5 Days Near Barbastro

Posted on 01/06/2012 by Geoff

After pitching and a quick lunch we scouted the facilities then off to the lake for the dogs’ daily swim with some walking in between. The receptionist told us to turn left out of the site and walk ‘till we reached the flats where we would find a “not so nice” tunnel under the road leading down to the lake. After several hundred meters we couldn’t see any flats only an odd house so walked across the road, jumped the duel carriageway barriers, down a track and hey presto, the lake side. Bella was straight in,

Bella being an otter in the lake

Sooty waited for a stick to be thrown, and then he was in.

Sooty waiting patiently for his stick

We walked along the lakeside back towards the camp site and came across a lane back to the main road and what did we find, yes that’s right the tunnel. So back through the tunnel wondering where the flats were and suddenly realized the lady probably said “flags” as there were 4 flags flying at the entrance to the tunnel, just by the camp site entrance; ugh!!!!!!!!!!
A pleasant evening was had, though very very hot, back to normal thank goodness.
A lazy breakfast and morning chores followed by a day of leisure and swimming in the outdoor pool,

The Camp Site Pool, very nice

wonderful, warmish water and sunny when getting out, sheer bliss.
A nice bottle of Chablis bought from the wine fare with dinner, some television and bed.
Up early this morning as we needed to visit the local supermarket and get back before it gets too hot. We certainly achieved that goal, as we zoomed on Pinky & Perky and were in the local town before the shops opened, wow! Loaded with provisions, and we found space on the bikes, we were back to relax, for the rest of the day and swimming, again!!!.
A leisurely start to the day with relaxation before we went off on bikes to an old monastery

The front entrance of the Monastery at Ooda de Isabena

called “Hospedería de Roda de Isábena”, it is also a Hotel and is situated on top of an isolated hill with an excellent restaurant inside the old chapel within the monastery enclosure. We were recommended to go there and told round trip to be about 41 miles. Well we took a wrong turning and did an extra 15 miles albeit it was worth the deviation as we came over a narrow mountain pass

View from the top of the pass

with spectacular views though the twists and turns did give us some interesting “bike handling” training,  but beautiful scenery. This all took time, but at least this being Spain when we eventually walked into the restaurant well after 1400hrs,

The restaurant in the monastery

they did not send us away. Excellent “menu del dia” though twice what we would normally pay for one, hey we are on holiday!!!!!
Straightforward way home though Christine was worried she would run out of petrol. This was followed by the usual dog walking, swim and showers.
Last full day here Friday, so plenty of relaxing swimming etc., etc., etc. Packing up ready for the off Saturday morning

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Pau Pyrenees and Barbastro

Posted on 28/05/2012 by Christine

Lazy start to the day, we packed everything away, had a shower, and we were off to Pau, I was mucking about, when leaving the campsite, and took a ride on the trailer at the back, thought I was 15 again!! Geoff went over a hump, I was flung off, hitting the bottom of the trailer that had been shortened, and I grazed my knee, bruised my tummy badly, and hurt my arm, what with my leg already hurting from the bike fall, not doing too well. Glad Geoff

Pau, a view of old Town's outside wall

and Tom had filed the rough edges of the channels, it could have been a lot worse!!

We stopped on route so that we could watch the qualifying in the ‘Monaco Grand Prix’ we had lunch whilst we were there, then onto Pau, we were parked in the centre of the town, in a huge car park, which the end part was allocated for Motor homes.  Not the best of stops, but it allows us to see another town, before going over the Pyrenees.

The old Duke's Palace now a museam

We strolled around the old town, it was full of history, Henry 1V (French), was mentioned a lot, but as we could not find anything to read, we will never know, perhaps an internet job later. The town is very pretty, with lots of old buildings, Chateau and many interesting arches and statues, they have a

Pau old town square

lovely square, with everyone sitting and enjoying eating and drinking, so naturally we joined in too, after a couple of wines, we made our way back, saying we would return tomorrow, for an evening meal, we watched TV, we started watching the Eurovision Song Contest, but soon got fed up with that, and played crib.

Rugby hooligans who woke me up!

At about 6am, we were woken with an awful noise, there were air horns going, and cow bells, we looked out of the window, to see lots of people just milling around, first of all we thought it was a market, but the noise just got louder and louder, Geoff got up and took the dogs for a walk, and to get croissants, I made the coffee and tea.  About thirty coaches arrived, and just blocked the surrounding roads and car park, it was fascinating, eventually things seem to settle, and by 9am everything returned to normality.

The reason for such commotion was rugby final in Bordeaux, between Pau and Mont-De-Marsan, not sure what the result was, but I know I did not want to be around, when they came back, so after breakfast we left for Lescar, which was five miles up the road. Lescar is

Lescar village

a tiny pretty village with very narrow one way streets, Geoff went to go down a road, with a low bridge, I pointed out that

Gate into the old town

‘Rosie’ was taller than the bridge, so we had to back up this hill, and change direction, we decided to exit the village as quickly as we had arrived, we eventually found the Aires we were looking for, just outside the village, it is lovely here, very quiet, another cemetery car park.

We had lunch, and watched the ‘Grand Prix’, disappointed with Hamilton; still at least he got some points, what is happening to Button, think he is getting too old!! Still, glad Schumacher didn’t finish, can’t stand him. A little known fact is that the first race to be called a ‘Grand Prix’ was held in Pau in 1901.

Lascar village

Bishop's Palace

We walked into the village, which had a little stream, and was as pretty as we had first thought, but it had the biggest church I have ever seen, it was the ‘bishops palace’ and was built in the 1100, apparently there had been a church there since 507 AD.

Lascar village

Early night, then up and away by 9.15am, we had decided to

The Pyerenees

ignore when tom tom went into tiny villages, and keep to the National route, we did ok, heading for Huesca, then Barbastro. The route was very pretty, if not a bit scary at times, the views were amazing, the rivers were crystal clear, and we saw the water

Reservoir in Pyerenees

flowing from the top of the rocks, amazing, and ‘Rosie’ coped very well. Geoff drove all the way; I have not yet driven, although I might now we are in Spain.

Pyerenees

We found our site, and it is very good, it is on different levels, and we can see the Lake from our pitch, we

Campsite view

have decided to stay here for five nights and just relax, and look at the area, and maybe using the pool.

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Lacanau in the sun

Posted on 26/05/2012 by Geoff

Up and “at ‘em” not so early today, but looked out to a normal sunny morning so decided to return Lacanau Ocean to see the beach in all its glory, and to stretch the legs of Pinky & Perky once again.
After another leisurely breakfast and 2 walks for Christine , Sooty & Bella we donned our “strait jackets”, crash hats and gloves and were away, albeit late morning!!!
By the time we arrived in Lacanau, about 10 minutes after we started!!! we had to look up side roads to park. The car park along the front charged and being pensioners, we needed free parking.

Pinky & Perky chained together for their safety

Found it, funnily enough near to the Wine Cave we visited the other day, so naturally had to pop in. Unfortunately the particular white wine we wanted to top up on had all gone; oh dear we will have to make do!
After a stroll along the sea front taking in the magnificent beach views in the very hot sun,

Christine back on Lacanau Beach on a normal sunny day,

Lacanau Beach on a normal sunny day looking North

we went back to the fish market for a last taste of Oysters, which you may have guessed are a speciality around these parts. Unfortunately there was nothing for Christine other than a glass of wine,

The fish market where I had more Oysters but we both had wine, naturally

so whilst I enjoyed a plate of oysters, again!!! We shared the bread and had a nice glass of very dry local white wine. A few groceries on the way back to the bikes, and then back to Camping Teddy.
We were very pleased to get back as it was so very hot, probably up to Spanish standards. Fortunately, though it was very hot, Sooty and Bella didn’t suffer as we left the air conditioning running in Rosie whilst we were out; they were nice and cool, not like us.
We had a light lunch, some sunbathing, a long walk for the dogs when it was cooler, then bikes onto the trailer and ready for the off tomorrow. Pau, here we come

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Cap Ferret on Pinky and Perky

Posted on 24/05/2012 by Christine

Le Tedey Parc and Lake

Up early and out with the dogs, Bella goes mad here, runs and runs, no change really, but since her hair cut, she seems worse, Geoff calls her ‘wayward’ anyway, down to the lake and back in time for early morning tea.

Le Tedey Parc Le Moutchic

We are going out on bikes today, so we got everything ready, fed the dogs, and locked them in, they were fine. We went to Cap Ferret, northern entrance of the Arcachon Basin, it took us over one hour to get there, we had a good look around, including looking

Looking over at largest Sand Dunes in Europe

over at the biggest sand dune in Europe Dune du Pilat, we will save that trip for the next time around, as we have both agreed we would like to come back sometime, and do more exploring.

Chez Boulan

Quick stop for lunch, Geoff found a place which was an oyster bar ‘Chez Boulan’

Chez Boulan

, it was lovely, besides oysters, they did prawns, and only served wine, so Geoff had the speciality which was 6 oysters, and I had prawns, they were served with a lovely bread, and some tasty butter, and of course two glasses of white wine. Very enjoyable.

We left there and headed back, we did about 65 miles round trip, so not bad. The dogs were fine, and had not suffered for being left! Another quick walk, then a sunbathe.

All in all a good day, showers and an early night.

Appendix

Well after all the “Hiss taking” when I fell off Perky it had to happen. It was Christine’s turn today, she fell off Pinky, Ha Ha, serves you right; what goes around comes around. Fortunately, like me, she fell off whilst manoeuvring at very slow speed and like me unhurt, “BUT” when I fell off there was no help around but when Christine fell off there were two Frenchmen there helping before I could get back, whatever next!!!!!  The outcome is that even with all the protection she was wearing she has a few bruises and a scratch on her leg but I don’t think they hurt as much as her pride!!!!!

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Memory Lane

Posted on 23/05/2012 by Geoff

Well here we are, the last time I was here was 30 years ago in the caravan when we took the Children and we met up with Neil and Lesley (Children’s cousins) here in Le Moutchic, just inland from the Atlantic beaches in Lacanau Ocean.
After breakfast we started Pinky & Perky, fortunately there was sufficient power in the battery and off to Lacanau Ocean as it was Market day. Firstly the market had moved from the side street it was in last time and onto a large car park, (I don’t remember that!) and secondly it is a much smaller market. 30 years ago you could start at one end and of the market by the other end one could be 3 parts to the wind with all the wine tasting that was available, no such luck to-day, a sign of the times perhaps? There were a couple of wine stalls but no tasting, ugh!!!
Next we had a walk down to the beach but with a “pit stop” for coffee/tea. This beach is still as magnificent

Christine at Lacanau Beach

Lacanau Ocean Beach, looking North

as I remember but unfortunately it is very overcast this morning, however this has not put the surfers off; there were many out there enjoying

Surfing at Lacanau Ocean

the Atlantic rollers.
Walking back through the back streets of Lacanau we fell across a Wine Cave so we were not disappointed in the end as we had several wines to taste. Naturally this ended in more space being needed in “Rosie”!!!!!
Returning to the market we stopped at a fish mongers to buy supplies. Now we have sussed out our freezer part of the fridge we can buy more stock.
Pinky & Perky were waiting for us, still locked to a street light and after what seemed an age were dressed, helmeted gloved, checked our intercoms worked and we were off.

Are we going,

Are we going then?

We came back to the camp site via “Le Moutchic” where, we used to stop all those years ago. We drove up to the gate of the old campsite

Entrance to Camping L'Ermatage (Now all Closed down)

but it looked very desolate, run down and closed. When we were there 30 years ago the “Mother” who always sat in the entrance hut must have been in her Nineties and her “son” (who owned it) was in his late 50/60s: Probably no successor hence it is closed down.
The other main change is they have removed a complete row of houses/cafés/shops etc., to make a wide grassy promenade and large car park running along the lake front;Le Moutchic looking East along the lake front

Le Moutchic beach looking West along the lake

different, but nice
Back to “Camp Tedey” disrobe, which takes a time!!!!, put our communicators on charge and lunch, very French Baguette Cheese and fancy cold meats, we did give the wine a miss to help our diets, ha ha!!!
Christine set about washing down Pinky; I wonder how long that will last! I watched, and then took Sooty and Bella for a swim with some walking in between, excellent dog walking area here.
Lovely sunny afternoon, about time to; just a shame we didn’t have the sun when we were on Lacanau Beach this morning.

Dinner, this was then followed by a cosy evening catching up on some TV programmes with I Player.

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Thank you

Posted on 22/05/2012 by Christine

Tuesday has come around far too quick, Mike went off to work yesterday, and Geoff and I spent the day doing boring things, like cleaning, ironing and shopping, to prepare for the off, but Rosie looks really clean and tidy, with all washing clean including the dogs beds, thanks Catriona.

Lunch at a lovely French restaurant

As a thank you for putting us up, we all went for lunch on Saturday, Max and Tobyn were very well behaved, and we all had a lovely lunch, think three of us had a steak, and Mike had lamb. Tobyn had a pizza with a cat’s face on it, all very good. It is the first time we have stayed so long, and we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, thank you both so much.

Anyway we pulled out of the drive at 10.00am with three hour drive to Lac Lacanau, and we are at a proper campsite, (Le Teday)  with all the amenities, electric, showers, etc.

The site is in a 10 hectres pine forest, which is lovely, you can walk around the lake, or into the forest, Sooty and Bella love it here.

After tea, Geoff dismantled ‘Pinky and Perky’ from the trailer, with the thoughts of going for a ride, well everything was fine, both bikes started first time, so we got dressed up to go for a meander outside the camp.

When we were ready to go, ‘Perky’ would not start, now have you seen anything so funny as Geoff running down the road, trying to bump start it, even if he had he couldn’t have got on!!  We tried towing it with ‘Pinky’ that did not work either.

So with the language quite blue, we decided to see if our fellow English camper had jump leads, which he had, so they were trying that route, but apparently they couldn’t get the leads to stay on, so he offered to push, so both of us pushed, whilst Geoff sat on the bike (typical) well it started almost immediately, so Geoff went for a ride on it, hopefully it will start in the morning!!

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