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Harvey10 - Europe-bound
  • Pip Greenwood
  • John Anslow

Harvey10 - Europe-bound

A 91-day adventure by Pip & John Read more
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  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Communal breakfast at Rec.On

    January 19, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Set the alarm in time for communal breakfast before leaving the Rec.On campsite. Good coffee, green tea for John, bread, almond flower honey, and parma ham. Again, the company was good and we met Paulina, who's the partner of Bart. They are the Polish owners. A really lovely couple who clearly genuinely enjoy mixing with people. A group of about 10 people relaxed around the table chatting together. We discussed Brexit, pensions, immigration issues in Germany, Netherlands and the UK and more. We had further conversations with Dieter, who we met last night, and his wife Christina. They gave us some tips re good places to visit. He also told us his job history after I asked him about it. It was interesting but strangely, his answers were all directed at John. The only time I got eye contact was when I spoke directly, but then it was very noticibly back to John. That said, we enjoyed it and generally enjoyed our time there more than we had expected on first arrival. An interesting place with interesting people.
    We left there and came here to a very relaxed campsite an hour's drive further west. Great showers, good washing machine, tumble dryer and lots of space and peace.
    It started raining just as we took a quickie 10 min stroll down to the lake, which is very low, and the site of a recently defunct restaurant.
    I took a photo of the menu for the campsite restaurant and put it through Google Lens to translate. One dish on offer was lizard with potatoes and another was fuck thigh! (See pic)    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Walk and riverbeds

    January 20, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Our 4.5 mile up and down walk presented amazing views and we diverted from the path a few times to explore the dried up riverbed. Despite recent floods in Malaga, this area has been in drought for 5 years, and reservoir levels of Andalucia are down to 22%. It's quite worrying, also quite amazing that plants are surviving. Mainly olive crops and some trees here.
    John had his head down a lot looking at minerals, stones, and anything of interest.
    There are an awful lot of houses in an unfinished state randomly dotted across hillsides by the road. I asked the owner about the reason. She said that due to the region becoming a protected zone by Europe, some builders were prohibited from continuing. She said it's better now because you don't get illegal buildings, the area is protected and the farmers can continue their work and apply to build if necessary.
    It is nothing to do with water levels and the fact that the lake is so low. We thought that it had become less attractive to visitors because of that. Hence people were no longer visiting.
    Our conversation was conducted with her speaking into her phone and pressing translate, for me to then read. And likewise when I spoke. Brilliant!

    A familiar downside to a lovely walk was the dogs barking as you walked. One property today had four very large black rottweilers. They were pretty bloody scary. Feels very aggressive to have such dogs around your property.

    Apart from that, we had a lovely day and we even sat outside for a short time. 14° high and forecast 2° tonight . Narberth is warmer but a lot of rain.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound
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    Beautiful spot near Granada

    January 21, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    I liked the last campsite and went to say goodbye to Sagra, who did the 2 cheek air kiss thing with me.
    A 2 hr drive further on, skirting round and past Granada brought us to this amazing spot, which John had found on Park4night.
    We had a scary moment on route when one of a group of motorbikes cut the bend at speed and was heading for the side of the van, till a last minute swerve. The leader had rudely and cheekily tried gesturing to the car in front to move over and we virtually came to a standstill. If John hadn't been paying attention it could have been a nasty domino effect. Thankfully, all was OK.
    There's a few other campers here enjoying the place, including some kids singing 'if you're happy and you know it' in English.

    We had a walk around, and our trainers got clarted up with a sticky clay and sand mix. There was evidence on the ground of water travelling due to recent floods in the area but it hasn't filled the reservoir up.
    I basked in the warm sun while I could. John went for a later walk to look at the dam. The water is constantly changing colour.

    Feels like a cold night. Due to be 1° later.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Beautiful spot extras

    January 21, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 6 °C

    More pics.

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    El Torcal - Film-set scenery!

    January 22, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    Today started with more amazing views as we left our overnight location. Starting with John doing chocks-away, it was not a level spot. The morning landscape looked more like a painting.
    Just under 2 hour drive and we saw grass at the base of olive trees!! We even saw sheep and shepherds! The whole area was becoming verdant, and we were pretty high up in mountains. Then we went even higher up another scary road to a place called El Torcal. Dieter, the German chap we had met at Rec.On told us about it. It was just WOW landscape! A 2 hour walk, probably about 4 miles, of a rocky and sometimes muddy path, often a scramble. I took my stick just in case, which I was thankful for as it was VERY slippery in places. I've not seen puddles for ages!
    We even saw an Iberian ibex on the rocks.
    I haven't seen Game of Thrones but I can imagine it being set there. It was one of the best walks I've ever had. Just amazing. We were not alone in our enjoyment as the car park was full on arrival. We got lucky when someone was just leaving.
    We had a quick tea and coffee and returned to the van with mud covered trousers and boots.
    Now we are stationed in a lovely spot at a place called Antequera, about 20 minutes down the mountain.
    It was a bit of a shock when we saw the amount of motorhomes parked at our planned overnight stop. We managed to squeeze on and many more have done so since. It's January and it's packed!! Number plates show F, E, B, A, NL, but I'd say 70% are D! No sign of UK other than us. The motorhome next to us has the word PRIVELEGE on the side. Why would anyone choose a vehicle with that written on it? I tried hard to catch the owners eye as we walked past each other so that I could acknowledge and at least say hello. He tried his very best to look past and totally blank me. He succeeded. It felt very odd. Maybe it's because he's privileged!
    Apart from that minor moment, it's been a brilliant day! I may have to post MANY photos and some videos.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound
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    Even more extras

    January 22, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 10 °C

    Extra even more pics! Including down the hill to our motorhome ghetto. 😉

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound
    2

    Ronda (only one d)

    January 23, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Up early to go and beat the crowds at Ronda. Managed to find a good street parking spot and walked a mile or so down to see the bridge, which of course I couldn't look down from, so the sky suddenly became very interesting.
    John spotted a museum en route. It was really good. Museo Lara. It had all sorts of engineered implements from guns (which I found surprisingly interesting. They were works of art), sewing machines, nautical measuring instruments, cameras, knives, pipes, guitars and loads more. It also had a witchcraft section (see videos) and a Spanish inquisition section. John was bowled over with it and said it's one of the best museums he's been to. It was a private collection. We would have stayed longer but it was too cold inside and we'd dressed for 23° (it felt a lot hotter than that in the sun).
    We splashed out on lunch of goat's cheese 'brick' (which turned out to be deep fried in batter parcel) and a waldorf style salad for me and beef and bacon burger with chips for John, plus bottled waters, a coffee for me, and a pudding for John. It cost €43, probably higher prices due too being close to the bridge. Ironically, we chose the one sunny table outside but half way through, they went and put a parasol up and placed it so we got no sun! It was too late to ask them not to.
    There were many parties of people with a guide. Mainly Japanese we thought. Lots of nationalities but luckily at this time of year it didn't feel crowded. Good for people watching. We then walked to lower ground and saw the bridge from below.

    Moving on, we tried an overnight spot in Montelballo but didn't like it so have ended up here. In a small area where walkers come, near a place called Moron.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound
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    Ronda cont.

    January 23, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Some creepy stuff and an interesting machine for women. No doubt the church would have ruled them witches for having such a thing.
    Soil colour change and lush green fields on way here.

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    1st leg -Castle fort at Niebla

    January 24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We spent a quiet night at the free spot last night and skirted round Seville in slightly complicated fashion, then stopped to shop at a Carrefour. I thought the Brits were meant to be good at queuing but they had a system of queuing at a gateway. It's announced when you can advance to a till, giving a number. No self service. Not a bit like Aldi in the UK. For one, it means you can't start unloading your shopping onto the belt until the previous person has paid. For two, there was just one person on the till at one point and quite a queue formed. Myself and others with just one or two items were behind a fully loaded trolley. So it wasn't an efficient system like Aldi. But hey ... mañana.
    We had tea and coffee with rare Spanish music on a sun terrace above the shopping mall, which was both fun and cheap at just €2.16 in total (£1.85)!
    We found the main road a bit boring so came off onto a parallel road and stopped when we saw some huge fort walls. We walked around it and eventually found an entrance. The price was just €3 each for pensioners and it was really interesting. Especially full screen videos of actors in period costume telling you about their lives. They spoke in Spanish but you could select British or Catalan subtitles. The dungeons were pretty grim and creepy, a maze of them.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    2nd leg ... Arrived near Huelva

    January 24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    So some pics from the journey (and more of fort), I liked the way the huge hanger was decorated with line drawings in the profile of famous buildings. The view of the port as we passed Seville was a stunning hive of industry.
    We'd reserved for 2 nights at a 'campsite' nearby Huelva. BUT, on arrival around 5pm from our stop-off to see the castle, we were a bit horrified. It was just a car park basically, packed in really tightly. She came to the bollarded entrance and said they were full but she could fit us into a tiny spare space with no electric. OK it was only €12 but it felt horrible. The marketing told a different story. So we risked declining, it was only an hour before darkness but luckily we telephoned and managed to find space at this one nearby. Twice the price but proper sized spaces and some greenery. In fact larger spaces than most in Spain. It's almost full though so we were lucky as we were in dire need of emptying the toilet, grey water, and filling up with water.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Shorts - the Atlantic

    January 25, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Peaceful and warm here, despite it being a large site, so we've booked another 3 nights. It'll be good to stay in one place for a while. The beach is a stone's throw away. True to form, we couldn't resist some of the beautiful shells etc. Many are translucent.
    Had about four mile walk along the shore and back through streets, coastal walkways and wooded paths. Some grungy, rough parts and some natural beauty parts. Struggled to find anywhere offering a coffee.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Seashore / seafood

    January 26, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A full day of walking a full 8 miles up and down the beach, admiring shells, watching plovers, admiring seagulls (they were just standing facing Mecca waiting for something) plus avoiding dead ray fish, birds and other creatures.
    We stopped for a break at 'El Patio' fish restaurant and ordered prawn fritters and anchovies in a tempura batter. Thank you Google Lens, translate! Mind you, it was only after my visit to the ladies that I could use it to discover that they wanted me to knock before entering as the lock didn't work.
    When I ordered my coffee, I forgot to mention or to mime 'large', so I was presented with a mere thimble of very strong coffee, even though it was 'decafinado', I'm sure it spurred me on for our return journey.
    We tried taking some videos. I am not really cut out to work for David Attenborough but good for memories of plovers, one of my dad's favourite birds, and fast becoming mine too (along with kingfishers of course). The ones today were Kentish plovers, not ringed plovers, as he'd shown me in the Hebrides. I love the way they run fast as can be across the sand. It's as if their legs are made of wheels.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Look around Isla Christina

    January 27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    So, we've explored East, yesterday was West, and today was North into the town. There are lots of interesting boats around the port, including some high-end fishing vessels. We couldn't work out what the ceramic pots are for. A mystery.
    We passed many bars serving fish dishes, some full of lively locals. Tempted again, not that I'm a big fan, if I don't know what's coming. So after wandering a bit we passed a very quiet bar in the centre and I asked if we could have drinks and not food. I'd learnt two words 'bebe' (drink) and 'come' (eat, or food, I think). He seemed to understand.
    Once sat down, we glanced at the menu and decided to try the tapas. Including anchovies again. It was all delicious. Aubergines sliced and a honey marinade and battered, topped with slices of Iberian ham. Beef steaks and shrimp creamy sauce, goat's cheese fritata type wedge with a touch of honey. All an experiment but I must say I'm slightly pleased that John's choice of the octopus stuffed with seafood was off the menu today.
    It was all quite filling so no evening meal needed today. We made our way back to the site (about 5 miles) along the beach, which was fairly busy as it's Saturday.
    No need for driving for a few days now as we booked some extra nights, the 7th is free!
    If you stay for 30 nights, you only pay for 20, which is pretty good.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    The Carnival is over!

    January 28, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    After seeing what was going on with a big annual Andalucian running event, beginning and ending on this campsite, we ambled our way around exploring the west side of town today.
    Lots of boats of course, and more mosaic seats and we took some pics of normal streets. There was a racket coming from somewhere and we saw a few people dressed up in costume so went to see what was going on. There was an enclosed area with tons of people and trestle tables with food. We felt like we'd perhaps entered a private party but no one batted an eyelid. I asked someone outside what was happening, "Carnival" she said. Oh Bugger! We Googled only to find that it had all started 2 days ago and midday today there was the procession. We'd missed it! And this was the post-carnival sharing of food between the participants or just people in the town.
    Oh well, there was still a good vibe on the street and we enjoyed a beer in a quieter street.
    A 6 mile walk this time and back in time for a sketchy WiFi Greenwood Zoom, which our new neighbour's dog barked a lot of the way through.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Neighbours ... everybody needs good ...

    January 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    So what to write about a sunny rest day on site. The most noticeable thing today has been new neighbour's. All change, oh the excitement! The ones who woke as up at 6am with the dog yapping and barking have gone. The ones the other side with a quiet dog left midday. They were German and French. Some musical neighbours arrived. We had lovely folk guitar tunes, I had a brief chat with him and knew the English band and musicians he referred to. Pentangle, Bert Janch, John Renbourne, Richard & Linda Thompson. Later we were treated to an instrument like a violin. Maybe not quite as pleasant.
    Then a huge caravan turned up, towed by a van like ours. We wondered where on earth they could park up ... oh right, seems it's next to us. I did a little video, seeing as not much else was happening today. It doesn't look as big as it actually is. Everything's done with remote control with caravans today. No strain on human bodies required. I was fascinated to see why such a huge caravan was needed for a young couple and a baby. They spent the next hour setting up camp. I heard someone talking to them in English, and it turns out they live in it full time. How lovely to have that choice and live in a different way, I thought. Take your house with you.
    Then a toddler appeared and got on their bike, then a large dog. Then OMG another child. The van itself was full of bikes and a massive plastic box container of dried dog food.
    I couldn't believe it when I saw them all getting ready for an early evening bike ride, mum and dad each with a baby seat on the back, third child on their own bike and suddenly, heck, another child appeared!
    So I can see now why they have such a big vehicle! Dad did a fair bit of phoning people, which presumably is his work time.
    So that's our day, we have Belgians and French neighbours for now, who both seem very interesting.
    And today, I've enjoyed being a nosey neighbour. 😉.
    Oh and we have lots of clean and dry clothes again.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    And a sunny memory of the site

    January 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Wish I'd captured the guitar music instead. Maybe tomorrow.

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound
    1

    Salt flats and flamingos walk

    January 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Took a walk up in search of flamingos, they were quite some distance away from us, so no pics. But pics of tractors busy getting rid of and digging in prickly pear cacti by the roadside, the flat salt lands, with a pink tinge to the water and various things around the place.
    Another enjoyable and relaxed 6 mile walk, which included a restaurant stop. We just about remembered to photograph the food before getting stuck in. I'm not keen on them bringing the food at different times. For a good while there was just tomatoes on the table. John also had a tuna in a rich tomato sauce dish, which didn't come till after our anchovies (Boquerones fritos).
    There was more gentle guitar playing 'back at the ranch'. Loved it.
    We've decided to stay here for a spell. It's warm, no driving involved and only a short walk to the waves, which I can hear as I write.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    There and back ... a paddle

    January 31, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    We lazed in the sun, John read and I tried to gen up on Spanish. We feel a bit ashamed that we can't speak any. I have learnt the odd word. Duo Lingo is a very clever app as it takes me so far but as soon as I'm getting somewhere, it gives me the option of paying a subscription, or quitting the app. So I quit. The next time I open the app, it takes me right back to a level I've already done. It would be good to pay and learn properly. On the other hand I need to be on the internet and have limited data. We'll see.
    John took the van to the service area to fill up and empty water. He got held up by a huge van trying to manoeuvre onto the site with a large trailer, which had a large mini on the back. Some of these motorhomes are ludicrously large for actually getting about.
    Went for a late-ish walk to the sea for a paddle and 5.5 miles later, towards sundown, we were back home.
    Speaking of home, we've had news from our neighbours of changes at Brynteg, plus a photo. The barn at the back is being demolished and 3 houses are going to be built on the land. Hopefully it will be an improvement. I like rusty corrugated iron but there was rather a lot of it. Very surprised it didn't come up in the search when we were buying the house though.
    Some evening pics today. A typical evening activity for John is to read on his tablet whilst he shells and munches on walnuts. Good for the brain I believe.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    Sea calling again

    February 1, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    It's John's fault ... he said he was going down to see the beach at a different time of day with the tide out. So I couldn't resist joining him for a chance to paddle. John stayed dry today. He found a strange thing on the shoreline. We can't find what it is.
    The plovers attracted me again. I love the way they skirt around the waves. Running away around the edge as they break and speedily grabbing their chances for food as the waves recede. Simple delights.
    Back along a path through the trees today. Hey, we know how to ring the changes.    Read more

  • Harvey10 - Europe-bound

    A haircut ... not

    February 2, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    I decided it's time for a haircut, so asked at reception at the campsite. Kind lady WhatsApp-ed her hairdresser and made an appointment for me today at 11.30. At €10 for a wash and cut (I wasn't sure if it included blow dry), I decided to give it a go. We allowed an hour for a 30 minute walk, so also smooched around some bazaars and then took a 'before' photo and I went in. John strolled off to the harbour.
    The bloke wasn't expecting me but asked 'Ingles' I said yes, campsite Giralda, reservation. He seemed to know about it but showed me his diary was fully booked. He offered me tomorrow but I decided to leave it. So then I had to try and find John and surprisingly, I did!
    So a coffee a tea (and a cream horn for John) beckoned instead, and an 'after' shot, which looks surprisingly better. €10 saved 😀. Only cost €4.80 for 2 drinks and a cake.
    Wandering around the town we discovered lots of new places. E.g. a shopping street, though they're rather different to our shops both in style and content.
    I really enjoyed going around some of the cheap bazaar type shops and we bought a few things including a tea-strainer, a clothesline and bead stuff for me to play with.
    Tourist information had a display about the fishing industry here and we've finally discovered what the clay pots are for. They're for catching an octopus.
    The other good part was the carnival display .... it's almost as if we'd been there at the parade we missed! 😉
    Bizarrely, all the manikins were black, and the one with the black wig was pretty scary.
    More pics of these and an evening walk next.
    On our way home we unwisely chose a Lidl to buy food. Not an interesting shop to us. Possibly worse in Spain than the UK.    Read more

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