PRE TRIP
Feb 2011 U.K. Off to collect the Landy soon. Its all prepared for us. Foleys Specialist Vehicles in Roydon our port of call.
View just before the French/Spanish border near Perpignon
20th Feb. On the road.
Interesting trip. Spent a lot of time on the M25 before collecting the Landy. Amazed at how busy Foleys are especially as their work is so specialized.
So we headed back via the Channel Tunnel and first stop was St Quienten France. Followed by stops near to Givors and in Perpignan.
Unfortunatly it rained all the way from the U.K. through France and to withing 1 hour of the Spanish border so we didn't see the best of France.
Once in Spain the sun came out as we made our way to Valencia and a belated Valentines treat in the Valencia Ibis hotel. Mind you the traffic brought back memories of the M25!
Onwards around Barcelona and safely home in Mazarron Spain where we live, where we were warmly welcomed by our neighbours.
Time now to sort out all our goodies that we brought in the U.K. (a lot of things are cheaper there) and try to find room to store everything in our house.
Interesting trip. Spent a lot of time on the M25 before collecting the Landy. Amazed at how busy Foleys are especially as their work is so specialized.
So we headed back via the Channel Tunnel and first stop was St Quienten France. Followed by stops near to Givors and in Perpignan.
Unfortunatly it rained all the way from the U.K. through France and to withing 1 hour of the Spanish border so we didn't see the best of France.
Once in Spain the sun came out as we made our way to Valencia and a belated Valentines treat in the Valencia Ibis hotel. Mind you the traffic brought back memories of the M25!
Onwards around Barcelona and safely home in Mazarron Spain where we live, where we were warmly welcomed by our neighbours.
Time now to sort out all our goodies that we brought in the U.K. (a lot of things are cheaper there) and try to find room to store everything in our house.
22nd Feb
Our testing out of the roof tent and extension took place with the help of our friends Pete and Lynne. Good job they were there to help us because we ended up with the extension around the wrong way to start with.
Second mistake.......not tying down the awning.Result a bent support pole,lesson learnt. Well better at home than on the road as we can try and source a replacement locally. Looks good now another couple of test runs and we may be able to set up in less than an hour !
Our testing out of the roof tent and extension took place with the help of our friends Pete and Lynne. Good job they were there to help us because we ended up with the extension around the wrong way to start with.
Second mistake.......not tying down the awning.Result a bent support pole,lesson learnt. Well better at home than on the road as we can try and source a replacement locally. Looks good now another couple of test runs and we may be able to set up in less than an hour !
20th March
Our 2nd test down on the coast near Percheless Beach on a lovely Sunday morning. Had a picnic and christened our table chairs and new awning pole. Got a lot of strange looks from the people camped in their mobile homes next to us. I think we were lowering the tone a little.
Great views across the Med. watching the mad Germans swimming in the sea.
Our 2nd test down on the coast near Percheless Beach on a lovely Sunday morning. Had a picnic and christened our table chairs and new awning pole. Got a lot of strange looks from the people camped in their mobile homes next to us. I think we were lowering the tone a little.
Great views across the Med. watching the mad Germans swimming in the sea.
10th April
Had a few days away first in Calpe and then 2 nights camping at a Spa near Fortuna.Tied up with our neighbours Sue and Ray in Calpe who recommended the site. Great facilities (calpe mar camping). Ray did a bbq for us and we wandered around the site looking at all the fabulous mobile homes around us.
In Fortuna we had the use of the pool at a lovely 36 degrees! In the evening we went in search of a nice local Spanish bar and found "Bar Bob" Entering and asking for a drink in our best Spanish we got a strange look. Well his name is Bob and not Roberto as we were expecting.
A surprise visit by some friends (Fortuna is only 1 hour from our house) for my birthday and its time to open my presents.No problem with a list for birthdays at the moment. A selection of maps and Chris Scotts Overland Handbook for me.
Tested our camping stove out with a fried breakfast and of course the tent has been christened. Oh and the fridge works well apart from the temperature control which is easily knocked accidently, will have to put some tape over it maybe.
Had a few days away first in Calpe and then 2 nights camping at a Spa near Fortuna.Tied up with our neighbours Sue and Ray in Calpe who recommended the site. Great facilities (calpe mar camping). Ray did a bbq for us and we wandered around the site looking at all the fabulous mobile homes around us.
In Fortuna we had the use of the pool at a lovely 36 degrees! In the evening we went in search of a nice local Spanish bar and found "Bar Bob" Entering and asking for a drink in our best Spanish we got a strange look. Well his name is Bob and not Roberto as we were expecting.
A surprise visit by some friends (Fortuna is only 1 hour from our house) for my birthday and its time to open my presents.No problem with a list for birthdays at the moment. A selection of maps and Chris Scotts Overland Handbook for me.
Tested our camping stove out with a fried breakfast and of course the tent has been christened. Oh and the fridge works well apart from the temperature control which is easily knocked accidently, will have to put some tape over it maybe.
JULY
Had some repairs to the Landy in the last few weeks. New swivel joint seal and the P gasket was replaced. Only a small water leak but it would only get worse. Oh and the oil dipstick tube fractured so that was replaced also.
A trip out again,this time in HOT weather,away for 4 nights and it was in the thirties all the time. The Landy took the heat in its stride. No water leaks. Camped at Altea just north of Calpe, nice shaded spot to stay and a very quiet place. The shower block is a little dated but I guess we will see a hell of a lot worse places in Africa! Not sure if this will be our last chance to try out our kit before we leave in October but we will try to make time.
Still have a few things to finish fitting on the vehicle. Also the paperwork planing continues,we have asked about our International Driving Permits but they were not aware of there being two types. We await the phone call with the price for them and a new driving licence (mine may expire before we return).
Had some repairs to the Landy in the last few weeks. New swivel joint seal and the P gasket was replaced. Only a small water leak but it would only get worse. Oh and the oil dipstick tube fractured so that was replaced also.
A trip out again,this time in HOT weather,away for 4 nights and it was in the thirties all the time. The Landy took the heat in its stride. No water leaks. Camped at Altea just north of Calpe, nice shaded spot to stay and a very quiet place. The shower block is a little dated but I guess we will see a hell of a lot worse places in Africa! Not sure if this will be our last chance to try out our kit before we leave in October but we will try to make time.
Still have a few things to finish fitting on the vehicle. Also the paperwork planing continues,we have asked about our International Driving Permits but they were not aware of there being two types. We await the phone call with the price for them and a new driving licence (mine may expire before we return).
August
Well our innoculations are nearly complete and they turned out not to be so bad. The Yellow Fever didn't affect us at all really unlike the last time we had it over 15 years ago. So that will be 9 jabs and some pills for Typhoid. We are already up to date with Tetanus (apparently when you have had 4 of them then thats you covered for life),polio Tb etc.
Lots of paperwork but mainly for the doctor and nurses.
Still have our Carnet to organise must do that A.S.A.P. Insurance quotes have been obtained...pricey for the vehicle but African third party insurance is not worth the paper its written on.
Have a few things still to do on the Landy and the pile of gear seems to grow and grow.....will it all fit in ?
September 30th
Well we are virtually ready to go now. Have all our paperwork apart from Julies driving licence renewal,hopefully that will arrive next week then we will meet our 7 Oct date. If not well one more week will not make much difference.
We start loading the Landy Monday thats the big test. What will be left behind?
Well our innoculations are nearly complete and they turned out not to be so bad. The Yellow Fever didn't affect us at all really unlike the last time we had it over 15 years ago. So that will be 9 jabs and some pills for Typhoid. We are already up to date with Tetanus (apparently when you have had 4 of them then thats you covered for life),polio Tb etc.
Lots of paperwork but mainly for the doctor and nurses.
Still have our Carnet to organise must do that A.S.A.P. Insurance quotes have been obtained...pricey for the vehicle but African third party insurance is not worth the paper its written on.
Have a few things still to do on the Landy and the pile of gear seems to grow and grow.....will it all fit in ?
September 30th
Well we are virtually ready to go now. Have all our paperwork apart from Julies driving licence renewal,hopefully that will arrive next week then we will meet our 7 Oct date. If not well one more week will not make much difference.
We start loading the Landy Monday thats the big test. What will be left behind?
Remainder of our kit yet to find a home.
NOPE!!
Time to repack.
Oh well we will have to repack and "find" some space somehow. Still have the important beer and wine to go on yet.
Oh and some clothes too.
Oh and some clothes too.
OCTOBER 1st
Julie in diguise but we can spot her a mile of with that glass of wine in her hand!
Our Leaving Bash. A bit previous as we are delayed 2 weeks but it was great to see friends enjoying themselves at our place.
Thanks to everyone for all the words of encouragement . Special thanks to Carol (Spanish Carol as we call her) for the great "vengavamos" cake and John and Rachel for the fizzy stuff to break open when we make key points in our trip. Don't think it will last that long though.
Thanks to everyone for all the words of encouragement . Special thanks to Carol (Spanish Carol as we call her) for the great "vengavamos" cake and John and Rachel for the fizzy stuff to break open when we make key points in our trip. Don't think it will last that long though.
I Recognize those FACES.
We played some 70's and 80's music all evening and this photo reminded me of that Queen song. Now what was it called?
Anyway you know what I mean. We even had John doing his "Quo" moves for us. He was well away good job he was driving home as he would never have made it walking in his state!!
Party over and the next day time to clear up and back to trying to squeeze the last few things in the Landy.
We are waiting for Julies new driving licence and believe it or not its been 10 days wait for our foriegn currency. We are both kicking our heels ready to go tyring to find things to do.
Anyway you know what I mean. We even had John doing his "Quo" moves for us. He was well away good job he was driving home as he would never have made it walking in his state!!
Party over and the next day time to clear up and back to trying to squeeze the last few things in the Landy.
We are waiting for Julies new driving licence and believe it or not its been 10 days wait for our foriegn currency. We are both kicking our heels ready to go tyring to find things to do.