Author: Franco

Automated Travel Chaos

In Another Victory for Automation [6th October, 2011], I reported on the problems caused by a particular black cloud of automation. The automation in question was the French “advance” of replacing warm bodies, many of whom actually smiled, at their

Posted in 2015 October

Solo Across Spain

This journey is something of a novel experience for me. Having driven many thousands of miles in France over the last 30+years, I am very used to driving our right hand drive cars in a drive-on-right country. Going “the wrong

Posted in 2015 Autumn

Marjal dels Moros

I’ve locked up Casa Libélule and begun my journey home to re-join Francine. I’m breaking the journey just a little by calling in to a reserve, the Marjal dels Moros, near Puçol, just above Valencia. It took me two hours

Posted in 2015 Autumn

Early Exit

As has been expected for a while, events back at home have conspired to make me leave Spain earlier than originally planned. We’ve been in a somewhat complicated situation with Francine having flown back home last Saturday, leaving me here

Posted in 2015 Autumn

RVDs Restored

The most famous inhabitants at the Calpe lagoon, Las Salinas, are Greater Flamingos. It has also been a reliable home for one somewhat salt tolerant species of dragonfly, Red-veined Darters (Sympetrum fonscolombii), affectionately known as RVDs, often being found in

Posted in 2015 Autumn

Almost DeScamped

I thought it was time I took el perrito, Scamp, for a bit of exercise. A wander into the village is about the right length and, if I played my cards right, I might also be able to check on

Posted in 2015 Autumn

Gandia Marsh

The amount of water in the Jalón-Gorgos river looks quite healthy at the moment. There’s certainly more than there was when we were here back in June. There’s apparently been some unseasonal rain during August which I’m sure has refreshed

Posted in 2015 Autumn

Decamped

While Francine remains in the UK attending to family business, Franco has been left in Spain holding the baby. The baby in question is el perrito, our friends’ pooch, Scamp. Since Casa Libélule is not particularly dog-friendly, I’ve moved into

Posted in 2015 Autumn

A Look Upstream

Yesterday I confined my Odo hunting activities to the rock pools in the river as it flows through Jalón itself. With another day of wall to wall sunshine and temperatures topping out at 33°C, I thought I’d try my more

Posted in Uncategorised

All New

Poor Francine has had to return to the UK for the classic family emergency. I dropped her at Alicante airport last night for a dreadful 11:50 PM flight back to Luton getting in at 1:20 AM. Strewth!. Dropping Francine off

Posted in 2015 Autumn