Month: June 2019

02
Jun
2019

Lessons Learned? – into the Picos de Europa via N621 to Camping La Viorna at Potes

This time, I looked at my maps more carefully and selected what looked like the best route, to get round Leon and then onto Potes, using the N625, and then the N621. Following a river – check, main road – check. Not the Pyrenees or Alps – check. Off we go. What a glorious drive and unsuspecting ascent to arrive at

I have to confess to not really looking in detail via Google maps to relief and altitude, so the descent was once again for me gripping the steering wheel, hogging the wrong side of the road, and going very slowly – all of which I was thankfully able to do as the road was good, wide and more importantly empty. The ascent from Potes is the main Picos one in the Vuelta – for those not in the cycling know, the Spanish equivalent of the Tour …….

  • The view from Bores looking back to the descent

All in all, it was a long, hot drive yet again, and I was very glad to arrive at this campsite I have wanted to stay at for several years now. I got my pitch with lovely views out of the side door, and nice neighbours, but this morning being Sunday when the Spanish weekenders vacate, meant that pitches previously occupied or not discovered by myself yesterday became available. I was very proud to move and snaffle this pitch with mountain views.

  • View through my side door

Did my 10000 steps walking down to Potes and around today – slightly cooler but still so great to just put on shorts and tee-shirt and set off. This afternoon has been sitting gazing at the view and reading, including a laugh out loud, very funny postscript to this ‘ourtour‘ post for those interested in motorhome toilet cassette emptying – https://ourtour.co.uk/home/becalmed-in-a-top-notch-motorhome-aire-at-neufchatel-en-bray-normandy/

Temperature getting cooler for next 2 – 3 days. There is the Gorge Walk of Caras, the cable car ride at Fuente De, and walking from here …… .

Picos – in my favourites, and campsite is great also.

  • Potes
  • On the pilgrimage camino in this area which also links to the C de Santiago
  • Santo Toribio Monastery
  • View from hermitages above Santo Toribio
  • Campsite pool
  • campsite restaurant

Posted by Jackie Barnes in Places, Spain, The Good
01
Jun
2019

Breakdowns R Us

I want to record this ‘meeting’ with John and Sharon from Cardiff, to remind myself of their hilarious stories of breakdowns that they dealt with in their initial days of motorhoming. Indeed tribute must be paid to their ability to deal with all the uncertainty and stress of such situations, their relationship with the AA, and their undeterredness, (is that a word?) evidenced by their continued travels in their latest motorhome several years later. Their work, doing financial review/reporting for 2 months in every 6 months, and then in effect supply yoga teaching, respectively, means that they spend much of the rest of the time in their home on wheels.

They were very helpful to prevent me from doing the hour thing in reverse – https://lifeinnewlanes.com/lagos-cycled-too-far-and-gained-an-hour/ – given that I had once again not clocked the hour ahead of Spain vs Portugal and ot having any schedules in place, could have carried on like that for some time.

Unfortunately don’t have a photo, unless they send me one.

Posted by Jackie Barnes in Meetings - the non-work sort