The planes run across the road!

26th – 30th May
After the last marathon blog hopefully this will not be quite so long but you’ve all had a weekend off so should be ready for it.
With another 100 miles left to do to get to La Linea we made damn good time but at some point as we approached it Joan decided that the sat-nav lady did not have a clue and directed me to ignore her. What followed was a very extensive drive around the surrounding area until we returned to the point where the sat-nav had said turn left, and within a couple of miles we found the campsite. (I’m saying nothing!).


On our various detours trying to find it we had spotted several motorhomes parked apparently for the night and we were tempted to join them, thank God we didn’t. The next day when we cycled to Gibraltar we had to pass through a huge market set up where they had been, phew. As they were all French we now think they must have been waiting to catch the ferry to Tangiers.
La Linea campsite turned out to be combined with the local social/sports centre, this at first worried us but we soon realised that it was manned 24 hours a day and so was pretty safe. On the evening we arrived the temperature was somewhere in the thirties, but the next morning we were subjected to the Levant wind and a lot of cloud so the small person was definitely not amused. We spent the whole day wearing our coats which we’d put away a couple of weeks earlier!


As I said, we visited Gibraltar on our bikes and it was very strange as we were in this sort of manic rush of traffic and people trying to get on and when we returned it was just the same to get off again. The other thing is the road goes straight across the airport runway so it seems worse. We were stopped for passports and then had to wait while a plane taxied out and then returned and took off, the barrier opened and I thought somebody had said free pound notes for the first 4 across! Although there was a so called cycle way it was full of people and scooters, amazing. The small one was quite frightened.


Those of you still awake and who have been following this, will remember that I was attempting to find an ex-colleague who I believed lived here and we decided to try and find him first. We did not succeed but it was not for the want of help from the authorities. The lady on the door of the civic centre sent us to another building across the road and also went and scoured the phone books for us. Meanwhile at the other building which was the Parliament we were given access and helped to search the electoral roll. When we left the first lady came over and handed me a piece of paper with a possible phone number on it, which was kind of her. However we had a pleasant time there and it was certainly an experience. I did try the phone number at different times and got no answer but I’ll keep trying.


On the way back the wind was so strong that we kept to the back streets away from the coast to try to get some shelter as we were peddling against it. We were exhausted when we got back but just then the sun came out and it was red hot again. Having thought we might stay a while I was suddenly informed we were leaving in the morning! Actually we did look at the beach and it left a bit to be desired really.


So on Thursday 28th May we set off for our last stop before reaching Portugal. It was just over 200 miles so we tried to leave early and for once managed it. Ever since we arrived here at Isla Cristina it’s been good. I can’t explain it but it is just perfect, so much so that after one night we extended our stay to several days and I am not sure we won’t stay even longer. One couple in a caravan near us are here for the 5th year and have been here 7 weeks. Although very few people in the town speak any English at all they are all so friendly and helpful. We’ve got temperatures in the 30’s, free wi-fi, nice neighbours an amazing security system, the sea is warm and is only about 200yds away! A typical example of our stay here is we had a really nice German couple called Joe and Ingrid parked behind us in a Hymer van like the one we first owned. I am not sure how but we got chatting, I think Joan commented on the van. Over the next few days we spent a lot of time together especially in the evenings. They were so lovely, both had a brilliant sense of humour and spoke good English. We got on really well, so much so that they have invited us to come to Germany next year where they will introduce us to some nice beer gardens. Sounds good to us!


Some other good news is that we have heard by email from some of the St Reverend Boule club 2008 and we will be seeing them when we hit France again.

Happy 30th Birthday to John Bell, hope it’s a good one!!
Lots of love,
Joan & Bryan xxxx