Planet Ruby Starrs

Camping Graus... day3 had been a pleasantly damp day in fact Dr Fred just made it back before some serious thunder storms hit with massive torrential rain turning the campsite into an instant lake. I felt for those in tents the water was inches deep. A group of campers were setting a fire in the big communal fire place - they had huge paella dishes... when the rain first started they were optimistic and erected a large parasol. Then it REALLY rained and they had to run for cover carrying everything into the shared games room - I'm guessing it got finished on camping stoves as the rain continued for a couple of hours....  We put some tunes on and drank wine. Spent some time sorting photos and determining that Dr Fred had seen a goat/antelope indigenos to the area...  In the morning we filled up the water bottles and emptied the loo and hit the scary steep windy road back down the valley.... its only 5 k's but meeting someone coming the other way on bit...

We moved on - it was a great few days but marred slightly by the heat.  Everyone was keen to find somewhere cooler. We all went our separate ways.  Our hosts went up back home where they live full time and our fellow travellers went off up north - driving through France heading for a ferry home...  left to our own devices we went to Tortosa to find the delicious olives and replenish supplies - but it was a lot of effort, the heat continued... we found the olives and replacement trousers for Dr Fred - and a new hat as he had been close to hopeless the day before,and managed to lose his hat and stick... and shred his trousers (dont ask). We had a lunch in a local cafe - all very civilised and then onbto the next chapter of our adventure. Once out of Tortosa we drove up toward the Pyrenees looking for somewhere cooler to sleep.  But the heat kept coming ..at one point it was reading 41°. It was brutal - I was spraying Dr Fred with water and event...

Eclipse day!!!!  Most of the photos on here were taken by friends...my phone died...  I dont use names on here but you know who you are thank you....  This will be Dr Freds 8th eclipse and my 6th... I have 100% clear viewing and its continued that way. Our friends have this amazing house tucked away on the side of a hill - fortuitously right on the centre line of the 2026 eclipse.  And... to make it even better they have a roof terrace which gave us an almost perfect elevation to see the total eclipse in all its glory.   Dr Fred wasnt sure at first - he worried that as totality was so close to sunset we might not be high enough before the sun disappeared under the ridge.  So, the evenings leading up to the night of the actual event, required a lot of balancing on the roof with spirit levels at various degrees and exact timings for exact positioning of the sun and considerable maths.... yes it was complicated but it p...

It must be about day 11 since we sat off on our european adventure... its almost going to plan... not our plan but a plan sort of evolving...  We have minor issues which might impact long term... the fridge wasnt working🙁🙁 this was not good.   After a lot of umming and ahhing we decided it want vented properly so sure enough when investigated we were able to remove the screws holding it in place and once pulled out of its incredibley tight housing its started to work again.... once some holes are cut it will probably be ok.....its working really hard to stay cool in this ridicolous heat and basically its not winning.... bit like me.  Our travelling companions and Dr Fred went on a day out... a walk along the railway line, a reckie of an alternate eclipse viewing place and some shopping... I couldnt face being out in the heat of the day and had a very relaxed timehelping sort the fridge... drawing and working on the bug embroidery.  This is a real t...

Finally made it to our Friend's house In Spain Which we are going to use as a base For seeing the eclipse.    At this point in time there's still a chance that we might see it from their roof terrace.   Dr Fred has to do some maths to see whether the sun will be high enough or whether we have to take off up a nearby Hill.  There's also some exciting talk of possibly getting a key for a fire tower ...Dr Fred is very very excited....it would be amazing - But I think that's possibly not very likely - But who knows!!  The house we are staying in (or rather camping in the garden) of is a beautiful, lovingly reconstructed space up a long stony track In the middle of nowhere.  It's really lovely.  Great high ceilings Lots of arches and clean beautiful lines. ( but its somebodies home so I'm not posting interior pictures) And, as I said before the added bonus of a roof terrace.  Its a huge space with sweeping views acrooss the...