Spain back to the UK

Thursday 27th March 2008: The road from the camp ground followed the beach past the Flamingos feeding ponds and the salt extraction ponds, eventually along the side of a cliff and up to a lighthouse. The sky was blue today and the view up the rocky coastline magnificent. From here on the road was closed and the locals were setting off with back packs exploring the ‘isolated’ bays and foreshores.

Back on the freeway we join the hundreds of trucks and the flow of vehicles north. I estimate that there are just as many heavy semi’s on the road as there are private motor vehicles. About 60kms south of Valencia we exit to the small town of Gandia, and find a camp ground. We walk to the beach through the holiday resort area, but can not find a restaurant. We walked and walked, now at 8pm we managed a beer at a tapas bar, but no food. Hence we resorted to finding a supermarket and purchased BBQ pork ribs that tasted great with a bottle of wine in the truck.

Camp 21: Couldn’t find a Restaurant Camp.

Distance travelled: 426Kms. Total: 7981Kms.

Friday, Saturday 28-29th March: A couple of days on and off the highways. Most remembered was an old Roman viaduct beside the road and the seaside resorts around Carnet Plage. The beaches are quite now but by the number of car parks provided and the numerous town houses, in summer it must be very busy.

Following smaller roads to our destination of Anduze, where we caught up with Chris Scott. Chris has a great deal of knowledge of the North African continent, and should things be politically OK in Algeria we expect to join him in November for a 4 week tour of that country.

Camp was at a quaint private park on the side of a hill, very picturesque and quiet.

Camp 23: Anduze Camp. Distance travelled in 2 days: 894Kms. Total: 8875Kms.

Saturday 30th March: We were due at Chris’s at 9am but daylight saying caught us out so we were a slightly late 10.15 for that first coffee. Following more Africa discussions in preparation for our 2010 Morocco to Cape Town trip we left around midday.

Taking the smaller twisting roads through the Cervantes Mountains we eventually met the A7 north again. Some of those smaller roads in the Cervantes hair pinned so much that many times I had to reverse to get the vehicle around. Lyn was pleased to reach the main road and call a coffee break.

We should know by now that freeway fast food stops never offer good food. Nobody ever complains they just drive away. French highway food shops are no different. We set camp in the car park of such a roadside stop.

Camp 24: Highway A7 Camp. Distance travelled: 232Kms. Total: 9108Kms.

Monday 31st March: The nights are getting colder as we head north, and last night was no different. Leaving the main road we selected smaller roads up to the d’Auvergne Mountains. This is part of the central French snow fields, and as we assended up the mountains the snow cover increased. Finally, and quite magical, for us it began to snow.

It covered the fur trees like a Christmas tree, and on the ground it was up to half a metre deep. Lunched in a small village surrounded by snow.

Returning off the mountain range, we camped by a small lake enjoying our French Champagne, cheese and salmon.

Camp 25: Champagne Camp. Distance travelled: 195Kms. Total: 9303Kms.

Tuesday 1st April: We had by telephone previously booked to travel by the ferry back to Pool in the UK tonight so it was a full day covering the 700 kilometres.

Most of this we travelled on the toll ways and our credit card was accepted. However at one booth the Mastercard and the Visa would not work. I only had €10, and that was our coffee money, the toll was €20.40. In the end she accepted the €10; either that or we would continue to block the toll booth indefinitely. The cards both worked after that, so I am convinced that some places are just not set up for international credit cards.

Following the above experience we elected to follow the final few kilometres via lesser roads and that took us along the Normandy Coast where the Americans landed in partnership with the Brits further north at Dunkirk in the ‘D-Day’ landing on the 6th June 1944.

The overnight ferry puts us back on left side of the road in the UK. Today, following the cloths washing at a laundrette in Pool is a truck clean at Devon 4x4 and tomorrow (Wednesday 3rd) we return home to Brisbane.

The vehicle will remain again here in the UK for our return in July/August to explore Ireland and the west of Scotland.

Distance Travelled: 700Kms. Total for trip:10003Kms

Max temp 36.6C Min minus 3C