What, Back to France?

Hi there everyone,

It's hard to believe but Chris and I have been here in Cambrils almost a month and tomorrow, February 25^th, we'll be leaving. I feel like I'm just getting settled but Chris says that, based upon the amount of time I've spent in bed, I seem to have coped pretty well.

The weather here has been very pleasant, with day after day of sunshine and blue skies. Chris is amused at the locals, who dress like it's the Arctic, in quilted coats and boots. Even the sports cyclists are covered from head to toe. Actually, I think it is the Catalans who smirk at Chris in his tee shirt and long shorts in what is still winter.

The old man has been out on more big bike rides and averaging 300km per week. He rode into the countryside on rough caminos to visit the “barracas” which are small dry stone buildings unique to this part of Spain. His longest ride though was last Saturday when he cycled 120km into and through the mountains – close to Montblanc (no, not that one). He had to race back to catch the Carnaval procession on the seafront. The feline image at the top of this post is of the Carnaval cat from the poster advertising the event. Chris thought that he looks a bit like me and I can see a resemblance – maybe we're distantly related? The procession had Mad Hatters, pirates and flamenco dancers and I gather it was noisy and colourful, as one would expect in this part of the world.

I've taken to having an evening stroll with Chris as he takes his washing up to the sanitary block. Occasionally I go into the building with him but only if there's nobody else in there. Otherwise I wander around a bit as I wait for him outside. That's about as far as I get on the campsite. As I'm responsible for security on our pitch I can't just take off when I feel like it (unlike some).

Last week Chris cycled to Tarragona to take in the Roman ruins, Modern Art Gallery and the restored port. It was about a 20km ride on a minor road, via Salou, which led him right into the city. He says that it was fun to be on the bike as he could cover more ground that on foot and that there was almost no traffic in the old town. The highlight in the art gallery was a huge textile work by Miro and the best bit of ancient Roman architecture was the amphitheatre which overlooks the Mediterranean.

Chris made pancakes the other day for his lunch. He says they were delicious but one slid straight out of the frying pan and into my bowl of munchies on the floor. I thought his offer of sharing was kind but I declined the offer, anyway.

So, it's now time to start packing up and I aim to keep well out of the way.

Love to you all,

Banksy the Caravan Cat

On the road, AGAIN!

At La LLosa

Hello everybody,

I guess that many of you know already but Chris has dragged me away from the warm and comfortable Ramshack in order to satisfy his wanderlust. Fortunately, the new caravan is comfortable and here, in Spain, the weather is warm and sunny so I really shouldn't complain too much. Chris even got to put a cat flap into the caravan and I did test it out before we left.

We left home almost two weeks ago. Chris was impressed that he could pick me up and deposit me in the caravan without me inflicting wounds and drawing blood on him. Quite frankly, I'm very experienced in this travelling lark and, short of disappearing for a while and annoying Chris, there's not much I can do. As he left a compartment open, with a cushion on the floor, I just settled down in there for the first part of the journey.

Actually, we were on the road for less than three and a half hours before we stopped. I stayed in the caravan while Chris met up with the owners of a campsite in the Lot Valley and agreed to work there for 6 weeks in May and June. The campsite is called “Ruisseau du Treil” and is in a village called Larganol. Chris says it's a very beautiful spot and that the owners, Jenny and Nigel, seem very friendly.

Testing the new bed

Back on the road we had one overnighter on a motorway aire, where I could stretch my legs and then it was another long day as we drove into Spain and all the way to Camping La Llosa in Cambrils, where we stayed four years ago. I thought I recognised it when I got out of the caravan and remembered all the cats which, once again, I had to see off MY territory.

It's hard to believe but, once Chris had settled in, he started to dismantle and rebuild bits of the caravan!

His work resulted in a fixed bed at the back where, if truth be told, I have more room to stretch out than before when Chris is down for the night. He also says it is much more comfortable than his previous 2' wide bench which, him being now of “mature years”, was a bit too narrow for the old guy.

Almond blossom

Ruth - ready to go!

Sunset over the mountains from Cambrils

I've tended to stay in and protect our home on wheels as Chris cycles the area. He says he hasn't done one single walk but has done some longish bike routes, with his major achievement a 100km loop through the mountains. He would have come back and gone on and on about this if it wasn't for a young lady, Ruth, who had pitched her tent near our caravan and had unloaded her touring bike for the night. She was cycling to Japan, on her own, and her trip would take a year! Chris made tea for Ruth and him and they talked bikes and travel – which was very boring. However, Ruth was thrilled to meet me and, before she left this morning she took my picture, one on her Polaroid camera for her journal and another which will be on her next blog post at ruths-adventures.ianmillard.com, so make sure you check it out. Chris says that he is aiming to do a 100km ride each week. I still don't think he'll be anywhere near Ruth's mileage but I'll humour him, anyway.

Reus

Last Friday he did venture out to Reus (where the architect Gaudi came from) and trundled around the historic centre with its Modernist buildings. He also aims to ride to Tarragona soon and visit the modern art museum and Roman ruins as well as picking up some of the “Carnaval” festivities.

Ok it's time for another rest, after all this writing, so I'll say farewell for now,

Much love,

Banksy