Pyrenees and back - picture heavy
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:36 pm
Well, we arrived back in blighty on the 16th September, just over 2 weeks after leaving for Portsmouth. Basic statistics; 2141 miles at an average of 34.5 miles per gallon, Holmfirth to Portsmouth, Santander to Caen via Andorra, Perpignan, Bordeaux, Vendee, Brittany and Normandy, Portmouth back to Holmfirth via Nantwich.
Portsmouth
Santander
Via Brittany Ferries
Just managed a quick beer before tea and bed, then woke up to
And bells from this lot
A very eco campsite, with windmills, straw yurts and stuff.
On our way through some fantastic countryside
This was Jaca, in medieval mood
From there, we went into the Pyrenees “proper”, near the National Park
Time for a beer of course (pretty average – don’t bother)
Wine was much better. Although on the edge of the Rioja region, we are not too partial to it, so went for the local (ish) Tinta (Val de penas)
A bit of nature spotting on a 3 hour walk;
And “better red than dead” or was it the other way round!
Time to move on.
Remnants of agriculture, loads of ancient terraces and abandoned villages thanks to Franco
(amongst others).
We went through a long tunnel into France to see what the French Pyrenees were like
Just as nice, but greener!
Must get my hair cut
New village of ski apartments
Thought we would do a detour round a mountain in a national park;
Dormobiles can go off road as well you know!
Stopped in a place called Bos Ost, in a so average campsite next to a main road that I didn’t bother with any pictures. Left there to try to find Tor and the smugglers track into Andorra that Luke and Co had told me about at the ‘Pit. Not long got onto the main road when we were pulled over by the Civil Guarda (a very attractive but officious young lady and had our papers checked by some less attractive (to me) young men with a very large rifle that they shared.
Arrived at Alains Sept 3rd – the Tuesday.
Pitched up in the campsite opposite the track up to Tor
Had a beer and posted a birthday card to Esther’s mum.
It is a lovely old town. Well off the beaten track, however, we were disturbed by some german 4x4 folk in a Frontera with a roof tent (I kid you not) and some other boingy thing, who camped in the same site as us. In the morning we set off to Andorra;
This was Tor – inhabited for a thousand years, said the sign.
Take the right fork. Many thanks to Steve (Vidal) for the GPS info and other tips. Very much appreciated.
Breakfast stop
That is the Civil Guarda going back down the track we have just come up.” Donde esta Luke, John y Vidal ?” we heard them say as they went past
The track got higher
And higher
Just helping out the Guarda looking for Luke et al
I was looking for water as the Rad cap had jumped off.
After topping up we went still higher
Nearly there
Andorra!
To be honest, it was horrible, we decided not to stay.
Stopped off on t’other side for lunch
Another example of how green the French side is.
Finally arrived at a lovely site at a place called Roquefeuil on the edge of the Languedoc region.
It had an old world agricultural feel about it
Finally rolled up in the Med for a swift splash
But – quelle horreur – a puncture. Well a flat. It was round the 40 degrees on the tarmac so I wonder if the tyre / tube / valve just threw a wobbily. It was so hot I had to don Boiler suit to avoid being burnt by it when lifting the wheel back on the rear carrier.
Anyway, for those who are still awake, at 5 pm on the 5th, we rolled into Carccasonne.
Had some awful beer.
But saw a magnificent medieval city
And I had a cup of coffee.
Also went into the Bastide,the old town outside the ramparts
Leaving Carcasonne behind, we set off for St Emillion, via the Lot
Finally, a decent beer
What is this tree please?
Spot of lunch and chance to show off my missing front tooth
Arrived at St Emillion. No need to drink beer here of course! We left with a few cases.
A little stop by the Dordogne. Then a welcome cup of coffee from Drew in Aunac, before calling in on Michel Jones in Poitiers to pick up the roof vent for DanC and drop off keyrings for Michel J.
We called into the seaside on the Vendee (St Gille) on our way to see our son’s prospective in laws
While at his inlaws, they had some wood delivered for winter. Unfortunately we had to press on so couldn’t help put it in the woodshed.
A brief visit to son and partner and then on to Caen to catch the ferry home.
All in all another magnificent trip. Can’t wait for the next one, hopefully in the Blue Dormobile, as this should be the last one, for us, in the Green Dormobile which will, sadly, have to be moved on in the Spring, to fund the rebuild of the White Dormobile.
Portsmouth
Santander
Via Brittany Ferries
Just managed a quick beer before tea and bed, then woke up to
And bells from this lot
A very eco campsite, with windmills, straw yurts and stuff.
On our way through some fantastic countryside
This was Jaca, in medieval mood
From there, we went into the Pyrenees “proper”, near the National Park
Time for a beer of course (pretty average – don’t bother)
Wine was much better. Although on the edge of the Rioja region, we are not too partial to it, so went for the local (ish) Tinta (Val de penas)
A bit of nature spotting on a 3 hour walk;
And “better red than dead” or was it the other way round!
Time to move on.
Remnants of agriculture, loads of ancient terraces and abandoned villages thanks to Franco
(amongst others).
We went through a long tunnel into France to see what the French Pyrenees were like
Just as nice, but greener!
Must get my hair cut
New village of ski apartments
Thought we would do a detour round a mountain in a national park;
Dormobiles can go off road as well you know!
Stopped in a place called Bos Ost, in a so average campsite next to a main road that I didn’t bother with any pictures. Left there to try to find Tor and the smugglers track into Andorra that Luke and Co had told me about at the ‘Pit. Not long got onto the main road when we were pulled over by the Civil Guarda (a very attractive but officious young lady and had our papers checked by some less attractive (to me) young men with a very large rifle that they shared.
Arrived at Alains Sept 3rd – the Tuesday.
Pitched up in the campsite opposite the track up to Tor
Had a beer and posted a birthday card to Esther’s mum.
It is a lovely old town. Well off the beaten track, however, we were disturbed by some german 4x4 folk in a Frontera with a roof tent (I kid you not) and some other boingy thing, who camped in the same site as us. In the morning we set off to Andorra;
This was Tor – inhabited for a thousand years, said the sign.
Take the right fork. Many thanks to Steve (Vidal) for the GPS info and other tips. Very much appreciated.
Breakfast stop
That is the Civil Guarda going back down the track we have just come up.” Donde esta Luke, John y Vidal ?” we heard them say as they went past
The track got higher
And higher
Just helping out the Guarda looking for Luke et al
I was looking for water as the Rad cap had jumped off.
After topping up we went still higher
Nearly there
Andorra!
To be honest, it was horrible, we decided not to stay.
Stopped off on t’other side for lunch
Another example of how green the French side is.
Finally arrived at a lovely site at a place called Roquefeuil on the edge of the Languedoc region.
It had an old world agricultural feel about it
Finally rolled up in the Med for a swift splash
But – quelle horreur – a puncture. Well a flat. It was round the 40 degrees on the tarmac so I wonder if the tyre / tube / valve just threw a wobbily. It was so hot I had to don Boiler suit to avoid being burnt by it when lifting the wheel back on the rear carrier.
Anyway, for those who are still awake, at 5 pm on the 5th, we rolled into Carccasonne.
Had some awful beer.
But saw a magnificent medieval city
And I had a cup of coffee.
Also went into the Bastide,the old town outside the ramparts
Leaving Carcasonne behind, we set off for St Emillion, via the Lot
Finally, a decent beer
What is this tree please?
Spot of lunch and chance to show off my missing front tooth
Arrived at St Emillion. No need to drink beer here of course! We left with a few cases.
A little stop by the Dordogne. Then a welcome cup of coffee from Drew in Aunac, before calling in on Michel Jones in Poitiers to pick up the roof vent for DanC and drop off keyrings for Michel J.
We called into the seaside on the Vendee (St Gille) on our way to see our son’s prospective in laws
While at his inlaws, they had some wood delivered for winter. Unfortunately we had to press on so couldn’t help put it in the woodshed.
A brief visit to son and partner and then on to Caen to catch the ferry home.
All in all another magnificent trip. Can’t wait for the next one, hopefully in the Blue Dormobile, as this should be the last one, for us, in the Green Dormobile which will, sadly, have to be moved on in the Spring, to fund the rebuild of the White Dormobile.
