snowbirds 26

[Lee]

We're booked on Saturday Evening ferry.
Hopefully the weather will be kind to us but we're going, come what may.
After all us Brit's are used too battling through, look at the state of the weather here.
See all you stalwarts down in Pomaroa.

 

[Mobilvetta]

One thing for sure Lee, it will be a dam site warmer than the UK, it's only 16° here today but sunny, I'm in my shorts and teashirt, forecast for some rain tomorrow and then back up to 19° sunny on Thursday. There are a lot of Brits on the site we are staying as the caravan club have a winter rally here, it's actually cheaper to book with them than paying the site, now, it wasn't last year though as it was only €20 a night and we were getting €1.20 to the pound last year, it's £20.00 a night if you book with the caravan club.

 

[Trotter]

Take note of Rec’s message. Rivers and Dams

 

[Owlhouse]

Sat at Cabo Trafalgar just south of Cádiz deciding when to make a dash for Morocco. Came over two weeks ago (Portsmouth/Bilbao) and did a mad dash south to the Algarve over three days as snow was forecast for the central Spain region. Glad we did as we missed the worst of the storms although it got pretty windy and wet.
16c at the moment but mostly cloudy and windy. A lot of crossing to Morocco were cancelled over the last week, mainly from Tarifa and a couple of days from Algeciras. Seems to be back on track now and hopefully backlog cleared so will see. Weather looks like it’s getting better after Saturday

 

[Mobilvetta]

The weather in Spain and Portugal looks awful, it seems one storm after another, my friends keep contacting me asking if we are ok, but we have been very lucky in the Costa Blanca region, looks like we have been escaping the worst of these storms and rain, we have had more wind this year though and slightly cooler temperatures.

There are a lot of regular UK vans here at Camping La Media Legua who come each year, one of them ordered me a router on his Spanish Amazon prime which cost €22 and plugged it in on the pole on my pitch, cannot believe the speed I'm now getting, The Mrs is happy as the fire stick is no longer buffering. Apparently you can also plug a TV coax cable into the same pole and get around 12 UK channels which I never knew about.
It's a great clean and modern site as it's only been open 3 years but unfortunately you now have to book pitches at least a year in advance to stand any chance of getting on in the winter months.

You just pay a 10% deposit each year to cover the following year. It seems a very popular region, there are currently two more sites been developed less than 5 minutes from here, obviously due to the high demand in the winter months, as most sites are full and have people waiting to get on them. Some of the UK vans I have talked to have booked there pitches up to 2029.

I've done a few years touring and now we are just happy to spend two months relaxing on site, knowing the van is secure and I ain't going to get the plod knocking on the door in the middle of the night asking us to move. Certainly feel more relaxed.
Oh dear there are two markets on today here but unfortunately it has just started raining, lucky escape for me, but the wife isn't going to be impressed when she wakes up.

 

[rugbyken]

just came through Aquilasdont think i’ve ever seen that many vans all over the town vans parked on any space went to mercadona there were 20 in there and another dozen outside easily 200+ vans as we carried on to vilaricos 20/30 vans on every rd to the beach , by the way vilaricos was closed to motorhomes again when we got there though you could see them at pomares etc
PS we have just used again the services at camping park Almanzo. in polamares used them last year €4 up to 100 ltr fresh water there are four huge service bays young german guy runs it speaks excellent english

 

[Devadave]

just came through Aquilasdont think i’ve ever seen that many vans all over the town vans parked on any space went to mercadona there were 20 in there and another dozen outside easily 200+ vans as we carried on to vilaricos 20/30 vans on every rd to the beach , by the way vilaricos was closed to motorhomes again when we got there though you could see them at pomares etc
PS we have just used again the services at camping park Almanzo. in polamares used them last year €4 up to 100 ltr fresh water there are four huge service bays young german guy runs it speaks excellent english

We stayed 4 nights on the beach at Playa De Quitapelljos, very pleased with that place... filled water up at Almanzo, then LPG and Diesel at the BP garage. Also found Frankies bar for "refreshments"

 

[Greengrass]

How is Ken doing or has he been washed away in the floods He is very quiet maybe on the vino

 

[rugbyken]

we. saw rain last night for the first time since france had an awful lot of gale force winds now at gibraleon loading up ready for hopefully Pomarao tomorrow

 

[Mobilvetta]

It was extremely windy here last nights with gusts over 50mph, the roof on my we Quest 4 pro utility tent had collapsed, so I went out to snap it back up.
I couldn't believe how warm it was though at 3.00am in the morning, it was like having an hairdryer pointed at you, still windy now, but 23° and sunny if you get out of the wind. Just wish this wind would die down.

 

[marchie]

Spanish Meteorological Service have warned of 9 metre waves on the northern coast, and the rest of the country under Yellow or Orange weather warnings. Question is whether you prefer rain with your wind or wind with your rain ...

Barcelona Airport has cancelled lots of flights, schools have closed and Catalan authorities have advise against unnecessary travel, because the Civil Relief Services have enough on their plate ...

Portugal has part of A1 Motorway destroyed after a Dyke collapsed, 33,000 people without power, and loads in hospital after falling off roofs that they were trying to repair during the storms. Tarpaulin and a 'How not to end up in Hospital' Repair Manual are being distributed by the Civil Relief Services.

France has Yellow and Orange weather alerts, pretty much up the Western Coast and some Red Alerts (Bordeaux, Lot et Garonne) and a quick Red Alert for Savoie, though finishing tomorrow.

Storm Nils was declared in France yesterday, and seems to have crept over the Border into Spain.

Meanwhile, Storm Marta is still affecting Portugal and Spain and remains at large

So, the chances of rain and wind ceasing in the next couple of days appear to be limited

Steve

 

[Linda]

We have just driven through central Portugal in lovely sunny weather. Went over the river Douro which was in full flow

 

[GMJ]

70mph+ winds forecast for us today east of Almeria. It's blowing a hoolie now with horizontal rain as well!

We are moving across to the Med coast on Sunday and fingers crossed, the weather will improve.

 

[El radge]

Spanish Meteorological Service have warned of 9 metre waves on the northern coast, and the rest of the country under Yellow or Orange weather warnings. Question is whether you prefer rain with your wind or wind with your rain ...

Barcelona Airport has cancelled lots of flights, schools have closed and Catalan authorities have advise against unnecessary travel, because the Civil Relief Services have enough on their plate ...

Portugal has part of A1 Motorway destroyed after a Dyke collapsed, 33,000 people without power, and loads in hospital after falling off roofs that they were trying to repair during the storms. Tarpaulin and a 'How not to end up in Hospital' Repair Manual are being distributed by the Civil Relief Services.

France has Yellow and Orange weather alerts, pretty much up the Western Coast and some Red Alerts (Bordeaux, Lot et Garonne) and a quick Red Alert for Savoie, though finishing tomorrow.

Storm Nils was declared in France yesterday, and seems to have crept over the Border into Spain.

Meanwhile, Storm Marta is still affecting Portugal and Spain and remains at large

So, the chances of rain and wind ceasing in the next couple of days appear to be limited

Steve

Getting ferry on Tuesday. Heading South. All this weather needs to desist asap

 

[Sidders]

Slight rain but windy as hell in the mountains near mazarron

 

[marchie]

70mph+ winds forecast for us today east of Almeria. It's blowing a hoolie now with horizontal rain as well!

We are moving across to the Med coast on Sunday and fingers crossed, the weather will improve.

Windy/showery in Moncofa, windier Benicarlo, stronger wind + rain Tortosa. Staying put in Moncofa until after the weekend, then we really have to start heading to Santander for the 25th February sailing ...

Steve

EDIT14:24 CET

Weather forecast for Moncofa upgraded to Red with 120kph gusts overnight. So we have just dashed up the AP7 to Tortosa, and grabbed one of the last spaces on the Aire. Forecast for Tortosa is *only* Orange and we are in a row of Vans in a dip parallel to the Ebro River. We only have to worry about a total tailwind storm since sides and cab are protected by larger vehicles and the surrounding buildings

Steve

 

[Sidders]

Slight rain but windy as hell in the mountains near mazarron

Can I upgrade that to forget your hat !
get the ratchet straps out and find somewhere to fix the van too never been in wind this bad in a van

 

[RoaminRog]

Keep us up to date Sidders, sounds very worrying.
It sounds like you experienced Storm Oriana- 140km winds?

 

[The laird]

Keep us up to date Sidders, sounds very worrying.

Are you any more clearer in goung rog?

 

[RoaminRog]

Are you any more clearer in goung rog?

Still on for 22nd March Gordon. Don’t know if we’re being wise at this stage, but watching the situation closely.