I still looked like a minor burns victim so dipped out of the kayaking. I wanted to make sure I was up for the rafting, on fast rapids you need to be down low in the boat and there was one eight year old little butt that I wanted to be sure was firmly planted down....
Sort is a european centre for kayaking - a rapids course with the poles is set out and runs down the river through the town. The guys here all grew up on the river and I had total confidence in them. They gave Alex and Amie a coach each and they had a three hour lessons. The loved it, Alex has announced it's his new sport. They learned to navigate the rapids, stop move across the river and paddle up stream. Amie capsized twice and Alex around ten times! They had such a nice time, so excited. I had the best morning, browsing shops, cafe con leche in the sun...actually enjoying Spain!
In the afternoon we watched a local kayak race - a huge thing here. The kids kayak all summer and ski all winter ...sigh. The skills of these children was amazing. They compete all over the world.
We then went and got the new tyre. The man had ordered a replacement on the internet - bless him, which had arrived. But, the rear left was now also very, very..He was such a star...the valve had blown. So he replaced it rather than insisting we had another new tyre. We worked out we both spoke french and he explained it's a common problem coming over the mountains in hot weather with a heavily loaded car. The pressure over moving side to side under weight in heat blows them. He fitted the new tyre, put the spare in the boot, had the other tyre off and replaced the valve and sorted the front left valve and charged us 20 euros......what a lovely man. We taking him some wine int he way out of town tomorrow.
Wednesday 27th
The next day we chilled. Eva recommended we hang out at an alpine lake. We got a picnic together and spent the day chilling on grass by the lake. The kids swam and caught fish. We then took the long route home meandering down the mountain through tiny alpine villages. The big team joke goes like this.....they both throw their heads back going ..ahhhh...who's this....MUMMY upside down on a rope....!!!
Anna lives next door to Eva and this hotel so we sorted out rafting for the next day. She had arranged for a friend to take us rather than a big group thing. It turned out to be Alish - the kids kayak i
Thursday 28th
Water water rafting was amazing. It was just us and Alish. He knew Miguel from cayoning and travelled with him last year in Patagona - he says the rafting is fantastic - maybe next year....
We travelled 21 km down river back to Sort. The weather was fantastic and mountains stunning. We stopped at one point and the kids jumped from a bridge into the raging river ! Alish had a line to catch them in case they shot off downstream! I didn't do it because I had no wetsuit (for obvious reasons!) and it was freezing water....
Now chilling before heading down to Barcelona tomorrow - am not looking forward to the heat and pitching the tent .....
Still trying to post photos but with dial up it's very tricky - maybe they will actually have cable in the city!!!
Thursday, 28 July 2016
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Crossing the Pyreeness and leaping off mountains on ropes...
23rd July
A chilled day, everyone in good spirits, with the end of term, the big pack and a crazy journey it has taken a while for us all to settle down. We went into Deba to surf and crab. I dried all the clothes tha got soaked in the night in the rain - the kids played water balloons with some English kids they met and got them all wet again. I dried them...Alex then got himself and Amie soaked ...at which point they found themselves off to reception to buy tokens and drying the whole damn lot...
Alex has made friends with a little boy called SebaTien (a very strong T..!). Alex keeps saying I like him but I don't have a clue what he's saying mum...
Cooked Pollo con patatas for tea... chicken and chips...!
24th July
no rain ...yey..packed up and were ready by midday - nothing is quick camping and I have learned you can't rush kids to pack quicker or you get sulky faces and no cooperation! I then got a coffee and worked out where we were going. The satnav wants exact streets which are hard to get names of here because we are staying in small places. So I am back to old fashioned maps and google maps if I'm not sure. I shout 'TV off - phone in' and the kids disconnect their car TVs and wire up the phone... the TVs were a good investment for this trip..
We drove up to Biarritz (it's on the west coast of France ..who knew..I always thought it was on the med...). The kids were very excited to be in France for a few hours - we took photos at a the motorway truck stop in Lourdes ! We then trucked east parrallel to the mountains. We then hung south into Spain and up..and up...and up.. Three route planners said this was the quickest and best route...er...in a four wheel drive maybe...we snaked our way up through the moutains. Really stunning, beautiful mountain villages and gushing rivers. We went up to Port de la Bonaigua which is I think the highest moutain town. The road then really climbed and was lined by snow pools all the way, it would be unpasable in winter. We hit the highest ski station in the mountains - basically the highest lift in the Pyrenees. Amie took some amazing photos. There were rivers shooting out of the rock faces and hundreds on cows all with bells - the sound was deafening! It an automatic - I had to play the gas and the break for force gear changes. It was lucky we were being followed because it forced me to keep momentum....
We then travelled down to Sort - the kids were brilliant. It took seven hours with only two quick stops. When we eventually found Sort - I couldn't find the hotel so stopped to ask...it was in the next village...ahhhhh. So we parked up and tried to find somewhere for food. All very local - squid in black ink sounds great but not to two tired hungry kids... found bizarre 'rock cafe' spag bol all round.
Found hotel..phew..it's gorgeous. Hotel L'Acova. Run by a husband and wife. They bought a rundown massive house and are slowly renovating it. All log fires, beams and massive rooms looking out onto a courtyard and the mountains.
25th July
Up early - off to meet Anna who has helped me with the river sports. Turns out we are not white water rafting today but canyoning..oh well! Kids had great fun kitting up, helmets,body suits, full wet suits, harnesses and hard boats... Anna said we would be doing it with a dutch family. I went over to say hi - we are with you today,,I'm Amanda and this Amie and Alex. Nothing but a 'hello' from the dad...but they are quite reserved. Egotiz said they much prefer the Dutch as they are quiet unlike the crazy Spanish. He's probably right the spanish camping next to us were all..hola, have some olives...hola..have some wine!
We needed a packed lunch so rushed off to get supplies and met the guide Miquel and the dutch on a local road and we were off. An hours drive into the mountains. We stopped for petrol, we were very low after our long drive. Just as we were leaving, I saw a big hairy trucker come running up and smacked the car on the roof..what the......turns out our rear tyres were almost on the metal..! Ah,,yes,we could see they were low..said Dutch dad,,,really...?!
Alex and Amie were on it - asking what pressure, euro in the slot..dust caps off..air in. I was having the debate with myself...stop turn back and get tyres checked or pump and continue..I figured as both were low it must have been the journey so we cracked on.
We drove high into the mountains (again..). We parked in farm and then had to carry all the equipment. We made wetsuit pack packs for the kids. The adults had to carry back packs. We then had an abseiling lesson and were off. It amazing. The kids LOVED it. Amie was a natural. We followed the course of a mountain stream and there were a number of ways of getting down each bit,,sliding on your bottom - literally shooting down the rocks and into pools below, shufffling, moving like a crab gripping the rocks with hands and feet, jumping (max 30 feet) or abseiling (max 40 feet - I think). An adult had to go first...on the first jump the Dutch mum and dad hung back and there was a silence - so I voluntiered (spelling?!). I have to admit that first jump was a bit scary ...you leap off rocks into a narrow space and smack into freezing water below coming up gasping. I was also jumping with a big pack.
Dutch mum was actually American and nice, we had lots of laughs at the kids all jostling to go first. especially Alex and her son Alec. She said the dad was a bit miffed because there were two groups of five from their campsite and the other group went alone but they were with us...so eight in total..c'est la vie! We saw all sorts of wildlife including water snakes which thrilled Alex. The kids did the first abseil like monkeys straight down - wop. Me not so much....you had to jump a over a rock lip and abseil through a waterfall - which means freezing water is crashing onto your helmet. I committed the fatal error of ending up with my feet higher than my bum so ended up upside down at great height in a waterfall dangling ...er...not cool.. but I couldn't stop laughing and all the kids were absolutely rolling around 30 feet below wetting themselves. I managed to gradually release the rope in my right hand and manovre myself upright. I did manage the next one - at speed !
We had such a great time - I did recover some dignity as not adults wanted to to the last big jump and one had to go first - I went for it. The other group had caught up with us and I must have redeemed myself because both dads were clapping and shouting 'respect' ! At the end we had to climb back up the mountain, quite tricky as very hot and lots of bugs. We all got bitten. It was also a pain as I was allergic to the wetsuit and had blisters round my ankles and wrists and a rash pretty much neck to feet.....
On the way back - I felt a tyre go ....shyte....we stopped and it was on the rim. The dutch dad stopped and came over...before I had a chance to think he said ..'there is village back there..just be careful your wheel doesn't fall off...' and then he drove away....er ..what?!?
If he stayed I would have suggested he help me put the spare on so we could get back. I couldn't do it by myself. There was no hard shoulder...it was 30 degrees and I know having uploaded all the camping gear from the boot - got the tyre out - kept the kids off the road and jacked the car up it was very likely I wouldn't be able to get the wheel nuts off - been there done that.
So we drove slowly to the next town (much to the annoyance of every spaniard on the road - lots of fingers ...which amused alex) and found the most amazing garage with the kindest nicest man ever. language was difficult so luckily I had Anna's number and she translated. He put on the spare and ordered a new tyre..So kind.. didn't charge us at all - the tyre was shredded but on the sides - two deep slits - it looked a bit like a knife?- we must have hit a small rock?. we got back at 9pm and the hotel was not doing food...ahhh. drove into town got drugs (for me) and food and bizarely bumped into the dutch family.....
They said they had heard about our adventure ...yes,,I said not easy being on your own in a strange place with blown tyre in the middle of no -where.....the dad did look a little shame faced...oh well onwards and up wards.
kayaking tomorrow.... will hopefully post photos tonight - internet is really difficult all dial up..!
A chilled day, everyone in good spirits, with the end of term, the big pack and a crazy journey it has taken a while for us all to settle down. We went into Deba to surf and crab. I dried all the clothes tha got soaked in the night in the rain - the kids played water balloons with some English kids they met and got them all wet again. I dried them...Alex then got himself and Amie soaked ...at which point they found themselves off to reception to buy tokens and drying the whole damn lot...
Alex has made friends with a little boy called SebaTien (a very strong T..!). Alex keeps saying I like him but I don't have a clue what he's saying mum...
Cooked Pollo con patatas for tea... chicken and chips...!
24th July
no rain ...yey..packed up and were ready by midday - nothing is quick camping and I have learned you can't rush kids to pack quicker or you get sulky faces and no cooperation! I then got a coffee and worked out where we were going. The satnav wants exact streets which are hard to get names of here because we are staying in small places. So I am back to old fashioned maps and google maps if I'm not sure. I shout 'TV off - phone in' and the kids disconnect their car TVs and wire up the phone... the TVs were a good investment for this trip..
We drove up to Biarritz (it's on the west coast of France ..who knew..I always thought it was on the med...). The kids were very excited to be in France for a few hours - we took photos at a the motorway truck stop in Lourdes ! We then trucked east parrallel to the mountains. We then hung south into Spain and up..and up...and up.. Three route planners said this was the quickest and best route...er...in a four wheel drive maybe...we snaked our way up through the moutains. Really stunning, beautiful mountain villages and gushing rivers. We went up to Port de la Bonaigua which is I think the highest moutain town. The road then really climbed and was lined by snow pools all the way, it would be unpasable in winter. We hit the highest ski station in the mountains - basically the highest lift in the Pyrenees. Amie took some amazing photos. There were rivers shooting out of the rock faces and hundreds on cows all with bells - the sound was deafening! It an automatic - I had to play the gas and the break for force gear changes. It was lucky we were being followed because it forced me to keep momentum....
We then travelled down to Sort - the kids were brilliant. It took seven hours with only two quick stops. When we eventually found Sort - I couldn't find the hotel so stopped to ask...it was in the next village...ahhhhh. So we parked up and tried to find somewhere for food. All very local - squid in black ink sounds great but not to two tired hungry kids... found bizarre 'rock cafe' spag bol all round.
Found hotel..phew..it's gorgeous. Hotel L'Acova. Run by a husband and wife. They bought a rundown massive house and are slowly renovating it. All log fires, beams and massive rooms looking out onto a courtyard and the mountains.
25th July
Up early - off to meet Anna who has helped me with the river sports. Turns out we are not white water rafting today but canyoning..oh well! Kids had great fun kitting up, helmets,body suits, full wet suits, harnesses and hard boats... Anna said we would be doing it with a dutch family. I went over to say hi - we are with you today,,I'm Amanda and this Amie and Alex. Nothing but a 'hello' from the dad...but they are quite reserved. Egotiz said they much prefer the Dutch as they are quiet unlike the crazy Spanish. He's probably right the spanish camping next to us were all..hola, have some olives...hola..have some wine!
We needed a packed lunch so rushed off to get supplies and met the guide Miquel and the dutch on a local road and we were off. An hours drive into the mountains. We stopped for petrol, we were very low after our long drive. Just as we were leaving, I saw a big hairy trucker come running up and smacked the car on the roof..what the......turns out our rear tyres were almost on the metal..! Ah,,yes,we could see they were low..said Dutch dad,,,really...?!
Alex and Amie were on it - asking what pressure, euro in the slot..dust caps off..air in. I was having the debate with myself...stop turn back and get tyres checked or pump and continue..I figured as both were low it must have been the journey so we cracked on.
We drove high into the mountains (again..). We parked in farm and then had to carry all the equipment. We made wetsuit pack packs for the kids. The adults had to carry back packs. We then had an abseiling lesson and were off. It amazing. The kids LOVED it. Amie was a natural. We followed the course of a mountain stream and there were a number of ways of getting down each bit,,sliding on your bottom - literally shooting down the rocks and into pools below, shufffling, moving like a crab gripping the rocks with hands and feet, jumping (max 30 feet) or abseiling (max 40 feet - I think). An adult had to go first...on the first jump the Dutch mum and dad hung back and there was a silence - so I voluntiered (spelling?!). I have to admit that first jump was a bit scary ...you leap off rocks into a narrow space and smack into freezing water below coming up gasping. I was also jumping with a big pack.
Dutch mum was actually American and nice, we had lots of laughs at the kids all jostling to go first. especially Alex and her son Alec. She said the dad was a bit miffed because there were two groups of five from their campsite and the other group went alone but they were with us...so eight in total..c'est la vie! We saw all sorts of wildlife including water snakes which thrilled Alex. The kids did the first abseil like monkeys straight down - wop. Me not so much....you had to jump a over a rock lip and abseil through a waterfall - which means freezing water is crashing onto your helmet. I committed the fatal error of ending up with my feet higher than my bum so ended up upside down at great height in a waterfall dangling ...er...not cool.. but I couldn't stop laughing and all the kids were absolutely rolling around 30 feet below wetting themselves. I managed to gradually release the rope in my right hand and manovre myself upright. I did manage the next one - at speed !
We had such a great time - I did recover some dignity as not adults wanted to to the last big jump and one had to go first - I went for it. The other group had caught up with us and I must have redeemed myself because both dads were clapping and shouting 'respect' ! At the end we had to climb back up the mountain, quite tricky as very hot and lots of bugs. We all got bitten. It was also a pain as I was allergic to the wetsuit and had blisters round my ankles and wrists and a rash pretty much neck to feet.....
On the way back - I felt a tyre go ....shyte....we stopped and it was on the rim. The dutch dad stopped and came over...before I had a chance to think he said ..'there is village back there..just be careful your wheel doesn't fall off...' and then he drove away....er ..what?!?
If he stayed I would have suggested he help me put the spare on so we could get back. I couldn't do it by myself. There was no hard shoulder...it was 30 degrees and I know having uploaded all the camping gear from the boot - got the tyre out - kept the kids off the road and jacked the car up it was very likely I wouldn't be able to get the wheel nuts off - been there done that.
So we drove slowly to the next town (much to the annoyance of every spaniard on the road - lots of fingers ...which amused alex) and found the most amazing garage with the kindest nicest man ever. language was difficult so luckily I had Anna's number and she translated. He put on the spare and ordered a new tyre..So kind.. didn't charge us at all - the tyre was shredded but on the sides - two deep slits - it looked a bit like a knife?- we must have hit a small rock?. we got back at 9pm and the hotel was not doing food...ahhh. drove into town got drugs (for me) and food and bizarely bumped into the dutch family.....
They said they had heard about our adventure ...yes,,I said not easy being on your own in a strange place with blown tyre in the middle of no -where.....the dad did look a little shame faced...oh well onwards and up wards.
kayaking tomorrow.... will hopefully post photos tonight - internet is really difficult all dial up..!
Saturday, 23 July 2016
The Great Wee Disaster!
20th July
There is a reason the area is so green, it rains..a ...lot! Mainly at night...but today was drizzle. we didn't sleep well with rain and what appeared to be a constant argument between two dogs, several goats and a cow mooing across the mountain. We've made friends with the campsite man ..Egoitz..(yes really..). We were going to arrange taking a boat out with his friend. This guy sometimes takes his yacht out into the Bay of Biscay looking for dolphins. I could crew and the kids would have loved to see the dolphins but when I realised it was from 7am to 7pm and knowing Alex's apptitude for heaving the moment the car journey gets too long I decided against it! We headed into the mountains instead to Arrikrutz. The kids have never done mountain roads and were amazed. Alex kept saying ..is this road one way now...no Alex ..it's one way...Mummy is it one way now..no still two way Alex...but what happens when the other car comes... good questions..
Arrikrutz was amazing - apart from two very antisocial French (?) we were the only ones there. High up in the mountains - it is 14 miles of caves carved out by a river. We saw vultures and eagles high up above the cave entrance. The caves were unbelievable - stalagtites and mights everywhere - very cold, damp and spooky. We then headed to Arantzazu a famous church on a hill, not so much with the kids. had trouble getting them out of the car! Last stop Onati a little mountain town where we got the days food. Food is tricky, not only are there hundreds of ants (am now down with the kids..ants suck!) but also no freezers for ice blocks so it's very much a day at a time. Onati proved tricky to get out of - ended up on some narrow alpine road in pouring rain with massive trucks pounding up behind me.
Anyway...that night it rained - really rained. We didn't put the front extension on the tent because it was so hot the first day..ha ..ha. When the rain hit I left out of bed and started pulling the chairs and food under the tent and collapsed the canopy, must have looked at right sight half dressed. I then leapt back in the tent in the pitch dark and caught my foot on the pee bucket (the bucket with a lid the kids have been using at night....?!?). I couldn't see a dam thing so yelled at poor amie to wake up and get the torch while I held the bucket. Pee had tricked down the tent and pooled around the cable box and ...er ..yup .. the camera (which still works but has the feint odour of pee when used...ahhhhh). Cleaned everything up - got to bed and listened to the storm rage..
21st July
Hot sunny day..chilled by pool, went to beach at Deba and also bought another..ball (alex keeps kicking the bloody things down the mountain). Went for hill walk in evening - amazing views. hiked down to the view point. The kids got there first and when I turned the corner I couldn't see them....then I saw two ropes attached to the mountain side and a red head disappearing down the cliff.....managed to retrieve two indignant children..what do you mean we can't do these ropes down the sea - it's easy - yes but it's now 9.30pm and getting dark..we'll come back another time...er...not!
22nd July
Today we decided to brave San Sebastien. We set off - in the rain...I figured there would be signs to the centre ..'centro'. Apparently not...about ten signs all the San Sebastien ..?! Suburbs? So headed for the port - we found ourselves somewhere - still not sure where it was, but it was a pretty alpine coastal village (such a thing?) across two sides of an estuary with wooden houses covered in geraniums and a river taxi connecting the two banks. We spent the day at a village bar eating sea food and crabbing between showers...we did later find SS but did a drive through and headed home!
Spent really nice evening swimming and alex played football with locals. I went for a coastal run - very steep!
23rd July
More big rain last night - too cold to swim today. Going to head into Depa later - just hope no rain tonight as need to pack up tomorrow. We are off up into the Pyreenees to Sort. A good thing - kids getting grumpy now with rain ...
will post photos from there
There is a reason the area is so green, it rains..a ...lot! Mainly at night...but today was drizzle. we didn't sleep well with rain and what appeared to be a constant argument between two dogs, several goats and a cow mooing across the mountain. We've made friends with the campsite man ..Egoitz..(yes really..). We were going to arrange taking a boat out with his friend. This guy sometimes takes his yacht out into the Bay of Biscay looking for dolphins. I could crew and the kids would have loved to see the dolphins but when I realised it was from 7am to 7pm and knowing Alex's apptitude for heaving the moment the car journey gets too long I decided against it! We headed into the mountains instead to Arrikrutz. The kids have never done mountain roads and were amazed. Alex kept saying ..is this road one way now...no Alex ..it's one way...Mummy is it one way now..no still two way Alex...but what happens when the other car comes... good questions..
Arrikrutz was amazing - apart from two very antisocial French (?) we were the only ones there. High up in the mountains - it is 14 miles of caves carved out by a river. We saw vultures and eagles high up above the cave entrance. The caves were unbelievable - stalagtites and mights everywhere - very cold, damp and spooky. We then headed to Arantzazu a famous church on a hill, not so much with the kids. had trouble getting them out of the car! Last stop Onati a little mountain town where we got the days food. Food is tricky, not only are there hundreds of ants (am now down with the kids..ants suck!) but also no freezers for ice blocks so it's very much a day at a time. Onati proved tricky to get out of - ended up on some narrow alpine road in pouring rain with massive trucks pounding up behind me.
Anyway...that night it rained - really rained. We didn't put the front extension on the tent because it was so hot the first day..ha ..ha. When the rain hit I left out of bed and started pulling the chairs and food under the tent and collapsed the canopy, must have looked at right sight half dressed. I then leapt back in the tent in the pitch dark and caught my foot on the pee bucket (the bucket with a lid the kids have been using at night....?!?). I couldn't see a dam thing so yelled at poor amie to wake up and get the torch while I held the bucket. Pee had tricked down the tent and pooled around the cable box and ...er ..yup .. the camera (which still works but has the feint odour of pee when used...ahhhhh). Cleaned everything up - got to bed and listened to the storm rage..
21st July
Hot sunny day..chilled by pool, went to beach at Deba and also bought another..ball (alex keeps kicking the bloody things down the mountain). Went for hill walk in evening - amazing views. hiked down to the view point. The kids got there first and when I turned the corner I couldn't see them....then I saw two ropes attached to the mountain side and a red head disappearing down the cliff.....managed to retrieve two indignant children..what do you mean we can't do these ropes down the sea - it's easy - yes but it's now 9.30pm and getting dark..we'll come back another time...er...not!
22nd July
Today we decided to brave San Sebastien. We set off - in the rain...I figured there would be signs to the centre ..'centro'. Apparently not...about ten signs all the San Sebastien ..?! Suburbs? So headed for the port - we found ourselves somewhere - still not sure where it was, but it was a pretty alpine coastal village (such a thing?) across two sides of an estuary with wooden houses covered in geraniums and a river taxi connecting the two banks. We spent the day at a village bar eating sea food and crabbing between showers...we did later find SS but did a drive through and headed home!
Spent really nice evening swimming and alex played football with locals. I went for a coastal run - very steep!
23rd July
More big rain last night - too cold to swim today. Going to head into Depa later - just hope no rain tonight as need to pack up tomorrow. We are off up into the Pyreenees to Sort. A good thing - kids getting grumpy now with rain ...
will post photos from there
Thursday, 21 July 2016
Leaving the UK
Hi there,
We have just sent the link to family this year, it's only a mini trip, with mini posts. You get to know we are all alive and it's a great record for the kids. It's still pretty much impossible to post messages on this blog so just email us. It's taken a few days at internet here is awful we are in the sticks but a mountain in Indonesia was better!. I'm not sure if it will cope with photos I will try later.
So..we made the boat...just...! I was so organised and determined to avoid the last minute rush, tempting fate I said to Jo-anne we are 'good to go..we could leave in ten minutes if we needed to......idiot...'. Literally ten minutes later when Dave offered to set up google map on my phone I realised that rather than Portsmouth we were actually expected in Plymouth in pretty much four hours....drive time ...four hours...ahhhhh
Everyone was brilliant, Joanne finished making sandwiches - Jono and Dave sorted the roof box and I packed the car. We,,of course, couldn't find the keys....Florence was wondering round the house going 'where are those naughty keys',,,'kitchen...no....lounge...no...bless!'. I grabbed the spare and we were off.. It took me a good ten minutes to sort my head out. The kids were great.. 'no one speak a word....'. I couldn't actually remember how to get to hammersmith ...
So we went for it...with google map on my knee, we worked at beating the clock. The poor car.. fully loaded with roof box and bikes it was struggling. Who knew there were so many hills between London and Bristol we were hammering up the hills and coasting down, hitting 90 all the way (which in my car is extraordinary!. We could see the petrol gauge actually moving - I flashed pretty much everybody - hideous driving. The kids thought it was hilarious when people politely moved out the way and the car didn't actually energy to pass them! I am fully expecting a pile of speeding fines on our return..and possibly a driving ban...gulp..
We did one pit stop...in the petrol station...I pumped the gas... the kids hit the loo..they put the petrol cap on while I paid and we were off. They were brilliant. We had a long chat and agreed if we missed the ferry we would drive up to dover and do a road trip through france.
But...we made it...thank you lots to Jo-anne for keeping Brittany Ferries posted. xx
The ferry was great, cabin small (with stinky, smelly loo ..Amie's words). We went for a swim, watched Kung Fu Panda (yey!) and slept. The kids topped and tailed on the top bunk so I went to sleep hearing ...your foot is in my bum...get your elbow out of my back.. you farted,,you stink...
18th July
Coming into Santander was fantastic, bright sun, the ship honking, people waving.. We were in really good spirits and hit the road for Deba. It was a good idea. The hotel was lovely..tired and a bit run down but right on the beach. Totally Spanish - no union jack boxer shorts in sight. The kids played football on the board walk with locals and spent the afternoon body surfing. No where served food till 9pm so we had a balcony picnic and crashed. I had to dug out all the eating stuff from the roof box but couldn't find a cork screw....so begged one off the bar man. Something you couldn't do in a posh hotel!
We hit the road again to Itaxspe a small village on the coast. The campsite is amazing - up on the cliffs in a pine forest with spectacular views. We have a great corner pitch with shade. It was bloody hot when we arrived. I did try pitching but the troops were on the verge of mutiny so we went swimming instead! The site is full of Dutch people - with amazing camping equipment - massive pull out kitchens....nice people though. The kids love it, although they freak out at the ant armies that descend the moment you leave any food anywhere - for goodness sake, they camped in the jungle with monkeys!
We took a drive into the mountains in the evening - with Amie shreiking in my left ear ...slow down...slow down ....and Alex in my right going...faster mum...faster... We found a tiny village with a lovely church and what could have been a bar, basically a door with a grumpy old man in a beret outside holding a beer.. the kids didn't fancy it! Evening was spent in the camp bar looking over the coast.
We have just sent the link to family this year, it's only a mini trip, with mini posts. You get to know we are all alive and it's a great record for the kids. It's still pretty much impossible to post messages on this blog so just email us. It's taken a few days at internet here is awful we are in the sticks but a mountain in Indonesia was better!. I'm not sure if it will cope with photos I will try later.
So..we made the boat...just...! I was so organised and determined to avoid the last minute rush, tempting fate I said to Jo-anne we are 'good to go..we could leave in ten minutes if we needed to......idiot...'. Literally ten minutes later when Dave offered to set up google map on my phone I realised that rather than Portsmouth we were actually expected in Plymouth in pretty much four hours....drive time ...four hours...ahhhhh
Everyone was brilliant, Joanne finished making sandwiches - Jono and Dave sorted the roof box and I packed the car. We,,of course, couldn't find the keys....Florence was wondering round the house going 'where are those naughty keys',,,'kitchen...no....lounge...no...bless!'. I grabbed the spare and we were off.. It took me a good ten minutes to sort my head out. The kids were great.. 'no one speak a word....'. I couldn't actually remember how to get to hammersmith ...
So we went for it...with google map on my knee, we worked at beating the clock. The poor car.. fully loaded with roof box and bikes it was struggling. Who knew there were so many hills between London and Bristol we were hammering up the hills and coasting down, hitting 90 all the way (which in my car is extraordinary!. We could see the petrol gauge actually moving - I flashed pretty much everybody - hideous driving. The kids thought it was hilarious when people politely moved out the way and the car didn't actually energy to pass them! I am fully expecting a pile of speeding fines on our return..and possibly a driving ban...gulp..
We did one pit stop...in the petrol station...I pumped the gas... the kids hit the loo..they put the petrol cap on while I paid and we were off. They were brilliant. We had a long chat and agreed if we missed the ferry we would drive up to dover and do a road trip through france.
But...we made it...thank you lots to Jo-anne for keeping Brittany Ferries posted. xx
The ferry was great, cabin small (with stinky, smelly loo ..Amie's words). We went for a swim, watched Kung Fu Panda (yey!) and slept. The kids topped and tailed on the top bunk so I went to sleep hearing ...your foot is in my bum...get your elbow out of my back.. you farted,,you stink...
18th July
Coming into Santander was fantastic, bright sun, the ship honking, people waving.. We were in really good spirits and hit the road for Deba. It was a good idea. The hotel was lovely..tired and a bit run down but right on the beach. Totally Spanish - no union jack boxer shorts in sight. The kids played football on the board walk with locals and spent the afternoon body surfing. No where served food till 9pm so we had a balcony picnic and crashed. I had to dug out all the eating stuff from the roof box but couldn't find a cork screw....so begged one off the bar man. Something you couldn't do in a posh hotel!
We hit the road again to Itaxspe a small village on the coast. The campsite is amazing - up on the cliffs in a pine forest with spectacular views. We have a great corner pitch with shade. It was bloody hot when we arrived. I did try pitching but the troops were on the verge of mutiny so we went swimming instead! The site is full of Dutch people - with amazing camping equipment - massive pull out kitchens....nice people though. The kids love it, although they freak out at the ant armies that descend the moment you leave any food anywhere - for goodness sake, they camped in the jungle with monkeys!
We took a drive into the mountains in the evening - with Amie shreiking in my left ear ...slow down...slow down ....and Alex in my right going...faster mum...faster... We found a tiny village with a lovely church and what could have been a bar, basically a door with a grumpy old man in a beret outside holding a beer.. the kids didn't fancy it! Evening was spent in the camp bar looking over the coast.
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