13th - 14th Royan to Mont Saint Michel

Day 1 Second long drive day but we have now reached the top end of France for our stop tonight at a camper aire very near to Mont Saint Michel. Tomorrow we plan to make a visit.

Day 2 We locked up Buster and set off for the free shuttle bus service that drops you off very near the Mont, other wise it's a 30 - 40 minute walk. Amazingly entery is also free. We are parked in the camping car section of the car park, there are no services but with a little help from solar we managed ok. From here it's a short walk to the shuttle bus service. There is a camping car park with the usual service but it's a bike ride away.

There are plenty of gift shops and places to buy food but be prepared to pay well over the odds. You can walk around wherever you please and for as long as you like, there are only a few places that are closed off. Once near the top you will find the abbey. That section is not free, it's 13 euros for entry and I think it's well worth it. We headed back to Buster for a break then grabbed the bikes and headed back for more.

What a place, we are so glad we made the two long runs up from Spain so we could be here with enough time to visit for a full day without any rush. We will stop here tonight and head off in the morning to a spot close to the ferry terminal.

13th Royan for 1 night

Day 1 Royan is half way up the French West coast so our drive from Jaca was a very long one, but that was the plan. We need enough time to visit Mont Saint Michel and to do that we have to get through France with one stop half way.

It's a shame we can't stop as Royan is a popular tourist town, if the drive had been better and we had spent less time admiring the scenery then maybe we could have had a late afternoon visit into town.

The best part of the day by far was the drive through the Pyrenees and some of the villages away from the main roads. It slowed us down but the views were amazing.

12th Jaca for 1 night

No photographs today. Jaca is a one night stop after a 3 hour drive North West from Criexell. This takes us to a point where we can cross the Pyrenees tomorrow on what should be a sunny day. Todays drive is a long one at around 5 hours but that's how we planned it so we could spend as much time as possible in Spain and still leave enough time in France to visit Mont Saint Michel.

 Nothing glamerous about our pitch today, we are at the end of a supermarket car park along with a couple of other motorhomes as the main aire in town was full. It was a quiet night, the external cameras showed that the police came by in the early hours without stopping.

8th Oct to 11th Creixell for 3 nights

Day 1 We had a drive further back up the coast after the drame of the last place and stopped at a campsite in Creixell and were very glad we did. This place is a gem, directly on the beach front, huge pitch, clean everything and lovely pool. It's not cheap that's for sure but it's a treat before we head back inland for the crossing over the Pyrenees and back to France.

We set-up, gave ourselves a tour, had a walk on the beach and then dinner out. Tomorrow may not be so good weather wise so we will wait and see. It's the evening, back at Buster with the vents open listening to the waves.

Day 2 A bit grim today, the South East coast was hit with a few storms and so for most of the morning we were covered by thick cloud. Only a few drips of rain in the night but enough to make us dash to shut the mozzi screens and close the roof vents. And that actions let in five mozzi's that I spent ages in the night chasing and splating then made me wake up early.

Bikes out today then and up the coast we peddled to the closest town. It was a nice ride with some nice views. Then back for lunch and as the sun was poking out we headed for the beach. Sun over the sea in front, storms over the sky behind. And yes, we did go in and yes it was cold!

Day 3 It was a dull start but I could see it would soon brighten up so the plan was to visit the local town a little inland called Creixell. There was a 400 year old church and a 1000 year old castle in the town.

Out came the bikes and off we went cycling through many typical narrow cobbled Spanish town streets. We looked around both and then headed to the Plazza Major for a quick beer before heading back. Quick shopping stop at Lidl for some essentials.

Once back the sun was well and truly out so it was back to the beach for our last full day here before we have to leave tomorrow afternoon.

Without doubt this is the best campsite we have visited so far but not the best town, that one has to be Lloret de Mar. We are directly next to an almost empty sandy beach and the entrance to it is right beside us.

Baked potatoes are in the oven and fresh cold beer just poured by Mrs T  so it's dinner, shower and maybe yet another beer in the air shelter later.

Day 4 Last day and we wak up to a sunrise over the beach. Breakfast done and most things packed away ready for the next stop. There's no rush to leave here but I would like to be at the next stop before sunset. That leaves us enough time to enjoy a few hours on the beach today before we set off. 

7th Oct - 8th Oct Peniscola for 1 night

Day 1 We arrived after a two hour drive as we head back North up the coast. We never pre-booked the site we headed taking a chance on there being a space. There was, just two and the final one filled soon after we parked up. Before we arrived we stopped off at Aldi to stock up on food, beer and wine. 

Once setup out came the ebikes and we headed off to town, first stop was the castle. Tomorrow maybe more of a shopping day.

Day 2 And we left early. We had planned to stop for a second night and requested this when we arived. However, the site had made a mistake and already alocated our pitch to someone else. They did offer us another but when we checked someone was on it. So after that we gave up and left. Shame, we planned to vistit inside the castle, next time maybe.

4th Oct - 7th Oct Oliva for 3 nights

Day 1 We thought abot staying in Calp for an extra night as the site was so lovely and we were lucky enought to grab a very nice pitch. Howver, we decided to move on. First thought was Denia but it was tricky to find a site with a good review. 

This was a bit of a turning point as we stopped heding South and turned back planning to vist a few stops we passed by. f/irst on the list was Oliva and after reading loads of site reviews we decided on Camping Pepe. It all looked a bit run down when we arrived but inside it was fine, another great find and again we grabbed a large pitch.

This site was a real find, what was planned for a one night stop over is going to be at least two if not more. Within a minute walk is a massive sandy beach with very few people on it even for a weekend. So we packed out towels and headed onto the sand for the afternoon.

Tomorrow we hope to cycle into town, it's about five miles.

Day 2 and we take a ride into Oliva Playa for our site. Nice ride but not a grat deal going on when we arrived, the place is mainly residential and expensive. There are some very nice golg courses around and a few massive houses that have the beach at the end of their garden. Had a tour around the marina then went on to another posh (and I know) expensice camp site. Had a beer and cycled back as it started to cloud over a bit. Not timpressed.

Day 3 It's a bit cloudy in the morning so time to catch up with shopping and motorhome chores. By the afternoon the sun is back out so it's back to the beach and a visit to the bar before heading back for dinner. Last job was to prepare for deperture in the morning. 

1st Oct - 4th Oct Calpe for three nights

Day 1 We arrived late afternoon so not much to do on day one other than pitch up and take a quick look at the sea front.

Day 2 and with MrsT feeling a bit under the weather Mr T went off and had a better look around the area. The front is divided into two halves, one either side of the giant rock. Aparently you can climb up it but not today for me.

Both sides are similar with the South side having a harbour and a place to drop off ferry boat day visitors from other resorts. You can also walk most of the way around the base of the rock but not the whole way. We were a bit undecided about how long to stay but eventally decided on three night.

This seems like a lovely rustic kind of place, we came here following an online recommendation. There is a bar and a tapas bar but no pool. The pitches are great and covered to keep the sun off.

Day 3 Big beach day today after cycle further around the resort. Back to Buster later for dinner and to prepare for a new place tomorrow. Not sure where yet, I'll read a few reviews later.

30th Sep to 1st Oct - Cambrils for a one night stop

We stopped on a site in Cambrils, it's only a one night and unfortunnately if you take out travel time it means we only have from midday onward. Cambrils is nice but not quite up to Lloret standard.

We had a cycle, a sit on the beach and found a bar of course. Like most places this town deserves longer, it has a lot of shops of the main drag that we missed. 

The campsite was ok, parking the bus was a bit tight due to low trees with thick branches.