Barcelona to St Tropez

Day 8 Barcelona to Aire Saint Andre France

We left camping Barcelona about 3.00pm after having a last look round Mataro Centre. we headed north to cross the French border. We were heading for an Aire called Le Boulou when we arrived the aire was full so we headed for the nearest alternative which was called Aire Saint andre. When we stopped we discovered we had lost a loft light in the shower room which had not been closed properly and the wind had taken it off, so we got the Hymer book out to look for the nearest dealer.

 

 

Day 9 Aire Saint Andre to Aire Port La Nouvelle 2

Left the Aire early and headed for the Hymer dealer which was on the way to our next stop, when we arrived we went in to see if they could repair the loft light however they could not repair it until October so we carried on to the next Aire, when we got there it was a sunny day so we got the chairs out and had a lazy few hours. About 4ish we went for a bike ride to the beach, on our way back to the van we stopped at a super u store to see if they had anything we could use to repair the roof light. We bought a plastic box with a lid and Derek bodged it up so it didn’t leak !!!! (funny cos the sun was shining).

 

 

Day 10 Aire Port La Nouvelle to Aire Nabonne 2

We carried on our journey to Nabonne Plage. On the way we found a camping car accessory shop so we stopped to have a look for a loft light. Hurray they had one in stock so we arranged to have it fitted on Monday. We then decided to stop at an Aire at Nabonne 2 which was not as far from Nabonne as the Aire at Nabonne plage also we were going to stay for 3 nights until we had the camper repaired. In the afternoon we caught the bus in to the centre of Nabonne and had a look round we stopped for a couple of vin rouge on the way back.

 

 

Day 11 Nabonne 2

Today we had a bike ride into the centre of Nabonne to take in a bit of culture, Lots to see  round the hotel de ville and the cathedral then we went for a coffee by the river.

 

 

 

Day 12 Nabonne 2

As per usual everything is shut on Sundays in  France so we went for a walk and for a coffee in the Mc cafe (Posh Mcdonalds ) then back to the van for a lazy day.Weather a bit drizzly but still mild. Just waiting here for tomorrow when van should be repaired.

 

 

Day 13 Nabonne to Cap `d agde

Today we went to the accessory shop to get the  roof light in the shower room fixed then set off for the Aire at Cap` d  aged, when we arrived the Aire was full so we had to move to the next Aire which was at Sete. Before we got to Sete we came across about 40 motorhomes all parked up on a beach at a place called Masellerains sur plage so we decided to join them for the night. At 4.00am i was woke up with a light inside the motorhome only to realise there was more than Derek and me inside. I jumped up quick and shouted get out of my camper and the burglar sped off without stealing anything from us.

 

 

Day 14 Masellerains sur Plage to Arles

We woke up at about 9ish after not much sleep and set off for an Aire at Arles when we started the engine , the engine management light came on so we looked for the nearest Fiat Garage at Montpellier  to get it repaired .After lunch the garage fixed the problem and we were on our way. We decided to stay at the nearest Aire for the night which was called Palavas les Flots and had an early night.

 

 

Day 15 Palavas les Flots to St Tropez

We left the Aire at Palavas les Flots and headed straight to a campsite at St Tropez called Prairies de la mer. Derek decided after the last few days we needed a bit of cheering up so we could crash out for 3 nights  and relax.

 

 

 

Day 16 St Tropez

We got a taxi boat in to St Tropez harbour from Port Grimaud had a look round the harbour and the centre of town then sat having a couple of glasses of red wine watching the world go by, then got the taxi boat back to the campsite.

Day 17 Camping Prairies de la mer

Spent  all day on the beach and round the site total chill out, ready for heading north tomorrow.

 

La Florida to Barcelona

The Return Journey -12 Sept 2012

Day 1 La Florida to Valencia

We left our bungalow at about lunch time, had a 3 hour drive to Valencia, when we arrived dropped mum off at her hotel then carried on to the site Camping Coll vert. We spent the evening round the site which was very noisy.

 

 

Day 2 Valencia

Today we all caught the bus from the camp site into Valencia centre when we arrived we took a big bus tour which showed us round the city, one part was the old town and one part was the very modern part of the city. We had lunch in a little Spanish cafe vino tinto and small sandwiches, Later we had Valencian Paella which is a tradition in this part of Spain then back to the site.

 

 

Day 3 Valencia

We went back in to Valencia today and had a tour round the cathedral, walking round we saw two Goya paintings. My mum and me climbed to the top of the tower which was 206 steps to the top. The view from the top was incredible. We had Wok to Walk for Tea.

 

 

Day 4 Valencia to Barcelona

We set off for Barcelona at about 10.00am it was a 5 hour drive before we reached Mataro a little town just outside Barcelona where we were staying, again we dropped mum off at her hotel before heading to the site Camping Barcelona, spent the evening round the site overlooking the med.

 

 

Day 5 Barcelona

Today we had an early start 8.45am !!!! We caught the train in to the centre of Barcelona to Plaza de Catalunya, Here we bought our big bus tour tickets. Before we went on the tour we had a coffee in a little place on La Rambla. The tours of Barcelona are amazing with lots to see throughout the city. After we had finished the tours we had our evening meal on La Rambla watching the world go by before heading back to the Site.

 

 

Day 6 Barcelona

Went to see the Sagrada Familia  which is Gaudi`s Dream, this church is still under construction and has been for 100 years. This building is breath taking. Then back to the campsite for a BBQ on my mums last night.

 

 

Day 7 Barcelona

Saw my mum off at the airport today then back to the site  to do the washing and getting ready to move in to France.

 

 

Seville to La Florida

Day 77 Seville to the Olive groves

We left the site for a 2 hour drive up into the olive groves between Seville and Granada. We arrived at the Aire and decided to stop for a couple of hours, We went for a walk in to the village but as it was siesta everywhere was closed apart from a little bar so we stopped for a coffee, we also noticed a tapas menu so we decided to try a couple, we took a guess at what we were ordering as there was not a menu in English so we ordered”  Gambas pil pil” (Prawns in garlic oil) and “Patatas Bravas con Chorizo” (Potatoes with Chorizo sausage) each tapas was 1 euro. Then back to the van we decided to drive to Venta del Peral Aire which was another 2 hours, As we set off we drove through miles and miles of Olive groves up and down very bendy roads.When we arrived at the Aire we had to change the gas bottle however there was an issue with the new gas and we were not sure if it was the bottle or the regulator, luckily Derek managed to secure it for the night.

 

 

 

Day 78 Venta del Peral to Puntas del Calnegre

We set off back to Puntas del Calnegre  which was the beach we came across 3 weeks ago when we left the bungalow. When we arrived the beach was empty, Again we had to secure the regulator on the gas bottle as it seemed to be worse. After about an hour of messing about with it we managed to sort it out. Another Campervan joined us from Finland. Just the two of us stayed the night. About 7.00pm Derek lit the BBQ and we sat on the beach until the sun went down. We were going to stay for 2 nights.

 

 

Day 79 Puntas Del Negre to Home

The gas decided to play up again so we decided to just drive back to the bungalow and get it sorted when we got back home..This is where part one of 2 muppets in a motorhome stops until the 12^th September when we start the tour back.