Quicksam's Winter Tour

 
Van is packed and now it's started raining but we are ready for the off.
Don't know where we're going but intend to find the sun. (have we packed the sun cream - better go and check !)
First stop is probably Dover (Marine Parade) but may try St. Margarets at Cliffe instead, depends on the weather.
Then it's France and turn right (west).
Will let you know where we are when we get there (and when internet is available and if this new Fon works over there).

Hope you all have a great Christmas party down the road at Donington.

Wishing all our members a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

John and Lesley


 

Have fun you two, hope you havea great trip

its been a quick year does not feel like 1 year since we were saying take care and have a safe trip and although or trip last winter went wrong for us we  would love to be heading to the sun have a great trip mike pam and bailey .

Hey come on down as fast as you can we have not seen a shower of rain in the last month,

We are thinking of heading back to the Algarve ready for a Chrissie treat at Big Pedro's place

Have a brilliant time chasing the sun, John, Lesley and presumably Badger. Mind you they've had snow in Cairo for the first time in 112 years, so hope you find some sun!

Safe journey,

Sharon & Larry (sharly)

Have a great time both of you

Merry Christmas John & Lesley.
we are envious!!!

First internet since leaving the UK !
Will write up the journey when I've read some of the new posts - quite a lot to read ... 
Must find a new avatar as well.
Now in Portugal at Pedro's new place.

We are booked in there on the 6 th January so may see you

Oh a question for you

Are there any stray dogs around Pedro's place, we need to know as we expect our pooch to be in season and we really do not want a line up of Portuguese suitors

No strays at all.
Only Pedro's dog is loose, the French (Anna and Ally) van's black dog was loose but they've tied him up now. Ours is tied up and the Belgium's seems to be inside all the time.

 

Thanks Quicksam will see you early January then

Any pictures please of the site, and entrance also what facilities has Pedro got i.e. shower. toilets, dump ect. what is the ground covering and are you packed in together or is there room to put out the blind to shade from the heat of the     

Hi Bob, I plan to put some pictures on when the sun comes back, it's only been missing a day and I'm feeling deprived already !!    

don't get me going about the lack off    this is my most depressing time of year and I am desperate to get away. Not long now.

So as promised the trip so far, with the route we have taken this year.

*Started out on Sunday, was very windy (and cold) on Dover seafront, it was too windy to stay at St Maragret's at Cliffe.
Monday caught an early train to Calais and came out of the tunnel to bright sunshine.
Headed SE towards Abbeville, where we stopped for coffee and diesel at Intermache - fuel was €1.25 litre.
Lunch was at Pont-de-l'Arche thus avoiding the road/bridge repairs in Rouen. Then it was onto the N154 to Evreux and Dreux and Chartres, where we picked up the N10 to Marboue (250 miles) for our night stop. Met Val and Jim from Barnsley here (we had spent New years eve with them a couple of years ago), they were on their way home, so it was good to get some info about the Algarve.
Tuesday and we headed on the N10 to Tours, Poitiers, Angouleme, Bordeaux to the night stop at Marsas. - another 250 miles done.
Wednesday was a shock - the N10 from here is a toll road and it cost €15.80 (class 2 camping car), but a very good road, duel carriageway all the way to just before Bayonne, where we came off to do shopping and fuels. Went through Bayonne, Biarritz and St Jean De Luz (probably easier to stay on the toll roads and pay the small charges for this bit though). Then it was into Spain and to Miranda de Ebro for the night. Another 250 mile leg done and it's gradually getting warmer !
Next day was a long day of about 320 miles but all on good roads and easy driving with plenty of stops. Went past Burgos, Valladolid and Salamanca to the excellent aire at Caceres, where we had a pleasant night and met Colin and Murial in their brand new Chausson.
Final leg to Portugal is only 112 miles on the Ex100 and the Ex107 to Mourao, passing the Spanish/Portuguese border on the way - not marked so it passes unannounced ! After Mourao it just a few miles further to Luz on the banks of the Barragem do Alqueva (reservoir). Only one other van here when we arrived - a very friendly Frenchy, but after 10 minutes along comes Colin and Murial, who we'd met at Caceres ! so we had another good night.
Stayed here for a couple of nights as it was so peaceful also found the bakery and a minimarket. The aire is next to the bullring but don't think a bull has ever been in it !
The plan after this was to go to the Mines (Mina de Sao Domingos) but had a change of plan and went to Barragem de Santa Clara - this place was soooo quiet and tranquil and the views were picturebook. We were all alone and miles from anywhere ... 
Next day we went in search of Pedro's place but weren't sure where it was only that it was near the town of Paderne.
Found Paderne and saw some motorhomes at Fonte de Paderne, so stopped to ask directions - it was so nice we stayed the night. The place is like an old fashioned laundrette with 10 tubs of warm running water where many years ago the villagers would congregate and do their washing.
Day after we found Pedro's place 4.5 miles away - so that was a short driving day. Going for Christmas lunch here in a bit - all included for €13 each.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year

Hia

Look forward to the next  instalment

So do I keep them coming.

Well we sat down for Christmas lunch at 2 pm and finished eating at 8.30. Great meal, main course was turkey and rice (Portuguese style), now we all need to loose some weight.
Boules tournament this afternoon, we won (me, ladylea's husband (Ged), Ivor and Anna (Anna24))   - Don Quixote's team came third.
Then we went for a long walk to wear off the effects of the Sangria !

It's like a motor-Homers rally here and they're all looking forward to greeting Bob and Barb when they get here - Have they left England yet ?
Weather is warm with occasional drizzle ... sun's back at the weekend - oooo goody, that's tomorrow !

Getting too comfortable here, must think about moving in a few days (maybe).

  

it sounds like your having a great time   .loved your blog,keep it up{oh vicar}have you tried bachalao yet?

Left Pedro's place on Sunday did a bit of shopping and came to Portamao, by the marina. €2.50 an night, great place for a motor-homers rally, even if the whole club came there'd still be room for another 200 vans ! Very quiet at night (apart from the New Years Eve fireworks) and an easy flat walk/cycle to Pingo Dolce (supermarket) in the town. Nice old town with lots of shops and cafes, suppose the touristy place up the hill is Praia da Rocha, not sure though!
Went out for lunch yesterday (new years day) and tried the bachalao - yes Frank it was very good - also been out and had Portuguese sardines (and chips   ).
The wifi is working although not a brilliant signal and keeps going off but proves that the Fon system I bought works in Portugal (Zon) even though I couldn't get it to work in France - will try again when we go back.
Plenty of sand in the van now as Badger goes on the beach every day and chases the waves.... Waves yes, just remembered, fabulous place for any surfers (the other kind) out there, no wonder there are so many surfing schools here the waves are ideal for the sport ! not been in myself as they all look like professionals and wouldn't want to show them up     

Don't want to outstay our welcome here so will move on tomorrow ... who knows where, will decide when we get to the N125  

glad you had the bachalao.but sardines and chips,your not pregnant are you   
prai de rocha has a woderful beach/prom one of the best.
did you have your sardines down at the harbour,we love it with a bowl of potatoes and salad and a bootle of vino.last time we was there it was about 12 euros for the 2 of us.great athmoshere at those restraunts harbour side,thanks for the update. 

Can any of you lucky people down in    Portugal let me know if you can get the Cespa gas bottle like the one in the picture, I have one in the m/h c/w regulator but I dont know how much is in it so if it empties while around the Guia area is it possible to exchange for a full one.

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I very much doubt it Bob but not far from Pedro's I believe there is a fuel station that will re-fill most bottles or did

Next one Bob when do you expect to get to Portugal as I have one like that empty I could exchange it before we leave Spain but shout up quick as we leave on Monday morning

You can have any bottle refilled at Boliqueime.
Just before the Boliqueime turning on the N125 (coming from Guia) a big sign says GAZ, take it there, same price LPG as for tanks and refillables.

Hard days driving today - did all of 12 miles ....
Now at the new aire at Silves, must say very impressed with the cleanliness and layout of the place, pitches are large, water and electric on every pitch, launderette and boules court on site and fast internet (no shower/toilets though). €6 all inclusive.
If you're wilding and just want water and a dump it's €2.50 for 45 minutes.
To get to it, as you come into Silves from the N124 turn left at the junction and  go past the swimming pool, past Continente (super market) and don't miss the turning on the same side of the road as the supermarket (there's one house between the supermarket and the aire) so a two minute walk for the shopping and five minutes stroll into town.
Plenty of English here as there were at Portamao..
 

Quote :

John, is it this place:
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We will be moving on around 14th and will make that one of our stops.

Yes that's the place John....

Quicksam wrote:

Hard days driving today - did all of 12 miles ....
Now at the new aire at Silves, must say very impressed with the cleanliness and layout of the place, pitches are large, water and electric on every pitch, launderette and boules court on site and fast internet (no shower/toilets though). €6 all inclusive.
If you're wilding and just want water and a dump it's €2.50 for 45 minutes.
To get to it, as you come into Silves from the N124 turn left at the junction and  go past the swimming pool, past Continente (super market) and don't miss the turning on the same side of the road as the supermarket (there's one house between the supermarket and the aire) so a two minute walk for the shopping and five minutes stroll into town.
Plenty of English here as there were at Portamao..
 

I think that will be our next port of call after leaving here, we also liked the look of it,but could only see 6 places left when we had a look. I'm sure our paths will cross at some point.

Quicksam wrote:

You can have any bottle refilled at Boliqueime.
Just before the Boliqueime turning on the N125 (coming from Guia) a big sign says GAZ, take it there, same price LPG as for tanks and refillables.

Thanks John and Alan for their comments, Alan I have sent you a PM, John I am sure the GAZ place will be fine our biggest problem is that we are entirely reliant on gas for heating and hot water (NO electric).

Better make electric heating a priority on the new van  

whistlinggypsy wrote:

Quicksam wrote:

You can have any bottle refilled at Boliqueime.
Just before the Boliqueime turning on the N125 (coming from Guia) a big sign says GAZ, take it there, same price LPG as for tanks and refillables.

Thanks John and Alan for their comments, Alan I have sent you a PM, John I am sure the GAZ place will be fine our biggest problem is that we are entirely reliant on gas for heating and hot water (NO electric).

i have a 3kw heater you can borrow if you want it. 

tessajoe wrote:

whistlinggypsy wrote:

Quicksam wrote:

You can have any bottle refilled at Boliqueime.
Just before the Boliqueime turning on the N125 (coming from Guia) a big sign says GAZ, take it there, same price LPG as for tanks and refillables.

Thanks John and Alan for their comments, Alan I have sent you a PM, John I am sure the GAZ place will be fine our biggest problem is that we are entirely reliant on gas for heating and hot water (NO electric).

i have a 3kw heater you can borrow if you want it. 

3KW on a Portuguese site Frank, you're avin a giraffe   

Funny you should say that - at Pedro's place if I put my water heater on, my fridge would cut out. Here at Silves aire we have 16 amp and very stable.