A final Hi.
Last time I was heading North. Now I am back but I thought that those of you still awake might like to see a few more pictures from, my return journey. Not you MikeF, I'm afraid there's a lot of tarmac here!

Here are the pictures:

Stopover in Benidorm. If it had been on my list of places to visit, it wouldn't be anymore!

I stopped off in Moraira to take some pictures for a friend.

Next stopover was at Vilanova i la Geltru near Barcelona. Then the next day I crossed the border into France after doing some shopping for cheap booze and tobacco. The French customs must have thought I was carrying something else so they gave my van a thorough search. Luckily no rubber gloves!

That night I stopped at Le Boulou, just across the border, and the next day I went to Perpignan. I parked the van in the grounds of the house where a friend was staying. After a great meal, lots of wine and a good sleep I set off intending to get to the next set of friends North West of Bezier. This was Saturday the 24th January. I ended up in the middle of the "big storm". I sat it out in a picnic area on the motorway. The next morning was calm but about 30 trees had fallen down in the "Aire".

So I continued my journey through lovely French countryside.

I left my van in the valley because the roads are quite steep and narrow up to the house.

The Village

We went for a ride through the forest

Ugly bloke and a view.

After two nights there I continued my journey north.

Onto the Massif Central

Across the Millau viaduct

It was a bit bleak and cold on the top (about 1100 Metres)

That night I stayed at a service station 130 miles from Calais. Wednesday I woke early and drove to the Tunnel. Because I hadn't pre-booked anything, the tunnel wasn't too much more expensive than the ferry.

After being thoroughly searched by both the French and the UK customs (the van - not me!) I crossed the channel and drove home.

So that's it, my holiday is over and I'm sat here wearing 2 fleeces with the central heating on high. Still, I did avoid some of the winter, and it will soon be spring. Now I need to get a job so that I can afford to do that again sometime. So if anyone knows of any vacancies let me know - anything considered.

Thanks for looking.

P.S. The winner of the sunrise competition was Steph. There's a bottle of Rioja waiting.

I was at Los Escullos (spelt correctly this time) - this is the local beach. There's not much else here - a hotel and a few houses. There's a small town just up the coast a bit - La Isletta (I think) - you can see it in the picture. The nearest reasonable sized town is San Jose to the south. I would have preferred to stay there but the campsite is closed in winter.
I cycled to San Jose on the coast track. It started off quite wide and a good surface

but soon I had to get off and push

I didn't see another person for 2 hours

A bit scary squeezing past the rockfall
the end is in sight

Lovely little town on nice bay with a small harbour

and restaurants! - Is this what you're talking about MikeF?

Refreshed, I cycled back on the road. Much quicker.

I visited Nijar nice but "touristy" (except no tourists at this time of year)

Famous for the rugs they make here

... and gangs of cats!

Las Negras

Finally a competition. A bottle of Rioja for the first correct answer.

What is this a picture of?

Yesterday I started the journey North (didn't really want to). Last night I stayed near Benidorm. Tonight I'm at Vilanova i la Geltru, just south west of Barcelona. I should be home by next weekend.

Hello again.
I left Torrox on the 5th and headed west. I went past Salobrena again.

The area around here is intensively farmed. They grow fruit in large plastic green houses. Every available piece of level ground is used.

There's still some room for little towns - Calahonda

- Castell de Ferro

Stayed one night at Castillo de Banos. A nice little campsite next to the sea.

Some people really make themselves at home.

- Aguadulce

- apartments with a sea view.

I went past Almeria and ended up at Camping Cabo de Gata. The coast is 2Km away and the town of Cabo de Gata is 3 Km away. The area is a Natural Park - semi desert - the dryest place in Europe. It is quiet and beautiful.

- the fishing fleet

They still produce salt at Almadraba, to the south.

- derelict church

The "Salinas" are used by flamigos.

if you get too close they get nervous

then they fly away.

Not sure what this one is - it just ran away.

Cabo de Gata lighthouse - the bottom right hand corner of Spain.

Looking towards Almeria.

Snow on the Sierra Navada above Almeria.

and now, just for change, an ugly bloke and a sunset.

Tomorrow I'm moving to Los Esculios, a campsite NE of here. Bye for now.