126. No plan survives contact

Cádiz

Infamous as we are for being late, without the external discipline of living in a community and the impact it has on others we are feeling its full effect. We have been wanting to visit the restored Roman village of Baelo Claudia, an hour down the road for a week now. Yesterday we agreed that we would make every effort to go in good time as they close at three thirty in the afternoon. We drove out the gate at one thirty meaning that we would only have an hour once we arrived so yet again we had to abandon our plans - nuff said.

Castle of Santa Catalina parade ground

Gun embrasure view of Cádiz

Relics of the turbulent
past abound.

Instead we headed for Cádiz to have a look around. Old Cádiz had the most appeal so we drove around a little in the town then parked in the same carpark as I had with my Mum and visited the local fortifications dating from the sixteenth century, the Castle of Santa Catalina next to the carpark.

It is exquisitely beautiful, with, as we discovered, a dark past. Being a weekday we pretty much had the place to ourself except for a startled artist in what we discovered are artist rooms after Roman burst in. 

We very much enjoyed rambling about exploring on such a beautiful day. There were a number of exhibitions and we were welcomed into what turned out to be a tribute to Spanish pacifists particularly the thousand Jehovah's Witness many of whom were imprisoned here during the rule of General Franco from 1950–1970, sobering. I scanned the provided information which can be viewed here.

There was also a good exhibition of the Cádiz local police over the last two hundred years.

Local pharmacy only he three flu vaccinations in stock so maybe tomorrow?

125. Shot through

CONIL DE LA FRONTERA, CADIZ, SPAIN

Local supermarket car park is a solar farm - makes sense

Up in good time and got a heap of work written as well as various jobs including multiple loads of washing in our little machine. The plan had been to go to the beach today however there was a fair wind unexposed parts of the campsite and it would have been stronger at the beach.

While doing the washing I heard, through the hedge other campers talking about the flu that is ravaging the UK, niece Amelia included, and how some had it here. Right, that's a call to action.

Fyfe and I went into town to find where we can get Flu vaccinations. Queued by number at a small medical facility and when our number came up we went to the reception and they didn't know what a flu vaccination was, even with the help of Google translate. The did offer a tetanus vaccination which we declined. We and ended up at the medical centre who said we didn't need appointments and that they were open till ten.

The walk of doom

Home for dinner then off to the medical centre. Kids were great about it, quite a wait at reception after I had paid sixty euro then Fyfe and Jacqueline went in to the surgery, with the doctor. A minute later he was out asking the nurse for the immunisations. The nurse asked me. Turns out you have to buy the immunisations yourself at the pharmacy. The sixty euros was just for the doctor to administer the injections. The pharmacy was now closed for the day. They were good enough to refund the sixty euro and we have to repeat the whole process tomorrow, after visiting the pharmacy first.

124. Free grub

CONIL DE LA FRONTERA, CADIZ, SPAIN

Camp Invite

My Mum is home with a clear bill of health, great message to start the day.

Roman talking to Aunt and Uncle

Lovely catchup with brother Douglas and Anna-Marie this morning on the phone. While talking, Roman appeared in his PJ's and had a great catchup on the phone also, actually participating in dialogue which is unusual. Delighted to hear that nephew Lucas passed his exams with excellence which is wonderful and opens up a world of opportunity - well done Lucas.

A few days ago, while sitting outside eating my breakfast, the camp restaurant managers walked by distributing the attached brochure inviting all the camp to a free lunch today to celebrate the upcoming festival of San Sebastián.

Audrey, Maisey, Claire and Matthew

We teamed up with Edward's (Roman's friend) family and got there half an hour early as we knew the silver top campers would be prompt for any free feed and we weren't wrong many tables already staked out when we got there. The meal proved satisfactory to all but the two young boys and afterwards we moved out into the sun and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon sitting in the sun while the children skated and cycled on the smooth area we were in. Afterwards we moved to Matthew and Claire's where they made up a meal for all while we did battle untangling and erecting their fairy lights.

Hand hoe touches.

Now things are drying out the local farmer is out in his field joining the campsite. I was woken this morning by the sound of a two-stroke engine being used properly, sounding like an outboard. Turned out it was a hand operated cultivator that was about two metres wide and made no smoke. It appeared to be cultivating nearly an acre per hour which is very impressive. I understand that they get three crops per year here.

There is talk that we may team up with Claire and Matthew to head into Morocco which would be brilliant - here's hoping.

123. Adieu Pat

CONIL DE LA FRONTERA, CADIZ, SPAIN

Our current spot

Funny old day today with Jacqueline's father Pat's funeral happening on the other side of the world. We feel a long way from home and thinking of Margaret and family - Kia Kaha. 

During the funeral Jacqueline was messaging her brother Shane who is in the Philippeans with Stephanie currently heading out on a boat to swim with dolphins which is wonderful.

WhatsApp message tonight

My Mum, now back in NZ is in hospital for the night for monitoring. This is her first time in hospital without injury or childbirth! Stephanie was with her last night which is great. Mum is very disappointed to be missing Pat's funeral which is running as I write this. Always good to get possible issues independently checked.

Family outing by bike to the supermarket today which was an ordeal, mostly due to Roman's bike not being comfortable. Had to prise him out of his little friend Edwards Motorhome first. The plan was to do the supermarket then off to the beach with Matthew and Claire to watch the sunset. The supermarket trip took a little (lot) longer than expected so I Discoed the family to the beach then went back for Edwards (Matthew, Claire and baby Maisey) family. 

By the time the second shift arrived we had missed the sunset but Jacqueline got these great snaps. Matthew and I kicked a football with Fyfe till the dark stopped us while others dug holes and built sand things.

A good day, farewell Pat.

122. Quiet time

CONIL DE LA FRONTERA, CADIZ, SPAIN

Success - bribery works. Much online maths being done. The double reward of computer time and money has succeeded on all but Roman who is more interested in Edward, his little friend, a short sprint up the campground away.

Jacqueline's Dad, Pat Chapman

Jacqueline's focus for the day was getting some thoughts down regarding her Dad, Patrick, in time for his service on Tuesday. Never an easy process, where does one start or finish? Pat was a good man, she loved him and has happy memories. Pat knew this. We are so glad that Jacqueline was able to spend a few weeks with him in NZ, late last year. 

We have decided that Jacqueline isn't going back for Pat's funeral on Tuesday. Instead we would like to get a ticket for Margaret, Jacqueline's Mum, to come over to visit us for as long as she wishes, if she likes the idea? This would be wonderful as she would get time with the children and see another part of the world. I remember my own Mum saying at the time, after the death of my father, life got very simple for awhile, particularly after she removed all his medical appointments from their dairy. Margaret, if you read this, my loving condolences, we would be delighted to have you visit.

121. Bribery

CONIL DE LA FRONTERA, CADIZ, SPAIN

Maths on-line time

Finally got the kids back on Mathsbuddy today. Have put the children on strict rations, their daily computer time has been set to nought minutes between the hours of seven am and eight pm (was thirty minutes). For every unit of Mathsbuddy they pass I will still pay them fifty cents and they now gain fifteen minutes of computer time on their login to play games. Audrey did eight units today and was delighted as she gets four euro and two hours on her log in. Roman gets fifty cents and fifteen minutes. I'll pretty much do anything to get them working without having to stand over them which is tedious for all concerned.

Claire, Edward and Matthew

Had camp friends Matthew and Claire with their children Edward who Roman enjoys playing with and baby Maisy over for dinner.  Great fun. They are from Manchester and drove straight here and intending to make their way back slowly starting with Portugal. Their vacating their house and getting on the road has parallels with both our story and Mary and Stuffs. Like us, they hit the road exhausted and are only getting into their stride now. 

Prior to Matthew and Claire arriving, the couple whom I chatted to a month ago who told us about this place appeared in our awning and were absolutely delighted that we had taken their advice and come here. During conversation she asked, I see you have German neighbours, how have they been? - I guess it is a chicken or egg question.....

Mightn't look like much to you but
very pleasing to me.

Hint for cleaning. I cleaned the wall of the caravan that is inside the awning a month ago with detergent. Today I noticed that it was disgusting with road film. Nothing I could do would remove it. I remembered I made the same mistake on the Disco's refurbished wheels. Cleaning with detergent creates an ideal bonding surface for road film. The answer is to make sure to wax the cleaned area with car polish so that the road film doesn't get a good grip the next time. Luckily I still had a spray can of Wurth Industrial Cleaner that managed to get the road film off, with a lot of work. Spray on car polish now applied.

120. Wailing from the awning

CONIL DE LA FRONTERA, CADIZ, SPAIN

Woke this morning to the sounds of a distressed Audrey in the awning with a headache and saying she was feeling sick. This was obviously a concern in light of her diabetes. Finally managed to bully her into testing, the last thing she wanted to do considering how she was feeling, and very relieved to learn that it wasn't a blood sugar issue. A little later she threw up in a bowl and, like one does, felt much better. The result was another day at base camp.

Was stunned to observe, on the way to attending Audrey that the door mat was still wet 😠. Turns out, the Nile has two sources. The external water fitting that also has the charcoal filter had developed a hairline crack, too small to see by eye, and was happily dripping away.

Removed it from the Giantavan and using a bit of longer hose it is now dangled below the caravan where it can drip to its hearts content till its eBay replacement arrives.

As we were based here for the day more laundry ensued.  The photo below is for my amusement at Roman's gloves. Roman spent much of the day with Edward, a little boy here with his parents, Matthew and Claire who were meant to join us for dinner this evening but Audrey being sick scuppered that. Maybe tomorrow.