wandering1: The Caravan Club Hightlights of Spain Grand Tour 2015

Morning world. I havent blogged for a while but I know quite a few like to know wthat we are up to. So yesterday was day 1 of this Tour. We finishrd the Andulucian Tour which was great fun and tried to have a break at Marjal Costa Blanca for a while but that didnt quite materialise as we still had 9 sites to inspect! We found some super new sites that will be joining the Clubs network next year so that was quite exciting-maybe I need to get out more! Oh whilst we were at Marjal we had the first real problem with our Lunar Caravan. A manufacturing defect on the front gas box! Eeks It didnt look good with bungy clips holding it in place! Now could a bigger piece of the caravan break? Could I be in a more difficult location? Easter right when I needed the part? All I can say is that they were amazing! Within a week a new front box was sent to Marjal free of charge! I was able to have it fitted and on I went! What service in this day and age. This caravan as you can imagine gets really put through its paces and thats the very first time Ive had to claim under warranty. I think its already been to well over 20 countries and approximately20 000 miles so not bad going at all. To havr it repaired so quickly Im a very happy bunny!
We finished inspecting on Sunday and had a days rest before people started arriving early for the Tour. We are at Camping de Haro. The capital of the Rioja region. Last night my brief was to get everyone from the Tour into the bar for A welcome drink. A drink?!!! Well they were going to open the bar especially for us but being the tight canny true Yorkshire lass I worked out that if we did our own thing with the money allowed we could all have several drinks, if not an entire bottle up here for the money allowed for one drink! I put it to the particiapnats and guess which they went for? Well we are in the Rioja region and we needed to start the Tour in a good and proper way! The trouble was just as we started so did the thunderstorms! It would take more than that to dampen our spirits particularly after consuming so much wine! We found a sheltered area and had a great night. Im not sure what the weather is going to do today as we possibly have a group barbecue. The group are really great as usual and from all walks of life but would you believe it more than 75 percent of the group are from....yorkshire! Dont worry about it though we are giving the others elocution lessons! They will be speaking properly in no time at all! We only have one motorhomer and the friendly banter was great fun. Some of this Tour have been with us before and its lovely to see familiar faces as well as meeting new ones. Others havent done Tours at all before and some have never ever been to Spain. Certainly with this Tour they are in for some suprises.
Tomorrow we go to one of my favourites Monte Holiday. Some were amazed how mountainous Spain is just coming from the ferry ports,. Wait until they see this and so close to Madrid. I think it could ahve something to do with the food as well as to why I love Monte Holiday so much. The restaurant there is to die for and some of the trips out are also good too-complete with food. Is there a theme running here?! I hate cooking! Theres so much more to life but eatings a different matter! I watch Masterchef but some of those dishes?! If I was served some of that up it would be gong straight back!
I wasnt very good with my camerra last night, I was a little pre occupied I will try better..so onwards and upwards Id better check out the forecast and see if I can convince the men to cook for us on the barbecue! Any excuse. Have a good day folks!