20081201 Drove from Calais to Amiens found the
Aire and
camped at the side of the river, had croissants and coffee for breakfast, felt
quite warm compared to the Uk, however people were wrapped up. later had a walk
about, round the cathedral and waterside Cafe's decided to stay a couple of days
to nurse my back and finish some of those jobs I missed. made my tea a few
notes, then I was ready for bed, I had texted everyone I needed to do about 100,
now 7:30pm getting ready for bed, batteries running down. mine as well, still
suffering with back. I have been feeling the cold a bit more the last few hours
so I am going to bed in my fleece jacket, fleece hat and head torch finished a
few more texts and rest. Woke at 9:30pm took a couple of tablets and back to bed
back really hurting, chocked up with pillows.
20081202 Woke at 4:30am back really painful loo and tabs,
Mark rang from Australia chatted 4 ages about my back told me to get voltaron
from chemist. Made a coffee then back to bed, planning to have another easy day,
catching up and putting some sort of route plan together. Will have a look at
the various books I have later. Rose at 10 started the engine 4half an hr phone
was fully charged from 5 also charged the computer while the engine was
running. Had coffee and croissants then went to the chemists for some voltarene
50 for the back. Ate some mackerel for breakfast and a tabled then caught up on
the diary. had lunch and planned the route for the morning, put it in the sat
nav ready for the morning. charged the camera and went out for an evening
stroll, took a few pics en route then back to the van and retired about 2200.
20081203 Rose at 7 got organized back felt better this
morning, had tea etc, then cereal and coffee set off on the road about 8:15 it
was still dark and rainy sat nav got me straight out of town and trucking
although nearly ran out of fuel got too low for comfort and had to pull off the
route to find some fuel nearly down to fumes, must fill up at higher level in
future. a good day again a nice town centre somebody showed me where the port
was I'd have never found it alone. Anyway managed to scrape a high sign I didn't
see till it was scraping the top side of the van, then it was too late could not
go back or forward without further damage, thank goodness only slight but still
feel a dick head. went for a walk round le mans very nice centre with trams
quaint, got some cash and steak eggs bead and port, thought I would celebrate my
nudge. it was lovely washed down with red wine and followed with French bread,
cheese and olives. Now just finishing off before I retire for the night. just
done the sat nav for tomorrows stay in Niort.
20081204 Rose at 7 got a drink and packed up everything
to get off at 8:15 set off down the narrow street in the dark missed the turning
and found myself head to head with a queue of French cars coming the other way, it
was then I realized I had missed the turn and was headed down this narrow one
way street the wrong way, managed to reverse back about 100m and get back on
track. I decided this morning to bypass Niort and carry on to Bordeaux, second
incident was when I missed another sudden turn in the centre of a town, took the
next turn as instructed to find myself pottering round a housing estate that
ended in a tiny cul-de-sac. Third incident took me 10 kilometers down the side of
a beautiful picturesque river to a bridge that I needed to cross with a 2.5m
height
limit. so had quite a bit of fun today but got to the lake. Incidentally it pissed
down all day but its 11° here. Made myself corn beef ash and a little red wine a
fair old trek today, heading for Spain tomorrow.
20081205 Rose 5 got ready for off at 6 had an excellent
day concluded that 50/50 me/sat nav found myself going into the middle of nowhere
up a mountain on a narrow road nowhere to turn round. 2nd time I found myself on
another minor road in the middle of the Pyrenees, could not find a place to turn
round went about 10k before a u turn could be had, fiddled with the sat nav and
now found myself going through endless tiny towns full of narrow lanes and
parked cars. The good part was the weather, it was a beautiful day sunny warm a
few light showers lovely scenery, did quite a bit of mileage stopped for
tortilla
in Spain for tea then trucked on to Portugal, evening was great too, pink skies
took a few pictures throughout the day snow capped mountains and pink skies.
after 1000km found myself going 15km down snake pass very narrow tree lined
creasy road definitely not for the faint hearted when your tired. Got to
Patrick's at 9 and out on the lash retiring now at 2:30 cracking day good fun all
round.
20081206 Rose about 8 had breakfast with Patrick, had a
long walk with the dogs and chatted with a few locals. Moved the motor home to a
great spot at the side of the chapel. Lunch time we went to visit Gerry and
Maureen at Sacarias then went shopping to Arganil, got more supplies for Patrick
and I, then on to Coja for a gas bottle refill. Its a lot warmer here but had a
bit of rain today. Back to Patrick's for Dinner, then out to the Paderia Bar, had
a few beers in their, then onto the village bar just 100m from Patrick's House.
Had a few beers with the locals then brought out the Amaretto, finished that off
then out came the Captain Morgan which we managed to clear half a litre, Patrick
and I then had a few night caps of port in the motor home before retiring.
20081207 Rose about 8:30 bright and ready for action, lit
the fire at Patrick's and had breakfast caught up on my notes then got ready to
go to Bordeiro, drove their on the back tracks in Patrick's jeep. It was lovely
when we arrived, met a friend of Patrick's, Dougy whom we spent the afternoon
chilling in a village bar with a few beers, got back to Ceravisa just before
dark to make dinner then sat and watched a movie with a few wines, retired about
1am. Took a few pics through the day. Take care everyone :-)
