Sun, Sea & Broken Springs!!!

Hi Peeps,

First of all we can’t believe the reaction we got to the photo we captured of us mid-air on the beach in our last post, it was such a laugh and we are already thinking of something new to try for our next  shot!!!!

When we first got here at Camping Capo Ferrato the waves were a bit too much for me on the SUP board but then they did calm down a bit so it was good to get out there and enjoy some lazy surfing as you only need a small wave to have some fun on the SUP.

When we came to Sardinia it was about seeing the Island and to have a bit of a chill in the sun and to make the most of the winter warmth and not so much about the kiting but as we are camped right on the beach when the wind does kick in we only have to grab the gear from the van and set up and go which takes minutes and the water is so warm you don’t even need a  wetsuit on which is so nice. 

In the mornings here the sea is super flat so very inviting to go and have an early morning pre-breakfast paddle board so one morning while Julie got the breakfast ready I took advantage of the perfect conditions.  

It didn’t take long for Julie to start tagging along though (to get out of getting breakfast ready me thinks!) and a couple of mornings Julie has taken the GoPro along and got some cracking pictures of me swimming about in the crystal clear waters, it’s quite spooky as in places the water is 20/30ft deep and it’s just like you are floating on air looking straight down to the sea bed below. 

Not only did Julie get out of doing breakfast she even sneaked in a early morning sunbathe…….

In between all these activities we have been snorkelling and playing (trying!) volleyball,  I think I can honestly say we don’t think we have ever spent so much time in the water as we have in Sardinia. 

At one of the many headlands along this beautiful bay and right next to the campsite there is a statue of Christ looking out to sea to bless all at sea and Julie took it upon herself to have a cheeky photo with him which we also wanted to get as Pete & Debra who also visited this area had the exact same picture so it was a case of following in their footsteps even to the extent that we later discovered that we were on the same campsite and also the very same pitch as they had back in April.

There is a huge rock in the sea too which you can walk out to and then get a view back to the beach and campsite.

It really is a stunning beach

When we first arrived here there were a few African guys selling stuff on the beach and I liked the look of the large Indian linen throws that they were selling as they are huge and are ideal for laying on the beach as you don’t get covered in as much sand.  I have been complaining to Julie all summer about our pathetic beach towels that we bought in Decathlon as they are made of a micro fibre material which OK does dry really quickly but blow away at the slightest puff of wind so you get covered in sand trying to hold them down!! So we bought one to lay on on the beach and another one as a sunshade for the awning as it has been so hot here.

Finally this part of this weeks post is a bit spooky.  We were laying on the beach on our lovely Indian throw when Julie suggested I heap some sand up under one end to form a pillow under said beach throw so as a good husband I began to dig to sculpt the pillow!!!  All of a sudden I uncovered a small stainless steal egg whisk and said to Julie that’s handy I will keep that, much to her disgust as I am always picking stuff up!!!!  

The next morning I got up to go for a swim before breakfast and unlocked the door which felt a bit funny but I just ignored it.  Julie then went to lock the van up and join me at the beach and said that the van won’t lock so I immediately thought oh shit it’s the split pin again that fell out back in March when we were camped in a little village aire in Campan in the Pyreness.  So it was tools out and strip the door down but this time we knew how to do it and this time as I lifted the door panel away Julie was keeping lookout for any small parts which fell on the floor from the inside of the door panel and sure enough a lump of broken spring fell out.  It was then a matter of finding where it had come from but the locks on these motorhome doors are so over complicated it’s like a friggin puzzle just looking at it let alone seeing how it works.  So we both worked out where it had come from and what it did but realised it had snapped beyond repair so we needed a new one (not a chance, we are on an island) so next thing was OK we need to make a new one.  I have the tools but just needed the material to make a new spring so Julie then piped up can’t you do something with that old whisk you found on the beach so I thought you know what she’s right as always! (it’s springy, about the right diameter, and can be bent to the right shape) so we cleared the workbench (dining table) and began to bend and copy the broken spring with a bit cut from the the egg whisk and low and behold we had fabricated a replacement spring.

We fitted and tested the new part and it worked a treat (it seems better than the original) we both put the door back together and cleared the tools away but the thing that is freaking us out is why did I find that egg whisk on the beach,  so there is a big question DO THESE THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON?? i.e. finding the egg whisk buried in the sand!! Maybe it was Christ's way of thanking Julie for his cheeky cuddle!!

The door stripped down... 

The broken spring...

The egg whisk...

The broken spring & newly fabricated spring...

The new spring in place...

Well at least I know I haven't lost my touch, and to be honest it was great to have a challenge and to make something as I haven't had a tinker in the garage for a while now!

We are now heading up to the North of the Island to meet up with Sarah, Steve & Samson.

Catch up next week.

J&J
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