Andalucia Day 14 Punta Paloma

This morning we go in the opposite direction, north from the campsite on foot towards Punta Paloma where there's another dune between the pine trees.

It's hard going at first, clambering over a few rocks then up and down between pebbles and sand. The wind is behind us and deceptively unaggressive. Eventually we come out onto Playa Valvaqueros - a long expanse of empty sand with the dune at the end, and 'something' right in the middle of it, too far away to identify. Walking along the beach is nice, the wind behind us, not too much sand, we start up the sand dune and realise that the 'something' is a snow plow, well it would be if we were back at home. Here, obviously it's a sand plough working to keep the tarmac road which goes right across the dune free from sand.

Once on the road we continue and then follow a path down through the pines to Punta Paloma beach in search of a shady sheltered waspfree place to picnic. Alas, shady we manage but sheltered is well-nigh impossible and the first wasp zooms straight in from Tarifa as soon as I unwrap the cheese.

It's a decidedly fast picnic and we decide to walk back along the coast to the main beach. Not a good idea. There wouldn't seem to be much sand on the damp beach to get blown around but it's a battle against the wind and sandblasting effect. We head up into the woods but the paths peter out amongst the pines and the sand underfoot is tiring to walk on. Eventually we get back on the road but to go back down the dune is impossible due to a whirling sandstorm.

Back down through the woods, tired, sandy and sticky we reach the beach, but sitting to rest is impossible due to the wind and sand. We trudge back to the campsite to wash off the sand, recover and plan the next few days.

Kilometres by car: 0

Kilometres on foot: 16