Its Saturday 5th September 2020 and the time has finally arrived for us to set off to our 2nd home in San Miguel De Salinas, Alicante. #spain
We have been waiting for this moment for months. Due to lockdown we wasn't allowed to go anywhere. So lets see if we made it.
Car all loaded up not forgetting Minni Pooch #dogsabroad with her little passport of course, full tank of diesel cost 56pound and 27pence and that took us 268 miles from Failsworth to Elham Kent, a gorgeous little village 10minutes drive away from the channel tunnel.
Roads we travelled on M60, M56, M6, M1, M52, M2, A2 and M20 and yes every single road all the way to the channel tunnel had roadworks.
Not forgetting the Dartford Crossing which you have to pay for online and you only get to midnight the next day to cough up or you could get a big fine. And I do believe it is a big fine as you only get one appeal - basically by acting daft. Online "The Dartford"
Oh before I forget our travel mugs purchased from Morrisons stayed hot for nearly 2hours into our journey. And at 3 quid each worth every penny!
We decided after a 6 hour drive to stay the night so we could get more miles done the following day. So we had booked an Air B&B. #airbandb
Sorry for the blurred picture - it was rather pitch black when we arrived.
Roundhill Farm, Mountbottom,
Cullens Hill,
Elham,
England
What a fantastic self contained annex in a rural location this was. Its also a campsite for you campers out there. Brilliant service by the owners. It was spotlessly clean. Bread, butter, milk and jam left for us for breakfast before we carried on our journey. Marks & spencers towels in the spotless bathroom with running hot water for a great shower.
All for the cheap price of 45pound 61pence per night.
No wifi though which was not really surprising as it was in the middle of nowhere.
Even though it literally was only 10minutes drive to the channel tunnel. Which is just what you need after a long journey a great nights sleep and another long journey ahead.
Sunday 6th September 2020 Channel Tunnel time.... #channeltunnel
MORE VIDEOS
As we approached passport control I was videoing but was told we are not allowed to video or take pictures. So I took a few videos of us getting on and off the Tunnel.
It was very quiet on the tunnel and this time round we was not allowed out of the car to use the toilets and had to sit in the car wearing our masks. Which is ok normally as everytime we have been on the tunnel its bang on time. Not this time we had a delay of 45 minutes due to power problems up ahead. Typical. Other than that all went to plan and the total cost of the tunnel return was 218pounds including Minni.
I would say that is a bit cheaper than a flight, a nicer way to travel and see things along the way. My opinion of course.
I will also mention here that we stopped in France to fill up on fuel which was 65euros and that was the first stop since leaving Manchester.
The roads are amazing in France and it is so easy to follow your sat-nav and the road signs to wherever you are heading. Hardly any traffic unless you hit a big city like anywhere in the world. #roadtrip
Or you take the wrong turning out of the tunnell and head towards Paris when you really don't want to be going that way!
Which is of course what we did...
From Calais A16 towards Paris, A71 away from Paris, A10 to Bordeaux and E5 to Biarritz. Cross France/Spain border A15 to Pamplona the capital of Navarra, which is where we decided to stop the night.
This is where I need to tell you the total of the tolls we paid in France. We drove through 8 tols and the total price came to 94.50euros! #francetolls #cashandcards
We checked into the Holiday Inn Express Pamalona. Fab room spotlessly clean, just no brew making facilities due to covid but they did have shower gel ect... So I dont really see the difference? Restaurants wasn't open as it was Sunday so we had to download Just Eat to order a pizza, which was bdelivered to the hotel and we was allowed to eat it in the bar area, but no brew making facilities.... Mmm not sure about that one are you? Anyway the breakfast more than made up for it as it was bang on. You couldn't help yourserlf but who wants to do that in a hotel anyway? And of course minni was spoilt rotten too. And we all had the very best sleep.
Monday 7th September 2020 and no dramas whatsoever driving right through France.
Another fuel top up in Spain and the last one for 46.50euros.
After everything we had read about driving we made sure we had every bit of paper work needed just incase the police stopped us but we saw absolutely not one.
The journey was stress free. We was happy as bee's in a sun flower driving across Navarra..
Bit of #sightseeing along the way...
We could have stopped for longer but just wanted to get #home.
There are some absolutely beautiful sights and if you have the time then yes take your time..
After crossing Navarra we pulled off the main drag into a small village named Geldo for a bite to eat.
What a beautiful little Spanish Village it was too. Quaint #spanishstreets #buildings and #wallart
If your looking to buy over in Spain it is a buyers market at the moment and you can bag yourself some very cheap, what I class as very spanish houses..
A spot of lunch was needed by now so we called into one of the two bars in the village. Bocadillas was on the menu, and of course the obligatory vino tinto and water. A word of advice though do not call into an off the beaten track village with no cash expecting to pay by card...
Yes thats just what we did so Stu had to go to the next village to find a bank. Minni did offer to wash the pots..
Great people, great service, very dog friendly and very clean with sanitizers on every table- even though there was actually only the two of us. And definately no COVID there.. #Geldo #Spain
Back on the road jack homeward bound... A23 to Valencia, E15, A35, A31 towards Elche, Alicante sign...
Crossing 5 tolls driving through Spain to where we were stopping came to the massive total of 23euros.. #spanishtolls
The very best sign of all HOME sweet HOME village sign of #SanMigueldeSalinas..
Arriving at 6pm Spanish time on the 7th September 2020. The total of two and half days from start to finish!!
As understandable the village is very quiet and businesses are struggling like they are everywhere in the world right now. But you feel so safe here. All the bars, restaurants, shops ect are masked up. You can not walk around with no mask on. Only take your mask off when you are sat down in a bar or restaurant. But everywhere is spotlessly clean and fully sanitized. If you are thinking of flying over to Spain then DO IT!! #holiday #spainishlife #welovespainlive
1509 miles later!!
Es genial estar de vuelta!! SALUD!!
Comments