Oxwich bound

 By midday with the car packed and we were on our way to the Gower under an overcast sky, driving slowly as far as Bridgend on the A48, stopping in Ewenny for a picnic lunch. By the time we reached Oxwich the sun broke out of the clouds and warmed the afternoon. To my relief, there was only light traffic entering the Gower, once we’d made our way along the coast road through Swansea’s still redeveloping former dockland area. 

We were a little early for our four o’clock check-in and walked on the shore for a while. The tide was almost at its lowest, four hundred metres from the top of the golden sandy beach. I was surprised there weren’t more people sitting out on the or walking, a few hundred maybe, certainly not thousands. Incredible in the high summer holidaymaking season and the year of the ‘staycation’. It’s so lovely here, and not at all built up, thanks to the SSSI conservation area of dunes and marine wetland. Nature is fee to flourish, along with all nature lovers.

Our static caravan is much bigger than I’d imagined with a generously sized master bedroom and a smaller twin bedded room, bathroom and kitchen area with an equally generous lounge with sofas and dining area. Kath, Anto and Rhiannon will have the one next door when they arrive tomorrow. Owain will have a choice of twin beds with us. There are ten static vans in a field surrounded by high leylandia hedges, run by Oxwich Bay hotel. As soon as re-opening was made official, Clare received an email notification and immediately booked for the family. A stroke of genius! We’ll have three midweek days together in a quiet un-crowded place we all love to enjoy, something I couldn’t dare dream of when I was trying to leave Ibiza.

After unloading, setting up the kitchen and unpacking, well, in my case, just the Sony Alpha 68 DSLR camera in my case, we went for a long walk on the beach, as far as the river outflow and back. Two third of the way there we came across a family of nine oystercatchers feeding. There was something wonderful and moving about hearing them call out to each other in their distinctive voice, the sound of ‘Croeso i Gymru a’r lan y mor’ - Welcome to Wales by the sea.

Since arriving we walked over fourteen kilometres - a couple of these walking around to find a phone signal sweet spot, as much of the area of the village under the hill is not in line of sight of the mast above, so you have to walk towards the beach. I listened to the Archers on a phone, standing in a recess the roadside. And the same for communicating with the kids, as I’ve been exchanging messages and sending them caravan photos since we arrived.

After so much exercise, fresh air and quietness, we shall sleep well tonight.