Storm and memories
N 43°27'09.3" E 003°44'47.2"
Date:
19.bis 20.12.2022
Day: 016 – 017
Camp 12
Country:
Spain
Location:
Playa De Somo
Latitude N:
43°27’09.3″
Longitude W:
003°44’47.2″
Kilometers per day:
59 km
Total kilometers:
1914 km
Height
3 meters
Ground conditions:
Asphalt
Temperature day max:
17 °
Night temperature:
Minus 11°
Departure:
1:30 pm
Arrival time:
17:00
Travel time:
3:30 hrs.
It is still raining. The storm raged throughout the night and our Terra Love shook and groaned. The sound reminded me of our time on the island of Senja. We spent a whole month there on a remote, wild beach during the dark Norwegian winter.
At dawn, I decide to go to the beach with Ajaci and film the impressive sand drifts. It’s the first time I’ve used the new GoPro with its special housing. The sand blows so hard in our faces that both Ajaci and I have to squint our eyes. “Almost like the Taklamakan,” I say, stroking my dog as I reminisce about our travels and expeditions, especially the time we crossed the Desert of Death in 1995, a thousand kilometers from north to south with our seven camels. “It’s strange how memories from our past travel and expedition life keep popping up in my mind,” I think.
When we return to Terra, I realize that the camera has not recorded any sound. “Couldn’t it have worked from the start?” I grumble quietly and decide to try again.
As our water supplies are slowly but surely running low, after a few days we leave the impressively wild beach at this time of year and continue our journey along the coastal road in bad weather. As we avoid the main roads, we end up on a narrow lane. A car comes towards us and forces me to reverse until I can swerve into a meadow. “Shouldn’t we turn back?” asks Tanja. “We’ll manage,” I say confidently, until the path suddenly ends next to an ancient chapel. “I’ll get out for a moment and take a photo of the little church,” I say and leave the Terra. “Be careful that a branch doesn’t fall on your head!” warns Tanja, while the old trees above me bend in the wind and groan like old men.
Due to the lashing rain and the wet road, we drive back carefully. Back on the main road, we head towards Santander, where we want to buy a cable for our microphones. “This seems like a great place to spend the night,” I remark, pointing out of the window as we drive. “Are you sure we’re allowed to park there?” Tanja expresses her uncertainty. “Never mind, we’ll just try it out,” I say and steer our Terra Love into the empty parking lot, from where we can enjoy an impressive view of Playa De Somo…
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