Well that was the week that was as they say, seems like Donald is leaving the stage soon, and most of Europe is in lockdown. For us we have been keeping ourselves to ourselves here in Zahora, ‘Making Plans’ and then adjusting them to fit the latest restrictions. If 2020 has taught us anything, ‘Making Plans’ is something of a lost cause. But without a direction we are also lost, so we make them and change them as and when required, we have learned to be flexible just like everyone else. As not a lot has been happening, you are getting a string of Photos of me this week to show I am actually here!
We had decided to stick around here for another couple of weeks and meet with some friends that are staying nearby. But with new restrictions coming into force on Monday night we will not be meeting anyone and be just staying where we are unless the site closes. Restaurants must close at 6 PM and we will only be allowed to visit Barbate 12km away.
When all is said and done, we are allowed see and do quite a bit and this week it has been all about increasing our exercise rates, cycling, and walking more.
The weather has been unexpectedly kind for the most part and we have been on the beach many days, plus walks in the forest and taking in the relaxed vibe of the surfer’s paradise that we now live in.
We have kept very much to ourselves this week and caught up with chores such as doing out Tax Returns. Sorry Rishi not much for you here we are afraid. On top of that I have been like many people running down the battery on my phone with constant checks on the state of play of the elections in America. All I can say is there was a surprise, by a vote remarkably similar to Brexit one, Donald is gone but the arguments remain, ‘Plus Ca Change’ as the French would say.
But it has been the long walks and cycle journeys that we really enjoy along with watching the baby seals (as we call the surfers) bobbing up and down on the water all for a 10 second run before heading back out for more.
The walk to the Barbate is a lovely mix of beach, forest, and cliff a 25 km round trip that has our legs aching by the time we get back. As you meander up and down the views are lovely with the sea always available and the pine forest giving that lovely scent and you move through it. We see people collecting the pinecones to extract the nuts. All slow and easy.
As for the beaches around here, they are huge and go on forever, as I have said we have been lucky for the most part with the weather most days having been sunny and any rain being overnight. That said for those of you that have not slept in a motorhome, the noise from the pounding rain and a thunderstorm is awesome, you don’t sleep through that!
There are not many people around anymore and the campsite is fairly empty, and we hope that they will stay open until the restrictions lift. A new companion has adopted us, Blue Eyes a lovely cat that loves food (tin and biscuits as brought by us) and Karen and hisses at me.
Sorry for the brevity of this week’s issue, but not much happens when you are stationary! Karen will not doubt prove me wrong next week but until then TTFN!
Katherine says
What a different lockdown this is for us. But surely, David, lock down activities include running!!!
Julie Buckley says
Ah Barbate, that was where we had planned to spend lock down one (on the aire by the marina). Sadly we were woken by folks rocking the van which cracked the habitation window. We left the next day, tried to get into a campsite (possibly the one you are in – ACSI?) but they weren’t allowing new guests, so we took it as a sign and headed home. We do know that a van spend 100 days at the aire in Barbate during lock down, so if the campsite closes that could be an option – you won’t have the problem we did due to curfew!
Whatever happens it will be much nicer to be locked down in the sunshine than back home! Enjoy.
Ju x
Gareth Parry says
Glad you’re keeping safe. Zahora was one of our favourite places for tapas y cafe con leche when we had our caravan in Tarifa. It was on our list of places to revisit this year but we’ve now slipped that right to 2021. Thoroughly enjoying your posts, very informative with lots of ideas for our future visits.
Gary and Zoe says
Oh Gracious me! Stuck again! And it appears your nice eating outlets are closed too ! What a bugger this Pandemic has been. We salute you for carrying on, in true British Fashion! No doubt Dave’s Emerald Green shirt has been binned or at least put in the bottom drawer! As you should know Dave, Form is temporary but class is permanent! I know you had your revenge with the Charlton result so onto next year! Your walks are an impressive distance! Zoe and I have been walking a lot during this 2nd Lockdown but zeesh! 25km !! Impressive. Be careful Dave, a new wardrobe could be required!
Stay safe guys and enjoy what you can. you always seem to find something interesting to busy yourselves anyway.
Missing you. Take care. XX
Gilda Baxter says
Barbate looks very pretty and even stationary you are finding some interesting things to do, so kudos to you for making the most of the strange times we are living. We have been back for over a week now and our two weeks quarantine will soon be over…we just can’t wait to have a little bit of freedom again, although very limited since England still in lockdown. Thake care