Well..... what’s been happening ?
As planned we were all packed up and we pulled out of Camping Raco in Benidorm around 10:30am on Friday the 15th February.
Well before all that we met up with all our “neighbours” we’ve grown to know on the site on the Thursday night, had a natter to them all and made a sort of loose agreement that we shall attempt to meet up over the winter of 2019/20 all being well..... and we were waved off on the Friday morning.
Slow meander up the coast via Altea, Calpe, Jávea and Denia and took the toll road to get north of Valencia away from the hustle of the normal roads..... our destination being Teruel (Campercontact 25719) and the aire beside the civil guard building..... we made a couple of stops en-route for the mandatory coffee and to give the dogs (and ourselves!) a toilet break.
Arriving in Teruel around 4pm we were surprised to see the aire was very busy, normally the aire in Teruel is quiet, it is really only a stop aire for those traveling North/South or visa versa. We got parked up without a problem but within an hour the aire was packed full, many motorhomes coming and not able to get a spot and leaving again........ We knew at that stage that there was something else happening in town to attract such a big gathering of motorhomes....... the aire up from the civil guard one at McDonalds was also now getting busy with the overflow.
A bit of googling revealed that a big festival was on in town, we never really went into the town itself on other visits, rather stopped off and away the next morning........ now we realise that this was a mistake..... the town is lovely.
The festival is called “The lovers of Teruel” and it’s a week long event over St.Valentines in February, it dates back to 1217, see
The Lovers of Tureul for the story.
The festival takes the form of a medieval theme, everyone dresses up like knights, the focus being on food.... and boy do they do food well.
Cooked like in medevil times, over wood fires on spits and fire pits, and modern food inc the famous Spanish paella is on offer everywhere along with Spanish cheeses and of course the wine. We enjoyed quite a few hours walking among all the stalls, seeing the town and the buildings along its elevated pedestrian bridge linking the two parts of the town across the gorge.
If you are ever in the region then go and explore the town, it’s fabulous.
Saturday we left and filled with diesel and made our way north once more and another stop we know just north of the city of Pamplona via Zaragoza in the centre of Spain.
Pamplona is the world famous city where members of the public partake in the “running of the bulls” See
HERE for details.
We weren’t in the market for a bull ! .... so we made our way to the aire to the north of the city at Berriozar (Campercontact 19155) and settled in for the night. Cold at this altitude overnight, down to -3deg but heating on low we were comfortable.
Sunday morning (17th) we were on the road again and soon we were approaching the Spanish/French border at Irun and we stopped and filled up with diesel as it’s much more expensive in France. Roads being quiet we trotted on up through the National park (forest) towards Bordeaux stopping off for coffee a couple of times....
Now, anyone travelling with dogs needs to be very aware that the processionary caterpillars are VERY active February/ March.... from Benidorm right up to almost northern France they are everywhere .... our stops on the way up we were more than vigilant so the dogs weren’t in danger and on lots of occasions we couldn’t let the dogs our of the van because they were present......... make sure you know the risk these pose to dogs and indeed humans if traveling around this time.
A good article is published
HERE and should be mandatory reading if you’re taking your animals abroad and need to know the dangers.
Our stop for the night was a French passion site, a vineyard just outside the city of Bordeaux (Campercontact 63213) and a wonderful stop it is. Free to use if you purchase something, €5 if not buying anything..... we made the usual couple bottles of wine purchase and we had a peaceful quiet night with a couple of other vans there.
Monday morning and we were on the road once more up to An aire north of La-Rochelle, it’s on the Park4Night app, a simple car park without services but super sea views. Just one other French motorhome with us on that stop.
Tuesday we move north once again to another Park4night stop in the hamlet of Behuard, a really old French monastic village were we once again had a quiet night. No services but free to stay.
Wednesday and we go up the coast another bit to Juvigne (Campercontact 14227), its an award winning small French “tidy town”, to the aire there, full services, all free.... supermarket across road, large agricultural museum in town but alas not open until April. A very simple and not expensive aire setup, we at home need to take note and learn from the French.
Thursday morning and another little hop up to another stop, this time to a new one for us..... looking out at Mont St.Michael, but not from the ‘touristy’ approach, rather the view from the eastern side.... an overnight stop just down at the bottom corner on the western side of the Cherbourg peninsula.... it’s a Park4night stop, near the town of Vains on the coast..... no services as it’s only a park, but what a view. 10 vans spent the night here and it’s busy with sightseeing visitors as it’s a popular viewing and photography spot for the Mont..... a lovely quiet night in a special place at sunset/sunrise. Even Orla was smitten !
On Friday a short hop up to a place we know we’ll, actually about a mile north of it as our usual overnight spot was full !..... we went to a fully serviced aire for €8 per night including electric at Gouville-Sur-Mer, (Campercontact 11657). A beautiful area here as is all the west coast of the peninsula, lots of vans here, many for the day but full for the nights. We always visit “the shack” ... or to give its proper name...La Cale.....the seafood is excellent, and it didn’t disappoint on this visit either..... just excellent unpretentious seafood served very simply in one of the most beautiful settings ever. Just order the ‘plate de la mer’... a seafood platter.... you won’t be disappointed. If you want white linen tablecloths, silver service then go elsewhere, this is really a shack.... but the best shack ever ! ...See
Google map link for details.
We spend Saturday night here too and repeated Friday nights restaurant run !
Sunday we move east and inwards for our impending visit to our vet of choice in St.Lo..... were on an Aire once again in the town of Marigny (Campercontact 13837) where the total cost for services and overnight stay is €2 ! ...... ooooh Ireland, why can’t you be like this !!
So tomorrow of to the vet for 11am and tomorrow night we’ll ‘probably’ end up in the costal town of Barfleur up on the north east corner of the Cherbourg peninsula on the aire beside the sea wall....... another very pretty French town with abundant seafood restaurants.... we may have to sample !
Wednesday we are due to sail on the Stena Horizon at 21:00 back to Rosslare.
Our trip has been absolutely wonderful, from Rural Portugal to the Algarve, from Rural Spain to the Costas and our trip through France once more taking our time...... while we love Spain and Portugal we realize we absolutely adore France with its charm, it’s food and its extensive aire network.....
but for winter sun it has to be the costas and we’ve already booked the ferry for next winter.
Next report back in the Emerald Isle.
.
