Ok so a quick catch up…….Gijon to Mundaka. The days have been long and the waves have given us sore arms, we’ve had a couple of flat days but they were welcomed as we checked out the local culture. Mundaka was a little dream, I have passed this place three times and on each of them it was flat. This time in was a couple of foot and busy as, but even though I couldn’t be bothered to fight the crowds I thought it rude to pass this wave. I ended up having a fun surf and sneaked a few long rides, I met a cool chick from France who was skippering a yacht and another fellow English lass who was living in the Canaries, it was a friendly vibe and I wanna come back soon. After, we checked out Playa Laga (across the river) this place was heavy, I thought I broke my nose, I came out bleeding and dizzy! The free camping was the most social yet, twenty vans or so all drinking and dancing in the local bar, good times!!!

Where are we now?

The days roll into one, time kinda stops, its mid week a local tells me though it feels like sunday over and over again. I love the life of a romany, to never quite know, each day a little surprise. One day there is no company, no tourists and no lights; the next a spanish holiday spot, a flat ocean and kids everywhere.

We have been taking part in 'el pasedo', the daily evening stroll combined with tapas and ceverza. The heat stays in the sun till late and everyone loves an amble after their siesta. We love the tapas espescially when we can decifer the carne from the pescado, the beers though draugh style- resemble those from Holand with massive foamy heads, Ella suggested she get behind and showed them a thing or too but that was obviously the beer talking.

I could defo live here, the people, the pace of life and the language all make for a place with homely warmth.

But for now I'm off as the bar man has just told me a load of tourist cars have been broken into, so we are fleeing and will hopefully find the van in one piece!

On the road in northern Spain

So we have been on the road for a week and the surf has been pumping. I have scored waves everyday and the sun has blessed us with much needed warmth! Spain is a beautiful place and so far we have been exploring the provinces of Cantabria and now just moved into Asturias. Having a little one means fewer surfs but luckily for me my sister and Elijah are having some much needed bonding time. So after we had been searching for the spot above and a little hike brought us out at this set up I could barley contain myself. A left and right reef with a beach break in the middle at high tide, I was frothing, the bucket and spade was chucked in the bag Ely whisked onto my shoulders, once we had decended the cliff I left Ella and Ely to play and paddled out. I couldn't believe there was only another two out, with long solid lefts it was a case of everyone gets a set wave and all paddle back out together. Even though my spanish is embrassingly poor there a definate consenus that this was good times! For the last couple of nights we have been staying at a little spot where Sennen meets the thai islands, it was un real, postcard perfect! The waves were little peaky 2-3ft walls and as the sun was shining bright took the opportunity to have a little bikini session. Only managed about half hour though, as although it looks like the thai islands the water temp was more sennen (however a shorty does the job)!

I am writting this in a little local smoke filled den called bar Los Angeles somewhere south of Andrin. The swell has dropped off today so we were on our way to the Picos de Europa to do a little trekking but the heavens opened so we stopped for a cafe con leche. Its not until you get into a public place when mirors tell you the tale of van life, even after a week our hair is thick with salt and we're not sure whether it is dirt or a good sun tan for the complexion. The sun looks like its starting to pop its head back out and Ely has sucessfully made friends with all other coffee drinkers plus reading all the books in his collection and therefore its time to get back on the trail.

The Eden Project

Over the last year I have been working with the Eden Project to help launch their Eco board. It is made from part plant based components, using homeblown blanks and shaped in Cornwall. It feels light under the arm and surfs well. I ride a 6'2" but they come in many shapes, from the fish to the long board. You can buy them online at http://www.edenproject.com/shop/Surfboards.aspx or check out the movie we made below.

Almost there

Been checking the charts in Spain and it is looking like a nice little swell could greet us on arrival. I can't wait to get my new Gul shorty on and hoon it down the face on some beautiful northern Spanish gems. There has been a lack of surf for me this last week as i have been buzzing around erasing my things to do list, seeing pals and hanging out with Eli. He loves going for a surf on the longboard and the ocean and him are starting a possible lifetime connection. We both can't wait to be in the van for some much needed outdoor living and long beach days. Ella my sister has been spending time in the smoke so she is equally looking forward to a well deserved break! 

A visit to the smoke

Spent the weekend in London, and went to the Lovebox festival in Victoria Park. I realsied this last year I have only been as far as Plymouth which was a fairly strange thought, and although I am a proud Cornish filly it did make me wonder what the hell I have been up to, oh yeah that'll be the 3rd year of an environmental science degree. Where you loose all chance to enjoy yourself cause every 'free' moment is quickly consumed by guilt which is shortly after followed by another stint at the computer. So anyway I finally escaped the folds of Cornwall and was welcomed to London by a beautiful sunny day, well at least it was warm, the sun was playing hide and seek behind the gerkin. London defiantly has the buzz factor, the tube is not the the epi centre of it, but once in the midst of East London, there is feeling of difference, hundreds of people striving to be different, look different and talk different. In this world clothes rule the roost, well at least that is how it seems and although clothes to many are trivial here they make a statement, it is fine art come alive.

Pre Embarkation

Last year in France, enjoying a little evening wave.

Just caught 40 winks and recovering from the 20 hour Gul winter photo shoot. It was a success even though we had a 4am start. Tiredness was over come by pints of coke, laughter and a cheeky Aggie evening session. So, a week to go and the 'to do list' is growing, layered with a covering of dust and coffee rings. Yes, it has been said my procrastination is some of the best in town but having a little mite constantly nagging me for pasteeee (pasty) along with library trips, swimming, walks that take two hours just to grab a pint of milk, procrastination can no longer be a friend of mine as this trip will not happen and so tomorrow, the plan is to start crossing things off!