Back in Cartagena |
16th July We have spent the last four days in Yacht Port Cartagena
marina, a place that holds fond memories for us as it’s where we spent our
first winter on Sandpiper in 2012. We had only planned on staying for one night here,
but strong winds from the wrong direction have prevented us from leaving.
Cliff changing the nationality of the gas bottle |
Cliff has made the most of our enforced stay by catching up
with some boat jobs. One job was to paint the gas bottles. Each time our gas
runs out we have to take the empty bottle to a supplier and swap it for a full
one. But we have found that different countries have different coloured
canisters: in Greece they are green and in Spain they are blue. When we came to
exchange our green Greek bottle the local Spanish supplier refused to accept
it. So, out came the blue paint, and now we have a bottle the right (Spanish)
colour!
The beach at Garrucha |
17th July Our departure from Cartagena this morning presented some
challenges when the gearbox decided we could only move one way - in reverse!
After doing some impressive reverse tactics to avoid other yachts and a very
large cruise liner, we decided to return to the marina. Turning the engine on
and off seemed to clear the problem, but we would be happier if we knew the
cause. Our second departure was uneventful and we had a good sail down to
Garrucha on the Costa Almeria.
View of the Rock from our boat |
21st July We are now moored in the marina at La Linea, the Spanish
town right next to Gibraltar. We have been given a prime spot tucked well
inside the marina and we have a splendid view of the rock from our cockpit.
Gibralta is only 8 miles from the African mainland and the narrow straits
between the two countries have a predictable weather pattern. For the next five
days the Poniente wind is due to blow from the west, making the passage through
the narrow Straits difficult and possibly dangerous. Then the winds will change
and the Levanter will blow from the East, offering us a fast, if slightly wild
sail down the Strait. So we have five days to relax and enjoy Gibraltar.
Our DJ neighbour |
23rd July Today we had a few drinks with our neighbour Paul
Breen-Turner, an interesting character who lives on his boat in Spain and
divides his time between working as a TV sports presenter and
recording daily shows for English Speaking radio stations in Spain. He actually records the programmes below
deck, then emails them to his producer in London. Sounds like a good life to
us!
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