It’s Monday the 16th and we wake up to another beautiful day here in Conil depite a chilling wind from the North reminding us that it is day 2 of lockdown.

We assess options. Two outfits were planning to leave on Wednesday to travel through Spain and France but they just heard all Brittany Ferries will be cancelled soon. Ester from the site tells us they will be allowed free travel through Spain but can’t guarantee the border to France will be open. Once you leave the site, the State of Emergency doesn’t permit re-entry.

They are also now re-assessing their options and we decide to stay here. If the lockdown continues beyond 15 days medication might be a problem, in particular a specialist asthma inhaler for Moe.

We head into Conil as we are allowed to do if visiting a Pharmacy or Supermarket. Without prescriptions (we show empty boxes), we secure 1 months worth of the common meds for 23 Euros. No surprise they haven’t got Moe’s inhaler.

Pharmacy number two also don’t have the inhaler but in a fantastic show of service, promise they’ll locate one by 5pm. They do and it’s a whopping 34 Euros. Not an issue under the circumstances but in Blighty, it can take days to weeks to track this down…

Next we hit the supermarkets. Only one person per family group allowed, security on the door and yellow lines at the checkout to mark out the 1m “safe” distance. Nothing is in short supply except our favourite red wine, “The Guv’nor” – but that’s not entirely unusual.

There is no hand santiser, gloves or masks available anywhere. We have created our own hand sanitiser but don’t tell anyone.

Our friends in Cadiz are rounded up by the Guardia and told to stay off the streets. They will be hoping that the trains to Sevilla are operating tomorrow and also the BA flight back to London.

In an act of sardonic madness, we throw a BBQ for Paul and Andrea and listen to a new Spotify playlist – “Coronavirus Awesome Mix 2020”. Copious amounts of food, beer and wine are consumed. Ester from the campsite tells us to remain 1m apart!

Troubling times – stay safe everyone.

We were expecting the lockdown to commence at 08:00 on Monday so had planned our last trip out on the bikes. A quick visit to reception (where the staff are now donning gloves and masks) and a difficult converstation from about 3m away, behind the new barrier, seemed to indicate the measures had been implemented immediately last night.

We are told we can’t travel anywhere and not to attempt to drive to Cadiz. Being a Sunday, there are no shops open so apparently there is no justifictaion to travel. A couple walk to the beach and are turned back by the Guardia.

It will be possible to visit the shops tomorrow but only one family member is allowed in at once.

The only note from reception so far is:

Our friends in Cadiz were told to leave the hotel on Monday (the end of their reservation) but have managed to secure another night. They have booked a BA flight out of Sevilla tomorrow and plan on taking the train there from Cadiz.

A number of outfits are planning to leave Wednesday in the belief that their journeys will not be impeded as they travel through Spain and France. Traffic jams of Caravans and Motorhomes have been reported around Salamanca as people try to escape the lockdown. Salamanca is about half way to the France – Spain border.

We read a lot and BBQ in the evening. Another hot and sunny day. Tomorrow we will head to the shops and see if anything is available… We have a larger excess of red wine and Cava now that our friends are stuck in Cadiz.

Friends of ours flew into Jerez on Friday and are spending the weekend in Cadiz with plans to join us on Monday at Rosaleda. They appear presently quite relaxed about the situation as they relay everything in Cadiz is open.

Meanwhile, the opposite view is being taken by many of the French and Dutch campers at Rosaleda. Our neighbours were here when we arrived and had several more weeks planned in Spain. Today, both couples either side of us quickly packed and headed off early. How true it is or not, they are expecting the Spanish French border to be closed from Monday.

We are able to buy fresh supplies at Aldi and Mercadona and have sufficient food for around seven days. We weren’t able to stockpile toilet roll – we don’t need any – but perhaps a large pile is some kind of status symbol? The meat aisles were fully stocked but we heard a little later that the meat had all sold out within an hour of our visit.

We look into Brittany Ferry Spain to UK ferry crossings and as we log in, their Website tells us our sailing to Plymouth is cancelled. We can’t amend the booking so call Customer Services. After an hour on hold, during which time we’d already booked another return journey on the 31st March, we got through to someone. They advised that Pont Aven would not be returning to service until 12th April (earliest) due to a cessation of bookings – so entirely for fiscal reasons. Jason sorts out the refunds and we have a date home.

The State of Emergency has now been in place for almost 24 hours and whilst we haven’t heard any official announcements, we understand only supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations will be allowed to remain open. All non essential travel will cease. Our daughter was very lucky to return back to Bristol yesterday.

I speak to our friends in Cadiz around 7:00pm and they aren’t now quite so relaxed. In the middle of their tea, everything around them is being locked down.

Much later we try to help them find flights out of Seville tomorrow but availability is vanishing before our very eyes. It appears that maybe Pedro Sanchez has issued the decree to shutdown Spain already.

We head for the sack around midnight.

Somehow folks must have got wind that this winter the weather would be exceptional in Spain. Today our daughter Sue and boyfriend Carlos arrived at Malaga airport from Bristol.

It’s about a five hour round trip from Conil de la Frontera to Malaga airport and despite the flight being delayed by some time, we still managed to arrive a few minutes late at the airport where Sue and Carlos were awaiting their taxi.

They had rented one of the bungalows at Camping La Rosaleda and we arrived with time to collect the keys and to settle down for the England v Wales rugby game. A comprehensive win for England despite the close score (30 – 33). The scoreline became as little more presentable to Wales during the latter stages of the game when the player count was 13 against 16 in Wales favour.

Dinner was at the campsite restaurant.

Sunday we made lunch at the van before heading into Conil and a swift beer at the Shack. BBQ in the evening.

Sue and Carlos headed into Cadiz on Mondy for a days sight-seeing. We went shopping and then what is probably our favourite cycle ride, the circuit through cabo Roche, down to the port of Conil and finally off-road across the cliffs back to Conil.

Tuesday was the repeat of a previous trip to Trafalgar, Vejer and the morroccan restaurant, El Calife (Plaza d’Espana, Vejer).

Wednesday the young ones caught the train from San Fernando Bahia Sur to Seville. The oldies drove to Jerez and enjoyed a tapas lunch, following the mapped out circuit of Jerez de la Frontera.

Another of our old favourite walks and haunts – the 8 mile round trip hike to the port of Conil with lunch at El Nautico. The portacabins have doubled in size since our last Spanish adventure and have had something of a makeover. We still recognised the waitress and the food was as good as ever.

This week has gone really quickly and it’s time to return to Malaga so Sue and Carlos can catch an early morning flight tomorrow. They get a half day to do some sightseeing but the major venues are closed as a result of the Corona virus, Covid-19. Yesterday the Andalusian government annouced the closure of all schools and this has freaked people out. The Mercadona this morning was like a shop at Christmas – long winding queues and empty shelves. To date, the only items out of stock have been hand sanitizer and pure alcohol (rubbing not drinking!).

We return to Conil but get caught up in a horrendous traffic jam near Gibraltar so divert through the town of Los Barrios. We pass a Pharmacy and guess what – alcohol!

It’s almost beer o’clock when Paul appears and drags me to the campsite bar where there’s a large gathering of Spanish locals glued to the TV screen. Spain has declared a State of Emergency and will announce sweeping new powers within 24 hours. The locals expect this to result in the closure of all bars and restaurants for at least two weeks.

Now we are concerned. Our meat supply is depleted, we need further stocks of wine and beer, plus we need more toilet roll. A lot more toilet roll. I don’t know why as we’ve got plenty already, but apparently in the face of an apocolypse, Toilet Roll is our number one best friend.

We decide to enjoy the last supper at the campsite restaurant…

Today is Friday 13th. It feels like Friday 13th.

Our first visitors from Blighty returned home yesterday and we have a few days before our next guests arrive and occupy one of the fine bungalows at Camping La Roselada.

Day 51 (Tuesday) was a total chill day. I need not comment on the weather. It’s wall-to-wall sunshine with temperatures in the early to mid 20s, dependent on the wind direction. The wind still carries a chill to it and temperatures fall away dramatically overnight but we are enjoying some exceptional weather this year.

Wednesday we caught the bus to El Palmar for the walk back to Conil. The Bus station is a soulless place but it is clean, modern and entirely fit for its purpose.

We ate lunch near the old tower and the surfing beach was a busy place today with many surf schools in progress

As we approach Conil, the area and beaches are simply stunning – the best in Spain? Perhaps even the most unspoilt in Europe.

And the reward for the long walk back from El Palmar, a swift beer at our favourite beach restauarant, known locally as “The Shack”.

Evening was English quiz night in the restaurant.

Thursday and we are on Day 53. Bit of a quiet day, fixing the splashback on the kitchen post a visit to Leroy Merlin. The splashback had already been replaced under warranty but it didn’t fit properly and a strong glue applied in an attempt to oversome these issues had resulted in the rear film delaminating from the perspex.

In the end, I removed all the lamination and applied a grey spray paint to the rear of the splashback, before re-assembling and filling gaps with a flexible silicone. I doubt the spray paint is a robust solution but it was best I could think of.

Friday, the eve of the arrival of our daughter Sue and boyfriend Carlos, involved much shopping (quite how many provisions a young couple need for 6 nights is mind-boggling).

In the afternoon, I did manage to slot in a nice 10 mile bike ride to cabo Roche.

The evening’s entertainment was a three course set meal at the campsite restauarant with entertainment from “Spanish Elvis”.

It was a remarkably enjoyable affair and Spanish Elvis had the place rocking. There’s a rumour he may be back for another show in which case I ought to try and capture some pictures or video.

As the latest storm piles into Blighty with yet more rain, wind, rain, snow and sleet, one lucky couple boarded an early morning Ryanair flight from Stansted to Jerez.

Such is the popularity of a weekend hosted chezcaravan Moe and Joe that a lottery system may be required for future years!

Spain respects Domingo and as usual the shops won’t be open. Neither will they be open on Friday because Friday is Andalusian day. This will mean most of Andalusia will be closed during the weekend’s festivities and the usual quiet evenings at La Roselada will be alive until the early hours of the morning with Spanish chatter.

Still, our friends D and T arrived bearing gifts of G and T, thus assuring themselves pride of place for Andalusian weekend!

D and T had secured one of the last available bungalows at Camping La Roselada, a Tier 2 model the “Comfort”. Two bedrooms, bathroom, seperate living area and kitchen and complete with A/C.

Friday’s itinery, post settling in and lunch at the van, was a visit to the local town of Conil. A couple of beers at the “Shack” on the beach was followed by beer tasting at the Conil micro-brewery.

Dinner was Tapas at the Septimo Arte Gastropub in Conil. As recommended by Ester from Camping La Roselada. Ester’s recommendations never seem to disappoint.

As it’s party day, there was a stage set up and headlining on the Friday night was El Capitan Veneno. Not really to our taste so we fought our way through the maddening crowds and headed back to camp.

Saturday, Day 48

Saturday and we have another full day ahead. As it’s festivity time in Andalusia, the bike rental shop is closed so we have to take the car to Trafalgar. Here, Lord Nelson defeated the combined Spanish and French fleets on 21st October 1805.

More information available – Visit to Trafalgar 2016.

From Trafalgar we drove the short distance to Vejer de la Frontera, one of the pretty (if not the prettiest) “white village” in the region.

A selection of pre-lunch photos from Vejer de La Frontera.

And finally, another view of the magnificent square and fountain at Vejer.

Lunch would be at the irresistible El Calife restaurant but we had a few minutes spare during which time we enjoyed a G and T on the Terrace bar.

Joe ate the Mixed Grill – note – the half portion whilst Moe enjoyed the lamb kebabs. D and T thoroughly recommend the Tagin.

Post lunch (v late lunch) we headed back to Conil for the procession. A lot of work had gone into the production of the outfits but the procession itself was a typically chaotic Spanish affair.

Finally, a night cap or two at the van and another exquisite day was brought to a conclusion.

Sunday, Day 49

There is no let-up to the pace of this weekend and after packing a picnic, we head over the cliff-tops to the Port of Conil. Here we enjoy lunch sitting by the harbour and refreshments at El Pastor, also at the port.

The round trip walk is around 9 miles and it’s not an easy walk so we take our time on the return journey. We stop and admire the myriad of brightly-coloured para-gliders.

Dinner was a BBQ back at the Van where we were joined for a couple of hours by Paul and Andrea. Pre-dinner drink at the campsite bar.

Monday, Day 50

The days are ticking away. Another early start and we drive D and T to Jerez airport. They seem to have enjoyed their stay at Camping la Roselada, are now “sold” on the concept of electric bikes having ridden ours for a trial, but are they ready for a life on the road. Probably not just yet…

Quiet time for the rest of the day and a few days to recoup before our daughter and her boyfriend arrive at Malaga on Saturday…

The weather has been a degree to two cooler over the weekend, and a little bit of rain overnight, but all-in-all, the weather has been good and the outlook is for more of the same.