Stuck in the sand

Today I rise as usual before the sun. It is my first morning at Ceuta beach and I try to do my morning jog on the beach but the tide is in and there are huge, unstable piles of small rocks where the waves break onto the shore all along the beach, making it impossible to walk let alone run.

I could run in the late afternoon/early evening when the tide is out but I just can’t exercise after spending an active day doing things.

I love running with the sunrise.  This morning, I see the lights of the distant city – maybe La Cruz or maybe the poblado of Ceuta – just as they are winking off and the sky is turning reds, pinks and yellows.

Here like in Las Glorias, there are always fishing boats within view – the larger ones that never dock, and the local small boats that are heading out now too.

After my run on the sidewalk, I fill up the rest of my batteries – those that I just filled in Las Glorias maybe a week ago at most. Grrrrr.

I write my blog until almost noon when I put on my bathing suit and head to the ocean. The tide is out, at least several feet off the piles of rocks, so I can climb over them and put my stuff down where the sand – dry in the afternoon sun – starts again, and walk into the ocean.

The sand is soft, but not to soft to walk on, and smooth – glittering gold in the shallow water. I walk far out dragging, my feet JUST IN CASE there are stingrays here (which I don’t think there are but I’ve seen those ‘stingers’ – fuckin swords more like –and I’m not taking any chances) and the water still only comes to just above my knees, to my waist when a big wave comes in.

It is so much fun, jumping, ducking, and riding waves! The water is cool but the air is hot so it is very pleasant. And there is no undertow at all that I can feel!

As I play, I am remembering being a young girl, holding hands with my sister, jumping the waves in the Atlantic Ocean – which was much warmed and calmer than the Pacific.

It was such a special treat for us to be there at the beach, even though we lived maybe an hour away at the most. Of course, everything in Jersey is about an hour away!

An hour away 50 years ago was a huge schlep. And my father, the only driver in our family, worked 5 days a week and gardened on the weekend.

I forget to drag my feet and I just can’t stop playing in the waves, even after getting cold and tired! The only thing missing is a little girl – or Daboo – to share the ocean with!

I’m just stuck on the sand and ocean, so I decide to walk, kicking through the shallow waves, north as far as I can go. Actually I stop walking way before the beach stops – it appears to be endless.

There are several houses or structures for maybe ¼ mile from my truck – don’t ask me how they get vehicles in as the sand is sand: deep and soft.

But the houses end quickly and the beach goes on and on and on, as far as I can walk and farther then I can see. Of course I don’t have my glasses on but I’m sure it goes on forever.

I retrace my steps, still stuck in the sand and ocean, and head south past Ceuta. On this side, when the paved road ends, there is only one huge mansion in the distance. I walk past it – it sits maybe 30 feet from the ocean where I’m walking.

There is a thick, cement wall around it with iron gates, and it looms 3 uneven stories with huge mismatched picture windows on each floor.

It looks landscaped with non-native plants and a big fancy cabana – maybe an outdoor kitchen, I can’t see over the wall.

It is a bright orange and looks new, lavish – and empty.

I keep gliding thru the shallow waves and smooth shores forever and ever, and a mountain finally appears in the distance.  Another day I will bring water, maybe food, and head this way until I arrive at the mountain if I can.

Although there have been few people, mostly fishermen, on the beach today, I have not had any conversations more lengthy than buenos dias/tardes and muy bonita. And no one has parked close to me playing loud music.

I’ve interacted with the birds on the beach tho!  The closer I get to where they’re sitting, they slowly take off, starting with the one closest to me. Once I pass their spot, they slowly return and sit. Until I return and we start again.

Tonite I try to sit on my stool out in front of the truck, watch the sun set, and eat my dinner but mosquitoes are suddenly dive bombing my head. I rush inside frantically waving them away and slam my door, hoping to keep them out.

Safe inside missing the rest of the sun set, I study my Spanish before retiring, hoping that no one will show up tonite and blast music. No one does.

But just as I’m closing my eyes, someone shows up with one of those annoying dune buggies and of course, has to race right in front of the truck – the whole fuckin beach to himself, and he has to ride in front of the truck. Grrrrr

I fall asleep to the sound of one dune buggy stuck in the sand.