The flag has gone down and they are off.

Nikki finished work on Monday the 22 October with a smile on her face. The next day shopping and then yesterday a trip to see her mum and dump my surfboard off in her garage. No use to me on the med side of Spain. She is more than welcome to use it while we’re away but I doubt she will. Car up into storage. Then this morning we hit the road and headed for Devizes to a campsite by the canal for three days. It’s a site I always wanted to go to because of the canal and about a two mile walk or cycle along the tow path is a flight of sixteen locks which I always wanted to photograph. So that’s our mission tomorrow. There is a pub beside the canal also so we might have to pop in there just to be polite and sample there offerings. On Sunday we move on to another campsite in Hampshire for two nights, right next to a forest. Then it’s only a hours drive from there to liphook to get the leveling jacks serviced and then on to Poole. Will update with pics of the locks etc when the internet’s better.

When I say not long now I mean, it’s not as long as it was back in March untill were off again. We are counting the days down at work and the run of good weather we have had is much appreciated and sets us up for our winter trip. We have had a lot of expense since we have been back but we are not going to let that stop us going. We now have our E bikes to take with us which is going to make it that much more enjoyable for getting out and about. Ferry is booked for the 5th November. Forgot to book a ferry back. LOL will do that some time when we decide we are running out of money. So keep checking in on my blog.

We left the campsite at Le Mans on a cold but dry morning after saying goodbye to owners and wishing them all the best for the future. They have got a lot to do on the campsite but will be very rewarding. I would love to be in their shoes. Have always wanted to own a campsite, I know it’s hard work but talking to peaple that travel is so interesting. Our aim was to get just north of St lo which leaves us about an hour up to the ferry port from there. The sun was out the roads clear, although there was snow forecast but we should be ahead of it. We stopped at a supermarket on route to buy some wine, cheaper than buying it in the Uk, and a couple of other bits to see us through. 55 litres of wine later and a loaf of bread we headed for our last aire beside a river in St Fromond.

The next morning we woke to a dusting of snow but there was no panic as the forecast was for sunny day and snow further up north. It started to snow about 10 am so we decided to head on to cherbourg, at least that way we were at the port. An hour later we arrived at Cherbourg after driving through some really bad snow and the roads were, shall we say quiet bad with snow and the side roads were even worse. We had a long wait, about six hours before we sailed at Cherbourg. Too long really because it gave Nikki too long to think about the forecast rough crossing. Storm Emma was here along with the beast from the east. Onto the ferry and off to find a seat. An hour later Nikki wanted to move as the ship was doing some really weird movements and making some weird noises. We opted to sit in the middle of the ship, thinking that’s where the reception is so must be the best place and the middle of the ship will have less up and down movement. All was going well until a bloody great big roll from side to side and things crashed off the shelves in duty free and pots and pans went everywhere from the kitchen. Nikki’s face was a picture. Later we had a message over the tannoy to say we will be late docking due to bad weather.

We had already arranged with the campsite just outside Poole that we would be late. No problem they said you know where to go. We got off the ferry to very snow covered ground, and slowly but surely drove to the campsite. It’s only about 5 miles away but the roads were really bad. No traffic about, not surprised really, everybody was tucked up in the warm. Not good to be out in a car let alone a five ton 30 ft motorhome. Nikki never said a lot from the dock until the campsite entrance. No one had been on the campsite so it was just like a blanket of snow, so as I drove along through the snow towards our pitch rounding a bend and onto our pitch leaving only tyre marks behind us. Engine off plugged into the electric and off to bed. The next morning and looking out the window was so weird. It had snowed, then rained, and then froze so it looked like a ice rink out there.

We were not going anywhere soon. The plan was to stay here for a couple of days and then move on. Today is Sunday and all the snow has gone, so in a couple of days we will travel back to Devon ready to start work and save up for next winters trip. But before that we need to get our E bikes to make the fun in the sun more enjoyable and a new sat nav so we can find places easier. And of course drink all the wine.

We finally left Benicarlo, after thinking, we really must get moving as we still have a long way to go and the weather is not looking too good. Our next stop was a aire which we stayed on when we were travelling south. Oh how I wish we were now. I hate going north, the thought of going to work, the cold windy days. Even worse at the moment with the so called beast from the east attacking the Europe and the UK. The guy who runs the aire greeted us with his usual smile and remembered us from the last time we were there in November. We only stayed a night and were up and away the next morning just after 9am heading into France where we would spend another night on a aire. The forecast was to be really cold with frost etc. After a five hour drive we arrived at the aire parked up and settled in for the night. Next morning although it was cold there was no frost but it was cold. After spending over three months in Spanish sun, it was cold. I even packed my flip flops away. Life’s tuff sometimes. On the road again to St Germain les belles, again a campsite we stayed at last year on the way home. Run by a Dutch couple who speak very good English with a have a great sense of humour. We spent three night there, the days were so sunny but a cold wind and the nights down to -5 but we were as snug as a bug in a rug in our camper. From there another five hour drive to just outside Le Mans, home to the famous 24 hour race. We are using Nikki’s phone as the sat nav as well as a good old fashion map after our sat nav has decided to leave us. Surprisingly it’s doing us good with only a couple of small blips. We opted to try and find campsites to stay on so we electric for the heating etc, makes life easier. The campsite we are on now is run by a English couple, they only bought it two years ago after it had been closed for nine years. So they have a lot of work to do but they are getting there. It’s a bit rustic but full off wildlife and birds. We have seen two red squirrels. Tomorrow we move on a bit further north. Picture is the mill house just outside the campsite.

We left camping imperium in Villajoyosa on Saturday the 17th of February after being there for three months. After saying our goodbyes to everyone which took about an hour. The week leading up to our departure we slowly packed things up while it was dry in between doing other stuff. We have so many nice friends here. The camper fired up and we drove down the campsite to waves of goodbyes from all directions. Not sure if they were going to miss us or just glad we were going. While Nikki was packing up she pops her head out the door and says one of the catches on a draw has broke so won’t stay shut, not good for travelling, no worries I will sort it in a minute! Five minutes later the kitchen tap is broke again. No worries I will sort it when we get to the next place! The tap has been a ongoing problem. It’s got a micro switch in and is a bad design. It has two very thin wires that rub and break, so I have to dismantle the whole thing and put insulating tape round the joins. It then works again for maybe a month, maybe two three months. I have another switch and will replace the whole thing one day! Another five minutes later after the draw, the tap, a little voice announces the sat nav is not firing up. Ok that bloody thing can go in the bin! The sat nav is built into the dash and is a radio, CD player, DVD player and is supposed to be a sat nav. To be fair it has been very good, but last year it had a couple of blips and on the trip down this year it had more than a couple of blips. It’s old now and needs updating. So the radio, cd, dvd works but no sat nav. Another thing to buy when we get home, well after we have started work. It’s going to cost but it doesn’t matter. We do so many miles in Europe we have to have a good one. I know none of them are fool proof but I want the best I can get. When you travel through some of the French, spanish and Portugal villages you know whatI mean.

So our plan was to leave imperium and drive up the coast to Benicarlo, about three hours away. So were out on the road with out sat nav, but we do have Nikki’s phone with maps on and of course a map, remember them, it’s like a book with all pages of roads etc, what a good idea. It’s strange how you get used to sat nav. I like to have it on even if I know where I am going just so I can watch my speed and for the warnings of speed cameras etc. It’s also better to have it because of getting right to the spot you want to get to. A map can get you to the area but not to the exact place you want to be.

Our rough plan was to get to Benicarlo, stay for a couple of nights then move on up the coast about three hours drive for another couple of nights, then another drive to a aire which would take us into France and then to a campsite for three days to chill for maybe three days leaving us three days to get to the ferry. Plan B is ongoing. We got to Benicarlo, the sun was out, the sea was sparkling, the beer and wine were cold. So we extended our stay by another two days. The thought of getting across them mountains between Spain and France into the cold was putting us off. I know we have to do it but what’s a couple of days. So we are here for another day and move on tomorrow. May be, all depends on my co pilot with her map reading skills.?

We are now into our last month. We leave this site in Villajoyosa in ten days time and start heading north. Are we looking forward to that. Yes and no, I will be glad to get behind the steering wheel and out on the road. But I would prefer to be driving south instead of north. But needs must, the bank balance is going down faster than my bike tyre so we need to return to work to start saving to get on the ferry in November. We must admit the time here staying on one campsite has gone quick and we have been out and about, but next year with the E bikes will be a whole lot better to get out more. It’s also cheaper to stay in one place because of the discount you get on your pitch for long stay, and with the euro to pound rate not very good it makes sense.

We are having a cold spell at the moment, not as bad as back in the UK but we have been spoiled with so much sunshine this winter. We woke the other morning to snow on the mountains, they are in the distance and very high so no worries. Looks nice from here but we don’t want it on the roads.

We have even had some rain in the night for the last three nights, but the days have been dry but colder. As from Saturday the temperature starts to rise again reaching 18/19 degrees again so that’s nice for our last week here. It will be colder though as we head North, and France and further north in Spain has had a lot of snow.

Our friends Rob and Jean came over from Benidorm last week for the day to see how the other half live. They are enjoying Benidorm but did like it where we are. We all had a good day including a beer stop here and there with some food thrown in. It’s what we’re good at.

I have mentioned the bird life out the front of the camper in the and around the olive trees. The hoopoe is a regular visitor now and the other day there was two of them chasing around and doing a flying display, it’s coming up to mating season so the male was strutting his stuff. Also there has been a new bird on the block. It’s a Iberian shrike, I have never seen one before but I knew about the shrike family. They are called butcher birds. They are often seen perched about ten to fifteen feet off the ground looking out for prey. The one here sits regularly on the same tree. A bit to far away to get a decent picture. They eat small birds and grasshoppers, bugs and even snakes. Once they see there prey they fly down attack it then they impale it on a barbed wire fence or thorny Bush an come back to it later. Hence the name of butcher birds.

So that’s us up to date. The next time I post we will be on our way home stopping here and there up through Spain and France, the tans will be fading and we will be getting nearer and nearer to our work place. Can’t wait…….Not

We wanted to go to Alicante last winter when we were here, but we only had a month here last winter so never got round to going. Before we left the UK I made a list of things we wanted to do this winter while we were here for three months this time. One of those things was to go to Alicante on the tram and go up the castle. It’s taken us nine weeks but we have done it. We caught the tram at the station we normally go from if we are going to Benidorm but this time we were on the other track going the other way, south instead of north. And this time the tram arrived and on time. It takes about an hour to get to Alicante stopping at various places. The mostly single track winds it’s way along the coast so you can always see the sea and the loverly houses which have a view to die for.

Alicante is the second largest València city. It’s a city port. The castle which we wanted to visit castell De La Barbara is situated on mount Benacantil overlooking the city and the port. The tower La Toreta is 166 metres above sea level. When we got off the tram we had to find the way into the castle. The Spanish are not very good with there sign posts. I had looked on google earth and could see various paths but none of them actually led to the right place, they just seemed to fizzle out in the middle of nowhere. We found the road that leads up to the top but did not want to take that. I knew there was a elevator around the other side so we walked around and found that. Can you believe it, hundreds of years ago they built a castle to protect there city and even put a elevator in so you get up to the castle from sea level. At the top is the oldest part of the castle. Some of the lowest zones and walls were constructed later in the 18th century. On the slopes of the mound/ castle they have found archaeological remains of the Bronze Age, Iberian and Roman. But the origin of the fortress is in the late ninth centuary with the Muslim rule. The views from up the top are fantastic and when you stand up there looking down and imagine them bringing all the stone up there to build it etc. And not in the elevator. And then standing there with there guns and the canons ready to fire at anyone who dares to come up there. We had lunch in the cafe up the castle, overlooking the sea before going onto our next stop.

Another thing we wanted to see was the promenade down by the marina. The marina does have some very nice boats, starting at one end with the smaller ones and as you go further along they get bigger and bigger and the price tag rises also. The promenade is lines with palm trees and the marble floor is made up of 6.5 million marble floor tiles. Took me ages to count them for my research. When you look at it it looks like it’s in 3D almost, very impressive.

The last place we wanted to see was a wacky street we had been told about. It’s just a street with some weird and wonderful shops in but all along the street are these big mushrooms with bugs on top. Not your average street.

Been a busy few days going here and there. Our friends Rob and Jean who we know from Devon. They stay on the site where we work in there caravan. They have been renting a apartment in Benidorm from a friend this winter. So we arranged to go and see them. We went to catch the 11.40 tram they were going to meet us at the station in Benidorm. We sat there on the station, no tram arrived, well not on our side of the track anyway. Where we catch the tram from is just a small station. An announcement came over the tannoy in Spanish so we never understood that. We could not see any leaves on the track and it had not been snowing. The next tram was due at 12.10 and that one arrived. Talking to some peaple later it turns out the tram had hit a car on the road crossing further down the track. Some of the crossings have barriers some have lights. The one we cross going down to the shops has lights and we have seen trams slow down there because cars are still going, and we have seen more than one car jump the lights and motorbikes.

We got to Benidorm and met Rob and jean and headed for the seafront for a rest, a nice little bar/ cafe overlooking the sea. And a good chat and catch up. Next a wander through the streets of Benidorm towards Tapas square which is a area, well a square actually full of bars and restaurants, every one knows it. We have heard of it but never been. The food and drink deals are crazy. €5 for five tapas and a beer. We sat there having lunch watching the world go by and did more catching up. It was all a bit much for me to be honest, to many peaple and to noisy. But we survived. Next stop was to walk to there apartment which was about twenty minutes away through more streets and bars packed with peaple and trying to dodge the mobility scooters.

Their apartment is on floor eight so has a wonderful view of the surroundings. Which is more apartments and a sea glimpse between them and the mountains in the distance. It has a nice little balcony which catches the sun which is where we sat and had a drink and more catching up. By about 5.30 we were all getting hungry again and they suggested a Chinese just down the road. They had been there before once or twice and said it was very nice, so we strolled off to the Chinese restaurant. They recommended the €5 three course menu, so you get a starter, a main meal and a sweet and a beer or half a bottle of wine for €5 that’s about £4.50 I must admit I was thinking I am going to be hungry when we leave here, but no, the food was fantastic and the portions very generous, enough to fill me up even.

By now it was dark and Benidorm looks totally different at night, the music volume goes up a notch, the bars are even fuller than they were in the day, the karaoke is on, the grannies are all out dressed up like teenagers reliving there youth. The apartment blocks and skyscraper hotels are all lite up in different colours etc.

We walked up through the park called Parque de L’Lguera which is a loverly green area. It’s marble floor and palm tree walkway with lights and fountains each side. There is a huge big auditorium in the middle where they have concerts. They were working in that bit so we could not go through there. At the top is a bullring.

Some other friends on the site we are on now, Tony and Lynne the ones we went to the restaurant with the ribs I told you about asked us if we would like to go out with them again about an hours drive away up the coast to Moraira a nice unspoilt small town by the sea, stopping on the way at a very good fish and chip restaurant. A day out, by the sea, food, beer, great company. Never took us long to make our minds up. The fish and chips was so nice, almost like they had sprayed the batter on and the fish just crumbled in your mouth. Are you getting hungry now. Moraira is a loverly little town and has a loverly marina at one end. We strolled around the boats. Tony used to have a nice boat so he was telling me all about them. We had a loverly ice cream sat overlooking the marina to finish the day off.

Our next trip out is to Alicante on the tram, something we wanted to do last time we were here but never seemed to find the time. We have only been here for nine weeks now so should really do it. And I must tell you Nikki got very upset the other day when we went shopping. Her favourite red wine she drinks that cost 99 cents had gone up to €1.20 A twenty percent increase. Life will never be the same. I had to take her home and sit her down and give her a drink……….of here favourite red wine.

Well I can’t believe we have been on this site now for two months. The time just flys away. I am sure the time in Spain runs different to back in the Uk. When I am at work it never goes this quick. Nikki’s foot is a lot better but still not right. She can walk down to the beach and back as long as she takes her time and has a coffee stop. The E bike that we have ear marked for her when we get back has good reviews etc and luckily we saw one on site so we’re able to have a good look at it and ask the owner all about it and what she thought of it. She highly recommended it, so that’s The one we will get for her when we get back. My bike will be serviced as it’s not working right at all. I also have an E bike earmarked for me but that can wait.

We have lots of friends on site here and one couple Tony and Lynne were telling us about different places in the area etc. They have been doing this for years. They said about a restaurant up by the dam which I have passed on my bike.They told us about the sticky ribs etc. They offered to take us up there one lunch time, so a time and day were set straight away as I was licking my lips and dribbling at the thought of these ribs. The guy that works in there was a real carecter and made us laugh so much. Nikki ordered scampi and I ordered a salad. The salad was to go with her scampi. LOL I ordered the sticky ribs and a beer and some wet wipes. Well what can I say apart from those ribs were some of the best I have ever had the fortune of eating. Did I eat them with my fingers, did I get the sauce all over my hands, did I get the sauce in my beard. Yes. I even let Nikki try one. She caught me on a good day. She enjoyed her scampi also.

Yesterday we went for a walk down to the sea, then said our goodbyes as I wanted to go for a coastal walk which would be to far for Nikki. She was ok to walk back. I had looked on google maps at the coast line and could see a couple of ruins so wanted to check them out. I love old buildings wether they are still intact or they have been left to just fall away. If I can get inside it’s even more exciting. The coast here is beautiful and as I climbed up and down the many paths on the barren land I could see my goal. This old house was on the way. Not much of it left now.

Villa Giacomina was built around 1910 so not very old really. Built by Dr Alfonso Esquerdo I suspect in between seeing his patients. He married Giacomina Bellami and they lived in the house untill 1922 when Alfonso died. Properly coud’ent find a doctor because they were all building houses. It’s historicist architecture I states Medevil, Arabic and gothic style. At the end of the civil war Dr Bastos who was the head of traumatology at the Swedish hospital of Alcohol lived there. After the war it was occupied by the Italian Littorio division. Currently the city council develops a research and recovery programme of the building. But it looks more like the graffiti artists and vandals are doing more work on it. Real shame.

The second building I wanted to see was a small tower not far from the house. Standing on the highest point of the land overlooking the sea from both directions. This was built by the famous psychiatrist and head of the Republican Party Jose Maria Esquerdo who was Alfonso’s uncle. It was built as a private study. No computers or lap tops here but what a great location to sit and work from. Again the graffiti artists and vandals have moved in.

Happy new year to all.

Seems like it’s been ages since we caught up. It’s that time of year with Xmas and new year where for everyone the thing to do is run around the shops buying presents that no one really wants and buy enough shopping for three months because the shops are closed for two whole days. Then the big day arrives you put on your best Xmas jumper and wait for the relatives to arrive then open your present from them to reveal yet another pair of socks and put on that false smile as you say thank you,they are just what I wanted. Lucky for us Xmas is just another day. We sat outside and had a big breakfast. Bah humbug.

I have been out on my bike, and on only the second time out managed my target to get around the whole of the dam and back. It’s just over ten miles round trip with some real serious climbs. I must admit I did walk up one of those but only because I can’t get all my gears on my bike. Which has 24 gears and I can get 16 of them, and the eight I can’t get are the ones I need to keep peddling up the hills. I am still pleased I bought it though and we are going to get Nikki a E bike for next year. My E bike will have to wait a bit longer so I hope she waits for me on the hills.

A few days ago now we went out for a walk, our aim to go down the seafront have a drink, non alcoholic and walk back. We went a different way to normal and Nikki took a tumble. We were walking down hill on uneven ground and she stumbled, tried to grab hold of me and fell. Don’t panic, she is ok. A bit shook up she limped to the cafe and we had our drink. Then when we started to walk back she realised she was not going to make it as her foot had swelled up and was very painful. So we got a taxi back. Another five pounds out of her pocket money. It’s loads better now but still not 100%.

Our friends Stu and Nettie from Somerset arrived for two weeks. It’s always nice to see them. They have a car and were going to Carafour to get some shopping and would we like to go with them. We needed a couple of things so off we went. Carafour is a huge big supermarket that sells everything, a bit like Halfords, B & Q, and marks and spencer all rolled into one. As you may no I love shopping….. NOT. So as we roam around I doodle past the huge tv’s watching the surfing and extreme sports, I even got to look round the bike section for ten minutes before Nikki found the pillow section. We need new pillows she says and starts to show me various pillows, some hard some soft, some feather some not feather. These are the ones I want, memory foam, they are on offer look 70% off. My eyes are by now starting to glaze over and I am thinking I really need one of those pillows to put my head on and drift off. When I wake up I will be in a bar on the beach. In the trolly they go and off we go to pay. The lady on the till rings everything through and Nikki asks if the bill is right as it seems a bit high, the till lady says it’s ok, Nikki asks about the pillows. Till lady explains that you buy one and the next one is 70% off. Nikki turns to me and asks me what shall we do. In my mind I think if we don’t buy them I am going to have to go through all this again. That will be so painful. So I smile and say just buy them, it’s what you wanted. They took a couple of nights to get used to but they are nice so we will be keeping them. And hopefully they will last a long time.

A bit of excitement on site the other night where two German family’s were playing loud music late at night and then letting of fireworks. The night security were straight on to them and then some dutch peaple joined in. So you had germans, spainish and Dutch all shouting at each other, none of them understanding each other. The end result was the Germans were kicked off site the next day. There has been a bad bug going round and putting peaple in bed for a few days, hope they got nice pillows. And one of the ladies even got taken to hospital and had to stay in overnight after she collapsed in the shower on site. She is back now and on the mend. It all happens here you know.

Now I know you all want to know about the weather. Well we are now into our 54th day without any rain. There has only been one day when it just spotted with rain on and off for a couple of minutes, not even enough to keep the dust down. Yesterday we had lunch by the pool with our friends as they are leaving today. It was about 26 degrees so we sat under the umberellas so the beer stayed cool a bit longer. I know back in the Uk you are having some really nasty weather. Hope you are all safe.