NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Well we made it, sitting in hotel in Burgos typing this on a "frelling" small i-pod touch. Will try to keep posting
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Now in lugo bloody hot 35c. Too much wine so off to bed
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2010
at last I´v found a computer that is easy to type.well almost.
we´ve done santiargo de compost heap..drove around for hours looking for a parking spot eventualy found one and fell into bed. then had a look around and saw loads of old buildings,,,dunno what they are,they look like churches or sumfink. got out of town a bit sharpish the next day and stayed in a great campsite on the way to Foz.
we are now in the middle of Oviedo along with 3 million other people îts America day* tomorrow we go to Llanes I think...its the place were there are more Cows than People
.
so far we have loved every minute of the trip and have covered just on 1000 miles. I love the roads and the van is running like a well oiled sewing machine at an average of 77 miles an hour, the spanish sure know how to build roads, they seam to just throw up viaducts as an when they come to a river or a gorge and cut away the side of a mountain to make way for a high speed road......I think I could live in this contry..
Syncrogold...will phone you when we get close
we´ve done santiargo de compost heap..drove around for hours looking for a parking spot eventualy found one and fell into bed. then had a look around and saw loads of old buildings,,,dunno what they are,they look like churches or sumfink. got out of town a bit sharpish the next day and stayed in a great campsite on the way to Foz.
we are now in the middle of Oviedo along with 3 million other people îts America day* tomorrow we go to Llanes I think...its the place were there are more Cows than People

so far we have loved every minute of the trip and have covered just on 1000 miles. I love the roads and the van is running like a well oiled sewing machine at an average of 77 miles an hour, the spanish sure know how to build roads, they seam to just throw up viaducts as an when they come to a river or a gorge and cut away the side of a mountain to make way for a high speed road......I think I could live in this contry..
Syncrogold...will phone you when we get close

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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Have pm'ed you bob, I need a post code or coordinates for sat nav
Terry
Terry
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Count me in for this trip please, did a trip into the picos a few years back, awesome.....watch out for the wolves!!
there are a couple of cool sites right up in the mountains that will make good base camps....or just wild camp, more fun. Can't wait, will be needing the ferry crossing as well if its going to be part of a package.
there are a couple of cool sites right up in the mountains that will make good base camps....or just wild camp, more fun. Can't wait, will be needing the ferry crossing as well if its going to be part of a package.
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
You could allways venture a bit further south to the Granada region and catch a bit of this action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryiuv4MA_xU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Well its been a few weeks since we got back from the froggyland and Spain trip, so I thought I should post a few photos and a quick write up as today is very boring , so here you go
As said before we took the boat from Portsmouth to Santander on a nice boat, http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fleet/pont-aven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I think there is another boat sailing from Portsmouth next year, Its an older boat as far as I can find out so if you are thinking of going next year I suggest you make sure you book the Pont-Aven. One thing I noticed was the cafe area has a microwave oven for the passengers to use,, so rather than spend a small fortune on board you can take your own M&S food and cook it using their plates and crockery [I'd seen a few passengers do this]
The cabins are very well designed with your own shower room, they sleep 4 in bunk beds 2 of which drop down from the ceiling,,you can get sleeper seats but you might not get a good nights sleep with all the snoring and people moving around.
coming into santander

If you go up to the cable car in the Pecos De Europa mountain range make sure you let the porta pottie breath as it will expand like a balloon and if you use it whilst up there you could get your own back
the cable car goes up there

yep right up there

in one of these and the cable looks like a bit of snot

if you do get to the top Take a coat

can you see my van down there

yep that's it

I heard that this was the land of 4X4's but this is ridiculous, I felt out of place

the owner even had a guard cat

we met up with Rob and his 2 great kids,,,nice van...the syncro aint bad either

a game of frisbee was called for,,,you know me and kids

as we traveled around we came across some miners on strike, there way of doing things is to block the main highways, they just stop the first big truck and park it sideways so no one can get passed,, and just for good measure pull the centre armco barrier out of the ground and bend it across the road,,you can just make it out

they pulled wire across our side of the road

and for no reason a lorry driver decided to dump half his load as well

I wont bore you with all the churches we visited but basically they all look a bit like this

we stayed in small hotels and paradoors, this is a small hotel that was very friendly so much so when we booked in [the bar is the reception] we were forced to have a drink...and being the gentleman that I am I consumed it strait away. well one doesn't wont to upset the natives...the room was fantastic as was the service..I could have stayed a week here

there are small towns where there are more cows than people and no have any road sense at all,, the cows are a bit nuts too

there are also many towns with a fear of invasion from illegal immigrants but I think they have got it sorted with the help of Barrett's

It can get hot in late September even in the evenings

sorry it's in kilos

so what do the Spanish do on a Sunday afternoon..........not much

with beaches like these who needs to do anything but sit and watch the water come and go

well that's about it, what can one say about the north of Spain,,its bloody gorgeous they have everything you need to want to come and live there...Rob and Becky and the kids are so lucky. the weather is fantastic and as rob said they never have a frost down near the coast where he lives. I'm typing this as the fog comes down and the temperature drops to nut freezing, will I go back????????yes without a doubt as there so much more to see. The last 12 days out of 25 was spent in France with their pig headed attitude to tourist, especially the British, we should have stayed the whole time in Spain...one thing's for sure tho when the french want to get married they always pick a nice car to take them to their reception.
AND IT'S BRITISH

As said before we took the boat from Portsmouth to Santander on a nice boat, http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fleet/pont-aven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I think there is another boat sailing from Portsmouth next year, Its an older boat as far as I can find out so if you are thinking of going next year I suggest you make sure you book the Pont-Aven. One thing I noticed was the cafe area has a microwave oven for the passengers to use,, so rather than spend a small fortune on board you can take your own M&S food and cook it using their plates and crockery [I'd seen a few passengers do this]
The cabins are very well designed with your own shower room, they sleep 4 in bunk beds 2 of which drop down from the ceiling,,you can get sleeper seats but you might not get a good nights sleep with all the snoring and people moving around.
coming into santander

If you go up to the cable car in the Pecos De Europa mountain range make sure you let the porta pottie breath as it will expand like a balloon and if you use it whilst up there you could get your own back
the cable car goes up there

yep right up there

in one of these and the cable looks like a bit of snot

if you do get to the top Take a coat

can you see my van down there

yep that's it

I heard that this was the land of 4X4's but this is ridiculous, I felt out of place

the owner even had a guard cat

we met up with Rob and his 2 great kids,,,nice van...the syncro aint bad either

a game of frisbee was called for,,,you know me and kids

as we traveled around we came across some miners on strike, there way of doing things is to block the main highways, they just stop the first big truck and park it sideways so no one can get passed,, and just for good measure pull the centre armco barrier out of the ground and bend it across the road,,you can just make it out

they pulled wire across our side of the road

and for no reason a lorry driver decided to dump half his load as well

I wont bore you with all the churches we visited but basically they all look a bit like this

we stayed in small hotels and paradoors, this is a small hotel that was very friendly so much so when we booked in [the bar is the reception] we were forced to have a drink...and being the gentleman that I am I consumed it strait away. well one doesn't wont to upset the natives...the room was fantastic as was the service..I could have stayed a week here

there are small towns where there are more cows than people and no have any road sense at all,, the cows are a bit nuts too

there are also many towns with a fear of invasion from illegal immigrants but I think they have got it sorted with the help of Barrett's

It can get hot in late September even in the evenings

sorry it's in kilos

so what do the Spanish do on a Sunday afternoon..........not much

with beaches like these who needs to do anything but sit and watch the water come and go

well that's about it, what can one say about the north of Spain,,its bloody gorgeous they have everything you need to want to come and live there...Rob and Becky and the kids are so lucky. the weather is fantastic and as rob said they never have a frost down near the coast where he lives. I'm typing this as the fog comes down and the temperature drops to nut freezing, will I go back????????yes without a doubt as there so much more to see. The last 12 days out of 25 was spent in France with their pig headed attitude to tourist, especially the British, we should have stayed the whole time in Spain...one thing's for sure tho when the french want to get married they always pick a nice car to take them to their reception.
AND IT'S BRITISH

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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
I finally remembered the details of the free campsites on vineyards for touring campervans. This is what I want to do on the way there or back, or both.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/a ... ttany-wine
http://www.france-passion.co.uk/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/a ... ttany-wine
http://www.france-passion.co.uk/
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Nice pictotorial Terry ! Oh for a spot of warm sun on the back!
How long were you stuck in the traffic jam for ? Id be tempted to take a sharp right exit and go overland to the nearest unblocked road.
Patrick
that looks like a lovely way to travel through France ... reckon you would need a month !
How long were you stuck in the traffic jam for ? Id be tempted to take a sharp right exit and go overland to the nearest unblocked road.
Patrick
that looks like a lovely way to travel through France ... reckon you would need a month !
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
[quote="Mudlark"]Nice pictotorial Terry ! Oh for a spot of warm sun on the back!
How long were you stuck in the traffic jam for ? Id be tempted to take a sharp right exit and go overland to the nearest unblocked road.
I would have if I had a syncro but the cleaver gits stopped us on a viaduct...we were there for 3 hours, it turned out to be fun, everyone got out their cars and stood around and chatted,,,its times like this that a camper van comes in real handy
How long were you stuck in the traffic jam for ? Id be tempted to take a sharp right exit and go overland to the nearest unblocked road.
I would have if I had a syncro but the cleaver gits stopped us on a viaduct...we were there for 3 hours, it turned out to be fun, everyone got out their cars and stood around and chatted,,,its times like this that a camper van comes in real handy

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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Hi Last post I read with a list on had 17 names. I'd love to come along as well if theres room. If we push the numbers to 20, would it be possible to run 2 trips of 10 side by side? 

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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
i might be interested , just reading the whole thread now to see whats what 
Matt

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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Hi
I've mentioned before that the off-road element of the trip will be restricted to 10 registered vehicles. Saying that this doesn't mean that other vehicles cannot attent. They can even venture into the mountains as long as they stick to the unrestricted tracks. There's also plenty of other activities and things to see in the area.
Not sure about running two groups. I'll find out next time I'm in the Picos.
What I plan to do is to ask people to again register their interest around April/May. I will then ask for confirmations in July. Around this time I will also need deposits so I can book the campsite, etc.
Cheers
Rob
I've mentioned before that the off-road element of the trip will be restricted to 10 registered vehicles. Saying that this doesn't mean that other vehicles cannot attent. They can even venture into the mountains as long as they stick to the unrestricted tracks. There's also plenty of other activities and things to see in the area.
Not sure about running two groups. I'll find out next time I'm in the Picos.
What I plan to do is to ask people to again register their interest around April/May. I will then ask for confirmations in July. Around this time I will also need deposits so I can book the campsite, etc.
Cheers
Rob
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Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
just a thought, I've just re insured my van and got it readjusted by limiting my yearly mileage..so those of you that are thinking of going that have classic insurance, it might be better to go all the way on the ferry to santander and save on the miles, fuel, camping etc 

suck squeeze bang blow, the cycle of a 4 stroke
Re: NORTHERN SPAIN PICOS DE EUROPA TOUR 2011
Hi Terry
You look to have had a great trip there
Roughly what did that Santander ferry cost at that time of year?
Cheers
C
You look to have had a great trip there
Roughly what did that Santander ferry cost at that time of year?
Cheers
C
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