10. Mar, 2020

TUESDAY 10-03-20

After another peaceful night we awoke to another cloudy day, cloudier than yesterday because we never got to see the sun at all really which meant it was rather cool all day long. Never mind at least we were cool in lightweight clothing rather than cold in thick clothing back home.

We took ourselves off to the seafront this morning which is only a couple of blocks away. There is still evidence of the damage caused by the nasty storm they had here late last year. A fellow camper who was here at the time told me that it lasted about five days and soon after it passed she went for a walk along the promenade and estimated there was five inches of sand on it, which had been washed up by the sea.

Once we were level with the village we turned right and inland to the 'High St' enquiring at the Sports Centre on the way as to whether or not the free cycle hire was still in place. Fortunately for us it was and we may well take a bike out later this week.

Being a bit cool there weren't many people about but we did spot a couple of establishments where we could potentially take our MiFi's, laptop and iPad to sort out the connectivity problem should we fail to sort it ourselves.

On the way back I bought a small bag of compost and a plastic pot. Sounds crazy I know, but before setting out I bought a mint plant from Waitrose, re-potted it and bought it along with us. The thinking being that as flies and mosquitoes aren't too fond of the smell of mint they may keep away from us. I don't mind using spray but The Chef has a bit of a problem with asthma and so I'm trying to find a natural solution. Anyhow in our haste to hit the road when leaving Barcelona I went and left the plant enjoying some fresh air and sunshine sat near the hook-up point. I didn't realise what I'd done until the Chef asked if I had remembered put it in, and of course I then realised I hadn't but there was no way I was going back for it.

Fortunately we have a small garden centre next door to the campsite and yesterday we popped in on the off chance they had one. They hadn't, but the nice lady said they had something similar, and sure enough on rubbing the leaf it smelt just like mint, though what it is I've no idea. If anybody recognises it then answers on a postcard please.

After picking up a few bits of shopping we returned for lunch after which I re-potted 'Minty-Smelling Plant Mk 2'.

The Chef had unfolded the chairs and was ready for an afternoon of sunshine, but it was not to be, in fact it was too cool even to sit outside in. Never mind the thought was there.

The coronavirus epidemic seems to have increased significantly here in Spain since we left home. At that time there had only been two deaths. Now it is reporting that there have been 1,622 infections and 35 deaths, which is quite an increase in ten days. We have the means to take sensible precautions while we're over here, but we are of course at the mercy of our fellow man and that really is the weakest link given the number of times you see a handkerchief not being used. I'm hoping to finish my bit on Infection Control tomorrow. Not being a writer I've found it hard gong but I felt I should produce it.

Following a video call with my brother Richard today we will be leaving here on Monday morning heading for Denia further down the coast where we'll meet up with them for a chat and they will be able to tell us all about their recent holiday motorhoming in Australia.

Well all the chores are now done and we're locked up for the night. The heating is on and I think we'll now be watching a couple of videos.

9. Mar, 2020

MONDAY 9-03-20

Today was a bit of a nothing day having woken from a lovely peaceful night here. Even the obligatory yappy balls of fluff are at a reasonable distance from us.

Speaking to fellow campers it seems that today's weather was the norm, that is, it started off cloudy and then the skies clear to a greater or lesser degree in the afternoon giving some lovely warmth and sunshine.

It was mainly a chores day. Firstly the washing line went up between two trees on our pitch followed by me doing my bits to hang out followed by The Chef doing hers. Then while she was cleaning the bathroom I got stuck in to the carpet cleaning. We have removed the fitted carpets which came with the vehicle and now use lengths of carpet strip, the sort you get in hallways, cut to shape and covering the whole floor. It's a stiff hardwearing carpet which is practical for our needs. Somewhere on the way down here we picked up some marks which I can only assume came from a garage forecourt, but they're now gone and it's all looking a lot cleaner.

While everything was drying we went for a wander down to the village for a few bits and to be mugged by a Spanish ATM.

Although Nationwide Building Society do not charge us for cash withdrawals from our Flexplus current account the Spanish banks want their pound of flesh. Today we withdrew €300 at a Santander branch at a cost of something like £289 (it showed the exact amount on the screen but I see it doesn't appear on the ATM reciept) plus a fixed transaction charge of seven Euros. The folk behind us in the queue told us it pays to have a Santander 123 account I think he said. But how many accounts do you need to have? In future we are going back to how we used to do things, which is to buy €500 from Tesco Online currency exchange before leaving, then split the money in to 5 x €100 envelopes and lock four of them away in the safe alongside our envelope of €100 emergency money.

Needless to say since we crossed The Channel, The Chef has been putting everything she can on a card, regardless of how small the amount is.

On the way back we popped in to the lovely Lidl supermarket down the road and bought a few bits. The alcohol soap came out at the appropriate moments.

Back at the campsite we enjoyed a light lunch after which we finished the chores then The Chef sat out enjoying the sunshine while a did a bit of typing regarding Infection Control which I hope to have finished tomorrow.

We watched the BBC Six O'clock News online after our evening meal, and much of it of course is about the Covid-19 coronavirus. In fact I don't think there was anything good reported during the programme at all. Much more of this doom and gloom and they'll have to put an electrified fence along Beachy Head.

No photograph today I'm afraid, there was nothing to take a picture of apart from our untidy pitch as we set about getting tidy inside the vehicle.

Tomorrow we're off for a walk along the seafront, in to town, then checking if the free bike hire scheme is still running at the Sports Centre.

8. Mar, 2020

SUNDAY 8-03-20

We awoke to a lovely warm sunny day. We felt that we really had finally arrived at a sunny place. I was keen to crack on so that we could arrive at Benicassim in time to get set up ready to enjoy our short stay here.

We rushed things a bit to get away which resulted in my leaving my mint plant which I had bought from Waitrose and had re-potted (more of that another day). I was really miffed, but by the time I realised what I had done there was no going back to get it.

Soon we were on the toll road for a journey of about 180 miles. It should have been a bit easier than it was as HGV's are banned from the roads on Sundays unless they are carrying fresh produce, but I suppose Spain is all about fresh produce which meant we found ourselves overtaking quite a few of lorries.

Amazingly here right now diesel fuel is just under the equivalent of one pound per litre, though not of course on the toll roads. I think we topped up at about €1.20, just over a pound, but it was a 'Repsol' garage, so we're not talking quality like 'Shell' or 'BP'.

Thankfully 'Freddie Fendt' was back to normal and functioning perfectly which is reassuring given the amount of money he's just had spent on him.

After stopping for lunch about forty miles short of Benicassim we arrived here at Camping Bonterra Park  www.bonterrapark.com (GPS: N40.056967˚ E0.074650˚) at about 13:30. It was nice to be back and the campsite is much busier than I expected, especially given the large number of motorhomes and caravans we'd seen heading in the opposite direction on our way down here. I think quite a few people come down here for a full six months (Beginning of October to the end of March) so I guess even the weather and flooding back home and the coronavirus spreading across the globe hasn't been enough to budge them. There are a number of familiar faces from previous visits but we were never close to most of them. The Chef spotted what looks to be 'Herman wiffout der Husky''s motorhome in one of the pitches and given the unique artwork on the vehicle I'm sure it will prove to be him.

We set up in our pitch and settled down for a bit of relaxation in the sunshine while we had the chance. Tomorrow will be chores followed by shopping followed by a bit of chill time. Having said that though I've made a start on knocking something together regarding coronavirus for the 'Advice & Tips' section of the blog. I hope I can beaver away and produce something by Thursday at the latest. What I have seen on the internet is a very simplistic approach to Infection Control. The practicalities of it go beyond 'Blow your nose on a tissue, wash your hands regularly and avoid toucing your eyes. I hope I can produce something that will be a practical guide to ordinary folk looking for answers.

This evening we enjoyed a Sunday roast in the restaurant, though it, like the campsite fees have gone up since last year when the two meals and a small carafe of wine was sixteen Euro's- this year twenty-two fifty.

What is left of this evening is being spent letting the meal settle, and The Chef is about to make coffee as only she can.