Trials and tribulations but all ok in the end!

The day started out well, we got away early on a cold but dry morning, we planned to travel 80 miles to a campsite on a lakeside. But when we arrived the place was closed, probably for the winter, the gates had been sealed shut with cable ties, even though the information we had said the site was open all year. So we put our heads together and decided to head on for another 80 miles to a camperstop at Don Benito, near to the start of our last Via Verde, but when we arrived it had been closed off for a Hallowe'en festivity - we had nowhere to go, our chemical toilet needed emptying and we were running out of water! Not only that but the Sat Nav lost its voice and refused to speak! In the end we moved the barrier which stopped us going onto the camperstop to access the service facilities (emptying the toilet being top priority - or we would literally have nowhere to 'go'!) before we headed off in search of somewhere to wild camp.

We went back to the town of Villanueva de Serena and the start of Via Verde No 10: Vegas del Guidiana, we found the 'perfect' stop, a large car park by McDonalds and opposite a Carrefour supermarket. It wasn't the best of choices, it was definitely a bit noisy, but it would do for one night!

Friday morning and we set out on our last Via Verde of the trip and it turned out to be worth the hassle of the previous day's journey. The surface of the trail was mainly good tarmac, it was flat and we passed through wetlands with loads of interesting birds including Grey Heron which must have been five foot tall! 

The old stations we came across were deserted and derelict, just a memory of their former glory. The picnic areas were neglected with overflowing rubbish bins, it seems the funding for the maintenance of these tracks has long run out. But it didn't detract from our enjoyment of the trail and luckily the weather stayed sunny and warm for the best part.

In the evening we treated ourselves to a McDonald's with a Mcflurry to follow, then we went and stocked up for our last few days in the supermarket- what an exciting evening!

Another (noisy) night wild camping and we were off to Salamanca - and another step towards the port of Bilbao.

Footnote: Some of you may know we are in fact back home by now (13th Nov) but as I wrote these posts whilst we were away I decided just to carry on posting every few days! Trouble is it makes me want to go back.......