After two enjoyable, boozy and late nights with Lee and Sarah, a gentle morning was called for, so after waving them off, we settled down for a quiet morning. Apart from a few housekeeping chores and a dog walk it was soon lunchtime but the un-forecast rain kept coming.
We can’t stay in all day so after lunch headed out to the National Trust Trevose headland area where we could blow out the cobwebs and walk to the Trevose Lighthouse and later into Padstow for a cuppa.
View from Trevose
The 4-mile journey took the best part of half an hour to accomplish through the narrow Cornish lanes, and the last 1/2 mile was speed bump after another speed bump; the lanes were so narrow with minimal passing places, I think so many speed bumps were rather “over-the-top”; [just saying!!!]. We were surprised by the number of holidaymakers around, but I suppose with the children back at school, retirees can come out and play!,
Our mountain goats!
The car park was at the top of the cliff and didn’t we know it when we opened the doors, the wind!!!! Anyway, coats on, dogs out we trudged down the hill to the lighthouse. Trevose Head Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1847 as a guide for vessels in the Bristol Channel, a lighthouse was first proposed for this area of the North Cornwall coast as early as 1809 there being no light at that time to guide ships trading in the Bristol Channel other than Longships Lighthouse to the south and the old Lundy Lighthouse to the north; obviously it couldn’t have been that urgent as it took the best part of 40 years to complete!!! When we got down this hill we were disappointed as it was closed😡😡 so up we went again. The dogs had a “ball”, the road had been cut out of the cliff and all of a sudden our two turned into mountain goats, up and down, up and down still they were happy and I got to practice walking up hill and Christine was happy I’m not on a scooter, win win all around!!!
Off we go!
Next we headed to Padstow and by now the wind had blown the clouds away and the sun was shining. My-My Padstow on a sunny September afternoon, parking was a nightmare, we had to circumnavigate the town twice before we found a space in the enormous car park by the harbour and finished up at the far end; further to walk, but good for my new knee!!!!.
Cherry Blossoms coffee house
We wandered around the harbour and some of the old town and finished up in the “Cherry Blossom coffee house” for a cuppa and a nice, and an unusually very large slice of “calorie busting” cake, lovely-jubbly.
Very tasty
On our walk back to the car we had a good look into Rick Stein’s fish restaurant.
Padstow harbour
Back at the motorhome, what a beautiful sunny late afternoon, pity it is so cold otherwise we could have been outside and enjoyed a bar-b-q.
Due to being so knackered, this evening we just watched TV from the comfort of our beds, followed by an early night.
Surprise surprise; not too early we opened The curtains and no rain with some hints of blue sky, that’s better.
After breakfast Sarah came over with her 3-Labradors and the two of them headed out for their morning dog walk, during which we learnt Tom-Tom and Rosie like blackberries as well the Labradors, apparently they were hoovering them up along the hedgerows as they walked.
Tom and Rosie picking blackberries
Though they are down in Cornwall in their motorhome, Lee is actually working; a new meaning to the phrase “working from home” so Sarah joined us and we headed to Newquay. Again, we brought our car with us so we can get around, just as well as we are in a very isolated part of Cornwall.
Arriving in Newquay late morning with the sun shining we found a parking slot in a side street; lucky or what; reasonably close to the beach. Always a challenge to find somewhere to park for free and with no time limit, wow!!!
Dogs going mad on the beach
The three of us with TT & R headed down to the beach. The quickest way was down steep steps but though I have a new knee, it still isn’t up to loads of steps so we carried walking along the promenade high above the beach until we found the road down; naturally the other end!! Fortunately being September, dogs are allowed to run free on this lovely sandy beach, and they did, with the wind up their tails they were in and out of the sea, running around in great big circles and playing with other dogs; a lovely sight to behold. We on the other hand meandered along the beach watching the surfers and enjoying the blue skies and sun beating down on us, only spoilt by a cold northerly wind whistling around our ears.
Geoff enjoying his pasty
One challenge we set ourselves for today apart from going on a beach, was to have a Cornish pastie and low and behold there was a bakery at the top of the beach selling them. The bakery turned out to be a hut and the only seats available were outside but fortunately this seating arrangement was in the lee of the cliff so we were fairly well sheltered whilst we all enjoyed rather nice Cornish pasties, hot drinks and freshly baked donuts cooked to order. With all the “beach–running” TT & R did, they were very happy to lay down!!!
Sara tucking into her pasty
Christine wasn’t too sure if she had been to Newquay before, but for Sarah it was a nostalgic visit, she used to come here as a child.
Back up the steep road and we headed into town, now a pedestrian only area and we were surprised just how many tourists were still about. Oh yes, we also noted nearly every second shop sold pasties; we didn’t have to rush to get them!!!!
After a very pleasant day we headed back to the car and yes still where we left it and no parking ticket was a bonus, as one never knows if there are restrictions bearing in mind the numerous official car parks charging extortionate amounts for the privilege.
Ball throwing on beach
On the return journey we stopped at Mawgan Porth Beach, a small haven with a clear expanse of sand where dogs are welcome all year round. Unfortunately this place was heaving and parking was a nightmare so I dropped the girls and dogs off to head to the beach, agreed a time for collection and I headed into the countryside to wait in the car. When we met back up, the dogs were soaking and covered in sand; they certainly had another good time and where do they get their energy from??? At least they will be asleep when we leave them in the motorhome for a couple of hours tonight as we are heading out to celebrate Sarah.s birthday.
Lovely walk on beach
Showered, shaved a changed we met up at the appointed hour and headed off to Padstow, Lee had booked a table at a restaurant with the strangest of names, “Prawn on the Lawn” (link below). Again we were amazed how busy Padstow was, the car park was heaving, still we found a place and being early walked into the first pub we came across, the “Old Custom House”, a very old building turned into a pub.
Amazing selection of foods, and so tasty
We strolled up into the old part and entered the restaurant, hmmm interesting and extremely busy; apparently you only get a two hour table booking slot due to its size and popularity. Being Sarah’s birthday Lee had set everything up and soon after arrival a bottle of champagne with fresh oysters arrived to kick things off, though Christine exchanged her oysters for huge tiger prawns. When the four of us go out we don’t do “conventional”, ie starter, main and desert, no, each of us select a starter and have them delivered to the table one at a time, tonight we kept up the tradition, but with “Prawn” in the name of the restaurant, everything we ate was out of the sea. The courses kept coming, scallops, tuna, mackerel, crab, etc., but all cooked in different herbs and spices, every flavour different, quite “a-mazing”, and as a finally we shared a whole turbot, cooked to perfection on the bone and filleted by Lee at the table, wonderful; me-thinks we will be back again!!! Copious amounts of excellent New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region accompanied our food and a “finale” of local Cornish ice cream with a “twist”, and I the time honoured tradition we were the last people to leave the restaurant.
Brilliant night, thanks guys x
Christine drove us home and we all finished up in Rosie for a night-cat.
Thank you both for a well organised and thoroughly enjoyable evening and honoured to be invited to help you celebrate your birthday, Sarah. It’s a shame you have to leave tomorrow morning just as things were getting interesting!!!
The best thing about our feast, being all fish we didn’t have a problem getting to sleep, had we had meat, it would have been a different story.
At last the wheels are turning; new knee fitted and mobile again. Today we are heading to Cornwall for a couple of weeks. It’s been the best part of 7-months since we have been away, and Rosie was feeling very neglected, still last week she had a professional come along and give her a thorough clean and polish to smarten and cheer her up!!! We collected her on Sunday and yesterday loaded her up ready for the off.
The drive down to the motorhome park outside Padstow was uneventful, though we went through all 4-seasons along the way. Before we left we had a message, the owner was not available to see us in on arrival, but told us where our pitch was. Arriving at the farm we followed the instructions and straight onto our pitch, marked out with orange cones and a reserved sign with our name on, very efficient.
Plenty of space
The weather was wet, windy and cold, exacerbated by being exposed high up with minimal trees etc., fortunately our pitch was fairly flat so didn’t take many minutes to park her up nice and level. The sad thing was the dogs needed a run having been cooped up in the car for the past 3-hours, so off trotted Christine and dogs for a wet walk!!!
Enjoying their freedom
20-minutes later we were all sitting in the motorhome enjoying a hot drink wondering wether to go out or stay in, so decided to play a game of crib whilst deciding, well that’s what I thought. At 1600hrs there was a knock on out door and I assumed it was the site owner to check us in, wrong; I was gobsmacked to see Sarah and Lee at the door. It turns out Christine had been plotting behind my back at my 80th party back in May, to meet up here but kept it a secret!!!! Anyway we got them in out of the rain and the “G & T’s and wine” came out and we settled in for the rest of the afternoon, decision had already been made, unbeknown to me.
We took a break for dinner, they trotted off to their motorhome for food whilst we had ours, then after we dinner re-convened and carried on until quite late. What a surprise, a good one of course.
Fingers crossed we wake up to better weather tomorrow
Posted inUK|Comments Off on Cornwall; here we come
Skipping breakfast we had a trip to the park before heading off, our first stop was La Jonquera, the Spanish border town where one has their last chance for cheaper fuel, fags, booze and other essentials. In fact after breakfast I nipped into one of the supermarkets and it was full of French, they drive over the border to get their groceries and save money!!!
Rain, hailstone, welcome to France
Our journey today is on French motorways, and that means tolls, ugh, still we want to get there ASAP so I had to “pay up” and “swallow hard”; all a bit of a shock to the system🥶
We arrived at the house in reasonable time. Because Andrew generally only uses the house in the summer, everything has been turned off so our first task was to “try” and “suss” things out; easier said than done knowing the history of the building, a small converted block of flats with random electrics to match. Eventually we had the essentials working so un-packed and settled in. We had sufficient food so no need to rush to the supermarket tonight.
Little innocents
As there are wide spaces all around the house, and with careful aim, we could send the ball, using the ball thrower of course, at the inside of the outside perimeter wall. This wall is set at an angle so when the ball hit the wall, it would head round the corner giving the dogs a good run each time.
Another bedroom in another place, the poor dogs must be wondering what’s going on, still yet again after some rigorous exercise they settled down and we all went to sleep.
Posted inSpain|Comments Off on Transition: Spain to France
“Up-n-out” this morning, but not too early!!! Our time in Spain is nearly over, today we head towards Frejus to stay at Andrew”s “iconic”, but “quirky” house, but will do an overnight stop in Gerona; we’ve never been there, so it will be good.
Fortunately we had started to pack the car yesterday evening; the 36-steps takes it out of us these days so we spread the “job” over two timescales!!!
After breakfast we completed packing the car and helped Martin get things back to normal as he leaves tomorrow after his short visit.
Massive park across the road, that was lucky
Christine had pre-booked the hotel in Gerona, reasonably close to the old town and by a large park and naturally they took dogs. We hit the road mid morning, motorway all the way so the 5-hour drive will be easy. It’s so nice to drive in Spain, well in this region as all the toll booths have been removed, all the motorways are free, why can’t France do the same???
Pretty houses lining the river bank
Arriving in Gerona early afternoon was fine, but getting to the hotel was a different story. Waze kept telling us to go up a certain road but it was closed and we drove around in circles until Christine spotted a very small side street, so we headed down it and low and behold the hotel’s garage entrance appeared on our left, so parked and Christine walked round to the front and booked in, at which point they opened the garage door and we were in. Ouch, a steep narrow ramp into the “bowls of the earth” under the building. But if that was not enough, the hotel receptionist was waiting and told us to go down again to a lower floor. All I can say is it’s a good job we have a small car as the corner was sharp and the width was very narrow, as evident by the chunks out of the wall!!! And if that wasn’t enough, they must have recently had their carpark floors re-resigned as each time the front wheels turned, the screeching sound was very loud. Anyway, without mishap we parked and extracted our overnight cases and headed to the lift but then it happened, Tom-Tom had terrible diarrhoea on this smart new shiny surface👹👹👹, but with limited resources we managed to sort it all out!!!
Lots of little side streets, very pretty
After settling into our room we headed out towards the old town and Jewish quarter.
From our hotel and to get to the old walled town we had to cross the river, and as we did, we were admiring all the old buildings lining the river, all decorated in numerous vivid colours.
Eiffel bridge
There are a total of eleven bridges that cross the river in Gerona, One of which is the “Eiffel Bridge” constructed by Gustave Eiffel just before the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Girona is the capital of the Girona province in the Catalonian region in North-eastern Spain. It lies on the Oñar River in the foothills of the Los Ángeles Mountains, a short distance inland from a Mediterranean Costa Brava. The city comprises of three zones: the interior, which includes the old quarter; the modern section; and a residential area.
Gerona
The history of this place is impressive because of its position on the coastal route from Gaul to the Iberian Peninsula. Girona was a fortified site whose ruined walls date back to the 4th and 5th centuries, and historically this city has been the subject of many wars, sieges and take-overs including the Romans, Visigoths, Muslims and Franks and at one stage it was part of the Kingdom of Aragon. Until the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. There was a thriving Jewish quarter and much of the original labyrinth of narrow passageways are preserved in the old town and can be walked around today.
A lot of steps leading to the cathedral
We did try to visit the Cathedral that stands high up on the hill, with its broad steps approaching an imposing entrance but alas, it was closed but not too disappointed as we did visit one church but I fear this was the poor relation!!!
Lots of entrances leading to houses
There is much to see here but a few short hours doesn’t do the place justice; back for a longer visit sometime I think.
Stopped for a glass or two!
Wandering along the “hilly” cobbled narrow streets we decided to have a drink and take in the atmosphere but apart from a few students, there was none. Our timing was wrong, a Thursday with dusk approaching and too early for the evening to begin, we headed out of the old town, over another bridge and into the more modern “traditional Spanish square”, and by now restaurants were opening and folk were coming out to play!!
Packed restaurant in the square
We decided on which lucky restaurant we would donate to and this evening made do with several Tapas and naturally vino!!!
The Ramblers
Our hotel was just around the corner but diverted to the very big municipal park close to the hotel for the dogs to have a jolly good run before settling in for our last night in Spain🥵🥵: France tomorrow.
Nothing happened today other than lounging, sun bathing, remotely exercising the dogs and some alcohol interspersed with food😂😂😂
Wednesday 6th March 2024
Views on walk
,
This morning Martin has meetings, after which we are all heading to the Mandala Beach Bar, the restaurant at the Mandala beach, in Benissa, in fact right on the edge of the beach who also specialise in fish dishes, naturally!!! So whilst Martin has his conference call, Christine wanted to do her walk one last time so I dropped her off and headed to the car park where the walk ended, and waited. Settling down for a 45-minute wait, I watched tv on my phone but to my surprise and delight, the 45-minute walk only lasted about 25-minutes. Christine had no knowledge why it was so quick but at least we saved time so headed back to the bike shop for a coffee and a cake. The good news is, they had topped up their stock of Soberano😁😁
Olive and orange trees en-route
Arriving back at the villa just as Martin was finishing his business call; good timing or what?
The bay we are having lunch
A quick wash and brush-up and we were off. When we booked we enquired if we could bring the dogs, no problem so they jumped into Martin’s car as well.
Lovely sunny day
We had been here before and Christine was adamant she wanted to go back, so here we are again, and everything looks just the same in fact we could well have been at the same table!! A good job we booked as they were very busy as it was such a nice, warm day and all their tables faced the sun and overlooked the beach.
Last time we were here we enjoyed tapas, but today we decided we’d go further and have a full meal, good decision, and as expected the food was fabulous and enjoyed all the more because the white wine we chose was unusually good, too “moooor-ish” in fact, and we weren’t satisfied with just one bottle!!!
Be careful Martin you might get wet!
Sitting at the table enjoying ambience, watching the world go by enjoying our drinks brought back a lot of memories about our time in Spain, and though they were very good, we made the right decision to come back, though we will return for more visits in the future.
Oops soaking wet!
After lunch Christine and Martin went for a walk. At the end of the beach one can walk around the cliff climbing over the rocks, so off they went. They returned about 20-minutes later, Martin was dripping wet whilst Christine was bone dry so after a hearty laugh I was amazed. Apparently they were both stood on the same rock, on the waters edge, close to each other when a wave broke, Martin cop’d the lot!!!
Fabulous bay, lovely food, good way to end our trip in Spain
After an uneventful drive home we decided to start the car packing process as tomorrow we leave and we don’t want to have to do everything in the morning.
After such a big meal earlier, no one was hungry so just settled down and watched some tv.
Posted inSpain|Comments Off on Fabulous last two days
