Safe Return Doubtful

Storm Ivo followed hot on the heels of Storm Herminia. Ivo was named by Portugal, Herminia by Spain; it seems a race to get it named, both come from the Atlantic, so one assumes that Portugal would take the brunt of both. They have both been rain events, the latter, which is in its late stages as I write, has dumped more rain here in the Alva valley. I’ve managed to get out today, but on,y for a couple of hours this morning. 

After a lively weekend here at the river beach of Barril de Alva it has been quiet so far this week, though a couple of other vans have arrived. There is a German couple in a partly converted VW T5 who are visiting a friend who is renovating a house in the nearby forest to use as a holistic healing and yoga retreat. The road up to his house is  steep, and in such bad condition after the two storms that they have to wait for him to taxi them up and down in his 4WD. The house is little more than a ruin at present, so they spend the evenings here at the camping area. We chat quite a bit, as they are keen to upgrade to a van similar to mine, though who wouldn’t be in this weather. They both work from their van and have lived in it since the pandemic. The guy is a design engineer at Daimler in Stuttgart, and was office based until 2021. They spent last winter in Greece, as I did, and were actually in a very similar area to me. 

The other van is British with a young couple from London in it, also working while on the road. The woman is studying for a phd, and her partner is a media analyst. They are struggling as their electric has stopped functioning, the solar, the engine charge as well as any hook up. I first met them when they came over and asked if I knew enough to help them. I couldn’t, but pointed them in the direction of a self build British van that comes to the bar each weekday evening. I spoke to its owner a few days ago, and thought he could help them. It seems he has, as today they have left with a potential solution in Coimbra. 

In this rough week of weather I have been doing a lot of reading, and catching up with some work matters, payroll and VAT. My next appointment at the medical centre is Friday, and I don’t think that will be the last. I could travel and arrange to attend another medical centre, but this week with the weather as it has been, it seemed more sensible to stay put. 

Roja has had a bad stomach, similar to what he had in Czech Republic back in October. For a couple of days he is unable to hold any food down, it re-emerges three hours or so after eating. It could be that it’s a recurring problem due to him getting older, and he may need a change of diet. It might also be that he has just eaten something unpleasant and poisonous from the ground. Another reason to stay put for the week.