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?
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