Our timing to visit was a little unfortunate as their boiler had packed up and hot water was ‘off”; these things always happen at the wrong time and a plumber was due this morning, though time was vague so after breakfast Christine and I headed out out into their rolling countryside with the dogs. There house is surrounded by rolling hills, fields, woodland and completely out of the way, so we could let the dogs loose and off we went. We had been given a route to follow but missed the particular turn off and kept going until we reached a small, isolated hamlet with a small church and decided we had gone too far but found another path around the back which took us to a very small, semi abandoned holy building with a pond known as the “Fontaine Notre-Dame“; we have no idea why it was there, semi buried in undergrowth but from here we found another path running through the woods. It was a glorious and warm day, the dogs were in haven and we were wondering where we were!!! We eventually got back onto the original road and headed back the way we came.
Back at the house the plumber was still scratching his head as to the reason why the boiler wouldn’t work and after a couple of hours or so reached the conclusion it was beyond repair. It turns out this was the original boiler when they moved in all that time ago, so I don’t think the boiler owes them anything!!!!!
Fontaine chapel
We now headed to a small coastal town for lunch but having been held up by the plumber we were rather on the late side, lunches had finished; France is very different to Spain regarding mealtimes, still we eventually found a place that did platters of assorted cold meats, cheeses and a selection of smoked fish, so tucked in and followed this with ice-creams, all this whilst overlooking a large beach that a bulldozer was shifting a large mountain of sand about!!
Trying to find something suitable to eat
Another pleasant evening before bed, tomorrow we start the last leg of our journey, heading to Dieppe, a drive of about 5-hours, to catch the ferry
Posted inFrance|Comments Off on A day off from Driving
Being a Sunday, breakfast didn’t start till 0800hrs but we had asked the night before if we could start at 0730hrs, and they agreed so on the dot we walked into the breakfast room not knowing what to expect, bearing in mind our bed had no sheets!!! But I must say we were not disappointed, there was a good “ continental” spread and the bread and croissants were just out of the oven and still hot. Being a Sunday, we expected to be the only “early-birds”, but wrong, everybody seemed to want to get away early; I wonder why!!!!
Back on the road again for our last long leg heading up to Brittany to visit our friends Sandy and Wendy who have lived there for 20-years plus. Being a Sunday the traffic was light and we made good progress though being a hot day, and as we headed north the sun shone straight into the back of the car and the poor pooches were very hot. We wound the air-con right down but this wasn’t sufficient so had to stop numerous times to let them cool, down; leaving early certainly helped.
Around mis-afternoon we arrived and it didn’t take long for the dogs to remember their “uncle” Sandy, he was the one who introduced them to “The Ball Throwing”, something they are both obsessed with. We “Adults” just sat in the warm sun enjoying the “vino” catching up, we hadn’t seen each other since my 80th back last May.
The afternoon soon became the evening and eventually bed called; where had the time gone?
We were down for breakfast on the dot of 0730 as we had a time constraint today; the vineyard we are visiting in the Loire Valley closes around 1700hrs and if we don’t get there, “tough” as they are not open on a Sunday, hence our early start!!!
Last night’s wind had disappeared and the sun was coming through, it was a promising start to the day. Though we are in the back-of-beyond, it wasn’t too far to pick-up the motorway; peage all the way today, my-my how the costs seem to have escalated since our last visit.
They do love the ball !
Naturally we had to stop to stretch all “12” legs a couple of times but refrained from too much lunch as we had booked a table in a small restaurant we know in the village we are staying in.
Really pretty area by the river Loire, shame about hotel!
We headed straight for the vineyard, parked up and started “Degustation de vins” , didn’t want to miss out!!! The 2022 vintage of pouilly-fume we were after had all gone🥵🥵 it was very “quaffable” too, perhaps we should have bought an extra dozen or so cases,last visit. Oh well keep an open mind and enjoy the new vintages, which we did and eventually left with a fine selection of Loire wines.
Ideal place for dogs, beautiful scenery
Job done so headed to our hotel, “Le Bon Labourer” in a small village called “La Charité-sur-Loire” a couple of miles away. We’d stayed there on a previous occasion and though not “top notch” comfortable for one night; well it was. Bare in mind we have two dogs so the rooms are not always the best but tonight we’d seen it all. Two singles (which we’d ordered), but no top sheets, just a blanket! Of course we didn’t know this when we arrived as once we’d dumped our cases we went for a walk along the river.
Great restaurant shame about hotel!
After a wash-and-brush up, we headed into the “town”, we had booked a table at a small restaurant “The Auberge de La Poule Noire”, the day before and what a good job we did, being a Saturday night it was very busy, they were turning people away!!! This is a very popular restaurant and highly recommended,
Lovely meal at restaurant
Back at our hotel and now realised about the lack of sheets, but too late to do something, we went to bed, another early start tomorrow as we head to Brittany, a drive of about 6-hours plus stops.
Knowing this is our last day, and subconsciously knowing we have to clear up after our visit, we woke rather early and got started. Fortunately we had consigned ourselves to a couple of rooms and the kitchen, the dogs however also had the whole garden, on three floors to roam about in, and “ hunting” their “doings” was a major task!!! Still everything sorted by lunchtime so headed out to Lliber for another bottle of their superb local white wine and a few tapas for lunch. Being a weekday the cafe wasn’t heaving with cyclists as it is at weekends, but still there were enough people to create an atmosphere especially as the sun was shining, of course.
Lliber Squid,crocquetters,
Pardons and a bottle of wine, lovely!
Back home we packed the car, cooked our last meal and headed to bed for a reasonably early night; early start tomorrow as we head north. Tomorrow we are heading for a village just over the border in the French part of the Basque region, a 800-km drive to
Friday 25th April 2025
Boiler switched off, Gas turned off, house locked up, car out of the garage and we were out of the house about 0815hrs, stopped at the local garage, not for fuel but for some morning goods for breakfast, and away, pretty good!!!
I love France!
To eat up the mileage we elected to use toll roads everywhere we could; unfortunately, unlike the motorways in the south of Spain where all the toll booths have been removed and are free to use, in the north of Spain charges still apply. We did our normal 2-hrs on, 2-hours off but each changeover stop took longer as we gave the dogs a run around.
View from our balcony
After an uneventful drive we arrived at our hotel in Laressore about 5-pm, booked in and joined the locals sitting outside in the sun for a drink.
Once we had chilled-out, we gave the dogs a jolly good walk in the local park, with lots of ball throwing before taking our bags into the hotel. Originally we thought we would venture out and find a local restaurant but it soon became abundantly clear, we were in the centre of the village and we got the last table!!!
Another bottle, another tapas, diets next week!
Being so close to the border and in the Basque region, our evening meal was influenced by the Spanish, so a couple of Tapas with a bottle, “naturally”, was called for and along with everybody else enjoying their Friday evening. The hotel did have a “formal” restaurant inside and we did look at the menu but the Tapas won the day, well the night!! Whilst eating we were serenaded by a singer playing his own guitar and everybody was happy until around 2100hrs when suddenly the wind came up, not gently, no a big gust that sent various things flying off the table, quickly followed by some people heading into the bar and the rest “donning” on coats and jackets; the locals knew what happens at this time at night!! We weren’t prepared, no coats, so as we had finished we headed to the park for the dogs then back to our room. Tomorrow we head to the Loire Valley, a drive of circa 670 KM’s
Up early as we had to be out of the apartment this morning but more importantly we had to be at the Vet’s for 1000hrs, he is first on his “list”, so no food since last night.
Breakfasted and car packed, we headed to Campoverde and TT’s fate, arriving just before he opened at 1000hrs, and as soon as the gate was unlocked, Christine took the “poor lad” in while I had to pacify Rosie, she couldn’t understand why Tom was taken alone, they always go everywhere together. It was strange, the vet is directly opposite our old house and we used to get annoyed when people parked outside the vet, directly in front of our gate, on a yellow line, causing some traffic disruption; yet here I am doing the same thing!!!!
I had to wait what seemed an eternity but eventually Christine emerged and got straight into the car but was very emotional, naturally I thought it was about Tom-Tom losing his manhood, but no, it was because the vet asked her to hold onto TT whilst he gave him his injection to go to sleep!!
Sue and Frank looking well
We had arranged to meet Frank and Sue for coffee at the Africa Coffee shop at 1100hrs but had spare time so headed to the dog park so Rosie could have a run around, chasing a ball; her favourite pastime. She was eager to get out of the car and get into the park because I think she thought she would hook-up with Tom, but alas she was disappointed. We had the ball thrower with us and thought that would do the trick, but no, she wasn’t putting her usual heart and soul into it, in fact we kept having to call her to bring the ball back; she was not a happy bunny.
Helena and Sue looking happy
Back at the coffee house we met up and sat in the warm sunshine and enjoyed “Tostadas” with our coffee and naturally a Soberano in my case. Frank always enjoys one with me but not today, he is being a “good-boy” as he is on “antibiotics”. Helena also joined us after her keep fit class.
Mary looking well
Our next stop was Mary’s, we had arranged to go to the Chinese in Pilar de La Horadada but unfortunately they won’t allow dogs in. They do have tables and chairs outside where you can take your dog but unfortunately they are in the shade, and though it is warm in the sun today, it’s cold where the sun doesn’t get to. The car park on the other hand is totally in the sun!!! Fortunately the car park was virtually empty and we found one wall that produced shade so parked uptight to there and left windows open, we didn’t want Rose to boil!!!
This Chinese has stood the test of time, the menu has been the same, albeit with a lot of choice, since we were first here in 2005, the decor has changed a bit and the prices have risen moderately but you know that their “menu del dia” is very tasty and good value for money, and today was no exception, we all enjoyed duck dishes.
It’s always nice to meet up with Mary and we were reminded it has been eight years since Barry died, my how time flies by, and it did for us as well today. We had to be at the vets to collect Tom-Tom at 1500hrs so took Mary home and left after saying our goodbyes, hopefully next time we won’t be in such a rush.
Poor Tom-tom feeling very sorry for himself
Tom safely in the car feeling very sorry for himself, we headed back to Alcalali for the next two nights. The weather is still very good so a pleasant 2-hour drive giving Tom the chance to relax before arriving at the 36-steps at Martins villa which we think “may” be a little uncomfortable, bearing in mind where his stitches are!!!
These steps are a challenge to us these days but it’s good to keep the joints working, but poor Tom not only had his wound to think about, he also had his head in his protective collar and these two things really gave him a problem, still he got there in the end. As soon as we were back upstairs Christine fed them, this was the first food since yesterday afternoon, Tom because of his operation, but Rosie, though it was available, she was pining all day.
We watched some tv and Tom-Tom just slept on his duvet at our feet, still making full use of his ‘ordeal” to gain lots os “sympathy”, I’m sure he will be back to normal tomorrow, our last full day in Spain on this trip
Posted inSpain|Comments Off on Tom-Tom’s Red Letter Day
“Up-n-out” fairly early today and after giving the dogs their walk in the “burr” field, we headed back up to Campoverde. Our first stop is “Paula’s” the hairdresser we use when we are here, she is good, quick and one doesn’t need a mortgage to have a hair cut, we both use her and car recommend her to anyone.
Job done and we headed of to see “George” the Campoverde vet, he wants to give Tom-Tom the once over before he operates on Wednesday. Also both dogs need various injections etc., and we also stocked up with essentials that are ridiculously expensive in oU.K. Unfortunately he was extremely busy so we were sent away and asked to return a couple of hours later so headed to “El Cafe De Africa” just up the road in the village, a small but rather nice coffee shop that also sell Soberano 😂😂 to wait. Whilst there we met up with Martin, our old neighbour who for years was a builder but semi-retired when we got to know him and just cleaned pools. We also met his new lady friend, unfortunately Jackie died early last year but it was good to see he is getting on with life again.
Back to the vet for jabs etc., and TT’s checkup which he passed with flying colours; I bet he wished he hadn’t when he knows what’s coming on Friday!!! Then via the apartment for a quick bite to eat and then off the Daphne and Steve’s for a meet-up. Daphne and Steve were neighbours when I had the house Torre de La Horadada all those years ago, they are the people we have known the longest in Spain so it is always good to catch-up with them. When we arrived the sun was shining and it was warm but as the afternoon wore on, the wind got up and it turned quite chilly, even the bottle of wine and the hot canapés Daffers had cooked specially couldn’t keep us warm so reluctantly we left, we couldn’t have stopped much longer as we were out to dinner later!!!
A quick return to the apartment for a shower and change; long trousers, shoes and socks!!, before heading to Helena and Roger’s for aperitifs before going to the restaurant.
Roger greeted us at the gate and wow, how well he looks. The last time we met he was suffering after major surgery, but today he was “bobbing up-n-down like a good-un”; really good news. Helena had also made some canapés to accompany our aperitifs, and they were lovely.
Helena at Cafe Africa
Tonight we went to a new bar/restaurant that has recently opened, next door to where Gama supermarket used to be and it is Belgian; in fact it seemed quite strange to hear everybody talking in French!! The four of us had a really good evening and though it isn’t quite the place one would go for a slap-up meal, what we had was extremely tasty though I do wonder if there is space for another bar/restaurant in Campoverde🤔🤔.
After a fun evening we said our goodbyes and headed back to the apartment after a very enjoyable day though we did over-indulge food wise today🤭🤭. Tonight is Tom-Tom’s last night as an in-tact male dog, poor chap, he won’t know what he has missed!!!
