Motorhoming in Spain

[Threviel]

So, apparently there's a total eclipse in Spain in August. That seems like a once in a lifetime thing, so we thought we'd go there.

We started planning a year or so ago, looking for a camp site where we could reserve a spot and that's close to some location where we can observe the eclipse. Apparently the northern coast is prone to clouds in the evening, so I started to go around on street view on Google maps to se what I could find inland. Trying to find someplace flat, but with some kind of hill to stand on. I noticed this place:


Penafiel castle stands out on a large flat field and it has camp site just below and that camp site has booked the castle for its customers during the eclipse. We booked.

We don't normally travel in August, that's maximum holiday time and expensive and lots of Dutch everywhere. It's also the warmest time and we do not have an AC in our motorhome. We usually just saunter around and go where we feel like, sometimes we have some specific target, but rarely. This time we have to do it differently, plan the trip in advance and try to book as many places as we can.

We'll be going long distances the first few days, first to Bremen, then on to Bastogne. We'll be there when the WC final is played, so I'm rooting for a Belgian win. Me and my wife also love Band of Brothers, so we'll be visiting the WWII museum even if my mood for masturbatory US style museums have soured something fierce these last years. The museum in Bastogne, like those in Normandy seems geared for an American audience and that's always a bad sign when it comes to the quality of the exhibitions.

Then it's on to Orleans and a few days there. I've always wanted to see Orleans and the footways along the river seems very nice to explore. Place de pique-niques everywhere. From Orleans we're going to Les Eyzies to look at cave paintings. We were here last time we went to France and it made such an impression we want to re-visit so that the kids can experience it now that they're older. There are a few caves around, most notably Rouffignac.

Then on to Cahors and after that it's:

Gouffre de Padirac this some kind of hole in the ground that sounds fun.

From there we go to Andorra, just because. We'll be staying in Canillo. This is also where it seems Spanish hospitality takes over, it was difficult to find a camp site that answered our mails and that also accepted less than a week long stay, but we managed in the end.

The wife, having read Hemingway, wants to go to Pamplona. After Andorra we have a few days unplanned, before we head to San Sebastian. We want to go to Pamplona, but other than that we don't know. Apparently Spain is quite large, so there'll be lots of driving.

We booked a camping in San Sebastian. We had originally planned on doing both Bilbao and San Sebastian but Bilbao has no campings nearby and the motorhome sites only accepts reservations from Spanish nationals and only for 48h. Once again Spanish hospitality. So we have a camping i San Sebastian, we plan on eating and drinking well for a few days, on one of whom we'll take the train to Bilbao to go to Guggenheim.

Then it's on to Penafiel. Apparently we pass by the location of the graveyard standoff in "The good, the bad and the ugly" and wife wants to go there. It's a bit hard to get to, so I don't know if we manage with our clumsy car.

Last year, on August the 12th, IIRC, it was over 40 degrees in Penafiel, over 30 in the night. So it'll be interesting to see if we'll survive. Yesterday it was 27-28 degrees here and the motorhome was stiflingly hot. We have bought a cheap AC, but due to air flow it's not very efficient.

The kids start school on August 17th so on the 14th we head for home, as fast as we can.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Castile in August 

Very brave.

[Duque de Bragança]

Castile in August 

Very brave.

Yep, and the worst half of it.

[celedhring]

Disagree, that's the best part of it.

Still thermal suicide.

[Duque de Bragança]

Disagree (...)

Still thermal suicide.

So we agree, actually. 

[Threviel]

Fun thing about absorption fridges in campers and caravans. They rely on ammonium and the process stops working at around 32 degrees. So I hope they have blocks of ice in the supermarkets, otherwise our food options will be limited. And no cold white wine which would be horrible.

According to AI we can expect, with a high degree of probability, 30-35ish during the day and 15-20 during the night, which seems to be the normal historic range. It did note however that it has been getting warmer.

I expect it to be absolutely horrible, but my wife says it'll be ok and I should stop trying to prepare for it.

[Maladict]

Looks like a great trip. I cancelled mine and am now betting on next year's eclipse in Cadiz.

[celedhring]

Fun thing about absorption fridges in campers and caravans. They rely on ammonium and the process stops working at around 32 degrees. So I hope they have blocks of ice in the supermarkets, otherwise our food options will be limited. And no cold white wine which would be horrible.

In my experience, all gas station convenience stores sell ice.

Most regular supermarkets that carry frozen foods will sell ice too.

[Threviel]

Excellent, good news, then we'll at least manage foodstuffs.

The camp site we're staying at has a pool and presumably some temperature controlled common areas.

Otherwise we'll stay on the coast or in the mountains primarily.

Anyone with any tips on Orleans?

[Threviel]

Looks like a great trip. I cancelled mine and am now betting on next year's eclipse in Cadiz.

Sorry to hear, was it Trump?

Cadiz is probably even worse with heat, so hopefully we won't have to go there to experience one.

[Norgy]

I like the ambition of this holiday. I feel cowardly for having chosen the non-lethal option myself.

On a more serious note, I think this sounds like a memorable holiday, probably both for good and some badm

[mongers]

Threviel thanks for this thread, hope you and your family have a great time.


Looking forward to reading aboutyour adventures, is it set to be like the early atmosphere of 'Breaking Bad', motorhome stuck in the desert, but without the drugs? 

[Maladict]

Looks like a great trip. I cancelled mine and am now betting on next year's eclipse in Cadiz.

Sorry to hear, was it Trump?

Cadiz is probably even worse with heat, so hopefully we won't have to go there to experience one.

No it's more a question of probabilities. Next year's eclipse will be much higher up in the sky, and longer too I think. I'll tack on a week in Madrid and hide in the museums.

[Duque de Bragança]

Looks like a great trip. I cancelled mine and am now betting on next year's eclipse in Cadiz.

Sorry to hear, was it Trump?

Cadiz is probably even worse with heat, so hopefully we won't have to go there to experience one.

No it's more a question of probabilities. Next year's eclipse will be much higher up in the sky, and longer too I think. I'll tack on a week in Madrid and hide in the museums.

Madrid is hellish during Summer.