Page 30 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
‘We must be here,’ Atticus said to Ness as she leaned her head out of the window, breathing inthe salty air. A large roundabout lay ahead and taking care to negotiate the correct side of the road, Atticus found himself travelling in circles. ‘I can’t see any signs?’ he called out in frustration.
But as an entrance to the right appeared, Ness began to bark, and Gonzalo’s head dipped in that direction. ‘Alright, have it your way,’ Atticus said and took the narrow road.
As they got halfway down, a large sign suddenly appeared.
Bienvenida – Willkommen – Bienvenue – Welcome
Solma Vacaciones
The Home of Happy Campers
‘Well, old girl,’ Atticus said, stretching out a hand to rub Ness’s head as he slowly negotiated Winnie onto the site. ‘We made it, and here we are. This will be our home for the duration.’
Chapter Twelve
Atticus drove Winnie through the gates of the campsite, where a barrier prevented them from going further. Parking in a nearby space, he told Ness to stay while he went to check in. Reaching for his folder and placing his hat firmly, he strode toward a doorway marked ‘Reception’. Behind a long counter, a woman wearing square-framed glasses, with dark black hair cut into a helmet style, studied a computer.
Atticus stepped forward. ‘Good evening, er… Buenas noches.’
‘Sí?’ The woman’s eyes didn’t leave the screen.
‘Do you speak English?’ Atticus asked.
‘Sí,’ she replied.
‘Then I’d like to check in.’
‘Passport.’ The woman held out her hand.
Atticus reached into his folder and waited while she confirmed his passport details. Making no eye contact, she stood and handed him two sheetsof paper.
‘Pitch number thirteen. Read these rules. The barrier has Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Study the map and follow the road,’ she said briskly. A phone rang, and, turning away, she answered the call and began to speak rapidly in Spanish.
Atticus was baffled as he walked back to Winnie.Welcome to Spain!he thought as he cranked up the engine and drove slowly toward the barrier.
A little while later, he drove past the reception area for the fourth time. Atticus stopped and, in frustration, stared at the printed map again. ‘I’m struggling to work this out,’ he muttered to Ness. ‘I’ve no idea where our pitch is.’
Reluctant to return and ask the woman for further directions, he was about to get out and walk around the site when a woman knocked on the window.
‘Are you lost, dear?’ she asked.
Grateful to hear a friendly English voice, Atticus wound the window down. ‘Yes, I’ve just arrived and can’t find my pitch.’
The middle-aged woman’s skin was the colour of a conker, and she was dressed in a lime-green kaftan, her vibrant orange hair piled into a top knot.
‘Let me help. I don’t expect you’ll get much assistance from our friendly receptionist.’ She walked to the passenger side of Winnie and, to Atticus’s surprise, opened the door. ‘I’m Cheryl,’ she announced as she climbed in. She placed a huge carrier bag, clanking with bottles, on the seat and looked around. ‘Oh, this is lovely – a vintage camper. What do you call her?’
‘Winnie,’ Atticus said.
‘Winne the Westfalia,’ she nodded, then stared at Atticus. ‘And you must be the Rhinestone Cowboy?’
Conscious of his old Stetson hat and comfortable hide boots, gifted from Mary following her holiday to Dallas, Atticus was bemused. The bandana knotted around his neck was for comfort, and the leather waistcoat an extra layer over his checked cotton shirt. He hadn’t considered the outfit he’d chosen to travel in to be anything other than practical.It must be the hat, Atticus thought.
‘I’m Atticus, and my dog is called Ness,’ he said.
‘Pleased to meet you, Atticus.’ Ness placed her head on Cheryl’s shoulder and sniffed.
‘Sorry about Ness,’ Atticus said.
