Was going to Spain from start to finish but now I, Luca have taken over

Driving back to England again.
Saturday, March 16, 2013

The weather worried me now more & more, on CCN & BBC news they showed the snow storms in Normandy added to the prediction of snow flurries in Northern Spain. So I finally decided to go home one day earlier & make further decisions as I literally “rolled” along.

To add to the worries, I had hit a couple very deep potholes in the in the rain, in the dark in mountains “grounding my car. It did sound very “rattley” underneath. Eventually I decided to lie on the floor & have look. Yea I had ripped my heat guard around my exhaust so with bit of manipulation I reckoned, and with no my pothole catastrophe’s I might limp back to my superb mechanic in England. But I needed to take care. I was insured but don’t want to be fetching them out.

So at 10.30am on Tuesday morning, my return to England commenced, leisurely meandering through the mountains & unbelievably the sun put in an appearance, What a difference the mountains make in the light & even better the sun. The sun didn’t stay for long though with the rain returning after about an hour, but staying just long enough to see me out of the mountains.

Granada, came & went & onto to Jaen, no problems so far. Then up to Madrid & there were no difficulties at all. About the only highlight was a white low slung Mercedes sports car arrowing on to the motorway. It had very distinctive black edgings around the windows which were smoked glass. By sheer luck a couple of miles further down as he was queuing to leave I saw that it was Ronaldo.

I’d been driving for almost 7 hours now, about 450 miles, (725 Km’s) so decided to stop just north of Burgos & booked into a super clean & quiet motel & just for €44 with wifi & all the mod cons & with breakfast included I was happy. But I woke the next morning to snow covering the car & worse frozen solid on it. After breakfast at 8.00am I plodded on wondering what lay in store.

What a difference a night’s sleep in a comfortable bed makes, I was at the border in no time making certain my fuel tank was brimming before moving into France where I was now aware of the higher price difference. Indeed it was a difference of 12c per litre in but a short distance between Spain & France. I was however travelling about 650 miles (1000 Km’s) per tank of fuel.

Having decided to travel as far as I could on this day to obviate any inclement or failing weather I was amazed that, except for the bitter cold & smatterings of snow, the weather wasn’t a concern – yet. My car also was travelling well, although the rattles were still their, they were not getting any worse.

It was 8.00pm when I decided to stop, but I could not find a hotel or even a B & B, I definitely didn’t want to have to resort to sleeping in the car. I was getting very worried now.

At last, at 9.00pm I saw a hotel, I say hotel, but what a fleapit! As the one last was ideal for €44 this was really crappy for €72 they had me by the proverbials! I felt it was a rip off, but I had no choice. I was up early although the shower & amenities were also awful, although they did a decent continental breakfast & was then on my way by 7.30. I just wanted to be out of there, won’t leave it too late to look again, another valuable lesson learned. Still I only had about 150 miles (225 Km’s) to do although this was reputedly the area worst hit by the snow.

It was amazing driving through Normandy as it is basically a very flat land. There had indeed been a couple of feet of snow (about 25 cm’s) but the roads were totally clear. Looking across the land there was acres of just pure virgin white, it was indeed a spectacle.

Arriving in Le Havre at lunch I had a walk around the town having a smashing lunch in a very French cafe/restaurant & also enjoying sitting & watching the inhabitants come & go. The ferry started off late arrived even later & I was home in an uneventful journey through England to arrive back home by 4.00am.

Later that morning my mechanic “mended my car in 20 minutes & all was well

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My first few days in Spain
Monday, March 11, 2013

My sleep on the chair was a deep one & a couple of hours later I woke only because I was absolutely frozen stiff. I was wearing just & a shirt & trousers & was I was cold! Very cold, so I dashed off to my car to fetch my heavy English winter coat. However, whilst at the car I thought I should pop into the bar over the road, the one that Neil & Sandra sometimes use. So I had cup of coffee & said hello – sort of. They were all none English speaking Spaniards & they spoke to me, but all I could do was give them a smile with a Hola & a Buenas Tardis. Well at least they now knew I was around & anyway I would be back tomorrow with some of my friends that I had “talked with” through EoS.

I really wished that this rain would stop, I wanted to unpack the car but I loathed to do it in the cold & rain. I did take a few things however, that were impervious to rain, plastics, ornaments etc. The clothing could wait until tomorrow morning when hopefully the rain would have ceased & I wouldn’t feel so miserable & tired. I realised that it is no joke having to do it all on your own, with no words of encouragement from my wife.

I lit the pellet fire and after 20 minutes the lounge was snug & warm, that’s more like. Into the kitchen, that’s good of Sandra & Neil have left me some bread & butter, teabags & milk so I could have a little breakfast, perfect. They also left a large bottle of bubbly, that’s very good of them but that can wait until Phet gets here & we’ll drink that together.

My thought was to go back to the bar in the evening to use their wifi (as mine at home had no router), but tiredness came over me so I went to bed at 11.00pm, early for me as I rarely sleep more than four hours.

It was 5.00am when I woke, but that was OK I could listen to the Cricket (England against the Kiwi’s) & do a bit of unpacking. Curses it is still raining – don’t remember seeing this when I came for holidays! I recall it did rain though when house hunting for the whole 8 days I was here in October, was I cursed with Spanish rain? Ummm, should I continue unpacking the car in the dark & in the rain & risk maybe upsetting the neighbours before they even knew I was ensconced? Maybe not, we hopefully are going to have a long time together, & anyway this rain has to stop sometime.

It’s daylight now & hey the sun has come out, let’s start emptying the car. Driving it up to the house I thought, was the thing, although there is only a metre between it and the walls either side. I’d only taken in one load when the blaring of horns tells me I am in the way. So I have to move the car (Should have done it at 6.00am – lesson learnt).

At 1.00pm my highlight of this journey evolved. Six of us from EoS met up in the bar, & we had a smashing afternoon culminating in a nice meal with everyone coming back to view my new home.

It was all superb we vowed we would all meet up again hopefully with some extra bodies who will have since landed in Spain.

So with our farewell’s given & with everyone wending their ways home I decided to find my way to the bar again the use of their wifi. They are getting to know me know me now & a few actually spoke to me first – damn why didn’t I force myself to learn the language years ago?

Friday was spent paying for & trying to fix up the router & telephone, bought from BB4S in Algarrobo some 45 minutes away. They are a whole story itself but if I say English people acting as Spanish autocrats, it’s enough said. They asked me to be at the shop at 4.00pm which I was, only to find the place closed at 2.00pm. I could see a bloke inside however so I just made myself a nuisance outside until they let me in – 30 minutes late! The series didn’t end their, they had given me a cable short. So off I went again on Saturday morning to fetch it, another hour & a half lost.

The system kept dropping out all the weekend getting me & more heated. I was now willing to show a little English steel on Monday morning when they opened.

But would you believe it, I tried the internet at 6.00am on that morning & it was working perfectly & did so for the next 4 hours. The rug had been pulled from under feet I couldn’t complain about a system that was now working perfectly. Maybe it needed a few days to settle down, however it is working fine now.

At midday it’s off to the bar for lunch & to use their wifi, hopefully for the last time. I have never been in a bar so much in my whole life!

But bad news, the weather was bad in England. Northern France was also experiencing snowstorms & I was driving back to catch the ferry which is leaving on Thursday night, in order to finalise things in England & pick up some final items. Think I need to use an extra day’s travelling. I’ll start back tomorrow instead. At least I know just what to expect now with this gruelling journey.

Now should I go back over the mountains to Granada?

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So onwards.
Saturday, March 9, 2013

As we disembarked I felt much better that I was driving my own car than a strange rental, so much more comforting, although a left hand drive the judgement & road positioning felt much better.

So after filling up with fuel the journey began. I thought 1250 miles at an average of about 60 miles per hour would see me their by 8.00am the following morning. The £1000 that I had exchanged for Euros a few days before would do for this trip, fuel, rental, setting up telephones & wifi etc.

But hang about after only an hour into the journey I felt weary, this is not right, my travel plan did not allow for this so early. Still, better stop & have a little snooze for 20 minutes, don’t want any mishaps this early.

Right it's back on the road again & after 4 or 5 hours I was back to my timetable, not stopping again for 6 hours, & that to refill the car & empty myself! That’s better really cruising now & I am in now front of my schedule.

Damn! How did that happen? I have arrived at a toll road & to make matters worse cannot reach over to get the ticket. Why isn’t Phet here getting it? No choice, jump out of the car run round & get the ticket. Would you believe it, an impatient Froggie is blowing his horn. Wonder how much the toll will cost? 3 hours later I found out €32.70 ridiculous. Close to midnight now & this incessant rain & another couple of hefty tolls do not help, but at least I am in sight of the Spanish border, be glad to get out of France.

Whoopee just crossed the Border & I’m in Spain now & after stopping for a superb meal, wonderful what gesticulations can get you, totally different to what I had thought I had ordered but it was superb. A sort of yellow soup with loads of seafood in it followed by a meaty dish with small squared potatoes finished with a flan & coffee. Hope it doesn’t make me feel too tired!

Another fuel refill & what a difference there is in the cost of fuel, from €1.62 per litre down to $1.38, think I was fiddled on the former.

It’s now 3.00am & I am grossly tired think I will simply have to pull over again (in a truck stop) & it’s not until 6.00am that I roaring Mercedes Truck engine awakens me with a start. The rain has stopped. Alleluia!

Blimey gotta negotiate through Madrid now hope that the locals don’t get up to early. Nice city Madrid didn’t see the stadium but wasn’t too bad getting through it, it’s all downhill now although I now won’t meet my deadline, it’s already early morning.

Feeling really fatigued now & my eyes are stinging like mad, but I can see Granada don’t want to stop again. Think I’ll go over the mountains it’s much shorter in distance, will I make up the time their? Bad decision, the mist is terrible & the infamous rain is back. I then made the serious error of taking the wrong road finishing in some village which had no exit except the way I came 35 minutes ago. So, I am now another hour behind the time scheduled. & really tired so have to stop for another 30 minutes of “closing my eyes” in the car. In the mountains I came across some incredible potholes, well they were more like caverns, bottomed my car twice causing me to worry if I had caused serious damage but couldn’t hear any unusual sounds so carried on.

It is 1.00pm & I have just pulled up the hill to Sedella really pleased I am here. 5 hours behind my schedule but at least I am here.

After recovering the key, I unlock the door a little sad that Phet was not here with me to enjoy the moment. It’s cold in the house but then Neil & Sandra moved out a month ago & the fabric of the house has gone cold. Sitting down on the easy chair in the lounge I was asleep within seconds .......

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upsets, lots of upsets .............
Friday, March 8, 2013

Friends, I have not written recently as really there was not a lot to write about, just the hanging about waiting to leave for Spain – as said previously the phony move, didn’t feel like moving at all.

There is now however, so much I’ll probably take two or three sessions to tell it all.

I will not go over what I have written, but everything is nearly dealt with in England & all the tickets bought for the ferry & hotel in Toulouse France to conform with the schengen visa restrictions.

Just a little worried about the visa however. We applied on 1^st February but they gave us an appointment for Monday 25^th. Not much time their then as the ferry is 7 only days later, but they are usually OK & we have to abide by their rules. Famous last words you might say but it will be Ok, I know!

Comes Friday no passport, no visa I am now panicking so a after a worrying call on Friday to the answer phone states that embassy that have closed until Monday It’s beyond panic, I feel devastated but trying to keep it from Phet. I’ll let her know slowly over the weekend – if that’s possible.

Phet now knows, doesn’t like it, but at least she understands & is very optimistic about Monday’s post & telephone conversation. I have to confess, me the opposite.

So it’s now 8.30am on Monday & my telephone call proves what ******* the French are. There is an error and they have done nothing about it. The paperwork has not even been sent to the endorsing department. To make matters even worse the “mistake” is wrong as I had sent the explaining paperwork (why we were leaving & then returning to France – to visit a “friend”) but they overlooked the additional paperwork that I had placed in the file. It will take two weeks to re-apply. They say that they called Phet & told her, she swears they did not, I believe Phet, she tells me everything. Simply Phet cannot come to Spain on this trip, we are both dumbfounded. Phet is in floods of tears, but as I have steeled myself so am expecting a problem.

After looking for the all angles, cancelling the Ferry, Phet catching a later flight, me waiting for her in France, we considered the lot. But finally the decision is that I will drive to Spain from Le Havre. No mean feat I suppose as including the drive from Staffordshire its 1600 miles (2600 kilometres). But I then made a further decision & cancelled the hotel room as it was only booked to conform with Phet’s visa conditions. I thought I would drive directly; if I could if not? Well I’d play it by ear.

So over the weekend while Phet worked & was continually in tears & in pieces, I packed the car, sadly I also packed the front passenger seat where Phet should be sitting and on Monday afternoon we bade our very tearful farewell. Phet even more, as she was very worried about trying to complete the journey in one. But I like driving I’ll be OK. My journey to Portsmouth had begun with the car packed to the gunnels. I felt as if my luck should change, did it? The customs wanted to search my car but thankfully the xrays & guns were positive (or it in negative?) so at least I didn’t have to unpack it.

The Ferry crossing proved uneventful even though the French ferry as an hour late leaving Port but arrived on time, but then we spent over an hour disembarking. The journey through France had begun.

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