Ok you experienced snowbirds, what's the best way home?

Morella if you do decide to go the aire is about a mile from the town and secluded we parked overnight right outside the town walls as you drive to town a sharp right turn then up past the bus park to highest point large parking area and park there overnite ok'ed by tourist office
 
Thanks Witzend. I've been told it's quite a climb to get there!
 
Hi Carol, if you do try the A23 and the Somport Tunnel there are safe overnight parking places at Teruel (plaza de Civil Guard) 40.33194N/1.09278W. Carinena (Aire) 41.33806N/1.22934W. and Oleron St Marie (Aire) 43.18386N/0.60851W. one of my useful coffee break stopping places on the A23 is at KM202 which is also handy for fuel and gas if you are needing it.
I think that the road from Huesca through the mountains to Jaca is well worth seeing.
I hope this helps
safe travelling
Colin
 
carol said:
Thanks Witzend. I've been told it's quite a climb to get there!
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Yes uphill for miles but fairly wide roads with center markings to drive there. With plenty of steep streets to walk around when there, Park where I suggested and a level 200 mtr walk into the town
 
carol said:
That's a brilliant site. Hopefully it'll all be ok when I get there but really useful for the outward journey next year!
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Are you going earlier next year Carol?, you should try spending the Winter there
 
Going home - day 1

Left Jenny and John yesterday and did 2 hour drive to the Aire in Simat de Valldigna. It's a really nice spot. When we stayed here on the way down it was empty. When I arrived yesterday at 2 00 PM it was packed! Still managed to get into a nice spot with view of the mountains. The weather was lovely too (it had been really wet and windy in Albir). Next stop Segorbes, I think. Anyone stayed there? After that, not sure...:wave:
 
Hi carol,

We stayed at Simat on the way down and on the way back you can get good wi-fi free at the tourist booth at the top of the square and the Monastery is worth a visit also small Supermarket in back street left at main junction by the square.Is this the Place.

Snowbirds.



carol said:
Left Jenny and John yesterday and did 2 hour drive to the Aire in Simat de Valldigna. It's a really nice spot. When we stayed here on the way down it was empty. When I arrived yesterday at 2 00 PM it was packed! Still managed to get into a nice spot with view of the mountains. The weather was lovely too (it had been really wet and windy in Albir). Next stop Segorbes, I think. Anyone stayed there? After that, not sure...:wave:
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Yes, that's the one. Just spoken to a youngish couple of Brits in a big RV and they've been here 2 weeks! Everyone looks really settled in, chairs out, even a washing line going at the moment! 😀
 
Hi carol,

We love the place even when the kids throw oranges at you but they must be all picked by know.Have they finished the shop or house on the corner across the road by the small garden yet.

Snowbirds.:dance:



carol said:
Yes, that's the one. Just spoken to a youngish couple of Brits in a big RV and they've been here 2 weeks! Everyone looks really settled in, chairs out, even a washing line going at the moment! 😀
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Day 3 simat to segorbe

Woke up to the sound of rain on the roof. I normally like that but when I parked up I noticed it had been a bit boggy where I'd parked so obsessed about it and decided to move asap! Also, the Aire I was heading to was on street parking and was worried about getting an easy place to park...those who've travelled with me know my reversing is an interesting spectacle to behold! Got there about 12 and the place was deserted apart from one van. The woman from the van came to my window and asked me about bill....what bill, do we need to pay? No, Bill and Sonia, you know them? Turns out it was a couple I'd met and spent some fun time with in La Mata...

So, spent most of the day doing nothing. Decided to go and walk up to the old walled town. Really interesting but I was worrying about the van parked all on its own and a dream I'd had which I won't bore you all with, so didn't spend as much time exploring as I'd have liked to.

Got back and a van with a GB plate arrived. Went to introduce myself to see if they were staying (so I could have a glass or two of wine without thinking I might have to dash off) and was invited in for a drink. What an interesting guy. Irish, seemed to know all the right people at the right time, loads of tales to tell...so it wasn't such a bad move as I'd thought. 😊
 
Day 4 - segorbes to morella

Woke up to another sunny day, with no wind, hurrah! Said farewell to my new best friend, Gerry and set off to Morella. It's a walled hilltop town and at 1000 metres alt, I'd been warned it was a bit of a drive up! Some serious hairpins but all in all a pleasant drive which took about 2 hours. The Aire is lovely but about an alleged km below the town. Had a good walk up, though was told you could only go by the main road, which I did. I've since been told there's a path up but I've yet to find it! Noisy neighbours last night for the first time! Not having fun noisy, but shouty noisy �� Where to tomorrow? :wave:
 
Our next stop was the Monestary at Poblet ,but we were heading for Barcelona. Shame about noisey neighbours.
 
Day 5 morella to jaca

Beautiful morning and toyed with the idea of lounging around but instead decided to do a heftier drive as it was Sunday and there's always less traffic. I'd intended heading towards Huesca but some people I'd met told me there was a fair on and no parking, and that they'd gone to the Aire in Jaca, about a 4 hour drive away. What a drive....it was so exhilarating driving through the mountains although I got much giddier heights than I'd expected. I swear at one point I was looking down on snow topped peaks! Saw some massive eagles and other birds of prey soaring above. I think if I had to choose between the mountains or seaside I'm going to choose the mountains.

Arrived in Jaca but the weather was deteriorating so just about had time for a quick walk round the town and back to the van, though still early to be holed up. Watched a video and went to bed early. About 3 I was woken up by a massive bolt of thunder, then lightening which lit my whole van up through the skylight. The thunder bolts reverberated around the mountains and I realised that the storm was passing above. I thought about the old VW with the pop top that had parked nearby and wondered how they were faring as the rain lashed down. Amazingly I went back to sleep! It had all been so dramatic I thought for a second I'd been dreaming when I woke up to sunshine and a dry VW top van!
 
JACA TO OLERON ST MARIE (2hrs)

SHOULD HAVE SAID DAY 6

Left Jaca about 10 ish to call in to the Eroski that I didn't know existed until I contacted my sat nav (my bestest friend). I was contemplating going back to Huesca for a Lidl until I had the good sense to look at the map! Shopping done for cheap Spanish vino and set off to the Somport Tunnel, only half hour ish away. An easy run and through in 8 minutes apparently...Interesting to be in France again. The road from the tunnel is a bit scary. It's very, very narrow in parts with great big lorries coming towards you. I saw an amazing bird and I have to confess my ignorance as I can't identify any of them, but this was coloured an orangey brown on the top, very big and I shouldn't really have spent as much time looking at it as I did given the road I was driving on!
Arrived in one piece at the Aire, recommended by other wild campers. Set up my stall, went for a walk, came back, ate something and went to bed...:wave:
 
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Thanks David. It probably was though I thought it looked more orangey...
 
DAY 7 Oleron ST MARIE TO CAUMONT SUR GARONNE (3 and half hours)

Had a pleasant evening - a stroll into the town and a look at the river. The Aire is next t a very old bridge. I was going to go to Labastide D'Armagnac, as recommended by someone but one of the others caught my eye as it was supposedly very pretty and overlooking the canal, and decided to do the longer journey there. I was just reversing into the bay (I think I'm getting better!) when 4 people arrived on bicycles who it turns out were the couples I'd spent time with in Spain! I wad parked up next to them without realising. A total coincidence that we should be on that Aire at that time...So, had a good day. Barbecue, vino and a couple of games of Trionimoes. If you've not heard of it it's played with triangular dominoes and really good fun. Went to sleep to the sound of owls hooting.
 
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