Journey begins Nov 1999-April 2000
France-Spain-Portugal-Spain-France-Tunisia-France
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Learning the ropes in France and Portugal |
Our first night was spent at a campsite in Alecon where we learned our first lessons.
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Do not arrive at a camp site on a dark wet night. Do not park on wet grass. Next morning our bus needed to be towed out by a council truck!
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During a visit to Bordeaux in the rain we were surprised to see this Jag trying a different exit from the car park.
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Museums in Lisbon, Alcazor in Seville, bridge at Ronda |
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Choosing to stay on a campsite south of Lisbon gave us the opportunity to cross the river Tagus on a ferry and visit the famous maritime museum.
This Royal barge was last used to bring our Queen Elizabeth II from the Royal Yacht Britannia to Lisbon.
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Jim was amazed to see this old aeroplane that had flown to Brazil way back in the nineteen twenties.
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The old trams in Lisbon are painted in bright colours. As the sunset we crossed the river towards the replica of the Christ statue in Rio. |
Staying in the orange grove at Camping Villsom,Dos Hermanos allowed us to visit the lovely city of Seville.
The walk up the ramp inside the famous Giralda was worth it to see the view from the top.
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The gardens of the Alcazar were a haven and Dot returned to spend a day painting pictures of the colourful buildings |
Next stop was Ronda where we found lots to see and spent a week trail riding in the hills and gorges around the area.
The Spanish Inquisition used to throw people off this bridge. |
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Xmas day was spent in the hills behind the Algarve riding amongst the herbs and rock roses-perfect.
Our base camp was at Amecera de Pera, an old fishing port.
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The Coasta del Sol and its luxury shops provided interesting outings when son Chris and grandson Alex came out to join us for a holiday.
Lots of sandcastle building and beach football.
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Onward we went to Mojacar where we visited the flea market below the old town.
We waited here to go and see Foggy race at the SBK at Valencia but elections intervened. Then Foggy retired-shame. |
Jim had to do some routine bike maintenance on the two dirt bikes.
They travel in the rear garage and provide us with transport and good riding everywhere we stay.
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The area around the Tabernas desert-where all the spaghetti westerns were filmed has some great tracks with interesting sights. |
Jim rode in a two day Spanish event at Baza which was great fun. The food, beer and entertainment were all included-good idea! |
It was time to head north and we stopped to enjoy the sights at Barcelona.
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An evening stroll along the Rambla allowed time to see the colourful flower and fruit stalls. |
At the edge of the Pyrenees the ski runs allowed us to enjoy some good biking and visits to the small villages.
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We wandered around th narrow streets in the old walled town of Villefranch .
But here we found the worst public toilets we have ever seen-must be medieval!
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Unfortunately higher up in the mountains the snow was too deep for safe riding.
It was too cold for this old woman as she likes to ride in the sunshine!
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Yet another great subject for Dot to paint as we explored the Pont du Gard in southern France.
This Roman aqueduct is a fantastic piece of civil engineering. |
Meeting the family in Nice for the Optic 2000 rally. |
Around the French Riviera we went sightseeing and admired some of the huge yachts-
more like cross channel ferryboats.
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Bd, Sue and Zoe arrived in their motor home and we made a campsite beside the river outside Nice. |
Bd and Sue were driving their Freelander in the Rally and had to have an eye test before being allowed to go through scrutineering.
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Tunisia with Zoe-our much travelled grandaughter. |
The Kalbarri bus went by ferry from Marseille to Tunis and we caught up with the rally at Douz.
Zoe had been to Tunisia before and was happy to be in Africa again.
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This was our first trip to North Africa and we were enjoying a new culture.
Then we found a campsite where the palm trees were used as posts for the lights and electricity sockets. |
At Remada in the south we set up a family bivi and waited for the competitors to arrive.
Chris had a Peugot hire car which followed most of the route. |
The bus looks very lonely out in the desert as we wait yet again for the rally to pass by.
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Then we adjourned for a few days to the car park of the hotel Sancho were we could use the swimming pool-bliss!
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On the hillside at Tamroute was this dinosaur which fascinated Zoe-
especially as everyone used it for shade. |
End of the rally. |
The rally was over and everyone had to drive back to Tunis for the ferry back across the Med to France..
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We had a few more days in which to enjoy the wild life.
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At Carthage we explored the Roman ruins and were amazed at the complexity and size of the old city
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Back across the Med and the long drive home. |
------Mainly parked on a building site or in the mud- May 2000-September 2000-------- -------
