Our spring adventure through France, Spain, and Portugal
Our first spring tour in Dave! Building on the experience from our autumn 2018 journey, we set out to explore more of Western Europe as the weather warmed up.
March to June 2019 (approximately 4 months)
This spring tour allowed us to see familiar places in a completely different season, with spring flowers, longer days, and warmer weather making for a wonderful motorhome experience.
Well, last day of this trip and it’s getting hotter. Tintin drove for about an hour to a grass area at Saint Suliac, quick lunch and out on our bikes. Too hot to do much we retreat to the shaded side of Dave and read books, and it’s hot! Actually booked a restaurant on the banks of the Rance for t
Where to go to escape the heat? We decided on an aire just south of Dinan at Saint-André-des-Eaux. Kay did the driving and we parked up in the lee of some trees, not actually in the moho park. Pleasant ride along the Rance all the way to Dinan port and back.
Drove for about two and a half hours to YPO Camp motorhome dealer south of Rennes. We thought we would have a look around mohos for a few hours, unfortunately no Mobilvetta’s, as they were all sold. Then onto Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, a carpark by a lake for the night.
We decided to try and outrun the forthcoming heatwave, so Kay drove West for about two and a half hours, via Lidl, to Le Vieil-Bargé. It looks like Brittany and Normandy will be a lot cooler as the week progresses so we thought we would spend our last few days around there.
Had a quick look round a flea market opposite our carpark, mostly rubbish! Tintin drove for 45 minutes to Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire, passing through the Chambord estate on the way. Bikes out, and we rode to Château de Chambord and cycled round the estate rather than going inside.
Another 30 minute run to end the couch to 5k program, Jo Whiley says that we’re runners now! Kay drove for over an hour to Vernou where, once again, we just got our books out and sat in the shade.
Managed to get some diesel at a Super U and Tintin drove for an hour to Chaon, would have been less but for a French deviation to nowhere. It was a chairs out and read day with a bit of maintenance thrown in.
Another 30 minute run done this morning, hard today. Decided just to move up the Loire a bit to Sully-sur-Loire with an LPG stop on the way, took 3 goes to get the gas seal right! Pleasant walk around the Château and the town.
Tintin drove for 30 minutes to an aire in Briare close to where the Canal de Briare goes over the Loire on an impressive aqueduct. We had a walk into Briare and a bike ride around some of the villages close by. So many canals and bits of the river it’s difficult to know where you are!
Hot today, 30°C+. Our first 30 minute run complete along the canal. No sightseeing today, just shopping, servicing Dave and reading our books by the canal.
Got up early and we were on the road at 0915! Tintin drove to Vézelay which is supposed to be one of the prettiest hill top villages in France. It lived up to its description. We moved on to a small canal park at Chevroches for an afternoon of relaxing and reading.
Completed 3rd 28 minute run this morning with some uphill sections, 30 minutes next week. Kay drove to the Fontenay Abbey that we had read a lot about. Certainly very peaceful and the grounds are immaculate but we’re not sure if the experience was worth €10 each. Decided not to stay the night and d
Tintin drove on a very straight road to Semur-en-Auxois. Tourist Office provided us with a map and a guided tour around the town. Uninspiring really with nothing open to look at, and it wasn’t even lunchtime!
Bit of a pant’s day really. Rain off and on most of the day, so we just drove and found some diesel and a place to sit and read. Highlight of the day, Kay tried to kidnap a cat, it was having none of it.
As it was going to be a sunny day we thought we would cycle some more of the canal. We parked up at Port de Pont d’Ouche and cycled to where the canal goes through a tunnel. Met an English couple, Graham & Sally and chatted long into the evening about all things moho and every other subject you ca
It decided to stop raining so 28 minute run done amongst the vines. Tintin drove up to Dijon and on to Fleury-sur-Ouche where we reside in a shaded carpark. Lovely 2 hour bike ride along the Canal de Bourgogne that runs alongside the river Ouche.
Not so much rain today. Kay drove to Nuits Saint Georges and we had a wander into town, very quiet. The tourist information recommended various wine tasting and other attractions. We plumped for le Cassisium which was walking distance from the van. Good tour and tasting of everything cassis. Th
Rain all night again but it stopped enough for us to complete another 25 minute run. Forecast was for rain all day so we decided on laundry and books.
We decided to head in a south westerly direction and plumped on Dole. Kay drove for about 4 hours only to find that there was a fair set up in our preferred parking spot close to the town centre. We’re now further out in a bit of a Moho commune as there’s nowhere else to park. Disappointed!
Active day today, 25 minute run then a ride around the lakes that are close to us. Lunch and a ride into Belfort. We didn’t realise there is a 5 day music festival going on. Spent a few hours walking around seeing the citadel, the lion and some of the music acts.
Had a walk up to the Witches Eye at the remains of a castle. Lunch and then on to Leclerc for diesel, lpg and food, nearly got stuck in the exit lane from the petrol pumps! Tintin drove for about an hour to an aire in Belfort to service Dave and then onto a carpark near some lakes that we will exp
Another 25 minute run done! Kay drove up into the hills to Le Monument National du Hartmannswillerkopf where the French and the Germans fought over this hill top for the whole of WW1, just seems pointless. Good walk for 2 1/2 hours through the French and German trenches and should have given us fa
Tintin drove up into the hills to Murbach to have a look at the Abbey there. Looked very strange as most of it was missing and only the renovated towers remained. Drove on to an aire at Hartmannswiller and read books in the shade of a convenient tree, too hot for cycling.
0800 run for the longest yet, 25 minutes, 20°C, hard for both of us. Lovely swans and cygnets though at the start by Dave. Kay drove for 30 minutes to a winery at Eguisheim, Antoine Stoffel where we can spend the night. Bikes out and rode for a couple of hours to the surrounding villages all in 3
Quick shop in Lidl for the essentials, water, coke and chocolate and on into France. Found a small car park by the canal close to Colmar. After lunch, just a 15 minute ride into the town. We immediately remembered our last visit some years ago. The heavens opened with heavy rain and thunder, so
A knock on the door this morning, can you move please as we will be conducted a church service here! So we left, serviced Dave at the second attempt, bought some strawberries at a roadside stall and found a carpark in the fields of vines with a view. Chairs out, read books and the internet, too ho
We decided after our run that it probably wasn’t a good idea to stay where we were on the Rhine as, being Saturday and sunny, it was going to get really busy. On the 3rd attempt we found a good place to park up near Müllheim in the hills. After lunch and FaceTiming we set off on our bikes into the
Got the bikes out and had a ride downhill through a few villages and back, a lot warmer now we’ve reduced the altitude. Kay drove for about an hour to service Dave, fill with diesel and then on out of the Black Forest. We’re parked up on the banks of the Rhine where it splits into the Canal d’Alsa
Had a chilly ride up to the lake at Schluchsee, it was definitely meant to be warmer. It’s a holiday today in Germany and the whole world was out walking or riding around the lake, we’re more used to playing spot the person. Tintin drove down into the valley at Utzenfeld
Serviced Dave at a nearby stellplatz and did a shop at Lidl all in Altglashütten. Decided we would stay here again tonight and go bike riding tomorrow as the forecast is better than today. Afternoon spent walking to and from a waterfall that wasn’t that impressive, however it didn’t rain and ended
It was planned that we do washing today when all day rain was forecast. Found the only Washsalon in the area at Bad Dürrheim. Not very happy as the machines didn’t work properly and we wasted €10 for a total cost of €31., but we’re all clean now. Kay drove up into the Black Forest to Altglashütte
Had a long walk in the morning through the forest, vine and apple fields and through a couple of towns. After lunch we moved on past the lake towards the Black Forest and stopped the night in a carpark just by Immendingen.
Run today in the forest, a bit wet underfoot. Biked into Lindau Islet and had a good wander plus lunch. Managed to find our way back and drove onto Daisendorf in a small carpark on the edge of the forest.
Had an hours walk into the forest by the waterfalls meeting rutting goats and friendly cats. Drove on to a free carpark in the forest close to Lindau. Plan is to ride into Lindau tomorrow morning when the suns hopefully out again.
A run to start the day. We shared the driving today as we did almost all of the remaining alpine road going west and ending up at a waterfall carpark. We’ll have the sound of rushing water all night.
Finally the end of the Romantic Road with a visit to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. 35 minute guided tour of the fairy tale castle and a walk around the outside of the less fairy tale one. Then onto our night stop with a view of the mountains in the distance.
The day started again with rain but we decided we had to do something. Kay drove to Oberammergau and we found a park with the coaches. It was only light rain so we had a good look around all the buildings with frescos on. Lunch and then on to Garmisch, more the drive than the town. We stopped at
Rain all yesterday, all night and all day today. Had to move as we had run out of water. We did a Lidl shop and went off in search for services. First stop was a camp site/motorhome stop but no service point available. Next stop we had success and are now full and empty. Spending the night in a
Rain and more rain.
Lovely walk this morning through Landsberg and even gatecrashed a confirmation ceremony at the local church. Drove onto to Schongau but didn’t stop as half the carpark was taken up with ‘travellers’, just didn’t feel right. On to the small town of Peiting to sit out the rain that’s just started to
About an hours drive to Dachau concentration camp. Having trouble thinking of what to write about our 5 sobering hours there. People should never forget what when on in these hundreds of camps and sub camps. Dachau was the first and opened in 1933 for German dissidents and was finally liberated, 12
Late start to the day but it’s sunny and warm! Kay drove for 75 minutes to a free carpark at Augsburg by football fields and a huge climbing centre. Rode into the centre but it was very busy so we didn’t stay long and went for a quick ride in the forest instead.
Due to road works our drive to Harburg castle went round the houses, a lot of houses! CoPilot was having none of it, we used Google maps in the end. Only viewed the outside of the castle and had a walk down to the town. Back on the road for a short drive to Donauwörth, and an uninspiring walk thro
Kay drove for about an hour to Nördlingen down the Romantic Road. Colin, CoPilot, decided to take us in through the town which was fun for Kay. About 3 hours walking around the walls and the town sightseeing. Highlight of the day was climbing the church tower, 342 steps, and seeing the 4 stork chi
Morning run in sunshine but only 5°C, brrr. 17 mile round trip bike ride to Dinkelsbühl in chilly but fair conditions, didn’t dress up enough. Dinkelbühl is a small version of Rothenburg so easily walked in 90 minutes. Back in Dave by 1500 for a hot drink and a rest!
Sunny day for a change so 21 mile bike ride to Creglingen and back. Tintin drove to Rothenburg for a quick look at this historic town. Then onto Feuchwangen for our night stop at a free stellplatz.
Visited the gardens at Weikersheim Palace, very pleasant. Tintin drove about 30 minutes to Röttingen and parked up alongside the river Tauber at a winery. Walk around the town and a ‘sundial’ trail.
Day started with lots of rain, so what to do. Eventually, had lunch and then Kay drove to Bad Mergentheim and found a free parking space. Had a look around and found an orchestra practicing in the castle church, very pleasant half hour. Onto Weikersheim for out night stop, found a quiet place adjace
Had an hour to look round Wertheim Village which is the new retail outlet next to Hymer. Caught the free coach into Wertheim itself, about a 20 minute ride. Decided we had done enough sightseeing and caught the coach back so that we could move on. Not far to Tauberbischofsheim via Lidl.
Rain stopped play today, well for most of the day. A run, chocolate shopping, stuff for Dave shopping, load some water, read the internet and read a book, that’s about it.
Rain forecast today, so what to do. Found a laundrette within walking distance so that was the mornings work. Next on the ‘Romantic Road’ is Wertheim and Hymer World is close by with free parking, so off we went in the rain. Had a good look around an enormous showroom full of motorhomes, caravans
Moved on down the motorway to Würzburg, the start of the ‘Romantic Road’ going south. Managed to find a free park and rode into the town. Lots of sights to see plus a guided tour of the Residence Palace. Ran out of time and tired feet in the end.
Didn’t really know where to go today, follow the Rhine a bit further or go somewhere else. Decided to head for the ‘Romantic Road’ starting at Würzburg. Intermediate stop at Rüsselsheim for a bike ride this afternoon along the river Main.
Because of the power boat event and the road being closed we had a 24km detour to get to the other side of the river and onto Koblenz. Kay had a quick look at the confluence of the Mosel and the Rhine, Dave was illegally parked! Koblenz too busy to find somewhere to stop so we moved onto Sankt Goa
Woke up to rain and some snow. It was 4°C outside so no chance of snow drifts! Tintin drove to Cochem, ‘the’ tourist town where all the river boats dock and the coaches ship them in. Had a look around for an hour and moved on to Brodenbach. Really surprised to find a free space for the night as t
Kay drove today along the Mosel. Quick look at the bridge gate at Traben/Trarbach. Lunch on the banks of the Mosel at Zell then up to our overnight spot at Barl. Had a look around the shops etc before the showers arrived.
Big shop at Lidl then on Bernkastel for some tourist sight seeing again. Decided to park up for the night on top of the world at Ürzig. Trouble was CoPilot took us down an access road/track to the grape growers. Found the correct carpark in the end for a great view of the Mosel.
Run this morning along the river with lovely views of the castle. Kay drove to Trier with a quick pit stop for water, gas and diesel while it’s cheaper in Luxembourg. Parked about 7km from the town by the banks of the Mosel. Biked it in for a warm afternoon of sight seeing and dodging the Mayday c
Kay had her hair cut! Tintin drove about an hour to Vianden to visit the recommended Château. On advice of the ticket lady took the chair lift up but we’re going to walk down. The Château visit was well organised, not busy and we’re glad we made the effort.
Cold run this morning in the fog followed by a visit to the butterfly centre just up the road from our sleeping location. Lovely greenhouse full of butterflies, birds, fish and reptiles. Kay drove on to Echterach from where we had a ride up the banks of the river Saar to Bollendorf and back.
We were moved on by the police this morning in a friendly way, so we drove about 20 minutes up the road to Grevenmacher. Rain on and off all day so books were read!
We didn’t travel far today. Down the road into Germany then Luxembourg all in 7 minutes. We visited the ‘museum’ at Schengen all about the border treaty then onto Remich. Parked up by the river and had a walk into town trying to dodge the heavy downpours.
Washing day at an Intermarché back in France. Once that was done Tintin drove for about an hour to Sierck les Bains alongside the Moselle.
Even though rain was forecast we took a train day trip to Luxembourg City. Saw the sights and didn’t get too wet as the heavens only opened after we got back to Dave at around 1700.
Today’s the day we decided to enter Luxembourg. Stocked up on cheap diesel and lpg just across the border and on to a small aire with luckily one space left when we arrived. Had a walk in to town but the heavens opened after we had been to the tourist office, so lack of photos today.
Had a wander around Sedan this morning with a guide from the Tourist Information. Some of the buildings have serious bullets holes after 3 wars against the Germans. Tintin drove about an hour to the Citidal at Montmédy. On our own again! Didn’t think it warranted €5 to look around the ramparts so
Well, we actually started running again, zero to 5k, day one. It’s a start! Rode about 26 miles along the river Meuse, there and back, lovely scenery and so peaceful. Kay drove about an hour to the carpark at the Château Fort de Sedan, just a parking spot but we’re all alone.
We completed a 23 mile ride this morning to Lac des Vielles-Forges and back through different villages. Plenty of up and down hills through the forest. After lunch Tintin drove for about an hour to Bogny sur Meuse but there was no room at the inn. Got lucky to find a place at Monthermé, right on
The fête turned out to be a walking event with a social in the evening, so not for us. Had a walk around Anor and Kay drove for about an hour to Rocroi. Busy aire with overflow onto the grass which suited us. Walk around the fortified town and then chairs out in the sun, Happy Easter weekend!
11 mile cycle ride along the working canal, very peaceful. On route to Anor took advantage of a large E.Leclerc for fuel and food. We saw signs for a fête in Anor tomorrow, how exciting.
Spent an hour at the Tyne Cot cemetery and then onto the memorial for the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry at Les Rue Vertes, Masnières. Spending the night at an aire close by at Marcoing.
We were up a the crack of dawn, literally to get the 0825 ferry at Dover. We arrived so early they let us on the 0725! Straight forward drive to Ypres, although bumpy at times with concrete roads. Visited the Menin Gate and the WW1 museum.
Drove on many motorways to get to Canterbury about lunchtime. Park and ride into Canterbury, walk around shops and tourist sights.
Left Jamie & Bel this morning, fuel and shop in Sainsbury and then about 4 hour drive to Poole.
Friday, trip into Truro. Saturday all about walking.
Wheal Kitty in the morning and surfing/beach in the afternoon. Jamie surfing, the rest of us on the beach!
Jamie had an interview close to St Ives so were dropped there to have a walk in the spring sunshine.
I had my 3rd trip on Condor Liberation in the space of a week! We’re finally on the move for our Spring adventure. Picked Dave up from Marquis Service Centre in Poole today and drove down to Jamie, Bel and baby Jack in Porthtowan.