More from La Manga

Oh boy: it felt so good as I cut through the gentle choppy waves while watching the shallow undulating seabed below me. I kneel, American Indian fashion, in the centre of my blow up Sevlar 2 man canoe. I thrust it forward with double paddle and revell in the pleasure of upper body and arms working hard as we cut through the warm blue sun kissed Mediterranean. I was never too far from shore where Tanya for once, and gratefully, had not been unceremoniously dumped into the front of the Rocky rolly thing that actually goes into that wet salty stuff that is just not me. No; Tanya was happily ensconced with Tony & Pam by their motorhome parked next to mine here at Colladus beach on La Manga peninsula. This, 1st for this year, canoe excursion was followed by another 1st, a good snorkelling swim. As I walked back up the beach feeling pleased with myself I was also a little ashamed for having not swam for so long. I think some of that unnecessary shame is down to last year during the time I was anxious about my health. On one occasion when swimming in the sea I remember I became terribly tired, lethargic and very cold very quickly. It knocked my confidence somewhat. But no problem this time. The opposite in fact. I became ravenously hungry which, as it happens, was highly appropriate as my new friends Tony, Pam and latest arrival Russ were busily preparing the barbecue ready for a long slow late afternoon/evening of gastronomic gluttony.

Hold on, wait a minute .... s'not all fun you know. My part of the deal was, seeing as I had the spade, digging the large deep latrine hole behind the bushes. Well we are motorhomes and we are wild camped (albeit in an area known as millionaire villa land) but we are also environmentally aware and responsible with toilet (or black water) cassettes whose contents, one way or another, need a home. Tooooo much information did I hear you say? Well; you may be right but I can assure you of one thing. When we leave here there will be no evidence left to indicate we were ever here.
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RAIN ..... OH NO!!  A whole twenty four hours of it. What a change. No barbecues  and no swimming as the temperature has dropped too. In fact we are considering moving on. Russ left yesterday and I may see him today as I am going to the dealership where he is getting a repair done to his motorhome. I have a water pump that is playing up and letting me know in plenty of time that it ain't gonna last till I get back to the UK.

Outside, in the rain, I also have a very wet inflated canoe which is to be deflated, carefully packaged and stored. Difficult enough when both canoe and environment are dry. Gonna be real messy doing it in the wet on wet sand. I am not looking forward to that task.

Right now though. Breakfast complete with large mug of tea and heating on. Mmmm: cosy. Tanya definitely thinks so. A soaking during her  early morning walk left her cold and shivery so she is now, after wolfing down her breakfast, fast asleep under her snugly 'looks like sheepskin' blanket
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Never did find the dealership for my water pump. I guess I either did not read or enter the Sat Nav co-ordinates correctly, or I just did not see it. Tony did say they only had a small sign. Not to worry, there is always tomorrow. I did find a bank and now have Euro cash once again plus I managed a Mercradona supermarket re-fill of my fridge, fruit bowl and store cupboard.
In the end I was just too tired and it was too late to go somewhere new. So back to favourite beach at the tip of La Manga strip we headed. The place is beginning to feel like home. Especially as I espied Tony and Pam's motorhome still there. (Their blog:- www.snugglywuggly.Wordpress.com) They promptly invited me in for tea plus a good gossipy catch up and welcome back.
Weather looks good for the next few days. Y'know what ...... I might just stay a little longer.
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Yup. This place is still growing on me. I'm Sitting with Tony just now discussing our hilarious morning 'expodition' across the shallow waters (read mud up to thigh level and clinging to blow up canoe to stop disappearing completely into its sticky and stinky embrace) between the South and North ends of La Manga strip. I tell you .... the picture is not a good one. Two silverhaired and elderly, 'should know better' gentlemen struggling through muddy swamps while clinging desperately to a blow up canoe, with Tanya the dog in it by the way and none too happy at the way things were going. We were also scaring the be-jesus out of the local Flamingo flock. Tis a wonder no one saw us and called out the helicopter rescue. And, this is the good bit, the only bit of solid dry land, an island with a fisherman's hut/clubhouse on it, had a rather large, noisy, and to us ferocious looking dog running around on it. No landing on that!

The sun was out though warming our backs and I'm happy to report we did eventually make it to the safety of a solid beach. We were however; rather glad to finally see our motor homes snug and safe by our beach ably guarded by Pam.

The one thing I fail to understand though, is why Tony is so adamant he'll never go canoeing with me again? Is it something I said?

Barbara & La Manga

Picture it in your mind. A two week holiday in the sun. Away from all the stress of everyday life and plenty of time to relax, enjoy and slow down. I needed all the first week to do that 'slowing down' which then gave a few days of true relaxation and rejuvination. But then ...... day twelve dawned and the realisation there were only two days left before the inevitable return to stress, rush and pressure of everyday life. I remember such holidays well and don't get me wrong, they carry many fond memories of loved ones and good times. Always though, that 'far too soon' return to stress, pressure and for me, Migraines with their own particular and very specialized line in lowness, despair and gloom.

With such a background you can maybe sympathetically understand my present bliss. I am very near the tip of the 'La Manga' peninsular. It is a narrow 19 kilometre stretch of built up sandbank with Mediterranian on one side and the shallow inland sea, 'Mar Menor' on the other. As you travel up its length leaving the mainland behind it progressively becomes less 'commercially touristy' built up. Right here where I am, at the 18 kilometre mark there are empty buiding plots and posh villas galore. Most are closed up either for the winter or are for sale or rent. Sadie is perched right behind one such villa sporting a faded 'Si Vende' (For Sale) sign. Very posh it is too but completely shuttered up and like it for several years as the very smart, and I imagine, expensive, monogrammed spiky cast iron railings are literally falling away in great lumps of rust.

The beach is right outside Sadies door and gives out to a shallow sea where you can walk out to clusters of rocks where numerous Flamingos do their stuff as I  binocularise them. Sunshine for the last few days has been wall to wall albeit with a cool northerly  breeze. The whole beach is empty, just the odd couple now and again walking by.

Bliss comes in as I sit quietly and peacefully taking all this in knowing there is no twelth day. No looming fixed return or 'move on' day. No rising dread starting to infect and cloud the mind. I can stay. Stay right here where I am by this beautiful beach until 'Universe' decides in her own good time to move this Nomads life on one more notch. 'Universe', I think will prompt me in a day or so and is probably going to be either laundry or food shop.
Haaa .... life is never THAT perfect eh!
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I came South, to 'La Manga' after dropping Barbara off at Alicante airport for her flight back to Scotland. We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks of togetherness and fun with a sunshiny mix of town, countryside, mountain and beach. We travelled between and around Barcelona and 'La Marina', a lovely wild beach side stop where there were other motorhomes and a good beachside cafe/restaurant. Very conveniant as a last stop too being just South of Alicante.
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Universe has now 'sort of' spoken. I have today moved but returned again to my private little beachside haven. I've had a day of hunting. Not in the conventional sense more a hunting/searching for. Laundry was number one and fairly easy as just down the road are two big posh Marinas. There are always laundries around Marinas here being no exception. I decided on the 'get it done collect tomorrow' option rather than self service. More expensive but easily countered by the fact I am not paying campsite fees.

While close to the Marina Tanya and I walked across to the 'Puerto office' to enquire as to the chance of buying a top up of water for Sadie. Got a definite down the nose look there with a curt reply. "Ees not posseeeble without you ave Nautica club membership." It was the reply I expected but if you don't ask you don't get which, as it turned out got me a full tank of water later on. We had stopped further down the peninsular and happened to spot a gardener/maintenance guy washing down a deserted shopping/eating Mall. "Well" I thought. "There's an opportunity too good to miss". Sure enough, five minutes, five Euros, the right question and hey presto a full tank of water.

Feeling very pleased with myself I resumed the hunt and headed across the street to what is always the shiniest shop on the street, the 'Farmacia'. Since my 2005 Angioplast (Heart attack and one stent) I take a pill called 'Ramipril' of which I am getting short of having at this point in my travels gone well past my two months UK prescription allowance. Armed with empty pill carton and UK repeat prescription form I head in to do battle.

Hmmmmph! No battle. White coated lady pharmacist merely looks at box, taps computer keys, disappear out back and promply returns with a 28 day supply. "That will be €2.50 please and is that enough or do you require more"? Ridiculousy simple and so so cheap. Where medication/drugs are concerned I am afraid I have to agree with the 'Rip Off' Britain school of succint revelatory education.
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Still here at La Manga. Beachside and Sadie slowly taking root. Helped Irish Mark haul his boat up the beach yesterday and like most Irishmen he then talked... and talked .... and talked. But fascinating hearing his story and so nice to hear a success story of a wealthy couple of entrepreneurs who, through hard work and a bit of luck are now happy posh Spanish villa owners and about to start building another one.

I have other company too. Russ is, like me another solo motorhomer and on his first few weeks of trying wildcamping. He is an x Paramedic and now 'living the dream'. He is good company.

Well it's no good. Time to upload this blog. I mean I have a lot to do. Move my chair for a start as it is just starting to become shaded. Can't have that now can we.