Roady's Roamings

The Woolpack allows a few campervans in the car park, but only when the Eskdale campsite is closed. 

Coniston beer festival is held at the Britannia Inn Elterwater. There are no local campsites open this time of year, so a search on Google maps satellite view identified a couple of lay bys that could function as a park for the night. All went well, good beer a good bit of crack (Cumbria for talk, not drugs) and a quite night.

We've been back home 3 weeks now and sorted out all the paperwork and fixed all the things that didn't work in the house. We travelled from Dover and stopped at one of our favourite Pub stopovers at The Red Lion in Old Marston near Oxford. They have a large car park at the rear of the pub, no facilities but a friendly welcome, good food and good ale.  We were hoping to use Doxey Road Lorry Park, Stafford to empty the toilet etc. Unfortunately there are no longer ady facilities there. So a cup of coffee and our last Patisserie together with a bit of planning was called for. 1. Just go home, 3 hours driving. 2. Go to another Pub.  We decided on number 1 until we put home in the satnav and discovered there was a accident on the M6 with a 30 minute delay. Option number 2 looked more inviting, a quick phone call and off to The Boat Inn, Cheddleton.  What an excellent choice! Nice little pub with car park by the canal and a couple of skeletons climbing the r...

Time for a campsite, charge batteries, a bit of clothes washing and a spread out before the final push through France to the ferry terminal and home. This will be out third stay in Erromardie and our second time at this campsite, the first site being closed this time of year. It is a very convenient stop going to and from northern Spain. The site take the ACSI card and so makes it good value at this time of year. The pitches are a good size although not level requiring ramps for the "princesses" amongst up, needless to say we don't have any, and never need them. There is a cycle path into Saint Jean de Luz,  a very pleasant seaside resort town that at this time of the year is very quiet, but still plenty of shops and bars open and a beautiful sheltered beach. Day one was arrival day, sorting ot washing etc. Day two we cycle into SJ de L and continued round the bay to Ciboure and on to Socoa where the is an old fort and good views of the sea and back towards S J de L. Alon...

Once again just an overnight stopover to break the journey. The aire was a bit disappointing, just a large car park on an industrial estate, with a few old caravans dotted around. We assume the locals use the area for storage. No facilities, we didn't need any anyway.  There is a good cyclepath into town along the river and around the harbour, so that gave us some exercise for the day.  Pleasant town and port with a large ship called the Norwegian Gannett. It looked like a fishing vessel of some sort, and the name would suggest the same but what was it doing in a dock in Zumaia? I had to Google it. It turns out it is a fishing vessel but it is designed for  the salmon farms of the Norwegian Fjords, and it was built in the shipyard here. First launched in May 2018. She is still being fitted out.

We tried to stop here on our way heading West, but the parking was full, we had better luck this time and parked on the sea front. It was a little busy during the day but once it was dark, everything was very peaceful. We took a walk around the old town with it castle and church with a very good view of the town and harbour from the top. Excellent stopover.

Just an overnight stop with the basic facilities. Showers in the van and an early night. Nice quite aire in a residential area near a sports complex.

We had and extremely pleasant day with an old work friend, catching up on 26 years of life, a lot has happened but little has changed, maybe the hair is a little greyer and the knees creak more, but it we if that time was only a few weeks. He has made Taramundi his home and made his home in Taramundi,  literally, he has rebuilt a house from what  was a derelict shell, and what a wonderful job he has made of it, but that was always his style.  Just by chance there was a fiesta in Pontenova with a firework display at the old iron kilns, so at 1130 pm we headed back there for a spectacular show including a portable stage with entertainment. A wonderful end to the day. Back to the van for an overnight in his driveway. Thank you N and R.

At Foz we also had WiFi, so we did a little more planning and found a Via Verde nearby at Pontenova. Via Verde are literally green ways, in most cases, old railway track open to walkers and cyclist. The motorhome aire and service point was at near the start of the VV so very convenient. We cycled the length of the VV a total of 11 km, 22 km return, almost level with 4 tunnels and a viaduct, very interesting. Three of the tunnels had automatic lighting that turned on as we entered. The 4th tunnel was short and didn't need it. We decided not to stop at the aire for the night and moved on to Taramundi for the night. An old work college lives near Taramundi so it is our intention to visit him in the morning.

Camper Parks are half way between a Aire de service, Area de Autocaravanas in Spain, and a campsite. There are the usual basic services plus electric hookup toilets and in this case washing up area, showers and, the main reason for stopping here, washing machines. We were running short of clean clothes so we booked in for 2 nights for washing and get the batteries fully charged. We were camped next to a couple from Manchester, so it was also a good chance to practice our English. The weather also took a turn for the worse with very strong gusts especially overnight, next door lost their table, we were more fortunate. We intended to cycle to Foz, but the wind was still a problem so we walked it. Foz is a seaside holiday town with one of the large beach of golden sands, but as is to be expected, very quite at this time of year. Found an ATM for some money and back along the beautiful footpath back to the van, most enjoyable.

A pleasant aire with the basic facilities.  We set of on aborted cyclemtrip to Foz. The going was a little hilly at first, that wasnt much of a problem, but the river crossing was over a busy main road bridge with no cycle path. Foz will have to wait. The following morning was a walk on the beach before heading for  Camperpark Atalaia the other side of Foz.

Very good aire on the cliffs tops overlooking a sandy cove, a number of surfers of several nationalities came and went during the time we were there. No facilities so just a good place for one quiet night.

Arrived middle of the afternoon. The parking was on a bit of a slope so we pick the best bit as we were the only ones there. A very nice beach but at that time of the day was in shadow and the tide was comming in so after a leg stretch it was back to the van to tea. A Swiss lady arrived a little later so we didnt spend the night alone.

After breakfast we headed of north down the Senda del Oso allong the river Quiròs. The trip began trough the woods with very little to see, a gentle downslope required very little pedaling and more freewheeling, not a good sign for the ruturn trip. The morning was quite cold and without internal heating from pedaling we both got cold, especially the hands. After about 5 km the view opened out and we passed and crossed the  Reservoir Valdemurio. From then on it was more lije the other branch of the Senda with tunnels and bridges. After 11.4 km we arrived at the junction of the Entrago route of the Senda, the one we completed last year. We retraced out path back to the resevoir forma quick lunch and back to the van. As it was only 2 pm we decided to move on to Play de Aguilar.

We arrived at the aire Parking area de Bazana at lunch time. After lunch it looked a bit brighter and the rain had stopped so we decided to get a feel for the cyclepath and headed up to Santa Maria, to the end of this  branch of the Senda. It was just 2.5  km but it got us out. The other direction tomorrow.

After visiting the aire with facilities,  we stopped for the night Parking de el Rinconin once again mixed parking and no facilities.  It is now raining so its a couple of games of Rummikub and catching up on New Scientist for me and a novel for Jeannette. The following morning it is still raining but looking brighter so we headed off for a quick walk along the sea front, with a hasty walk back as another shower came in off the sea. Tomorrow weather is looking better so we are off to Bazana and the Senda del Oso Quiròs branch.

Time again for some shopping so that was included in the trip from Cangas de Onis. The next planned activity is the Senda del Oso, but the weather is not looking good for a couple of days so we decided to stick to the coast where it is a bit warmer. Playa de Rondiles aire is just mixed parking with an area just for campers, no facilities but is right next to an excellent beach where we walked and watched the  surfers. The following day the weather was starting to get worse and we needed to empty toilets and tanks and get more water on board as it is shower night. So we headed to Gijon to an aire with facilities.

Cangas de Onis was chosen as an overnight stop in thr aire by the bus station, just a mixed parking area with motorhome facilities. The town itself is very nice, lots of bars and restaurants,  an impressive church, a old covered in market and a Roman bridge. All worth visiting.

The road from P de V to Cain is not for the faint hearted, hairpin bends, 1 in 10 hills and narrow, but take your time and its OK, but don't expect to do any more the 2nd gear and 30 kph. In Cain there are a great number of parking places and resturants, lets face it there is only on reason to be here, the Cares Gorge walk. After parking up we headed into the gorge, the firt part goes through a number of tunnels hewn out of the rock with handrails on the open parts, a contrast to the rest of the walk, no handrails an vertical drops. The whole walk is 11 km to Poncebos, we did not intend to do it all as there is only a 135 km road journey or walk back and 22 km is a bit much for us. After about 4 km we decided to head back, the scenery, although stunning at first, becomes the norm and the precipitous edges to the path cause a constant stress and it is very tiring. Retracing our steps we arrive back at the van for a quick lunck before heading back down the road to P de V and then on ...

After Bulnes and Fuente De walks we decided to rest our old knees for a day before heading to Cain to walk the Cares Gorge. Posada de Valdeon is at the end of the only road to Cain.  The motorhome aire is very good, usual services and hookup for €10 a night and the use of the adjoining sports hall toilet facilities. P de V is a small village with only a few bars and no shops but stunning views and after 2 nights there we headed for Cain and the Cares Gorge.

We were here last year just to do the cable car ride. It left us with a desire to return to do more walking in the area. We arrived too late to do any walking that day and besides the top cablecar station was in the clouds. The following day's weather forecast looked good so we stopped the night in the campsite El Redondo, a quirky little site, but very welcoming. We met a young couple from Bristol with a young girl toddler, we were to bump into them on several occasions the following day. Up reasonable early in the morning to move the van off the campsite and onto the carpark for the Cable Car, Telefèrico in Spanish. We decided to travel up the cable car and walk the PN PR 24 route back the the carpark. We survived the cable car trip without having to climb out and use a belt to slide down the cable to safety or jump from one car to the next. The walk was spectacular, the views of the rugged mountain peaks contrasting with the lush meadows with grazing cattle and snow left over fr...

The latest model of personal luxury transport for the aspiring Bulnes executive: Open topped Cabriolet. 4 wheel drive. Power steering. Fully air conditioned. Sporty roll cage. Spacious boot. Stylish "go anywhere" tyres on iron alloy wheels. High performance exhaust system married to an air cooled 2 cylinder side valve diesel engine for that throaty rattle. A steering wheel. Faux leather interior trim. Occasional brakes. Can be converted into a mobile residence with the "tent" option. Ex Audi drivers will love the lack of any indicators. Price on application. No time wasters, this a once in a lifetime offer.

The Funicular de Bulnes is a railway that runs in a tunnel from Poncebos and seems to be the only access to Bulnes. There is a single tunnel with a passing place half way to allow the 2 carriages to pass, one going up and the other down, joined by cables. The passing point is small and not visible in the dim light of the tunnel, so the oncomming lights of the other carriage give the sense of an impending collision. The trip up took about 20 minutes and cost €17.44 per person one way, a little expensive but worth it. The locals use the train and the first carriage of the day, which we took, carries the workers and large quantites of bread, milk and olive oil amongst other item. Arriving at the top station there is just a dirt track, one way signposed Bulnes and the other back to Poncebos. We headed for Bulnes followed, and soon overtaken, by quadbikes and small tractors laden with goods brought up by the train. After about 5 minutes walk we arrived at Bulnes, a few houses outnumber...

After leaving Camping La Paz we did some shopping at a Lupo supermarket and got another half tank of diesel on board. And headed into the Picos de Europa. We booked in, had lunch and then headed off to do the Funicular de Bulnes. One big problem, not a single parking place to be found. Obviously a very popular place. Change of plan, get up early and go to Bulnes on the railway and walk down. We will leave the Ruta de Cares until after Fuente De, and walk it from the Cain end. Good campste, a little expensive, no doubt due to the location.

Before heading into the Picos de Europa we decided to head to the coast for a couple of nights at Camping La Paz. An interesting place, camping on tarraces overlooking the sea. Beautiful views of the waves and sandy beaches, unfortunately day 2 was misty, cloudy weather and not so inviting. More planning for the next few days was a usefull use of the time as well as a bit more guitar practice. I can nearly play cords in time AND sing at the same time. Jeannette did wonder if I'd cleared the campsite. There was no way I could keep in time with the cowbell accomplement in the next field. The plan for the next few days, camping Naranjo de Bulnes for the Ruta del Cares, an 11 km walk one way and 11 back and visit Bulnes on the funicular railway. Then Fuete De cablecar and walks.

We parked up at the carpark for the Salto Nervion which is a 222 metre waterfall into a canyon. This is the largest waterfall on the Iberian peninsular. Unfortunately there was no water, but the spectacular views of the canyon from the viewing point made it well worth it. We then walked close to the edge of the canoyon to a viewpoint Mirador del Ruben, offering fantastic views over Orduña. Total walk of 6 km and back at the van for lunch. Then off to get some shopping in Reinosa and Aguilar de Campoo.

We left the van in the carpark just before entering the town of Mave. The walk is quite an experience walking allond the edge of the canyon with magnificent views of the caves and rock formations, with vultures soaring allong the valley. The only downside was the swarms of flies that followed us. Back to the van for a cup of tea in the carpark and then off to Puente San Miguel

This was just an overnight stop in the carpark of a school. Good quiet night and off to walk the Cañon de Horidada.

We stopped in the aire to fill with water and empty the waste tank in preparation for showers in the evening and after a quick lunch and headed off on a bike ride allong the Via Verde del Besaya to Suances, a lovely, almost level trip with a beach and the sea at the end. Back to the van of a quiet afternoon in the shade and a botyle of cold white wine. Showers later and the last episode of Poldark on Netflix download.

Time for a bit of a spead out in a campsite and get the batteries fully recharged on mains hookup and zero the Coulomb meter. A Coulomb meter measures the current in and out of the habitation batteries so i know the state of charge, as time goes on the errors build up and hence it needs resetting on a full battery, about every fortnight is good enough. We had a meal out at the on site resteraunt on the first of the 2 night stay and on the following day did some planning for the forthcomming week and whent for a swim in the enclosed pool, we had it all to ourselves. All the washing that had accumulated over the past fortnight was washed in the machines on site and dried ready for the next couple of weeks.

We were goin to cycle the Via Verde del Oja. A green way from Ezcaray to Casalarreina a 27 km rise on an old railway bed. We intended to stop at the aire in Casalarreina and cycle up to Ezcaray, but the aire had an encampment of old pickups and caravans and no campervans, we didn't fancy leaving the van there so we decided on the Ezcaray aire. The aire was in a very nice shaded situation by a municipal park and playground next to a resteraunt, the only difficulty we had was that the main bridge in the town was closed and the detour was not well signposted. A quick Google map search found another bridge. My Tomtom Go satnav in the van has the ability to update the map information, I notified the app that the bridge was closed and the next day the map was update. Quite impressed. The cycle to Casalarreina was now downhill, for almost the whole 27 km, which means it is up hill on the way back, not easy when the temperature is 31°C in the shade and there was no shade. A quick visi...