Tues 30 Jan 11° Mojacar

Warm sunny day again. After lunch we got the bus up to the Pueblo to see the museum house that was closed when we went with Pat.

Got lost round the narrow cobbled streets, met a British couple also looking, found it together so had a tour for 4 by the owner,  very interesting  €2.50 and he took us all round telling how life was and showing us the different items they would have used, they had collected them from different neighbours to make it authentic. Some things like the sewing machine, wicker chairs and the meat mincer, were all very similar to that my Granny had in England.

I am sitting under the orange trees that line the streets

Very good collection even old photos and pictures of the time, even a catalogue of 20 movies that had been made up in the village over the years.

We farewelled our tour companions and we had a coffee and apple cake before a very cold and windy wait at the top for the bus back down, not pleasant.

Thai beef, vege and rice for dinner yummmy.

Mon 29 Jan 10° Mojacar

Overcast but mild,  Colin and Pat drove to Garrucha to Lidl asked if we wanted anything heavy brought back, they got us a 6 pack of milk, save us walking back with it.

Sorted out our souvenir tea towels and coasters.....practically filled one our bags...eeekkkk....gone mad over the 14 months.  Houston we have a problem.....as ou  Malaysian airlines flight was cancelled and we re-booked with Virgin, only allowed one bag each at 23kg. Came over with 2 bags each total of 30kg. We will have to see how we weigh in at Jenna's can always pay for an extra bag £65 to take on  plane with us but travel agent though we would have to pay that on both flights Air NZ leg as well.....will have to check the parcel post when  we get to uk and compare.

Tony's cold is a bit better nit so deep and husky more of a cough now.

Told Colin going to the charity shop for 4 books for €1......he disappeared and came out with 7 books, he was going to donate them to the shop but gave them to me. Very kind.
Similar taste, mystery, detectives and one Inspector Banks, very good, keep me going for  while.

He said the Rose and Crown were showing the 6 Nations on Saturday and Sunday so we decided to stay so Tony could watch that and we coukd a meal together there.

Walked to Dia for a few supplies, bought a Spanish Omelet and few bits and pieces . 

Got very warm again up to 18° but felt hotter sitting out of the wind, had lunch outside, very nice.

Had the Spanish Omelet and chips for dinner. 
 

Sun 28 Jan 8° Mojacar

Few showers last night but not the forecast storm, dry and cloudy.

Federer beat Cilic at the Australian open for his 20th Grand Slam, well done Roger.

Out for Sunday lunch, looked in a few places and decided on The Aurora beachside restaurant ,  BBQ feast €30 for 2 including a bottle of wine, a real meat feast, chicken, pork, veal, steak, black pudding and sausages....the heaters were on  inside and the waves were crashing  outside it was very cosy.

Got back and sat in the last of the sun with a cupper , Colin and Pat came back from walking the girls, we had a drink but it got too cold outside so we went into them. Plenty of room, we think we would be able to manage with the downsize. 

Sat 27 Jan 9° Mojacar

Washed sheets and towels while we have cheap washing machine and dryer, although with this wind good day for fresh air blown dry. Tony got a ladder to get a the branch down from overhead tree that I could hear scratching the moho all night.

Sat outside in the sun in a sheltered spot for lunch, nice and warm out of the wind got up to 19° .

We walked up to meet Colin and Pat at the Irish Rovers for a drink, warm and sunny, but when the sun went down the temperature went with it.

Mushroom omelet for dinner with liqueur coffee after to warm the cockles of your heart haha.

New arrivals in camp, moho's,  campervans and tents....sitting outside brrrrr.

Fri 26 Jan 7° Mojacar

The weather is on the turn, cold and windy with creeks and groans from the trees overhead. Walked in for coffee, had lunch instead in El Desmond,  German/Spanish cafe bar restaurant.  We had skewers with prawns, fish, meatballs and a plate of squid rj gs with salad and their own take on chips, cut curly with the skins on, very nice. All together with 4 coffee's  €26 so up there in price but it was very nice and got free WiFi.

Came back and Pat rang to say the forecast for here says a storm coming and to put our outside screen on, Colin and Pat came over,  said we should be OK here quite sheltered in the camp, they have been here is  very high winds with no problem no trouble leaving their tent out.

It was their night out, eat out every other evening,  and we're just outside having their pre dinner drink, so invited them in to have it. Had a drink together with more blether haha then they went off to Trufi bar for Friday night fish and chips.  They said we will have a meal together before we leave on Wednesday.

Banana on toast and cheese and tomato for Tony for light tea after our big late lunch.

Thurs 25 Jan 10° Mojacar

Relax day around camp today, chatting with Colin and Pat, she was combing the 2 spaniels, they loved it, just lay there whike she did it.

Booked ferry for Thursday 29 March £479 Bilbao to Portsmouth,  the week before onky had 4 berth cabins or bunk beds, so grabbed this one with twin beds.

Wrote to Heather and Ian to tell them the date and hope they can come up to meet us in Portsmouth before we go back to NZ.

Went to the Irish Rovers to meet Colin and Pat for a beer....further than we thought a good half hour walk along the promanade, had the last bit of the afternoon sun and got talking to a Brit over to look for a place in  the sun, checking out areas.

Walked back with Colin and Pat and the 2 dogs, they invited us to theirs for an 8 year old single malt Scotch from Lidl €8...... very tasty it was too, excellent for the price. Sat outside their camper under the awning,  quite a sheltered spot. Great evening with a wee 'blether' Scottish for a bit of a chat. There was a bit of action up on the top area which was reserved for the Hymer motorhome club, a van and trailer went up, then a car followed by a police car. Lots of shouting and torch lights shining around,  so Colin took the girls up for a look see, there were dogs as well up there and he thought it looked like police dogs training.  Caused a bit of fun for a while haha.

Back to Bessie for our new favourite cauliflower smash with pepper cheese sauce, quick easy and good for you haha..

Had a great chat catch up with Jenna, all good.

Wed 24 Jan 10° Mojacar

Day out today, asked at reception for bus info, Mario's brother asked where we wanted to go, said he was going to Garrucha he will drive us. How kind, he spoke good English and gave us some info as we drove along the 5km. When we arrived he asked if we had breakfast and would we like coffee, he took us into a harbour cafe where he told us they make local delicacies......churros......Long thin doughnuts, he bought and paid wouldn't let us give him money. We had coffee with condenced milk,  very strong and sweet, with the churros which he wouldn't have any of, he had his coffee gave us a few pointers of local area and he left us to enjoy his treat.

Had a walk down through the fishing boats and along the harbour, walked back through the town and had coffee looking at the water, very pleasant, coffee was €1 each.

Strolled back to the end of town and caught the bus back €1.20, we stayed on till the end to see how far it went, but just did the circuit between end of Mojacar and Garrucha. He thought it was strange we had stayed on and when he stopped for his 10 min break he asked where we wanted to go, had a chat and a laugh then he drove on and we got off at the Dia supermarket. Tried the Trufi bar for their goulash soup on Pat's recommendation but they had none on today.

Called in to supermarket for few bits they had dry London gin for €4.20 700ml bottle plus 6 cans of tonic total less than 1 glass of gin and tonic in a bar......that's how they make their money.

Walked back to camp, Pat rang said diesel is up to €1.50 and lpg .90c in France so stick to the ferry from Spain.

Had a message from Tracey who was interested in Bessie, said they will come down to Portsmouth when we get back to have a look.

Looked at booking the ferry.

Bought a large cauliflower and broccoli so had a cauliflower smash with pepper cheese sauce and diced roast pork....yummmm.

Tues 23 Jan 15° Mojacar

Day around camp today, in the sun and more planning in the cold office....Ibiza was suggested but the ferry is 3 and a half hours one way....so we won't be doing that. Also ferry from  Le Harvre in France, yes it's cheaper but only had 4 berth cabins and moho could be parked out on deck....no thanks, stick to plan A.

Washing machine broken so washed a few bits by hand and drip dry them on the communal line.

Sat in  sun talking to Colin and Pat, told me to drink lots of water, I could have been dehydrated......not used to the sun haha.

Another Brit couple arrived in a Warwick Duo, not so long as theirs only 6m but they had a boot box on  the back and no dogs. Very nice couple Tony went to ask them about it while I caught up on the blog.

Sausages for Tony and salmon for me.

Mon 22 Jan 14° Mojacar

No wifi here!! Oh well it's warm and sunny....can't have everything.  Did some planning just  the office area.

We walked to the other end of the promanade towards the mountain pass, Tony recognised it as a beach we went to years ago with Pat and Les.

Walked back had tapas mix of 6 with bread and ability a beer or wine for €17. Very nice, chatted to a Brit who lives here, very interesting. He said Benidorm Palace is worth a visit, dinner and show.

As we walked back we passed Colin and Pat with the dogs on their way to the Irish Rovers pub for their afternoon tipple.

We past Bellavista and Valery restaurants again where we went with Pat and Les, so lots of memories around here.

I must have been in the sun too long, or read too late as finished my book last night, The Trance state, another good one from Pat, had a headache, so Tony cooked his dinner, mince, mushrooms and veges.

Sun 21 Jan 6° Mojacar

Very cold where we had moved to after Pat and Les left so we could get the  included wifi, checked other pitches,  only 1 in the sun between Colin and the Belgians. Colin said no pont being cold, it is a spare pitch, so come in beside....huge areas of camp empty but all in the shade, badly needed in summer when it gets to 42°.

So we drove in there and hooked up, soooo warm it was lovely, silly being cold in Spain while we have the sun....Sat in sun and chatted, Colin has a strong Scots accent, lovely couple with 2 spaniels in their 6.3m  Warwick campervan.

Stir fry pineapple,  capsicum and pork for dinner. Yummy.

Sat 20 Jan 11° Mojacar

Sorted out excess to requirement things for charity shop that we can't take back now in Bessie. Had a couple of enquiries, questions really,  on Bessie.

Tony cleaned out boot box and found the pump for the outdoor room we have never used.

We walked to Mojacar Parque Commercial shops and Cafe restaurants,  Pat said apparently Diedre from Coro St used to live here and have coffee there most days. So after a walk around to find the restaurant we went to years ago with Mum we sat and had a coffee....it came with 2 little cute pastries. We decided we had eaten up stairs, Closed now for winter,  overlooking what used to be a roundabout with a fountain,  now blocked over with an Indalo man in the middlein, looked much better with a fountain.

Up on the  hill is the Pueblo

Such a warm sunny spot we had another coffee....ice coffee in a long glass again with 2 little pastries.

Fish and chips broccoli gherkins for dinner.

Fri 19 Jan 9° Mojacar

Pat and Les left 9.30am to start their 2 weeks trip back to UK......cold, wet and some snow eeekkkk.

Cool with grey overcast sky, swept carpets and did housekeeping. Chatted to Aussie couple in long 9m moho, had it for 10 years travelling.

I put an add on motorhomes for sale site.

Homemade vege soup and bacon bits for dinner with fruit salad and yoghurt for desert

Thurs 18 Jan 10° Mojacar Pueblo day out

Les stayed and looked after dogs, we went with Pat on the bus up to the town built high up on the hill. €1.20 round trip.

Lovely warm sunny day, got up to 17°that's better.....

We had a menue del dia €9. Salad and croquets starter, pork fillet and chips for the girls and Tony had a good size hamburger, glass of wine or beer, coffee or ice cream. Walked around the narrow cobbled roads and lanes up and around through the house and hidden shops.  Up to the highest point with stunning views, blue sky and sea, picture perfect day.

Back down and bus back as the sun faded behind overcast skies and it cooled off, we certainly got the best of the day for our last Spanish day together.

5.30 gin and tonics in Bessie then walk back to the local bar restaurant via the  Dia supermarket,  very deceptive, small entrance opening up into a massive supermarket with great offerings......got quite excited about going back to do our shopping....very sad .....haha. Pat and Les stocked up for their trip home.

Back to them for a final nightcap.

Wed 17 Jan 4° Mojacar

Fresh sunny day, we cooked egg, bacon tomatoes and toast for us all for brunch. Colin  and Pat were outside so went to have a look in their camper.  Auto sleep with rear lounge with 2 singles which make it to a double. Good layout with everything you need, this layout could be a possibility for us in NZ. Again surprised how much room and that you can stand up easily.

Went for a walk along the promanade into hardware shop for mousetrap,  after all this time got first mouse droppings in Albox. Les said the best bait is chocolate.

Pat and Les friends came down after work for a farewell dinner together, met in NZ English pub, the Rose and Crown, done out very well, Black front door with No 10 and road sign on wall Downing Street,  very good bathrooms and real fresh home made pies that take 45 mins from ordering.....now that's fresh.

Great evening lots of chat and watched the second round FA cup football Chelsea and Norwich.

Tues 16 Jan 2° Albox - Mojacar

Farewell cuppa then we head to the coast for a few days together in a campsite, Les said they couldn't have done it all on time without us, both very grateful but we are just so pleased that it worked out that we were able to come to help and farewell their house and 15 years of great holidays and happy family memories.

 Pat and Les to town to the Notary and Solicitors for final legal paperwork and hand over the keys.

We left 10am, stopped into to Lidl for fruit and vegetables, diesel at €1.06......very good price, thanks Les for directions, got a fill €39.80 37 ltrs.

Arrived at campsite, walk to beach, shops, bars and restaurants  €20 plus €4 Ehu found 2 sites next to each other, put out table and chairs and had a cuppa,  under trees which would be needed in summer for shade but only get dappled sun this time of year. Tony spoke to neibours in a campervan Colin and Pat, who have an Auto Sleeper said we could look anytime.

Pat and Les arrived about 3.30pm found another site and within minutes 3 other moho's arrived and parked next to and opposite them.

Packed away and walked to beach bar they knew, had drinks and Tapas and stayed for dinner, very nice German owner and young English waitress, very friendly and good food.

Got talking to man next to us Ian in a camper van, great guy let us have a look inside, good layout fitted bed but smaller than ours, but pleasantly surprised how roomy it was and can stand up. Peugeot Boxer, Swift Mondial .  Turns out he is parked in the next space to us at campsite but drove down to do his washing and have a drink.

Les only had tee shirt and shorts on and by now very cold walking back, in to us for a nightcap, good post sale celebration.
 

Mon 15 Jan 4° Albox

Last day in the house,  last clean, tidy and pack up.
Last dinner, last dog walk.

Back to Bessie,  leisure batteries down, haven't had Ehu or sun for a while, so no heater brrrrr.

Sun 14 Jan 5° Albox

The final countdown.....we took the dogs for a walk while the buyers came for walk through and information gathering of house etc......3 hours later they left, a lot to go over. Pat had written most things down for them as well so they were well pleased.

Had the rest of our currys from yesterday for lunch. Caught up on blog and replied to one enquiry on Bessie.

Pat and Les gave us their memory foam mattress topper so Tony and I cut it to fit the mattress in Bessie so see how my hips are tonight on that, looks extremely comfy.

Chicken and vege for dinner.

Pat and Les move into Ruby tonight, so tommorow final bits before we all leave Casa Patrizia and end of a 15 year era for them and lots of very happy memories.

Sat 13 Jan 4° Albox

Cold again, good day for cleaning house and tidying garden.

Pat put a message on about us wanting to sell Bessie, so I wrote an add and decision made! We are very sad and dissapointed not to be able to take her back, but all plans subject to change and Plan B is to look for a smaller  self contained campervan whike in house sit in Auckland for John and Lesley,  that we can park at home home when the tenants move out in October and travel from there.

We can still do the South Island so not cancelling our adventures just adapting them, and being back in the house we can travel around the weather haha.

After a very full on day Les said he wanted to buy Tony a beer he had worked so hard today, so we got changed and went for a beer and they shouted us a curry from Indian restaurant,  lots of different curry's that we didn't know, we all ordered different ones and tried a little of, all delicious.

Back to Bessie for pink Port and a honey liqueur for Pat who had a bit of a cold or allergy from the bar we had a pre dinner drink in.

Fri 12 Jan 3° Albox

Very cold but will soon  warm up as it's cleaning house day today, Pat and Les were packing and getting Ruby ready to leave on Tuesday after sign off and key handover. We did the apartment and downstairs patio.

Very busy day,  but still a lot to do.

Turkey steaks and veg for dinner, drinks and chat till late , looking at Pats photo slides from the 70's......a real blast from the past haha.

Thurs 11 Jan 14° Almeria to Albox

Lovely day again, blue sky and sunshine, we slept in 10am! All that exercise yesterday haha.

Aches and pains not too bad considering all we did. Walked along the promanade,  couple of surfers out in the sea.

Pat rang,  she said enjoy the sun shine, it's cold and very windy there. As we drove on it did get very windy and we certainly felt the gusts in Bessie.

Lots of discussion on Plan B and C and different options if we don't take Bessie  back,  feeling very sad and dissapointed.

Rugid,  baron landscape through here, past town called Vera and lots of lemon trees and windy as we drove into Albox, recognised quite a few places,sat nav took us past Pat and Les road, turned round and arrived just before 4pm they were waiting at the neighbours fence, we were parking in her driveway while here. Clicked over 17,000 miles.

Went up to their house, had a cuppa and a catch up,  then out for a beer and to the Happy Garden restaurant,  we all had the Korean speciality Binbanbok.....or something like that...a hot sizzling bowl with rice, vege and choice of meat. Yummy. Complimentary liqueur s.

Back to Pat and Les for brandy night cap,  looked through Pats old photo slides of early 70's....a real blast from the past haha.

Wed 10 Jan 12° Almeria

Beautiful day for our exploring, a one and half hour walk started off well along the promanade,  then up and up .....castles are always on top of hills.....then many, many steps, knees and hips  complaining but worth the  views from the top.

The historic Monument of La Alcazaba medieval fortress, 500 years old, similar to Alhambre in Granada but bigger and amazingly it was free entry.

Water ways running down from  the top through well maintained gardens which were once streets and houses.

When we had finished and come outside we spotted a Moroccan cafe restaurant  so after all our excersie and climbing we treated ourselves to morrocan tea and cakes yummy, €8.50 for 4 cakes and a delicious pot of sweet morrocan tea.

Met Julian from Wanaka and a young German lawyer Peter, we walked together to the Catedral Fortress  at €4.50 entry including audio guide well worth it.

Afterwards Julian offered to shout us a beer in the square, first beer came with crisps and cheese tapas, 2nd beer with plate of tomatoes and olive oil.....Tony  said how good the tomatoes were, so 3rd beer we got an even bigger plate of  tomatoes.

Had a good chat, two great guys, Peter went off to his hotel and Julian offered to walk us to the bus stop. Much easier than the long walk in.

Chorizo risotto for dinner.