Our journey today took us through the province of Navarre.
In Pamplona, just 60 km away, we actually wanted to stay until Monday. However, the pitch we had chosen in advance wasn’t great for several nights. As it wasn’t even lunchtime yet, we decided to drive on. We always have a second pitch to choose from in such cases.
In France, it was super easy to find a pitch with waste disposal stations and fresh water including electricity. They were plentiful. It’s more difficult in Spain. There are endless parking lots without anything where you can spend the night. The waste disposal stations are sometimes nearby, sometimes only at gas stations. We have found that if we use our toilet normally, it is full after 2 days. So we first need a “plan” for how we can manage this a few days longer in a normal parking lot. We have already considered converting it into a separate toilet.
As we were looking for a nice parking space to stay relaxed from Friday to Monday due to the weekend, we wanted one with disposal stations and fresh water. At the moment, many pitches are already occupied in the evening, as there are quite a few other campers out and about.
The journey continued into the Basque Country, where the landscape looks completely different again. We feel a little like we’re back home in the Allgäu or South Tyrol.
Super nice, our pitch for the next few days 🙂
However, it may have been an expensive trip here for us today. Sometimes we don’t understand what’s going on, even though we were well informed in advance :-0
At one point we (possibly) drove in a video-monitored zone that was closed to vehicles over 5.5 tons. We’re not so sure about that.
And then we were suddenly (possibly) on a toll road. There were signs that were not clear to us, but by then it would have been too late anyway. It wasn’t a highway either. So it was actually toll-free. When we left the road, we spotted cameras. Everything here is done by camera recognition. Let’s see if we get any news from our loved ones at home that mail has arrived from Spain.
It’s all very hilly and sloping here. After it quickly became clear that we couldn’t stay like this, as the water in the shower flows in exactly the opposite direction to the drain, we had to improvise. While everyone else has proper wedges to compensate, we are pretty happy with our result.
The area here is great for hiking, so we’ll definitely take a look around tomorrow.
When we arrived here there was only one other camper from the Netherlands. Later, a couple from Germany/Baden-Württemberg arrived, just like us ;-). Nice people, they are on their way to Portugal to spend the winter months there.
There are 4 official pitches here, and there are now a total of 7 campers here.
But now it’s time to go shopping in the village.
Off we go on a short hike before the sun reaches its highest point.
We take adventurous paths through the forest, which amazes us with its moss-covered trees and ground, the many ferns, the tall fir, walnut and chestnut trees and the silence.
There are a lot of ruins in one section of the forest. It would be very interesting to find out what must have happened here many years ago.
At one point, we crossed a farm. Dogs were tied up everywhere between the main house and the barns. Others were allowed to run free in a fenced-in area. Others were locked up in kennels. At the end, where we entered the forest again, there was a dog tied up to the right and left of the path. All the dogs were yapping and barking like crazy. It was a bit scary.
Simply beautiful.
It’s a great place to relax, unwind and let your mind wander.
Iris loves ferns and has often wondered why there are so many ferns, sometimes real fields, here.
We noticed these fields back in the spring when we were still out and about on our motorcycles. Since today we know what it’s all about.
The fern is an indispensable resource. It is mainly used as bedding for livestock and to make manure, which until not so long ago was the main fertilizer. Fern is also used as animal feed in winter and for other secondary purposes. Dried fern is used, for example, as insulation material for the roofs of huts or stables.
We took a break here at this beautiful spot and treated ourselves to a little refreshment.
We were surprised that not only did water come out of the fountain, but that the two washbasins were also fully functional.
It started raining and thundering around 9pm yesterday.Actually, it was more of an alternation between a few drops and a few more drops. There was no sign of it cooling down. Not even when it rained a little more during the night.
The next day we only went on a short excursion. It was quite slippery and dirty due to the rain during the night.
In the forest, with all the greenery and humidity, it felt more like being in a rainforest jungle than in Spain.
According to the weather forecast, we might get more rain over the next few days, so we decided to do some laundry today. We are still not quite as well equipped for such activities. We actually wanted to set ourselves up a bit more in the “Chinese stores” in Spain. With a few kitchen utensils, a bucket, a washing bowl with a washboard and other small items. But we didn’t get around to that yet, so doing the laundry in our little foldable bucket was a bit of a challenge. In the end, however, we now have fresh clothes again.
When we came back from our short walk, 3 motorhomes had arrived from Belgium. An elderly gentleman, his daughter and another couple.
The older man speaks very good German. He reminded us of Dr. Emmett L. “Doc” Brown from “Back to the Future”. He talked to Alex a lot and I used the time Alex was “out of the house” to clear the air a bit.
In the meantime, we’ve met some nice people. Some tell us what great things they’ve already experienced or about not-so-great experiences. About beautiful areas and pitches, which countries are good for camping and which are not. Tips and tricks for motorhomes or camping in general. We listen eagerly and are happy about every exchange.
We have also often heard that many people sleep at rest areas for one night. In France in particular, you are often asked by the police to drive into the villages or to spend the night outside the villages. The police say that everywhere is safer than at rest areas. Not interesting for us anyway, as we avoid highways. Nevertheless, it is somehow interesting, because there is a lot going on there, so you think you are a bit safer. Wrong!
We have also often heard that many people spend the night at rest areas. Especially in France, the police often ask you to drive into the villages or spend the night outside the villages. The police say that it is safer everywhere than at the rest areas. Not interesting for us anyway, as we avoid highways. Nevertheless, it is somehow interesting because there is a lot going on there and you think you are a bit safer. Wrong!
Alex has found a new hobby. He now rates pitches via his Campi app. As a reward, you’re a seedling first, growing from seedling to big forest.
He is now a branch. When you become a forest, you have a say in how individual pitches are improved. Until then, however, it still has a lot of evaluating and growing to do.
This fish sales trolley was cleaned every day directly at the disposal station. A very nice person who cleaned its interior with dedication and music.
