Palencia

Stopped in one of the newly established motorhome aires in Palencia. About 15 of mixed nationality (but we are only Brits as usual!) Its in an ideal position close to town with nice walks by the river to shopping malls and historical sites, short cut thru the park. Sat in the precinct and downed a coffee - average price so far 1.30 euros (and deisel is 83 cents/litre) so not too bad despite the exchange rate. Food generally a bit more expensive than on previous trips but a drinkable litre of wine is still 1 - 3 Euros range. Sunny and warm in Palencia - very pleasant!

Leaving for Salamanca this morniing for a couple of nights stay. It is a public holiday for May day while we are there so we may see some Spanish maypole dancing :-)

Playa Joel - Noja

Stopped in Playa Joel for just 2 nights. Wet both nights and very windy, but sunny, the day in between. Good walk in to Noja to do some shopping (good in the sense that a mile up hill is good for you) but at least its down hill on the way back. Met a couple, Ron and Margaret from Tipton, with a big old NuVenture (custom made) staying at Playa Joel for the whole of the season! Woke up to more wet weather so decided to head south without delay, thru the snowy mountains and into the sunshine.

Bay of Biscay

Left Plymouth on time and on board Pont Aven bound for Santander. Bright and breezy with a moderate swell which decreased later and turned to dull and wet. Nothing to spoil the meal and wine. We arrived on time at low water with sand banks very close - tight manouvering to get along side. So far so good.

We are off roeming again

Leaving shortly for an overnight stay near Bridgwater to break the journey to Plymouth. This will give us time to call on cousin Barbara in Oakhampton before catching the Brittany Ferry to Spain on Sunday afternoon. Planning to stop at Playa Joel in Noja for 2 or 3 nights to get acclimatised/wet before heading south to Portugal.

Summer 2009 - Portugal and Spain - North

Outbound ferry is booked to Santander on 26th April to see the parts of northern Portugal and Spain that we have missed on previous trips. A few objectives are being decided and these will shape the overall holiday.

1 Catch some fish in Portugal - sea and lake
2 Visit Fatima again
3 Buy a bottle of vintage port for Christmas at Taylors in Porto
4 Climb the 1000 steps at Bom Jesus sanctuary
5 Stand on the cliffs at Cap Finistere
6 have some 'pimientos de Padron' in Padron
7 Have a lobster dinner in A Coruna on wedding anniversary
8 Make a snow ball at Feunte De
9 Wade across to Isla from Playa Joel without getting knickers wet 8)
10 Meet Mike and Margaret
11 return home thru France before the end of June

to be continued ....

Top Lodge

Spent two days at Top Lodge with Mike and Margaret to give the vans their first trip of the year. Despite the weather forecast it was pleasant enough to enjoy a walk in the forest, try out all the systems and compile a list of things we had forgotten to pack. Looked at some of the options with Mike for the summer trip to Spain and France.

Off to Top Lodge

Just going out for a couple of days to recommission the system prior to main Holiday. Booked the ferry to Santander for 26th April with a view to doing the parts of northern Portugal and Spain which we missed last time. If the Atlantic weather hasn't settled then maybe drift over to the Mediterranean via the Pyrenees instead - we shall see. Hope to meet up with Mike and Margaret in mid May to return via western France around the end of June.