ONE LAST LOOK AT 2024

Quick selection of shots from Newquay in 2024.

Already bubbling with a few fresh thoughts for 2025...so on we go!

ARGE! WINTER ARRIVES

Winter, it was bound to happen!

With some good luck and a favourable wind direction, it can remain quite mild at this time of year, despite the light in each day dwindling to permanent darkness.

But everyone knows the country is on the precipice of a wintry slap. But when, for how long, cold or wet...or both.

And then it happened! A morning of sleet and snow.

The snow had gathered on some cars inbound from the country, and out in the fields a veil of white leaned to the idea that it was starting to settle, no doubt sending thrill seekers into lofts and garages in search of dust covered toboggans.

In town the delicate flakes stood no chance, patches of ice & sleet congregated in places pretending to be snow, but the commuters and school kids were just left with a wet and parky morning as an introduction to the upcoming months.

SAND DUNE TO THE SHORELINE

A short journey south, down the east coast of the island was decided upon. A little trip to change things up from the previous two days of luxurious sun lounging on Grandes Playas de Corralejo, a stretch of sand we dubbed 'Euro Beach'. A place with fair priced sun-loungers & parasols, coffee and beer, toilets and beach showers. For a couple of sunny days we were planted there all day, through the tide coming in and going out. (From John Cooper Clark's book 'I Wanna Be Yours') "Luxury, pure unashamed luxury".

The final destination of this journey south was always going to end with more sun lounging, reading and swimming, but we got extra!

Further down the road from the beach we had baked on for the previous two days, was a disorganised assembly of parked cars on either side of the road. A few cars looked haphazardly abandoned, almost ditched off the edge of the tarmac and into the sand - as if a radio news bulletin had announced an impending sand storm or tsunami.

There were enough people milling around, taking selfies, unpacking car boots to suggest certain disaster was not looming, so we joined the line of vehicles, but kept all four tyres on the asphalt.

Sun hats on, we headed out in the direction of the sea – both sure the ocean was just over the gradual sand dune we had started to ascend. Reaching the crest of the dune revealed the panoramic view of more dunes, with the sea way off in the distance. This is what all the people had come to see! What a sight! The excitement had lead several cars to be strewn off the edge of the road and left without correction. The drivers and passengers all keen to see the sand dunes, reminiscent of the vast Sahara Desert, only a short distance away across the sea, almost visible on a clear day. The area of sand big enough to dilute the crowd. Maybe some never made it back!

We traversed the dunes to the shoreline and made camp for the day, using one of the many stone semi circle alcoves set up for privacy and wind break.

Another day of luxury, pure unashamed luxury.

More photographs from fuerteventura @ sleeplessink.com 

WELCOME BREAK – CORRALEJO

What a joy! – One week in Fuerteventura.

So good to get back to the Canaries after a four year hiatus. No surfboards this time, just hand luggage and a camera bag.

A holiday in the true sense of the word.

From the dictionary:

holiday | ˈhɒlɪdeɪ, ˈhɒlɪdi | noun 1 (often holidays) mainly British an extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in travelling. North American term vacation: I spent my summer holidays on a farm | Fred was on holiday in Spain. 2 a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done: 25 December is an official public holiday. • [as modifier] characteristic of a holiday; festive: a holiday atmosphere.

T-shirt & shorts all day, every day. No watch, only tide and sun position to assess the probable time of day. 

A simple daily schedule: swim, walk, read, sunbath...take it easy.

Oh yes! Of course!...Taking photos! Below are a few from Corralejo.

More photographs from fuerteventura @ sleeplessink.com