Mon 26 March 10° Lekeitio Gautegiz-Arteagako-Bilbao

Gusts of wind and short sharp bursts of rain during the night. Blue sky and sunshine this morning as we drive inland on our way to Bilbao.

Pretty mountain villages and climb up into the pine and tree covered  mountains , next we are up above the tree tops, very pretty just don't look down. Quaint little village of Gautegiz-Arteagako , different language here , this is Basque country, with a free Aire with services, but decided to press on to Bilbao.

Very green rolling hills and mountains dark with trees. We saw Easygas diesel at €1.03 very cheap so pulled in for a fill  €40 39 ltrs. Very helpful staff filled up for us.

Came off a turn too soon and into the city eeekkkk....very difficult to get back out, the roads cross each other every which way, eventually found the right road, up, up, up.....we thought we had climbed some heights but this was crazy...but it is the only campsite in town so lots of motorhomes have done it before us. Amazing perseverance on the skippers part around very trying road systems in the city.

What a view  .... €15 no showers, just waste, fresh water and ehu. Bus into town every 15 mins.

Went to pay only took today have to pay every day....picked up the last baguette  €1 but still very fresh. First pitch we tried was up on the upper lever, as if we hadn't climbed enough already...but we were too long, back down and got a front row overlooking the stadium, the river and the whole panoramic view of the city. With it for that alone haha.

Pork for the skipper, salmon for me both with veg and potatoes . 

Sun 25 March 10° Lekeitio

The final countdown.....4 days until we catch the ferry.

Sunshine through the showers,  48hrs max in the Aire so have to move on but campsite in Bilbao max 72hrs so found a little place in  between.

Just as we were leaving the Garda came on their rounds, so Tony asked if we could stay 1 more night, they agreed without hesitation,  perfect timing,  very friendly policemen.

The rain  stopped and the sun came out between more showers.

Spices mince and rice for dinner.

Sat 24 March 10° Lekeitio

Short sharp downpours off and on during the night. Woke to a glorious sunny day and the gentle soft clanking of goat bells in the hills behind, it's like being in the Alps.

Wrote blog then walked next door to the free Botanical garden and bird aviary,  a very colourful mix of birds quite gorgeous, what can I say I like birds haha.

Then the rain came again, so back to Bessie for soup and baguette for lunch.

The rest of the day was wet so a good day to write Fiona's Eulogy,  typed it in email to Jenna to get it printed for Tony to read at the Memorial on 17th April.

Lots of motorhomes and campervans came in but still not full, great spot on good hard standing pitch,  great for the wet weather.

Spices pork stir fry and noodles yum. UK clocks go forward 1 hour.

Fri 23 March 9° San Sebastian - Lekeitio

White sky this morning, but dry after another noisey night and early morning wake up. Decided to move on to next stop. Went to pay and the office machine said my card was cancelled...went to get Tony's and that was OK  €76. When we were in Pamplona I got cash from a Santander bank machine and my card got stuck...wouldn't come out,  put my pin in again and asked for receipt and out came my card...so thought it might have done something to the card.

Slow drizzle today, this is Basque country and they are very proud of their uniqueness they say Grathius, in fact most of Spain  and Catalonia say Grathia .....bit like UK lots of different accents all over. Very pretty like little French villages.  Another climb up another mountain 7% gradient. Then down to the coast and a really pretty drive along the coast through seaside village with large hill out in the sea, long promenade walk around cliff on edge of road as no pavements,  very well done. Hills on one side rocks to the sea on the other,  reminiscent of Wellington coast.

Steam train to Bilbao....Pat would live that.

Climbing again, very green with pretty chalet type houses similar to Austria, signs for the Santiago de Compostela walk.

This whole coast peppered with little villages built on the hillsides and down to the sea all with golden sandy beaches.

Very winding roads along the cliff not for the feint hearted  eekkkkk...we do find some roads don't we haha.

Sat nav decided to take us through the village with its narrow streets, we got stuck behind a truck and had to reverse with the cars behind drivers us so the truck could pull into a parking bay and let us through. Then sat nav tried to tell us go down streets that were one way...the other way...so took ourselves up and around the town and came to our parking spot. A dedicated moho place for 15 motorhomes with waste dump....free, each with a concrete picnic table and benches behind on the grass. 48hrs max stay. Search for sites you've done it again!

The sun came out and we sat outside for lunch then walked into the town, found a Santander bank and the man who was not a bit like a banker, very casually dressed and a bit in need of a shave...anyway grooming aside, he was very helpful and tried my card again in the machine and it worked yeahhhhh...so must have been something wrong with the camp machine. So alls well that ends well.

Spotted the port between the little tiny streets so walked down and around, saw the fisherman unloading their catch.

Surf life saving

Lots of cafes all along the harbour so found dead a spot in the sun for a coffee and a pastry with a very nice warming brandy.....into what they do.....haha.

On the way back we heard the birds singing in the Aviery free botanical zoo next door to the car park, will go and have a look tomorrow .

Egg, bacon, mushrooms,  tomatoes ,  kumera and potato chips.

Finished my last book.

Thursday 22 March 8° San Sebastian

Bus back into town for second day which was as good as the first. We got off the bus at the end of beach we hadn't walked to yesterday  and walked all the way along to the city centre, came upon La Perla restaurant with fabulous views on the beach, had coffee and octopus....yum the waitress told us they are Basque and say Grathius...very proud of their uniqueness.

Road sweepers keep it clean and tidy

Sand art

Continued our walk, bought a yummy ice cream....just pips the one at the Mount ...then continued our walk to the new bridge over the river to the other side which had large multi storey car park. Around the headland to another golden sand beach.

That's snow on the distant mountains

Walked back and got the bus back to the campsite, decided as it was such a lovely evening to have a beer on the camp terrace bar. Met English couple in a vw van...no toiket, they use a bucket and fdeuebt the bushes...they were retired and 70....from Retford north of Lincoln ....so have now met some very unlikely people who give motorhomersmotorhomes a bad name. Travelling for 4 weeks to meet family in Grenada for his birthday then back to UK for babysitting duties.

Sausages, salmon, potatoes, Brussels and butternut with roquefort sauce for me...yum