Two Go Exploring Spain

[DBK]

We are very much on the home run now. After shopping we drove for nearly three hours to Coto Camper near Foz. Shortly before we arrived the road climbed up and we found ourselves driving through low cloud. The curious thing was this stretch of road must see a lot of fog or low cloud because they have a special light system.

There are small lights either side of the carriageway which must turn on when visibility is reduced. The "always on" light was amber, which you can see in the top photo. Above this was a red light which seemed to come on and off at random! I couldn't work out if it went red if I was too close to the vehicle in front or if I was driving too fast. I suspect the former but there were no signs explaining the system.

Have a look yourself if you want.

Google Maps

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This is where we are now, still in the top left of Spain making our way to Santander.

Zoomed in.

Coto Camping, #27792 in CamperContact, is an upmarket aire with serviced pitches, showers etc and laundry facilities. They also do pizzas and no doubt beer and such stuff. There are only two MHs here today but the weather isn't good (showers) but hopefully they get more business at weekends and in the summer.
The beach is a couple of hundred metres away. Just smiffy will feel at home with the grey sky.

Off again towards Santander tomorrow but not all the way. We will stop off on the way for Charlie's vet appointment.

 

[Lenny HB]

The beach is a couple of hundred metres away. @Just smiffy will feel at home with the grey sky.

 

[Chasnam]

We are very much on the home run now. After shopping we drove for nearly three hours to Coto Camper near Foz. Shortly before we arrived the road climbed up and we found ourselves driving through low cloud. The curious thing was this stretch of road must see a lot of fog or low cloud because they have a special light system.

View attachment 756496

View attachment 756497

There are small lights either side of the carriageway which must turn on when visibility is reduced. The "always on" light was amber, which you can see in the top photo. Above this was a red light which seemed to come on and off at random! I couldn't work out if it went red if I was too close to the vehicle in front or if I was driving too fast. I suspect the former but there were no signs explaining the system.

Have a look yourself if you want.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

This is where we are now, still in the top left of Spain making our way to Santander.

View attachment 756502

Zoomed in.

View attachment 756503

Coto Camping, #27792 in CamperContact, is an upmarket aire with serviced pitches, showers etc and laundry facilities. They also do pizzas and no doubt beer and such stuff. There are only two MHs here today but the weather isn't good (showers) but hopefully they get more business at weekends and in the summer.
The beach is a couple of hundred metres away. Just smiffy will feel at home with the grey sky.
View attachment 756500

View attachment 756501

Off again towards Santander tomorrow but not all the way. We will stop off on the way for Charlie's vet appointment.

We did that route last year one of our favorite areas of Spain
Chasnam

 

[DBK]

We are now at our last stop before getting the ferry on Thursday from Santander. We have stayed at Camping El Rosal in San Vicente de la Barquera before. There's not a huge amount to do here unless you like surfing but it does have a vet we can reach on foot from the site.

We walked to the town this afternoon, mostly to check on the availability of parking in case it is very wet tomorrow when we have to see the vet. If it's dry we will walk but not if we are liable for a soaking. The result of our research was parking is available where there used to be an aire along the front. MHs used to line up here but they have now turned it into parking for cars. A few MHs were on the inland side of the road with no visible signs forbidding them. Where MHs used to park has now been laid out as herring bone parking, nearest the camera below. They are deep enough for a 6m PVC but nothing bigger.

We went as far as the fishing port where Mrs DBK spotted a couple of boats had twigs tied to their masts. I can't find anything about this online - any explanations would be welcome.

The castle (which we've visited before) and the church beyond it - which we haven't visited.

Today was also unexpectedly an "orchid day". I found a lot of Bee orchids growing above the beach at the last place near Foz. They were a bit tatty, with blackened leaves, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Then on the walk this afternoon we found these not far from the campsite.

I needed to get my book out for these as there are several very similar species.

Part of the diagnosis is to look down the throat of the flower, "say aaargh".

The two dark "keels" at the base of the tongue are parallel which helps confirm these as Small-flowered tongue orchids, Serapias parviflora. Not rare but another nice find being enjoyed by two snails in this shot.

Worming tomorrow!

 

[f6c]

Stayed on Rosal a few times. If you like fish you have hit the Jack Pot. Straight of the boat and on the place so to speak.

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[DBK]

My plan to avoid getting wet while taking Charlie to the vet this morning unravelled. It was just a bit misty when it was time to go so I decided to walk. When I came out of the vet's it was pouring down.

We got more than a little wet on the way back but running the Webasto heater, which generates about 8Kw in the van soon dried everything out.

This afternoon I took my camera into the pines beside the campsite. It must be old dunes but now has some interesting plants growing there.

Bee orchid Ophrys apifera.

No idea what this is but I'm going to call it the Pom-pom grass.

And I wrongly identified this yesterday. I'm fairly certain now it is the Long-lipped tongue orchid, Serapia vomeracea.

But this one is the Small-flowered tongue orchid, Serapia parviflora.

Photography equipment. Makes a change from the phone I've used for every other shot in this Thread.

Olympus OM-D 10 camera with Olympus 60mm Macro lens. Tripod is a Velbon QHD-43D with one leg extended backwards to stop the camera toppling forwards.

 

[DBK]

San Vicente last night from the campsite.

We stopped off at the Carrefour in Torrelevega on the way towards Santander, partly to fill the tank as its cheaper here than the UK but also of course for some last minute shopping.

Which included a few tomatoes. We were spoiled for choice.

And some ham, we bought several different ones.

But we don't have the space for a whole one.

With a couple of hours to kill before boarding we headed to Playa Liencres where you can overnight if you wish. CamperContact #65728. Most of it is sloping but there is a level bit at the top.

The only snag is you may have an audience. This was written on the road at the entrance.

I was wondering if our venerable bus would complete 60K before the end of the trip - we are 36 miles short! Ignore the mpg figure - it's the result of stop start in the port, despite turning the engine off whenever we had to stop.

And we were not last to board for once. The MH on the recovery truck is an L registered Autosleeper.

It's been a good trip but too much driving. A gentle wander in France seem favourite for the next one.

 

[Just smiffy]

Thanks for the trip DBK … safe journey home..

 

[scousebird]

Thanks for the trip DBK … safe journey home..

Ditto from me DBK. I'll look forward to your next trip.

 

[suavecarve]

Pleasure reading as always. Safe travels

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[Jo662]

Iv really enjoyed following your adventure DBK ,thank you for taking the time to share it with us.

 

[Burgo]

+1. Some great posts and great to read about your radio / technical setups as well as the nature ones.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks John enjoyed your trip.

 

[Figaro]

Really enjoyable reading your posts and seeing your photos
Thanks for sharing

 

[gus-lopez]

Safe journey & thanks once again.

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[jumartoo]

Thank you. An enjoyable thread.

 

[mikebeaches]

Thanks for the informative posts and have a safe journey home!

 

[Devon Sue]

I was wondering if our venerable bus would complete 60K before the end of the trip - we are 36 miles short
It's been a good trip but too much driving. A gentle wander in France seem favourite for the next one.

You'll just have to take the scenic route home to Plympton.

If we spot Pont Aven on her way in tomorrow we'll give you a wave, but we might be a bit busy getting ready for our 4 week trip to Brittany and Normandy next week.

 

[DBK]

...getting ready for our 4 week trip to Brittany and Normandy next week.

Brittany and Normandy sound perfect. Probably where we will be heading next time.

 

[Devon Sue]

We normally travel a lot further south, but OH was being threatened with dialysis back end of last year. We had to miss going to a friend's wedding in Duras a couple of weeks ago as we were not sure we would be able to travel, but things are looking OK, so we are off, just thought it sensible not to drive so far or get too much heat so we are heading to Normandy landing beaches. We have booked a campsite for a week (only because it is first week in June and we thought sites might be busy) and will use that as a base for days out.

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[bobandjanie]

Thanks for sharing David DBK most enjoyable, we came across these on a walk and never had a clue what they were, and I said I bet you would know.

Thanks again loved it. Bob.

 

[DBK]

Thanks for sharing David DBK most enjoyable, we came across these on a walk and never had a clue what they were, and I said I bet you would know.
View attachment 758740View attachment 758739
Thanks again loved it. Bob.

They are for honey bees I think. There are some small hives in one of the images. The holes or pipes might be to attract swarms, they don't look big enough for honey production. Curious, thanks for posting.

 

[3DOM]

Thanks for the time spent taking us on the trip
with you. Really enjoyable and some lovely photos.
Look forward to the next one

 

[Jane And Rog]

Enjoyed your thread very much, thank you.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Really enjoyed your trip, thanks for sharing.

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[DBK]

Thanks for all the nice comments. We are now safely back home after an uneventful and calm crossing. We've emptied the MH and I may take it to get washed at the local Tesco soon, but not over the weekend. We have a hosepipe ban but the car wash there is still working. I might do the roof first at home with a bucket and a long handled brush then do the rest at the carwash. It's a jet thing so I will be gentle as I don't want it taking off any paint! As well as a water shortage I suspect the local grid is getting a hammering too from all the appliances Mrs DBK is running in the kitchen cleaning everything removable from the van.

 

[Jimbo50]

Thanks for all the nice comments. We are now safely back home after an uneventful and calm crossing. We've emptied the MH and I may take it to get washed at the local Tesco soon, but not over the weekend. We have a hosepipe ban but the car wash there is still working. I might do the roof first at home with a bucket and a long handled brush then do the rest at the carwash. It's a jet thing so I will be gentle as I don't want it taking off any paint! As well as a water shortage I suspect the local grid is getting a hammering too from all the appliances Mrs DBK is running in the kitchen cleaning everything removable from the van.

Thanks for the great trip John DBK as you were leaving San Vicente we were heading through but didn’t see your van. Now in the Picos de Europa-Leon at the Valle De Valdeon and hope to get to some of the spots that you mentioned in your post.
Hopefully the electric bill isn’t too high
All the best and pleased that you’re back safe.
Jim

 

[Mikey RV]

Thanks for taking the time to post and put photos up of your trip. Really enjoyed it.

 

[Borisski]

Thank you for your posts - I always look forward to your trips.

 

[gus-lopez]

Thanks for sharing David DBK most enjoyable, we came across these on a walk and never had a clue what they were, and I said I bet you would know.
View attachment 758740View attachment 758739
Thanks again loved it. Bob.

At least the Basques had the decency to inform in spanish as well as French.I came across a few large glass fronted council information signs in Alicante. In Valenciano & French. The abuse , In Spanish, written across them was eye opening

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