EEA family permit expired, can i travel to Europe?

[Adam07]

Hello there,
My 5 years EEA family member residence card expired on November 2014. My wife is Spanish and she has been always full time work in the past 6,5 years we have been living here.
By then I was told by UKBA officials applying for a ILR was not mandatory. And proving my status with letters etc on my name in our address I should not have problem to enter/leave UK I was told, especially if we were travelling together. So, also scared about long waiting times with no passport I postponed my application ever and ever till now. One thing I did not pay attention was not entering the UK but going to EU (as we planned to go on holiday in 2-3 weeks time by car to France and Spain). The reason was that previously I have been holding a permanent residence card of The Netherlands, which has been expired now too.

If I am now applying for a visa to Spain, they might ask (and insist) to see a valid visa on my passport. If we travel just like this if not the UK authority but The French can refuse me to enter/leave their country.

Any advice please?

I feel so desperate. We have been planning to go on camping with our kids in France and Spain for the entire winter and i do not want to be the obstacle for that.

Thanks a lot,