536 – Monday 14th November 2016:  Churros and off to Cabo de Gata

K said she’d never had a churro – so off we headed into the small town to a cafe – the churro was in 3 parts (a long thin donut to be dunked in hot chocolate – a typical breaky calorie fest) and too big to finish – my chocolate ‘croissant’ was about the size of the Aviva/Lansdown Road stadium (did I mention Ireland 41 All Blacks 29? Good so I can say it again… the backlash will arrive on 19th November…). Neither of us finished our snack. 

We bought some rugs for the van at Euro 2 each – they may not be Oscar-proof… but who cares at that price!

Morning sun up to told town from our car park.

Los Escullos campsite for 3 nights at Euro 17 per night (ACSI) – massive twin tub laundry by K at the van – 3 weeks worth essentially.  Thankfully Jez has a shower hose from his rear bottom / garage and therefore access to hot water.  The pitch water tap was also in reach and provided the cold for rinsing.  By the time we’d done several rinses for each load and so many loads … we had created an oasis / pond in the dry dirt of our pitch.  The sun and steady breeze dried most of it too before a shower, which saw us back to the San Sebastian days of hanging wet items all over the van.  Enough domestics!

537 – Tuesday 15th November 2016:  Walk to San Jose

A coastal walk to San Jose – I know there’s a song “Do you know the way to San Jose?” – well we did – uphill and down dale for 2 hours – and then a lovely seafront lunch of pasta for me and chicken for K – Oscar watched us eating patiently as always.  Partly on the road returning – shorter walk but still  very pretty.  About 11 miles in total … the loudest snoring that night was Oscar!

The small village a short walk from our campsite … a beach and a shut hotel.

 Our destination is in sight … just a few more bays to navigate! 

538 – Wednesday 16th November 2016:  Lazy Day

Easy day after a job and walking day… beach walking where we met Graham and Jane – the photos show how beautifully Oscar and Benny played – we captured the Oscar ‘mad eye’ look…

We lunched at the campsite restaurant … starters were fine but mains were deep fried chicken or fish goujons with chips … not marvellous, but only EUR10pp.  J was finally persuaded to dye K’s hair to remove the skunk white stripe down the middle … he resisted doing other ladies!  We heard that one recently departed (from the campsite, not this life) lady had set herself up in business offering hair cuts for EUR5.  J might have made a little more than this as his hair dying skills are really pretty good now.  

We met more lovely family people on this site than we have for some time.  Some really good chats ranging from motorhomes to resources, from dogs to lifestyles.  Thank you to Marlene and Michael, Mal and Sarah (Mal fro Co Tyrone) and Graham and Jane – and a lovely post supper drink for 6 in Jez….

Mad Eye Oscar and Benny. 

 I think Benny is holding Oscar’s head there … honest!

539 – Thursday 17th November 2016:  Costa del Sol (you can keep it).

We almost stayed another night as the people we’ve chatted to on the site were so lovely … but time stands still for no man and a rolling stone gathers no moss … and all that.  See you soon said and all packed up and off.  

Poly tunnels everywhere, but they are much larger and seem more substantial than in Sicily … as are the roads!

We contemplated staying another night, but to be honest felt we’d ‘done’ the scenery and we’d have been staying for the lovely people we met … and the Algarve and the Aged P’s flying beckons.  A friendly Belgian told us we must visit  El Torcal.  It was in the guide book but sounded mediocre… but I’d read about an amazing gorge with a 7KM walkway nearby – not for us as no dogs allowed – so it sounded like the area was worth a visit.

We set off and by the time we’d done a massive Lidl shop just north of Algeria, time was marching on … so we detoured along the Costa del Sol, with the idea of wild camping along the beach.  Not to be … the road is very close to the sea and not our idea of safe or fun wilding, so we re-routed again to a camper stop in Rincon del al Victoria recommended by Pauline and Michael (met in PL – spontaneous stop over and supper a few days back).  There were only two pitches left; others were turned away later.  EUR and fast wifi included 🙂  hence two blog posts uploaded and several computer updates undertaken.  

We wandered down to the beach for a dog walk … a nice sun set, but we really do not understand what can keep people staying somewhere like this for weeks at a time.  We chatted to several couples, who were all pleasant, but other than cheap lunches out and drinking whilst sitting in the sun, we are at a loss as to what you’d do all day.  Perhaps when older and less active, but not for now.