Since getting the Babsilee, we have been looking forward to taking a longer trip in her to Europe; the timing of which has been dependent on finishing or breaks in work so has been a while in the coming but we’re finally here.
The planning for the trip has consisted of taking a number of local trips to get used to her and making the modifications that we have posted about earlier and buying a one-way ticket from Plymouth to Roscoff. We had no route in mind except to follow the sun and head to warmer climes. We finally set off on 29 June.
The overnight crossing from Plymouth to Roscoff was what the call “lumpy”. I don’t know what force the gale was but having inwardly thought that Lee was being overly cautious for strapping himself in on the top bunk in our cabin, I was extremely relieved when I woke up in the early hours to see the clothes on the hanger swinging from 90dg to 270dg in a minute!
Crossing over, we set off from Roscoff only to take a wrong turning within 30 minutes – we’re improving, it was within 10 minutes last time. The good thing about not having any plan is that any wrong turn becomes “the new plan”. We headed down south and spent the first night in a nice campsite at St Jean de Mont within a five minute walk from the Atlantic coast and a fantastic long, almost empty beach.
We then headed on back to Gastes where we had spent a few nights last year, It’s an enormous lake just south of Bordeaux where they pump oil. Doesn’t sound too appealing but it’s the cleanest lake full of fish and plastic duck decoys; fortunately it’s closed season now. It’s terrific for kayaking so we got our two-man inflatable kayak out as quickly as possible and were out on the lake in a jif. We eventually managed a respectable 14km the first day after me doing the splits and falling in while trying to get in and Lee grounding it in the shallows when he got in. We’re a bit out of practice!! Added bonus is that this site is an Aire so cheap as chips to stay in although daily washing was in the lake.
Rain was forecast so it was time to head on with a mammoth drive across the Pyrenees through the Bielsa Tunnel to Liguerre de Cinca in Spain. We camped on the edge of another, stunningly blue, lake which we later found out, did not allow kayaking without a licence as they farmed a specific type of mussel (or could have been oyster) here and didn’t want any type of bacteria introduced to the water. Heavy fines were liable if you got caught so we thought better of it. While quiet, clean and beautifully kept, we had a disturbed night due to the sprinklers coming on at 2am and intermittently sprinkling on an aluminium post which initially made us think we were under siege by a herd of cows with their bells . Lee took umbrage with the post and dealt with it. We were rewarded by the local workmen starting drilling at 8am the next morning.
We decided to move on and headed to the Mediterranean, arriving at Canet de Mar. Another, long empty beach but no one in the sea – it was a little cold so we practised a bit of yoga. Perfect location though for a day trip to Barcelona with visits to the Gaudi Cathedral, Barcelona Theatre, Basilica de Santa Maria, the Old Quarter, the Market (amazing meat, fish, spices, fruit – everything) and a delicious paella next to a few super-yachts.
After a few days at the beach we head back up to the mountains toward the Pyrenees and visited Ripoll (which was closed) and now staying at a little village called St Joan de les Abadesses. A beautiful village with monastery dating back to …. an awful long time ago … started by Emma the Abess who is buried there. An amazing place and a good starting place for many walks up through the hills to various villages. We did one today – 8 miles up and down and up again – to an old mining village. The wild flowers, views, scenery were all spectacular but up there with all of that is the “dos cervesa” when you get back!
More to come…