21st February
Sun it out and it is warm. Hooray.
We have explored the villages along the coast to Vila Cachela, so decide to go one further today to Manta Rota where the beach runs out from the land. ie It is at the end of the Ria de Fomosa lagoon area.
I am not sure if we have missed something but whilst the front is very pleasant with smart walkways
and green areas, the town is a bit of a dump. We walked up a couple of streets to try and find the core of the village but there was nothing. Just a couple of cafes, so after a stretch for all on the glorious white beach and a walk through the enormous motorhome park (unofficial),
we made our way to our now favourite beach, Fabrica, for lunch.
The little car park on the front was fairly full but we found a place between 2 x enormous motorhomes, and because it is close to the restaurant we decide to leave the dogs in the van. So, I open the electric skylight right up and then open both large side windows. These swing open and are hinged along the top, so when they are completely open they sit at right angles to the van and the wind can whistle through. However, the big sliding door cannot be opened fully on the nearside when the window is open. A stupid design fault and easy to bump the window slightly when you open the door. So, dogs inside we get a lovely table by the water's edge and devour clams with vino de casa and all in the world is good. The view is gorgeous.
After lunch, we take the pups for a quick run on the beach and then back to the van. I close the big nearside window which requires lifting it first and then it drops down into place. As it dropped down there was a quiet ding...... as a small piece of plastic hits the gravel. I pick it up before realising it is the corner of our precious window! When the door hit the window, despite it only being very slightly, it moved the window along in its groove so that it would now not fit in the recess when closed, and because the top corner is the first bit to hit the van, this is the bit that cracked off. AHHH. We look at each other. Memories of Wishsteam 1 come to mind, where the whole skylight ripped off in a blast of wind and we lashed it down with dogs leads for the entire trip home.
I unscrew the two arms holding the acrylic window in place and we can then slide the window back to its proper position. JC is muttering that we are never using that window again, and I am in agreement especially as the corner of it is now missing.
Back at the house I bring out the Gorilla tape which I knew we would need. Its descriptive strap line on the pack says, "For the toughest jobs on the planet". Yep, this is the one! Strap the broken bit back on, inside, outside round the back, over the top. Job done. Groan. I remember how much that simple skylight cost on the Burstner.
The joys of motorhoming.
Sun it out and it is warm. Hooray.
We have explored the villages along the coast to Vila Cachela, so decide to go one further today to Manta Rota where the beach runs out from the land. ie It is at the end of the Ria de Fomosa lagoon area.
I am not sure if we have missed something but whilst the front is very pleasant with smart walkways
and green areas, the town is a bit of a dump. We walked up a couple of streets to try and find the core of the village but there was nothing. Just a couple of cafes, so after a stretch for all on the glorious white beach and a walk through the enormous motorhome park (unofficial),
we made our way to our now favourite beach, Fabrica, for lunch.
The little car park on the front was fairly full but we found a place between 2 x enormous motorhomes, and because it is close to the restaurant we decide to leave the dogs in the van. So, I open the electric skylight right up and then open both large side windows. These swing open and are hinged along the top, so when they are completely open they sit at right angles to the van and the wind can whistle through. However, the big sliding door cannot be opened fully on the nearside when the window is open. A stupid design fault and easy to bump the window slightly when you open the door. So, dogs inside we get a lovely table by the water's edge and devour clams with vino de casa and all in the world is good. The view is gorgeous.
After lunch, we take the pups for a quick run on the beach and then back to the van. I close the big nearside window which requires lifting it first and then it drops down into place. As it dropped down there was a quiet ding...... as a small piece of plastic hits the gravel. I pick it up before realising it is the corner of our precious window! When the door hit the window, despite it only being very slightly, it moved the window along in its groove so that it would now not fit in the recess when closed, and because the top corner is the first bit to hit the van, this is the bit that cracked off. AHHH. We look at each other. Memories of Wishsteam 1 come to mind, where the whole skylight ripped off in a blast of wind and we lashed it down with dogs leads for the entire trip home.
I unscrew the two arms holding the acrylic window in place and we can then slide the window back to its proper position. JC is muttering that we are never using that window again, and I am in agreement especially as the corner of it is now missing.
Back at the house I bring out the Gorilla tape which I knew we would need. Its descriptive strap line on the pack says, "For the toughest jobs on the planet". Yep, this is the one! Strap the broken bit back on, inside, outside round the back, over the top. Job done. Groan. I remember how much that simple skylight cost on the Burstner.
The joys of motorhoming.
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