My destination this time was the little bay with the private cove which I'd discovered on my first solo weekend on Anglesey three years ago; I'd intended to go back there last year but hadn't got round to it, and as it wasn't too far from the site it was ideal for a 'final fling' before I went home. When I got there it looked very much the same as before but with one major difference - there was no-one there. My previous visit had been on a weekend and the little bay had been alive with sailing dinghies, jet skis, inflatables and people on the beach; now it was a weekday, the bank holiday had passed and the weekenders had gone home, and with no sign of anyone anywhere I had the place to myself.
The cottage garden on the corner looked just as pretty as it had done before and I took a couple of shots of that before going round to the private cove; my mission was to try to get to the far side of it, which I hadn't done previously, but unfortunately I could only get so far before the path ended in deep water backed by a steep bank of trees. So it seemed that my quest for photos from a different angle would remain impossible and I would have to be content with taking my shots just from one side; I took several before making my way down to the beach.
With no-one around I was able to let Sophie and Sugar off the lead and I spent quite some time looking for sticks and throwing them; Sugar went out into the water several times to retrieve hers but Sophie being Sophie just stayed on dry land. Eventually I called a halt to our little game and just sat for a while on the sand to give Sugar chance to dry out a bit before going back in the van; in the warm sunshine with nothing but the sound of the waves as they lapped the shore and the seagulls wheeling and swooping up above it was one of those times that I just wished could last for ever. Unfortunately though, reality meant that I had to go home and go back to work, so with one last photo I clipped the leads back on the dogs and returned to the van.
Back at the site I attached the dogs' leads to the tow ball of the van so they could lie on the grass in the shade without getting in my way, then very reluctantly I started on the packing up process. For some reason it seemed to take longer than usual - maybe because I didn't really want to go home - but eventually the tent was rolled back into its bag and stashed away, and after a quick check round the pitch for any stray tent pegs I put the dogs back in the van and set off. As I waited for the barrier to open to let me off the site for the last time the warden came out of her caravan and gave me another barrier pass to keep in the van; she told me that this one would last for twelve months, so whenever I go back there again it won't matter what time of day or night it is I'll be able to get onto the site, pitch the tent and pay her next time I pass reception. I certainly wasn't expecting that, and I was more than a little pleased - and it just shows that being a regular camper at the same site year after year can sometimes have its advantages!
With the windows down and a cd to sing along to the drive home in the afternoon sunshine was very pleasant and I arrived back with a bit of time to spare before I had to go to work. I'd had a lovely break, the weather had been brilliant and I'd got some good photos, but as I polished, mopped and vacuumed I was already thinking ahead to my next camping trip!
