I need some travel help/guidance/suggestions

[Dorset Diver]

We are currently at Turiscampo in the Algarve. We are due to leave in about one week heading for Santander and a BF home to Portsmouth. Dorset Lady does not drive the van so it is all down to me. Unfortunately I am currently mostly incapacitated with servere back pain. Normally we would leave TC overnight at Evora Monte / Camping Alentego, then Hotel Regio Camping / Salamanca then the elephant park for the last night prior to the ferry the following day. At present I doubt that I will be able to drive the three longish legs. So, I'm seeking suggestions for quality intermediate overnight stops.

Incidentally, it's my 75th today and at present I'm not a happy bunny so please be gentle.

Roger

 

[Dorset Diver]

PS. We now have storm force winds, thunder, lightening and torrential rain. Can't hear Dorset Lady for the noise.

 

[solaris]

Doctor prescribed codine when I had same problem. Could try a local chemist then see how you feel. Alternatively if you have travel insurance it may cover sole driver being incapacitated. Or change booking and have more days in the sun recuperating.

 

[HKF]

If you'd have been headed to Caen, I'd have offered you a stop over at ours, as we're only 10 minutes from the N10 in The Charente. If you decide to change your route, let me know.

Fingers crossed your back holds out for the journey. Good luck x

 

[Dorset Diver]

If you'd have been headed to Caen, I'd have offered you a stop over at ours, as we're only 10 minutes from the N10 in The Charente. If you decide to change your route, let me know.

Fingers crossed your back holds out for the journey. Good luck x

A nice thought. Thanks.

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[mikebeaches]

Sorry to hear about your woes!

Camping Caceres, just on the edge of the town of the same name is a good site. Each pitch has its own bathroom. We've used it on the way back from the Algarve to Santander.

Ahora con RESERVA DIRECTA y las mejores OFERTAS

Camping Cáceres, a 10 minutos de la increíble ciudad antigua de Cáceres declarada PATRIMONIO DE LA HUMANIDAD por la UNESCO en 1986 y 5 minutos del Monumento Natural de las barruecos y en el camino de la Ruta de la Plata. Parcelas con baño individual.

www.campingcaceres.com

And believe it's available in the ACSI discount scheme - looks as though it might be €18:

Cáceres Camping | ACSI

Unusually well-equipped and quiet, terraced campsite (with your own shower, washbasin and toilet) and a lovely large swimming pool. Excellent...

www.campingcard.co.uk

Good luck and as suggested, perhaps see if you can get hold of some strong pain killers.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Sorry to hear about your woes!

Camping Caceres, just on the edge of the town of the same name is a good site. Each pitch has its own bathroom. We've used it on the way back from the Algarve to Santander.

Ahora con RESERVA DIRECTA y las mejores OFERTAS

Camping Cáceres, a 10 minutos de la increíble ciudad antigua de Cáceres declarada PATRIMONIO DE LA HUMANIDAD por la UNESCO en 1986 y 5 minutos del Monumento Natural de las barruecos y en el camino de la Ruta de la Plata. Parcelas con baño individual.

www.campingcaceres.com

And believe it's available in the ACSI discount scheme - looks as though it might be €18:ceres

Cáceres Camping | ACSI

Unusually well-equipped and quiet, terraced campsite (with your own shower, washbasin and toilet) and a lovely large swimming pool. Excellent...

www.campingcard.co.uk

Good luck and as suggested, perhaps see if you can get hold of some strong pain killers.

Thanks. We have used Caceres in the past .

 

[peterc10]

Very nice Aire in Palencia called Area de Autocaravanas Suances. Owned by the garage over the road. Free to stay and free water if you fill up with fuel at their garage. CamperContact No is 62523. Very clean showers and toilets as well. Nice walk through a park into town, although I suspect you will not want to do that.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Very nice Aire in Palencia called Area de Autocaravanas Suances. Owned by the garage over the road. Free to stay and free water if you fill up with fuel at their garage. CamperContact No is 62523. Very clean showers and toilets as well. Nice walk through a park into town, although I suspect you will not want to do that.

Thanks. We used that one not long after it opened. Hopefully the electrics have been tidied up . It would certainly make a good stop.

 

[mikebeaches]

There are three ACSI discount sites around Salamanca - I think we stayed at Campsite Don Quixote?

https://www.campingcard.co.uk/campsite/search/q/place:123610/

Camping Don Quijote | ACSI

Friendly family campsite close to the river and Salamanca. A city with many sights. There is a stunning cycling and walking trail along the river to...

www.campingcard.co.uk

Oops - edited to add, I see Salamanca was already on your radar!!

​

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[Dorset Diver]

I'm

There are three ACSI discount sites around Salamanca - I think we stayed at Campsite Don Quixote?

https://www.campingcard.co.uk/campsite/search/q/place:123610/

Camping Don Quijote | ACSI

Friendly family campsite close to the river and Salamanca. A city with many sights. There is a stunning cycling and walking trail along the river to...

www.campingcard.co.uk

Oops - edited to add, I see Salamanca was already on your radar!!

​

Thanks Mike. Yes we normally used Hotel Regio Camping at Salamanca. It's not wonderful be does well for a night.

 

[DBK]

Given your circumstances I suggest just driving and when you think you need to stop soon just look on CamperContact/Park4Nite or whatever is your choice and find the nearest place ahead. Take a week doing the journey - there are some interesting places in the middle of Spain!

If you haven't seen it have a look at the NHS website as it has some good advice about back pain. I can suffer badly but if I spend a couple of minutes each morning doing exercises I don't get a recurrence. The one where you push an imaginary pea along the carpet works for me.

Back pain

Find out how to relieve back pain, what can cause it, and when to get medical advice.

www.nhs.uk

 

[Speve]

There’s a nice municipal campsite at Castro Verde couple of hours drive from where you are then onto Camping Caceres?

 

[Jamesh]

Try a pharmacy, being in Spain your more likely to get stronger painkiller I expect.

diclofenac works well......

Not a medic though...

 

[JnJ]

I feel for you. OH has chronic back problem and after a similar situation always, summer and winter, uses a heated seat cover plugged into 12v. He said it has made a big difference.
You might need a muscle relaxant as well as a painkiller to ease movement.

Take great care of yourself, and get home safely.

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[Dorset Diver]

T

There’s a nice municipal campsite at Castro Verde couple of hours drive from where you are then onto Camping Caceres?

Thanks. That looks a good bet.

 

[Speve]

T
Thanks. That looks a good bet.

We always use it and stay a few weeks on our way home from Spain we will be down there next month for a short break

 

[spikehcm681]

Incidentally, it's my 75th today and at present I'm not a happy bunny so please be gentle.

Roger

Happy Birthday young-un!

Back pain is a b*****er init!

I hope you feel better soon - relaxation will help with some conditions - gentle exercise with others. If you've had it before you'll know which is which.

I would be wary of having to rely on strong pain killers for you to be able to drive.

Hope the weather clears up down there soon - we're at Camping Alentejo at the moment and are due to get to Cabanas de Tavira on Wednesday.

Started raining heavily here mid-afternoon and looks set-in for a few days. But there is a drought on!

Cheers

Spike

 

[PJGWiltshire]

Consider putting in a claim under your breakdown cover. If you are unable to drive and there is no other person able to drive, a driver is arranged to drive the vehicle.

 

[Madcaravanner]

OK DO NOT Drive under the influence of codeine - you WILL test positive on a drug wipe for opiate

Get on to your travel insurance and get a chauffeur

I've had spinal injury problems since 1987 (broke my lumbar spine at work) so fully understand the problems of pain, nerve damage and fatigue caused by constant pain

Please be careful the Spanish police have zero tolerance on drug and drink driving of large vehicles

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[PJGWiltshire]

If you cannot go down the insurance road, consider a family member flying out. Gatwick to Faro. Next Sunday £30 O/W with Easy Jet.

 

[POH]

Can't help with the route but Voltrol works or failing that a young nubile Swedish masseuse in high heels might be the answer

 

[KiwiKampers]

Try a pharmacy, being in Spain your more likely to get stronger painkiller I expect.

diclofenac works well......

Not a medic though...

Jamesh is right. From my experience of driving long distances with a bad back I would dose myself up with Diclofenac and stuff a MacKenzie Roll between my back and the seat.
I recommend the MacKenzie Roll. It was suggested to me by my physiotherapist. It's basically a stiff type of cushion and should be available from chemists.
Also, take regular breaks from driving and walk around for a few minutes.... not just a walk from the van to the cafe where you'll sit down again.
I feel your pain!

 

[Reallyretired]

As already mentioned on here, do not take codeine containing painkillers and attempt to drive. They will impair your abilities and may cause failure of a drug test if you have an accident. Diclofenac and other NSAIDs are OK and can be combined with Paracetamol.

 

[PP Bear]

Off topic, but……

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[Rapido925M]

Interesting reading! As another back sufferer I feel your pain.

I always carry a box of cocodamol 8/500 and ibuprofen just in case. I have taken them alternately every 2 hours and “survived”. My doctor advised against ibuprofen BUT accepted that they were a necessary evil at times. Now I’m concerned that I might fail a drug test in future. What are the rules?

Good luck with your problem: I would drive for a while, stop and stretch, drive some more. I wouldn’t worry about “nice” stops; I would find something when I couldn’t go any further.

Gordon

 

[Rapido925M]

On reflection, having a number of potential targets might help you to "keep going" or to organise your daily driving: we never book places but just drive until we feel like stopping, whilst visiting nice-sounding spots. We tend to use aires.

I imagine that you wouldn't want to deviate significantly from the shortest route and I've only been along the northern end of that drive. We really liked the aire at Torquemada, east of Palencia (but probably too far, 15 miles).
Aguilar de Campoo has a quite aire just off the road by the river; you can park next to the river during the day for a "view". HOWEVER, don't come in from the south if you are "tall"; the bridge really is low. You can also park out at the reservoir, but again that is taking you off route.
We weren't keen on Reinosa.
Espinosa de los Monteros is very quiet and peaceful but almost certainly too far off route: Cabarceno is probably a better bet.

Again: good luck.

Gordon

 

[Dorset Diver]

I feel for you. OH has chronic back problem and after a similar situation always, summer and winter, uses a heated seat cover plugged into 12v. He said it has made a big difference.
You might need a muscle relaxant as well as a painkiller to ease movement.

Take great care of yourself, and get home safely.

Thanks for you thoughts. I sincerely hope that you don't feel my pain I would not wish it upon my worst enemy - Putin excluded!