Just over a month in our camper...

Just over a month in our camper...

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Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

165 months

Monday 8th July 2013
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Got a few pics- tried to stick to camper van-centric ones. As in the profile, it's a 61 plate VW California 180 4Motion with most options.

Bascially we landed in Santander on 2nd June, went West to La Paz (near Llanes), stayed there a few nights, bad weather set in so did two nights in Noja nearish Bilbao - then moved on to Ibarritz near Biarritz. Amazing campsite called Pavillion Royale right on the beach with a good pool and excellent restaurant - had some great waves there! It was pricey (40 euros a night) but great.

Then bad weather was forecast and realised we needed to head for the Med for warm weather - drove to Gourdargues nearish Ardeche and had a lovely time in a VERY French (the less Brits, the better for us!) village. Then St Michel something or other (!) on Ardeche river at a very nice Indigo camping site (they have about eight across France). Good site that suited is really well. Then back to a mates place near Pau for a few nights. We stayed in their barn and I did a bit of concreting to sort of "pay" for our stay.

Next stop was Hossegor area - first site was a bit odd so only did a night there then stayed at a campsite just near Messanges; right by the beach and very cheap too - scored some epic waves there!

Next stop was near St Jean de Luz at Inter Plages - stunning campsite and our pitch was 4WD only!

Then over to Spain to Mundaka - quite a weird town with almost nowhere to eat or shop. Felt a bit "ghetto" but the single campsite was pretty top spec. On the second night a big Basque festival kept everyone awake most of the night.

Scored good waves at Bakio nearby (Mundaka was too small) then headed for Islares. Loads of Brits, naff facilities but a lovely setting by the mountains. Then one more night at San Vicente - again great location but COMEDY facilities! Spanish campsites are expensive too - we used ACSI ones where possible but they often didn't have places by the sea.

La Paz



Sunset at La Paz



Van view of Picos mountains:



Left hander I had all to myself:



Drove miles up mountains for this view:



Luckily it cleared:



Waves at Ibarritz:



The little one swimming in a river near Ardeche



Ardeche view:



It got REALLY hot - this restaurant was boiling (sorry about the old git on the right)



Our mates pad near Pau:



Hossegor waves - had three great surfs here!



Me surfing Bakio in Spain:



Mountain backdrop at Islares:



Up mountains in Spain - I went for a run and didn't see a soul in four miles!



Our final morning:



We loved it and so did the kids!!

piers1

831 posts

201 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
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Looks like great fun!

mikebradford

2,714 posts

152 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
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great post
glad you had a good time

Fromaffar

1,849 posts

205 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
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Awesome, I did a similar thing with a 2 mates but we had a Mulitpla! Drove down through France into Spain, Barcelona and Valencia.

I'd love to see the interior of your van, must be pure luxury compared to our (120,000 miler TD - completely fautless over the 2000 miles including the banger killing climb to Andora!) Mulitpla!

Vladimir

Original Poster:

6,917 posts

165 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
quotequote all
My interior pics are pretty awful - there are better ones on-line but these give you some idea!



This was taken for a mate with a baby who wanted to see a seat installed!



Very briefly it has:

Two heaters; one diesel, one blown air; can be operated remotely from a key fob or on a timer.
Electric elevating roof
Fridge
Two ring gas hob
Sink
Front seats rotate
Sliding indoor table
Picnic table stashed in the sliding door
Two chairs stashed in the tailgate
3 zone climate control
Cruise
Multimedia system with bluetooth, satnav, DVD, etc
Roll out awning
Two leisure batteries - you can happily run the fridge and use low current electrics for five days without needing hook up/a drive
Double bed upstairs and down (sleeps four)
4Motion AWD
2.0 four pot (ARRGHHH!!!) bi-turbo 180bhp engine

And some other bits I will have forgotten!

We love it!

Lordglenmorangie

3,057 posts

212 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
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Cheers good post smile

Vieste

10,532 posts

167 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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Cool.