10th – 12th June 2009 – On Our Way

Well, how can I describe the last week or two – manic doesn’t do it justice! I retired on June 5th, Wednesday & Thursday of that week I couldn’t honestly say I worked. Chris and Linda had organised two super retirement lunches. Wednesday all my friends and colleagues arrived at Reed’s School for a superb buffet lunch – Thursday my “official” retirement day was celebrated at the RAC Club in Pall Mall. Fab food and company! Friday, I worked all day making a buffet for 30 friends for Derby Day. The house is small and I’d hoped we could spread into the garden – but no, it rained and was cold all day. However, we did our best. Watched the races on TV and Ian organised the sweepstakes. It seems that Vanessa and Brian did best and won around £30. Sunday, sensibly, should have seen us tidying the garden and starting to load Freda (our caravan). Instead we took the opportunity to have a BBQ at Ian’s.
Monday morning on the 8th, panic and disaster set in. Firstly, I messed up my internet banking...... and no they couldn’t let me have a new pass number before we travelled on Wednesday. Had to dash to Lord Wandsworth College to sign my CRB clearance (3 hours) as part of my Governorship. As Graham was reversing the Rover into the drive the edging on the crazy paving collapsed and we could see claims for many thousands of pounds for those pedestrians tripping over the debris. Luckily Chris, who lives up the road, agreed to repair it for us while we’re away. What a lovely neighbour! Oh yes, I didn’t tell Graham this one - was so absorbed over the crazy paving I left the water running in the sink. Luckily I came into the kitchen JUST as it was about to tumble like Niagara Falls onto the kitchen floor...
At last it was Wednesday and we were on our way to the ferry terminal at Portsmouth. I always like to be unfashionably early for everything and would have arrived five hours early, but I let Graham have his way and we allowed just a couple of hours to get to Portsmouth. All was fine until we reached the terminal. The boat was supposed to sail at 9.15pm and we were told that loading had started early. We waited for TWO hours to get onto the boat! However, we were luckier than some, who’d arrived at the terminal at 4.00pm and still had not loaded. The following day could only be better.
It was!
Twenty hours into our journey to Bilbao we were sailing through a calm Bay of Biscay on the good ship “Pride of Bilbao”. I’m not so sure Bilbao would be proud of this rather old ferry... our cabin is “compact” but we do have en suite toilet and shower. The boat is huge - 177 metres long and the height of an 11-storey building. Lots to do on board if you like bingo, cinema, slot and games machines. However, the sun was out and sunbathing with a glass of wine, a good book and enforced relaxation can’t be bad.
Dined in Langans restaurant on board ship – fabulous meal and company – and met some extraordinary folk including two guys trailing gliders to the Pyrenees. Also chatted to two chaps (identical twins) who were seventy-four and looked like Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, as they were also dressed identically! However, they were well travelled and gave us some good tips about where to go in Portugal – the Portuguese are dreadful drivers apparently – that’s something to look forward to on the next leg of our journey! On the last night of the voyage we saw a good comedian doing cabaret in the ship’s theatre. I thought he was funny, but Graham said he must have got his jokes from the Internet, as he’d read them all before.
Arrived in Bilbao at 7am on Friday - with a polite wake-up call from the Chief Purser at 5.30! The motorway from Bilbao to Santillana del Mar was excellent and, surprisingly, was not a toll road. The campsite is absolutely lovely – beautifully sculptured lawns, hedges and trees delineating the pitches. WE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE – although the awning presented us (again) with problems. EVENTUALLY awning up and comfy chairs out. Better still, Graham got Freda’s toilet going (after much scrutiny of the instructions) and chemicals were splashing about all over the place. I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that it’s for number ones only! NO number twos – or I’ll be emptying it myself.
Several mishaps with packing – forgot my styling brush (how will I manage), Graham’s hat and other stuff. Despite my strict instructions to the contrary, Graham sneaked our small hand-held vacuum cleaner into the car by hiding it under all the other stuff. Still, it was just as well really, as I also forgot the dustpan and brush I meant to bring, as well as a broom. Worse still, the BBQ, which is almost as large as Freda, has a different connection to the gas bottle that we lugged all the way here. HAPPY DAYS! However, there’s a camping shop up the road which hopefully will be able to sort us out with an adaptor. Nevertheless, with a gin and tonic in hand life feels pretty good in temperatures of around 25°C. Oh yes, and the swimming pool looks fantastic, although I have a horrible feeling it’s not heated.
Santillana del Mar is the most beautiful town; a real gem and only a ten minute walk from the site – exploring tomorrow!