Wednesday morning - the sun is shining and it is very pleasant under the Spanish sun. Our neighbors are having breakfast outside their motorhome. This is how it should be all the time, and now it's here, the weather we had hoped for. Do we really want to continue driving? Or just stay one more day. After studying the weather online in the morning, we realize that the sun is also shining on the Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic. So we head in that direction and also plan to stop at the surfer hotspot Tarifa along the way.
The highway in this area is divided. The Autopista AP 7 and the Autovia A 7 run parallel, but still separate. While the AP 7 includes toll sections, the A 7 is toll-free. Now we know why. It's a better national road with local traffic and lots of roundabouts. The two lanes help with overtaking vans and cautious Spanish moms who drive at 75 km/h on the highway, but progress is slow. But it goes directly along the coastline, past the skylines of Torremolinos, Marbella, and right through Algeciras. We also pass by Gibraltar, but decide not to make a detour.
This is supposed to happen in Tarifa, the surfer paradise on the Spanish Atlantic coast. In fact, we immediately notice the difference as we leave the Mediterranean region behind and drive north behind Gibraltar. The Mediterranean is now finally behind us and the Atlantic will accompany us for the rest of the days.
The architecture changes abruptly, no dense settlement and no mountains in the hinterland. Andalusia presents itself as a green landscape with undulating terrain and lots of wind. The wind turbines on every hill are immediately noticeable. This is why the Tarifa region is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. The wind blows from all directions and always produces enough energy for riding the waves. This is also evident on the beach. Here they all are, those who have a kite sail and a board. And today the wind is blowing considerably, so they are all out there. The camping community gathers at Gaia Beach and unpacks their equipment. We feel chilly just watching them, we are not surfers after all. But they have my admiration. They glide tirelessly over the choppy sea, always close to the wind and with a lot of endurance.
Tarifa Hot Spot
After a coffee at the Gaia Beach Bar, we decide to continue driving.
Beach Bar Gaia
It is about 60 km to Conil. The onshore camping site ROSALEDA is our destination. From here it is not far to Novo Sankti Petri, where Deniz Tuscu has his bicycle station STARBIKES. In addition, the sun is starting to shine again here and the wind is dying down. We have arrived...
what I've been waiting for for 4 weeks
I write to Deniz and announce that I would like to participate in a bike ride on Thursday or Friday. Secretly, I prefer Friday because it is supposed to rain on Thursday noon. Deniz promptly replies and invites me to participate on Friday. The dice are cast - we will stay at a location for 3 days for the first time.
The camping site is surprisingly large and surprisingly empty. Only a few motorhomes or caravans are sporadically parked on the pitches. We have the difficult task of finding the best spot for us. In doing so, we learn that the ACSI discount card only applies to certain pitches. These are usually the smaller pitches up to 8 m in length. With a 7.40 m motorhome, you have to be careful whether the trees and hedges further restrict the pitch.
The morning is dedicated to cleaning and washing. I clean the bikes, which are covered with a thick layer of dust from the past few weeks. Simone takes care of the laundry, which can be washed here in the laundry room.
During a break in the rain, the interested German camper from Stuhr appears. He has seen our Laika and also drives one himself. Besides, we are practically neighbors from the districts of DH and VER. After less than an hour, we know his entire story and the story of his high-quality Laika KREOS 8009. He has been on the road for 6 months, first 3 months near Almeria on the Mediterranean and now 3 months on this site.
Wow, we are not that far yet.
In the best sunshine but with a lot of wind, we start cycling to explore Conil and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, it's lunchtime again and the town is in siesta mode, many shops and bars are still closed. Nevertheless, we explore and eventually find a tapas bar for a small lunch snack.
Tapas as an afternoon snack
The panorama of Conil is simply breathtakingly beautiful. The town with its white houses rests in the middle of the green landscape and the blue sea, perfectly embedded. No large hotel complexes spoil the overall impression, rather the focus here is on individual tourism and attractive houses with sea views. A place to feel good.
Conil and feeding pasturePlaya Fontanillaendless beachOne task has occupied us all day since the conversation with the camper from Stuhr - over Easter, all Spaniards are on the move and populate the campsites. They take advantage of the free days to go to the sea with their children. It's probably the same everywhere - but we haven't developed any plans for Easter yet. We will probably be in the Lisbon region in Portugal. We will have to seriously consider whether we can still reserve something there in the next few days.
Deniz just wrote - we will meet tomorrow morning at 10:30 am at a roundabout in Conil, when he drives through the town with the group. I should be ready and prepared there.
