Well what a night – again, but not the humans this time. No this time a touch of mother nature. Wind (no not the sort that sets of the alarm!) lots of it, and by this morning we were nearly all looking for the sick bags - Priscilla, rolled and rocked and shook, and groaned in winds that blasted all night. Not cold, still 11deg, just gusty, and at daybreak blue sky and sun. It felt like we had been on the overnight ferry.
I at least had made friends with my Dutch mate next door. He was a little dog, and when we first meet, growled and showed me his teeth (yes clean and white, what did he want me to say?). But at last he realises I don’t want his humans, so we were friends. However, he did remind us of something very serious we had forgotten about. Furry caterpillars, the ones that live in Pine trees, in silk cocoons, and walk in long lines (we had encountered them last year while in Nice). They are very dangerous to humans and us dogs, they can even kill us. We had heard horrible stories of dogs having to have parts of their noses or tongues cut away, after encountering them. My mate had done that a couple of weeks ago, and ended up having to stay in hospital overnight. He was lucky he just ended up with a blue patch on his tongue. They are everywhere in the Med and Europe, so a message to all mates reading this, and going on walks in Europe, never go near a line of caterpillars, and never sniff them or even stand on them, horrid critters.
We packed up and were on our way in no time, sorry to leave such a nice location, but we had stayed 2 nights. Now a little apprehensive about how much we were going to be blown around on the motorway. By the time we got out of town, the winds had dropped to just strong, and our journey was very pleasant, in the sun and blue sky. Alan slipped cruise control on, and for over 200km, we just glided along (it’s a big day today 280km, to get us past Barcelona, to our last overnight in Spain.
Talking of Barcelona, the traffic was mad as usual, but as we were staying on the AP7, we did not have to do “the drive to hell” through the centre as we did last year.
So our last full day in Espania, a lot of memories, of 5 weeks of very differing experiences and sights. I have made a map of our journey, and put it here for your viewing. With my travels maybe instead of a writer I will try Geography teaching!
The route we have done so farThe one overriding memory will be “wont it be nice when they finish building” . Today we had miles and miles of the AP7 being upgraded while they build yet another motorway right alongside.
As I was saying all was well as we cruised north, that was until be got to the Costa Brava, and Gerona. Ahead, over the mountains clouds were building, and they were dark. Our junction approached and we turned off the autoroute and paid our toll. A few more km and there were spots of rain, then it went black and we got snow & rain together. Now I now it rains in Spain, but I was not expecting snow on the Costa Brava, and it went cold. When we got to site there was a thermometer on the reception wall saying it was 10 deg. See a fur coat is useful!
We are in L’Estartit, we have the usual amenities, including a heated indoor swimming pool. They smile; it’s the old rules NO swimming, in shorts or without a rubber hat on. So I expect I may have a problem with my fur (have to get a wetsuit), but then I don’t like paddling or swimming, silly me. We’ve been a walk into town (mostly shut up waiting for summer) but the dozens of inmobiliarias (estate agents to you and me) were open all trying to sell windows full of all sorts of properties. The humans said that although there is stacks on the market prices are still high, reason properties are on the market for years.We have returned, just as the sun is showing through. And I am at the table ready, I saw them put the kettle on, so I know there’ll be a biscuit or two coming my way.
A web pic of L'EstartitJust about to take a bite of the first one and there back, the gusty winds, we are rocking again. 5pm Just the time our friends Robert and Geoff land in Perpignan, I hope they are not in need of sick bags as well!.
Were all looking out of the window at a GB tugger pitch, just in front of us. He has a satellite dish the size of Jodrell Bank, with rope tying off in every direction. He has been out 2-3 times to re-align it as the wind is turning it into a kite. Every time he goes back in it blows round again. He’s not been out for half hour, we think he has settled down to the fact he has to watch Russian TV tonight!
If you want to see where we are the link is: http://www.campinglesmedes.com/
I’ll ask them when we meet up with them tomorrow, when we get to the Marseillan/Sete area of France.
So its -Hasta Luego, Espania, and Bonjour, la France
Not sure if I will get wifi access over the next couple of days – or If they’ll be in a fit state to use it if we do, so keep watching for the latest instalment!!- theres still a week to go………..
Distance today : 280 km
Total do date : 4071 km
Tolls : € 16.00
Best diesel price: € 1.10Lt LPG
