El Rincón

We move on down to the slighter cooler coast and arrive at a superb small site at El Rincón

The site is immaculate with a small shop and friendly owners and soon we are settled for what becomes a nine day stay under glorious blue skies

We soon team up with Lynne & Pete and they guide us down to the local beach bar for some ice cold G & Ts. The hours fly by and we are engrossed in the view and lively chat

Red hot meets ice cold….heaven

We break out the bikes one lunchtime and ride to nearby Malaga along a less than easy route

Beach maintenance 

The not so sexy seafront just outside El Rincón

These are all the rage on the beachfront restaurants. Boat charcoal fires

Simple skewers leant toward the coals containing all manner of seafood

The 28th arrives and its Birthday Girl's Special Day

Roses from Fernando's garden and hot croissants start the day off nicely...

My Girl….

Lunch is at a Pasta place nearby in Torre del Mar and the afternoon is spent 'chilling' on the promenade

Birthday Mohito

Amber nectar...

Fozz takes us a few days later to visit Nerja and roam the very touristy narrow streets

Its the weekend and the resort is rammed with local Spanish

A complete afternoon and evening is spent in good company at a local bar in El Rincón joined now by Brits, Bill & Julie

Several of these frosted friends are downed as the group lose track of time and place. This turns out to be a pre-cursor for more wine and pizzas back at the site till well after dark

Its while we are here that Baz & Mandy whatsapp us with Leisure Battery questions relating to their maiden voyage in their new van back home in the UK

Bless them, they are like two puppies with their new toy and are in their element getting to 'know' their van. Baz has started a blog and it can be found HERE

Sanlucar & Sierra Via Verde

Seville is left behind and we drive down to Sanlucar once again to spend a few days chilling (in the shade) at Alphonso's beachside camperpark

Its not long before we break out Fozz and visit the very nice local town and specifically the Fish Market

A tad too large for the BBQ me thinks!

Do you guys sell fish?

Back at the van head chef Pierre is on nourishment detail..

And soon we have created our take on Spanish fish & chips...

The next few days here are spent relaxing in the sun and strolling around Sanlucar. An obligatory lunchtime cycle ride locally is rounded off with some excellent tapas

We meet up early doors with Karolina & Shaun, previously met in Valencia last year, and spend an afternoon and a notable evening (4.00am finish) in their company

Its the weekend and the Spanish families arrive in numbers and the still quietness of the site is lost so we trundle off in search of a small car park at the end of the Sierra Via Verde at Puerto Serrano

We are lucky to park up at the end of the route with our Dutch neighbours and its all systems go next morning to get rigged up and out on the bikes before the heat of the day takes over

Not far down the track we have to give way to the locals...

Like Monsal Trail in Derbyshire really (but in freak hot weather) 

Its a lovely route and we decide to just do half of it and take refreshment at the conveniently location old station about 17 km along the route and then return

The thinking being to relocate the van to the other end then do the rest from the opposite direction

A plan Stan…..

Our 'relocation' theory brings a fresh drama

Having committed the rig to this 'tightish' road we soon discover the error of 'My' ways when we find ourselves at the top of a 20 per cent gradient right down to the Aire at the bottom

With no hope of reversing we have to descend amidst much groaning from ourselves and the van…

The realisation at the bottom was that there was no way we would be able to ascend the hill to get back. This was due to previous escapades (bet you are laughing Pat & Jane) and it being a dead end 

The Aire was lovely and quiet but so was the hill traffic as it was Siesta time

After 'active' discussions I went off to commandeer both a local guy in the bar and his more than suitable Suzuki Vitara parked outside. Well why not? Needs must…

With no English offered and certainly no Spanish given the very nice guy tows the trailer (minus Fozz who'd been used on a rekky mission earlier) up the nightmare hill to the top of the village

Result 1..

We bin the waste water and most of our onboard fresh water and simply, buttocks clenched, gun the van at the steep hill that ends in the worst accent and tightest bit and cross our sweaty fingers 

Result 2..

The van, in second gear, and roaring uphill around almost blind bends, tears through the narrow gap between parked cars at the top and just inches from the balcony overhangs and the steps of local houses

We couple up at the top then creep off to go have some medical emergency brought on by stress but thankfully this didn't happen….

The joys of motor homing!

Seville again

We arrive in the heat of the afternoon at Hidalgo Autocaravanas outside the city of Seville

We've used this facility before and its a good alternative to parking on the dockside aire. The Fiat garage is also this side of the city and an easy ride in on Fozz to book our day of service

To our amazement Raphael, our english speaking friendly service guy, asks us there and then for the keys to the van as they can do it on the spot…

Our opportunity was lost and had to wait two days for the next available service slot so Fozzed it the remaining distance in to town

Flamenco dancing Oriental style

The cool back streets are very welcome and we discover some lovely courtyards attached to fancy big houses

Nina reckons the top floor apartment would suit us fine...

We can't visit Seville and miss walking around the beautiful and impressive Santa Luisa park

Its about 30 degs here and very calm

Goldfish enjoying lunch piranha style..

Segways I suppose, but much harder to get on and off surely

This guy got our euro for some excellent crystal ball rolling

Long queue, hot day…no way, its surely Tapas Time

5 tapas for €10.00…bargain!

Guess whats on the menu...

Rioja, and loving it!

This boutique saw several visits from this gleeful shopper

More donations here and quite deservedly. super still and only adjusting his pose when the tin rattled

Seville was, as usual, a brilliant city to visit and we ended up here for three full days. Full of scooters including us and just so nice to stroll around the busy streets