THE CANTABRIAN CONNECTION

By Fugy

A FRIENDSHIP TALE

The "Escuadra Cantabra" in Ons

In 2011, in a weekend trip to Ons island, I coincided for the first time with four members of the ACKM, the Cantabrian Sea Kayak Asociation.

Along the trip, I realized that they were  this kind of paddle fellows that you can  count as friends. That weekend we shared so much laughs, jokes and good moments... Definitively, the remarkable of these days was neither the sea nor the islands, but the persons.

.....and the ACKM Pin

the ACKM Sticker.....

From this day, a sticker of the ACKM adorns my car and a pin marks in my Kayak Wall the memory of these prominent figures.

In my mind always was present to return the visit to them in their lands and seas, plans that for one or another reason I could not materialize.

So imagine my surprise when my wife one month ago told to me that it would be nice to go on holidays to Cantabria, which must be very beautifull … … .. mmmmm, let me think ….. OK!!!!.

Altamira paintings

Sonia's mind was thinking about relax and walks, museums and visits … … mine about the Cantabrian Sea, kayaking, Edu, Martin and the ACKM. Finally I obtained a satisfactory planning for all, I would paddle on Saturday and Sunday mornings while the family knew Santander, and in the evenings we would visit some of the more emblematic places of Cantabria: Altamira, The Soplao Cave, Cabarceno Park....

El Soplao....Just Amazing!!!

TWO DAYS  WITH OLD AND NEW FRIENDS

These dudes have Peligros beach as their base, placed in the Bay of Santander, and from there on Saturday we headed the water taking a West course up to Langre. 

The Jouney begins

The journey was a great gathering,

 8 paddlers from 5 regions:

Edu, Martin, Alberto and Chente (Cantabria)

Urruti 

(Pais Vasco)

Epicuro 

(Asturias)

Lourdes 

(Madrid, now Cantabrian in law) 

Fugy 

(Galicia).

In the jacuzzy

 

We went to the sea in low tide with 4 feet waves along cliffs with a paralel line of rocks that create an intermediate zone of calm waters known as "The swimming pools", this time the tide was too low to enter them. 

Back to Peligros

Swell was small but the sea was beating hardly against the line of rocks, moving the kayaks by the compass of the reflected waves. 

trying a Looping

Returning to Peligros, we made a brief stop to ride a couple of waves in Somo's beach and once in land, a great lunch was ready for the braves.

Let me say that 8 kayakers went to the water, but I want to thanks to all people who came to 

Peligros to say hello and for diverse reasons were not able to accompany us in the water,

 someones for work (go SUP Cesar!!!) and someones for injury (Get well soon!!!).

Martin in Mayor Cape

On Sunday we took East Course  Edu, Martin, Lourdes and I paddled passing El Sardinero beach towards Mayor Cape , we went by the shadow of a steep cliff coast where the waves were creating an entertaining rebound.

THOD Cantabrian Spot

 Near the "Pantheon of the Englishman", I saw one interesting rocky Spot at the foot of the cliff, so there the Dragon goes, and after crossing it slowly, enjoying the foam, I relax … … and a small two-footer put me upside down, finishing with the helmet against one of the submerged rocks … .. esquimo and laughs!!!!!.

Few minutes later we headed back to Peligros, Martin turn on the turbocharger saying that he had to attend to some social matters, and on having come to the beach we discover these matters …

  

Crazy SUP time!!!!

... he was with my children playing in SUP,

so last hour, with Edu as support craft, 

we were falling again and again into

the water and laughing non-stop.

The Beautys........

And after another great lunch the time to say goodbye arrived … .. greets until the next time and thank you very much for everything....the cantabrians, the Spare Dragons,  a people who is worth knowing!!!!!

.....and the Beasts!!!