Day 13 – A good turn for the worst . . .

Life is full of little twists and turns. Some foreseen. Some not. Some more significant than others. A fraction of a second can sometimes be the difference between a good outcome, or not.

Although aware of the idiom, measure twice, cut once, Mr S has often omitted to pause and think for just one second in order to employ that wise principle. Likewise, when a stranger is in need of assistance, he never thinks twice. Mr S (as Mrs S describes) behaves like a little yappy dog. Enthusiastically eager to please and perform. Do his master’s bidding. Tail frantically wagging like a demented metronome. Ears on starters orders. Listening for that magic word – “fetch!”

We’re currently pitched up on a bland, but necessary ‘Camping-Car Park’ site. On the edge of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Emerita. Present day Mérida.

The forced increase in worldwide oil prices, have been offset by the Spanish government (how wise), reducing tax on fuel by 11%. In France, every litre that Beastie guzzled cost around €2.20; whereas in Spain around €1.70.

A pre-dinner amble to view what remains of the once six kilometre aquaduct, the perfect way to stretch off the monotonous motorway journey south-west.

Back at camp, Mr S needs to attend to emptying the chemical toilet. Not the most salubrious of tasks. At the barriered entrance a German couple are looking bewildered. First-timers to this new type of ‘entry by app’ site.

Every web designer on planet earth, seems to adopt their own unique set of confusing procedures to accomplish, quite often, the same simple result. So, when the woman approaches Mr S for assistance, he sympathetically tries to help. Having ‘been there, done that’ some eighteen months previous. However, after fifteen unsuccessful minutes of trying to talk her through the process on her phone, he suggests she pays him in cash and uses his access card to get them in.

It’s at this point Mr S’s tail wags fervently. He turns and jogs away “Don’t run” she shouts. Ha! Mr S is in his element. But. He’s not wearing Nikes. He’s wearing flip-flops. Twenty yards later and ‘ping’ – his right calf muscle tears.

The hobbled walk back to the couple is ironically exacerbated. In just four minutes her hubby has used his phone to crack the entrance system. Their camper is now sitting pretty this side of the barrier.

5 Stink Bugs delimited