We leave the mountains and into the fog, Cervera.
Zagan the motorhome is struggling to see in the foggy aire at Cervera (N41.67760, E1.28391), but after a long driving day he’s earned his rest.
Last night we sat and watched the sun set on the huge rock in front of us, it glowed bright red before turning back to its usual grey as the night arrived.
Along with the night came a sneaky car which for some unknown reason parked right behind us. We were in a massive empty car park, so big and empty we weren’t even parked in one of the bays instead opting to park on the gravel path down the middle of each of the rows. At first we were both a bit freaked out and took every opportunity to go outside – dog walking, trip to bin, star gazing – in case they were just there for a bit of nookie and would soon move. However I spotted that whoever it was had put material up at all the windows and there was no noise coming from inside (yes, they were that close) so we can only assume we were a safe haven to park behind. When I got up just before sunrise this morning the car had gone, neither of us had heard it go – it will forever be a mystery!
The sun rose above the small town, so Jay nipped out and took a few photos. One of the upsides of motorhoming is that you get places to yourself at the best times of the day. As we were up so early and, for a change, not hungover, we were on the road for 10am.
Satnav was programmed for an aire in Monzon about an hour south from us, but on a road of undetermined quality – one map had it as a red road (the sort with a line down the middle), the other a white road (the sort you need to keep your elbows in on). It turned out to be a perfectly good red road and we made great progress. As we left the big hills behind, we worked our way along a reservoir. At the top end it was so empty that you could see the roads that would normally be submerged, but as we reached the dam it spread out to fill its valley.
As we neared Monzon we drove down into the bottom of the valley and into a low hanging shroud of cloud, where we said goodbye to the sun for the rest of the day.
Satnav decided we needed a bit more white road fun, so while I had my eye off the map trying to photograph the birds of prey (I’m thinking of creating a new genre of photography which is taken at 80 kilometres per hour, preferably of a moving object in the sky!) she instructed us down one of her narrow special short cuts – grr!
Reaching Monzon we pulled into the little motorhome aire (N41.9844, E0.18944) created there to make it easier for people to visit the Templar Castle in the town. Jay stepped out to turn on the gas, but before he got his foot off Zagan’s step a shell-suited, baseball cap wearing fella sprawled on the bench in the aire asked him for a cigarette. That one act set the tone for the whole town.
Knights Templar Recycling Bin at Monzon
We drank a brew while we waited for cigarette man to move on, not that we thought he would rob Zagan, but we just didn’t fancy wandering off while he was around. After 10 minutes he picked up his dust cart and walked off, wheeling it past all the rubbish around the place. With the coast now clear Jay nipped out to empty the loo and when doing so was approached by a smart-looking fella who handed him his card, he runs the local autocaravanna place – so if you’re around this way and need anything motorhome related you can find him at aracatcamping.com (N41° 55′ 28.9″ E0° 10′ 53.6″) – we didn’t need anything so no idea what the place is like, but admire this marketing technique!
Zagan’s cupboards are getting empty and as we were feeling peckish we headed into Orangutan, a supermarket across the road. As we walked across the car park we gawped at the price of fuel – even though we didn’t have a customer card we still got to top up with diesel at 91c per litre (about 68p!). As we entered the front door of the supermarket a chap waved a plastic tub with a few coins in it in our direction and mumbled a request for money.
We went posh for lunch with Black Truffle Crisps
After lunch we decided to carry on driving. Monzon could be a lovely town, we might have just got the wrong impression, but it was cold, foggy and we just didn’t fancy it.
The closest we got to the Templar Castle at Monzon
It was good driving weather and as soon as we left Monzon we were on a long, straight, wide motorway which cuts across the country to Barcelona. Time to put some Spanish radio on and relax.
Zagan’s cupboards were still a bit bare so, before we reached our aire for the night, we nipped into a Lidl just off the motorway. Here we did a big(ish) stock up and priced up all sorts of tasty goodies – yes Lidl Deluxe range is gearing up for Christmas. With wine at less than a euro for a decent looking bottle (or 0.54c for a box) we’ll be stocking up again before we leave Spain.
We’ve got full LPG tanks, a full diesel tank, empty grey water and loo, and stacks of food in – we could stay here for a week, but tomorrow we’ll get closer to the coast. It can’t be foggy and cold there, this is Spain.
Cheers, Ju
Sun’s shining in Andalucía!!
But diesel 1.06 euros/l…your price is amazing.
Peter, Nia and the Krays
http://www.peterandnia.com
Hey guys! Hmmm, think I’d probably not even trade the sun for dirt cheap diesel! Sounds good down there, and TBH most of the garages up here are Repsol and flogging the go go juice for similar price to down there. Catch you later, Jay
Hi Jay! Ju and Charlie,
We are Delighted that we chanced upon your blogs a few days ago, and are now eagerly waiting for each day’s updates! Finding them really interesting and inspirational because, after being Motorhomers for seven years, we only ventured across the Channel for the first time this June. After a brilliant three week whistle-stop tour of Brittany we were totally hooked, and returned in September for another three weeks, planning to work our way down South. Unfortunately, bad weather and illness scuppered our plans, but we are looking forward to a three-month trip in the Spring now that Owen is finally going to retire at the grand old age of 69! Therefore any ideas we can glean from yours and others experiences will be very useful.
Bon voyage 🚐 And hope you find the sun😎😎🐶 (it’s been horrid here in the UK🌂)
Looking forward to reading tomorrow’s adventures
Rose and Owen Morey xx
Goo0d Morning J & J,
Like your other readers we really enjoy your blog. We are going to Morocco in February and back up the Portuguese coast on the way back. Just cannot wait!! How is your new Mifi system working ? Are you on a local card yet? What was the price and how long does the card work for?
Richard
Hi Guys,
What fantastic ventures you’re having, I feel like I’m on holiday with you reading through your blogs. :)
Same old here at work, nothing changes! We’re all missing Jay though.
Well, Stu and I are off to Mexico on Sunday… No big venture this time, just total relaxation and generally lying around a lot and drinking rum!
Looking forward to reading your next blog. :)
Take care you two… And of course Charlie.
Jules xx
Hi Julie, good to hear from you! Have a wonderful time in Mexico, easy on the rum though! :-) When you’re back, give Bob a hug from me. Cheers, Jay
Hi to both of you and Charlie the dog.)
I’ve just come across your great blog which has given me inspiration for creating one myself as we start our own long term travels around Europe on 10th December after both retiring 2 weeks ago.
Like yourselves our home is near Nottingham, Cotgrave to be precise.
We have camped in France & Germany for over 25 years in tents and caravans and for the last 2 years in our Swift Kontiki motorhome along with Maverick our cat.
We shall be heading South from Calais and then into Spain, following the warmer weather.
We have booked a ferry home at the end of February as we need to be back for MOT and home insurance reasons as we are limited to 90 days per trip to maintain cover.
We will be on the road to Austria, Slovenia and Croatia at the beggining of April then out to Portugal in August.
We visited Croatia in June & July this summer but just had 3 weeks to do the trip, next year we will have 3 months !
Looking forward to reading your blog as I’ve now subscribed to make sure I get the latest updates.
Enjoy your travels.
Garry & Carol Kimber
Cracking stuff! If you happen to fancy being ‘in Europe’ (I was under the impression the UK was in Europe, but many insurers think otherwise! :-)) for more than 90 days at a time, a fair few insurance companies will cover you for up to 365 days on the other side of the channel, with a few terms and conditions which might limit you to 6 months out to avoid classification as a full-timer. Have a wonderful time out on the road guys. Cheers, Jay
We had mot on MH done early so it was convenient for us to be in UK – Aug – that’s the time when it’s likely to be busy in France – and warmer in UK
Weather was overcast in Benidorm this morning but the sun soon came out and it got out really nice again. The one thing I love about being in Spain you still get bright sunlight for 10 hours a day – from about 8 am (I think not really sure as We don’t get up that early) until around 6 pm