Sunday 13th May

We’ve been at the house in France since Friday. Weather appalling, and we just got soaked walking along an old railway line. Before that we went to an open day at the snail farm up the road, which was interesting. Thousands of snails for processing into gourmet chewy garlic pencil-rubbers!
We’ll be arriving back at Alconbury a week on Tuesday, and look forward to being in touch with everybody soon after.

Thur 3rd May

Tomorrow we are leaving for Vinaros, north of Valencia. We intend to stay there for a few days and then drive through France, arriving at the house there in about a week. We're still contactable by email in the meantime, but no attachments please.
In the last week we have seen wild mountain goats in the rambla, on the steep slopes high up, and a large bird of prey, possibly a golden eagle. The bee-eaters are now here in force and sit on the tree branches in the rambla in dozens looking like multi-coloured parrots.

Wed 25th April

This afternoon we visited the Guns of Cartagena. These are several batteries of large calibre guns that were installed for the protection of Cartagena harbour which is about 10 miles from there. The batteries are on a remote headland with beautiful views of the sea and hills (and the sea approaches to Cartagena harbour!).
The guns were supplied by Vickers UK and erected in 1926. They were operational until 1993 when the army just abandoned the installation, leaving the armaments and buildings intact. Anyone can wander around at will, even into the subterranean passages under the guns (torch necessary). The site is very extensive and would have accommodated hundreds of men. The guns themselves are most impressive, the largest pair being effectively battleship 20-inch guns, capable of throwing a one-ton shell over 20 miles.

Considering all the expense and difficulty of construction in that remote location, and the large cost of upkeep of the guns and garrison, they were only fired in anger once, in 1939 during the Spanish civil war, when a steamship was sunk.

Tuesday 17th April

Today we saw the first bee-eaters, returning from their winter migration. These are very colourful birds, blue, yellow & green, a little bigger than a thrush, which eat bees. I imagine the fellow who keeps half a dozen beehives just behind the site is not looking too happy!

Tuesday 9th April

Heavy rain AM, but warm sun this afternoon so we went swimming & played table tennis.
Yesterday afternoon we walked to an abandoned iron ore mine in the hills about 3 miles behind the campsite. The buildings were extensive and all with collapsed roofs. Some of the cableway pylons were still standing showing the route the ore took to the coast, presumably for shipping away for smelting. The spoil heaps were still there, as were the tunnels into the mine workings. We didn’t venture in: we’d forgotten the torches and canaries. However, most interesting.

Wed 4th April

Beautiful Morning and thunderstorms this afternoon! Yesterday we visited Espuna Natural Park, which is a mountain area about 25 miles from here. It was most picturesque, with mountains, dramatic cliffs and panoramic views. The narrow, winding road took us up to over 3,000 feet where the temperature was distinctly chilly. We stopped on the way down to walk and found clumps of wild asparagus! We picked a good-sized bunch and ate it in the evening.
It has a strong taste and is pleasant but not as delicious as the cultivated kind. Also we can vouch for the fact that it isn’t poisonous!

Wednesday 28th March

We heard a commotion coming from next door this morning. It turned out that old Pierre had just bludgeoned a snake which was about to crawl under his caravan. It was on display for all to see at the entrance to his pitch - a tiny(dead!) grass snake.
Today & yesterday have been mixed weatherwise, much more like the UK!
On Sunday we went for an excellent walk up a "rambla", a dry river bed. This is a huge one being used as a dirt road except where the road deviates to avoid rocky stretches. The first few miles was through a gorge with high mountains on both sides and containing a profusion of plants and wildlife. We saw several sorts of rock rose and lavender, rosemary, curry plant, fennel, shamrock, genista. broom, margerite, and others. Birdwise, there were serrins, black wheatyear, sardinian warbler, crested lark,goldfinch as well as the ususal blackbirds, robbins, sparrows etc. Also saw many unidentified butterflies. We picnicked at the edge of an almond grove. The whole walk took nearly 5 hours and was most interesting.

Sat 24th March

This week we've been to two huge local markets with excellent fruit & veg, plus cheap clothes & shoes etc. Poor old Pierre, our french neighbour had his pocket picked at one of them a week ago, so we were extra careful.
Also had an interesting walk around the port of Cartagena, which is also a naval base. Cartagena was founded by the Carthaginians - hence the name - in pre Roman times, so it has lots of history. We walked up a hill behind the port which is a park with a lovely view of the city and the port.
Weather still excellent.

Sat 17th March

In this last week we've had a really nice walk along the coast to a fishing willage. There's still a bit of the old Spain left - but not much! We also had a day out to Mojacar, an ancient white perched town. Unfortunately, there was a local fiesta and everything was closed. The fiesta was interesting, though, as it involved all the families heading off into the countryside for a picnic and taking with them large, handmade paper dolls. Some sort of pagan festival, perhaps.
Weather as before, so lots of sitting about and swimming.

Sunday 11th March

A lazy week, but we did move pitches to an adjacent one which has a nicer view of the mountains and the sea. We are now next door to an 80+ year old French couple who have driven down from near Nantes. He's really doddery and it's a miracle that they got here in one piece. He has aleady run over and demolished their shopping trolley and nearly collided with a tree between our pitches. They are, nontheless, charming.

We went bird watching today and saw flamingos & stilts & other unidentifiable birds. The weather has remained beautiful all the time with temperatures 18 to 23 degrees.

Mon 5th March

Running short of gas, but Calor gas is not refillable or exchangeable in Spain. So, you would think, just go and buy a brand new bottle of Spanish gas. But no, if you want a brand new bottle,your caravan has to be officially inspected - cost,400 euros! But, predictably, there's a fixer on site who got us a new bottle for 32 euros, and a visit today to the local Aladin's cave for a regulator has resulted in gas supplies being resumed. Weather still excellent.

Sat 3rd March

Arrived here at Camping Los Madriles,near Cartagena, last Tuesday. Brilliant site, completely full, with large heated swimming pool (30 degrees). Weather has been superb since our arrival, 20-23 degrees and sunny. Sunbathing,swimming and walking, so far.

Mon 25th Feb

Here in Benicassim, near Valencia. Warm and sunny. Walked along the beach and then sat in the sun-chairs. Site's a bit jammed up, but OK.

Came from a site in Pyrenees yesterday which was lovely: mountain views and good walks. We also visited the Dali museum in Figeres, which we had visited 20 years ago. Dali's paintings, sculptures and other exhibits certainly make you think!

Tomorrow we plan to go to our final destination at Mazarron.

Tuesday 20th Feb

We're leaving for Spain tomorrow. The itinerary is:
Wed 21st - stay near Agen(France)
Thur 22nd - stay near Figeres(Northern Spain)3 days
Sunday 25th - stay Benicassim(Near Valencia)2 days
Tue 27 - arrive final destination Marrazon. Site Camping Los Madriles. Site phone no for emergency: 0034 968 1521 51 (whole number to dial from UK)
Will post next blog from there.

Saturday 17th Feb

It's been mild the last few days- up to 17 degrees yesterday. Since the last blog we've had another beach walk, a walk along an old railway line footpath, and a bike ride. Nothing earth-shattering but very pleasant and relaxing.

Wed 14th Feb

Monday was wild and windy. We had an excellent walk along the beach by the raging surf. During the walk, we beachcombed a length of hollow pipe, which we later cut into foot-long sections and sank these vertically into parts of the garden. We then poured Jeyes fluid, a strong smelling sterilising treatment, into the protruding ends of the pipes. Now, have they really lost it, you are all asking? Well, apparantly, moles can't stand the smell of Jeyes fluid, and as our garden is riddled with molehills...watch this space and we will report on our sucess or otherwise in due course.

Today we had two red squirrels in the garden. They went at separate times straight to the nut feeder, which Jane had filled the day before. The feeder has been empty since our last visit two months ago, so they have a very efficient look-out system.

Sunday 11th Feb

We arrived today at the house at Les Moulieres at about 4.30pm, but not without incident. When we were leaving Alconbury yesterday we had a problem with the caravan jockey wheel, but sorted it and then hooked on. Off we went. 200 yards later - going over the hump-back bridge in Alconbury - there was a crash, & Jane said "we've just lost the caravan!". It had come off the tow ball and was now blocking the bridge. The jockey wheel was also smashed. But, apart from that, no harm done.
Anyway, we managed to hook the van back on- this time properly, and thought of a caravan place in St Ives where we might get another jockey wheel. We were in luck because they had one, but the delay meant that we lost our slot on the tunnel crossing. But,OK, we got over an hour later. We had booked to stay overnight at a campsite near Rouen which we couln't find as it was now dark, but did eventually.
We'd arranged with a young gardener across the road from us here in France to reduce the height of a silver birch in our front garden which was threatening some electricity cables. When we arrived earlier we were flabbergasted to find he had decimated ALL of the trees and bushes in the front and the remains of the siver birch now looks like a totem pole.

Some Plans

Our intentions are to leave for France(the house) next Saturday - 10th Feb