Our Route So Far

Where We've Been

 

 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

The above just links you to google maps but you could add in the destinations to see exact route if you wish - eg F to G

Jobs Jobs Jobs!!

Arrived at the flat and stuff to do – the globetrotters are going to have to do a bit of work!  Doors to sort, bedding to buy, cleaning, shelves, locks, drilling holes, post boxes ………… phew – we better head to the beach for a beer J

 

Sooooo much room in the apartment after living in Vannie but you can make so much more mess – or M can ;)

Back up Pants!

D has always said M has one hoody too many – she only has 2 - Clearing out the van to take stuff in the flat and what falls out of D’s store  ….8 pairs of pants!!!  There are already at least 8 pairs in D’s bag – how many pairs of pants does a man need???? 

D: “You always need back up pants!” – apparently he also has some more somewhere – yet to appear!!

Club Foot and Man Flu

Eek – Mogs’ mozzy mate has struck again and she has a huge club foot – dave’s turn to not laugh??!  But then he did develop a sniff which turned into a severe case of man flu……

M: It was worse than it looks and VERY itchy!!!!

Apart from the odd injury (man flu lasted a day!) and jobbing we have had a bit of chilling time and sorted out a great local Indian and Chinese – Seany will like that if he makes it over!

 “Handy Annie”

Who needs a Graeme when you have Handy Annie?!

One of the probs of being globetrotters but also property management people is when things go wrong – in the past Mogs has had no probs hardly but now she’s away it’s going tits up!!  Major probs in Exeter flat with boiler trouble and tenant giving us grief! – Annie who is our property management rep while we’re away did a fab job helping out and was on standby all week for the boiler man to appear so the tenant could get back in the flat – 8.00am and Annie was there thinking she was filling out wedding thank you cards while the boiler was fixed…in walks ‘jobs worth’ boiler man who said “who’s taking the cupboard off – not my job” and was ready to leave.  In steps Handy Annie – next thing she’s got him round her little finger lending her tools and Annie’s whipping out cupboards and bashing holes – we needed 3 holes made to inspect pipes – here’s one of the holey moley’s!!!

 

Many hours later and thanks to Handy Annie the boiler was signed off and tenant back in flat – phew!

–what a star!  Thanks Annie - couldn’t have sorted without you xx

Another near prob - Nearly cut off with leccy here –how hard is it to pay a bill?  Bloody Spanish!  Sorted just in time for the people we have booked in the flat this week….

Went through flood plain today where all the floods and storms were recently with many dying – Mogs’ friend over here lost a friend in the floods – washed away in 8 ft of water….see the link on youtube to see how bad it was…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xST1Sm0H6No&feature=related 

Now a lot of wasteland being cleared up still and roads shut – being cleared up ok though and beaches being cleaned but glad we weren’t here a few months ago

New Bikes

Called in to see Fran and Steve, Mogs friends here in Mojacar, and they have a couple of mountain bikes they’ve not used for years that they don’t want – result!  Bit rusty but a bit of oil on chains and bits, pump up tyres, trip to the bike shop for new brake pads and we’re off again – Mogs racing bike is put away in the cupboard in the flat for now as Spain’s roads aren’t built for a racing bike and we can head off to the mountains and tracks by the beach on the new bikes J

 

Musician on Tour

D has also had a chance to get his guitar out and practise for his up and coming tour – we’re hoping the tour will boost our funds!  He is just putting the finishing touches to the Big Cheese album.

 

For Sue

 

While on the beach Dave got his biro out and decided to draw - perhaps he better stick to music or use proper pastels or chalks!  Dave says: comments Sue please?!

 

 

 

 It is my first one :) 

 

  

We have people booked in the apartment tomorrow (25 Oct) for 2 and half weeks so we’re cleaning away and getting it ready for them, then back in Vannie and moving on….

Flat ready once Mogs bag and hair straighteners go!

 

 

 

 

Sunset from the Apartment the night before - had BBQ on patio :)

25 Oct - guests arrive and we're off to Cabo de Gata the national park a bit south of here which looks lovely with lush beaches and biking country – hoping the kayak centre is still open and we can kayak to some of the beaches you can’t get to by road/track – we may even get free WiFi on the campsite – we are still forever on the lookout for free WiFi!

Next blog we are going to try and upload some maps of where we want to go – if you have been to this area and can give us ideas - all welcome – maybe you decide where we go!  Or any ideas for when we head into central Europe next spring comment on here – we hope it’s easier to comment now….

Party Time in Moraira

Sally’s 50th Party

13 October - En route to Moraira, near Calpe, Costa Blanca, had to drive through centre of Valencia – nightmare!  How many lanes can you fit in one road and how much traffic and why was there an emergency ambulance then a blood transfusion van right up our arse trying to get past when we were there?!  Relief to get to the other side of city in one piece!!

Valencia - 10 sets of traffic lights in one road!

 Arrived in Moraira after one of Mogs usual detours and going round roundabout to find exit about 4 times –

M: "I DO know where I’m going!"

Great to see Mog’s mate Sally and her new man Pol and thanks to Sal’s mum for letting us hook up and use bathroom and swimming pool!  Made very welcome and good to meet all Sally’s friends and family – way too much alcohol as usual when Mogs and Sal get together - fab party J

BBQ next day at Jacob and Edna’s in El Portet up the road – lovely people – 12 of us descended on them – not a problem they just brought out more and more food.  English there decided we would have to have made an emergency dash to Tesco’s!!  Mogs would have just brought out more wine ;)

Party night

Luxembourg is a very small country but has very large people! Steve, Pol’s mate from Lux.

 

 

Paella BBQ with Jacob and Edna

 

Sally and Pol

 

 

El Portet

 

Sally's House

 

Calpe Rock – view from Sally’s patio

 

 

Time to move on and head for Mog’s apartment in Mojacar down in the south of Spain….

Comments

We've just changed our blog settings so you shouldn't have to mess about with verifying words and stuff when you comment so it should be easier!!

Could someone have a go and let us know if it's any different :)

Cheers
M&D xxx

Mid Life Crisis European Tour Part 2

SITGES - the Gay Capital of Europe

Our gay friends would love it!

 

Took scenic route to get there – VERY hairpin bendy then down into town – found a good site but just made use of leccy and chilled – Mogs ran in morning and D was on the racing bike – not used to pedal clips M looked round and saw him in the middle of the road fallen off and with a puncture…..no injuries and the car behind stopped – phew!  So looking back it was quite funny…says M who did try really hard not to laugh at the time ;)

Sitges beach and sea front lovely but was time to move on - no time for beach pics I’m afraid but would def go back there –  it’s one of the gay centres of Europe – we did notice that when having coffee and a sarnie whilst looking round the town – felt a bit out of place and Dave felt a bit scared!!!  (Pussi)

 

3 IN THE VAN!

We have a pic that won't load of D outside the van with the mozzy net Kate and Benji gave us all set up - a mozzy managed to get in the van - maybe due to Mogs leaving a window open when she thought she was closing it - and there were now 3 of us living in the van that night - M, D and a hungry mozzy!! We called it Mogsy's mozzy and D spent most of the night trying to kill it - only M got covered in bites though!

 

MARINA D'OR

Down the coast to north of Valencia – Marina D’Or where Dave had been earlier this year on his mid life crisis European tour 2012 with the 4 other guys - Russ, Andy, Spud and Steve.  Played ‘spot the tart’ en route – in this part of spain (and probably everywhere else) they sit or stand by the road all dressed up looking for action!!  We didn’t stop but D wanted to take a photo ;)

Marina D’Or is lovely – campsites well busy but town pretty quiet now – great site with pool and nice MOSAICS

Marina D'Or at night

For Andy

 

Sunrise - Vannie was parked right on beach at end of site

 

Storm brewing by lunchtime Friday (12 Oct) – when it rains in Spain it rains!!  Met some fellow UK campers here – we are now proper campervan people and know geeky things like you need to cover your tyres in the heat to stop them bursting!!  Tidy…

We have also now ordered a geeky card for a camping club that gives us cheap fees J  D is also going to find out more about having a satellite dish – tidy again…

Saturday morning (13 Oct) we left Marina D'Or and headed for Moraira and Sally's 50th pary....

Platja d'Aro - Costa Brava

Platja d'Aro

Long drive - Crossed the border into Spain

 Spanish Border - will they let us in?

Dave says 4 inches may not seem a lot but it is on a map!  We’re doing LOADS of driving or D is while M navigates J

 

We arrived at the Costa Brava – parked in road by beach – not one of Dave’s best ideas as you will see!!  Stayed the night in road – no loos but a shower on beach and had a good swim early morning

Dodgy place to park?!

Tried to load pics of us swimming but won't load - we did go in!

26 degrees and rising :)

No loos leads to this….

Avoiding your Poo!

And beating the Germans!

If you’re squirmish and don’t do toilet talk ignore the next 2 paras or read on!!!!

When pooing in spain:

When you’re wild camping and no toilet one of the best things in Europe is the Mediterranean – if you’re caught short go for a swim and plop one out.

Rules of engagement –

1/ Check tide

2/ Take off speedos coz when you poo u wee

3/ Tilt at 45 degrees but not too high so sunbathers can’t see you

4/ Always keep mouth shut (just in case of big wave)

D:  I thought I had all this under control until I saw a bit floating  behind me so I took off at 10 o clock and thought I’d got away with it when a big german stood up on the beach looked at me and came towards the sea

Fuck im in trouble - he came wading in and dived in right near my floaters – obviously not seen them

I thought England 1 Germany 0 and swam off into the distant sun

Note: make sure u get out of sea hundred yards up tide coz of the seagull trail left behind (they love it!!!) we watched it float down!!

Take 2 on the Poo Trail

In a campervan carpark with vannies but no toilet – Mogs had found out when pooing on wasteland make sure:

1: have enough toilet roll

2: wet wipes to hand

3: nobodies watching

4: don’t’tread in anyone else’s poo

5: don’t let anyone else see you come out and clap!!!

Don't try this at home!

Where’s Me Fucking Bike?

Where’s Me Fucking Bike Mogs?  Some Ibbidy eye’s nicked it

BASTARD!!!!!!

It was there at 2pm – back to van at 5.30pm and where’s it fucking gone?!  Padlock cut through with wire cutters…

Down to cop shop fill in form….what’s it worth they ask? 3 times what I paid lol

£300 – maybe make some money?  Have since found out insurance doesn’t cover it L  Oh well – just a bike – but it’s D’s bike!!  They didn’t want Mogsy’s racing bike!

Police recommended we stay at a free campervan park down the road – lots of vannies there – met Mike who told us ‘safety in numbers’ – we are like gazelles!!  He gave us loads of tips on vanning and where to go – cool.  Safe place below with Mike's van in the background.  Spot the one bike :(

 

Time to move away from this part of Spain – taught us a lesson to be a bit less Cornish/Devonish and be bit more safety aware!  Fucking Spanish!!

Heading down the coast to Sitges where Dave went 30 years ago….

Mini Grand Canyon to The Border

Arrived at Minerve after a hairy drive round hair pin bends - Bit dodgy for M who doesn't like heights!

what an awesome place though and carpark to stay for 3euros a night with well clean loos :)  Minerve is a medieval city, really old and full of windy cobbled streets and in a huge gorge so had a dry moat around it - we went exploring in the tunnels in the moat - like something out of Raiders of the Lost Ark with maybe a dinasaur about to appear round the corner!!  Here's the pics:

Dinasaur land!

We loved Minerve but there was a walk to a gorge we never got round to doing - maybe another time if we're passing on our tour....

We tried to head for Carcassonne but Sat Nav took us through vineyards and well dodgy lanes again - or maybe it was Mogs navigating error!!  Gave up on Carcassonne and headed further south - lots of recalculations and leaving roads at wrong points and D just stopped at the first campsite he saw!  Luckily it was a really good one!  Lovely walk to the beach and a fab cycle path that went for miles along the estuary/river.

We had arrived at Barcares and it was so nice we stayed a couple of days - running, cycling and chilling.

 Bike rides along the canal path were great and ended up at the quiet beach

 We loved this bench!  Saw fish jumping too...



Decided to treat ourselves to a meal out in the local town - Dave wanted to avoid snails and French things so went for the safe steak option - it arrived - he thought Raw was a region of France and not raw from the fridge!!!!  Funny!!!  He did eat about 3/4 of it!!  Nothing worse than raw meat burps in Vannie all night...... :)

Will add a pic of the raw meat but having trouble uploading pics where we are - we have other pics of this area to add too....

Time to move on the next day and head for the Spainish border - where we will cross the border will depend on Mogs navigation!!