Overstaying by 24 days, form filling, covid tests and self-isolation plus Test and Trace
On the 23rd of January 2020 we set off on the Eurotunnel, the plan; drive through France, Italy, Greece, on to Turkey through Georgia to Azerbaijan, and then come back. Simple really.
It did not work out that way! But it has been an adventure, over 6 months of various lockdowns 3 in Turkey and 4 in Spain.
But we are heading home, we obviously had to drive across the middle of Spain with the trepidation of Karen having overstayed the 90 / 120 days allowed to British citizens because of Brexit. More of that later. As we set off, we decided to revisit two places from our 2016 adventure. First off was Villanueva de los Infantes a picturesque small village off the main E5 heading north to Santander. We had stayed near here in 2016 but since then they had installed a magnificent Aire on the outskirts of the town, opened in 2020 it can accommodate 10 motorhomes. It also offers electric hook up and showers along with the usual waste disposal and fresh water. Look at our Google maps page, which has every stop of the trip with reviews.
You will have heard from us many times how much cheaper Spain is away from the tourist areas, so here is an example. Where we were locked down in Barbate the average price of a coffee was €1.20, visiting the boys in Marbella it was €2.20 and in Villanueva de los Infantes we had a coffee with cake €1.00. But that was the best about it was how lovely the people were, we were nervous that with covid there would be some hostility to us arriving essentially in the middle of nowhere. This was not the case we were made welcome, and the weather changed, and sun shone we were able to walk and explore. The town is one the Bonita Pueblos de España, if you ever decide to visit Spain, we recommend perhaps doing an itinerary based on these villages. Many of them have Aires and as the name says they are pretty.
We had one meal out and our three-course meal with drink and coffee was €20 for the two of us. As we walked, we could reflect on the year and bit we have been away. There is no doubting Covid changed everything for us, we were not alone in that, but at the same time we were able to see and experience places and things very few were able to. When people ask us what we did during covid it will be the odd answer, ‘we travelled’ all made possible by being in a motorhome. It was the enabler, our ‘Buster’ was our home and protector, it allowed us to visit 7 countries safely. Our ‘Lockdowns’ were by all accounts much more flexible than most. So we are so grateful to the people we have met on the trip the kindness shown was overwhelming.
The views in Spain to me can be overwhelming it so empty and big you can see for miles the roads are empty, so it was a shock to the system as we continued to our last stop of the trip, the beautiful city of Burgos. We had to get there a day early as it was a bank holiday, we stayed at the Municipal Campsite and again we were treated like locals, they even printed out all the paperwork for our return to the UK for free. It could be said the campsite is ‘utilitarian’ but as the word means it has everything you need, and it all worked. It may not have been pretty, but it was lovely, plus there is a bonus of a most gorgeous walks by the river to the town. The weather forecast was the standard ‘Gapper’ one, rain! but unusually for us “rainmakers’ the sun came out for us and we were able to wander out into the country for the last time for 2 weeks and take in the air.
We needed our first covid test to be able to re-enter the UK. This was a simple affair, and the results were ready for us printed out they recommended that we have everything printed rather than on your phone.
We again have fond memories of the city it has one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain and we were not allowed enter it this time due to covid. On the other hand, Karen remembered a lovely jeweller there and it was open, happy days!
The next morning it was up early and get on the road to Santander for the ferry. We topped off the diesel at £0.90 a litre topped up our gas and did some shopping before heading to the port. We were grateful for the advice of having all the paperwork printed, our check-in was seamless, now only passport control to get through we were 24 days over visa for Karen.
I made sure that when I handed the passports through with my Irish one on top plus for luck was wearing my Irish rugby polo shirt. The frontier policeman was genuinely nice, stamped Karen’s passport and wished us a safe trip, that was it and we boarded the ferry found our cabin. And then waved Europe goodbye and next stop Portsmouth.
The procedure for entry to the UK is simple, Covid test to enter Antigen will suffice, you must quarantine for 10 days after you arrive and have two PCR tests during this period on days 2 and 8. These must be paid for and you must use an approved supplier from the government list, there are now over 50 suppliers on this list and the reviews of most are awful. Just because they are on the list does not mean they work. You pay your money and take your chance; we have heard of people being in quarantine for more than 15 days and having to buy the test again. Because without negative 2 – 8 day tests you can’t leave quarantine. We chose a company called Testing For All and they had very good reviews were a not for profit and were only £99 each for the two tests compared the NHS company at £210 each.
Our arrival in Portsmouth was lovely, the sun was shining, and Karen’s cousin was on the fort waving his Pompey Cross of St George to welcome us back, this made Karen cry. Also, the Royal Navy also had their two aircraft carriers and myriad of other bots in to greet us. A friend of ours had kindly lent us her flat in Bournemouth for us to quarantine in. But is took over 4 hours to get off the boat and so we stopped overnight in ‘Buster’ at Port Solent. The owners allow motorhomes to park for up to two nights. We had a comfortable night and set off in the morning to Bournemouth and moved into our home for the next ten days.
As you read this, we are on day 9 of our quarantine and have had 2 negative results and await the results of the 3rd all being well we will be getting our vaccine first thing Thursday morning here in Bournemouth. We have had 2 calls a day from Test and Trace asking if we are self-isolating, usually the calls are 15 mins apart very strange.
So it’s over????
Well, no its not! we are heading back to London to see family and friends do some medical stuff for May so we will be quiet on the blogging front this month! I am sure you will be relieved.
Come June we are back on the road, here in the UK we will be letting you all know what we get up to and what we think of how we do motor homing here in the UK. Oddly enough we have toured huge chunks of Europe and never the UK. So how does the UK compare? We are doing some planning and thus far we have found there are few Aires and wild camping is just that. We have now booked places to stay in Dorset, Somerset and Hampshire for June and we are heading up to Scotland in July for a 60th birthday party. So come with us for what we hope we can call the ‘After Covid UK tour’.
We hope you will stay with us as we explore the UK in ‘Buster’ and thanks for all your support and good wishes through the past 14 moths we have been away. Big virtual hugs to you all.
David and Karen
Gary and Zoe says
Great to see you back though it is slightly sad for you I guess, after the foreign adventure ends, at least for the time being. Looking forward to following the UK tour now! Notice you kept the ‘Pompey’ writing on the flag hidden in your photo. Lousy Charlton fans!! PUP !!
See you soon. stay safe!
Carol & Mike says
We have followed your blog since it started – your blogs on Spain helped us plan many a route during our two year tour of Europe in 2017/19! You were our silent travelling companions many times over. We were looking forward to reading about your adventures travelling on the Silk Road, so please pop this back on your list for when the World re-opens!! Keep safe and happy travelling.
David says
Carol and Mike,
It has been odd typing these updates and posting into the void. We have always hoped that they may be of some use to people and if they have helped even one person on their journey, they have been worth it. Thanks so much for your kind words and hope you enjoy our last knockings around the UK!
All the very Best David and Karen
Lesley Parr says
Welcome home! Brought a tear to my eye cos I know exactly how it feels and the flood of mixed emotions you face.
So excited that you are going to continue on the road. I have a few places I can recommend for stays here in South Wales. Scotland is breathtaking and unless its all changed, very easy for motorhoming. Don’t leave without visiting the Outer Hebrides. You will be blown away by some of the scenery by foot or bikes and wild camping is well catered for.
Enjoy all your catch ups and look forward to hearing from you in June.
Love
Lesley, Geoff and Jackson x
Mike Butterworth says
Great blog guys we have followed with great interest your exploits around a covid Europe. Well written amusing and informative. Best regards Mike & Rachel
David says
Thanks for the kind wishes,
We are now on the road again in the UK and hope to go to France again in August. Sorry for the delay in our reply.
Best David
Alan Inverarity says
I’m rather stunned to learn we have TWO carriers! 😀 We’re just about to start touring the UK for the next six months England and Wales first then Scotland. Hopefully Ireland next year. We’ll be following your travels with interest.
David says
Alan,
We are back on the road and hopefully we can keep you onboard. England has started with intrest.
Best David
Helena says
Nice reading and nice that you got home properly. Stay safe!
Nick Pearce says
Wow, just Wow. We’re sitting here in Armagh, been out once this year and the weather was atrocious.
That was a very interesting read I must say, we both envy and yearn for the opportunity to emulate. Which happily starts on October 27th.
We’re doing mainly Spain this time until April, and like David, have Irish passports to make life easier…
Best of luck with your future adventures.
Nick & Margaret
David says
Thanks Nick,
Now back in England and new adventures to enjoy. Hope you will join us on the journey.
David
katherine says
As ever you’re a few days ahead of us … Day 2 here. we weren’t held captive in up in a Turkish port, but held up in a Calais hotel … think I’d have preferred the port!
Make sure you factor us in before you head far north!
Matthew Wadhams says
Glad to see you are both home safely – the New Forest would be a nice drive and overnight in Buster – the village of Brockenhurst particularly attractive.
Janice says
Can’t wait for your UK tour. You can do all the work and hopefully we can pinch the best bits for our tour
Where will you be in Scotland in July. We will be in Edinburgh from 8 July also for a special birthday
Speak soon. Much love to you both xx
Gilda Baxter says
Hi guys, such a shame we are not in Bournemouth to greet you. We are currently touring Cornwall with our motorhome. Sounds like you have some great travel plans coming up. Fingers crossed it will indeed be a post-COVID-19 tour and no more lockdowns.
Mary Newiss says
Have you looked into the Campaign for real Aires CAMpRA.? They have really worked hard over the past year to increase the number of aire-type places in British isles.