The end of August 2022I was ready to go on a car
trip again. This time I'm going to France and then to Northern
Spain for a surf course. It was very hot the day when I was
leaving, so I chose a hotel only 200 kilometres away. It was an
easy drive there. Some of the way I was following the national 2
road. This is a famous route in Portugal going from north to
south. In the Atlentejo area, where I was, you drive through the
typical landscape for this area, and you are passing through
sleepy quiet villages The hotel was located a few kilometres
outside a town. It was a nice surprise, especially the swimming
pool, which was popular. Photos below show part of hotel and the
bgreat breakfast.
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As we're still having hot days, I decided to take
an easy drive the following day as well to the hotel Sostenible La
Lagune in Brozas in Extremadura
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In the afternoon on Wednesday 30 August, I
arrived at my hotel Camino Real in the town named Dūenos in the
region of Valladolid. The hotel is nicely renovated inside with
comfortable rooms. There is a restaurant nearby. The breakfast you
get at the hotel.
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Following day, I went on to Hotel Rural Izar Ondo
in the town of Arbizu in Navarra. After a 300 km drive. The town
was beautiful, and the houses were decorated with flowers. There
was a restaurant and cafeteria so I could have a late lunch and
evening meal before I went to bed.
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Then I was in France. 100 km later I arrived at
the camping 100 km North from Biarritz. And soon after the tent
was up.
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Thursday the 8 of September our surf meeting was
over. It was time to move on, most went home, and I was continuing
to surf the North Coast of Spain. In the afternoon I reached
the coastal town of Laredo. Here is quite nice camping. I pitched
my tent quickly and went to the beach to have a look
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Saturday 10 September, I drove 100 km more West
two a campground called La Paz. It is situated right on the beach
in a very hilly terrain. Quite spectacular. And there is also a
small restaurant. I found a huge tree that would give me shadow
and there I pitched my tent.
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Tuesday, I decided to drive 45 kilometres to Vega
beach. There is a nice campground there and I arrived before noon
and saw that there were small, good quality waves and the beach.
Unfortunately, it was raining, and staying in a tent in the rain
is not my favourite sport. I could get a glamping for 2 days which
I did and at 1 o'clock I was back at the beach and in the water.
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Thursday 15. I was checking out of camping la
Vega this morning because it was forecast rain, so I have booked a
hotel in Ribadesella for one night
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Sunday I only had to drive 100 km, so it was an
easy day. I could sleep long, have some breakfast, pack the car
and if I went. Along the road at a gas station there was a big
collection of vintage motorbikes. It was a rally that had been
done 34 times previously. Arriving at San Vicente I got the
bungalow I had booked. I was quickly unpacking and then I went to
try the waves in the afternoon. I stayed here 3 weeks. I joined a
surf course and surfed 1 week alone after.
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Friday 7 Septembre. I'm on my way heading south.
A lot of grey skies it looks like rain and then as I crossed the
mountains south of Oviedo the weather changed completely sunshine
22 maybe 25°. In the afternoon I reached the town of Hospital de
Orbigo, where I have booked a hotel. The town os on the Camino.
Room was comfortable and restaurant serving good food for a
resonable price.
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Saturday 8. Today I arrived back in Portugal. My
first stop is the town of Jarvis this is where the Portuguese
ruled 66 is starting. I had a little walk around town which seems
very nice. My hotel was 2 km further South called Albergaria
Borges Hotel. That is a restaurant here that looks nice and I'm
looking forward to having a meal there tonight. The meal was
very good I had salmon. it was a huge piece of fish with
vegetables and some baked potatoes, and the price was 12 euros
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Sunday. I was up early breakfast at 8:00 then I
packed the car, and I was on the road Sunday.I continued, and
after short drive I found my camping, this turned out to be a
fantastic place. I had booked a bungalow which turned out to be a
full apartment with kitchen. The bedroom furnished with old
furniture. 10 minutes’ walk from here a famous monastery where
there are a thousand steps from the monastery down to the town and
the town
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Monday. When I woke up it was raining. A lot. I
packed the car had a cup of coffee and the croissant and started
the trip South. Driving on narrow roads in rain and bad
visibility is not something I like. I made a new plan and hit it
for the coast at Figueras de Foz. I booked a bungalow at the
camping Gale where I arrived at 1:00. I went to the beach to
have a look if any surfers were out. There are some harbour
structures and close to those there were group of surfers and
there were a group of van people from different countries hanging
out at that place
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Tuesday 11. Morning it's cold and wet. I could
see south of Lisbon the weather was nice sunny and warm. So, I set
course for Porto Covo. That was at 300 and 50 km drive. I arrived
in the afternoon sunshine and 27° at my favourite beach hangout in
S Torps. The waves however we're very small so I continued to the
camping Sitava next to Malhao beach, where I surfed for a couple
of days.
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Sunday 16 Octobre I was at my meeting point at a
crossroad by the ruin in the hills near Aljezur. The workshop was
at small lodge nearby. We were 10 people and a Wim Hof
instructor couple. A very good experience. The nature, the food
and the interacting with the other people. That was especially
interesting to feel the bond being created during the day. In the
late afternoon we were standing there in bathing suit, in front of
the insulated containers containing ice water. I had prepared my
body with cold showers for over a month and breathing the Wim Hof
way. One by one the participants stepped into the bath and sat
down in icy water to their shoulders. 2 minutes. I was last, and
when it was my turn, I freaked out and could not do it. Then
something amazing happened. With the gentle motivation and support
by the other participants, I went up, walked to the ice bath,
stepped in and sat down with icy water above my shoulders, as if
there was nothing to it.
