Awaycation Autumn 2024 - Days 12 to 14

A big journal entry this time due to crap phone signals and crap WiFi.

Saturday

The longest day on the road for a while. We were away from Playa Romana at a fraction after 10am. 

The destination was to be one of two free aires in Pamplona. Neither of them offering services other than water in and out.

Progress was pretty good. Up AP7 to Vinaros and N232 pretty much all the way to Pamplona via Morella, Alcañiz and Zaragoza.

We both love Morella and it was my base with my brother for the MotoGP weekend at Motorland Aragón in '22.

No stop this time until Alcañiz and fuel at the Alcampo supermarket at €1.249. With their version of  "clubcard"  there was 3¢ off  a litre.

Then away. Another stop before Pamplona as the automated station was offering €1.209 a litre. Shame not to benefit.

We had a break and decided to carry on as it wasn't too late. We had a choice of the marina aire at Hendaye, or a CCP aire at Biarritz. I chose Milady and used a bit of credit to book. 

As we headed towards the border, Claire kept an eye on the app. Slowly it counted down to three free pitches. 

We didn't arrive until about 6.30pm. To be honest it's one of the shabbiest CCP aires I have been to. The pitches are badly marked out. "Camping" going on to make access to what might be pitches difficult.

In the end we went on pitch 1. The nearest bollard was full as someone had broken the back off and two of the sockets were missing. Not recently from the crap inside.

I found a white electric cabinet at the back of my pitch with the door forced open. Inside loads of fuses and connectors, plus two two-pin sockets. I used one of them.

All good. By the time we were set up it was dark and a bit late to check out the beach etc.

Altogether today we did 357 miles.

Sunday

We didn't have to be off the aire until noon and so we didn't hurry. A leisurely breakfast and a walk over to Milady Beach to watch the waves crashing in. 

The weather forecast was of a yellow 🟡 warning for wind and floods, with  orange 🍊 further east.

Everyone seemed fascinated by the huge waves and the surf shop looked to be doing good business.

We finally drove out at just after 11.30am.

Destination Libourne. Another CCP aire. The non toll route took us on a magical mystery tour via Mont de Marsan and then up. With the 80k limit it was dire. Even with no trucks to block up the roads.

In the end we bit the bullet and got on the A65.

The Libourne CCP is at first strangely sited. You travel through a large industrial estate. It's next to a school and a lake.  The pitches lean to one side requiring chocks to both wheels on the same side. For us, the 175 is nose down anyway and we need chocks 8/10 times!

Once setup we had a walk around the lake. Or where we could. Once again there had been floods and one place the path was transformed into a wide and deep ford...

The lake was popular and there had been an event on that day. It was almost over when we arrived. It was quite pleasant in the sun. Not cold either. The Café du Lac was setting up for dinner as we had a coffee.

Another satisfying day.  Once the car park nearby emptied it was quiet enough. Across the way there's an Ibis Budget and a Buffalo Grill!

Monday 

We had Reggie booked into the vets at Cavignac at 10.30am. We arrived at McDonald's across the road about 25 minutes early.  I don't think we'll be back to this vet. 

In 2022 it was €8 for his worming and AHC. This time €59!  Gulp.

We then found that this McDonald's opens at 10am, but doesn't serves a McMuffin of any kind until 11am. Have they never seen "Falling Down" the movie?

So coffee only it was!

Today's destination was to be on the Loire but the CCP at Veigné was closed in case of flooding. We plugged up the N10. This is a boring two lane dual carriageway for mile upon mile. One stop for lunch near Ruffac and upwards to Poitiers. Progress was slow. Very slow. The A10 came to the rescue towards Tours.

The CCP at Bléré was open.  So we went there. Arriving around 4pm. There were 4 of 9 pitches free. The campsite alongside was closed. Whether by choice or weather. 

From our pitch we could see the Cher in full flow... Parts of the adjacent campsite were flooded. The local park had a kids playground, also under water.

We had a walk to the river to have a look. We weren't the only ones watching as the tide surged past.

The village is quite nice. But even on a Monday everything was closed.

Back to the van. It drizzled a few times...

That night I was expecting a knock in the night to get moving as the inundation spread... Luckily, it did but nothing to worry us.

(Photos to follow)