Blogs from Spain, Europe - page 21

So here we are, off to the airport again. To be honest it doesn’t feel long since our last trip and I’m almost wishing I hadn’t booked this trip. But book it I did and everything has been paid for so here we are. I suppose we were lucky that the trains were running as there was due to be a strike today. Our train is on time and it chugs us in to Redhill, one change and we are at Gatwick. It’s all pretty smooth. We are early but check in is open. For once we don’t break the machines doing the self check in of our suitcase…yes just the one, we’re travelling light. Security is the usual nightmare. The lady in charge of the queue is funny…she’s calling out all the things we have ... read more

Statistical Summary of the GR11 The GR11 is around 865km, with about 39,000m elevation change, across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and was such an incredible journey. As I like clear and simple things, I’ve attempted to focus on what’s interesting, and maybe useful for someone else planning on doing it, and summarised the information in numbers. For background, we are just two average 30somethings who enjoy being outdoors and exploring; sightseers on foot, rather then committed through-hikers, if you will. Enjoy! Pack weights: - 12kg base weight - Up to 15kg varying with needed food&water loads. - Biggest stint of carrying food was for 4days - Most water carried was 4L each and was to get to and stay at a dry camp spot ‘Through-hikes’ completed previously: - one 1xweek trail and ... read more

Monday 5th September Bassegoda campground to Camping Maçanet de Cabrenys 19km 7:40-13:10, with a few short stops and 40mins at La Trilla top Waking up early we did our usual morning routine at an average pace and found a bench by the bar to have breaky and Paul’s coffee. It was then we realised that we actually had a day yesterday with no storms! Not one! However, it was then that we also realised we had itchy feet and legs… insect bites! Argh. Still, getting going, we walked through a silent local town as the sun rose before starting the days climb. Surprisingly technical to start, with large flat rocks to step on and over, trying not to slip, but it soon returned to the more regular rocky and rooty tracks winding up through woodland. Having ... read more

Monday 29th August Wild camp near Coll Marcer to Camping Can Fosses 19km 7:45-14:45 with a few short breaks, 40mins in woodland descent before Dorria and 20mins on ridge section before Planoles A pretty bad sleep was met with a pretty slow morning. It also started with more climbing, as usual, so we felt extra slow. By the time we reached the col we had woken and warmed up though, and enjoyed nice views of the town as the sun also warmed up. There were also old border stones which was fun to step in and out of France from. What there was not so much today, was good waymarkers. They had slowly become less frequent since returning back into Spain, but today we really noticed how bad they had become; particularly after Coll de la ... read more

It's been over 10 years since I did a grand motorhome tour, the last time was with my 2 sons (they are now both in their twenties), so this time it’s with my partner Melanie, we’ve done a lot of short trips together in the new van over the past 3 years but we are now aiming to do some proper trips. With the van packed up it’s back on the road and the start of a hopefully a lot of new adventures. We set off on a cold January afternoon and headed south for Newhaven port to catch the ferry to France, we camped overnight in a car park next to the port with other vans waiting for the early morning ferry. The Newhaven to Dieppe ferry takes 4 hours (appx £100 for a motorhome ... read more