Jacqui & Neil PM
@park4night : http://park4night.com/lieu/14432/Not the most relaxing place around but does the job if you are heading into Lagos. You just pay €3 into the machine and display your ticket. From there it’s about 20 minute walk to the centre of Lagos. When we arrived there were over 50 motorhomes so it’s a popular spot!#prettyPhoto
Met Gary & June who we first met at SMC meet in July. Took a walk in the town and had a meal very nice PiriPiri Chicken.
http://park4night.com/lieu/5680/Point of Sagres, beautiful site beyond the fort, ample parking flat and informed. Very quiet. A mini bar and restrooms nearby.#prettyPhoto
Left Comporta Aire, heading towards Sines, however it turns out Sines is a large refinery and port. So we changed tack and headed towards Villa da Milfontes.A large carpark no services other than parking. Near a lovely town and a good looking beach but not close to either.After lunch and coffee headed on to Zambujeira, a very pleasant campsite ACSI, pool, bar, shop and 3 motorhome service points. Pitches are sandy gravel, lots of trees, clean facilities, good showers and toilets.
Left the Orbitur site around 10:00, having used the service point to fill and empty. The service has one huge flaw, the toilet empty point doesn’t have a water point,. You have to use the fresh water. To use we removed their adapter, sprayed with disinfectant and used our own adapter.
Drove off and probably not to return.
The drive only eventful by trying to park at a big Auchan and Leroy Merlin but unable to find anywhere as either underground or had height restrictions.
Still found another Auchan about 20 mins down the road, so stocked up. Popped into an Aki, sort of B&Q, found a Cortina de Porta fly screen, 59€ and only one so have left if to now.
Carried on and arrived at a dusty car park that is the Comporta Aire, basic but safe and big.
Left the site at Foz with some regret it really was a treat of a site and our spot was a prime one. Phil and Barbara decided they would stay on another night and enjoy being stationary.Decided we would head to Cape de Roca and the Sintra and Lidl etc… One of the routes offered took us through or passed Sintra so we changed plans slightly and decided to check out a couple of the stops around Sintra and then go to Capo and then back to Sintra for a shop and overnight.The first stop was a railway bus station car park, the latest review stated they had been robbed soon after parking up and it was really very exposed, with no security. After a small wrong turn we headed into Lidl and the second spot. Easily found and just as described but completely empty apart from a converted lorry in one corner.So we decided to head off to Capo and decide what to do afterwards.Tried to pick a route which did not take us through Sintra but again the satnav chose an completely unsuitable route. Narrow tights roads walled both side building cobbles trees cars tight turns steep roads, horrible. Jacqui said oh look a coach which thankfully seemed to be going our way but after awhile we realised it was one of those small coaches that they use when the big ones will not fit and they were all like it.Eventually after many Kms we reached an N road with kerbs and white lines. Followed this.Cabo de Roca was as busy as we have ever seen Portugal, lots of people but not packed.I decided I was not going back to Sintra and did not feel comfortable staying on the spots we had found. Plan B was to head for the Orbitur site near Lisbon only a bus and ferry away from the centre. Checked in and 38 € for 2 nights with ehu. It’s ok, nit the best and not the worst, road noise and dated facilities.
@park4night : http://park4night.com/lieu/72767/Quiet place for day and night along a very quiet street that runs along a huge park. Ideal for a good night and for your dog#prettyPhoto
Day 1, our fren photographer left early, we to walk into town, bought some provisions.
Our new neighbours are British, a fulltiming couple Paul and Barbara, very pleasant. Invited them over for a glass of wine very chatty and a few common interests.
Left the site after a restless night apparently the sound of wave crashing can be sleep disturbing.Filled up with water and emptied before leaving 23€ for the 2 no guts, EHU was very good 16amp I think. Showers were uninviting but very good.We set decided to head to Foz de Arelho, which had been recommended by so many people. We stopped off at an InterMarche and Bricomarche to get some essentials. At the entrance they had an offer on 5l box red wine 13% at 5.99€ sorted! As we wandered round I started to think maybe it will be rubbish like the stuff in Spain. Then I came across the aisle selling boxed wine not sure what the cheapest was but 4.99 for 5l was very visible so we splashed out and kept the 5.99 box, what can go wrongCracked on stopped for lunch at a free spot next to a cafe overlooking a bay, we both though ooohh, this looks nice really attractive. So we stopped had a coffee and some lunch. The apps suggested we could stop but we felt a bit uncomfortable as it was just a parking layby other vans there but did not feel quite right and it was too early to stop for the night. So we headed off thinking not going to find anywhere that nice, missed opportunity etc…Passed another spot near some dunes but 5€ for parking up seemed expensive and we were heading for 4€. When we finally arrived it looked awful like a van storage yard but a bit run down and bleached. Paid our monies one night only and drive past the electric area to reach a larger parking area drove down the front rows and space appeared but blocked with chaos so carried on and found one more near the end reversed in. Teh view is stunning right across and down the estuary and next to a lovely beach with anchored small fishing boats.Met a French neighbour a photographer who took some stunning a pics. Just a lovely spot, makes traveling worthwhile.
W
oke late, the only sounds all night were the crashing waves no dogs, cars or anything else. I think we got up at about 10:00.Bit overcast and only 17c but by 11:00 it was 18c so heading Inthe right direction. We decide bike ride not sure where. Whilst get sorted Jacqui slipped on the bottom step and fell over hurting her foot, bottom and arm. After a vigorous interrogation we decide a bike ride was just what she needed.The bikes proved easy to get out and setup, really pleased with them. Set off and found a cycled oath around the lake right on our campsite entrance so headed off away from town thinking we would head back and stop later.The lake was great, by now no clouds sunny and warm so just shorts, t-shirt and sandles. Scooted round the lake and then around the town stopping for a coffee and beer at a beach side cafe we had spotted the day before.Then headed off thinking to find somewhere open to eat, lots of places open but none appealed either no idea what the menu was or a bit too shabby or shadey or empty. Decide to head back to van for lunch, but passed Cannes III bar, looked inviting so stopped to make our day had a lateish lunch. The waiter described the weather as typical of Portugal, Autumn in the morning, Summer in the afternoon and Winter at night, it didn’t drop below 17 last night ?, this was prompted by us ordering a Green Wine , Vinho Verde with our lunch which is a summer drink ? dontcha know!!
Left the Dutch site on a cloudy morning we had a nice 2 night stop and felt a bit recharged. The dinner we ordered was ok, but having to provide a pan for them to supply it in if having a takeaway was a new one for us.
We headed to Lidl, for some supplies and then towards an Aire, which was an easy trip, it was empty and seemed brand new all free, but only 14:00 and alolthiygh great access to town there was no views at all, we moved on, decided to make for the coast.
Headed for Mira, specifically Praia de Mira, as 3 campsites and a few free options. Picked the Municipal Site at we think 11.50€pn inc EHU. About 500m from the beach which is fantastic, cold cold water no swimming without a wetsuit and even then brrrr!
A lively day sat in the shade and rested again.