Portugal ?!

 
Having talked at length about maybe maybe going to Portugal again this spring - mainly for an orienteering event called the POM - the major event in the portugese orienteering calendar it seems - we at last decided, fixed a date, and, booked the ferry on fri....... to actually leave Warminster on sunday..... and take the Britanny Ferry from Portsmouth down to Bilbao, a trip of 24hrs on the high seas roughly.

From there we would drive awhile to a campsite and set up overnight then leave early in order to arrive at Idanha a Nova in Baira Baixa, a province in mid Portugal, in time to set up camp and have an evening meal and early bed. This was the plan at least !!


We packed the caravan and Land Rover, taking the awning as well with us - hoping for some finer weather so to be able to eat outside, or at least under cover outside if need be. We have a double electric hotplate which we set up on a camp kitchen in the awning and we always prefer to cook there if at all possible. Otherwise, the whole caravan just smells continuously of food !! and of course, mostly of garlic.....ok for a while only.

Also, where else do you put your damp soggy smelly walking boots and trainers to dry off ?? Coats, towels, dish cloths, swimming costumes ...... everything seems to get wet and damp on holiday. At home, all this stuff is hardly noticeable, but in a caravan it is a nightmare. Chinese laundry style ....not good for the soul. I need a peaceful calming environment. So it all stays out in the awning out of sight (most of the time at least).

Sunday morning arrives, and the car is laden with last minute stuff (where does it all come from?) and we are excited about the trip. 12 o'clock and we got a text from the ferry company - CANCELLED - due to a raging storm in the Bay of Biscay !!! The next ferry would be on Tuesday....aarrgghh. Now what. A walk in the forest, a swim, more food shopping. Normal life for another couple of days.

Bit of an anti-climax really but nothing we could do about it. Philosophical ? - we are.

Dwarfed !!

And so, we pottered about, house tidying-up, Philip on his computer non-stop it seemed, checking up maps etc in Portugal, and me just resorting our bags !! deadly, I'm sure I kept adding things I might need, art stuff, knitting, my tapestry, more books and so on...

Tuesday, we prep to go, and again - a text at mid-day to say that the ferry was cancelled, very sorry etc but same reason, same wild waves and howling wind in Bay of Biscay. O M G I feel we are destined not to go at all. Another night in Warminster.

Tyres on their way down to Jerez for a Grand Prix practice !! 

Wednesday, no text so off we go. Hooray, cant believe it's actually happening after all the delays and disappointments. Fetch the caravan from storage in Frome, and head off to Portsmouth.

  We arrive in good time; I am one of those people who just hate being late and under pressure so make sure that we leave promptly for wherever we want to go to, - if we are early so much the better and so much more chilled. Civilised.

Now for Philip it is another matter altogether. Time - what's that ????    ....what do you mean late ?

I actually think this way of thinking was drummed into me while I lived in Germany - I was told over and over that to be late is very very rude to the one who is waiting for you ??!! so now I am ultra cautious about timings and make sure the journey and arrival time is manageable. phew......who wants stress at our age ? why ?

The ferry was comfortable, the cabin adequate, well in fact, compared to the caravan it was very adequate !! Ensuite shower room with loo and sink, twin beds, lots of spare bedding, separate wardrobes, huge mirrors, dressing table etc. I could live in there quite easily.

Only thing missing was radio 4 !!

It was a bit like a warm and cosy coccoon; eventually it would be claustrophobic. We did like to wander round in the gusting fresh air outside now and then indeed.


Last time we travelled on one of these long haul ferries we were entertained by a full-on cabaret with comedian and dancing girls etc etc. This time, mid winter, it was bingo, pub quiz and card making classes !! quite a come-down ?

 A husband and wife team were in charge of the 'entertainment' and bless them, they put their heart and soul into the effort but bingo with 8 people ?? bit like christmas at home on your own really !!

Fearsome horns !

I joined in with everything, Philip put up with me joining in (he likes to humour me when it suits him) and I was definitely in holiday mood so - get some fun while you can. I always reckon everything is fun if you have the right attitude to it. Even cycling.......I have yet to find this really really fun though.

I am persevering with this one as Philip seems to adore cycling !!! Easier on his knees I gather than running. Walking never seems to give me any problems which is why I love it so much.

There, that is how we got there - a very very quiet campsite, about 100 m from a beautiful lake, surrounded by charming olive trees, cork oaks and free-roaming cattle.



Rural idyll.