Please note: I am re-writing this from our boat February 2023. as we lost the website which by the time I finish this re construction, will be back up
Paderne -Portugal to Cherbourg France, and UK
Mot Due For Trusty end of May, 2018, so a leisurely drive back to the UK. This is our first documented trip. We can get back in 3 days if we wanted but going to take 8 weeks and do it the long way round, Via our present location in Portugal along the coast of Spain, then France. Deviating on and off the set route at will. Or at least that’s the plan ! but plans change.
Today 20/Feb/18 . Link to Paderne Aire and village
https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=18729
Were all excited, Packing out Trusty, and unpacking her, too much stuff not enough?? etc We are quite old hands at this, but no matter how much you try. We sneak extra stuff into her, thinking we might-will need it. I say Teresa has too many shoes, and Teresa says, I have to many tools. (Psssst !!) (You Cant Fix Trusty with shoes) Wink Wink. Shoes may come in handy for a walk. But remember: A second class ride beats a first class walk, any day. Not That Trusty is second class, bless her..(had to put that in, or she will sulk) Trusty says, if you’re in doubt about whether you need it. calculate the weight x the inconvenience of moving it around all the time x fuel. Solution ?? Ditch It !! Well with that all done ?? Did a final check on Trusty, all seems good, just the oil and filter to change, Just re-insured her and she’s ready to rock and roll
03/03/2018
Wow. Where did all this rain come from. It’s washed out the start date of our 2018 trip back to the UK. We will delay a few more days till it improves, per_sissing down outside, glad we are cosy and warm in side. Parked up at our friends rented villa. 
10/03/18 .We are really off.
Left Paderne midday. A week later than we planned. Weather has been atrocious last 5 days, we were parked up at our friends villa for a few days till it blew over, the trouble is their drive is down a dusty track . The rain turned it to a mud bath, fearing if we waited any longer, we may not get out, we made a bolt for it transit and empty trailer first. Slipping and sliding Trusty pulled through it. Next? The Bike it rode through it
OK. Loaded up, and 58 miles later, we are parked up on Castro Marim car park. The Aire is a further 100 meters down the road.
Castro Marim 11/03/18 link to aire https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=18622
Spent last night here. pretty busy.
The Aire with full facilities is 100 meters from us. Full when we got here. Water, black and Grey services are available . We use this a lot its only a stones throw from the Spanish Border. and has everything we want, The Aire, which we hardly use, (too sardine parking for us) we use the waste and water facilities there, but parking with a foot or so gap between us and the next van, is not my kind of fun. We always camp on the main car park 100 meters down the road, this is right next to the shops and bars,, and the town, and great most of the time, this is a general car park and you will get Trucks coming and going sometimes, not a problem for us, but if it is for you? use the aire if you can get on it.
The weather is Grey and grim. today. 11/03/18 Not unusual for this time of the year, but its got its very good days as well. Just sorting breakfast, then getting ready to roll into Spain, stop for fuel just over the border (much cheaper) then sort the next destination
Gibraleon
12/03/18 Sunday Link to town and Aire here
https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/marker.php?id=28818
Popped across the bridge to Spain today good by Portugal for now. Destination Gibraleon. We arrived there around two-ish a bit of a disappointment really. The was Aire Gated and locked and fenced. The weather was awful, pouring down with rain and the town did not look very inviting either in the rain. We decided to move on We will give it another go if we are passing and the weather is good. next time. Must be a way to get into the Aire but with that much rain coming down we didn’t want to try.
We are at present sitting on Lidl car park in a place called Bolluios par del condado. Just of the A49 Good old Lidl to the rescue again. Lidle seem to have an open door for camping cars here in Spain, and they are always a good bolt hole if your stuck. and we were a little stuck, but needed supplies anyway.
I’ve been designated Cookie today so A Beef stew on the menu just the thing when sitting on Lidl’s car park. We will restock tomorrow when they open. It’s a rare sight me allowed to cook and What A site it is !!! Enough to put you off your Grub. I am not going to document this place as its not an aire just a handy stop for us, and they are everywhere.
Today an epic run.
Decided to head for the coast from Lidl. Gib way to an Aire we were recommended Supposed to be really really good. So off we set, Co-Ords into the sat nav for an aire close to Estapona 94 miles, and near the coast. A good steady half days drive and set of. Drove through some stunning scenery, Through breath-taking View in the mountains. Great. and then!
OH No!!! What’s this !!
50 bloody miles down the road in the middle of the mountains, Road closed for next 50 miles. No detour around possible. Typical Spanish thinking, bung a sign closing the road at the close off point and not 30 miles back when you could turn off. I’ve no doubt that some where they have a website to tell you these things, but we don’t speak Spanish some very irate cursing from Teresa ?? ( I don’t swear I have a lot of faults but being wrong ain’t one of them) A quick frantic search on the sat nav and a cross-country detour of 30 miles and another 50 to get somewhere near where we wanted to be. Picked a place and set off. Wonder what campillos is like? if and when we get off these mountain roads. We hope there is no more road closures further on We made it with no more closures, So that’s where we are now here in campillos 130 mile detour and 50 miles from where we wanted to be. looks OK though, well see in the morning.
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