So we begrudgingly left Portugal a week and a half ago, you might have gathered we could have stayed there forever, but on to pastures new! We left and drove across Portugal and got half way across Spain, about 7 hours driving in 30 degrees (lovely!) and unfortunately just as we left Portugal our indicators stopped working! Sam had a fiddle and managed to get them working for 50% of the journey. Every time we wanted to change lanes we had to fiddle with the relay mounted under the dashboard which as i am sure you can imagine, got a little [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well it's good bye to my favorite place in Europe, Ericeira. What makes this place my favorite well it's the surf, sun and most of all the people. Northern Portugal is fortunately for the locals but unfortunately for the economy a little forgotten gem in Europe. It has some of the best coast line, few tourists (or at least less) and generally has only the committed tourists rather than the package types. Debs checked into surf school in Ribeira d'llhas.. (see or if you don't speak Portuguese, [url=http://www.nomadsurfers.com/English/Portugal/portugal_eric [View Full Entry]

---

---

Ericeira has once again turned it on for us. This spot is perhaps my favorite place in Europe. Mostly reef breaks it's shape and consistency are legendary and yesterday I saw it at 6 foot. A size the locals say is the minimum for them to go out.. or the more bravado of the locals. Ericeira has been good to me over the years and it didn't disappoint. It's got great food, friendly locals (unless you violate one of the rules of surfing!), cheap and has great waves. We have been here for a week and a half now and relaxed [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well we survived 10 days with another 2500 other young ones. Pampalona for the Running of the Bulls or Festival of San Fermin has been quite an experience. Both Debbie and I think we slotted back into festival mayhem quite well. We came here last Monday to catch up with Ollie my youngest brother who seemed sure it would be an "experience" for us to see festival mayhem but the truth of it is that apart from a few "munters" it has been a relatively tame festival in terms of out right debauchery. Quite a relief given the talking up it [View Full Entry]

---

---

So.... we finally got to the Pyrenees and we were delighted to see such a beautiful snowed topped mountain ranges as we got here. The weather was so sizzling when we arrived far too hot to bike ride, fortunately on the day of our first ride it was quite cloudy phew... The Pyrenees is much quieter that i expected, Sam wondered what i thought would be at the top of a great big mountain, the towns are just stunning and have a lovely feel during the day, we have pictured one that we were at yesterday which is right by where [View Full Entry]

---

---

After Ile de old we headed down to the Dune du Pilat which is on the coast south of Bordeaux. We stayed at a camp site called Le Pettie Nice and it was so nice we stayed for 3 days instead of the scheduled 2. This is a lovely part of France. The camp site is a hill side covered in pine trees which in turn covered Bettie in pine resin but we didn't mind. The end of the hill overlooked the entrance to the Bassin D'Arcachon in stunning fashion from about 100 meters up a sand dune. The area is [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well Martin and Cecilie we found it!.. Great directions and spot on. We drove past the entrance twice before we realized it really was that easy. We spent two nights in Chatelaillon-Plage at the pirate camp getting used to Van life.. subject of another blog. It was quite eery as the place was completely deserted but it was a lovely little town with golden sand beach on the sea front and one can quite easily see how it would be absolutely packed in Aout. We decided to have a look at Ile de Re after recommendations from Mr Kitson re wind [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well it's been a few weeks since we last had internet access and Debbie and I are becoming very accustomed to Van life. Salad is the order of dinner mostly although recently in the Pyrenees we've been having one pot food which has been fantastic after long rides. Lunch is ham and cheese in bread somewhat religiously and surprisingly we are not sick of it yet! Sleeping arrangements are still somewhat cramped but we have suprisingly for debbie been getting good nights sleep, though that could be all the riding. It is somewhat annoying when we have to share the sleeping [View Full Entry]

---

---

Holiday with the family. Here are some pics from our 12 days before starting our camping tour. We hung out with my Mum and Mick and ate and drank lots of wine. We spent most of our days biking riding and sunbathing, how self indulgent!!!! We thought we had better make the most of it seeing as the next few months certainly wont be as glamourous!!! As you can see from the pics we found a wonderufl little cottage in a beautfial town called Chauatellin, it was everything that you would expect from a small French town and more. We stayed [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well the first stage of the trip complete we stopped off in Vannes to see my cousin Peter. Unfortunately due to scheduling clashes we could only catch up for two days but what a great couple of days. We arrived to have Pete take us on a 2 hour bike ride around some stunning scenery. We did get a little lost but need say no more on that front. That evening involved Debbie's favourite dinner salad and Deb's favourite chocolate bar Milkyways. Little did Pete know but he couldn't have planned a better evening for Debs, Exercise, beaucoup de salad and [View Full Entry]

---

---