27 – 30 April 2019 St Ives

27 – 30 April 2019 St Ives

Building

27 April Weather to wet for running so into St Ives X2 meeting up for a meal with family in the evening

28 April walk to Carbis Bay for coffee then a walkabout in St Ives then walked to the Knill monument with family.

29 April Had a drive up to Hells Mouth for coffee and then to Penzance a good day out.

Picking Up a man unsteady on his feet
Picking Up a man unsteady on his feet

30 April Had a ride out with family to Falmouth then up to Porthleven for lunch we had another lovely day out.

Camping Car ?
Camping Car ?

25 -26 April 2019 St Ives

25 -26 April 2019 St Ives

St-Ives

Arrived in St Ives after another slow journey and a hail storm. Booked in then had a walk up to the Knill monument where we came across a lovely Adder snake neither of us has seen one for over 50 years how good. Next day caught the campsite bus down to St Ives for a walkabout and a coffee at Porthmeor Beach Cafe where I ordered toast and jam and got brick and jam. Inedible it was too hard to eat. Walked back to the site a cold windy day Brrrrr. Had a walkabout in the afternoon looking for a 1/2 running route for tomorrow gosh we spent 90 mins. looking for it and are now too tired to run. We did get a couple of pictures.

letterbox

We came across a camping car that misread the instructions to the campsite OOps!

Van

22 – 24 April 2019 Paignton

22 – 24 April 2019 Paignton

Had a run down to Paignton Pier from campsite, then caught the bus into Brixham for a coffee and a bit of shopping. Back to campsite and then in the evening tried our luck at Bingo in the bar. Not our lucky evening but entertaining.

Next day caught the bus into Torquay and had a lovely walk to Cockington Country Park to visit the chocolate shop. Also had a lovely coffee in the cafe.

Today caught the bus to The Willows shopping centre for Maureen to visit M & S. Very disappointed, didn’t buy anything.

18 -21 April 2019 Paignton

18 -21 April 2019 Paignton

Long, tough journey from Poole to Paignton. Nose to tail traffic, 2 hour journey became 3. Arrived and booked in – error with our pitch but I expect it. Bus to Brixham for a walkabout.

Pier

Next day we tried to cycle into Torquay but they have made some changes on the sea front and you cannot cycle some of it. So had a one hour cycle but roads too busy so abandoned and caught the bus instead.

SandArt

Next day walked to Paignton along the seafront and then bus into Torquay again. Next day did the same again, this time coming across picture below – incredible to watch.

Torqauy

On an evening we have been going to the bar for a drink and one evening tried the ‘batter and chip’ shop. It should be cod and chips but alas I had no glasses so didn’t spot the cod. Tonight we had a game of bingo just for a bit of fun. £150.00 prize for full house. We are just surviving at the moment being back with part-time campers and the problems they bring, especially at a busy time like Easter.

17 April 2019 Poole

17 April 2019 Poole

Another good day here in Poole. It was a bit warmer as the cold wind has gone. Run today through Upton Park and Holes Bay to the town. Had coffee then bus back. After lunch and a shower caught the bus to go back into town but the traffic was a bit slow and there are major road works in town that held us up this morning so decided to get off at Upton Park and walked back towards the site via Costa Coffee at Upton.

After tea decided to walk down and have a look at the Button Shop Antiques down in Lychett Minster 10 minute walk from the site. Although closed the owner saw us looking in the window and opened up for us. We had a good chat as we know quite a lot about this subject. See shop below.

Antiques

11 – 16 April 2019 Bilbao / Poole

11 – 16 April 2019 Bilbao / Poole

Nice steady drive to the port. No problems checking in. Just a quick search of the van by the Guardia Civil. Got a good parking position on the boat (last on, first off). Sailing not too bad, just a slight swell until about 2.00 am then it was so smooth it was as if the boat was parked up. Had an excellent meal in the restaurant which was reasonably priced then spent the rest of the evening people watching. Went to the restaurant for breakfast – faultless again. Altogether a very good boat experience.

Bournemouth Beach
Bournemouth Beach (click  for BIG)

Arrived back in the UK to the usual road problems. A 2 hour journey took forever also a horrendous coffee stop on the M27 Road Chef. Complained to Costa, this place is desperately in need of firing into a black hole and being replaced by a Starbucks. This above paragraph says to me ‘welcome to England’.

Upside down house from Oz
Upside down house from Oz

Arrived at Lychett Manor and hooked up and relaxed. Next morning took the bus into Poole for a bit of shopping and a walkabout. Next day cycled into town via Upton Park and Holes Bay. Next day ran into Poole. Caught the bus to Bournemouth. Not been there for a while, nothing has changed, even Harry Ramsden’s chips are still not good. Had another cycle today on the old railway line (the Castleman Trailway).

10 April 2019 Haro La Rioja

10 April 2019 Haro La Rioja

wine3

Walked into Haro (10mins.) 3 times and a short walk down to the Bodegas to have a look at the wine. Haro is a lovely place for a few days walkabout.

wine

wine2

A van arrived on site that had had a blowout at speed on the motorway not good the Tyre was far to old. Lucky couple.

tyre

6 – 8 April 2019 Barcelona / 9 April 2019 Haro La Rioja

6 – 8 April 2019 Barcelona

Good run into Villanova then some shopping as we are getting ready to move, next day a cycle and coffee with a Monday a rest day as our drive tomorrow is 5 Hours.

haro

9 April 2019 Haro La Rioja

A good drive up we both enjoyed the long drive the motorway was not to busy costing €50 in tolls. And 1 1/3 tanks of fuel.

haro2

Booked in then spent a couple of ours walkabout so we can have a good look around tomorrow.

haro3

graf1

3 – 5 April 2019 Barcelona

3 – 5 April 2019 Barcelona

Shop

Had a good cycle to Sitges after calling to the bike shop in Vilanova to buy a new inner tube for Darian. Lovely coffee and cake. Enjoyed a walk around the Arts and Craft Exhibition on the sea front but really too busy to get involved.

STraders

Usual running and sight seeing and today another trip into Barcelona. Again very busy down the Rambla so headed for the back streets. Below is a picture of aluminium recycling.

Recycle

1 – 2 April 2019 Barcelona

1 – 2 April 2019 Barcelona

The last post was just our attempt at an April Fool and we at least got one person (yes, you know who you are).

April 1st – had a good run down into Vilanova on the road and caught the bus back. After lunch caught up with some laundry.

Today was a rest day. Bus to town, walk along the beach, coffee, a bit of shopping and then reading in the sunshine. Still managing 22C during the day. Only had a couple of hours rain since leaving the UK in December.

15 years 150000 miles of European Travel through 16 Counties