Dinosaur footprints

After a comfortable if noisy night on the quay ( the restaurant opposite was active until 1am ) we thought maybe a chat with the port captain was in order. He said it was fine to stay short term where we were but he would recommend the marina for a longer stay. We decided to move over as it was high water. The man in the hut was very helpful but my ear is not yet attuned to Asturian Spanish and communication was difficult but quite fun! We gave him €50 euros deposit for a magic dongle to open the gate onto the pontoon and had a vague idea that the charges would be €15 a night which seemed very reasonable after Laredo.

We were happy to leave the boat now we had a little security so we explored the area finding a supermarket and panadaria, pretty much everything we need!

We explored the possibility of visiting the caves but the waiting list was booked up for the rest of the week, the visitors are limited for environmental reasons and it is necesary to book well in advance. Maybe in a few years time when we return we may get to see them.

Just across the bridge to our new ( marina ) side was a traditional Asturian building we think is a grain store.

We both felt a little happier and it was certainly quieter in the marina. A quick check on the weather revealed westerlies and light winds all weekend followed by reasonable force 4-5 easterlies on Monday. I suggested to Lynne we could leave Monday and do a long overnight to reach the Rias Altas that run from Ribadeo to A Coruña. These are the wildest and most remote of the Galician Rias.

Five days seemed a pleasant prospect to wait around so we walked to the end of the point to see the chapel of Santa Anna and on our way back noticed a familiar yacht against the quay, it was the " Modus Vivende ", an Irish boat we had last seen at anchor in Santander. We were invited aboard by Bob and Maureen and liberally supplied with wine beer and rum until the advent of Spanish dinner time, 9.30 or so saw us wobbling back across the bridge and the Bob and Maureen seeking out a local eatery. A very pleasant interlude and one we hope to repeat as we both head slowly south.

The following morning Modus Vivende had slipped out on the tide heading for Gijon and we decided to explore the beach.

This starts running along the river out towards the very small entrance channel and opens up to a glorious bay.

The surf even on a day with relatively small swell was tremendous.

The front was refreshingly restrained with just three widely spaced cafes and some sun loungers to indicate it's holiday resort. The front is also the location for some splendid villas, these seem to have been built largely by emigrants who after making their fortunes in the Americas returned and built them in favoured positions employing local architects and builders. The most impressive is the Villa Verde which featured amongst other things multicoloured ceramic roof tiles, Lynne loved it!

We decided we had earned a coffee so chose the middle cafe and took a seat.

It was then time to make a serious attempt to discover the Dinosaur footprints, which allegedly were somewhere past the end of the Santa Marina beach, we chose to go up a winding road which soon gave way to glorious mountain countryside.

It was peaceful and quiet apart from the sound of cowbells in the clear air.

 We continued on seeking the mysterious dinosaur footprints and were rewarded by superb views down the coast and back into town, at one point I spotted a small dark hulled yacht motoring past the point in the light fitful breezes and thought I recognised her but couldn't bring a name to mind.

We continued on to the old Faro ( lighthouse ) and could find no trace of dinosaurs however we did find plants which looked as if they could be prehistoric!

We had a delightful walk in some lovely country however and on returning to the town rewarded ourselves with an ice cream from the third and last cafe on the beach taking the short walk to the end of the point where a mysterious steel ladder led down to the rocks below.

Lynne read the information board which made no mention of the fact that the dinosaur footprints were in fact just above our heads from the bottom of the strange ladder to nowhere in a vertical plane of bedrock. 

Ah well we had enjoyed a great walk around the headland and Lynne was delighted to spend some time in the country rather than the seaside!

We had a swim of the little sandbar and when we returned to the marina we discovered just in front of Dark Tarn, Suerte the Victoria 38 belonging to Peter and Lynda who we had been texting for the last few days since Laredo.

We had discovered the location but not actually seen the dinosaur footprints but they had provided a great excuse to explore this fabulous coastline.