Summer in Spain (again) (5 Viewers)

[jumar]

Yes a friend has just alerted me to the past few days of heavy rain in Murcia do I’ve had a look online. Too busy with domestic chores . Pretty bad flooding in the north but yesterday Cartagena area, including Mazarron got 31L/ hour whilst Murcia had 60L on Tuesday I think. Looks like that thunder & rain you had on Monday further north was the start of it. Awful for those affected but we’ve seen it a lot in recent years where we lived. Keep safe, we enjoyed Pamplona area

All's well here Roy....had a great morning's ride into the hills, quite tough, but rewarding....now parked up officially on a small area near French border....super place, with undercover BBQs which accommodates our Cadac well...allowing me to cook sufficient quantities for the next few days...we are in low cloud with light showers just now....feeling quite contented..

 

[cyberyacht]

Peniscola. Haven’t seem many of these platforms on aires before. My solar panel and hatches were covered in pine resin with baked on coating of sahara sand and bugs - just what was needed.
View attachment 909072.

We stayed at La Brisas for three nights but didn't see anyone actually using it.

 

[jumartoo]

Today Martin had found a ride we could do. Graded easy it seemed perfect. It began at a lovely parking area (no motorhomes overnight though) and followed a via Verde for 15km or so. It then began to climb through a forest. All was still good, until the track narrowed and the gradient increased.

We thought that, due to the easy grade, such an area would be for just a very short length of time. Not so. We pushed our ebikes (walk mode helped) up more narrow paths to eventually find ourselves at a style! Luckily the old barbed wire fence has a big hole in it, so we wiggled the bikes through. Some more narrow ups and downs, and some fallen trees to negotiate, we popped out on a luxurious track.

We added a bit more up, just to go to see where it took us. It was an abandoned summer Palace of ...... someone. It's all fenced off now, but I took the best photos that I could.

It was then downhill, for such a long time.

We're now parked almost in France, but not quite, at a parking area with a covered barbecue. Martin's cooked all our fresh chicken and sausages, so we're ready to go wherever.

Almost all other here have been French, except for some Brit motorbikes (it rained when they arrived, so we didn't go out to speak to them).

 

[Just smiffy]

Today Martin had found a ride we could do. Graded easy it seemed perfect. It began at a lovely parking area (no motorhomes overnight though) and followed a via Verde for 15km or so. It then began to climb through a forest. All was still good, until the track narrowed and the gradient increased.

We thought that, due to the easy grade, such an area would be for just a very short length of time. Not so. We pushed our ebikes (walk mode helped) up more narrow paths to eventually find ourselves at a style! Luckily the old barbed wire fence has a big hole in it, so we wiggled the bikes through. Some more narrow ups and downs, and some fallen trees to negotiate, we popped out on a luxurious track.

We added a bit more up, just to go to see where it took us. It was an abandoned summer Palace of ...... someone. It's all fenced off now, but I took the best photos that I could.

It was then downhill, for such a long time.

We're now parked almost in France, but not quite, at a parking area with a covered barbecue. Martin's cooked all our fresh chicken and sausages, so we're ready to go wherever.

Almost all other here have been French, except for some Brit motorbikes (it rained when they arrived, so we didn't go out to speak to them).

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Where is this Judith…

 

[jumartoo]

Where is this Judith…

Which bit?

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[seasideBill]

We stayed at La Brisas for three nights but didn't see anyone actually using it.

You only need it when you need it.

 

[royandsharont]

That looks like a lovely day you’ve had beautiful scenery and those scarecrows were fantastic

 

[seasideBill]

Morella, Spain

 

[jumartoo]

That looks like a lovely day you’ve had beautiful scenery and those scarecrows were fantastic

They were brilliant weren't they?

All in all, now we're back, fed and showered, it was a good day. We could have done without all the pushing of heavy bikes, but that's now a fading memory.

 

[Just smiffy]

Which bit?

This bit…

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[jumar]

This bit…

View attachment 909428

This is our newly found Camperstop, with undercover BBQ area...and good 4g signal...shared with one other Spanish van and two French one.

P4N. Spain 31715 ) , NA-4453

 

[jumartoo]

We had a damp, but quiet night last night. We drove a few km to the Col to let me out to go an explore some war bunkers. Martin stayed in the van and did his tourist info bit for a French guy in a car with a Michelin sheet map!

I didn't go in here ...

For obvious reasons. But I went into the next one along and took a photo from two aspects.

It's a lovely mountain area now!

It's on the road crossing of one of the Caminos to Santiago.

 

[jumartoo]

From there we crossed over into France and had our very first road rage instigator within 10 minutes. He obviously doesn't know how fast to safely drive a motorhome on small roads. Martin ALWAYS pulls over when possible. He shot past us, pulled in short, and made us slam on the brakes. He gave us a "fist" gesture, before he drove on.

Now, for someone not overly comfortable with France, that wasn't a good start!

We drove towards our chosen overnighter on increasingly smaller, slower roads, so we decided to go around Bayonne on the pay motorway.

It didn't break the bank, even when we left the change behind because it was too much of a hassle to reach down for it

We're now on a Camping Carpark area at Labenne. Photos later.

 

[jumartoo]

So, we had a walk down to see the sea.

A bit of a jiggle of the camera got me this shot inside.

Lots of nice plants, and then we arrived at the "tourist not tourist at the moment" area.

The sea was a bit choppy. But a few found a sheltered spot to sunbathe.

Now we've made it here, we're going to have at least a few nights.

 

[jumar]

Super quiet night, just the sound of the ocean a km or so away....bikes will be prepared for another adventure, we have a route planned that uses a variety of trails both on the Eurovelo route and some minor diversions into the pines...I'm sure Judith will provide an account of the ride with supporting photos on our return...Happy Sunday folks...

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[bigtree]

This is our newly found Camperstop, with undercover BBQ area...and good 4g signal...shared with one other Spanish van and two French one.

P4N. Spain 31715 ) , NA-4453

I've stopped at this Aire but didn't stay the night, will do sometime though.

 

[Riverbankannie]

So lovely to see you back amongst flowers and greenery.
Have you got your photo sizing sorted now?
There are a few free apps that are great for multiple resizing and compressing.
If just using an ipad, then you can reduce the size, both for easy viewing in the thread, and for saving data! by this method
Select Attach files in usual way
Select the photos you want to upload and then BEFORE pressing add, at the bottom, press SHOW SELECTED
Then press ACTUAL SIZE (try MEDIUM) first and see how it goes
Then press DONE
Then you are back to ADD and they are uploaded to your post in usual way.

Look how much data you can save!

 

[Just smiffy]

So lovely to see you back amongst flowers and greenery.
Have you got your photo sizing sorted now?
There are a few free apps that are great for multiple resizing and compressing.
If just using an ipad, then you can reduce the size, both for easy viewing in the thread, and for saving data! by this method
Select Attach files in usual way
Select the photos you want to upload and then BEFORE pressing add, at the bottom, press SHOW SELECTED
Then press ACTUAL SIZE (try MEDIUM) first and see how it goes
Then press DONE
Then you are back to ADD and they are uploaded to your post in usual way.View attachment 910135View attachment 910136
Look how much data you can save!

Hmmm, good idea Annie but my iPad doesn’t have the “actual size” bit…

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hmmm, good idea Annie but my iPad doesn’t have the “actual size” bit…

Pm me (so as not to hijack the thread) and tell me what happens when you select the photos.

 

[jumartoo]

We went for an "easy" flat ride today. Flat, it was, but easy??? Definitely not easy on a sunny Sunday in Capbreton, with the added challenge of a road block, a market? and a swim/run race taking place.

It was .... different for us anyway. Who, in their right minds decides to ride somewhere like this? I hate riding in busy places ...

We're having another night here tonight and another ride, tomorrow. I think the local roads will be much quieter then

The sea views will appear when I've got them off the camera.

Pm me (so as not to hijack the thread) and tell me what happens when you select the photos.

I akso will pm you if hecessary. I'm still learning how the camera works though. Today, watching big waves, the camera suddenly began to take multiple shots.

I've got it set on auto, so maybe it's reading the conditions???

Scary (for me) riding in traffic!

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[jumartoo]

We're having another night here tonight and another ride, tomorrow. I think the local roads will be much quieter then

The sea views will appear when I've got them off the camera. and now, see below!

Just look at that little figure at the end of the wave. And still standing on the next photo.

Water, not even strong water like seen, is well out of my comfort zone.

My star sign (although I don't believe in it all), puts me well into the earth mode, rather then the water one!

 

[jumartoo]

My camera wasn't "bothered" by the need to take photos today. I'd charged it as well!

We got to the interesting first part of our proposed ride, to find a "road closed" sign, backed up by a few workers, who watched us look like we were trying to get around the signs, and shouted at us .

We were just going to the visitor centre for the place we couldn't visit to redo a suitable ride. Honest guv!

Well, we're safely back at base so it wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't the nice ride we were hoping for.

We're going back to Spain tomorrow, and, hopefully, some nice areas and riding.

We spoke to some Brits, parked just across from us. They are nice, and interesting, so it's made things a bit better.

Two photos, just because I don't have any more, of our pitch, and our Internet supplier (we couldn't get much closer, unless we got out our climbing gear)!

 

[jumartoo]

I can confirm, as a none pudding/dessert eater, that mascarpone topped with home made, tangy lemon curd, is pretty nice.

Martin had sliced kiwi on his as well!

 

[jumar]

It's turn around day...off back over the non-existent border back into Spain.... haven't decided where we are bound for as yet....weather should be a major factor in deciding this... More later I suppose..

 

[jumartoo]

We were warned by our new friends that the shopping at Labanne was very expensive so we headed back over to Irun and an Aldi. I've recently found that they stock the Karlsquell brand of beers in the unfiltered version. It's as good as the Aguila, but less than half the cost. I bought another 12 cans today.

Then ..... disaster ...... P4N isn't working, so we had to resort to using the grey matter to think how to find us a suitable parking area. Martin came up with our present place. I've not been out to take any photos yet, but I will later.

It's definitely our type of place, and right next to a pilgrim hostal.

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[jumartoo]

Our parking area. We started off under the tree for shade but it clouded over so we moved to one of the official spots, and plugged into the free leccy.

There's an elevator from here down to the town.

Martin could hear music so we went to investigate. It was lovely. All kids playing various instruments or taking part in typical folk dancing. I didn't take photos of the kids though.

Heading towards the music.

The square was deserted, everyone was around the corner.

I've found one easy ride for us to do tomorrow, weather permitting.

 

[Peavy]

Where are you now? That's not Irún, right?

 

[jumartoo]

Where are you now? That's not Irún, right?

You're right. It's not Irún. We're at a place called Zegama. It's south of Found by chance.

 

[jumar]

A fair rainfall overnight with a few claps of thunder has changed the look we are presently seeing.
Plan....off to nearby Launderette to freshen up clothing...gone are the days, where we washed loads in a bucket and hung around the van...
Then we will make our way just 80km to an Aire we used last year...this should be our base for the weekend and provide some steady riding....and of course there is a sporting event on TV to occupy me a little.

 

[jumartoo]

This was written yesterday and is still unsent, soooo ...

We had a quiet night here, even though the church bells ring on the hour (twice) and also one strike on the half hour. Until 4 am I didn't realise it (Martin didn't even know until 6 am).

I was woken just before 3.30 am with a horrible nightmare that wouldn't leave my head for a few hours (hence then hearing the bells).

We're staying another night anyway.

We had a good (easy) ride. It started off with the most difficult riding. Climbing up through a forest on damp, stony tracks, to suddenly arrive alongside a live railway line. A train was due, so .... we waited. It came from behind . Once that was over it was lovely, narrow concrete roads through beautiful meadows, with buildings more reminiscent of Alpine terrain than Spain.

Oh, wait ... we're in the Basque region, not too far from the Pyrenees, so mountain terrain is pretty similar wherever you are.

And the signing here is very difficult to read and pronounce. There's even an extra k in the word for autocaravana

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