I pointed down into the gulley at the few fish swimming there. Irish Mark swimming alongside me acknowledged. We perched briefly on a rock and with snorkels out and goggles raised commented how visibility was better out here on the far side of the rocks as opposed closer to the beach. Mark had his full wetsuit plus wet gloves to offset the distinct chill of the sea on this our first sea swim of 2017. I indicated to him that I would head back as my shorty 2mm Summer wetsuit was, after fifteen minutes, starting to let the cold seep through. Tanya, as always, was waiting for me back at the beach as I, grinning from ear to ear emerged from the sea and staggered ashore. Oh! It was just so good to get that first swim under my belt. I was quite happy with twenty five minutes too. A cold cold sea plus me with start of season unfitness. Ten minutes was my original estimate as I plunged in.
At long last it definitely is getting warmer. Twenty five degrees today. As well as the swim I know warmth is arriving as the first insect bite itches and bumps have also arrived. Usually as the season progresses my skin, as I unmercifully expose it and invite Mr and Mrs insect to dine on its soft white surface, gains some immunity helped, I am sure by regular salt water immersion.
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We left La Manga as the weather turned and I got caught in a horrendous thunder storm wirh gale force winds at my first stop, a Motorhome dealer. I was there to pick up a spare for the fridge as it had played up in the heat at La Manga. It was a common gas fridge problem and I soon had it running again so the spare Gas Jet I was seeking was a cautionary preventative measure against future failure. Despite the thunderstorm knocking out electrics and internet and blowing the roof off an outbuilding the very efficient young lady at 'Caravanas Sangar' delved into a parts manual, disappeared out back and returned Gas Jet in hand. Impressed I was, very impressed.
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I am now at a little village just east of Nerja. I did spend one night in my usual spot in Nerja itself, which I call the Bear pit due to it being a low level scrap of land/car park. However; it is very conveniently near the centre but unusually this year was so so busy. I have never seen this whole area so busy at this time of year. Hence I have moved to 'Maro' where it is much quieter although you wouldn't know it tonight as there is a party going on next to me with several families involved. It is Spain though and quite normal up until 11.0pm when it usually goes blissfully quiet.
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Quite a change now. Cool Cloudy and dull as I sit lazily looking out at the sea from my perch here at 'Torrox Costa'. It is just down the road from Nerja but has easier access to the beach. I personally prefer 'Maro' and its steep walk down to a secluded and any or no attire goes beach which also has shady spots under wild bamboo groves. Last week I enjoyed its delights and warm clear waters. For now though 'Torrox Costa' has been designated as a more suitable and accessible beach for a lively four year old Grandson. I've also been to 'Malaga' for a trial run at collecting my Son Keith and accompanying Kaden from the airport for their short four day visit. Not easy in a Motorhome and I am afraid they're going to have to use a taxi to a nearby retail park where I will be waiting.
While there I also found a local free spot to stay the night as their arrival is very late evening. Which prompts a story of one of the somewhat unusual, some may call it unsavoury, aspects of my 'male solo' travelling existence.
My night near Malaga was spent on an empty car park, close to the beach and overlooked by a block of flats. No problem and very quiet. The next day we decided on a bike ride in the large and wild area between 'Malaga' and 'Torremolinas' , a good bird watching area. So I moved Foxy10 to a more conveniant spot deeper inside this wild area. I Parked just by a French van whose solo male occupant, once establishing I was solo also, went into full propositioning mode. I've sort of got used to this sort of behaviour/approach by now and once the differing sexual orientations were established, not easy as he had no English and my French in challenging situations quickly reverts to shouted English, we soon developed a workable rapport. Once we had the 'delicacies' sorted I knew Foxy10 would be OK left while Tanya and I enjoyed our bike ride. And so it turned out to be. However I did not spend the night there as I've found as evening/night draws on frustrated deviants plus alcohol (the two usually go together) can get a little persistent and quite frankly boring. These 'on the edge', and in particular 'at the edge' of towns and cities, groups of 'underbelly society' exist everywhere. Caution, common sense, humour and being male enables me to utilise these areas pretty safely as the one thing I, they and normal society have in common is a want of peace, quiet and non interference by the authorities/police.
What was nice was to wake up a couple days later wild parked on a deserted 'Urbanization' near 'Almayate' and, while walking Tanya, bump into the perfectly normal Linda, who was also walking her dog from a nearby campsite where she and her husband Julian were resting up between travelling Morocco and heading to France in their beautiful old classic Hymer Motorhome.
All of life eh, all of life.
