Tam, Jade and Franky's European Adventure

[Drum Major]

Did that trip last year on the water taxi great time there in Cadiz

 

[Feltwell]

View attachment 217035 We have been cut of from Monmouth and Chepstow since Thursday morning, snow plough got through today so we have got a single track through. It’s amazing though how all the pr**ks in 4 x 4’s claim the Devine right to keep driving at you! It’s proper Wall of Death stuff- look at the pics.

Blimey, that's going to take a while to melt! Might be clear before the autumn frosts if you're lucky in Wales

 

[GROGGY64]

Anyway no more about our lousy cold weather and threads going off at a tangent, what have you been up to today Tam?

 

[Rob and Val]

The Talbot Express is a great unit. I have one (1991) housing a Elddis Autostratus. It's in storage in Alicante at the moment but it's MOT time unfortunately

How much miles are on yours?

(Sorry for hijacking your thread @Northernraider )

Yes, sorry Tam! @monzer, I think it's about 97,000 but I'm told that on the 2.5L diesel engine that's hardly run in! They're described as bullet-proof. Hope yours gets through MOT. We've been very lucky with ours - has passed every MOT since we bought it in 2010. A few problems in the first year (inherited from previous owner) but very reliable since. We have a great mechanic who services it regularly for us.

What have you done today, Tam?

 

[nicholsong]

Tam
I posted this on another thread where you had also posted and wondered why I had not had a reply, but now realise you may not have been on there recently.

'Tam

Question for you. I know what you are using to find parking/Aires, but how are you finding some of the interesting towns and their features - guide books, on-line or what? And some references please, as you seem to be doing well in that aspect, judging by the pics.'

Geoff

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[Northernraider]

Tam
I posted this on another thread where you had also posted and wondered why I had not had a reply, but now realise you may not have been on there recently.

'Tam

Question for you. I know what you are using to find parking/Aires, but how are you finding some of the interesting towns and their features - guide books, on-line or what? And some references please, as you seem to be doing well in that aspect, judging by the pics.'

Geoff

Hi Geoff i usually Google each town I visit to see what comes up out of interest. And I also visit the tourist information offices for a map of the town and they will gladly tell you of places in the surrounding area worth visiting.

 

[Northernraider]

Morning folks ...well I had a pretty crappy day yesterday where everything went wrong. Nightmare if a time with 2 laundarrettes ...had to go to a second one to dry the 2 bags of wet washing I was left with after the first one. And then came back to the carpark to find a scrape on my camper.
And then to top it off ..not so good news from home.
So all in all a day I was glad to see the back of.
This morning the suns shining I've had a lovely shower and a shave and feeling a little more human ....im in alicante somewhere but I don't like it .
I've decided it's not warm enough to be suffering the crowded coast for a while so I'm going to head inland for a bit.
No idea where yet I'm just gonna go explore and see what I find.

Stay tuned .....ha ha

 

[Riverbankannie]

Sorry to hear your bad news. Hope today is better for you .

 

[scousebird]

Hope you have a better day today

 

[GROGGY64]

Morning folks ...well I had a pretty crappy day yesterday where everything went wrong. Nightmare if a time with 2 laundarrettes ...had to go to a second one to dry the 2 bags of wet washing I was left with after the first one. And then came back to the carpark to find a scrape on my camper.
And then to top it off ..not so good news from home.
So all in all a day I was glad to see the back of.
This morning the suns shining I've had a lovely shower and a shave and feeling a little more human ....im in alicante somewhere but I don't like it .
I've decided it's not warm enough to be suffering the crowded coast for a while so I'm going to head inland for a bit.
No idea where yet I'm just gonna go explore and see what I find.

Stay tuned .....ha ha

Morning Tam

Bad day all round then. But hey - you have just the right attitude, put that behind you and move on to a better day(s) somewhere else. Keep us posted.

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[Carol]

Hi Tam still quietly following your travels and thoroughly enjoying them. Hope your news from home is soon resolved and alright.

 

[nicholsong]

Hi Geoff i usually Google each town I visit to see what comes up out of interest. And I also visit the tourist information offices for a map of the town and they will gladly tell you of places in the surrounding area worth visiting.

Sorry about the bad day. At least the launderette saga is behind you. I was more concerned about the news from home. I do not want to pry into what it was, but can imagine it may be an ongoing problem - hope not.

So you are using Google, but is that also to decide in advance which towns to choose to visit, before using it to find its features? We also are avid users of TIOs and collecting leaflets and maps, including regional ones to help with choosing the next stops.

I hope things pick up for you. I have not been to Alicante for yonks, but was not impressed and even then there were a lot of undersirables hanging around the port - I was having a drink on the deck of a friend's boat when one walked up the passerelle and refused to leave and was getting aggresive towards the owner - that was solved by him advancing towards the tresspasser swinging a winch handle - adds a foot to ones reach and gives a good whack if it connnects. I learned a good trick there - might get one for the MH.

Keep the news coming. Enjoy inland.

Geoff

 

[Northernraider]

Well I headed inland a bit and spotted a castle from the road which turned out to be castalla which has a free aire so decided to go take a look. ..nice quiet little aire clean and tidy next to the football park ..this is a real freeloaders aire as it has waste disposal water and free 16amp electric ....out of the 7 vans here I'm the only one not plugged in lol and only 2 satellite dishes up ..im impressed. Weather is a bit dull and overcast but apart from the odd wee light shower it's dry at least and the wind has died down. Took the scooter out and had a wee run around town. Sadly I can't get in to the castle as it's guided tours only according to a sign in tourist information window ( it's closed says open 10- 2 but I was there and it was shut ) but I did manage to find a dirt track leading up the hill to the rear of the castle so I took the scooter up there for a few pictures. Probably only stay here the one night then drive through the national park tomorrow over to Elda as there's another free aire there and a monestary and castle nearby to explore. ...then I'm thinking villena and almansa ...but will see.

 

[Northernraider]

I spoke to soon ...siting on the toilet and I hear two vans drive in then loud French voices and reving engines ...then bang bang bang on the door.
I swear ...wipe my ass ...more bangs on the door as I'm washing my hands ..impatient buggers.
French man rabbling in French and waving arms ...jist of it is he can't fit his van in the space and wants me to move forward grrrrr

Which I did but now I'm against the kerb at the front. ...So now If I want to leave early tomorrow I can't get out without him moving his van back to let me ....so he better be up or I'll be banging on his door like he did mine

There was another space he clukf have used but no electric there. ...

So sod it I've plugged in too ....might aswell as it's there .. means my batteries will get topped up and I can run fridge and water heater on electric for the night i suppose.

 

[kip]

I wouldn't have washed my hands until I'd shaken his hand & said no problemo, as they say in Spain.

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[nicholsong]

With the Frenchman's behaviour it is a pity you did not open the door with your kackies round your ankles and shake his hand with the toilet paper still in your hand.

I would also have sais yes, yes, yes about moving and kept him waiting half an hour.

Never mind Tam - at least you have the chance of a good 'bang'

 

[pagey]

Thanks, @monzer, it's a 1994 Talbot Express Compass Calypso. We bought it in 2010 and it has taken us all over the UK plus France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Northern Spain. This year we're hoping to drive through France and Spain as far as Cádiz - well, to be precise, El Puerto de Santa María and then take a water taxi across to Cádiz. It's been on our bucket list for a while.

did exactly that last year cross the bridge from the el puerto aire and turn left the ferry to cadiz is about 300 mtrs well worth the trip and the ferry is excellent and cheap

 

[mitzimad]

nice comercial aire at san juan 7 or 8 euros a night and 2 e to dump

 

[TinaLes]

Tam, set you wake up alarm for 6AM tomorrow morning, that should ensure you are up early enough to get your own back on the very rude Frenchie next door! Set the video recorder up so we can all enjoy, good luck.
Les

 

[Northernraider]

Fairly early start this morning left castalla at 8.30 after emptying and filling franky. Drove the scenic route through the national park between castalla and petrer along the cv815.
Brilliant road and beautiful scenery and as it was quiet at that time I could stop and take some pics along the way.

I'm now at novelda at the sancturio de Santa maria Magdalena. So stay tuned for pics

It looks impressive

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[Lenny HB]

Looks great Tam, tempting me to follow in your footsteps in a couple of weeks. Normally do our own thing and find odd obscure places but your trip looks too enticing.
Hope everything is OK at Home. How bad is the scrape on the van & was it just a carpark it got damaged in or an Aire?

 

[Northernraider]

Looks great Tam, tempting me to follow in your footsteps in a couple of weeks. Normally do our own thing and find odd obscure places but your trip looks too enticing.
Hope everything is OK at Home. How bad is the scrape on the van & was it just a carpark it got damaged in or an Aire?

There's a few places I've been and woukd reccomend but a few I'd say not to bother ie Beni and alicante lol ...but there's been a lot of nice places.
Just a couple of issues with my mum back home ...unfortunately I can't do much about it but still worrying. My sister and her husband are there though so keeping me updated etc .

The scrape happened in a carpark in the centre of alicante ...it isn't drastic but it's bad enough ...hopefully most of it will polish out will see .

 

[Fenman]

Did you do a good job of waking your neighbours to let you out first thing?

 

[Northernraider]

Did you do a good job of waking your neighbours to let you out first thing?[/QUOTE

I think the clattering of me loading the scooter back in to franky etc pre warned them of my departure because by the time I had done that and had breakfast he had moved his van back enough to let me out

 

[Northernraider]

So this is the "sanctorio de Santa Maria Magdalena " it's an impressive building both inside and out. Not in the least bit religious myself but I do admire the work and dedication that's put in to religious buildings.
It must be good to have that depth of faith to inspire such good work ...its really impressive.
And a good view around it.
I'm just having a coffee and my daily fix of walnut cake then I think I'll go climb the big hill behind the sanctuary.
Lots of stray furry friends here too ....one was giving me cuddles but I'm a little concerned at it's runny eyes and sneezing lol I think it has the cold. ...still someone has built them wee shelters and there's a mountain of food in there and lots of water so they are being looked after which is nice. I've noticed that in most places there's someone who go's and feeds the stray cats which is great

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[Northernraider]

I forgot to add you can also stay overnight here at the sanctorio its free to park and to visit . ..large bays for motorhomes ..public toilets and fresh water supply.
There was also many places on the drive through the mountains to park

 

[tonyidle]

View attachment 217426

Fierce little bu99er - look at the state of those jeans.

 

[TheBig1]

i see from the picture with the cat that your clothes are now in rags. maybe we could have a whip round for you

 

[Southdowners]

That's an unusual coat on the moggie - lovely to see that the cats are being well fed... that one certainly hasn't gone hungry

 

[2657]

Thought that looked like the Sagrada Familia so googled it, started in 1918 and the architect probably influenced by Gaudi.
Good find

I also am not religous but find church architecture fascinating.

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