The initial plan was to go surfing on this Atlantic stretch of wild coastline. But as is the way with planning any surf trip, unfortunately, you can't pre-order the conditions. Slightly frustratingly, the conditions had been great last week. We almost had everything we needed. We still had the blue skies, warm temperatures, a nice swell, and an off-shore wind. All sounds good on paper. However, the slight snag is that the offshore wind was pretty much gale force! We could barely stand up on the beach, let alone catch a wave. The windsurfers had got the dream conditions, but staying on dry land seemed the only sensible option for us today.
About three kilometers along the coast from the small town of Bolinia, is an area called Playa los Banos Claudia - Claudia's Bath; a natural swimming pool by the sea. It seemed a worthy objective as surfing was firmly out of the question. We set off into the strong headwind...
The coastline is beautiful here - no waterside hotels or developments at all - just rugged coastline.
Leaving the windsurfers behind at Bolinia, we literally fought our way south into the wind. The beaches here were deserted - and for good reason. The sand was whipping along the beach, sandblasting my bare ankles. We pressed on, sometimes on the sand by the water's edge and sometimes, higher up on the coastal footpath.
After almost turning back a few times, we made it to our destination.
The geology is fantastic here, with lines of weirdly eroded sandstone created some sheltered pools (or indeed baths).
Looking at the photos now, from the comfort of the sofa, it seems incredulous that we didn't get in for a swim. It looks so inviting.
But if you look closely at this next photo, you can see the spray from the constant crashing waves blowing over the pool. We were well wrapped off and although we did dip our feet in, felt no desire to take off our clothes in the gale!
After a token paddle, we walked back to the village, this time with a much more pleasant way, with our backs to the wind and airborne sand.
On the way back to the house, we stopped off again at the crags of San Bartolo and enjoyed a couple of pitches of climbing on the blissfully sheltered side of the crag. By the time we got home (via a trip to Tarifa to find an open Supermarket - we'd forgotten that it was Sunday where all the shops are generally shut), we got inside and finally out of the wind. It felt like a bit of a relief to not have the wind blowing around us...
San Bartolo - Zona de Arriba:
- Esto si que no es seis a, 5b**
- Harry el fuerte, 5c**
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