Sunday, April 25th, and I packed up and drove back to Cantabria.
I took the coast road for a part of the drive. Terrific scenery, lots of bicycles on the mountains. Bike clubs (same outfits?) in packs 3 and 4 wide on narrow twisty roads. Adds a little tension to the drive. I noticed that have the same mental disease as the bikers in the US. Enough said.
When I left the coast for the highway I reach the toll area for the main road and found a surprise. Just beyond the toll booths, where the road narrows down, the Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) had set up a road block. A serious bunch indeed. They must have been looking for someone or something particular they were very selective with who the talked to.
The Guardia Civil has been a fixture in Spain for centuries. The are an independent military organization with country wide authority. They have their own training, supply systems, secure compounds and living quarters. They handle airport security and anti-terrorist efforts, as well as speeding tickets. Kings, dictators and presidents come and go, but the Guardia Civil remains.
Anyway, I made it back in time to help install a roll-up awning on Lorena and Alex's house. That turned into a 2 part job; the first part was before the wine, lunch and siesta, and the second part was after. Although it is a pleasant way to work, I fear Donny Carter and I would still be installing our kitchen if we tried it.
Least you think it an inefficient system, I must tell you that after the awning was up, everyone went to Alex's brothers house and cleared a piece of land, turned the soil, dug a garden, planted vegetables, staked and fenced the area, and planted several other landscape plants. All followed by a round of gin and tonics.
April 26 - I went fishing with Luis (Alex's father). We went into the bay with his boat and caught small snapper and a huge sheepshead. Luis had already caught a big cuttle fish when he had gone for bait.
The bait was worms. I don't know what kind, and I'm not squeamish about these things, but these worms had teeth. Ok, not teeth, but some kind of pinching mouth thing that surprised the hell out of me when one latched onto my finger.
The wind picked up and the fishing died off, so we had a shore lunch, and then I did some shopping and came back to the house.
Dinner tonight was a big salad with fresh veggies from Lorena's mother's garden, and a dressing I made using Lorena's aunts honey. These folks get so much done, maybe there is something to this siesta stuff.
Signing off now. More later.