Relax 10/11

 Today has been very chilled.  

Morning I booked my next campsite, it’s over near Cartagena which looks pretty cool, only an hour or so from here so a nice short drive.   

Afternoon was toasty, decided on a short bike ride and headed into the town I didn’t visit yesterday.  Unlike the other places this one was quite industrial.  

Back, and getting ready for a road trip tomorrow, looks like a great place I’m heading.  Into some caves then up a mountain.  

Only one photo today, thought the sunset looked good 

If anyone is reading this I hope you had a great day.  

I like to ride my bicycle 🎵 (09/11)

 After the gusty wind yesterday today was a lot more relaxed, sunny and a cool breeze, perfect.

Had some breakfast (not exactly an athletes breakfast- pizza and a coffee….), then got the bike ready.  Headed off into the sun, shiny.  Decided to go along to the Nature reserve I went to the other day, have a look at some of the other paths / sights.  It was well worth it, incredibly quiet trails and some amazing views, only negative as the amount of bugs - yuk.  

Kept on going until I found a marked road and decided to visit a tiny village called Delores.  Nice wee village that could easily feature in an old style Western movie.

Then kinda got a bit lost but that was fine, as wasnt really aiming for anywhere in particular.  The decided to head to Catral where Id walked to last night.  See some of the other parts of it.  Nice little place with a lot of character (Sorry, no photos, was biking).  Then I realised my body was feeling the heat a lot, 🥵  so decided against the next village as it was a few miles the opposite way from my van. 

Took a longer route home which was really good, again virtually no cars as it was of the main routes.  Got back with the help of maps.  

Back at site, shower, coffee, listening to the Rangers game and watching lots of people leaving the site (back to work for them tomorrow I guess).

Tonight I have nothing planned.  Will do a check over the bike, tidy up a bit and make something a bit healthier than my breakfast for dinner.

Managed to get lost (08/11)

 So, no cycling for me today, it was veery windy/gusty so decided on a walk instead.  Headed along to the nearest town (Catral) to havee a look around and go to a local Spanish type restaurant.

The walk along was only about 2 miles and was quite scenic in that it had mountains and a big shiny ☀️ to the right as I walked along.

Got into the town, nice Mediterranean feel to it, however, very few restaurants open, id forgotten about the Spanish ting of siesta so most dont open until 7pm, I was there at roughly 5:30pm.  Oh well, have a walk about anyway, then it popped up - an Indian, yum yum thought me.

Went in and got a table easy enough.  Ordered my usual (Jafrezi) and was offered a drink, seems it’s a fixed price thing, ive noticed that a lot over here.  Cool, coke for me.  Food was great, very tasty and an incredibly good price (worked out at roughly £16 inc poppodoms, starter, main, ice cream and my first coke.

Still light outside but could see it wwas going to get dark soon.  As virtually no paths (walking in a cycle lane beside busy road) I thought I should head back, of course I wont need maps this time as I know exactly where I am going……

Phoned Louise to say hi, and started walking along, starting to get quit a bit darker but hey, thats what the light on a mobile phone is for isn’t it!  Plus, as I went along the sunset over the mountains looked amazing.

After a while of chatting I thought “thats weird, I don’t remember that fuel station”.  Oops, had walked too far along, by roughly 1 1/2 miles, but yeah, I dont need maps… (my sense of direction is quite famously atrocious).  Got maps on, turn around ya numpty is what it said…. By this time it was pitch dark, id moved myself to a dirt track as the road was a bit sketchy with cars zooming by.  Louise was a little worried but little did she know this is pretty standard for me, oops lost, hey ho, lets see where i takes us 😂 .

Walk back was fine, had a little trip over but no damage done (wasnt watching where I was going), a little bit lost at a turn section but then the bridge I needed to go over - hurrah - over the bridge, int the campsite - happy Dave.

This should come with “dont do this at home kiddies” warning.

So, a nice meal, good walk, and a little adventure all packed into a few hours, what’s not to like!

Its hot 🥵 (7/11)

 Yesterday pretty much nowt happened.  Settled into my new campsite and relaxed, I was knackered.

One photo and that was when I added the tarp to my awning, exciting stuff

Today was more active.  I was going to head out on the bike but faffed quite a lot and decided nah, going to be too hot.

So a walk along to a nature reserve a couple of miles away.  The walk was pretty good, lots to see, some amazing looking mountains in the distance and a small town the opposite direction, lots of farming area.  Incredibly dry for farming though.

Ready to go:

Some mountains

Got to the reserve was looking forward to this one as it is advertised as having Flamingos. All very unassuming at the entrance and free entry (bonus).  After a bit of a walk I saw the first two Flamingos, very cool. 

Nothing special apart from I just like this image

Further round there was a wooden bridge to view the wildlife a bit better.  So many dragonfly’s, butterfly’s and various bird species.

This is a red knobbed coot, what a great name

I walked further round, it was very quiet, virtually no human and thought id maybe just got to a bit with reeds etc, plus more dragonflys. Then I saw what looked like a bird watching hut, so glad I went up and had a look.  Probably about 50 or so flamingoes out on the water, very awesome to watch.

These two stayed in position the entire time I was watching.

Not a very good pic but you get the idea, was a lot of them out there

A mix of Flamingos and Coots

On my way back I was lucky enough to see this guy just chilling.  I believe its a Little Egret

Then it was the walk home and phew it was hot.  Was a really good walk though and booked myself in for an extra week in this location.

When I got back I decided to walk round the site im pitched at, it’s huge.  Some absolutely massive camper homes, a couple below but im not sure the pic actually shows how immense they are.

I saw this one being brought in, not by a van but an HGV cab - wow

Tomorrow, hoping to get up a bit earlier, no faff and get out on the bike.  Also take a visit to the nearest town to see what’s happening there.

Driving (05/11)

 Tody was a day of driving.  I had one traffic jam, I didnt mind though as it was close by Barcelona, so I could have a look over during the delay.

Rest of drive (almost 500 miles) was effortless and very straight forward.  My 6am start helped get me to the next campsite before 3pm.

Stop with about an hour to go

During my last stop I initially got out for a short walk, stretch the legs etc.  Then, back in the van to make a coffee.  All was good, coffee, bit of chocolate and brilliant views, until

It did make me laugh, oh well, just enjoy your coffee then ☕️ 

Off I went and in just over an hour arrived at the site. Alannia Costa Brava, in between Alicante and Murcia.  Probably the biggest site I have been on, and incredibly impressive.

All set up, had food and im afraid thats pretty much it for today.

Girona and walking (04/11)

 Up early, packed and on my way to Girona by 9am.  Drive was only about 50 mins and completely straight forward.  The car park was a bit iffy to find but once I got to the correct entrance (Fnarr) all was good.  Parked up, bike inside van and off I went on my walk.

What a walk it was, amazing architecture, streets and just wow factor around the cathedral / old town area.

I went to the cathedral first as I planned on doing a self guided Game of thrones tour (with the help of ChatGPT). 

Wee pic while on my way to cathedral, this is the Onyar river, its actually not all that pretty when you see it in the flesh but still, i thought this was pretty shiny.  More of this later

My first glimpse of the cathedral, rather spectacular

A street on the way to front of cathedral, this was pretty standard in the old town, amazing

I did the cathedral tour, it was incredibly good, I did have one of my wee “the opulence here when people are starving etc etc” but enough of that.

Stairs to the entrance

The photos on this I don’t think show the detail very well which is a shame, maybe you need to pay extra for full size pics or something.  The detail in this, and many other (chapels) was quite incredible.

Shiny window stuff

He died for our sins y’know

On walking in this is what mets you, the place was huge and even although I am no religious was incredible impressive

After the tour, this is from the rear

I took quite a a few pics on the tour, and if so inclined I could have taken many more.  It is one of the most impressive cathedrals ive ever been to, much preferred it for example to the Vatican which is just overload, kinda like the Jones’s saying “look how big my car is…, oh, and it has all these features, more than any other car” - I know, im now talking about lot of pish, next up….

Food, I was so tired and hungry by this point.  Lots of walking, stairs and heat.  Found a cafe and got lucky. La Comuna cafe. Very relaxed, great coffee and even better food.

Refreshed I then did the GoT tour, followed it through Chat GPT and Google maps, all very easy and also saw loads of other stuff while I was doing it.

From a bridge further along, the Eiffel Bridge.  That link gives the history of it, its pretty cool, if you like that sort of thing.

On the Eiffel bridge facing the not as famous as Copenhagen, coloured houses

Arya ran up this being chased in GoT, yup, I definitely had my GoT geek on today

…and this, phew, must have been exhausting 

AS part of the walk I also took in the Turk baths, the square where Arya was cornered, Jamie going up the steps on horseback (rather than his sisters), and various other bits n pieces.  Really enjoyed it.

After getting my GoT fix I then just wandered around for a while, ran out of water, bought more, bonus. Perhaps I should tell you my favourite type of water, get a forever supply.. oh wait, it’s Scottish tap water, hey ho. 💧 

Jut walking around the old town was pretty incredible, I was in awe of the whole place, stopping to take it in many times (and catch a breather).  According to my watch ive walked roughly 8 miles today, and boy did I start feeling it.

So back to the van, did exciting things on the way, like buy a window cleaning thing as the van windows were filthy all round, and a new comfy pillow, as the one I have in the van is rubbish.  hey, you don’t get such exciting and in depth info on any of those flashy influencer pages, plus I am not creating my own crypto to try and sell…. (Yet…mwahahahahahaha). Other good stuff was I took a diffferent way back to the van, always good seeing a different view of the same sorta place.

Well thats me, if you made it this far well down, I think I went on a bit.

Off over Alicante way tomorrow, a long drive but should be good

Bad start, great finish (03.11)

 So today, up nice and early, walk up to Blanes bus depot to get bus to Girona, NOPE.  

Last night id researched it, found the route using google maps, walk to bus depot, get the 601 and 1 hr later you are in Girona.  They only take cash on the bus so best get a ticket beforehand, was weird, bus company wasnt showing such a route, I put it down to my rubbish Spanish (Translate wasnt working on that site). Turns out 3 bus trips required, no thanks.

Back to van, relax, have a coffee and plan out a new day ahead, can drive into Girona tomorrow.

Id fancied visiting the castle, so a walk to that sounded good.  It’s roughly 3 miles each way but flat until I get to the castle area, sounds good.

Where I was heading

Remember that comment about flat until close to castle……

A toasty day, 5 sets of those that = over 800 steps I WAS KNACKERED 😆.

At the top of the last lot of steps I was met with this, it made me laugh rather a lot. Nice of them too translate…

Then it was up to the castle. Although not not a huge structure it definitely has had its moments, with a read on the link I added.  The views however were incredible and worth every one of those steps.

From the castle looking over Blanes

Again from the castle facing west towards Girona, the mountains looked amazing

Largest part of the castle, fully restored after previous decay

Then it was time to walk back to the van.  I decided to take the longer route via pavements/road rather than use the steps again.  They were very steep in places and basically I was gubbed so decided to take the longer but easier option.  Was worth it as some of the houses I walked by were spectacular, with the views being even more so.

Back o the van, shower and relax

I didn’t update about my bike ride to LLoret de Mar yesterday.

It was only just over 10 miles but a hugely enjoyable cycle.  Roads in Spain are so much more geared up for cyclists tan the UK, and the drivers much more respectful. So cycled over, did a couple of little detours to be a tourist and look at things then cycle back.  It felt great getting out for a pedal after the recent cold had kept me to very short walks before feeling fatigued.

I dropped by Decathlon but due to it being a Sunday it was closed, LOTS of retail places close on a Sunday, and Monday in Spain.

This sign made me giggle like a schoolboy - teehee

I liked this sign, no reason apart from it has Barcelona on it.

Tomorrow I have changed my plans a bit.  Decided to just up sticks and stay in Girona until the next day when I go o my next longish term site near Alicante / Murcia.  Tomorrow is all about Game of thrones filming areas and general old town Girona.