The next morning at the vineyard we were surprised by havey rain. Too bad, because actually we wanted to visit the nearby medieval village of Saint-Emilion. However, it turned out to be impossible. The good thing was that we had already ordered the chocolate croissants the night before at the bodega of the winery, so we only had to pick them up. After a quick wash, a fresh brewed coffee to go and with the incredible smelling croissants we jumped into the car to use the rainy day to get further to the Atlantic coast. We headed 215 km towards Hossegor, where we would like to shop at the big Surf Outlets to update our wardrobe. Surprisingly or maybe no surprisingly, our shopping trip took the whole day, which was not a bad thing because we wanted to stay close by anyway, as we met the brother of Daniell @diebootsmanufaktur with his girlfriend @jess.hah and its dog @kalle.twoface at the next day to continue our journey together towards Spain.
Actually, we wanted to spend the night on a campsite because after some days we needed a shower again but there were hardly any possibilities to stand free in this time and area. So we had to look for a regular campsite. When we arrived one of the big campsites, some of which were the size of small towns with its own fun fair and full to the last spot, we quickly decided against it.
Luckily, we found a farmer 10 minutes away who offered one of his meadows at a reasonable price and also had the hot shower we had been waiting for.
The next day, we had the get together with the others and after Dani’s brother and his girlfriend had a good time at the outlets too and Dani and me had the opportunity to have a big walk with Kalle through the forest next to the outlets, we all hit the road together to Spain. From Hossegor we drove over the French-Spanish border, crossed the Basque country and we set up the next camp for the night on a beautiful campsite from a friendly farmer between Laredo and Santander.

As we all brought our surfboards to have some surf sessions at the north coast of Spain, we always checked the swell forecast, which was still very small and so we took the chance to continue westward. First to San Vicente de la Barquera where we had looked for a camp site and checked in near Playa de Oyambre for 2 nights. When we arrived that campsite nearby the beach we went directly for a very little surf. Because Dani got his new balsa wood surfboard by Kun_tiqi, which we picked up before in Loredo. That's why he wanted to try it out as soon as possible.

Next day we had not even small waves, it was completely flat but we spent the time to relax at the beach and having a good barbecue in the evening. The weather forecast said that the next day we had to count again with a lot of rain, so we decided to continue to move further.

From San Vicente we drove the highway A8 further westward, because in the next few days the swell should increase and we got good weather over there. Playa de Peñarronda just before the border of Galicia was our next destination, where we would like to stay for a few days to enjoy the good weather and some surf. As you can see on the pics we found this beautiful spot, which was nearby the surf bay Playa de Peñarronda.

The next few days we all could go surfing. The Peñarronda beach offers great surf for every level. You have different options. You can either take the channel, which is on the right hand at the end of the bay and brings you easily out to the line up, or you can get out a little earlier to take the smaller waves so that you don't sit in the crowded line up, or you can just slide in the white water and practice the take off. Depending on the tide, the waves came in either big or small.

At Playa de Peñarronda was also a regular campsite and a meadow which was officially a parking lot but also used as a free campsite. Although the campsites in Peñarronda were more next to the surf beach we decided to stay for the night two bays back north at the Playa de Mexota. Because this spot was more quite, hidden and also much more better for the dog.

What more could you ask for with this spectacular view? Almost every morning we woke up alone and spending a few beautiful evenings and nights up there.

Of course, every time we wanted to go surfing, we had to pack everything and drive to Peñarronda, but we were ok with that.

Otherwise we would not have been able to enjoy this awesome place with all its beauty of its mornings and amazing sunset evenings. Since we liked it so much we stayed a few days longer than expected and we had such a good time as well as for surfing and other things, which I will share with you in the next post.

Have you actually already checked my awesome camper outfit? Hoody combined with shorts, socks and pool sliders. To my apology it was just before I put on a pair of long pants. But Pool sliders with socks are the campers best friend, when you have to go to the toilet at night.

By the way I would also like to mention the never ending issue of “POOP IN NATURE”. Almost everywhere where camper and overlander have the possibility of wild camping, you can find the remains of toilet paper or handkerchiefs. Sometimes they are even visible from a distance, what I personally think it’s really really shitty.

Who doesn’t know it? Finally you found a wild campsite and the first look wanders through the beautiful nature of that site. You are happy that you have found this beautiful rare spot, but the moment will come to find a quiet little place behind the next bush, in the forest or between large rocks is imminent. Exactly there you often find, the stinking mines, marked with more or less white flags.

Spain is a popular destination for camping and you still can find some spots where you can do wild camping. Although it’s forbidden by law, wild camping is in Spain often tolerated. However, this depends on the particular region and also the particular person you are dealing with. One police officer may turn a blind eye, another may not. One local may feel disturbed, the next not. In any case, the best motto is to behave as considerately and respectfully as possible.

That’s why I would like to ask you to approach that issue with more awareness and responsibility to preserve it through one's own behavior. Because we all would like to be able to continue wild camping.

Normally human poop takes about a year to biodegrade and can be an environmental hazard. It can befoul trails and campsites, and if it's left too close to streams or watersheds, it can contaminate groundwater. It’s always better to take it with you and dispose it in other ways.

But for those who are looking for a quiet place in nature, there are some basic rules:

Keep at least 50 m distance from all paths, roads, water sources (sea, lake, river or stream) or parking lots. Greater distance is always better! Walking a few meters never hurt anyone.
Dig a hole about 20 to 30 cm deep. If it’s too rocky, then it is advisable to move one or more larger stones. So that a hole or a hollow is uncovered.
Do your business in this hole.
Then take the biodegradable toilet paper and dispose of it in the nearest public waste garbage can. If this option is not available, bury it in the hole in the ground. However, it is more advisable to burn this in advance.
Close the hole again. Here it’s important to fill up the place well. This way the next visitor will not feel disturbed by the recently dug trough.

Just follow these simple rules, otherwise, eventually it will no longer be possible to enjoy these amazing spots of nature, which where we still allowed to stay. If we continue like this, wild camping will soon be completely prohibited. So please take care!!!

Cheers,

Katy

Pics by Daniell Bohnhof & Xaver Bohnhof

Text by Look2 Ocean

Hossegor To Peñarronda And The Get-Together With Kalle, Floki And The Others

Katy