The end

When we started out our intention was to pull the van with the 4x4. This didn't happen as you may recall. We left it at the garage to be fixed. Now after 2 months we called the garage who said it was now all fixed and in as good condition as when it was new. The only problem (why must there always be a problem) was that they did not have the paperwork for the tow-hitch to get it through the ITV (MOT) . I protested all thepaperwork was in the old Pajero (now on the road and owned by their mechanic?) Why couldn't they fix it for me? Anyway Nicky wanted to go shopping and left me at the camp with Sophie. Time passed, for some reason Nicky was reluctant to go back to the Villa until Marie-Luz had finished cleaning!

Sophie came with me in the Pajero+van, Nicky follwed in the car. As we turned into the track I asked Sophie where she was, suddenly the nose went up the open window was explored and she got excited for real!

It took seconds for her to establish her place at the front door and to start monitoring what was going on. No more puffing and panting. She toured the garden and then decided it was time to establish her second favourite position ---















Standing in the pool ready for a game!








Someone's glad to be home !!

El Barro to Tore del Mar Sunday 13th

Last stretch. The site was quite cramped as you can see. We have a long journey ahead 280 miles. We didn't get away 'til 11am. No shop on site so no bread, but we had the part baked, bought in Italy so that came in handy. We had an uneventful journey, other than ------------






------the seriously black clouds that we met coming into Granada. It seemed to promise rain, but held off. I stopped and put the skylight cover on just in case. --------

On the way into Granada near Guadix the sandstone is quite soft and there are many caves dug into the hills . Some have chimneys coming out through the rock Difficult to photograph from a moving car, but if you go that way look out for them. ---

Through Granada onto the last leg to Malaga and Torre the sky blackened moe and the rain started. A real downpour lots of thumder and lightening. A break and then SLEET! in September in Southern Spain? Then more lightening! As we neared the coast and Malaga it cleared and in Torre the sun shone to greet us back home.

We got to camp at 5pm, surprisingly early. Walked the promenade and met up with Chris. Both Nicky's and his phone were playing up. Carol is back in the UK because her Mum is not well.

All over then!

Campello to El Barro

Having failed to do any sight seeeing yesterday we decided to have a short day today and have a look round Murcia - the town not the province. The guide book gives it a good write up. The camp at Campello is very clean and tidy and since we had time we spent some time clearing up the van and I did 30mins on the Blog. We got away just before mid-day. Murcia was only an hours drive and would make tomorrows journey rather long so we chose to drive on on a bit to find a camp near Alahama de Murcia. There are two in the book, one a few kms away, but sounded nice. Alhama de Murcia is in a huge vale edged by hills. I suppose it is only fitting that our last day before Torre should be as distinguished as some of the others, anyway we phoned forward to the site to confirm they had a space. They did so we turned of the A7 motorway and heded through Alahama and found the road to Mula through the National Park. All was going well, but the road started to narrow and then started climbing and climbing. After 5kms the signs to the camp site stopped. I was sure we had missed it. There was no where to turn round and no roads off to left or right. It just got steeper and steeper. I rang the site and was told I was still on the right road, there is a turning at Km 12 and they were 5kms from there. I was now in first gear and negotiating some quie steep hairpin bends. The views are stunning (see photo above). We found the site in the woods at the top 3,000 feet from the valley floor!!
It is a very nice site family and dog friendly it seems. Lunched on Tapas from the bar. 3tapas+2 wines+ 1 beer 6euro 60 the lot. Glad to be back in Spain!!



We decided not to go back to Murcia, but to have a look at Lorca. I had seen a poster somewhere with a large castle and the name Lorca. Set Trixi for the town centre. It is horrible. Modern highrise block and looks very industrial. I know it's Saturday, but the place was deserted. Nicky insisted that we find the Tourist Office. Wellwe did and found the old town and the castle. We got to the castle at 4.45 to find it would close at 5pm, so a tour round was impossible.

Anyway the views are amasing and relly 360 deg.

Heavy cloud came over aand I think we could see rain in the distance. It was all rather sudden, but we raced back to the van in case I had left the roof open.

It is a lovely area and the site is an ideal place for walking. I think we will return at some point. Perhaps not with the van, but take one of the chalets on site.

Tarragona to Pucol???

The alarm went off at 7.30am. I had decided we were to have a short journey today as we had some time to spare and park up early before 2pm and then do one of the recommended Repsol Tours gleaned from the 20euro Spanish Repsol Guide we bought some months ago. (Repsol is to Spain as Shell BP to UK). We were packed up by 9.30, paid and on the way by 10.00 to Valencia. Fantastic. We gad a really good run, lorries were banned from the motorway from 9am til 2pm for some reason. We got to the turning to the site at 1.15pm so expected to be sorted well before 2.00. The directions said leave the motorway dir Pucol and then take Dir Pya Pucol. Couldn't see a sign Pya Pucol. There was one to El Puis. We drove there I don't know why, but found no campsite signs. I stopped in a layby and an Englishman, obviously now local pulled up beside us and asked if he could help. Wow! could he. We followed him to a local garage who explained to him the camp site we were looking for and he got directions. We followed him the 10km back to Pucol Playa doesn't it just make you sick. We thanked him and he said he thought we might be trying to find Valencia and he wanted to make sure we didn't go through the city, but use the motorway to by-pass it. I said I had already had the experience of pulling the monster through Barcelona! He said Barcelona is easy it has 5 lanes!! We parted on a grateful note.

There are two camp sites here one looks nice 4 star office open, but doesn't take dogs. The other 2 star office closed from 2-5pm. It is now 2.15 after our diversion. They take dogs. We looked round the outside. The pool had been emptied the chalets looked deserted, the whole place was scary to be honest. We decided we should adopt plan 2 and abandon our research into the origins of Tiger Milk. ( Check the Web)

We headed back to the motorway and headed south. There are two motorways. One takes you through the centre of Valencia and the other slightly further out takes you round Valencia. You don't need me to tell you which one we found first do you??

It is Friday afternoon and the siesta has not quite finished, the delivery vans seem to have finished so we are really quite lucky that our visit to the centre of Valencia is not as crowded or frenetic as it could have been . For once Trixy did her job well and it was really not as scary as we expected. Well there were a few ooh! Aah!'s from Nicky when her eyes were open and even Sophie stopped breathing heavily at times.

We ended up in a camp at Campello between Benidorm and Alicante. It is a nice camp, but the 60 sq m site is a bit small. The weather is now certainly cooler and two blankets are required. We went to the bar, with Sophie and lo! and behold another English family were there! The teen-age girl took a fancy to Sophie and Sophie took a fancy to the swimming pool and the lads jumping in. All unrequited I have to say. The young lady warned us against the steak on the menu, but being hungry and a bit arrogant we tried it. She was right it was not that good. I had a good reception on Yoigo at last ( this is a pay as you go internet connection in Spain) ( pretty useless until today) .

We're right on the rail line between us and the beach again , but here the wheels must be rubber because they are so quiet.

Carcassone to Tarragona 10th Sept

It had been a cold night and the 2 blankets were used. Woke before the alarm again!! Jill and Dave came round they were all ready to go off to the coast and them to a pop concert on Saturday night. We were away by 11 am. I had planned a 240mile journey, because on the motorways we had cruised at 60 mph yesterday I thought we could make Tarragona or very near. We had a firight because we ran short of petrol in Spain. The Spanish motorways don't provide services nearly as often as we get in France or the UK , still it was pleasant to find I was paying 1.07e rather than the 1.40e in France, per litre. We arrived at a petrol station and put 50.7 litres into the tank, which is a bit frightening if you know we only have a 49 litre tank!!

We found a nice site with direct access to the beach although access was under a tunnel. Nicky took Sophie for a sniff of the sea. The beach is 7 km long. The weather mild at 26deg, but I quite like the cool.

We went to find the 'old town' as mentioned camp site info and map, we found the streets , but there was no life, no cafes, no bars, nothing. I said best to drive round and get lost something would turn up. It did: the entrance to the camp site!! So we went to the camp bar. It is now 11.30 and the Spanish families are just in the middle or finishing their evening meal. Lots of moise and kids and so on -- Life!!. I ordered a glass of wine got 175ml glass 80cents!! Why did we leave Spain?? Tha would be 3 euros in France or Italy!! No I'm not a wannabe alcoholic, I just don't like paying the same price for a glass in a bar as I would pay for a whole bottle in the shop next door.

Carcassone Wed 9th

Nicky was a lot better this morning. I aranged for us to move to a site with electric, and by 10am we were all set up with the fridges running. The I did a quick up with the awning, much to Nicky's distress, because she felt we would not have time to look round the Citadel before Jill and Dave arrived at 12. I tried to convince her they would find us, we all had phones, but Nicky gets stressed sometimes. We walked into the city, the camp guide suggested 15 mins. but it took 25. We climbed a narrow track up the embankment and found an entrance. It's a fantastic place. It still has all its medieval feel, aprt from the shops selling childrens armour and swords and shields and bows and arrows, but even that is part of the character.

And of course hundreds of people. I found my camera battery flat, so no pictures. Why is there always something to try and spoil the day? Nickys camera was playing up, but we managed to get it going. After an hour walking round took a break in a square full of restaurants and cafes.

The architecture and buildings don't seem to have changed for hundreds of years although the guide books suggest some serious renovation has bee ongoing over the centuries

Nicky went into the Basilique of St Nazarre and was in there for ages. I looked after Sophie outside. (in France dogs are not allowed into churches , museums or onto beaches -- they can sit at table in a restaurant though!!-- strange how cultures vary)
This is a huge church high vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows. Looking up one wonders at the skill of the stone masons and indeed all the workers on such a building.

Nicky came out of the Church enraptured by four Russian men who were singing inside . I left her with the dog and went in. After a little while they performed again. I have to say it was absolutely stunning. The whole place stopped and listened. Beautiful accurate four part harmony and such matching strength in their voices. Enthralling!!

A quick walk round the rest of the city and back to camp for lunch and wait for the call from Jill and Dave.

Well here I am glass in hand. Jill walked round the hedge. No phone call, some problem I gather. They had lunched in the city in the same square where we had a drink, but they were 30 mins later! WE chatted had a drink to celebrate meeting up again, and then planned the rest of the day. This could have taken the rest of the day, but we needed a Supermarket to provision for the journey home, so the girl in reception told me the best way to the nearest and off we went, while Jill and Dave finished pitching their tent and settling in.

Old age must be having its joke. I followed the lasses instructions, but got lost. We found the ring road and all the roundabouts with the signposts all going to the same places ( or so it seemed.) Anyway afet 30 mins I found an Intermarche and pulled into the carpark. Nicky was anxoious to get some particular French salad dressings, before we got back to Spain. They didn't stock them!! Setting off for the camp I realized I hadn't a clue where we were. Trixy (Satnv) to the rescue. AS we came to a large roundabout I spotted a Geant Casino with cheap petrol 1.25e rather than 1.40e on the motorway!! I turned off and went round the roundabout 3 times before I found the correct entrance. I sent a frustrated Nicky into store to find the elusive dressing and went to fill up. I picked the pump that would only accept credit card payment. I had driven up to them before and confused driven away. Today I needed fuel so I learned a new proceedure.

Nicky came out of the store with arms full of treasured bottles so our only problem now was to find the caravan.

Back at camp we were just in time to catch Jill and Dave off to the pool for a swim. A challenge, so Sophie was locked in the car and off we all went to the pool. Dave met some guys from Scotland and we all relaxed. They had eaten a main meal at lunch time and we hadn't. So Nicky made a lovely pasta meal and then we all drove into Carcassone for a drink.

We walked round for a while, the crowds had now gone and then Dave found a bar inside the walls -just- with a huge chestnut tree growing through the middle.

Nicky drove back to camp. It felt cold so I put two blankets on the bed.

Cavalaire to Carcassone Tue 8th Sept

For once Nicky didn't set her alarm. I suppose because I had been awake before it for most of the holiday. Anyway Sophie woke me at 8pm. A cup of tea, fetch the bread, break camp and ready to leave by 10.30. We really are getting it to a fine art. As you can see even Sophie joined in holding down the awning while we straightened it ready for folding. I went up tp the office to pay and as I came out the site guy got in his jeep so I called and asked if he would pull us up. It is part of their service as some of the slopes are 1 in 4 and quite narrow. His jeep is an original American US army built in 1950!! Fantastic and still working! It chugged up through the site with a 1400kg caravan in low gear 4 wheel drive with no problem . A really exciting moment to sit in a Jeep only seen these days in old American war films. ( I didn't have the cigar hanging out of my mouth and a machine gun in my hand-- but I imagined it!!)

I planned we should go to Carcassone. We had a bit of a misunderstanding on the way up a few weeks a go as you may remember and I wanted to make it up to Nicky and I genuinely wanted to visit the medieval city again. I knew it was a long way with the van - over 400kms- and the start was not encouraging. It took an hour to do the first 18 miles to Hyeres. Then I set off to Drauguinan to join the motorway there. It was sort of going back, but I wanted to miss going through the centre of Toulon. Trixy ( Satnav) wanted me to go to Toulon and then Nicky reminded me that the East/West route was a 2 mile tunnel UNDER Toulon. I turned round and headed for Toulon. The rest of the journey was good. Sophie has decided to give up huffing and puffing and driving us mad and has found it much more comfortable for her too! We followed the signs to the site, but of course I managed to drive straight past it. Fortunately I turned off before we got to the citadel and after a couple of manoevers got back to the camp. Yes they did have space for us, but no electricity! Damn! We need that for the fridges, yes we have two. One for the food and stuff and one for the odd bottle of wine and non-alcohol beers that Nicky now drinks. Not a problem the van fridge is trhee way and can be opperated by 240 volt, gas of 12volt. I had used the gas some weeks ago to see if it was more effective that the electric. It wasn't, so having paid 4 euros for an electric supply I had always used that. THe gas would not light!! Quelle Surprise!! When you need it it doesn't work. I tried to light it by hand, but simply could not get a flame into the tight space.

Jill phoned to say she and Dave will join us tomorrow about lunch time. Nicky complained about the same tummy cramps I had last week and she fell asleep. That's good, but I had to find my own way round the kitchen. Good job Nicky was asleep and we had no web cam. Below our view of Carcassone from the camp site

Monday 7th Beach at La Fossett

We took Sophie to the dog groomer and headed for the beach at La Fossett. A small quiet cove with sandy beach that shelved more steeply than L'estagnol so seemed colder, but once we were in we swam for ages.

There was a super bar on the beach, with restaurant that we did not try, but looked good.

Nicky put on the mask, but not the flippers and spent a long time chasing fish. I guess she's now an expert. I slopped off after lunch to sort out and brush out the inside of the car ready for our trip home tomorrow. It took an hour!!

The beach is divided from the road and an old railway tack, from the village. As are all the villages along this part of the coast. The rail track as you see here is now a cycle track The building there so obviously an ex-station and now a residence.

We went to the camp bar for a drink with our new soft perfumed Sophie, who pulled Nicky out of the grooming parlour at great speed!! The temperature has dropped to 20 c so I have put out 2 blankets tonight. The Loo and drains in the caravan are getting rather smelly. I have cleaned them and done all suggested. We ran out of deodoriser for the flush, but found fresh supplies at the ships chandlers.

I feel rather prickley, like having too much sun. We both showered and used after sun.

This evening we went out to Cavalaire for our last night, wandered round the restaurants again, but ended up at the blue Anchor again.

Sunday 6th Sept Cavalaire

We both mentioned to day; going home! Nicky is suffering some back ache possibly from
the bed, possibly from the passenger seat, probably both. She is misssing her Wii and sure she has put on weight!! After 4,500 kms on the road I am ready for a rest. So I had cereal and eggs for breakfast instead of yoghurt and fruit and croissant. Well it felt like a Sunday at home! Nicky had not been to a French market since we got back to France and she was having withdrawl feelings. A quick check of our guides from the Tourist Info Centres ( now mounting up) suggested there is a Sunday market at La Crois Valmer, about 5 miles away. It was large and busy. I dropped Nicky off and found a parking place in the full sun, so Sophie has to come with me. We walked for an hour round this complicated market arrangement, the site was shaped like a wedge of Brie and we entered at the thick end. There were three rows of stalls all merging at the top, so trying to find someone was not easy. Fortunately Nicky had her phone and we were nearly in the same place.

We drove over the top road to Bormes Les Mimosas. I have to say, now, that this has been one of our favourite places over the years. Set above Lavandou with fabulous views it is a very old village and so typical of the hill villages of the area, but with style. They have improved the parking arrangements, but oh! dear it has somehow lost some shops and some of the personality we so loved. We had a drink in one of the bars and reminised, may be it was quiet because it was Sunday?? Who knows? France has suffered from the global credit crunch and many shops have closed and there is not as much excitement and vigour as I remember from previous visits. Food and drinks particularly have increased enormously in price. A Vodka and tonic is now 7 euros and a coffee 2 euros. More twice the amount we pay in Spain.

Disappointed we rushed back to the campsite to have a drink in the sun by the pool. Guess what the sun has gone from the pool area. But the Vodka and tonic is still 7 euros!! The site has an internet room with 1 hour coupons for 4 euros!! Still I tried to catch up the blog and Nicky phoned a few people on Skype as did I. We e-mailed Jill to say we intended to stop at Carcassonne on the way back and invited them to join us. A bit cheeky, but they said the site was so good and it's only a half day drive from them.

Walk round Le Lavandou Saturday 5th Sept

The road from Cavalaire to Lavandou hugs the coast and at times shows how dramatic the coastline can be. High in places and low in others with coves and strands alternating along its length. It is very popular now, as is evidenced by the hundreds of cars parked along the road for miles and miles

The port at Bormes les Mimosas


We drove to the Port at Bormes les Mimosas, just past La Faviere, which links to Le Lavandou. We walked back along the beach path towards Lavandou. Sophie sadly was not impressed as she was only a few metres from the sea and was not allowed in. We stopped for lunch of Moules Frites in the sunshine on the edge of the beach.




Since we had booked Sophie into the dog carer for Monday we decided to check out a couple of other beaches on the way back. La Fosset and Aiguabelle. Both nice coves. Back to camp for a shower and change and then back to Lavandou for our promised 'honeymoon' dinner.

Well we walked round and round looking for a suitable restaurant. I recalled Chez Zete, but it was inside. Most of the restaurants were full. Nicky decided she wanted Dorade (a local fish) so we looked for a suitable place. A restaurant with tables free were offering Dorade at 20 euros? half as much again as the others. We went round again, Nicky suggesting I wanted to go to Chez Zete, which was inside and didn't offer Dorade. After the third tour I was getting cross; I admit it; and Nicky was getting cross. Divorce not celebration seemed the likely outcome.


However Sense prevailed and we chose a nice restaurant in a back street offering Dorade and with a couple of free tables outside. I went to a free table and wait for the waitress. A fellow walked past me into the restaurant and then he came out with the waitress. I asked for a table and she said they were all taken I looked puzzled and then then the other seven members of this guys party turned up and took both free tables!! There comes a point to me when anger just seems silly. We found a table at another restaurant who were offering Dorade a- bit expensive , but by now we didn't care.

Suddenly the fellow at the next table made us aware of him as he called the waitress over. Although she had shown us to the table, she had completely forgotten us! She came with Menus. 20 mins later we called her to give her our order again she had forgotten us and apologised. They had sold out of Dorade!! It became a joke. An hour and a half after sitting down we got our meal and our neighbouring table left. By now we are nearly the last people in the place three or four other couples who arrived long after us had also finished and left! The waitress didn't charge for my wine or coffee, but frankly that didn't make the evening a success. To cap it all we got back to the camp site after curfew and had to leave the car in the carpark outside and walk back to the caravan. Fortunately humour won the day.

L'Estagnol beach

The weather forecast was dodgy. The day we were looking forward to- a day on the beach- had arrived, but so had the clouds. Dogs are prohibited from all beaches in France until end October and we had arranged for Sophie to be looked after this day, so we could have a swim in the sea. L'estagnol beach was found by Mum & Dad decades ago and is one of my favourites. It is a lovely cove surrounded by pine forest and the beach slopes very gently into the sea, so it is shallow for 40 metres and ideal for little children and of course being so shallow the water gets very warm. Today a strong wind is blowing into the cove making some good waves and blowing the cold water into the beach. The day started cloudy, but thankfully the clouds melted and we had many hours of good sun. The wind eased from mid-morning to late afternoon, so all in all we had a very pleasant day. Not the skin crisping one we expected, but maybe that was as well.

Thursday 3rd Sept at Cavalaire

I woke feeling sick and had no breakfast. Nicky found a powder in the medicine cabinet that seemed to work, but I felt really off colour and stayed by the van all day with Sophie. Nicky went up to the pool and sunbathed and swam. Later she took the car and went shopping. I know my shopping and Nicky's shopping are different, but I thought I had covered up my attitude. Apparently not, Nicky was delighted to go alone and not have me "pressuring her and making her feel uncomfortable"

Rain had been forecast and it started at 7am. It was supposed to last the whole day, but by 11am it had cleared up and was nice. We spent the morning doing washing and house work-- boring--. We really wanted to spend some time on the beach, but dogs are banned from all beaches on the coast and it is too hot to leave Sophie in the car for more than a few mins. So we decided that we should find a kennels to look after her for the day. We did find a Grooming service that would do this so booked her in for Friday and Monday, with Monday including a Groom. We went back to camp for lunch and then to Cap Camarat. It is a nice drive through the woods and at the end a light house. Closed to visitors of course. We set of on the path others were taking, we thought to the 'pointe de vue' after 5 mins I asked a chap walking towards us if it was far '5mins?' breathlessly he said 5 mins? more like 25 mins!! They were walking down to the beach a couple of a hundred feet below. We turned round to Sophies disgust and walked back and found nthe 'pointe de vue' . It looked out over Pampelona Beach famous for the first nudist beach on the Cote d'Azure 5 or 6 decades ago. We also saw a small cove at the western end with fishing boats and looking really untouched. No signposts on the way back, but Google earth identified it as Bonne Terrace. I want to come back and find it