SPAIN - Part 1 - January 1, 2013

SPAIN

January 1, 2013

 

We’re in the same campground where we spent over two months last winter; the plan this year is to be here almost four months to enjoy the sunny warm weather and the great riding, both road and mountain biking. Shortly after arriving we had three days of some of the wildest winds we’ve ever seen. As a result we had to brace ourselves against the walls of our new kitchen tent just so it wouldn’t do the Mary Poppins trick.

Notice the black cat that adopted us (or rather adopted our food pantry).

 

Many of the same people we met here last year have returned. Which means it’s a little easier to figure out who is playing the nasty little tricks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Nov. 1 we talked to my uncle in France who was to undergo chemo treatment for cancer. On Nov. 9 he passed away in his sleep. A huge loss for both Dawn and I. For me he was a father. He gave me the history of my family from the 1^st World War till now. He filled in huge missing pieces to my personal family puzzle. He was also a special friend to both Dawn and I. We had amazing times with him over the past twenty-five years. We miss him deeply.

On Nov. 10 a close friend, Lu, arrived to spend a week with us. Originally she was a neighbour in Canmore, Alberta. A Brit who is to us a second daughter. We had lots of laughs, tears and, of course, wine.

Dec. 8 was a different type of day. One of the German campers who has been coming here the last seventeen years organized a “street” party…bring food to be shared buffet style and for sure bring your own booze. Originally expecting some forty people, seventy came representing ten different nationalities. Incredible food, good hootch, and a guy (is that Joe Cocker?) playing Bob Dylan tunes while singing in at least four different languages, one after the other…well, you get the gist. Stumbling back to the van with a belly full of food with folding chairs and a table under our arms while humming to the tune of “Knock, Knock, Knocking On Heaven’s Door”…good thing there wasn’t a camera around.

 

The weather has been amazing with sunshine and 18-22 C days, great for road and mountain biking.

 

Last year a young couple and their two year old son camped behind us. The little boy, Arthur, pronounced in Spain as RRRR-TOURRR, is a really cute kid. He gave us a stone which he coloured and we gave him one we had beautied up. Mid-December this year the same family is here at the campground and when I saw RRRR-TOURR come out of the washrooms with his mother he was quick to inform me that he had “gone KAKA!!” and that I should be impressed. I told him I was but when I told him I had just done the same thing…he really didn’t care. I think he understood my shoulder shrug. It turns out his mother has kept the stone we gave him as we have kept the one he gave us!! Pretty cool!!

 

The picture with the palm trees is the area just past the campground where we are staying. It is truly a paradise.

 

 

 

 

 

In a fourteen month period we lost three friends and a close relative. It has been difficult at times. But we remind ourselves that without having had these special people around us, our lives would not have been as magical as they have been. With a tear and a smile we wave them goodbye and say…thanks.

 

To all of you, thanks for being on our path.

Have a wonderfully magical new year.