Cath's back in The Swim

 It's still warm enough for a swim in the sea down here in the south west but Spain might be even better! Hope the salt water will have been good for Cath's leg. What lovely pics, as usual!

Glad you have resumed your 'postcards' as they make interesting reading.  Good pics too.  Beginning to feel inspired for another big trip.  Do you intend to visit the Picos?  The weather turned unsettled on us last year in mid-September so we decided to leave that and more of Portugal until we coulddo it  justice.

Thanks for your encouraging words, LynniB and Brue. Today's are last day here and tomorrow we're heading south into Portugal. We toured the Picos by car back in 2001, so won't be going back that way. We paln to visit Tomar, Caceres and Toledo.

We can recommend Camping Asseiceira near Marvao in Portugal where we spent 8 nights last September.  It is run by a Brit called Gary who hails from near Buxton.  Given that the small yet tidy site is set in an olive grove, we thought he must feel quite at home given that it is surrounded by dry-stone walls!  Marvao is delightful, as is Castel del Vide which is not too far away.  Good area for cycling too - we did a lovely ride on quiet, flat, well- surfaced roads - hardly saw a car.  If you are doing Cacares then this site could included on your itinerary.  We enjoyed Cacares too, but our stay was marred by some very noisy revellers at the club next door.

If anyone's still reading this, we're at Camping Asseeiceira, LynniB. It's just as you described except Chris welcomed us as Gary was out, and the weather is awful - a glimpse of sun between the thunderstorms!

Hi, chasncath.  We met Chris too when we were there - he was due to drive back to the UK within a few days of us leaving.  The day we visited Castel del Vide, Chris recommended we stop off at the little chapel on the hill overlooking the town - it put us in mind of the film 'Mamma Mia'!

Our bike ride took us to the little village of Beira.  The old railway station with its blue and white tiled murals is lovely.

Pity about the weather.  We were there this time last year and started to make our way back to the UK after several days of wet weather - severe case of cabin-fever.  Hope you get some good periods of sunshine.

If Cacares is next on your itinerary, it's a lovely drive - think it is the Montfrague National Park which is home to eagles, I believe.  Road was so quiet - we hardly saw a car.