Sunday 29 March
There is a road less travelled that we took as an alternative scenic trip towards Bilbao that avoids the expensive toll road section between Bilbao and Zaragoza.
Heading Northwest into the foothills of the Pyrenees from Zaragoza we camped overnight in Sos del Rey Catolico where we found an excellent Aire for exploring the surrounding region, it has 12 places, a waste dump and fresh water. It was free during our time of use but notices say €5. It was easy to find behind the sports centre. N42°29’28” W01°12’49”
Sos Aire
Sos del Rey Catolico, it is one of Aragon’s most beautiful medieval hill towns with a maze of twisted cobbled lanes but the town’s major claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of Fernando II of Aragon. He was one half of the duo, the other being Isabel I of Castilla that finally sent the Moors back from whence they came. This duo subsequently became known as the Catholic Monarchs after conquering the last islamic kingdom of Granada and uniting Spain.
Sos del Rey Catolico (often signposted 'Sos')
Sunday 30 March
Marks our last day of travel in Spain on this adventure which took us on a circuitous route toward the Basque coast. There are a surprising number historically important sites to visit within easy reach of Sos including the Disneyesque fairytale castles and monastic buildings and lakes set in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Javier castle & monastery
Our first stop along the way was Javier castle the birthplace of the patron saint of Navarra, he travelled the world as a preacher teacher man whose remains are now preserved in Goa Cathedral in India. The castle car park appeared to tolerate Motorhome parking overnight when we visited.
Other places recommended that we didn’t have time to reach are the Monastery de Lyre set above Embaise (lake) de Yesa noted as another possible wild camping and swimming spot?
Skirting around Pamplona we made a quick lunch stop at Vitoria Gasteiz in the city centre camper stop which turned out to be a bad idea so we quickly moved on towards our next stop called Bermeo a curious Basque harbour town with a rough edge but plenty of character, it was worth a quick visit. just to acclimatise to seeing those steely grey skies.
Stormy skies in Bermeo Harbour
The last leg of the day was via Mundaka to check out that world famous left hander surf break but yet again failed to see it in a photographic state.
Well that ain't working
Fishing boats in Mundaka Harbour
Further on down the road Gernika slips by pointing us to our final destination for the night at Bilbao Docks, ready for the early morning Biscay Helter Skelter ride home to the land of cold and rain. Our transit of Spain safely accomplished in Poco Loco with a grin.
Poco Loco
We are on the move, living in times of change, in fluid times that are distancing us from past circumstances, attitudes and behaviour.
We are setting out on new paths, but without losing our memory. Paths that may sometimes be narrow, difficult and ambiguous, but that does not disturb us. We do not subscribe to certainties or rigid convictions. We believe in movement, in constant transformation and mutation. We are leaving behind static conventions and fixed ideas, without fear of questioning or uncertainty.
We are in transit embarking on a new stage, a period of new landscapes, identities, possibilities and experiences. A path on which nobody is superfluous and nobody should feel excluded, a journey in which to accumulate, extend and strengthen critical, unconformist attitudes and behaviour.
