Sunday 21 September: to Santander

 We have an average hotel breakfast before heading off at about 10.00. I drive initially and it’s mainly along empty A roads. We swap drivers and the sat nav takes us off the A road to avoid a road closure. It also seems to mention wild fire risk. We think it’s wrong although the alternative road is very good and empty and we even manage a coffee stop in a very Spanish cafe. No evidence of smoke either. Back on A roads the weather deteriorates as we get further north and there are rain showers and dark clouds. Still some blue sky as we arrive at Virgen del Mar and our campsite about 20 minutes from Santander. It’s very windy but we manage to eat a btw of lunch outside and a blustery walk to the nearby coast. Initially pretty empty the campsite is filling up but not just with Brits waiting for the ferry. We wonder why other people would come here! It’s good acclimatisation as we shelter from the elements inside the van this evening. Rice and beans planned for an easy meat free supper!