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Caves & Castles

октября – декабря 2024
  • Misadventures Of Wanda
This is our journey back to France, Spain & Portugal to visit some of the things we’ve overlooked in the past. Читать далее
  • Misadventures Of Wanda

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Cycling the Via Verde Girona

    15 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We had a great nights sleep in our free aire and even though we had the roof open all night it was still pretty warm.
    I woke early at 6:30am but didn’t get out of bed to make coffee until 7am and with the blinds open we watched an amazing sunrise due to all the red sand still hanging around.
    We were here for me to ride the Girona greenway and just after 9am I set off on my own heading for Girona which was just over 50km away.
    99% of the route was off road on gravel which seemed hard packed most of the way there as I steamed all the way there at 30kph. Even with a stop for a quick breakfast I had made it within 2.5hrs. All of the old stations on route are now play parks and have bench’s, fresh water taps and bike maintenance stations in. All along the route there are bench’s to take a break and there are bins, with bin liners in that are obviously collected as most were empty. Unlike England that in the unlikely event of having a bin it would probably be over flowing on any of our trails.
    I reached the centre of Girona city and rode straight into a market and had to walk the very end of the route before turning around walking back through the market and then starting the journey back.
    Coming home was a much more arduous task. I knew I must have been going downhill on the way but as it was a railway line I didn’t really pay too much attention, however the actual gradient on the way home was a constant 2% with 2 sections rising to 4%. In most cases I’d laugh at those gradients but over 50km this takes it toll big time and I ended up climbing 755meters over that 50km. It was a real slog and the gravel didn’t feel hard packed anymore, it now felt like treacle.
    I got back to Wanda just before 3pm to knackered and had a cold shower to cool off, then Ellie and I just chilled for the rest of the afternoon as it was now trying to rain.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Castellfollit de la Roca

    16 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We slept with the windows open last night for the first time since we got here and it was much nicer and cooler.
    We woke up quite late at about 7:30am but we didn’t have far to go today.
    Whilst I had coffee Ellie washed her hair. We don’t know when we’ll next be able to get water or empty the toilet so after having washed ourselves and the dishes our next job was to refill the water and empty the toilet.
    Unfortunately we do have a small water leak coming from underneath Wanda and every year we have travelled we have had this problem and I think it’s the pressure relief valve and it’s finally giving up so we may have to find a spares place at some point and try and replace it.
    At 9:30am we left our our and our first stop was in the town of Olot for Lidl which was just 15 minutes away. . This store was one of the superstores so twice as large as any of the Lidl we have previously visited and had much more choice to offer.
    After shopping it was just a 10 minute drive to our destination of the day Castellfollit de la Roca.
    Castellfollit de la Roca is part of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. It is built on a massive Basalt rock and the crag where the town is situated is over 50 metres (160 feet) high and almost a kilometre long. It was formed by the overlaying of two lava flows.
    After struggling to get to our parking spot initially we did eventually find it and it’s pretty good. There are no services and it’s just some grassland and when we first arrived there must have been 15 motorhomes and camper vans already here.
    I have been wanting to come here since I saw it on La Vuelta but when plotting our route I’d already struggled to find anything in the town except for the view from outside and really this is the case.
    There are probably 3 shops in town and a restaurant and a pizzeria and that’s it and wandering through the more modern part of town it is abit of a pit. Even the olden parts dating back to the 13th Century aren’t much to look at which surprised us considering how many people have come to visit the town.
    I was here for one aerial shot but if I had come with just my normal camera I would have been disappointed because unless you’re in a helicopter you really can’t see the beauty of this place.
    Fortunately I had the same view as a helicopter and I sent the drone up risking the high winds and managed to get 10 shots, 5 each from 2 different angles and just as I was landing the drone a resident came out to tell me that drones weren’t allowed. I apologised and she was fine and I didn’t think she was right but on the way back to the town we passed a tiny sign that said no drones. Luckily I didn’t see that beforehand.
    We got back to Wanda at 2:30pm and then spent an hour talking to our new Dutch neighbours in there tiny little van like our British post office vans, and they have already been on the road for 2 1/2 years. Then we just chilled for the rest of the afternoon reading and Ellie caught up with some YouTube videos as it was too late to do our next activity a little further along this road.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Parc Garrell

    17 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We had a very peaceful nights sleep, which I was surprised about and didn’t wake up until 7am when one of the houses nearby let there dog out to start barking.
    After coffee and putting the bed stuff away we headed 10 minutes down the road to a parking spot where we started our 1 1/2 mile hike to our first location of the day.
    Parc Garell is actually a very large site in some woods next to quite a busy road at the edge of the town of Argelaguer. It was owned many years ago by an artist who worked the woods to form massive sculptures made from wood and waste materials and he is now entombed halfway down the site.
    Our first stop was called Cabanes d'Argelaguer or in English the Cabins of Argelaguer. It was a huge, weird sculpture that you could walk on or through made from wood, concrete various old tools that sloped down an embankment running from storm drains. When it rains hard the water flows all around the moulded concrete sculptures.
    We carried on walking and our second stop was Cova tomba monumental Garrell or the tomb of Garrell.
    At this tomb we found fresh flowers at the entrance and if your thin, as I now am you can squeeze into the tunnels of the tomb which go back around 20 meters. It is pitch black inside with what look like Mayan carvings of heads all across the walls. It was fascinating.
    We carried on walking and our last stop was Garrells actual house that he used to live in, in the woods with a vegetable plot and even a lookout tower. It was a fascinating place to walk around and we did have to wonder if Garrell was actually in his right mind.
    After 90 minutes it was time to leave and head just 4 miles down the road.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Besalú

    17 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Our next and final stop of the day was another 4 miles down the road at the medieval town of Besalú.
    We had easy parking directly off the main road and a roundabout and there’s even a dump station and water here, although paid, and this is where we will be spending the night.
    After a quick cup of tea we set off across the new bridge first so we could take pictures of the old bridge and the town. Then we turned left at the end and walked through a Portal and into what was once the old Jewish sector.
    Most of the buildings in Besalú have been restored but everything has been fine with traditional craftsmanship and looks how it did back in the 12-13th century. It is a fascinating place with winding ally’s, cobbled streets and ancient architecture.
    We popped into a couple of shops and I thought this would be a good opportunity to use the Spanish I have been learning for the past 3 months and when a shopkeeper spoke to me I answered him, and he answered back and I answered him again. He took this as I could speak fluently and then started a conversation which I obviously couldn’t do, but I was pleased that I understood and answered him twice.
    After a 90 minute stroll around we headed back to Wanda just in time for a huge storm to break.
    There was thunder, lightning and the rain was unbelievable. The mountains and the town completely disappeared the rain was so heavy and the car park was a lake within minutes. Fortunately we were parked at the edge of that lake and didn’t have to worry.
    We spent the rest of the afternoon in Wanda catching up on bits and pieces from social media and as much as I wanted to go for a bike ride it kept raining on and off and I gave up trying. Once the sun had set we headed back into the town to get some pictures at night and it looked much nicer all lit up with no people standing in the way.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    The museum of exotic sculptures

    18 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We left our park up In Besalú at 9:45am after a good nights sleep. Our first stop today was a Motorhome repairers just 500 meters away.
    We’ve always had a small water leak on Wanda and we know it is coming from the pressure relief valve of the main water tank. The problem is it’s always been worse when we’ve been up at altitude and then seems to get better as the trip goes on. We’ve never known any different and the pump has always kicked in and out.
    Now however the dripping seems more and more constant and as water has gone up since last year it seemed better to try and source a new valve.
    I’d found this Motorhome repairers online and didn’t think for one minute they would be able to help us.
    How wrong I was. Not only did they have only one of the pressure relief valves they also fitted it. I managed to have 2 conversations in Spanish albeit quite limited but I did explain I had a problem with the pump and the valve. Both new words for me and they understood me. I was pleased with myself.
    Now the pump doesn’t constantly kick in and out. The whole system holds pressure and even the taps and toilet work better, and we’re not dripping water anymore.
    From the Motorhome repairers we had a short drive to our first destination. A weird little wonder I had found on Atlas Obscurer
    called the museum of exotic sculptures. It is basically one man’s life’s work of sculptures based around penises and vaginas. It is most bizarre and although we initially went there for abit of a laugh and for something to do as we were passing but for €4 each it was a fascinating place. Yes he does have an over obsession with cocks and Fanny’s but some of the sculptures are undeniably amazing if somewhat creepy at times. The ones that aren’t sexual are really amazing.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Melianta

    18 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After the museum of exotic sculptures our planned route was to take us into Figueres and to the Dali Museum but because of getting the water leak fixed we were a little behind time and decided to stop in the edge of a beautiful little town built around a lake called Melianta.
    It is full of gravel trails to hike and bike here so Ellie suggested rather than rush the Dali museum I should go and explore the trails so I took my bike for a 30km spin.
    It was a lovely gravel trail completely off road and even though it kept trying to rain it stayed mostly dry and was a lovely ride.
    I got back to Wanda at 5pm and Ellie suggested we move location as we had no Wi-Fi incase Ben needed us.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    A Night in Peralada

    18 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    It took us just under an hour to drive to Peralada and we arrived at 6:15pm and the place was packed. Fortunately as we were getting water a large Motorhome left so we had his space which was really the last one.
    We had a light dinner of pizza and then decided to take a walk through this Medieval town and see the sights.
    The is a small tour that you can follow with signs on the wall that take you through portals and into the narrow streets that were once cobbled but have since been concreted nicely. We passed by the old convent and then a 12th century church following signs to the Castillo. We passed through another portal and across a main road and found the Castillo right in front of us beautifully lit up but unfortunately for us it is now a privately owned very posh hotel and casino. But it is lovely for photos.
    From the castle we wandered back through town following the little route until we came back to the first portal we went through and we could see Wanda.
    Back indoors we watched tv for abit until 10pm and just as we were setting the bed up another Motorhome turned up.
    He drove straight into the Motorhome area even though there was no where to go and then proceeded to do a 3 point turn. I thought he’d realised there was no where to park but in actual fact he parked right next to us completely blocking the entrance for everybody else.
    Now nobody could leave until us or him moved because had parked right in the middle of the area.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Figueres & The Dali Museum

    19 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After getting bread and cakes from the local bakery this morning we got back to Wanda to see that other motorhomes wanted to leave and the idiot that had turned up late last night was utterly oblivious of the fact so I decided to leave early and head down the road just 10 miles to Figueres. The home and birthplace of Salvador Dali.
    We arrived in Figueres around 9am. I knew we’d be early but I just wanted to get into the city and get parked and we found parking in park for night up at the castle with lots of other Moho’s. Once parked we made breakfast and Ellie booked tickets. Luckily she checked to see if we needed to book because the earliest we could get in was midday which pretty much left us with nothing to do for 2 1/2 hours so we FaceTimed some family back home.
    At 11:30am we headed out and into the city and it was literally a 10 minute to the Dali museum and once there we joined a queue.
    We had no idea it would be so busy and they were only letting people in, in 15 minute increments and it must have been around a hundred at a time.
    Once inside for the first 10 minutes it was walk to wall people but as things went along we gradually found more space and were able to see the artwork. It was a really great art museum and we didn’t realise but Dali himself actually brought the building which was a former theatre and helped design and build the museum so it is laid out exactly as he wanted it, and obviously being Dali the artwork is amazing and bizarre.
    The museum took about an hour to walk around and it did feel very confined with people at times but we’re glad we went.
    We got back to Wanda at 1pm and it was time to move on.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Torroella De Montgri

    19 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    At 2:30pm we arrived in Torroella de Montgri and as I pointed out the castle that we would climb too as we approached the town Ellie asked if I was serious. I had to admit that it was even higher than I thought but after settling in with a cup of tea and eating our cakes we brought from the bakery this morning at 4pm we set off.
    The terrain was unreal, a 10% gradient all of the way up with large sections at 15% made our legs burn. To top it off when we weren’t on loose non grippy gravel we were in flint and quartz rocks that were huge.
    It was a 233 meter of 2.5km and it took us an hour to get to the top. We could barely see Wanda from the first ridge line but once we were at the very top we could see the sea.
    Once we were at the castle we climb to the very top ascending a freshly made spiral staircase in one of the lookout towers.
    To enter the castle was free and the whole area is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is protected. It was a great afternoons workout and this time we remembered water.
    We arrived back at Wanda at 6:30pm to watch a great sunset whilst dinner cooked and then it was time to rest.    Читать далее

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  • Misadventures Of WandaMisadventures Of WandaCaves & Castles

    Medieval Pals by Day

    20 октября 2024 г., Испания ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We had a great nights sleep in the car park. It was blissfully quiet and the temperature dropped quite fast and we were both tired from our mega hike up the mountain.
    We left our park up around 10am and drove just 6 miles down the road to our next destination, Pals.
    This is a medieval town dating back to the 11th century and again the medieval parts have been beautifully restored.
    Most shops in most of Europe are closed on Sundays except for cafes and we didn’t think for one minute that any shops would be open here and I was resided to going for a long bike ride and waiting until tomorrow to see what the town had to offer, but after a quick cup of coffee we decided to go for a walk to get our bearings and found that most shops in the medieval sector were open. Yes it is a tourist town but it is tiny, beautifully presented and this time of year very quiet.
    We looked in all of the open shops including the arty ones and most were selling handmade crafted items made locally. Then we strolled the streets looking at the ancient architecture.    Читать далее

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