This morning we intended visiting the nearby Serra do Arrabida, but soon after leaving the campsite the van starts suffering with a slipping clutch. So it’s back to the VW agent at Setubal. The local VW agent doesn’t have a replacement clutch and we soon discover that while there are plenty of transporter type vans around, they are generally Japanese makes, and most VW vehicles were small cars. We phone Avonaid continental breakdown, and they arrange for a replacement clutch to be sent out from Britain. Meanwhile, we have to wait.
Being 'grounded' has the advantage of making us look more thoroughly at the locality we are in. At the far end of the campsite there is some scrubby ground with fan‑tailed warblers. Higher up the hill there are some large palm trees with a heavy load of orange palm nuts being feasted on by blackcaps. The birds strip the orange flesh, leaving the nuts to fall to the ground where brown rats collect them. Sardinian warblers feed on the flesh of any whole fruit that fall. The blackcaps seem to have two calls ‑ the familiar 'chack;' and a squeal that we have not heard before.
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