We rolled straight out of bed and drive directly to the beach this morning in order to take advantage of the heatwave conditions and a lull in the wind. Breakfast by the waters edge and a nice snorkel (without wetsuits!) on a practically deserted beach made for a very nice way to start a day!

While the sea wasn’t ‘warm’ once we’d got in it was okay to snorkel for about 15 minutes or so.

We’d had breakfast and a brew before getting in, so warmed up afterwards with a walk along the waters edge as people were beginning to turn up for the day. We left around 11am and returned to the sanctuary of The Cottage, and to deal with a flat battery on the van.

Our very helpful local garage got the van started and I got some clothes sorted for my next travels. It was so hot at lunch that we had to dine in the shade!

I swapped the van for Clare’s car as I was heading to Loddington in the evening. To make sure the van got a ‘run in’, we both drove out to the north coast, and had another cooling swim. From Llanfairfechan, Clare returned back to the office and I continued onwards to Fort Martin, where I arrived just before bedtime after a last minute decision to have swift half in Kettering with my old friend Nathan. Even the market square of Kettering felt European, with table service out in the evening sunshine!

Mom and I had a quick drink in the cool of the Mediterranean zone at Fort Martin, checked bags, tickets and passports then went to bed, excited about the next days travel plans!….