El Puerto de Santa Maria

Ok so I am sitting down with a glass of Red writing the blog after a full day in the sunshine in El Puerto de Santa Maria near Cadiz in Andulucia. We started the day with cycle along the coastal path to get our bearings and found several good playgrounds for the boys as well as a nice local bar/restaurant that I was able to order take away fried Octopus, Chips and a Tuna salad for Sue! After spending some time back at the site we set off on the bikes with James in the Tag Along Carriage (tired after the trampolines) and sue in her running gear!

We followed the coastal bike path for 3 miles and came across a very nice marina and associated restaurants and shops etc. (Mini Puerto Banus) as well as a replica Spanish Galleon docked on the harbour wall. Sue ran for six miles while we chased after on our bikes although we had the speed edge going downhill!

Unfortunately this area celebrates Easter the week before and therefore its shutting down again this week so not much going on and no waer in the pool. With a family of swimmers this is serious trouble so we are heading off to a very nice site just past Marbella called Camping Cabopino with two heated pools that are open, one indoor and one outside. Site has sea views and a nice beach so we will be there tomorrow knowing me. Weather is still sunny there but not as hot but thats a price worth paying to keep the troupe occupied and happy as little fishes :-)

Camped out in Cadiz

Well today was spent on the road driving between Valladolid and Cadiz via Salamanca and Sevilla. Thats a 600 mile ten hour drive and the route is almost entirely mountainous although it is now via a new motorway.
As soon as we arrived in Sevilla the weather changed to summer sun and warm air, palm trees and a glorious sunset made it feel mid summer and we arrived at the Campsite just west of Cadiz at around 9.00pm. Very nice site with grass garden style pitches and very modern and clean showers etc. Will check out the area tomorrow including the beach!  Forecast weather is 25-28c and sun for next 2 weeks! Boys are fine if not a little bit exited about being let out of the Van' after 3 days travelling.....Worth it now we are here and transported into the summer :-)

Salamanca Cathedral:

Salamanca:

Bordeaux gales but arrived in Spain!

After staying the night in the Loire Valley south of Tours we pushed on and have just pulled up for the night near Valladolid in northern Spain. Weather is fine and quite warm but tomorrow we get to sevilla or Cadiz and 30 degrees!
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Aire just South of Tours:

Due to forecast Severe Gales (Force 9 and above) for entire crossing of the Bay of Biscay we have cancelled the outgoing voyage and are going to drive to Cadiz instead!

Spanish Easter

We have just booked a Brittany Ferries cruise to Santander on the latest high speed super ferry mv Cap Finistère with the Campervan. It gets to Spain in only 23 hours compared with 38 on the P&O ships. We shall make our way down to Sevilla and then Cadiz before heading into the Algarve before heading up the Silver Coast of Portugal. Current weather forecast is 28c and sun for the Seville area for the whole period.

More to follow as the trip progresses.

Disneyland Paris

Its was cold at Disneyland and the queues were just too long. As always a bit of a rip off with about 5 shops to every ride and no heating for the queues and little shelter from the rain for those with buggies. Parade was good though and the kids loved the "Small World" and "Back Lot Tour" as ever :-)


George loves "Cars" like his old Dad!


George & the Dragon

Disneyland Camper Parking (Crap facilities too!)

Morzine Ski Break

We are just back from a trip to Morzine in the French Alps. We set off on boxing day and headed down to dover and a P&O ferry then Calais to Reims before stopping for the night.
Next day we drove to the valley below Morzine and arrange a pitch at a site only 1k from the main Plenny lift. Great snow and skiing first day with a fab lunch in Morzine to top off a great day.
Woke up next day to torrential rain but skied anyway and got drenched quite quickly! More rain next day so we decided to give up and head for Paris and Disneyland!
Weather at Disney was ultra cold and queues very long so after six hours of keeping the kids dry and happy we retreated to the van for New Years Eve.
Next day we returned home via Calais and were happy to be back to our warm and comfy house!
PS: We checked the Morzine weather on our return to fins the thick snow had returned :-(

When it snowed it really snowed!

A view past the Hotel we stayed at last February to the Plenny slopes beyond.