Segundo Dia….Day Two

Last night as we sat in the balmy warmth of a typical Spanish night supping the last of our Cwm Derri wines, we noticed two forlorn looking characters wandering bye. 

Being of generous nature I called out ‘HOLA’. Well how was I to know they were the only two Finnish people on the campsite?

The lady spoke reasonable English and her partner very little, but before long they were at the table enjoying our hospitality and we spent an enjoyable hour discussing everything under the sun. 

We did discover that they didn’t like the Germans flaunting their nudity on the beach, I wonder if that’s because most of them are in there sixties, now if it had been nubile twenty year olds their story may have turned out different.

Was ist Los?

We are learning a lot about how everything works here at the moment ….

The electricity is metered and we are charged € 0.35c per Kwt, the fridge we run on gas and nearly all of the cooking is on gas but we do have a Romoska that is very frugal with electric. 

One tip we had was to take a 5ltr bottle to the communal sinks and fill up with hot water as it saves using your gas to heat it.

We have made friends with a couple named Nigel & Lyn who have been here a while, they are the couple who have invited us out tomorrow evening with their friends for a Chinese meal. They gave us directions of how to get to a caravan shop where we were able to get a new trailer connector to replace the broken one and where the local shops mainly Lidl, Iceland and Marcadona were. 

Out of the three Marcadona was the cheapest and Iceland the dearest so now we know where we will do our shopping. Iceland had all the usual English fare but at very inflated prices a Tin of Roses chocolate that you could buy in the UK for £5 here they charged £10….that’s a 100% mark up disgraceful.

A bottle of red wine in Lidl was 0.95c just over £1 and just as cheap in Marcadona so we have stocked up with German bier, Sangria and red wine from Lidl.  Vegetables, fruit, bread, cheese and milk from Marcadona. The only thing we purchased at Iceland was two tubs of Carte D’or ice cream as they were on offer, I’m not tight but I believe in value for money.

We stopped on the way back from the Caravan shop to fill up the toad (Toyota) with unleaded petrol and the price per Ltr € 1.32 = £1.20p using the tourist rate of €1.10 to the £.

I’m getting used to driving here in Spain but I’ll not chance the big cities until I’m more confident of my abilities to get out of any trouble.

We have worked out our LPG consumption for the trip and we are very pleased with the outcome the distance we did on LPG was 481 miles on 240Ltrs of LPG, a consumption rate of 9.10 miles to the Gallon we could have possibly achieved a lower rate if we didn’t have to go faster than 50mph to catch up with our travelling companions.

We will be visiting the new site of Camping Marjel Costa Blanca next month to view the new site and the pitches with a very nice Spanish lady called Eva to see if we like the pitch and the layout of the new site so we are looking forward to that.

More Anon

Hola from Spain

Well we’ve done it and have arrived safe and well on our camp site at Marjel in Guadamar just south of Alecanti. 

The weather is beautiful the temperature is in the high thirties and its wall to wall sunshine. Mind you it’s uncomfortable sitting here typing half naked and soaking with perspiration (sweat to you and me).

The journey down well that’s the interesting bit…..The crossing from Plymouth to Santander was great, the sea was as calm as a mill pond, which is highly unusual for the channel and the Bay of Biscay. 

The boat was great with good food and good entertainment, but something’s like the cinema where a bit pricy.

Unfortunately we were kept back till last to get on board, now I’m not sure if this was because of our height and length or because we had used Camping & Caravan Club to do our booking, as it seems some of these companies use a bit of jiggery pokery when it comes to allocating vehicle sizes. I would advise anyone else to book direct with Brittany Ferries.

Waiting to Board

Our ship Pont -Aven

Goodbye Plymouth

Hola Santander

Mike and Paula’s RV was parked right at the front and we were right at the back. 

We were supposed to be following Mike & Paula who were the first off, which meant they were miles away by the time we exited the boat. 

It was a bit of a frightful drive navigating the traffic system alone through Santander and it was fourteen miles before we caught up with them at an Autopista garage on the A67 south of Santander.

Santander

Finally Caught up with Mike

Mike is an Ex lorry driver who is used to the Spanish roads and he was off like a rocket so for me it was often a case of playing catchup. The road out of Santander the A67 is very busy and before long we were climbing the Cordillero Cantabrica mountain range, a range high enough that there were snow hazard warning signs on the road. There were lots of tunnels and high viaducts and crazy fast Spanish drivers.

Autopista Tunnels

Very High viaducts 

We headed down the A67 to Orsono La Mayor where we went onto the A231 towards Burgos.

Here we exited the Autopista on the way for me to top up the petrol tank as I wasn’t sure how far I could get on LPG alone. Mike had a bit of a problem exiting the garage and before I had completed the top up he was off like a jack Rabbit. 

Needless to say I found it hard to catch up with him and we ended up going off at the wrong junction at Burgos. 

As Mike was supposed to be my guide we were now completely on our own. We did eventually catch up with them after many miles at a BP station on the A1 heading south towards Madrid. He had stopped there to change into lighter clothing and catch a snack and a drink.

We had intended to stop for a few hours before Madrid but Mike wanted to get this part of the journey ‘the M50 ring road’ out of the way. So on we drove until it was getting late into the evening which at this point we had been driving near solid for ten hours.

Now this might be OK for a seasoned trucker but for a sixty four year-old on his first foray into Spain a bit of a task, although we were grateful for their help. 

We’d pulled over in a filling station parking area, even though we were aware that often these were the places that thieves gassed and robbed unwary travellers, we arranged that one of us in each RV would stay awake while the other slept.

The night went peaceful enough with a few visits from the Guarda Civil checking that the lorry drivers and we were safe. But this meant that we were getting very tired as sleeping in a strange bunk bed on the boat the previous night gave me four hours sleep and now a further four hours just 8 hours in 48 hours.

We were off early before daybreak crossing more mountain ranges part of the Sistema Central down the R4 towards Albacete where we intended to fill up with LPG on the A31 but during this part of the journey we encountered thick fog.

We arrived just as the place opened up for business, this is where the fun started. 

The petrol attendant tried to navigate me into a narrow tight little road to where the pump was situated. It soon became plain to us that we wouldn’t get in and we were stuck. So we had to demount the Toyota and disconnect the trailer. We had sustained a minor little scrape by the door, nothing that I couldn’t fix but it could have been much worse if Mike hadn’t noticed the attendant was trying to get a 3.5 meter RV under a 2.5 mere roof.

Parked at the rear of the LPG pump

We were to find yet more problems

By this time Mike had reversed his RV across rough ground to the pump and managed to get his tanks filled up, now it was my turn. I reversed in narrowly missing a huge 3 foot concrete hole only to find that Mike had filled with all the LPG was left in the tanks.

So as we were hitching up the trailer we said goodbye to Mike feeling that we were holding them up as they were going a short distance back up the A31 and then south on the A30 towards La Manga.

Just after they left, disaster. 

We noticed that the electrical connector between the trailer and RV was bust up with the connectors hanging loose. It must have torn loose as we tried to reverse out. 

We spent a few hours of trying to get through to ADAC or to get one of the non-English speaking Spanish to let us know where a local motor electrical repair man could be found. Eventually one of the partially English speaking lads from the factory turned up and helped us out. A local auto electrical mechanic turned up and within minutes and had us on our way minus 55 Euro's for five minutes work.

 

That's a big Bull

Castles in Spain

We programmed the Sat-Nav to get us down the A31 onto the A7 for Alicante and then the AP7 towards Guadamar and our final destination Camping Marjel where we arrived at three in the afternoon.

In getting to the first pitch I managed to knock over a post on a tight corner where a workman had unfortunately left his van parked. Then after much toing & froing we found we couldn’t fit into the pitch it was too narrow. 

After a visit to reception we where told we could use a larger pitch just opposite until Sunday ‘as unfortunately it had been pre booked’. We can then move onto another pitch on millionaire’s row that will be large enough to accommodate our RV.

While trying to reverse swing the RV onto this pitch I scraped a line of bushes which have left some scratches along one side so once again these can be T-cut out so its not too bad. Needless to say I was short tempered, tired, hot and very hungry and poor Kay had to put up with my bitching and moaning.

One of the English residents came to our assistance, of which we were very grateful for his help.

Our Street

Finally Settled

The site is fantastic and after a good shower and a hot meal and a most needed good night’s sleep we’re settling in well. We have even had our first invitation to go out this Friday, with a group of other English snowbirds here for a Chinese meal.

More Anon

A Raleigh good Day, to visit Drake

It was a bit of a nightmare trip for us down from Burnham, we had planned to carefully monitor the RV’s LPG consumption and made all the usual checks, Mileage and full tanks. As usual for us something always pops up to throw a spanner in the works. 

We had been making good time sticking strictly to 50 mph as we cruised sedately down the M5 when suddenly up came the dreaded warning signs, ‘Road closed’. 

The A38 was closed just after the junction with the A380 due to a traffic accident. Which just happened to be our route to Plymouth and at first it seemed as if the signs were wrong as the traffic seemed to be flowing smoothly, until we hit the hill dropping down to the junction where in front of us it was wall to wall traffic.

Here the police directed us down onto the B3344 and as we passed one of the policemen smiled at us he probably knew what was in store for us as we headed through the tiny village of Chudliegh. 

What a nightmare it was trying to navigate a huge RV & trailer against oncoming traffic down very narrow roads and finding ourselves in tight situations. The delay not only cost us over an hour but it also threw the LPG monitoring we'd planned out the window, as it was stop start driving all the way.

Eventually we re-joined the A38 and made our way without any further problems to the Riverside Caravan Site on the outskirts of Plymouth. For any other RV drivers intending to use this stop over it's best not to follow the sat-nav's advice and turn off the A38 at the B3416, but go on to the next exit at the B3413 and use the Longbridge road past the entrance to the dry Ski Slope it’s far easier.

We quickly settled in onto our pitch and that evening made a quick visit to the sites restaurant for a well needed drink. 

The following day we nipped out to check out the nearest LPG refilling point, which the site warden said was the Esso Garage at the top of Eggbuckland Rd. 

Well it may have been an LPG filling station some years ago but now it’s a Tesco extra and no LPG in sight. 

Mike and I had originally intended to use the Texaco station in Saltash but the Tamar Bridge had huge traffic queues as it was being resurfaced, so I made a quick call to our friends to warn them who were arriving onsite the following day. 

Mike used the Lee Mills Calor depot to refuel with LPG on their way down which was not far from the caravan site and together we nipped back in our RV to refuel there as well, as it was the closest to us so now we are ready for the ferry.

Our diet went out of the window that night as Kay and I decided to enjoy a three course meal at the restaurant and a drink with our friends.

Today we used the Park & Ride next door to us and spent a day out visiting Plymouth. One of our first calls was the Mayflower steps where the founding fathers left to settle in the new world for our friend Nancy in the states. 

We visited the Hoe and the town centre where we had to get some bits and bobs for the ferry (like sea sick pills).

The Mayflower steps

Mayflower memorial

The seaward side of the steps

Plaque

More Plaques

As Kay visited her usual hot spot M&S, I waited outside while being entertained by one of the most talented guitarists I’d seen since I’d heard Mark Allen Play in Swansea.

Mark Alan played with a modern electric Fender, playing Santana and the like, but this chap Al Marconi played Spanish acoustic with a fusion of Mediterranean & Eastern style. I decided to buy one of his CD’s (Insomnia) as it was the perfect music to put us in the mood for Spain.

Drake Island

The fort

Monuments on the Hoe

The Hoe lighthouse

Now we are just sitting back and relaxing in the RV, as tomorrow we will need to get some fresh supplies for when we hit the road after our ferry crossing.

For once Kay didn't visit any of the local churches (of which there was many) to delve into the grave stones as there was a warning on the wall on the Hoe...see below

NO TOMB-STONING

More Anon

Time to head south

leaving the bad weather behind

Well it’s our last day here at Home farm in Burnham and the rains have been constantly chucking it down all afternoon and evening, so tomorrow we will be more than ready to start our trip south towards our last port of call in the UK, the Riverside Caravan Park in Plymouth, before boarding the ferry for Santander on Sunday.

Ready to roll from Burnham

What it was a western weekend!!!

The short respite from the rain this morning at least it gave me the chance to check tyre pressures, tighten wheel nuts on the trailer, clean the RV, top up water and check oil levels. Kay’s completed all the washing, ironing and has been tidying up the inside of the RV.

Not everything has gone to plan; we’d been having hit or miss reception on the Camos 4 Satellite dome over the past few months. At first we thought this was something to do with obstacles getting in the way of the satellite signal and then we thought it might be a loose connection, it was only yesterday after a conversation with the original fitter Garry at Chase RV that I found out the unit has a fault.

Luckily after a quick phone call first thing this morning to Road Pro (the company that supplied the unit) we have arranged for a new controller unit and some replacement springs for the dome to be delivered ASAP to The Riverside Caravan Park where I can do the update and repair myself.

The RV’s radio has also decided to pack up, it appears the Ariel is not working, so my next task is to find out where it’s come loose, I’ve a feeling it’s on the roof as it may have been pulled lose when the satellite dome was fitted, god when will these niggling little problems end. Still that’s the joys of American RV’s if everything is working fine you can guaranty some big fault is waiting just around the corner.

The weather men are predicting an early snow fall in the UK which they say will be due in the early weeks of October and have given a longer forecast of a severe winter, so like good snowbirds it’s time to get the hell out of here.

At Riverside we will be meeting up with Mike & Paula, two friends that we met at Briarfields. They will be on the same ferry as us and heading in the same direction, it will be interesting to see how many others we will meet on board doing the same thing. We are praying that there will be a nice high over the Bay of Biscay and that the ferry crossing will be a calm one.

I have had some feedback on the forums from other RV users about my concerns relating to the RV’s LPG consumption and have been encouraged that I won’t get a true reading until we’ve got some more mileage under our belts, so this trip should highlight the true cost of running the RV we are getting 1.3 miles to the litre of LPG and we should be getting 1.7.

Our final top up of fuel will be in Plymouth so that when we hit the docks in Santander we will not need to go looking for an LPG pump.

More Anon

Final Preparations

On Monday we left the RV at Motor Home Medics who are just up the road from Briairfields and we headed back home in the toad to sort out the usual things like the dentist and doctor before our real journey of adventure begins with our trip down to Plymouth and then across Spain for the winter.

The RV was left with the lads at Motor Home Medics for them to change all the ignition plugs and to check out the air filter (to make sure it’s clean to go) and to fit two air extension hoses to the front air assist bags.

We had arranged with the owners at Briarfield for the MHM lads to park the RV back on their site for us leaving the keys with them while we toddled off back home to Port Talbot.

Before too long we were back at Kristina’s and Gav’s checking out all the revamping work they had done to the granny flat. 

The living room looked totally different with the newly plastered walls gleaming in fresh paint. The floors had all been laid with laminate boards and the hallway and stairs in a light fawn carpet.

We didn’t see either of them till late that evening as both had been very busy work wise so the following morning after they had gone off to work it was a quick visit to the dentist. As we had expected all was clear and after a quick dental polish we both now have nice shining gnashers.

Next we popped over to DVLA in Swansea to get the toads Road Tax re-dated so that we would not have to worry about it running out before we returned to the UK. 

The girl at the kiosk was very helpful and all the staff were very friendly, in fact the manager came over and commented on how nice it was to see very attractive customers (as there was Kay and a young blond in the next kiosk). Until I popped my head from around a post that hid me from view and thanked him for the compliment (Oh I’m a sod at times)

We managed to tidy up a few things like dropping stuff off into storage that we wouldn’t need in Spain and to collect a couple of things we would. We also contacted ADAC to top up some insurance on breakdown and health cover (best to be on the safe side) and checked with another insurance firm to get a quote on cover that will cover us until we return as our present one will run out while we are in Spain.

We had a nice couple of nights feasting with Kristina & Gav as well as with Samantha and Rhys who by now had recovered from his seventeen days stuck with us (he must be scarred for life poor mite). 

The doctor’s visit was scheduled for the Friday morning and once that was out of the way it was time for us to get back to Briarfield to collect the RV.

We found the RV jacked up on its legs, the slide outs put out and the electric connected to keep the food in the fridge from spoiling, the boys from MHM had done a good job.

Thanking Ross and Joe at Briarfields for being good hosts we set off for our first stop on our way to Plymouth our old haunt of Home farm at Burnham.

We had only planned to stay until Sunday but as usual not everything went to plan as we found out that our next stop at Riverside (Plymouth) would not be available till Wednesday so we booked in at Home Farm for two more nights.

This gave us the chance to nip down the road in the RV to fill up with LPG as the indicator informed us that we were down to just one tank of gas. We haven’t done a mileage consumption check before due to the messing about we had with the auto change over problem. Well now we could, as I’d last filled at Newport when the work had been done and I’d made a note of the mileage so this was our first complete refill and boy was I in for a shock!!!

I’d thought we were doing at least ten miles to the gallon but on completion of our calculations it worked out that we were only getting half of that at 5.21 miles to the gallon (ouch).

But if you compare the cost of LPG to petrol our costs would equate to 10 miles to the gallon, LPG being half that of petrol.

So it’s win some lose some, as my calculations for our drive down through Spain will mean at least two stops to refill the LPG tanks and not one as planned, so its heads down to check the planned route once more to locate places to fill up.

More Anon

It’s Quiet without the Munchkin!

Off he went quite happily on Sunday afternoon with his mother face down in his PSP as usual and all of a sudden the silence was deafening. 

It’s surprising how suddenly the quiet descends once the hustle and bustle of an eight year old disappears, we will miss him, but OH how nice the peace is.

Well it also meant Kay and I could get the bikes out and go for a good long cycle ride without the fear of the capabilities of the Munchkin or his moans, we had planned to cycle to the Sharpness locks and back a distance of about eight miles. 

So on Wednesday after two days of reorganising ourselves after his nib’s departure, we had the chance to put on our cycling pants and get out on the bikes as the weather was windy but dry. 

The tow path alongside the Sharpness / Gloucester canal is a great way to view the local countryside and to learn a bit about the place. Our first stop was at the Berkeley Arms Purton, not for a drink as this pub is only open to the public on Saturday it is one of those quirky front room type of pubs but steeped in history as it sits between the canal on one side and the banks of the river Severn on the other.

The Berkeley Arms Purton

Sitting alongside the canal were some really nice canal cottages and beside them is the biggest ship graveyard in the UK see link for its fascinating history http://www.friendsofpurton.org.uk/ .

It was here just as we pulled over that Kay discovered a new way of cycling called air biking.
As I turned on hearing a shout, Kay was on her back with her cycle in the air. 

Now I’m no cycling expert but I can’t see this catching on. I helped her back to her feet with her complaining that her leg had gone dead. So far she’s run into a Springer on Aberavon sea front and went air cycling, Ran into another dog on the millennium way Stafford but managed to stay upright and now this.

The marina at Sharpness was full of boats of all shapes and sizes, it was obvious that quite a few were full timing on these as there were plenty with electric and water hook ups. 
We stopped off at Purton on the way back looking for a café but alas the only time you can get a tea here is on Sunday when the church offers visitors refreshments.

Thursday we drove out to Berkeley castle, if you are ever in this part of the world this is defiantly one place to put on your itinerary. Built in 1153 by Lord Maurice Berkeley he completed this fortress by the Severn Estuary at the command of Henry II, and ever since it has been the home of the Berkeley family - one of England's oldest families who have given their name to numerous locations all over the world, from Berkeley Square in London to Berkeley Hundred in Virginia and Berkeley University in California.

For nearly 850 years twenty-four generations have not only preserved this ancient Castle but have gradually transformed a savage Norman fortress into a truly stately home with a wealth of treasures. Here you will find paintings by primarily English and Dutch masters, tapestries, furniture of an interesting diversity, silver and porcelain and a bed spread left by Elizabeth the I and also one of her cross bows.

You can wander through the Castle at leisure or enjoy the free facility of a one-hour guided tour with a very experienced guide, who happened to be a bonny wee Scottish lassie who made sure that you were aware of the families links with the battle of Bannockburn and pointing out a 500 year old Scottish pine in the grounds that was brought back from the battle. 
The highlights of your tour through the Castle is the massive Norman Keep with the Dungeon and the cell where King Edward II was murdered in 1327 in a very gruesome way it will bring a tear to your eyes, the Picture Gallery, the Dining Room, the medieval Buttery and Kitchens, the Historic Great Hall and the magnificent State Apartments. Oh and not forgetting the Ghosts!!!!!

Main court Yard

The Norman Keep

500 year old Scottish Pine

The castle entrance

See Link http://www.berkeley-castle.com/index.php

We also visited St Mary's church alongside the castle so that Kay could indulge in her usual tomb-stoning its here that Edward Jenner is interred in the family vault.

St Mary's Berkeley

Grave yard

Inside St Mary's

Tomb 

Enough dead bodies now!!!

Friday and I needed to rid myself of some fishing bait as I've realised the chances of course fishing in Spain might be remote, so I planned a peaceful morning on the canal and yes I landed another Bream this time only just over 4Lb, still it was a success even if it was all that I caught.

Today the weather has turned foul once more with squally rain and gusty winds so we have decided to spend the time in doors as tomorrow we will be hitting the road back to Briarfields.

More Anon

Joe of the jungle

It’s Friday and the Munchkin’s stay with us is rapidly coming to an end, tomorrow Samantha will be visiting us for the night and will be taking him back home on Sunday afternoon, ready for the start of the new school term on Monday. Needless to say at the moment I have the little pest reading over my shoulder and repeating everything I type down (Grrr).

He’s had problems trying to make friends here as most of the kids are in twos or threes and unfortunately there is very little on this site for children to play on apart from a large grassed area. 

So this morning we decided to take a walk down to the Slimbridge Wildlife Wetlands Centre to give him a day out.

At first we thought that he might not appreciate the place, how wrong we were he loved it. The centre’s not cheap though, for two adults and a child it cost £23.91 normal price but with Gift Aid it was £26.70, Hmm… that didn’t seem right, we normally pay gift aid thinking we are helping these establishments out. But it appears we would be then paying the centres Tax contribution not the government giving them Tax relief. I pay enough in Tax to the government as it is, so we have decided to stop giving Gift Aid in the future.

Nana & Rhys

Mating Swans

Name that Wader

The Wetlands Centre is great place to take the kids with loads of advice and interesting exhibits and a fantastic collection of birds.  Rhys really enjoyed feeding the birds and the Play and Picnic area. But he especially enjoyed the Canoe Safari, so Joe here had to do the jungle thing Ayy Ayy Ahhh and take him out in a Canoe. Kay thought he would be too timid for this type of activity but he really got into the swing of handling a Canoe which was not bad for a left handed eight year old.

Rhys and Bamps up the Jungle

Round again Bamps

By Now Bamps is in Agony
but Munchkin wants to keep going

We also decided to have a snack at the Kiosk but the two miniscule defrosted bacon baps in a polystyrene box and tea in the same type of cup (Yuk) with a drink & cake for Rhys came to £12.40. I thought this centre would be promoting green issues, but it was the same when we visited the cafeteria in the Visitors Centre’s restaurant. All the vinegar and sauces where supplied in plastic throwaway sachets with plastic tea spoons for your tea. Once more two fish chips and peas and one sausage & chips (French fries not proper chips) with tea and soft drink came to £24.65. The meal was dearer than the entrance fee.

These prices for food and refreshment are far too high; they would be better off if they dropped the food prices and sold homemade produce supplied by local farmers. By offering reasonable prices they would make more money as more punters would eat there and using washable ceramic cups and the sauces in glass bottles, be seen as being more environmentally friendly.

Still the weather was great and we enjoyed his company, we will miss the little monster when he goes home but he’s already threatened to visit us when we head off to Spain.

More Anon