N43.378744 W1.797583 - HONDARRIBIA, SPAIN - Free - Car Park (tolerated). No services except a water fountain.

Yesterday we left the elephant place behind to head for Hondarribia which is 215 km using autoroutes except that we weren't using autoroutes, we were travelling on the N634, which was pretty hard work what with all the bends and yet more people trying to kill themselves .

This was an area where there were unlikely to be any picnic areas to stop in for lunch so, looking in my trusty park4night app, I found a parking spot at a place called Durango. Guess what, it was near a cemetary! After lunch our 'trusty' SatNag gave us a diversion. The trouble is it gives the diversion and original route in two different colours which bares no relation to the little legend in the corner which says 'original route' and 'new route'. So foolish me chose the 'new route'. Where did we finish up - going almost round in a circle and ending at a dead end with nothing further but a dirt track!

That didn't improve Mike's tired temper so we opted for the toll road. We got off just before San Sebastián which was lucky for us as there was a huge tailback up the hill and we'd already sat in one traffic jam due to roadworks where they were lining out one of the tunnels.

We did get a bit of a surprise at the péage where the price was listed as 12 .80€, we gaily gave the lady in the toll booth 13€ but she said we were wrong and it was 7.30€. Nice one for the first toll we've paid so far.

We arrived here at about 19:30 after having found a Mercadona supermarket and done our Spanish shopping. There were far more vans here than there were last year. Mike thought there must have been at least 40 so it's getting to be very popular.

I like it here. Last year was the first visit for us but there is plenty of room this time of year. You can face the sea or the marina and the police don't bother you, they've been around twice today whilst we've been here.

We've also found a free wifi signal but don't know how secure it is but it doesn't seem to be a personal one.

It's a lot cooler and windier than we've been used to so now it's no longer shorts weather for us but there are still some people on the beach in shorts .

We sat watching the fishing boats come in and go out of the harbour last night. Coming in didn't seem too bad but those going out appeared to hit some rough seas and looked for all the world like they were doing a 'Titanic' and slipping beneath the waves stern first and then they'd bob back up again for the next wave.

I have seen one come in so far tonight so I'll watch and see if I can get any sort of photograph.

Mike decided today to try and adjust our habitation door so that it closes properly (he's already had one go). Well, this time he did something, shut the door and a bolt fell out the top. We looked inside the van, outside and under it. He even lifted a rainwater grating to see if it fell in there. In the end, he moved the van to the next space along and there it was. For whatever reason neither of us could see it under the van.

I woke up with a really bad back this morning, so much that I was nearly doubled over . I knew I needed to do some walking so after Mike had sorted out the door we went exploring.

Last year we walked down to the fishing port, this time we walked around the marina and up the estuary to the town. For 3.80€ return you can cross the estuary, by ferry, to Hendaye in France. So if you live in Hendaye you can have a day trip holiday to Spain for as little as 3.80€, foot passenger only.

The part of the town we walked through was pedestrianised, tree lined with the buildings each side reminding me of alpine design. We have noticed that in the mountainous areas of France and Spain a lot of the buildings have an alpine look about them. There were lots of bars, cafés and restaurants. We visited a pharmacie on the way back to freplenish our stocks of paracetamol. For 5€ we have 80 1000mg tablets. Cheaper than in France. So now I have plenty to take for my aching back.

Had a very 'healthy' eating day today - not! Breakfast not too bad, orange, banana and yoghurt. Lunch - fried egg, bacon (preformed pretend Spanish stuff, not real bacon, morcilla (Spanish blood sausage, not as nice as the French stuff) and fried leftover potatoes. Dinner tonight - sausages bought in Iceland in Albufeira, look and taste like they're Quorn, horrible pink sausages bought in Portugal, Trader Joe's baked beans which were nicer than Heinz with green chilli, added by Mike all washed down by red wine supplied by Pedro.