Hola,
We left Mum’s last Thursday on route to Sunny Spain and planned to stop overnight at a little place called Campan, the French side of the Pyrenees as we had decided to take the more scenic route from there the next day rather than along the coast via Bayonne & Biarritz which Alan said would be busy.
We thought we had seen the last of the snow for a while but as we headed towards Campan on the National 21 a beautiful straight road that just went on for miles we caught sight of the snowcapped mountains in front of us again, another breathtaking sight. We knew that the aire at Campan was going to be a small one with just 5 vans allowed overnight but after reading the book from cover to cover it was the only option really in the location we needed. Campan is a very small village close to the Pyrennes National Park and we just couldn’t believe the snow was still so low and hoped that we wouldn’t need to break out the snow chains again!! but luckily the village was clear of snow and we found the aire round one of the back streets, a very small car park with a small picnic area next to the river which the local farmer who lived opposite had filled up with several round bales of hay!! It would be fine for one night so we parked up found a nice footpath across the river which headed up the hills towards the mountains and went for a walk which was really nice.
That evening we decided to set the alarm in the van so that we can move around in the van but all the doors are still armed, we decided to test it as we hadn’t used it since we were in Quiberon back in early January but guess what it didn’t bloody work, we kept setting it and opening the personal door but nothing, we kept trying and then the door handle on the personal door decided to break too, we couldn’t get in or out of the van!! Eventually I managed to get the door open but the lock was faulty so out came the tool kit along and after a quick call to John at Pullingers where we got the van from, he told me I had to strip the whole door down and find the culprit, which was a small pin which had fallen out from the over complicated mechanism but at least I managed to sort it! Once that was sorted Julie rang the alarm bloke and after about half an hour on the phone we narrowed it down to a faulty connection somewhere in a 7.5m van so the search began. He advised us to check each door contact with a magnet to check if they where working so I unscrewed a magnetic catch from a cupboard and began checking each door, but nothing still the same, so I started to check wiring out and traced all the wiring in and around all the van until I found a wire trapped behind a bracket which had rubbed through causing a false earth and so telling the alarm that all doors are safe which obviously they were not - and there was us 3 hours ago thinking what are we going too do with ourselves tonight LOL!!!
We were up early the next morning and were heading via the scenic route through the Pyrenees National Park into Sunny Spain. The route meant going through the Tunnel De Somport then up towards Pamplona, San Sebastian and to a site at a little place called Orio. The roads were amazing and again in some parts the snow was really low.
The Tunnel was 10km long but nice & wide inside and dry unlike the inside of Blackwall or Dartford!! It was quite bizarre though as when you come out the other side you are actually in Spain and all the roads signs are in Spanish and the surroundings seem different but your brain still thinks you are in France. After a while we got our heads round it but first impressions were not great as the roads were bumpy, there were no lovely aires to park in for a lunch stop and then the Spanish had decided to close the road we were on without any warning so after a U-turn we were back on track again on a newly built road. We looked ahead and all around and were still surrounded by mountains but sat nav said we only had five miles to go so were wondering where the sea was and our campsite then with only about a mile to go and in a biggish town we looked at one another thinking what are we doing here and what is the campsite going to be like? we made the final turn which can only be described as going down Chatham high street then once we reached the end we saw the site in the distance with its attractive battleship grey painted wall/shower block next to the entrance and the portacabin reception!!! along with waving builders greeting us as we drove in. So we introduced ourselves to the enthusiastic Spanish receptionist and said we might stay 1-2 days if your lucky!! she said we could pitch anywhere so we set the van up and did a quick walk round and also to the beach which was only 100m away but not that attractive either. After a nights sleep we were awoken at 7am in the morning by high winds and when we looked out the window we saw our Spanish neighbours attempting to take their awning down on their caravan but with one almighty gust it ripped it from their hands and flung it over the top of the caravan snapping their TV aerial on the way and ripping it off the side of the van!!! It’s quite funny really as every site we go to Julie seems to get excited to see what the washing machines are like and once she found the brand new machines here she had two on the go at once and there was even a designated area to hang it all out, mind you it was so windy it was quite entertaining watching her hang the sheets out, which dried in about 10 minutes - funny how such little things can be so pleasing. We began to warm to the site as everything was spotlessly clean and well maintained it even had a car/motorhome cleaning area which we took advantage of to get the salt off from the trip across the Pyrenees, it was just the area, view of the motorway & buildings around it which spoilt it. We jumped on the bike and did the coast road round into some amazing coves and bays but there was a lot of damage to the sea walls/footpaths which we later found out was due to a huge storm and 8-10m waves hitting the coast a few weeks ago.
When we left there we headed along the coastal road towards our next stopover 150 miles further up the coast and were again disappointed with the scenery as we passed through Bilbao & Santander but were sure the next place San Vicente De La Barquera was going to be more scenic & typical Spanish and were weren’t disappointed, a lovely little fishing village which a small harbour and sandy surf beaches dotted along the coastline. The site here is beautiful and from the van we have views of the countryside and the snowcapped mountains in the distance but only a 10 minute walk to Oyambre one of the fantastic beaches. We have done a bit of walking and cycling here and been exploring on the XT, the coast roads are fantastic. We would have loved to have got a kitesurf in here as we would have had the beach to ourselves but the wind is off-shore at the moment but it is great for surfing so we might have a play before we go. There is a lovely restaurant here on-site too with a great menu which is only €12 for a 3 course meal but sadly doesn’t include drinks but when San Miguel is only €2 a litre we can’t complain so think we will have to sample the menu before we leave.
We are heading further along the coast tomorrow which will be our last stop in Northern Spain on route to Portugal.
Adios for now.
J&J
Nice pics and words guys glad you are enjoying yourselves.
ReplyDeleteCheers Nick. Yes we are having a great time, arrived on the North Portugal coast today and just having a beer each for a total of €2.40, happy days :-) Hope all is good with you & Karen
DeleteStrangely this doesn't look like the Spanish coast - looks more British if anything. Are you sure you have not been skiing in Scotland and are now in Devon? Glad the travels are going well and that you are keeping the aires standards to what you are used to. Mum should arrive with us tomorrow and we are meeting up with Leigh, Mandy and Karla for a meal Saturday night. We will raise a glass to absent family (but it will be more than 2Euros a litre!) Love to you both x
ReplyDeleteYes it was like the Devon/Cornwall coast and we only really found one place that we really liked. Some places we drove through were very ugly and industrial with lots of graffiti so we weren't sold on Northern Spain but at least we have seen it. We missed the smooth French roads, little villages and picnic areas too. Now in Northern Portugal, hope you had a nice family catch up with mum. Love to all x
DeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU LITTLE BRO!! Mum, Alan and William headed off home yesterday. The time flew by while she was with us but it was lovely to catch up... only a few weeks until we are off to Bordeaux to meet up again. We need a post and photos about your birthday celebrations (and the beard if it is still with you!!). Hope you have a lovely birthday. We will have to have a huge shin dig when you get back to celebrate all the birthdays we have missed during the year. Love, as always xx
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