Don't rouse the codger

Weather: Scorchio!
Rias Baixas

Before we waved bye bye to the magnificent Monicaaaaaa, we thought we should try and reach the local nature reserve.  We plotted a route that involved "caminos tradicionales" especially covering the last part of the route between the village at the end of the road and the lake we were aiming for.  Slightly worrying in that neither Google maps nor Viewranger (which plots walks and bike rides) showed the last part but it was on the tourist info map.  We reached the last outpost and a very friendly lady advised us not to use the camino tradicionale from her village as it would be too steep with the bikes and sent us back via more villages and cam ts.  At each village a happy local would nod as we asked for the next part of the c.t. and wave us straight on.  As we plunged through  fly infested forests and carried the bikes up and down rocky mountain tracks it became clear that the locals were more than happy that someone other than them was keeping it tradicional!  So 3 hours to get to this lake and we were too tired to find a proper beach or do more than flop on the rocks and eat our lunch.  Only took 45 mins back by normal roads!!

Exhausted and unimpressed

So, glad to spend time sitting down, the next day we set off for our next stop on the NW coast of Spain.  We needed supermarket essentials like British tea and cheddar so were happy to spot a Planet Carrefore en route.  This is always good as it means langoustines with our gin and tonics, asparagus with our fish supper and strawberries for pud.  But we paid the price as the van was too high for the car park barrier and we had to park up a hill.  Carrying the bags back to the van felt like we were contestants hauling ton weights in the World's Strongest Man competition.  (David gave me a guest entry to the event as a one off!)

When we arrived at our campsite we seemed to be in the middle of a go cart race and the site was heaving.  But we found a quiet spot and settled in commenting on how much there was going on for the kids.  Despite the fact that the site prided itself on being run on eco friendly principles this involved having the radio on in the block at full volume night and day, shipping in ponies for pony rides and running a scrambling session (as in motor bikes) which unfortunately ran on a track just behind us as we settled down for our tea at around 9pm.

As it cooled down we turned in but at around 12.15 heard children's voices.  It seemed like the kids club included a night time activity for 10 year old that involved walking round our part of the site with torches.  I drifted off but David was awake until well after they finished just before 1.  Then at about 3.30 a couple of teenagers decided on a game of hide and seek and football!!  By 6am I had had enough and switching on David's mobile to take photos with as evidence (clear thinking heh?) I put on my dressing gown and stalked off to reception to try and find a security guard.  There was no one there but I did have a long, one sided, conversation with a Spanish lady who was as cross as me (I think it was about the boys but it might have been because of the loud music in the toilet block).  So I walked up to the cabins to confront the boys.  When I spotted them I gathered my dressing gown firmly round me and drew on my extensive global vocabulary saying firmly "Por favour, shhh".  As this didn't have the hoped for effect I took out the mobile to take a photo.  After several moments I realised that I'd switched on David's mobile but picked up my switched off mobile.  So I just had to pretend to take a photo whilst the boys watched me totally bemused.  The noise carried on til 8.30am.

The worst bit was that as we dobbed them in at reception on our way out, I said I thought they were too young to be there on their own but we were told that their parents were in the next cabin.  I guess we're just not chilled like the Spanish!

So we've run away to a campsite by the beach.  Its not that quiet at the moment but we can always sleep on the beach.  :-)

In my therapeutic outpouring I forgot to mention that David was admired for his physique by the receptionist at our "Monica" campsite.  If it had been the receptionist at this site who looks vaguely (ok very vaguely) like Penelope cruz, I might have been concerned, but she was more of a Deidre from coronation street :-)