Well we’ve now travelled full circle. We docked in Bilbao on the 27th September and tonight, 77 days, 19 stops and 2340 mls later, the Silver Machine is parked up high above the city, with the most amazing panorama, ready to catch the ferry tomorrow. We are in an official Aire which at 15€ per night is expensive but for that we get 24 hour manned reception, electricity, a toilet and basic services.
We arrived last night having driven the 480 mls from Benidorm in one day, so that we could spend the today in Bilbao. It was literally just head down, take the toll roads whenever available (the first of this trip, total cost 45€) and just get here.
And we’re glad we’re did. We did spend the day here about 17 years ago and other than the Guggenheim Museum remembered very little about it, which perhaps sums up Bilbao. It’s was nice to wander around the old town, have a look in the shops in the centre, but really it’s all about the Guggenheim. Having said the old town seemed full of very attractive tapas bars, so it could really come to life at night.
Its been another amazing trip, one which has really reminded us that Spain has so much more to offer than simply the Costas, and one which could only really be made in a motorhome to really experience it.
Although our Spanish isn’t that great (understatement) the people have been so welcoming, the scenery stunning and the well preserved ancient towns fascinating. Most of our journey followed the ancient pilgrim ways to Santiago de Compostela and the number of people walking the routes was staggering. As we travelled south through the centre of Spain, the history of Spain was retold in the architecture, time and time again, in each town we stopped in, from the Romans to the present via the Visigoths,the Moors and the Christian Monarchs.
The cycling has been great too. Along the way, particularly in the north between the Picos de Europa and the coast, the areas around Baeza and Toledo and of course Benidorm. In central Spain it has to be said the landscape was flat, largely featureless, rarely farmed and well it has to be said boring. In all we managed almost 1000 miles of cycling and 90,000ft of climbing.
Our last few weeks in Benidorm were good fun as ever, but we really we did little we haven’t done before and is one of the reasons We didn’t put anything in the blog. Having said that we cycled further, higher and faster into the moutains than we had in any of our previous visits, which isn’t bad for people who let’s say aren’t getting any younger.
We also climbed the Alto de Gobernador, which was a challenge we set ourselves at the start of our stay. At 1400ft above sea level, and we started at sea level, it’s a fair old climb very steep, but accessible from the Campsite. The reward was some great views up and down the coast and after a tricky descent down to Albir, a couple of beers in the Three Lions and the bus home.
Just as we left Benidorm was getting geared up for the festive period and although it’s really pretty to see all the pubs and hotels getting decked up, there is something surreal about it too. It just doesn’t feel like it’s approaching Christmas to us. Even some of the people in the campsite are really getting into the swing of it. Spot the caravan!
The shipping forecast for tomorrow isn’t good. Apparently it’s gale force winds in the Bay of Biscay, so unfortunately we’re in for a choppy crossing. Then it’s Portsmouth Friday and home Sunday all going well.
We’d just like to finish off by thanking everyone for reading the blog, especially the those who leave comments. It is actually reassuring that there is somebody out there reading our efforts. We’re not entirely sure where our travels will take us next year but hopefully you will continue to follow us.
Cheers and Safe Travels
Sandy and Christine
Adventures in the Silver Machine 