Tapp's Travels

Before I move on here, I have been much criticised by my editor-in-chief for my brief comment about Chistmas “coming and going”.  It actually came with much effort on everyone’s part.  Two beautiful trees, Christmas decorations everywhere and heaps of presents.  Linda and Robin put on a magnificent spread for 12 of us on Christmas Day.  Fabulous!

So much other stuff happened.  I really should have written about it at the time..  but polymyalgia kind of took over!  And I’m not going to do it now!

So, back to Spain…

On day three of our trip, we were sitting quietly minding our own business, when the caravan alarm suddenly burst into activity.  And loud it was.  VERY!  For four hours!  You have never seen a campsite empty so fast!  We tried all the obvious things: caravan battery, mains power, alarm control fob, fuses etc.  Then we got the technical experts at the Caravan Club involved.   Yes, yes, yes – done all that.  Well, we were gradually introduced to the inner workings of the alarm system.

In the end – and in desperation – we were advised to disconnect the internal battery.  Cut the wires!  But which ones?

There are 15 wires going in and out of the box!  Even with the fuse out and the internal battery isolated the alarm kept going for another ten minutes.  There appears to be a backup, backup battery on the mother board.  All the while Glenda was trying to stuff earplugs in my ears!  It was very noisy!

We soon discovered, in the ensuing, piercing quiteness, that all the 12 volt electrics had gone on strike.  No lights, no water pump, no toilet flusher and no clickers to light the gas systems.  This went on for five days.  We were sort of getting used to basic camping with a metal tent and comfy bed!  On the positive side, we still had mains electricity – so the microwave worked.  But the electric water heater didn’t – and that,  failing, just might have been the root cause of all the other problems.

Eventually, and with little hope of success, we gave in and persuaded the local caravan dealers in Santander to come to site and have a look.  Hugo (let’s call him that) spent two hours dismantling anything vaguely connected to electricity.

All the while talking animatedly, and loudly, in Spanish.  Either to himself, the Caravan Club techies, his boss or to me (more or less pointlessly).  Anyway, after two hours he found a wire (red and green, i think) that might have had a poor connection.  Then with the alarm fuse re-inserted, we were back in 12 volt wonderland.  Everything sprang back to life. €174.20 well spent!

Enough disaster!  We are still smiling!

Now able to concentrate on holidaying, we walked the beaches of Comillas, Ombreya and San Vincente.  At low tide these three beaches gave eight miles (in total) of almost deserted walking.

We found some super small restaurants.   The renamed Ciclo in Ruente (last time we were here it was called La Ventusta!) and, especially, La Taberna de Valle near Cabuérniga.  Three courses, bread, water and a bottle of wine for €14.  Not at all a bad price – and the food and the views were brilliant!

Another day we splashed out at La Ostreria at the mouth of the Rio del Escudo at San Vincente.  Prime location!  It looked like were on a cruise!  Very nice meal – avoiding all oysters (with difficulty as they featured in most dishes – the clue is in the restaurant’s name!).

We visited Santillana del Mar, a village of many ancient, local-style houses and heaps of tourists.  (Pretty, but I wouldn’t want to be here in Summer!)

Santa Juliana (11th century church) and the communal laundry and cannabis exchange depot in front of the church.

Another day we drove a little way west to Colombres.  The Picos mountains still have snow on top.

But the weather is changing.  Two weeks of wet weather is forecast (you may notice how nice and green everywhere is!).  The awning comes down in two stages between heavy showers and we are ready to move.  Glenda wants to go south, I’m all for not making the drive home any longer than necessary – so we are off to France.  Say goodbye to the superbly clean showers, the cheap coffees (ca €1.50) and the (relatively) cheap diesel (€1.25 per litre.)  Say hello to the land where we have a fighting chance of communicating with the locals!

To be continued.