Thursday - March 5th
We got away at about 8.45pm after a rather manic and stressful day. My back had had enough by about 4pm but it had to man up and keep going! Mad panic about 6pm in that we couldn’t find Rio’s muzzle. We turned out every drawer both in the house and the motorhome. Eventually Richard grabbed Rio and shot off to Pets at Home. Fortunately they had one! Victoria and James came round for pizza and it was really nice to sit down for a bit! We set off and had to stop at some road works. The guy in the van behind us came running up telling us we had no rear lights. Memories of last year flashed across my mind as the motorhome had been in the garage until the last minute with no back lights! Fortunately Richard realised that, when the MOT was done, the garage had switched the lights to off! It’s very rare that anyone is grateful for road works - especially on Hayling Island where there is really only one road and off.
We got to Portsmouth and then had the long wait to board. As usual we were the last to board, I guess it’s because we have a dog. A quick unpack (there was nowhere to out things really) and into bed at 12.30 am
We got to Portsmouth and then had the long wait to board. As usual we were the last to board, I guess it’s because we have a dog. A quick unpack (there was nowhere to out things really) and into bed at 12.30 am
Friday - March 6th
I woke up about 6am and the ship was rolling. I’m not sure where we were. Richard didn’t wake up until 9.30am! Unheard of 😳 Gradually the rolling eased a bit but when I went for a walk there were a lot of drunk looking people staggering all over the place - I guess I probably looked like that too 🤣. I took Rio on deck and we were just passing inside an island, which I’m pretty sure was Ushant, which is off Brittany. At 2pm we hadn’t even got to the Bay of Biscay!
The rest of the day was very calm, Richard said that the wind was behind us which was great. I stuck with my armbands and Stugeron though. I was watched a recorded Netflix series (girlie) and Richard played his game on the iPad.
Even on the morning of the day bookings opened I couldn’t get an outside one cabin so we had an inside one which, of course, have no window. However they have a lovely photo of a window and lots of sunshine. They are backlit and really helped cheer us up. I didn’t want to switch it off!
There had been some dogs barking around dinner time which were making Rio growl, so I ate in the cabin, as I didn’t want to leave him, and Richard ate in the cafeteria!
There had been some dogs barking around dinner time which were making Rio growl, so I ate in the cabin, as I didn’t want to leave him, and Richard ate in the cafeteria!
So that was Friday. Much, much better than we anticipated after the gale warning as there certainly wasn’t a gale around us!
Saturday - March 7th
We both slept really well on a calm sea. The ship’s alarm woke us up at 5.45am. There was the usual chaos of trying to get down to the car deck with the dogs. This time it was dogs last to go down, sometimes they are first. Even once we got to the van we had to wait until the very end and when we got out it was pouring with rain.
Santander docks are huge and it seemed ages before we got out.
Shopping was next and I escaped into a Carrefour. We decided to fill up with LPG and then we were off, out of the Milton Keynes of Spain! In fact I reckon it has more roundabouts!
We had promised Rio a walk on a beach and I had researched a good one. The rain had more or less stopped by this time and Rio had a really good run.
The Desfiladero de la Hermida, is 21 kilometers long, making it the longest gorge in the country. The current road was started in the 19th century, mainly to transport the wood produced by the forestry industry in the Picos de Europa. The first road through dates from 1863. Among the hills and gorges that overlook the gorge you can find prehistoric paintings which are more than 20,000 years old. There is no shortage of towers built by the Cantabrian peoples to protect the territory from a possible invasion by the Castilian population, and later by the Romans.
We had hoped to visit the Gaudi house but gave it a miss as we would have had a long walk from where we could park the motorhome to the house and we just couldn’t trust the rain. Also Rio wouldn’t have been allowed in the house and it was a bit mean to leave Richard outside in the rain!!
Our stop for the night was at Potes in the Picos de Europa mountains. To get there we had to drive through the Hermida Gorge. The scenery was amazing, I don’t think I have ever been through a gorge like it before. (There will be more on the gorge in the blog). The leaves were beginning to come out on the trees and the blossom was gorgeous. As we were driving we noticed nets above us obviously for catching loose rocks and there were certainly a few of those up there!
The Desfiladero de la Hermida, is 21 kilometers long, making it the longest gorge in the country. The current road was started in the 19th century, mainly to transport the wood produced by the forestry industry in the Picos de Europa. The first road through dates from 1863. Among the hills and gorges that overlook the gorge you can find prehistoric paintings which are more than 20,000 years old. There is no shortage of towers built by the Cantabrian peoples to protect the territory from a possible invasion by the Castilian population, and later by the Romans.
We drove through Potes which was a lovely little town. Our site was just the other side and we parked up with a lovely view.
We had intended on walking back into Potes but with our early start we were really too knackered.
We connected up to the electric point, paid our €4, but it wasn’t going to work. I tried several phone numbers for help until I finally found one that worked. The lady on the other end tried to make it work remotely but in the end said that she would come out. She fiddled around and finally plugged us into the post next door. Meanwhile I was cooking a meal using three pans and the oven! I never use three pans at home so this was rather crazy and it took some concentration 🤣
We finally sat down and watched a couple of episodes of Bridgerton and that was us for the evening.
We connected up to the electric point, paid our €4, but it wasn’t going to work. I tried several phone numbers for help until I finally found one that worked. The lady on the other end tried to make it work remotely but in the end said that she would come out. She fiddled around and finally plugged us into the post next door. Meanwhile I was cooking a meal using three pans and the oven! I never use three pans at home so this was rather crazy and it took some concentration 🤣
We finally sat down and watched a couple of episodes of Bridgerton and that was us for the evening.
Sunday - March 8th
I think we must have jet lag, or should that be ship lag?! We didn’t wake up until 8.30am and then it was me who woke up first - very unusual.
After both of us showering and me causing a flood because the plug hole was blocked, we got away later than we should have.
We drove further up into the Picos Europa to the Teleférico Fuente Dé Cantabria, a cable car to you and me. The weather was lovely but there were a few low clouds but not enough to spoil anything. We love a cable car and I found out about this one while researching the gorge. Rio was very put out as he had to go in his back pack to go in the gondola, mind you so was Richard as Rio is 2 kilos heavier than last year! The gondola goes up over a 753-meter slope rising to a height of 1,823 meters in 4 minutes. Up the mountain, swinging and swaying about, there was a lady with us who was terrified! We had a coffee and a short walk before heading back down. The real idea of the cable car is for people to either go trekking or cross country skiing but there were none of those mad people around today. The thermometer on my phone said it was 3 degrees but we certainly didn’t need our hats and gloves on.
We drove further up into the Picos Europa to the Teleférico Fuente Dé Cantabria, a cable car to you and me. The weather was lovely but there were a few low clouds but not enough to spoil anything. We love a cable car and I found out about this one while researching the gorge. Rio was very put out as he had to go in his back pack to go in the gondola, mind you so was Richard as Rio is 2 kilos heavier than last year! The gondola goes up over a 753-meter slope rising to a height of 1,823 meters in 4 minutes. Up the mountain, swinging and swaying about, there was a lady with us who was terrified! We had a coffee and a short walk before heading back down. The real idea of the cable car is for people to either go trekking or cross country skiing but there were none of those mad people around today. The thermometer on my phone said it was 3 degrees but we certainly didn’t need our hats and gloves on.
Back on terra firma we had lunch then set off back down through the gorge. It was a very different view from yesterday with the sun shining - you could say it was gorgeous (sorry!). There were quite a few “wow” moments as we rounded corners and the road was pretty spectacular too. It has been widened, which has meant building out over the river and has metal Armco along the side which has been faced with wood helping it to blend in with the surroundings.
We drove into Colombres intending on stopping and having a wander around but the car park just wasn’t really big enough for a 7.5m motorhome, so we turned round and drove on. The town’s history is closely linked to the Indianos, Spaniards who emigrated to Latin America at the end of the 19th century. They then built huge houses and palaces on their return to Spain. These houses are known as Indiano houses. We saw a few, but I’m sure there must have been more.
We drove to Llanes where we were supposed to be overnighting in an aire, but the local council have dug it up and, we hope, are intending to upgrade it. Fortunately there was a parking area just behind it where other motorhomes were, so we pulled in there.
We took Rio for a walk on a camino a stone’s throw from our parking spot which took us along the cliff. It was a lovely walk but the water below was really scummy.
We had driven through Potes again and on a sunny Sunday afternoon it was buzzing. Maybe we will go back one day and have a wander around. Apparently it is known as the "town of bridges and towers." It has a distinct medieval feel with stone buildings and narrow alleys. There is a 14th-century fortress, called the Torre del Infantado that dominates the town centre. There is also an Old Quarter (Casco Viejo). There town sits at the confluence of four valleys and is the ultimate base camp for outdoor lovers.
I love a wonky and different roof, and as we passed by a little town called Espinama, there were some really lovely ones. In fact there were quite a few more of them as drove we drove down the gorge, but not a whole village full.
Monday - March 9th
We had driven through Potes again and on a sunny Sunday afternoon it was buzzing. Maybe we will go back one day and have a wander around. Apparently it is known as the "town of bridges and towers." It has a distinct medieval feel with stone buildings and narrow alleys. There is a 14th-century fortress, called the Torre del Infantado that dominates the town centre. There is also an Old Quarter (Casco Viejo). There town sits at the confluence of four valleys and is the ultimate base camp for outdoor lovers.
I love a wonky and different roof, and as we passed by a little town called Espinama, there were some really lovely ones. In fact there were quite a few more of them as drove we drove down the gorge, but not a whole village full.
We have had some extra locks put on Kiwi. Dead locks on the cab doors and one that goes across the hab door which can be operated from the inside or locked with a key from the outside. We used them last night as we were in a more vulnerable place. After being burgled in the car in 2020, I didn’t feel as safe last year as maybe I could have. I certainly felt safe last night 😃
The forecast for today was wet, 100% rain all day in Gijon, our first port of call. We drove to the park up in Gijon, but it was pouring with rain so we made a cup of coffee and rethought our day. It certainly was not a day for sightseeing. In the end we chose an aire in a place called Pola de Siero where we could get a train into Oviedo tomorrow. We found our aire which was a car park with 5 dedicated motorhome spaces and services but no electricity. It was very close to a railway track but the trains were few and far between. There was one space which is all we needed! It really was a dreadful afternoon so we hunkered down for the afternoon while the rain just poured down outside
That was Monday 😂
No comments:
Post a Comment