Portugal, Spain versa

The Basque VX take on Japan in San Sebastion tomorrow, just down the road from Gran Camping Zarautz (rugby for the uninitiated).  If we get our timing right, may just catch it live.  We have seaviews so are relaxing watching fishermen landing their catch.

Yesterday we spent in Nationale Parque Pisco de Europa, Avin, checking out the local fauna, tasting food and sampling vino.  If we had more time, we’d take a week out in Zone 6, site 7 – camping at its most basic but with a bar and pool within 250m.  Lloydy found time to forage; finally, Mrs L’s having a positive effect on the lad.

The views on departure from the park via the mountains were spectacular.  Lloydy looked down once from his drivers perch and after that we sat in the middle of the road whenever possible. Took the N634 to avoid rip-off tollroads - thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the challenge of up-down roads!

If you’ve got time to check the photos closely.  Got bad news for boys and girls in Britian … snow is eminent!

So, what else have Team Lloydy been up to this week:

Post Vila Cha we headed north towards Spain.  Most notable on our drive have been signs for ‘Santiago de Compestela’.  Lloydy’s done his reading and reckons it’s a significant pilgrimage.  Everywhere we’ve driven along the northern coast has scallop-shell signage.  

To be fair, the only pilgrims we met were at A’Vouga, north of Muros where Lloydy also managed to charm Elida for a few days.

From A’Vouga we ‘wild-camped’ at Gijon (HeeHong) due to being booted out of Santa Maria del Mar for arriving 10 mins past closing time.  To be fair, it was dark … and the place was heaving (probably pilgrims)!  Felt a little like Joseph and Mary being chucked out of the inn. Sorry no Jesus on the way!

We love  Northern Spain.  Mrs L thinks lots of places reminder her of the lower North Island, NZ.  The place has so much character, scenery, wonderful people.  Plus … we can see why they don’t advertise. 

Another last minute never seen ever in our tour of Europe.  Pataka kai … well, corn stores for the Spanish.

Spain, Portugal

Another week down.  We have done huge miles (2,000kms tho includes ring road SatNav FU’s) through Barcelona, Saragossa, Salamanca, Badajoz, Lisboa. 

Today we’d planned on catching the train from Sao Bento, and travelling along the Duro River in Porto.  A Greve Genral put paid to that.  As needs must, plus we’re stuck in a little village (Vila Cha) in Portugal … we’re whiling the hours away with beautiful beach views, vino and food.  Maybe tomorrow!

The Vila do Conda is very much a Portuguese version of Waitarere Beach.  A little rockier but no less prettier.

One bogie we’ve failed to mention in much detail is TOLL roads.   We were pinged €16 in France for approximately 160kms, €20 in Spain – appro. 100kms (€11.65 was just past Salamanca for 12kms of highway.  Not cool).  To get to Portugal quicker we chose a 200km stint between Caceras (Spain) and Lisboa, cost €27 which was not inexpensive but saved us three hours and 150km of mountain climbing.  A deal.  The young Kiwis we’d met in Pompeii had mentioned their €100 bill on French Peage highways.  

Given we’ve got another 2,500kms through all three countries, we hope SatNav lady will exercise caution to get us back to Old Blighty in robust financial shape.

On a sadder note.  A dear friend and ex-colleague of Lloydy passed away Thursday last.  It's a timely reminder that friends and family however close the cyber distances … if you’re stuck in a van on the Continent it’s a long, long way when your loved ones are in trouble.  Be safe out there - friends and whanau …

Photo gallery

Historic - One Crane, one stork (flying) and two flamingo

Halloween night

Southern France

Six-Four Les Plages – never heard of it?  Neither had we.  Found the most amazing remote campsite perched on a hill 1.5kms from the beach and thought – close to Toulon, bar open most hours, nice people, cheap vino (€4.90 per bot.)  Gave Cally a few days off, visited Jonny... in Toulon; ate gorgeous food and tasted the regions cheaper brands of vin rouge – life’s tough.

Refreshed and revived we punched south, along the coast to Narbonne and spent two nights at Camp Nautique where we got keys to our own personal sanitare house.  No sharing the loo with oddbods - pure bliss.

To be honest it hasn’t always been a bed of roses.  Overnight we discovered the ACSI mapbook (tells us where the campsites are) was LOST.  Major panic… Mrs L is still not feeling friendly towards Lloydy.  All that can be said is aforementioned missive was found (Lloydy’s side) after a rigorous clearout of tempers and Cally!  And while we're doing the confessions - eight and a half weeks in 18sqm in a rectangle will challenge the strongest marriage.  So be warned if you're thinking of doing Europe in three months like us.

On to more important things - Sundays in Italy and France are for rest.  So we whiled the hours away at lovely food market in Centre Ville plus paella and a succulent octopus in marinade so all is well.  A visit to Carcassonne’s fairytale village in the afternoon rounded off a splendid outing however, we headed back to Narbonne Plage ‘cos we’d heard the Tongan Rugby boys were in the neighbouring town.

No Polynesians but we discovered … rice paddies and flamingos.  Some of life pleasures come from the most unexpected quarters.

Cally is coping well with the driving, so this week we’re headed through Spain towards Portugal.  This morning we found ourselves sat in the biggest campsite this side of the black stump - Parc de Vacances - Vilanova Park. 

This evening we'll be roughing it at a gratis truck stop in La Joyosa (Hoyahstar).  We're making friends with the bar staff to make the stay more bearable.

Our thoughts are with our families and friends … hope you've all had a safe Guy Fawkes.

PS:  The wi-fi is shit-e so pictures will follow!