Week 28

6 March 2017
We woke after our first night on our lovely little rustic site to bright sunshine. We have another 29 nights here and I have a feeling we are going to enjoy every one of them.

After breakfast we went all of 10 metres to the coffee morning. The stewards are great and seem to have a good programme throughout the week. It was a friendly get together with almost everyone on the rally attending. Once the meeting was over we had a walk into the village and had a look round the supermarket but they didn't stock a large range of goods so we went back to the van, packed up and headed to Motril about 25 km away and did what Peter Kay calls a big shop.

It was late afternoon by the time we got back, too late for the game of horseshoes that started at 3:30. I got stuck in to putting the second carpet down and erecting the tent whilst Val made us ca chille-con-carne for dinner. By the time we had finished there was just time for a quick shower before the evenings entertainment began.

We went to our very first Beetle Drive which was a bit of fun and gave us the chance to meet a few of the other people on the rally. Most people took their own drinks but you could buy beers from the bat upstairs, a bit pricey though at €3 a pint. It was a good night but it was after ten by the time we got back to the van and with breakfast on the beach organised for ten in the morning there was just enough time to update the blog and two or three chapters of my latest novel before getting our heads down.

7 March 2017

Val was already in the shower when the alarm went off and I had the kettle boiling by the time she got back. We had the collapsible chairs , table and bacon and eggs ready for the breakfast barbecue on the beach. We spent an enjoyable couple of hours with the rest of the happy campers. 

Next came a walk of about two miles uphill to the village of Haza del Trigo and more importantly to Bar Los Pinos for a refreshingly cold beer and a tapas of potato salad containing peas, carrots and olives and topped off with some cold cooked red pepper and gamon. It took us a good hour to get up there and the views were worth the walk and we were lucky coming back down as we were passing a goat pen about two hundred of them were streaming out following the goatherd with us his new apprentices bringing up the read. We were adopted goatherds for about half a mile. 

The rest of the afternoon we spent sitting out reading and listening to some tunes with yours truly embracing the Spanish tradition of siesta, or maybe it was a power nap. 

The evening was spent playing carpet bowls down at the clubhouse which happily coincided with Happy Hour. Val with her natural sporting prowess finished third even though we've never played before. When we got back to the van I somehow ended up watching Tommy Cooper gags on the wifi. The old ones are the best. 

8 March 2017

After an energetic day yesterday we decided on a relaxing day lazing in the sunshine. We has a chilli-con-carne for lunch and then got into some serious novel reading in the afternoon. 

It was quiz night down at the clubhouse and we had ordered chip butties which were very tasty especially after we smothered then in salt,vinegar and tomato ketchup, yummy. 

We managed to win two rounds of the quiz which won us a bottle of vino tinto and chocolates. We brought the wine back but the chocolates didn't make it. 

I made the mistake of having a look at Facebook once we had made the bed up and started watching Dave Allan clips which meant we were up later than planned and we had to be up for a seven mile hike in the morning. 

9 March 2017

We were up with the alarm and two cups of tea later and a quick shower and we were ready for our seven mile hike led by Mike who has been on this rally for the last seven years. 

We were heading for La Mamola which is about forty five minutes along the beach but we were climbing over two very steep and large hills. It took us about three and a half hours in temperatures over 25° but the views were stunning from up high. We met up at a bar with the group who did the short walk and enjoyed a few beers with tapas before strolling back to the site for a welcome siesta. 

We had a barbecue in the last of the sunshine of chicken, sausage, peppers, onions and corn on the cob, then it was down to the bar to see if the United game was being screened. No luck unfortunately so it was back to the van for a very welcome quiet night in and a bit of time watching a Netflix series as well as keeping up with the match. Tired campers who set the alarm for another hike in the morning. 

10 March 2017

We were up with the alarm for an early start to this mornings walk which was a 14 km round trip to Castillo de Ferro. We set off in hot sunshine along the road. It was a gradual climb for about 4 km and the dropped downhill the rest of the way. We passed lots of pine trees with caterpillar nests and  thousands of the processional caterpillars that had squashed by passing traffic. We did come across two lines that were on the move and gave them a wide berth, if they become agitatedly they send out spores that can have a detrimental effect on health. 

We had a quick reconnoiter of the town and checked out a restaurant that had been recommended where we might go with some friends who are visiting tomorrow. Then it was into the square for a beer and a tapas of a fried egg covered in the thin Spanish bacon. 

The walk back followed the reverse route and we were lucky to see three dolphins as we neared the top of the climb. We got back with about an hour to spare before the rallies Jacobs Join where everybody attending cooked some food and shared with everybody else. There was a bucket of sangria which still has some left three hours later. 

The evenings entertainment was thankfully spent with a bit of Netflix in the van. We needed the rest. Zzzzzzzzz

11 March 2017

We didn't set the alarm for the first time in a few days as we knew our friends who were coming to visit were not early risers, thank god. We even had time to do the day before's washing up before they arrived. 

Dick and Jackie arrived just before lunch time and we spent the afternoon walking between the various tapas bars on either side of our campsite enjoying the beer and the food. We probably covering two or three miles in total by the time we got back to the site ready for for a siesta. 

Luckily Val had planned ahead and the previous day as well as making a cauliflower cheese for the Jacobs Join she had also cooked chilli and jacket potatoes for our guests dinner, so it was just a case of warming them up on the barbecue and serving them up.

We waved goodbye to Dick and Jackie about 7:30 which just gave us time to get ready for the evenings quiz where we finished a close second but no cigar. 

Another day that went by in a flash. Happy days. 

12 March 2017

The day started with me watching the Andrew Marr Show whilst Val went down to the village to take some photographs of the start of the Castillo de Banos to Popolos bike ride. I'm not sure how long the ride was, but we went six miles round twisty after twisty high up into the mountains to get to a tiny village where the bike ride ended and the Polopos Wine Festival took place. 

We had a great day out and were served with copious amounts of vino, numerous hams and chorizos, cheese, bread and black pudding to die for. There was an estimated thousand people crammed into the square and surrounding area who enjoyed good food, good wine, good music and a jolly old time. 

We set off back down the hill just after five pm, well fed, well watered and danced out arriving back at the site in need of a good siesta and luckily in time to catch the last couple of hours sunshine.

A quiet night sleeping it off was had by all who attended. Happy campers. 

Week 27

27 February 2017
Its day 181 since we left Morecambe and so far we have spent £653 on fuel and £1111 on camping. It averages less than £10 per day. We were up reasonably early and after breakfast we had a wonder round the large shopping complex in La Zenia.

We got on the road about 11:30 and stopped for lunch at a small village called Baños y Mendigo. We were heading towards Aguilas as it's the 2nd day of Carnival tomorrow and we can't attend the 3rd day which is next Saturday. Val wasn't impressed with Sean our sat navigator and the way he took us. The fastest and the shortest route appeared to be the same but over lunch the normal map would have took us a completely different way. She soon had us back on the right track.

We stopped short of Aguilas and ended up just outside the small town of Totana on a nice little aire called Camperstop Sierra Espūna 37°47′34.08″N 01°30′37.44″W. There was room for about 20 vans and at €10 with or €7 a night without electricity it was good value. The wifi was free and it was a strong signal during the day but when it got dark every man and hid dog must have been online at the same time which reduced its capability.

We had a cycle into town. It felt like about 2.5 km going down the hill and about 5 km coming back. There were some beautiful churches but not much else that appealed. It was busy with people and traffic as siesta had just ended and the shops were opening up as we got there.

After dinner we had a FaceTime with the boys who were keen to tell us about the cup final and their latest escapades on Pokemon. The rest of the evening was spent catching up with emails and doing a bit of reading. Happy days.

28 February 2017

We slept till 9:00, had some breakfast, a shower and did last nights washing up before taking a couple of snaps and the getting under way. 

We headed to Aguilas and after driving round for a good half an hour or more we found some waste ground with some other Motorhome's parked up. There were three French vans, a Spanish van and another British van. Following the adage there is safety in numbers we took as level a spot as we could find. The location is 37°24′15.96″N 01°35′20.19″W.

After some lunch we did some exploring to find a good spot to watch the Carnival. We had a good idea where to go because we had been stuck on a few occasions in the back streets as we came into the very narrow roads of the town. Next was a walk high upon the hill to the Castle with great views of the bays on either side. We had a walk into the centre of town and down the promenades of both bays. We stopped in the late afternoon sunshine for some liquid refreshment before a trip back to the van for some cheese and crackers and a coffee. 

Most of the evening was taken up watching the carnival which didn't quite live up to its hype. It was nearly all dance troupes with ages ranging from five to sixty five and although they were very colourful and good to watch, the whole thing lacked variety. After the show we stopped in a bar to get some dinner and washed it down with a couple of glasses of vino tinto before retiring to the van for a good nights shut eye. Happy campers. 

1 March 2017

We left Aguilas at about 11:00 am heading south and stopped at the first beach we came to in the region of Andalusia. The place was packed with about fifty Motorhome's, all wild camping. We had a walk round and took some photographs before moving on. 

Our next stop was on the beach just outside Mojacar Playa where we had a look round the large shopping complex before getting back in the van and driving up the steep inclines to Mojacar Pueblo. The buildings of the village are all white and it's high up in the hills. We parked up on some waste ground at the foot of the village and then went exploring on foot. Unfortunately our arrival coincided with siesta so all the shops were closing. We had a good walk round and admired the stunning views of the Sierra Cabrera. 

We drove back down to Mojacar Playa and drove along the beach looking for a spot to camp. There was an abundance of spots to chose from as there were other vans parked up and obviously overnighting. We got as far from the road as we could to cut down on traffic noise, parked up and got the recliners out giving me time to get stuck into and finish my book Driving Over Lemons. I didn't realise until the last few pages that it's author Chris Stewart was a member of the band Genesis. Wild Camping Spot: 37°08′32.78″N 01°49′39.6″W

After dinner we settled for a quiet night watching the movie The Imitation Game about the British attempt during WWII to crack the Germans Enjgma Code.  

2 March 2017

We woke to a cloudless sky and people paddling in the sea. Parked next to us was an old Royal Mail van converted into a camper. We had finished breakfast and were packed away and on the road by 10:30. We only drove about 2 km as Val wanted to visit some of the shops we had been in yesterday. 

An hour later we were off again along the coast road as far as possible and then inland to Nija. It is another spot that had the white cubist houses and is famous for its pottery and rugs. We got stuck in one of its many narrow streets and had to back up to find an alternative route. We managed to find a large Municipal Car Park to leave the van in and have a look round. We were there before siesta which meant everywhere was open. Although the pottery was lovely there is nowhere to put it in the van. 

We had a late lunch in the car park before moving on to Almeria. We parked up on enormous car park with plenty of other Motorhome's for company and a couple from Sheffield who had been following us for a few kilometres parked up alongside. Their sat nav had stopped working so the followed the first van they saw who might be heading to an aire. 

We had a good walk down the promenade almost as far as the port and like a lot of other Spanish resorts the high rise spoiled what could have been a beautiful sea front. The sun was still shining as we got back at about 6:00 pm. 

After a delicious Rogan Josh Ruby cooked lovingly by Val the evenings entertainment was another Netflix download called Frida. It was about the Mexican self portrait painter Frida Kohol and definitely worth two hours of anybody's time. 

3 March 2017

We took our time over breakfast knowing we only had about 40 km to drive to our next stop which was Camping Mar Azul in Balerma. We took one or two last photos in Almeria and then away we went. On our travels we passed a filling station selling diesel at €0.98 a litre and did a quick turn around to fill up. 

Sean led us right to the door of our campsite and we arrived in bright sunshine. After booking in and setting up we got on the bikes and had a ride into town which in the brochure is described as a quiet seaside town with a smattering of local shops and the occasional bar or two popular with campers. It didn't take long to get around the town but there wasn't much choice with bars or places to eat. Fortunately we are only here for two days as I'm sure we would get a bit bored otherwise. It's another area with miles and miles of greenhouses, the ones closest to the site are all growing peppers. Apparently they can be seen from space and they cover 64,000 acres. The growing technique is called hydropics and as turned the Almeria region from one of the poorest in Spain to one of the ten most affluent. 

In the afternoon the weather changed. The dark clouds came in and shortly afterwards the wing got up and it started to rain heavily for about an hour. The wing got stronger and was rocking the van about for the rest of the day. 

In the evening our friends Dick and Jackie came round for a few beers. They had arrived just before the rain and had got set up just in time to take shelter. We had a good old chin wag and called it a night before midnight. Sleepy campers. 

4 March 2017

It was a day of continuous rain from morning till night. We hardly ventured out of the van except to buy some bread and to use the pot wash. 

It gave us a chance to do some admin, catch up on email and I plugged the laptop into the electricity, connected the iPads and iPhone and downloaded the 1,800 photographs we had stored on the various devices. 

After a wonderful risotto cooked with wild mushrooms and green beans we settled down to watch a Netflix movie starring Helen Mirren called The Journey of One Hundred Feet. It was thoroughly enjoyable and kept us entertained for a good two hours till we got our heads down. 

5 March 2017

We woke to what we thought was a strong wind but soon realised it was the waves crashing onto the beach about two hundred metres from the van. We were up early and after a couple of brews, some breakfast, a shower and saying goodbye to Dick and Jackie we had the van packed and we're on the road by about 11:30. 

We took the scenic route along the coast road and enjoyed spectacular views apart from the greenhouses which were on our near side away from the coastline. When we arrived at the site we didn't have to do our own tea ritual as the first thing the stewards Chris and Gill did was make us a brew before showing us round the small site. We arrived just in time for the afternoon barbecue followed by a game of skuttles, similar to skittles but not quite the same. As we weren't really ready to cook a barbecue, Val nicked up a salad with pate washed down with some vino tinto and a few scoops. 

Later in the afternoon we had a sit down in the sunshine, me with a book and Val studying the map to plan one or two trips. When we lost the sun from our pitch we had a walk into the village and had a beer and a tapas at Nico's. The bar owner of the same name swears like a trouper and when he goes on holiday it is always to a naturist hotel or campsite. He kept us entertained with his tales for an hour or so. 

We needed the torch to punch in the code when we got back to the site and after a chat with Gregg we watched an episode of a Netflix series called Crossing Lines. There was just enough time to read a couple of chapters of my latest Lee Child novel before hitting the hay. A long day. Sleepy campers.