2026/2027 – TRAVEL WITH THE BIG "H"

Awaken to torrential rain ☔️
Waited for a break and hit Lidl for the Burgos black pudding .. (see photo) only to be found here in Avila Lidl
Cooked gently with poached egg is a delight ..

Rain stopped ..
Sun still shining for our off down the road south
A right turn junction HE said NO .. turned left instead
The Cook remembered this road
The valley of the cherries 🍒

So so steep
But
The road surface ended .. The Driver who knows stuff said it had been planed off
Down we went bumping and grinding

Funnily enough there are zero cars or any vehicle coming up
The Cook sees us having to turn back
But all was well and we arrived at the village on the floor of the valley without any untoward terrors from over 4000 feet
The rest of the roads are perfect.. Zero potholes and practically lorry less ..not much traffic at all
I’ve added a couple of snaps of the valley in spring with the blossom
May one day return in April for the event
Our sleepy spot for tonight is on the outskirts of Palencia in a village swimming pool carpark .. photo of coordinates

The smoothest crossing of the Bay of Biscay we’ve ever experienced 😎

A long boring crossing but uneventful
BUT beware ancient Hairdressers .. The New digital identification system on entry into Spain didn’t like The Cook who for this post will be called The Ancient Hairdresser ..with using chemicals without gloves for perming hair The Cook has Cooked her fingerprints off .. The machine didn’t work .. The attendant couldn’t get it to work even by pressing hard on The Cooks fingers ..She had to answer a questionnaire and was allowed into Spain

Off the ferry ..
Which way ?
Find cheaper fuel ?
Fall out with phone app
Miss the turning
LET THE DOG SEE THE RABBIT!
The Cook take control
She says “bang in €50 worth of expensive “
Now she finds one further down the road on the outskirts of Palencia €1-71 = £1-43 Joy of joys😍
No plan for an over night on the way south but the fuel stop and Harry Hymers knowledge of our likes we arrived yet again in AVILA ..
An hours fight with the entry on line booking system for the Aire which with The Driver’s phone going flat in the middle of negotiations made for an annoyance 😫😖
Park up with electric
We don’t watch telly much but with excellent internet and leccy why not put on the football ⚽️
What a total disaster from 1-4 up Burnley managed to get stuffed 5-4 .. and you wonder why supporters of this team 🍸drink
CHEERS