Marbella

The early morning sky was a wash of pink. In the marina being Marge, the swanky dazzling white yachts, swung gently on their anchors. One of the them from Lymington, another from Southampton in Hampshire.

All of the other vans looked out across the marina, Marge, however had turned her back on them, preferring the view of the rock. She knows a decent view when she sees one!

It seemed a little bit strange this morning, to set off armed with English pounds.

Sorry Marge, but you're remaining in Spain. We promise not to repeat our recklessness of Cadiz. Crossing back in to Gibraltar seemed a little surreal.

In the high street, Marks and Spencer, Card Factory and Costa Coffee. We cycled towards the far end of the rock, giving up on all things touristy, After all, we were here just to take a look at Gibralter as a country. In the main street, following on from the High street, it seemed a little bit like Blackpool, with gift shops and fish and chip restaurants. Of course, at lunchtime we couldn't resist the lure of chips, after five weeks without them.

So we lunched at a traditional English pub, a little like the ones in the centre of London. Fish and Chips for Angela, and a mixed grill for John. However wonderful the weather is, there are somethings you miss from home. We were not sad to leave Gibraltar, it was dirty, busy, the driving terrible, considering it was a small space, with narrow roads. There could be no dispute regarding the comment, that scooter licences are given to the insane there! Sorry Gibraltar.

British you may be, and we can tick you off our list of places to visit, but we are unlikely to rush back anytime soon.

Around four o' clock we left the rock, once again a mass of cloud had descended above it. We understand that this occurs when the Levant wind blows in from the Mediterranean. Our journey late this afternoon was towards Marbella. We left the ring road an exit earlier than planned to visit a supermarket, where we thought we should be able to purchase tonic water for John. Surely, here on the Costa del Sol, there would be some takers for it.

Because of the area, Angela stayed with Marge, whilst John went in to the shop. Behind her, a pleasing vista of the mountains. We are aware, that it is necessary to be very vigilant along the coasts of the Costa del Sol and Costa Brava. Marge always has to be our priority.

This evening we are parked right by the beach, along with a young Australian couple in a hired campervan, in a suburb of Marbella. Who'd have thought Marge would be here?

Soon after we arrived, not having the urgency to cook an evening meal after our filling lunch, we walked through the waters of the Mediterranean, marvelling at a rather superb sand structure a couple had built, sadly to be spoiled by the incoming tide.

On the shoreline, a large jelly fish (size 12 foot for scale!) waned in the tidal water, and out to sea, a convoy of fishing boats left port for the deep fishing waters. We sat on a wall at the edge of the beach, drink in hand, to watch yet another sunset . This one with a difference, as the mountains stood between us and the horizon. Even after the sun had disappeared, the sky still remained bright, lit by fingers of pink light. Tomorrow we will be, who knows where. But hopefully, we'll get to experience yet another incredible sunset.

The lights and sunset Marbella Bay.