In Summary

We've decided that this is the life for us, get away from the UK winter - although it's apparently not been so bad this year - and enjoy the warmth that southern Europe, and North Africa, enjoys. We've also saved money of course on energy costs at home.

Morocco was so enjoyable that we intend to return next year and stay longer, not that we didn't enjoy Spain and Portugal as well. Having planned to be away for longer, we had more time to do "touristy" things, as well as just laze about when we felt like it. We didn't do everything we would have liked, but agreed that it was nice to save it up for another visit.

As last year, we kept an accurate record of our expenditure and are delighted to find that taking everything, including fuel, ferries, food and personal spending money into account (but excluding, of course, the indirect van costs, tax, insurance etc) we spent less than £40 per day for both of us. That's a pretty reasonably priced holiday! We covered just over 7000 miles in the 3 months.

The real life-changer though was the decision to go as part of a group, the crowd from MotorhomeFun who we met through their internet forum. Such a great crowd with similar outlooks to ourselves, we have already been to another "meet" at the Peterborough show, where we had a great time, and have booked two more later in the year.

Bertie performed faultlessly, apart from the minor hiccup right at the beginning of the trip, although we're still screwing bits back together after the Morocco roads. We had a solar panel fitted at Peterborough to take care of battery charging whilst parked up, and have bought some kit from Gaslow to enable us to use an external gas bottle so that we're not dependent on the two smaller refillables.

So now we're getting ready for our next trip - to Provence in SE France. The blog is at:-

www.terryandbren5.blogspot.co.uk

See you there!

Friday 4 April 2014

Well that's it. Today is "officially" the last day of our trip although in fact we're going to stay with Terry's mum for the weekend on the way home.

Yesterday was an easy start and a gentle run up the coast to Calais with a visit to Auchan to refill the fuel tank and do some last minute shopping before going round to the Port Aire to overnight. As it was early afternoon it was quiet and we chose a pitch with a nice view and spent the rest of the day firstly sorting out and re-packing then quietly relaxing.

Today our tunnel crossing was booked for 10:50 so we were up and away early enough not to have to rush. Just as well as there was some problem with freight traffic and we had to go the long way round to get to the terminal. Checked in and as we had got our timings right this year, only a short wait before we were actually loaded onto a 15 min earlier departure. The usual smooth crossing before we were decanted out into the English countryside where it was decidedly grey, although quite warm.

Which it stayed most of the way to Navenby with only a sprinkle of rain just north of London. Stopped for lunch at Cambridge - it was definitely tiring getting used to the far far busier roads - and arrived at mums about 3:30pm.

So that's Snow-birding finished for this year and we're already planning our next trip. Meanwhile we'll put together a summary when we get home.

Thanks to all our site visitors and we hope it's not been too boring. Actually we don't care 'cos it's only really been done to keep a record of the journey, supplementing the daily diary we write anyway.

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Yesterday and today have just been “making progress” days.  Although we made an earlier than usual start, there was nobody left on the Egurzon  site when we got up, so we just got on with it and hit the road. Despite our preferences, we decided that using the motorway, non-toll, made more sense so we headed north to Vierzon, intending to get fuel and some bread.

Whether we took the wrong turn-off, or went wrong somewhere else, we spent a frustratingly long time finding the LeClerc hypermarket and lost all the time we’d made up on the motorway. Still, once sorted we got back onto the D roads, now surprisingly busy as we had heard that all non-local heavy traffic must now use the autoroutes. It turned out that part of the autoroute was closed for repairs this week so we just mixed in with the trucks, occasionally “slip-streaming” one to help the fuel consumption!

A late lunch and yet again our destination was quite a stretch, so picked an aire at Nonancourt which turned out to be just off our route and very pleasant, and for a change full of Brits! It had been warm and sunny all day – we saw 27 deg once – and we were both tired so for a change we had an early night.

This morning, we were last away again but in fact earlier than we have been for a long time. Back onto the motorway heading for Calais until we approached Rouen where the Pont Madeleine was still closed. However we’re old hands at this now and took the riverside route via Pont de l’Arche, through the outskirts and up onto the motorway to Calais. Again our thinking was just to get some miles under the wheels as we have been this way several times before and the toll doesn't start until Abbeville.

Skirting the town and picking up the D road, it was lunchtime. The signposts were showing Berck, a nice seaside town so we headed for there to have lunch. Entering the town we spotted an Elephant Bleu, which is a chain of car-wash places and as Bertie was still filthy from the Picos Mountains adventure, we though a quick wash was in order.

With a nice clean shiny van again we headed for the aire – and decided to stay. Got some change for the meter from the chip shop (as well as lunch….) and that was that. We’re only an hour from Calais so tomorrow we’ll take a lazy run up, do our bits and pieces and get parked up early for the Chunnel on Friday. It’s nearly over.

Monday 31 March 2014

Despite our need to get on, after a late start and chatting with an English guy living in France, it was nearly mid-day before we left this pretty spot, now in bright sunshine. Must remember it for the future. Caumont-sur-Garonne.

Back onto the fast roads again although being Monday, it was a lot busier and we decided to push on. Bergerac saw us crossing the route we took last year exploring the Dordogne then on towards Limoges, stopping for lunch at an aire in La Coquille whilst looking for water - we hadn't been able to refill the tank at Caumont, a connector on the tap defeating our bag full of adapters. But, like many at this time of year, it hadn't yet been turned on - they'll probably do it tomorrow!

Well behind schedule now, we elected to jump up onto the A20 which is toll-free on this section and follows exactly the same route as our non-motorway plan but without the roundabouts. Our target was Chateauroux which we could have easily made but instead decided we needed a site tonight for showers etc. and the ACSI book told us of one "just off" the A20 that was open - again many do not open until 1 April......

Eguzon was about 10 minutes from the motorway and a very pleasant village. We were made very welcome at a nice site, obviously only just opened as it was practically deserted and we were asked to park on the roadway as the grass was still not properly dried out. All facilities (except the swimming pool - he did offer but thought it might still be a little cool) including WiFi. Cuppa, re-tuned the satellite TV (and got all the UK channels back) then showers before tea.

Sorry, no photos today.

Sunday 30 March 2014

Despite a little nervousness about our isolated position we in fact spent a quiet comfortable night and were awoken by the Sunday cyclists and walkers. However we weren't in any rush and it was 11.30 before we actually got away on the road to the Spanish border. Avoiding the motorway as we usually do, finding the actual border became a bit of a challenge but we spotted a French van who looked like he knew where he was going and followed him.

Result, and we crossed at Irun, noting the crowds of French motorhomes and cars visiting the garages and supermarkets, obviously taking advantage of cheaper prices. And what better to do on a bright Sunday morning?

But time was pressing, with a need to cover some miles and our target of Bergerac was still some way away. Biarritz and Bayonne went by on a somewhat familiar road, until it all very nearly went badly wrong when a young lad dashed out into the road right in front of us, chasing a ball........

Suffice it to say that Terry's reactions were spot on and we managed to avoid him, although the bang suggested that his ball didn't survive! Bet he needed a change of underwear though, we nearly did! So, slightly subdued, we stopped shortly after for lunch.

The difference between Spanish and French roads suddenly became obvious as we headed north on long straight empty roads, in fact it got a tad boring and as the weather was grey and overcast we were beginning to feel a little down - the holiday was coming to an end. It became apparent that we were not going to make Bergerac within our normal time frame and as there did not appear to be many stopping places we started looking at alternatives. The netbook showed us a place on our route so we stopped to investigate but, although it was okay, we felt we could do better. Another aire showed up about 5 minutes away, off route but a canal side setting appealed so we went looking. And we were very glad we did because it was beautiful, peaceful and only half full, worth the effort of actually maneuvering into a spot without driving into the canal....

And as the sun had come out, it cheered us up no end.

Saturday 29 March 2014

Now definitely heading east, despite it being a twisty turny uppy downy road along the coast we decided to stick to the N634 as the motorway becomes toll for part of the way to San Sebastion, or to give it it’s Basque name, Donostia. However the effort was worth it as the Cantabria coast is wonderfully scenic with lots of little coastal villages with sandy beaches.

 We’re into Basque country today as indicated by the signposts all being in dual languages and it’s certainly unusual – you can normally deduce Spanish but Basque is a mystery; we could not even pronounce a lot of it!

The weather started bright and sunny but as we approached Bilbao it went cloudy and got very windy too. Despite our intentions, the road started to get silly so we jumped up on the motorway for a short while until we were clear. Though it’s nice to travel through the towns, it’s just a waste of time – and fuel – battling through the crowded streets.

Lunch in a supermarket car-park then onward to San Sebastion. As we would shortly be crossing into France we decided to top up the fuel tank, hopefully a bit cheaper than in France, and refill the gas bottles and we found a garage in San Sebastion to do both. It was now late afternoon so the aire we used here last year became our target for a night-stop – but unfortunately it was absolutely full, all French, so an alternative was needed. Consulting the book, there was a small 2-place aire in a natural park in the hills behind the town so we headed there.

Our luck was in, although there were quite a few locals enjoying a day in the country, the motorhome spaces were empty so we settled in. Gradually everybody went home and as I write we’re now on our own. There is a hotel about 300 metres away and we’re actually on a road so we feel ok about it. We will, however, take extra security measures tonight!

With no light pollution and a clear sky, there are a lot of stars to be seen.

Friday 28 March 2014

Today is our drive round the Picos de Europa Mountains and, as hoped for, it was a nice bright start although (as you will see) once we got into the mountains it did cloud over somewhat. We can thoroughly recommend this drive, taking the N625 south to Riano then N621 back to the coast at Unquera, although it should be noted that for long sections at the beginning and end of this route the roads travel along river gorges and are both narrow and twisty, often with rock faces on one side and a drop into the river the other. Not for the faint-hearted!

But when we got to the top the views were worth it. 133 photos taken and here are a small selection:

Lunch was taken once we got back to the main road as there were few stopping places accessible due to snow. From there we continued east along the N634, which is the alternate to the motorway, a lot of which is not yet finished, towards Santander. For our overnight stop we chose a Nature Park in the hills just behind Santander which had plenty of room and, to our surprise, more British motorhomes – and only British motorhomes – parked here than we had seen in a month! We realised of course that this was a very convenient spot to wait for a ferry booking on the Santander-Plymouth route, but nevertheless was in a lovely location.

Tranquil Parking

Local population

Thursday 27 March 2014

We watched the tide go out; we watched the tide come in; we watched the tide come in...... (Well you've got to sleep sometime!)

As forecast, no more rain and from a cold start it improved as the day wore on. Moving on along the coast, we stuck pretty well to the N634 which seems to be the main non-motorway route across northern Spain. It generally runs alongside a new motorway but occasionally strikes out into the hills and becomes very picturesque. If you're not in a hurry it's very quiet and recommended.

A quick call into Lidl for milk, bread and water - we're sticking to bottled water for drinks - then a stop for fuel and lunch were the only interruptions to a nice easy and enjoyable run, taking turns to compare the scenery to other places we've been.

A pretty seaside village beach

A valley town

First glimpse of Picos de Europa in the distance

With snow on the tops

As we plan to "do" the Picos de Europa mountains tomorrow we'd picked out an aire at Cangas de Onis which is right at the beginning of a "scenic route" on our map. Just a town centre car-park with four allocated spaces and facilities for water and waste, we joined a huge overland camper truck and in turn another motorhome joined us. Don't think there's room for anyone else........

Wednesday 26 March 2014

So much for peaceful! It seems that the building we were parked next to was a council depot, that started work at 7.30, testing the equipment being used - chainsaws and strimmers. Then shortly afterwards a road crew started resurfacing about 50 metres from us so by 8.00 all hell had broken loose! So we got up and had an early start for a change.

Santiago de Compostela was on our route but as the weather forecast was not helpful we had already decided to give it a miss this time round. Well we've got to save something for the future! So rather than follow a fairly tortuous path around the coast we set the netbook to take us more or less straight to the north Spanish coast, to another attractive looking aire at Foz. A pleasant enough drive though we suffered frequent, sometimes heavy rain showers most of the way. A little bit of non-toll motorway for a change then a standard N road which so happened to run alongside an obviously new motorway not on our maps!

Foz turned out to be a very pleasant sea-side town and the aire a large empty open space overlooking an estuary and out to sea. Although a little earlier than we normally stop, we were both a little tired after the late night and early start, and tomorrows leg should place us very well for the Picos mountains.

View from Foz aire

Tuesday 25 March 2014

A quiet start at this almost deserted camp-site, but we did see a couple in the little touring caravan next to us who left at the same time as us. An OK place we suppose, and relatively cheap, but not for a long stay. Interesting sculptures though no idea what they are about (musicians if you can't make them out).

Our plan today was to continue north and cross into Spain but with no real destination in mind - this is a mistake because at this stage of the trip having no objective leaves us, well, deflated.
So we set out, using Vigo in Spain as a sort of aiming point and again avoiding the motorways. It was a fairly uninspiring trip with more of what we experienced on Sunday; only the roads changed - they got worse! A short stop for essentials found us doing a full larder restock so with full fuel, gas and water and empty waste we were free to do whatever came up.

Roadside cafe - colourful (name).

Stopped for lunch on a forest road that was lined with stonemasons yards, it seemed you could get almost anything carved in stone. Whilst stopped we started planning our next few days; Terry had visited the Picos de Europa mountains some years ago and as the weather forecast indicated much better weather in a couple of days we decided to give it a try. As for tonight the Aires book showed a small place overlooking a sea inlet in the small town of Arcade, with nearby alternatives if it proved to be unsuitable - or full!

So across the border into Spain, still enduring frequent rain showers, and easily found the aire which turned out to be just as delightful as the book promised. One other, British, van already parked up but room for a few more so that was us sorted for the night. And the sun came out.

Back in Spain, we could once again use the mi-fi so the evening was spent catching up. Of course we'd forgotten the time change again so lost an hour as well as being later than usual going to bed.

Dusk...

at Arcade

Monday 24 March 2014

A peaceful night was disturbed just before getting up time by heavy rain, despite it being clear last thing last night. We had managed to get a weather forecast for the week and in fairness it was expected – showers, some of them persistent most days until the weekend. So we just got on with it and with no facilities here, after breakfast we departed. The rain was starting to show signs of clearing so we continued with our plan.

Roundabout Art...

...in the rain

Porto, another ex-capital city, was only an hour north although our Rough Guide did not convince us this was a must-see place. Nevertheless we had planned a route taking us into the city and then east along the north bank of the Rio Douro, which was recommended – well a river cruise actually but the map showed a “scenic route” by road.

As always we tried to avoid using the toll roads, out of principal more than cost, and this gave us a somewhat interesting trip into Porto, culminating in us battling it out in the centre of the old town with trams, taxis and sight-seeing buses! Some inspired guesswork finally got us down onto the riverside, albeit going in the wrong direction, but this was soon sorted via a bus link (oops!) and we found ourselves travelling through the suburbs for what seemed like miles.

Porto

Porto

Bridges over Rio Douro at Porto

But the sun came out and eventually we joined the Rota de Romanica which basically followed the N108 onto a drive that was more like the River Rhine in Germany, with elements of the French Alpes. It was so picturesque – yes lots more photos – and with the spring blossoms just starting to appear it became one of the highlights of our trip. See for yourselves.

Wanna buy a Roman column?

More like The Rhine

Blossom coming out

We stopped at Entre-os-Rios for provisions and fuel then a short while later for lunch. The Douro is said to be one of the longest rivers in Portugal, and in fact rises in Spain so we could have travelled for miles further but as time started to run out we turned off at Mesao Frio and headed north-west towards Amarante where our books told us there was a campsite as well as several aires. Needing servicing we opted for the camp-site which, though hosting lots of semi-permanent caravans, was all but devoid of visitors!