Easter 2013

There was a group of 12 dolphins showing off and having fun about 2 1/2 hours out from Santander, if you ar eon the ferry it is worth being up front for an hour or so around three hours from arrival as that is often where the dolphins are. Catching them on camera is not an easy matter. 

First sight of Spain was a barely discernable shadow under the clouds. 

The lawn had sort of grown a bit, the whole finca needed attention but was not as wild as I had imagined it might be.

 The boys planted a load of fruit stones mostly cherry and some of the wild peach/damson thing that is endemic in galicia. Not sure what has come up but it might be one of each as the leaf colour is very different.

 First trip out after sorting the house was to Vilarrube of course and as usual at this time of yeaer the car park was wonderfully flooded.

Lorena and Stanley were straight in for a paddle.

Vilarrube weird sand

Rowan was straight into the water, He claimed it was warm but I had a paddle and it was just tepid however compared with Cornwall just now where the sea is like stepping into ice cream it was rather wonderful.

Sand stuff making its own contour lines - this was really useful for the boys conceptualising what contour lines on maps are all about, why they are closer on steeper bits etc.

The puddles were definitely warmer than the sea and just deep enough for swimming.

Sand tree.

Bits of the dunes are falling into the sea as the river course eats into the dunes, each clod is a wonderful slice of fine grasses and seaside plants, we threw loads back up onto the dunes.

These trees always stand out like a flame at this time of year.

Lots of current at this state of tide - fun to walk in, less fun to swim against.

I love what the sand does at Vilarrube, details of days gone by saved and mixed with today's artful weathering.

Jen, Cal and Mel on the track back to the car park.

A bit of a bonus - when we got home there was a rather plump bat roosting in the wood store.