Such exitement for us.........
It was Tuesday afternoon just before 4 o'clock when the phone rang. We were expecting some friends, Shirley and Andrew, who we had first met in February on the 3 week Desert Detours trip around Morocco. However the voice on the phone was Spanish, a UPS courier with a parcel for us so we agreed to meet him down at the Fairground to pick it up.
It all went from there..........and this next section is taken from Shirley & Andrew's Blog.......
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Benidorm to Motril
We were also thwarted in attempts to leave as a site vehicle had broken just outside our pitch. But some good manoeuvrability managed to see us avoid any damage.
By 11:15 we were having breakfast at a truckers stop on the main road, not the most salubrious of places but it fitted the bill.
Saw a great football stadium at a place called Lorca. Now if those of you who do not know, Lorca is named after the Spanish poet who died in the Spanish civil war.
We found what was a superb overnight stop at a “pub” just off the main road. Good job we did not stop there, as it turned out that the local pub was infact a licensed brothel!
As we made our way east, the sea of polly tunnel stretched from the Med to far beyond the capability of the human eye. Within these tunnels they grew three crops a year, consisting of mainly salad produce including lettuces, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. Not one of these crops are grown in an once of soil, its all chemical based. The locals do not buy the produce due to the growing methods and its all export to northern Europe. Is that why we get uniformed shaped tomatoes? Temperatures can reach up to 45c in these tunnels. Previously the land was used for the production of sugar cane a by product of which was rum which is still made with the cane imported.
Arrived at Motril and missed the bull ring but as we found a piece of land to turnaround at, there we two figures waving at us like long lost friends. Turned out Ian and Anne had to go and collect a parcel at that very spot. Drove up to their place and it is simply stunning. Parked up outside and plugged in. Life cannot get simpler.
There are vast views over to the med and we sat out on the roof terrace until nearly midnight.
We met their two dogs Dobby and Layla. Now Layla is a real lady of the house, who spends most of her time chillin and is a real laid back dude. Dobby meanwhile is very loveable and affectionate three year old, who simply never stops. His life revolves around, clearing the property of lizards, having a stroke, washing the concrete or someones legs, playing balls, chasing flies, annoying Layla and that’s all in a single minute. Both complement each other and are so friendly, just like their owners.
Anne cooked us a super curry with rice which was duly washed down with a can or two.
The area is very quiet with the laid back lifestyle demonstrated by the cockeral who was crowing at 10:20 clearly having just woken up. Up on the hill there are peacocks
And everyone has the obligatory dog or three.
Life cannot get any better than living here.
Location is N 36 44.663 W 3 29.415 at a height of 74 metres.
Wednesday Afternoon....... We were sorry to say goodbye to them almost exactly 24 hours after they had arrived but they had an agenda, needing to get down to 'Casa Barnado', hotel and restaurant with its enormous car park, sited just before the port at Algeciras, where they were stopping overnight preparing to meet and greet 15 more motorhomes who will be arriving throughout today for the start of yet another great adventure to Morocco. 7.30 am tomorrow will see the line of motorhomes setting out for the 5 minute drive to the ferry which will take them across the med to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the tip of Africa where they will regroup before crossing the border into Morocco. They will, or should have, one of the most amazing holidays they have ever experienced.
Shirley & Andrew will be escorting the trip on behalf of the UK Caravan and Camping Club and answering all the questions and sorting out all the niggly problems that are often raised by the campers and that the 'Desert Detours' crew simply do not have time for. It won't be all fun!
