Portsmouth to Santander Ferry then a quick trip down to our place in the sun in Ciudad Quesada

A video which I’m sure we’ll look back at and be shocked at how bad it is.
Our next video will show the apartment and how it needs a good refurbishment, which may not happen fully this winter.

We will include our living expenses and the cost of the trip from Yorkshire to Spain Via the Brittany Ferries ship Salamanca so far and will be incorporating them into a spreadsheet which will be downloadable as we go along with the Vlog.

Why the Torrevieja area?
Torrevieja boasts several beautiful beaches with fine golden sands and crystal-clear waters. Playa del Cura, Playa de los Locos, and Playa de la Mata are popular spots offering a mix of relaxation and water sports activities.
The city is famous for its salt production, and the nearby salt lakes, namely Laguna Rosa and Laguna Verde, create a unique landscape and attract flocks of pink flamingos, making it a haven for birdwatchers.
The city’s promenades are lively, lined with restaurants, bars, and shops. The seafront promenade offers a fantastic setting for a leisurely stroll, enjoying the sea breeze and stunning views and is great for a quiet drink or a nice meal.
Torrevieja has cultural richness with museums like the Sea and Salt Museum, showcasing the history of the salt industry, and the Submarine S-61 Delfin, offering insights into naval history.

Expat Community and Amenities
It’s also popular among expatriates, offering a range of amenities catering to international residents. There are various residential areas like Ciudad Quesada nearby, (which is where we will be retiring to) that offer modern living and a community atmosphere.

Festivities and Events
The city hosts vibrant festivals throughout the year, including the Habaneras and Polyphony International Contest, celebrating traditional Cuban music, and lively carnival celebrations.

Health and Wellness
Torrevieja is renowned for its healthy climate, attracting people seeking relief from ailments such as arthritis and respiratory issues due to the high salt concentration in the air.

Overall Vibe
Torrevieja presents a blend of relaxation, culture, and entertainment, making it an attractive destination for both tourists and expatriates seeking a taste of Spanish coastal living.

We are Mick and Cath, currently working as campsite wardens in Ripon North Yorkshire, UK, but with retirement fast approaching we are planning a permanent move to our home in Spain.
Our plan is to retire with a single UK state penion to our apartment in Pueblo Bravo, Ciudad Quesada, Rojales, Spain which we bought with the proceeds of the sale of our UK home.

In the meantime we plan to use our 2009 Belgian built Maesss motorhome to travel in the UK on our time off and then take a big trip to France when we finally finish work.

The Youtube channel was set up to help us keep and share the memories with anyone who is interested, so, if you are interested in this kind of content and may be planning a similar retirement and need to know our costs, we will be sharing our expenses and experiences as we continue our journey.

Our journey really began when we moved to Canada in 2008 for Mick to become a long haul truck driver, where we lived in our truck and spent an adventurous time delivering oversized loads all over Canada and the USA.
We also ran a Blog during that time but didn’t have a Vlog due to lack of decent gear for recording in a big rig, although we do have lots of clips on Micks other Youtube channel… youtube.com/@mickflynnimages and lots of pictures on mickflynnimages.com.

We then returned to England for a while and spent four summer seasons working in the Loire Valley on a beautiful campsite, before moving back to the UK and staying for six years working on a campsite near Henlow, Bedfordshire.
In 2021 we moved up to Yorkshire to be nearer our house which had been locked up for a few years except for short weekend visits, although, as we were provided with comfortable accomodation at our current site we decided to sell up, and so began our Spanish dream with the sale of our modest house in Bradford, which allowed us to buy the small apartment in Spain.
Our next big job (which we will be documenting) is to teach Cath how to ride a bike as she has never had one, but we feel that a couple of small folding electric bikes will allow us to get out and about more to explore wherever we are.

Welcome along for the ride, we hope we can make it interesting and informative for you.
Please subscribe to the channel, like, comment and and click the notification bell to prevent us from falling by the wayside as Youtube needs to see activity of any sort to help grow the channel.

email: mickfly@gmail.com

#ferry #spain #portsmouth #santander

Good morning everyone we’re on our way good morning it’s dday it’s been a long time coming it’s been a really long time coming we’re on his way down to Portsmouth um really early because really early no it’s we’re early early because the ferry isn’t till half 11:

Tonight oh yeah we’re early but uh we’re going to normally when we go across we go in a car with a load of stuff in it so you get on the F Port you can’t even back and have whereas with the motor on as you well know if you’ve got one just

Jump in the back and make a cup of tea when you park up it’s l so we’re heading for the Sun s on their um queue FY terminal I think they’re going to be oning up charlot uh our little marks at home himer behind us

We had a lovely rund down as well in this Autumn weather F cath we’ll give you a proper tour of the motor home all the rubbish has been set out when all the rubbish is gone yeah cuz look I’ve got it piled in here suitcase plastic boxes camera bags the bathroom’s full

We’ll give you a proper tour do something light when we get to some sunnier climbs it’s a lovely evening in Portsmouth F’s on time it’s still out in the channel somewhere so we’re parked up now at whatever time it is 25 plus 4 and we can start moving again at half

N they said they’re going to be loading us at half n so we’re going to go and have walk around around stretch our legs where the other side of that one oh you can see us there and we’re going to sit there for 5 hours when we get back

In right the front of the queue Oh look at this B here makes our look like a little dinky toy it’s a bit over at top they only to be going to Morocco somewhere well we w at first to get here and W at last to get on ready for the ferry

First glass of wine of the um the winter not that we drink much nice cast having a little read of the onboard magazine we’ just got two glasses of wine there and brokenhearted it was very expensive but we’re on holiday for now don’t tell them how much it is I I

Believe I’ve paired that C everybody just want our breakfast and total cost for two breakfast is3 which you don’t get very much for3 you don’t get much talk the cook breakfast would have given me a heart attack it 1850 yeah yeah so we won’t get F on board will we

I job with only on board a couple of days as well the idea what to bring a load of stuff bring it up to the cabin sandwiches and things like proper y fck but we didn’t so we’re having a PIR now Cheers Cheers a lot M you it’s beginning to look all like

Christmas cast oh look what I se over there Chris Chris B Bender Good afternoon everyone we I think we’re off St course to France hang on hang on hang on just pointing over there to France we’re going we’re going in that direction so I don’t think we’re not is over at that side where it’s over there we just uh have a little walk up

Here well cath carries I’m talking about yeah so I don’t think we’re not B bis yet but it’s very very very um smooth we’re going for a paint we’ve not not got anything better to to do have we not not really but we’re going for the pine because on holiday still on holiday

Yeah sure we did we come a here last year H did we come a fe last year I don’t think we did it’s not a lot of people wondering about is there not really it’s um they all be in the bar I suppose November the what today 24th November the 24th and

It’s still mes for the time of year it’s lovely it’s nice is it it’s not cold just the Dr cath out she don’t like she’s not cold C love no I don’t like cold so that’s that’s how we clearing I don’t like the cold but she don’t she’s not

Keen on the cold weather this is nice is not bad at all it’s really nice isn’t it it’s very nice very nice oh let’s hope let’s hope we’re saying that this uh tonight when we’re in the Bay of B SC I don’t think I think it’ll be all right you know

What fingers crossed oh yeah we’re not even at bis yet properly I don’t think we are yeah it is amazingly calm very very calm very calm we’ve been on here when it’s been there’s been some right weather I tell you I know it’s been bad you won’t

Be able to walk up and down here would you not a chance no no we are not quite on a bear bisc just going around the course France which is not behind us it’s at the other side I think we’re heading into the B bis very shortly what do you think it’s

Going to be like C I’m hoping it’s going to be like this because it’s really really calm it’s so calm and there’s not much wind is there not much wind at all it’s really nice I think this is probably one of War mildest Crossings we’ve had in in November is it and it’s

Late November it’s not like it’s normally nor go around fish yeah so this is very nice it is yeah walk around oh look jump on Grandma’s feeling so not Grandma C’s feeling so energetic can’t even make it go yeah look at me go look at go oh my God

I can’t make it we on the salaman Spanish name French ship French crew Kath steady on are you ready I’m try and get off now walk oh she’s got to try and get off let’s see yeah this is super awesome Cass it’s not just awesome and nice it’s super

Awesome I’m joking really it’s a bit that’s bench is a bit Wy there I know it looks like back in place it’s very dull and it does look like it’s going to rain doesn’t it but it’s not it’s it’s not raining yet though it’s all right you wouldn’t think

That this ship fet would have have it’s full packed because everywhere you walk everywhere you walk nearly everywhere look it’s empty outside is empty yeah because they’re all thinking it’s going to be nice cold Icy colding it’s lovely out here not let’s go back downstairs where all the other or everybody else maker

Wardens are I reckon after people on the ship will be campsite warden’s cast maybe I reckon they will yeah shall I have a go anyway let’s go get some creamy Points This is um the second evening on the ship C’s got some what they call empanados I think empanados I’ve got a very French Croc mure which came to 22 each man dish were Euros each and then we got a couple of glasses of House White when we finish this we’re going to

Go and watch I’m a celebrity because C forced me to because we’re sad no because you’re sad I’m not sad I’m only watching it to support you and um then we’re we’re heading down the road tomorrow so we’ll do some video in tomorrow morning and add it to the uh the journey

Down it’s hard to believe it’s the end of November and I’m on a ship in the B of bis and I’ve got a t-shirt on t-shirt on is that warm I should I say that Miles foreign spee foreign spee welcome to Spain Saturday morning and we’re going to down to

Aletti or somewhere near there on the way down to our new place in the [Applause] Sun Thank you it’s okay sir it’s okay come on who you and here we are off we go it’s Sunday morning we’re on the last leg down to cassada now split the Journey look at that the remind as were in Spain yeah I don’t know if you can see that on the camera

But there’s the we’re uh 2 and 1/2 hours until we get to our place in the sunmer and we had a cold night last night what was last night 5° inside inside it was really cold yeah yeah yeah it was 12° down at the seaside so we’re up this a very high up

I’m going to check see how I open yeah catch you in yeah 2 hours 37 minutes to go woohoo very Misty down there it yeah Sound fire kitchen