Serials, Sadness and Staying put

Hey all, and welcome to blog 32. This is probably going to be the hardest one I've had to write to date, as we received some tragic news a few days ago. I'll do my best to deliver that in the right and proper way, and in the meantime crack on with our other news.

So the last blog was posted last Monday on a very wet and windy day in the end. Jase returned from his ride just as the rain came in, and I'd managed to get most of my appointments sorted for the return journey. We spent the rest of day the day trying to stay dry and made our tunnel reservation for the return journey (8th December). That still left us with a good 4 weeks or so of hopefully warm and sunny weather down here in Spain. We also started discussing our plans for the immediate week or so. We'd initially booked into the campsite for a couple of nights but quickly extended to a week (to take advantage of the 7 for 6 offer which made our seaside spot a mere €12 a night).

Tuesday morning and a much brighter day. We had planned to get the bikes off and go for a ride together but it was much too windy for that. Instead we did a walk along the beach and to the local shop for a few supplies. We knew there was a supermarket fairly locally (the one on camp had long since closed with it being the end of the season). We found it fairly easily and were pleased to see the prices weren't too bad, and certainly loads better than France! Back at camp we enjoyed a nice lunch and afternoon in the sun away from the brisk wind. Into the evening Jase enjoyed a San Miguel (52c a tin) and I enjoyed a G&T with one of the miniatures mum & Paul had sent us away with - yum!

Tuesday evening saw us also finish the Morse series of DVDs - on this trip we've worked our way through Inspector Morse, The Thin Blue Line, Sherlock Holmes (old style with Jeremy Brett), Allo Allo, Ashes to Ashes, Inspector Lyndley, Strike Back (twice because "someone" got the ordering wrong) and we are now working through Jeeves and Wooster (thanks Tess and Nige). So, here's a question back to you, what boxsets should be bring with us next time? Do you have any recommendations or better still, ones you could loan us? As you can see we like a retro series or two, and would love to hear if you know of anything similar we'd enjoy. Thanks!

Wednesday morning and the wind had dropped off to leave us with a lovely sunny day so we took the bikes off and headed into the hills. The investigative ride Jase had done a few days earlier hadn't found us a route, more a route to avoid! But he'd come up with a bit of an idea so off we went. We started out from camp and through the back of the town part of Miami. This being one of the Costas, there are plenty of apartments about the place, although most look to be empty this time of year. There is also that sort of development that strikes of a hope for better times - the sort where roads just end! We weaved our way through and starting climbing - and climbing, and essentially didn't stop going upwards for pretty much 23km! The views were stunning though, and totally worth the effort. The road was more than wide enough, and drivers very courteous. Once at the top, the return effort was down a bigger road, but pretty much a 23km descent, very nice indeed! Back to camp for a well deserved lunch and sit in the sun - 44km with 730m of climbing, that's a pretty good effort for me!

Thursday morning and much cloudier skies unfortunately. I was feeling pretty sore after the previous days exertions so with an initial plan of moving on the following day we decided to get washing done and clean the van through. At some point through the day, neither of us really know when, we decided maybe we'd stay another week, as we still had plenty to explore and the weather wasn't loads better further south (plus this got us to 14 nights for 12!).

Friday morning and after a terrible storm overnight, we woke to a lovely sunning morning. Again we'd planned to go riding, but the wind was still very strong, so we bailed that for a coastal walk for more food supplies.

Saturday was a much calmer day, so we took the bikes out again, and decided to do the same route up the hill, although this time we'd do it as an out and back, coming back down the way we went up. The first 5km or so were pretty tough, but after our 9km pit stop at Pratdip (really), I started to find my legs and did the rest of the climb with only a couple of stops. The descent back down was much more enjoyable, partly as it was a quieter road, but also it was a bit more technically difficult with some sweeping corners to deal with - great fun (and yes parents, kept to a sensible speed I promise).

Sunday morning, remembrance day. Always an emotional one I feel, but this one will always have an additional meaning now. So the day starts lovely and sunny, Jase and I head along the coast to Miami for the Sunday market. We managed to pick up some lovely veg bits, and then head to our café for a 2nd breakfast.

It's here our tale takes a horrible turn, as I get my phone out to see a missed call and 2 messages to call my dad urgently. I called him straight back to hear the awful, tragic news that my step sister's husband had been killed on his way home from town in the early hours of the morning. I don't want this to sound at all trite, but somehow being away from home and hearing of such news just made us feel helpless. It also makes being able to do #Jexit seem so much more important, you never know when the game is up, so get out there, and live it. Give you loved ones an extra hug & kiss tonight. There is nothing I can say to make this any easier for anyone, but Chris leaves a wife and a 2 year old daughter behind. If this has moved you, please support them via this Gofundme page https://www.gofundme.com/chris-kempson-memorial-fund?fbclid=IwAR0E4Rkxi9Q2275tWAmXacBVYnQHD-IlSzzkUBkQl4nyvS9WfZAJ9Lndn7c or by using his physio clinic CK Clinic in Chippenham, which is his lasting legacy.

The rest of Sunday is a bit of a blur. We just watched the waves and held each other.

Monday and after a fairly sleepless night we decided to take things easy to try and process the awful news.

Tuesday and feeling a little better, we decided to take the van out for a short drive to stock up on a few food bits and get some LPG. With the forecast looking fairly ok for the foreseeable we'd decided we may as well stay put in this site. We have everything we need, a fab location and for a great price, there seems little reason to move on.

Wednesday morning and it's a bit cloudy but we both feel we need to blow the cobwebs away with a bike ride. We decide to do the hill again, with the nicer descent back. As before, the first 8km or so was really hard, but after a quick refuel break we headed on. As we went up, I missed the second place we'd usually stop, then the third and ended up cleaning the whole climb in one. Somehow, I felt that whatever pain I had in my legs, bum and back was nothing compared to how the family must be feeling. As we hit the top, I called out that this one was for you Chris. I know it won't change things, and maybe it sounds a bit daft, but I know it felt better to put the emotional energy to something constructive. This is now your view Kempo.

And so to today, Thursday. It had been forecast to be a rainy one, although nothing as yet. We are just having a fairly lazy one. It's been an emotional few days, with plenty more ahead as we try and support as much as we can remotely.

Until next week

Stay safe all

J&J x