Beach time to survive the heat, Mont Roig, Spain
Zagan the motorhome has an amazing view from his windscreen, a sandy beach, turquoise sea and never ending blue skies. He’s parked up in one of the prime pitches at Camping Oasis Mar (N41.04513, E1.00505) near Mont Roig in Spain. It’s low season here still, so our ACSI card gets us this view and all the campsite facilities (pool, football pitch etc) for just €15 a night, including electricity, a bargain.
The view from our windscreen at Camping Oasis Mar, just south of Tarragona in Spain
Our rush to the mountains to escape the heat was halted on Saturday. We left the lovely little campsite just outside Peniscola, sadly having seen nothing of the surroundings, and popped into a Mercadona supermarket for a quick stock up. The order of the day was mainly liquid variety, and mostly non-alcoholic, as we are struggling to stay hydrated in Spain’s current heatwave.
Jay spotted an orange juice squeezing machine and couldn’t resist
We planned a one night stop here at Oasis Mar. On arrival the staff at reception drew circles on a map of the site so I could find a free pitch. With sweat running down my back I asked him if it was always this hot in June, he said at the moment we are getting the weather they would only expect in July and August. It was little comfort, but at least we now know that while our timing for leaving Spain was out, it wasn’t as bad as we thought. Next time we’ll just have to make sure we visit in the window between closed winter and too hot summer.
I think this is a great idea, dog and no dog pitches, especially as the dog friendly side of the campsite is bigger
With Jay and Charlie staying in Zagan, with the engine and air con running, I headed off to find a place for the night. At the beach front pitches, I found the one that had just come free that morning and decided there and then that we’d be here for more than one night. Rolling Zagan into place, Jay saw the view and agreed, a decision confirmed by the cooling sea breeze while we set up camp.
Windscreen now covered to keep out the heat, Zagan loves his beachside pitch
We’ve been here for four nights now and have got into a routine of one of us walking over to the campsite shop in the morning to collect our pre-ordered bread and croissants (some of the best we’ve ever tasted), and then all living outside in our camping chairs under the shade of the awning (held down with buckets of hot sand), cooking a range of tapas on the electric hot plate to nibble throughout the day. I foolishly went for a run the other morning at 7.30am, within half a kilometre I was drenched with sweat and thinking it wasn’t such a good idea after all, as the sun beat down on me. So now, we only move in the evenings when the sun has set and the temperature climbs back below 30°c and retreat back into Zagan to sleep.
We’re parked next to the local bird bath, so get to watch them wriggle around in the sand each evening
Charlie is allowed on the beach in the evenings and after a day of doing nothing but lying under cold wet towels, he manages to summon up the energy to walk all of 5 metres to the sea, bark a demand for something to chase, chase it another metre, then retreat back to base.
Charlie saves another stone from the sea
Back from an evening walk on the beach
Today is the 21st of June, the longest day, so the nights will start to draw in from now on, which will be welcomed by me. It’s strange to think back that just a year ago we were in Finland enjoying a bonfire on the beach to celebrate mid-Summer and a tour of the local town at 2am because we were all wide awake. We had to resort to eye masks so we could sleep at night as we headed towards the Arctic Circle and the land of the Midnight Sun. Here, it is the heat more than the light that is keeping us awake at night, but to keep us cool we sleep with the windows open, so I do stir each morning around sunrise at 6.20am, luckily I manage to drift back to sleep again.
We have three beautifully colourful birds who keep popping to visit the tree next to our van
It’s Jay’s birthday tomorrow and I have found nowhere nearby to buy him a present. A tour of the campsite shop this morning left me with two choices, a new fly swat (as our old one shaped like a hand has lost two fingers) or a Viennetta style ice cream desert – obviously I’ll get him the latter as I can eat it too! We tried to eat at the campsite restaurant on Sunday, but we’ve clearly gone too Spanish, arriving at 9.30 to find it had shut for the night, so tomorrow we’ll make sure we get there earlier.
Got dressed up for a meal out only to find everywhere shut, so we went to the local beach burger bar which is housed in a Civil War bunker – it was great
On Friday we’re making our run for the mountains as our pitch is booked for the weekend. But it is the push we need to get us out of Spain and in France ready for the Tour de France in a couple of weeks time. We’re just doing our planning as to which stage to go to see and where on the stage to go. We’d love to do a mountain stage, but have heard that you need to be there a few days before – fingers crossed it will be as fun as the Giro d’Italia and we can party on the mountain while we wait.
After the Tour we’re heading home for a few months, so we’re treating these few days by the sea as a bit of a holiday – after all that travelling I think we’ve earned it.
Ju x
Hi you two
We have just enjoyed (?) Midsummer driving back through Finland….3 degrees and sleeting! Those are the breaks! Norway however was amazing… I think our next long trip might just be somewhere warmer!!
Glad you are enjoying yourselves and Charlie is keeping cool – No such problems for our Westie Bunty!
Nigel, Linda and Bunty
Charlie is jealous! Still very warm here but he’s now falling asleep in 30 degrees heat so seems to be acclimatised? We’re not though, so Andorra calls, or at least the hills around there. Time to go wind the awning in, congrats on your Scandinavian adventure, cheers, Jay
Hi.
Re. Tour de France. I’d considered getting to a mountain stage but, like you say, you need to get your spot at least the day before and then it’s come and gone. That’s why we decided to spend the day at the finish line.
I’m assuming that he town will be buzzing all morning and afternoon, waiting for the circus to arrive. I selected Nuits St George, near Dijon. We have a space booked at the Municipal in Beaune for 4 nights. It’s a 10 minute train journey to Nuits St Georges so my plan is to find a cafe/bar in town and watch the excitement build. If I’m still sober enough to watch the race come in to town..then that’s a bonus.
With respect to the Spanish heat. We’ve camped in Spain before and it was only the high altitude and associated cool nights that got us through.
Lee at Go Humberto.
Liking your TdF strategy, could be a great way to experience the thing without the ‘kill thy neighbour’ hassle of finding a place on the hill! Our only bike racing experience is the TdF in Yorkshire (amazing, we stayed at a friend’s and another friend drove us the the race, very early on the day) and in the Dolomites to watch the Giro d’Italia (stayed on the hill, incredible atmosphere, party all the way up the night before and the next day). We’ll see how this one works out, but it’s going to be electric whatever happens! Cheers, Jay
Had a thought re: escaping the heat (may be useful for others) in. I has a few years ago they had Cabanas around the pool which had mist sprays across the front. So, bit Heath Robinson I admit, but a piece of hozelock garden irrigation pipe with a few of the “mist” jets hung on the kadar rail of your canopy and connected to a water supply? Obviously not very “green” I know but doubt would use that much of water! And would be a great relief in that temp.
TDF – we found a road at right angles to the route and parked there @ 3hrs before due watching at the junction – 2 hours of carnival for @ 20s of action – good to have seen nonetheless
Thanks Colin. My Dad mentioned the mist as an idea after his hols in Mallorca. Not sure we’d be able to get it all sorted, as I suspect it would need a pump and power source too? Would be great to hear from anyone who has managed to create it though. Cheers Ju