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Avoiding toll roads, and seeing more

I’ve really enjoyed driving more slowly – around 50 – 60mph – on the equivalent of ‘A’ roads to get to my next destination. In some cases, the non-toll motorways have also come up trumps. The countryside I’ve passed through has been really interesting and..

Posted by Jackie in The Good

Lagos: Cycled too far, and gained an hour

If I didn’t think I’d managed to leave schedules behind, I do after today. And the story is:

Google maps on my little screen (smartphone as opposed to non-digital more contextual map) said the distance to Lagos was about 5 miles. Eminently cyclable it seemed so duly set off fully..

Posted by Jackie in Musings, Portugal

Alvor & Oh dear

So landed yesterday (Sunday 12/5) at Camping Alvor, in Alvor, Western Algarve, after a really enjoyable 65-mile drive on non-toll roads seeing some of the countryside behind the Algarve coastline. Set up to watch the Race for the Title matches, at the back of the van despite the heat etc, to try..

Posted by Jackie in Cities-Towns, Portugal, The Bad

Relying only on satnav in vicinity of serious mountains

Other posts may make mention of the same journeys which only goes to show how traumatised I’ve been by ending up, yes naively, on routes, where one has past the point of no return for a variety of reasons; which have taken the van ever higher on ever-narrowing, hairpinning roads, gripping the..

Posted by Jackie in The Bad

Out of high season

This is very much a ‘good’, and links into empty or not busy roads which would be busy in full Summer, which are a joy to drive and obviously safer to cycle on if necessary, not having to book campsites, so ultimate flexibility, and one less job to do, and alot cheaper prices, so that’s..

Posted by Jackie in The Good

Decision Making ….

Have become aware of how difficult it can be to make decisions and then actually implement them, particularly those which involve stepping out of comfort zones, when one is doing this completely solo. And all sorts of things are outside the comfort zones, from driving a 7m long vehicle along unknown..

Posted by Jackie in Musings

Swimming Cossie & Parasol; 1st proper beach day of 2019 at Praia Cabanas today

Clear blue sky, and late 20’s; time to do a summer holiday at the beach – ie sit on it in costume, under parasol, full suntan lotion, be prepared to go in the water. What a perfect beach. It’s a little boat ride across the river – part of the Ria Formosa nature reserve area..

Posted by Jackie in Places, Portugal, The Good

Not quite solo when digital …

Using 4G, mifi or campsite wifi means that one is never alone, or I’m not with my extended crew, and am very happy to be able to watch Line of Duty, Champions League, Federer playing the tennis opens, – currently Madrid – The Good Fight etc etc via Prime, BT or Sky Sports subscriptions..

Posted by Jackie in Musings, The Good

Gushings …

No this is not a post about how one’s stress/urge incontinence is managed beyond the onboard toilet – still haven’t added the SheWee to the equipment set – but I want to note the simple pleasures that I on many occasions actually verbalise to myself given that I’m travelling..

Posted by Jackie in Musings

Moving Dwellings

Enjoy seeing the variety of travelling homes/hotels:

Landrover Defender – converted army ambulance for John & Donna’s 2-year epic

The Rolling Hotel – carrying a bunch of older than middle-aged Germans or Dutch. Never seen one of these before. Zoom in on the trailer…

Posted by Jackie in Musings