Moving on up!

7th October 2014

[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Early morning walk to the beach....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2867" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Miles and miles of empty, golden sandy beach. We found it a real shame that, because of the lack of visitors to this part of the coast, it really has an unkempt feel about it. It's wonderful for the wildness, space and enormity of the sea, but, with our van, we felt very exposed and vulnerable. As much as we would have liked to walk along the beach, we felt we were unable to because of its remoteness...Bluebelle would have been a sitting target, with no one about, for a spot of smash and grab...not something we were prepared to risk![/caption]



We spent the day in Bluebelle making up some much needed miles...we have very little time left before catching our ferry home and still so much to see and do...so, it was with some sadness that we just got our heads down and tried not to think about what we might be missing and set off towards Porto....

We asked out trusty Tom Tom to find us somewhere to stay overnight..preferably a campsite near/in the city...but after and hour of driving through the centre of Porto, we took matters into our own hands and eventually found a campsite in a small town called Lavra...about an hours bus ride away from Porto. We have driven a LONG way today, so, to find somewhere for a hot shower, some hot food and shelter is a real treat! Porto tomorrow...just can't wait!

Wild Portugal

6th October 2014

As we travel further up the West coast of Portugal we are struck by how much more remote this area is. We try to follow the coast as much as possible, driving along roads that run parallel to the sea, but oftentimes we cannot see the sea..it is obscured by huge sand dunes. So, when we come to a beautiful, unspoilt town like this it is a real joy.

[caption id="attachment_2853" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Sao Martinho do Porto. We stopped here for a coffee and yet another croissant...and to take in the view....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2854" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A safe harbour if ever I saw one....[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2855" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Now...that's just greedy!!! We just cannot imagine touring Portugal...or anywhere for that matter in this huge truck...especially given the state of the roads!!! But...I bet they have a luxurious HOT shower on board, and a proper loo, headroom, oven etc.....Nope! I still wouldn't want it...we love our small compact Bluebelle too much![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2856" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We drove through the town of Nazare....now a very quiet ghost town since the season has ended...to visit the beach that is famous for a surfer riding wave that was over 100ft! Not such huge waves today....[/caption]

From Nazare we followed the coast road, passing through Figuera da Foz ....before finding our stop for the night.

[caption id="attachment_2858" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Seagulls taking refuge from the waves on a sand bank ...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2859" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Paragliders enjoying the warm sun, gentle breeze and an awesome view....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2863" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Endless golden sandy beaches....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2861" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This gives you an idea of the roads we have been travelling today....we took the coast road, only to find that the tarmacked road ran out once we were out of a towns boundary...we then had to cope with whatever came our way, which was usually a potholed, rough surfaced track...until we came within throwing distance of another town, and then the road would miraculously be covered in lovely neat, smooth tarmac![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2862" align="aligncenter" width="534"] It took us a long time to find our resting place tonight...mainly because although we followed the coast road, there were very few access roads to the beach...eventually, once it was beginning to get dark and it was drizzling we found this place..somewhere between Praia de Quiaios and Praia da Tocha! Not the best place we have ever stayed, but nonetheless, we can still hear the sea...always a bonus![/caption]

 

 

 

Cape Trafalgar

September 22nd 2014

[caption id="attachment_2600" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This morning we set out to walk along the beach to the lighthouse at Cape Trafalgar....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2601" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This looks like a great way to traverse the beach...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2602" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking back along the beach from the lighthouse[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2603" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Enjoying the waves...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2604" align="aligncenter" width="640"] I wish we could add sound to this picture...it was fantastic....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2605" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Believe it or not, it was looking like rain ahead and we just happened on this beach bar that was open.....well...we had walked a LONG way![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2606" align="aligncenter" width="640"] You'll have to believe me when I say that the birds are a flock of flamingoes....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2607" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Flamingoes lighting up a dark stormy sky...just like a string of fairy lights![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2597" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We spent a long day driving, getting some miles under our belts....there still seems to be so much to do and so little time!!! We found this empty 1000 space car park next to the beach just outside of Cadiz, to stay in for the night....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2598" align="aligncenter" width="640"] ...only to have this camper turn up, in the empty 1000 space car park...and camp 2' away from us!!!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2599" align="aligncenter" width="640"] But...we had the most awesome sunset![/caption]