And so ............ homeward bound

Everything is falling apart! The window lifter on the van failed so the driver's window is permanently open. One hinge on the engine lid sheared, just broke in two! The fridge hasn't worked for a week, it's not the plug fuse, I checked that, it has to go back to the manufacturer. While the battery just about keeps my laptop and phone charged, the temperature of the fridge, when it works, varies from 2-15deg. The battery is only a year old but I know it is charging to less than 50% of it's capacity, useless. I expected the PVs to keep it properly topped up, but in reality the fridge temperature only hits 2deg with the engine alternator running, useless, I need to get the PVs and installation checked out, maybe the hailstones last year did damage I cannot see or measure. Maybe the system will only work properly with a Li-on battery, I need to get this sorted.

I had arranged to store the bus at Torreira Camping for EUR1/day. They have CCTV and 24/7

security on site, plus the staff know my bus, I feel they would look after it. Alas I can't store it with the current problems so it will have to go back to the UK and be fixed. I check out the ferries and find one leaving Sunday giving me two days for an 8hr drive, head for Madrid then turn left going north to Santander. I book the crossing.

Next I have to jam something in the window to replace the glass which is now in the bottom of the door. Fortunately John on site finds me a piece of Corex which I'm able to jamb in the aperture. This works well but it is a Ben and Gerry's ice cream sign and I can't see through to the rear view mirror. I cut a hole and can see the mirror clearly, next a flap over to stop the draft. Happy with that I load up the van, 'load' ha ha, I chuck everything on board and set off with an ETA of 17:30.

It's dry and hot away from the coast and the bus runs hot but never above the deg 100C, I hope I haven't damaged the engine. Faffing about and a late start means I'm still 1 1/2hrs away from Santander so I pull over and get my head down. I have a day and night in a van park in Santander and for a change make the ferry in good time.

The casino and nightclub The waterfront civic venue Old waterfront apartments

Bye Bye Spain. The crossing is calm and we arrive at Pompey with no drama..