Sunday, the morning after Granada, we got up early and headed for the coast, the heat was increasing and we were not equipped. We found a small campsite near Malaga with a glimpse of the sea. We were hopeful there would be a breeze and shade.

And there was both. The breeze was so good there were times I needed my cardigan! The shade was also great but it held a dark surprise. We booked in for one night but ended up staying for four. Again, if a place has what will provide a comfortable stay then it’s not a difficult decision to make to stay longer.

What provides a comfortable stay? A parking spot. Good mobile data for roaming connection. A small shop for lunch supplies and cold drinks. A hot water shower, although cold will do in a push. A toilet. A place to empty and fill grey water tanks and to empty van toilet. Shade. Electricity if the shade is too good to provide solar power. A restaurant or supermarket within walking distance for the times you either don’t want to cook or you have nothing in the fridge. (Depending on the weather walking distance can vary from a ten minutes in hot weather to thirty minutes in cool weather.)

When I write it all down it is a lot and no wonder that sometimes the places we stay don’t have everything but we stay anyway. Then the next day we sort everything out by driving via a supermarket or a camper services (where you can empty and fill the tanks and toilet but not park overnight) to the next destination. We can do without filling and emptying tanks and toilet for a few days and we usually have enough food to last a few days too. Denis can do without data at the weekends but needs it for work during the week. I cannot do without shade if the weather is hot – over 25 degrees. But it doesn’t have to be a lot. Just a sliver… and a breeze also, please.

So this campsite near Malaga had everything, including the strange bugs that silently bit me as I sat in the shade under a tree admiring a distant glimpse of sea. A rollercoaster of emotions and challenges…