Diary - February 2018


1st February. We've driven nearer to Seville so we can arrive relatively early tomorrow. In the meantime we found a quiet overnight stop and walked over the gardens, down to the river and up again to the castle ruins. Nice pine clad gardens with old mill buildings alongside the riverbank and a night all alone!




2nd and 3rd Feb - in Seville

4th February and on our way West towards Portugal but first a stop near Huelva, a little port on the Rio Tinto estuary. The harbour of the Caravels, an impressive set of full-size replicas of the three ships that sailed to the New World with Christopher Columbus in 1492 with interpretation displays etc......and in English too!  All very interesting and surprisingly small ships for such a voyage.

That's not Les!




A short hail storm today with a very chilly feel all round. Hope it warms up soon.

5th February.  We had parked in between the pine trees last night with a few other vans. All nice and quiet until 8.30 am when a truck was heard arriving. This usually means the bins are being emptied but none where near to us so we craned our necks to see what was going on.  Just typical of us to park where, probably just once a year, the pine trees are being sprayed with some sort of insecticide......masks were being worn by the men so probably not very healthy! Better move a bit then!

View from the castle walls

Only an hour to the Portuguese border now and to Castro Marim,  a place we had visited five years ago. All seemed much the same and after lunch we took in a nice walk in the Nature Reserve - lots of wading birds here so think we will be back tomorrow.
Yes, the sun is out again.....just with that icy northerly blast! Better than at home though.


6th February and it's even colder today with a brisk breeze - thermals on again, we were not expecting this!  After a quick stroll around the small castle it was off to the reserve again where more wading birds has us pondering our bird book again and gave us a good show.

7th February Oops... We set off to Villa Real for a quick look round, only a few miles away with the idea of settling in at Manta Rota as we had done in the past......unfortunately, not to be, as it was full of what looked like "long termers" in for the duration. We had no water on board so decided to do a bit of a Ground-hog day and go back to Castro Marin and start off again tomorrow with a new plan.

Church - Castro Marim
8th February. After a bit of a disaster yesterday we set off again West and early for a different location near to Olhao. A gorgeous spot next to another Nature Park and looking out to Ilha da  Armona.




This is more like it.....complete peace, lovely views and walking opportunities.  We are looking out over a small bay dotted with little boats,  lots of birds and more salt production pans.



Here we have seen flamingos, avocets, spoonbills and godwits to name but a few! Bliss for us, and we hope to cycle into the nearby town and harbour tomorrow.


9th February....we woke up to rain showers and then drizzle which lasted until after lunch. ( I thought the UK was the only place where drizzle happened) The decision to ride into Olhao was not one of our best as the cycle path seemed to go over the railway line. Anyway, we set off only to see our path descend quite steeply through a small weir and stepping stone bridge, the alternative being to negotiate a very narrow path next to the railway line!!  Poor Les had to take both bikes......slipping and sliding as he went and then up the other side....the bikes by this stage covered in wet sand which clung like glue. Nothing for it but to carry on, we finally arrived in the very smelly and rundown town feeling quite depressed. We found somewhere for a quick coffee at which time, and me refusing to go back the way we came, we negotiated the main road. This actually proved much easier than the " lovely cycle path" we had arrived on as it was mostly downhill. Mission accomplished, it now took Les about one hour to clean the bikes and get them on the van again. No photo's taken this time - I wonder why!

Sunset the previous night

10th February.  The day started bright and sunny so we are travelling further west to a proper paid Aire near Vilamoura a much posher area and near to the golf courses. We nabbed the last available pitch, even though it was next to the trailer park and GOT OUR CHAIRS OUT for the first time on this trip......ahh! Washing done and pegged out, we set off for a walk to the beach and the wonderful ochre coloured cliffs. A proper shower on our return, our first G&T and a nice fish chowder for dinner, an altogether nicer day than yesterday. Hopefully we can stay here and relax for a few days.




13th February. We have had a lovely relaxing 4 days here at Falésia. Marvellous walks along the ochre coloured cliffs, down to the sea via a stairway and along the beach for a nice coffee and rest.  After two nights we have moved to a better spot within the site have a good view from the van.



We cycled to Olhos d'Agua and were grateful to have our batteries on the bikes this time as its quite hilly. Pancakes have been eaten for lunch today, we don't  usually bother at home but Les picked up a stray lemon while we were in Spain so its come in handy for these and the G&T too!
We have a bit of a problem with our front tyre - it keeps going down and we've noticed a small screw embedded in it......it's off to the tyre place for us tomorrow then. 



14th February. Very cold this morning and cloudy but never mind we have to get our tyre repaired.  We set off for the depot and were optimistic to see lorry and tractor tyres on the forecourt as well as car tyres.



 Yippee....they could repair ours and all for €15 - job done (let's hope it does the trick) and we continue westward to a little spot called Castelo with a nice beach bar and good walking, and now the sun is out for us.





A bit too busy for our overnight stop so we found a quiet place just a few metres away down a track. Five other vans here so will be OK. Unfortunately the restaurant here is closed for the winter or we might have treated ourselves to a Valentine's meal.....it's pasta again then!

15th February and the day started early walking along the coast at "almost" sunrise! So lovely and quiet and lots of brids to see too, azure winged magpies and Sardinian warblers. We left about 9.30 for lake Salgados a place we had visted 5 years ago and where there is a big parking area for us motorhomers. Here we walked on the boardwalk around the lake finishing up with our chairs on the beach for lunch.


There was an onshore breeze but good enough for us... No paddling though as the sea is quite rough around here. So far so good.....until early evening while I was loosing at dominoes, I pulled the blind rather roughly and broke the cords holding it together. I was not flavour of the month as you can imagine and we spent the next two hours, much of it in the dark, retrieving a small broken part and gluing it together, all the time hoping it was going to work next day. ........So far, all seems well but I for one won't be touching any blinds for a while!


16th February. A lovely day. The blind seems to be working, the sun is out and we have found a nice spot at Pria Marinha. We visited before and loved the walking but this time we tried the little beach which is only accessible down a staircase and at low tide. A quick dip of the toes was enough, refreshing but not so enticing as to don the swimmers like some folk on the beach have been brave enough to do.




 At sunset we've taken our wine and nibbles down to the clifftop......someone has to! There is a cycle road race in the area today and we are told the road is closed until 5pm, no wonder it's blissfully quiet here. Let's hope they let us out tomorrow.


17th and 18th February. Just as well we arrived in Silves relatively early. There were banners on the lamposts and an air of festival about the place. The paid Aires were all busy so we took a chance and parked just outside the central one with about 20 others quite close together so as to leave the rest of the car park available for the festival goers. Boy they know how to cram themselves in, every inch of the place used.

Tangarine Gin



The main hall was very interesting, everything one could think of made from oranges - the area is well known for the Orange groves so we tried cake, liqueur, tangerine gin and duck a la Orange from the cookery demonstration.



The band started up at 9.30pm until 11pm so that was fun too, just a lovely family affair, the only drinks sold was fresh Orange juice and everyone left promptly.


Next day a fun run, we decided was not for us, so a stroll up to the castle, an enormous three course fish lunch at a restaurant we used five years ago, with wine and port to finish, all for €7.50 - just right. And still the same price as before......where do you get that nowadays!


19th and 20th February. We set off early to Paderne a small village set in lovely countryside where there is a spring water font and good walking paths.
It can sometimes be busy here so we were lucky to get a good spot. Once the washing was done (well you have to in this lukewarm spring water) we walked over towards the ruined castle and old water mill.





Next day we set off to the sports centre for a fish lunch with the locals and a steep hill back past the old windmill with lovely views of the almond blossom.


Signpost almost disappeared!

22nd February and we are back in Spain, our last beach stop  before heading North. We are right next to the Dõnana National Park at Matalascañas,


 a pretty boring place but we've had a nice cycle ride along the prom, a walk in the protected dunes (where the boardwalks have been almost covered with sand)  finishing up with a coffee at the only beach bar worth stopping at!


 The sun is out and all is good with the world. Cowboy town of El Rocío tomorrow. (Note to self -- "must have photo's taken with a different top on!")

23rd February and we watched the sunset on the beach last night together with two hangliders ....a beautiful sight!



Half an hour down the road and we had arrived in El Rocio, quite different to any town we had seen before as it has sand roads, wooden bars to tie ones horse up to ( just like the cowboys) and all beside a stunning lake brimming with all kinds of birds.
Such an air of stillness about the place today but we know that it comes to life on Sundays when various religious groups descend for church services.




Anyway, today we were really pleased that besides all the flamingos, shovelers and godwits we actually have seen glossy ibis!....and not only one. Three or four going about their business quite near the edge the of the bank and flying about amount the reeds too....amazing! Might have to put in a web pic. as ours far too small.


Web Pic!

Then we set off for Carmona, perched on a hill east of Seville for a swift and very tasty tapas lunch and walk around the historial town. We parked with a beautiful view over the valley - unfortunately others thought the same as us and there were various comings and goings through the night!

View from the castle tower 


24th February and were off east again to Ecija a small town with a long history and several very high towers, almost like an Italian town. After a brief look around we set off for Cabra, it's beside  another cycleway ( old railway track) so more lovely views of olive groves, almond blossom, and wild dwarf irises and no traffic. ......bliss. Oh! .... and  very large orchid, see below.




25 and 26th February in Córdoba

27th and 28th February we travelled eastwards to Úbeda and then Baeza two interesting small towns with lots of history and former palaces now mostly used as University buildings or hotels.  Both quite high up at 750 meters but with glorious views of the nearby mountains.



Baeza was our favourite as it had a very relaxed feel about the place but would obviously look a little better in sunny weather.



Even the bullring drew us in and we were pleasantly surprised by the information the exhibition provided us with, whether we would feel the same seeing a real bullfight.......I doubt.


No comments:

Post a Comment