Friday 20 March 2015

Not knowing where we’re going to end up today we took extra care to empty the waste and fill up with fresh water, including the spare bottles we are carrying before heading out, once again to the nearest Lidl to top up the groceries. Not having a huge food storage capacity we've found that this is a good way to ensure we've always got fresh stuff – and there is a Lidl or Aldi in almost every town, some of them including British food too.

Roundabout Art - outside a waterpark

Once again taking the N125 we bumbled westward before seeing the signs for Albufeira, a town we've not visited so turned off. Bren quickly found an aire close by so TomTom was instructed to take us there. It turned out that the aire was actually a low-season “tolerated” car park right overlooking a tiny beach and cliffs amongst dozens of holiday apartments, nearly all currently closed. As usual there were several French vans there but plenty of room for us so after deciding not to park right on the cliff edge, we decided to stay over the weekend. There were no facilities but having already done a full service and shop this was fine – location this time was all.

Ships that pass in the (day)

Towards Albufeira from our pitch

Unfortunately the weather started to make itself felt with increasing cloud chasing us back indoors, but we can sit here just as well as on a campsite, and it’s free!

On our way here, just as we left Quarteira we noticed that we had no power to the various accessories, e.g. camera and satnav. A bit of testing showed it was a fuse and we eventually discovered a short on the netbook charger. So we probably won’t be able to use “Nelly” much now. No worries! Oh yes, a gas bottle ran out yesterday so we’ll have to remember to get a refill in the next few days, although it should last us 10 days or so.

Wednesday/Thursday 18/19 March 2015

Although a bright enough start on Wednesday, it didn’t look too promising so we just hung around the van all morning tidying up and what have you. After lunch we decided to chance it, packed waterproofs and walked into town. Bren was looking for a hairdresser and Terry for some Portuguese internet.

But we didn’t get far before the rain started again, but we decided to carry on so dressed up and quickly booked an appointment for Bren tomorrow. Further exploring the modern main street of this fairly uninteresting town we found a Vodafone shop and got a new sim – as evidenced by the fact that you’re now reading our blog again!

Thinking of possibly a coffee, we wandered down to the front in ever-increasing rain and spotted a craft shop where certain purchases were made (can’t say too much!). A new watch battery for Terry and watch strap for Bren completed our mission before we high-tailed it back to the van, sans coffee. Hot chocolate and then a fight with the internet connection before more notalot for the rest of the day.

Thursday looked as though it might be a bit brighter although the weather forecast we got last night

suggested no improvement until next week, certainly not on the Algarve. So we took the opportunity of a bit of washing (and drying, a bit expensive though) then showers before Bren went off to have her hair done.

As I write, late afternoon, we haven’t decided what we’re going to do next. We had wanted to visit Cabo de Sao Vicente, the south-west corner of Portugal, having missed it last year but we’ll probably now wait until we’re on the road tomorrow. Again, watch this space.

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Well, that’s a way to be woken that we haven’t heard in a long time – it’s raining! Without internet we've not been able to get a forecast but no bother, we intended to travel back down to the coast today and perhaps it might be better there.

So with no facilities to service Bertie we left after breakfast, calling in for fuel at the first filling station we've seen since Spain in the town. Heading south, we picked up the N124 which is the “back road” along the Algarve avoiding the holiday resorts and passing through the hills which, despite the lessening showers, was quite attractive.

Eventually we reached the outskirts of Faro and, spotting a Lidl, stopped for basics and lunch in their car park. Quite a few Lidl stores provide designated motorhome parking, although we’re not sure if overnighting is welcomed. 

Having decided that a few days on a “proper” campsite was in order we headed for a site we’d used two years ago at Quarteira. Unlike all the aires and unofficial places we’d seen there was plenty of room and we booked in for three nights.

Although sunny and dry now, the receptionist thought we may have more rain tomorrow; we’ll just have to wait and see.

Monday 16 March 2015

A cool night; being in a steep-sided river valley the sun “sets” early and “rises” late. Awoken by what appeared to be a lot of activity, we got up in case we were in someone’s way, but it was just some fishermen and the local rowing club so no problem.

Along the river from the walls of Mertola

After breakfast we climbed the steep steps and road up into the village. Having seen the new modern part of the town on way in, we decided to explore the pretty roads and passages of the old town, dominated by a castle. The Rough Guide told us there was some history, including a Moorish period – the church had evidently been converted from a mosque – and a Roman occupation. In fact you can still see the remains of the old Roman bridge just a little way from where we were parked. There is also a Roman museum in the basement of the town hall. 

Narrow lanes with the castle overlooking

After a coffee, the lady in the T.I. gave us some ideas and we visited a reconstructed ancient house (again too “modernised”) as well as a weaving exhibition. A local cooperative has been formed to try to re-introduce this cottage industry, but at €130 for a blanket they perhaps shouldn't hold their breath! Unfortunately, as it was Monday, the castle was closed so we wandered back to Bertie.

The parking area had emptied somewhat so we repositioned to a better spot before lunch and the rest of the day was spent relaxing, as well as a little planning on what to do next. Watch this space!

 

Sunday 15 March 2015

Time to move on so after our usual bacon and egg breakfast, we serviced the van, paid our dues and once again said goodbye to Barry. Our destination today is to cross the border to Portugal with vague ideas of where we were going to stop. There wasn't much point in avoiding it, so we took the toll-free Autovia out of Seville, stopping briefly to cure a rattling pan we hadn't put away properly, when Barry caught us up again! However he was heading to Faro to park up his van and catch a plane home (for a funeral unfortunately) so we’ll not see him again this trip – probably!

Crossing the border, we registered for the automated motorway tolls, which we won’t use unless we have to, then turned off and headed north for a barragem (dam) we had spotted on the map. Often these have parking areas where it’s permitted to stay overnight and they are usually very nice. But not this one, so we headed back down to the coast for an aire we’d used before at Manta Rota. Unfortunately it seemed that the stories we’d heard about the French refusing Morocco and instead stopping in Portugal were true – it was packed with no chance of getting parked up here.

However, whilst Terry was investigating, Bren looked at a list of possible stopovers that Barry had passed on and realised that we’d been halfway to them when we tried the barragem. So we retraced our steps and set the satnav for Alcoutin, about 40 mins north along the Rio Guadiana, which forms the border with Spain. But it was only small and already full, although a nice Frenchman said he’d be leaving so we could have his space – in a couple of hours! Not wishing to chance it we put the second site into the satnav which took us to a lovely river quay parking spot under the walls of Mertola, and there was room for us, and a couple more too.

So we parked up, had a very late lunch then settled in. We’ll probably stop for a couple of days although, apart from a water tap and rubbish skip, there aren't any facilities – but no matter, we’re supposed to be self-contained.

Sorry, no photies today!

Friday/Saturday 13/14 March 2015

Hello, we’re  back! We seem to have had a little problem with the data sim card we bought to keep us in touch, so there may have been a few days since we were able to update.Sorry!

Friday was a late start, for once we had nothing and nobody else to think about, and after breakfast Bren got on with a few loads of washing, also using the dryer as we didn’t have much room to hang things out. Got it (almost) all dry too due to the hot sun and pleasant breeze. We also spent a little time giving Bertie a clean out too – we’re still picking up sand! Afterwards was just general nothing!

We came here last year to visit Seville and one of our intentions this year was to return, so after breakfast on Saturday morning we walked round to the bus stop for the 25 min run into the city, at the princely cost of €1.55 each. Scrounging a map from the tour bus stall, we walked up to and around the cathedral, said to be the third largest in Europe. We had thought about visiting but as it was Saturday it was very crowded and there was also actually a wedding taking place, rather posh with a special horse and carriage.

Wedding Cart

Having a devil of a time!

Waiting at the church?

From there we walked across to the Real Alcazar, the Royal Palace, now open to the public which was our target as we didn’t have time last year. We’re glad we put aside most of the day because there was a lot to see; no furnishings of course, we've yet to see it in any of the old buildings we like to mooch around. Definitely not National Trust/English Heritage, these places are usually supported by the local town council. A feature we loved was the number of small shaded courtyards, or patios as they were called, which were everywhere providing cool relief from the sun, not so bad now but in high summer it must have been very welcome.

There was also a large area of gardens which we briefly explored before stopping off at the café for a drink and quick bite to eat.

A visit to the obligatory souvenir shop then back onto the streets of Seville and the bus stop, via an ice cream shop! The bus was again on time and we were whisked back to Gelves for a welcome cuppa, only to find that Barry had caught us up. So after tea we repaired to the café/bar across the way. And so ended another pleasant day.

Thursday 12 March 2015

Although we’re moving on today, it’s not far so we didn’t rush to get started. Goodbyes to the folks we’d met, a quick service of the van then go looking for a supermarket as we’re running out of choices (although we wouldn't starve). Following the satnav and trying to find a hypermarket we’d spotted on our way in to Sanlucar, we decided we’d missed it so just took the road for Seville, once again avoiding the toll Autopistas.

Although it had started quite cloudy, it soon brightened up again and we enjoyed a steady run through quite flat countryside. It seemed, however, that wherever there was a hill, a town or village had been built on it and we noted several such places as we passed.

The kilometres sped by and soon we joined the (non-toll) Autovia which took us to the ronda (ring road) around Seville. Crossing the large suspension bridge it was very busy and took all our concentration to ensure we kept going the right way, despite the excellent guidance from TomTom. Eventually we left the ronda on the road towards Gelves, where there is a nice place to stay, and immediately spotted a Carrefour hypermarket. Fortunately it was quite easy to find the access road, if not so easy to find a parking spot; despite a huge car park, most of it was under sun shades and too low for Bertie, although we did find open areas right at the far end. An hour wandering round filled up the food lockers again, including Tetley teabags and proper English bacon – Carrefour almost always has a small section dedicated to other nationalities which is nice to find.

Then on to Puerto Gelves, a small marina where space has been given over for motorhome parking with access to toilets, showers and a washing and drying machine, as well as the usual facilities. We stopped here last year, but they appear to have stopped parking on the harbour wall so the space is now somewhat limited. However there was more than enough for us so we chose a spot with plenty of sun and settled in.

Our plan is to get caught up with the washing and have a general clean up, so there probably won’t be much of a blog tomorrow.