Abacist goes to Spain

[Abacist]

After a 20 hour crossing from Plymouth we reached Santander at 12:15pm UK time. Unloading took a while as we were in the bowels of the ship, not helped by an RS Elysian who had sat with all his lights on while we waited and then needed a battery boost to start his engine!

Quickly found a large commercial centre with a Carrefour Hypermarket to stock up with fresh food essentials and a new belt to hold my shorts up as I forgot to pack mine!

Now at Caberceno up in the hills at the back of Santander.

 

[Abacist]

 

[jumartoo]

View attachment 535027View attachment 535028View attachment 535029View attachment 535030View attachment 535031

Haha Spain's not such a "dust bowl" is it? Looks lovely there. Better than the weather in the Pyrenees atm.

 

[Bobandfay]

Lovely photos we always stay at caberceno on our first night after getting off the ferry and also stay the last night before coming home.
Some nice bars up in the village and small shop for fresh bread in the morning.

 

[jumartoo]

Lovely photos we always stay at caberceno on our first night after getting off the ferry and also stay the last night before coming home.
Some nice bars up in the village and small shop for fresh bread in the morning.

We've been past four times, in both directions, in the last two years and we've still not been. Reviews were that it was rammed in August so we bypassed it.

One day ...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bobandjanie]

I remember the first visit, and Janie coming back from walking the dog, saying there's elephants down there. Bob.

 

[Lenny HB]

Last time we stopped there we went around the wildlife park, does make a nice stop, Unless it's a Spanish bank holiday and you get vans still coming in at 2 am.

 

[Abacist]

There are quite a few in tonight on both sides. There’s been a thunderstorm and torrential rain!

 

[Abacist]

The process for entry into Spain was as follows:-
Brittany Ferries check all your paperwork at the first kiosk at Plymouth
2 nd a lengthy wait whilst thorough searching and questioning of passengers about packing your own stuff and not carrying anything for anyone else. They came inside our van and looked in the garage with a torch. Asked if gas turned off but did not check,
On arrival in Spain Brittany Ferries staff check temperatures of all passengers
Guards Civile check passengers passports and stamp them, offeeed vax papers but declined to look at them
Finally there is a Customs and Pet area to go through. Guards Civile officer selecting cars, bikes and vans at random for checking but we were not chosen!
At no point did anyone ask about food, milk etc but imagine would be covered at Customs random selection.

 

[Abacist]

Ship announcement, imagine sexy French woman speaking English:-
Following the proclamation in France, in October 3020, masks must be worn in all pubic hair. (Public Areas)
On a more serious note, masks were be being worn in public in Santander at Carrefour, inside and out.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Roseandpeter]

We were chosen for a random check when we arrived about three weeks ago. Just a cursory glance inside and waved away.

 

[Flairy]

Most informative Thankyou.

 

[Abacist]

Well we moved on today and tried to visit San Vicente la Barquera but all the car parks were full so we moved on to try Llanes but the spaces in the aire were not big enough and the write-ups that we saw were not exactly fulsome in praise so we we headed west and ended up at Playa de Aguilar. What a beautiful and quiet beach with its own cafe/bar/restaurant. This will be our 2nd free night though we have to pay for parking for the beach tomorrow! Pics follow!

 

[Lenny HB]

We have stopped at Llanes I thought the spaces were quite big swallowed our 7.5m van, easily get a 9 m van in.

 

[Abacist]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Abacist]

We have stopped at Llanes I thought the spaces were quite big swallowed our 7.5m van, easily get a 9 m van in.

My van is almost nine meters and only 2 or 3 spaces would take it without obstructing others and they were already taken. I paced my van and the spaces. We are 5 feet longer than you Lenny!

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks like you are ghosting a trip we did a couple of years ago.
When we stopped at Llanes there was only one or two vans there.

 

[Abacist]

We have moved on this morning as we needed water and to dump grey and black waste so now having a coffee at the Bar Esperanza attached to the Avia garage near Cudillero which provides facilities for 3€ or free if you spend €30 on fuel and there is a MasyMas supermarket next door which also has a Moho point but closed on Sunday. A group of tired Camino pilgrims have just walked in, in need of refreshment!

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

With thanks to PhilandMena we have just arrived at Foz and managed to get on the front row at the Aire and what a fabulous view! Pics to follow

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ceejayt]

After a 20 hour crossing from Plymouth we reached Santander at 12:15pm UK time. Unloading took a while as we were in the bowels of the ship, not helped by an RS Elysian who had sat with all his lights on while we waited and then needed a battery boost to start his engine!

Just in case, pleading not guilty - not me in the Elysian

 

[Abacist]

 

[Lenny HB]

Which Foz is that, it's not the one in Portugal.

 

[Abacist]

Foz, Lugo, Galicia, Espana! Ha Ha!

 

[Abacist]

Well it’s been a quiet day as it’s Monday here in Spain and most shops, bars and restaurants are closed. We’ve been to Mercadona to stock up and had a nice walk. Unfortunately the weather has worsened with a big front coming in to cover Spain and Portugal. It’s just started thunder and lightening and been raining for a while so tomorrow we might take advantage of the bad weather to move on. Shame we have not had chance to try any of the bars and restaurants.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sallylillian]

The storm just started to hit us here in Tavira about 06:00 today. We were watching the weather and moved here yesterday in readiness. Not a couple of days to be on the road I might suggest if there is the likelihood of flooding and heavy standing water.

 

[Abacist]

We have woken up to blue skies and sun and it’s market day so we are staying as the weather is coming in later. Winds forecast are light with only moderate gusts and no idea of the rain volume potential yet. Looks worse down where you are but I imagine it’s coming our way.

 

[Abacist]

We went to bed expecting to wake up to a lousy day which was sort of what happened. At 6:45am we were woken by the heavens opening and drumming on the van roof. So we got up to have a cup of tea and watch the storm and shut the roof lights. Margaret went check the weather forecast to be confronted by the clock which said 1:15am, not 6:45am as she had previously said! So we had our tea and retired back to bed!

The morning weather was very wet but not raining but the forecast for the NW of Spain was worse than anywhere else so we decided to cut the corner off and headed to Santiago de Compostelo, the city of Pilgrimage fame which we shall explore tomorrow.

Presently on the only aire town and having to pay for parking and overnighting for the first time this holiday! €4.15 for the rest of this afternoon and €14.15 to overnight and for tomorrow!

 

[Lenny HB]

When we stopped there a couple of years ago we parked at the leisure centre just south of the town it was free.

 

[Abacist]

Trust you to get a freebie Lenny!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}