Arriving was as good as travelling!

We left Nottingham at 6.45am on Mayday morning, our goodbyes said the day before. The day was bright and sunny we had a clear run down until we reached Dover which was bathed in fog. Due to the fog the ferry was delayed for thirty minutes or so, not so bad, we arrived at Calais in good time to make the ferry down to Rouen our first stop. We exited the ferry and bang, I got hit by an ocular migraine, for those who do not know me I don’t shut my eyes or sleep when travelling, the ultimate act of trust was for me to close my eyes whilst Phil drove to the nearest service station so we could look in the back of the car for pills and buy water. Thankfully they acted quickly and we were on our way once again.

We checked into the Ibis Isle de Bastide, Rouen next to the river Seine (lots of silly jokes), we then drove down into the underground car park, eeeks it was not built for an estate car that’s for sure! Steep entry, my Mazda would have beached, narrow road, very narrow parking bays some for one car others for two with walls between. We finally parked, threw our stuff into the room and went off to explore the old part of town, a delightful town with medieval architecture lurking around corners (I will post photos at a later date). We ate at the Holy Cow gourmet burger bar, a burger like no other I have tasted, mine was topped with gorgonzola. Back to the hotel, a couple of drinks and then bed, we were truly shattered. We awoke early the Tuesday morning knowing we had a long drive across France to Bordeaux ahead, we capitulated and used the motorways, the tolls weren’t as bad as expected, it was however a long, expensive and uninspiring drive, which has led us to decide we will get the ferry to Santander when we bring Rodger the Roadster back at the end of the month. We arrived in Bordeaux so shattered we ate and drank at the hotel before crashing out not long after 9pm.

Another early morning saw us back on the road to Salamanca, Spain, we saw our first wild life road bridge, though I do wonder whether the deer and wild boar know it is for them. We had a minor incident with a French man and the toll booths, he seemed to think he could push his way into the queue despite there being no space. He eventually forced his way in front and made some rather rude gestures, we responded in kind. Next we knew he was out of his car coming towards what he presumed was the driver side, he looked a little shocked to see that it wasn’t and all he was faced with was a middle aged woman, he returned to his car with no further incident. The day was overcast and it began to rain once we got close to the border and the Pyrenees. Now about that border crossing… I was so disappointed, I wanted guards, with guns and dogs and silly hats, I wanted barbed wire fences, interrogations, car searches, what I got was a sign saying we had entered Spain, which I actually blinked and missed. On the first part of the journey the mountains were snow capped and spectacular, we were either driving over bridges or through tunnels in mountains, one 2 miles long. The second leg of the journey was through industrial landscapes then we hit open farmland again, we stopped a roadside service station, which looked a bit dismal, the coffee was fabulous and if I had been hungry a slice of that Tortilla would have been mine. We arrived at Salamanca around 6pm, the garage to the hotel was even worse than the first one I am surprised we didn’t leave bits of the undercarriage of the Rover behind. Once checked in we grabbed cameras and went for a wander around finding an old square lined with restaurants and apartments all very grand, there was however a book fair going on and so we couldn’t get a real feel for it. We found a little café and ate some Tapas I had a can of beer with mine and felt instantly squiffy, no more beer for me. Back at the hotel I had some wine whilst Phil had another beer before we headed to bed early again.

With a shorter distance to travel we allowed ourselves a much slower start to the day, a hot shower then out for a coffee and a croissant and a walk around the park which was opposite our hotel. Back on the road we escaped from Salamanca and headed for Badajoz and Portugal. After a stop to eat I finally took over the driving, well I say driving more pointing the car in the right direction with an automatic and cruise control. It was a lovely drive mountains and then heath land, swathes of meadows, some yellow, some purple, pink or white, others a mix of all the colours. We saw all manner of raptors, including eagles, a beautiful journey made more so when we crossed the Portuguese border, I saw that sign! So here we are in Elvas for two nights in the most delightful hotel, which has been both a hospital and a convent in its many incarnations. As I type this I am sitting by an open window to my right with a view of one of the towns walls extending away from our room, I can here the birds singing and there is just a hint of orange blossom in the air. We have explored the hotel with its many corridors, beautiful furniture and ancient nooks and crannies. We have been out onto the ‘Varanda’ which over looks the courtyard, with it’s small garden of olive trees and it’s swimming pool, oh and views of the old fort. We have explored the streets in the vicinity of the hotel and taken many photos. Both the hotel and the town are everything we thought they would be. Tomorrow we will explore and then Saturday we will head to the little house we love, soon to be known as home.

Elvas is a delightful old walled town complete with the remains of a viaduct. We strolled around in the heat and sunshine taking photos. We found the ‘magazine’ of the Lady of Conception it consisted of a circular domed room and an outdoor corridor, the acoustics inside were amazing, the place had a very peaceful feeling. By the time we reached the castle it was closing for lunch so we walked down to the praca da Republica and found a lovely café to have our lunch at. Whilst looking for a cash machine we found the tourist office and enquired about a second fort we had seen on an adjacent hill, we were told it was a bit of a ruin and that the newer fort was in better condition. We, of course wanted to visit the ruined one! It was really quite large and didn’t have a very settled feel, heavily fortified with a kind of moat and wall arrangement the governors house sat atop all in the safest position. It wasn’t until Phil had been inside that I built up the nerve to do so myself. It was well worth it for the views, the residence must have been very grand in its hey day, but sadly is falling into ruin, the comparison between that residence and the soldiers accommodation was striking. Back at the hotel we bathed and wandered out to a regional restaurant and sampled some local food, the cream cod was nice but could have done with more flavour somehow.

Saturday and we were up at a good time, ate a healthy breakfast and hit the road, once again we decided to take the motorways to get to our house even faster, we split the driving Phil taking the first half allowing me to drive home. We were greeted by Luis and his boy Alex, then had the delights of opening up the house and letting the air and sunshine in, we quickly unpacked the car, placing Gabriel and Balthazar at the end on the garden path before going shopping for some provisions. It was good to potter around doing ‘normal’ things after so long on the road. A simple BBQ and salad for dinner with some Vino Verdi and we were ready for a very early nigh, or so we thought! Across the track from us is a little weekend place owned by a couple from Lisbon, they spotted us and came over for a chat, next thing we were being shown around their house, beer bread and cheese were produced and there we were getting to know our fortnightly neighbours for the next couple of hours.

Sunday we slept later than planned and awoke a little fuzzy headed, nothing that a couple of cups of tea couldn’t sort. We popped out to a local garden centre but it was closed, oops not the same hours as the UK, so we went into Milfontes and did a little shopping and had a coffee before heading to the beach for a picnic. BBQ and salad again for tea then an early night with a movie on the laptop.

Today is the day that our worldly goods arrive, we woke at six thirty and were up and onto the veranda for tea and breakfast, it’s like grand central station at the moment as our neighbour seems to be the hub of what ever work he does, a JCB, a large tractor and trailer, people coming and going, it’s quite fun to watch. Meanwhile we seem to have an accidental side order of cats and dogs we didn’t order, they just like to come and hang out at our place!

Here we are...

Here we are!

Sitting in bed having a lazy, restful day before our epic trip. In the last week we have socialised more than we have done in the last 2 years. We have spent time with good friends and family, we have eaten and drunk well, we have laughed and no doubt will have some tears before tonight.

Well having spent 2 months packing stuff up we were still packing when the van arrived to whisk our 86 variously sized boxes away. The house has been scrubbed and cleaned, neighbours said goodbye to and the keys handed over. We are on hotel number two of six and frankly I am looking forward to having somewhere to cook again. Eating out all the time is all very well and good but I don’t feel I have control over what I am eating and am too easily tempted, oh and obviously it costs so much more.

Tomorrow we have an early start to ensure we reach Dover by 11.30 for our 12.15 crossing to Calais, from Calais we drive down to Rouen for our fist night in France. I’m hoping to grab a few photos on my phone and maybe do a blog a day on the way down but I could fail in my intentions lol.

And so the penultimate day will be quiet and slow…

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