to be worn with socks I'm afraid..
Yet another Northern European giveaway...

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