After an amazing couple of months the tik tok of the Schengen clock inevitably means we have to think about making our way back to the UK
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The Detail:
Distance Covered: 1741 miles in 10 days
Financial: Fuel £403; LPG £11; Groceries £203; Laundry £14
Stopovers:
Spain: Plasedncia; Ampudia; Viane;
France: Orion; Lembras; Lathus; Saint Deus les Pont; Galliefontaine; Montreuil;
Rather than just hot foot it back to the UK we said to ourselves the adventure shouldn’t end just because we have to head home.
Instead, we made the journey through Spain and France part of the experience. Driving relatively short distances each day and stopping early enough that we could spend some time exploring each stopover.
At least that was the plan…..
Plasencia and a breakdown
The trip home started well enough. We left Portugal and into Spain.
However, approaching Plasencia the engine management light comes on. A quick check of the manual and we are still OK to drive, so we carry on to Plasencia.
After a heated discussion about the best course of action, we decided that we should call the breakdown people. They were brilliant. Organised a recovery truck. Booked a taxi to get us and the dog to the garage.
The feeling of watching your home being driven away on the back of the recovery truck, well…..
When we got to the garage we were also well looked after. Between our very poor Spanish, and the mechanics (Jesus) broken English, we managed to explain the situation.
Plug in the diagnostics and it turns out to be a broken switch to the fuel injectors. Quick fix and only 50 Euro’s. Could have been so much worse.
Ampudia
What a beautiful find this was. Ampudia, with its superbly well-preserved castle, unusual wine caves resembling hobbit homes.
The town is stunning with its’ typical Castilian houses. Built on two storeys under which are the cool arcades to stroll whilst sheltering from the sun in the hot summers.
The road through the Pyrenees
When we went over the Pyrenees on the way into Spain we chose to cross at the very top at San Sebastian. The easiest route.
This time we wanted to cross at a different place, so chose the N135 from Pamplona to Orion as we wanted to go over the mountains proper. This also turned out to be a very straightforward crossing with good roads and some lovely views.
I’m sure at some point in the not too distant future we will try some of the other crossings too.
Orion
Our first stopover on the French side of the Pyrenees was Orion.
Very rural, but a lovely stopover.
On the roads of France
We then spent several days mooching up through central France.
We weren’t in a rush, so chose not to use the toll roads. Stopping somewhere for lunch and to walk Zeus, then moving on to our chosen stopover.
The majority of the roads were absolutely fine, with one or two exceptions.
We drove through many lovely small villages and towns and saw parts of France we would have just bypassed had we stuck to the toll roads.
At one point we were stopped for a customs check.
The customs officers were friendly, professional, slightly scary with their sidearms, loved Zeus, and wanted to know where the chickens were – Carol had a “joke” beware of the chicken sign in the window.
I’m not sure why they thought we would actually have chickens in the motorhome but I guess stranger things have happened.
In the middle of nowhere
Parts of France are very rural, with nothing but farmland stretching for miles in every direction. Often the roads are dead straight and the terrain perfectly flat.
It was whilst driving through rural France that we can across this building. Completely isolated in the middle of nowhere. No other buildings, no conurbations, just farmland all around.
The building, covered in murals, contained a pizza vending machine, a bread vending machine and a “library”.
I guess cows need pizza too?
Lakeside Lunch
Another little gem we found was a random pick for a lunch stop.
This was a picnic area called “Aire de pique-nique, Le Lac de l’Onglais” in Acquigny. It was a delightful place for a leisurely stroll and a lazy lunch.
I’m sure it’s not exclusive to the parts of Western Europe we passed through. I’m sure there are hidden gems wherever you go if you seek them out. And that, to us, is just part of the joy of motorhoming.
Back at Montreuil
And then full circle. Back at Montreuil.
The Christmas decorations may have gone, but this was still a delightful town.
We stayed a couple of nights before catching the Eurotunnel back to the UK. Mainly because we had to take Zeus to the vet to have a worming tablet administered – a UK requirement for any animal entering the country.
A Walk around the outside of Montreuil
Since we had time, we decided to take a walk around the perimeter of the town, outside the ramparts. A lovely walk of about 4 km in total.
And that was pretty much the last thing we did in France. We had an early night as we were setting off at the crack of dawn the next morning.
We had a blast. Made some lifelong memories. Met some lovely people. Caught the motorhoming bug.
This most definitely is just the beginning. Many more adventures to come.
And that draws our whistlestop tour of Western Europe to a close.
This brings us up to date with our travels over the winter of 2021/spring of 2022
I haven’t gone into great detail about anything in particular in this post, so if you would like me to expand on anything please leave a comment and I will endeavor to write another separate post on the topic.
Keep an eye out for posts about our travels in 2023.
Happy Motorhoming.
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