Entering Gibraltar.

After leaving La Duquesa the fog dropped so it was a very slow departure being so close inshore trying to spot the tiny fishing markers for the Spanish fishermen. The foghorn helped to move on the birds that we sometimes call flying fishing markers although some insist on staying until the last moment.

When we approached Gibraltar it was still a little foggy but did clear in time for some shots of the Rock.

We expected the approach to Gibraltar to be very busy but most of the ships seen on the instruments are at anchor thank goodness and not looming down on us as some are huge.

It seems to take forever to round the point but the marina staff in Ocean village saw us in to our mooring. All is well now and we had a nice meal and Don took me around some of his old stomping grounds.

Right now the boat looks like a chinese laundry with washing on the guard rails.

Thats it for now
Byee

Wer'e off at last!

Wer'e off at last it seems like we have been waiting forever, I have to admit I used to feel very nervous about this but after hearing lots of people speaking of their experience I'm now very excited. Don says its going to be a very exciting adventure and so far he is right.

Well the freezer works so well and it's partially full at least we have lots of ice to chill those rum punches waiting for us.

At the exit of Cartagena is a wall with painting which look quite interesting

Cartagena exit

We left Cartagena with John alongside us on Osprey going for a run about, we will miss him, me especially with him teasing me with all kinds of stories about hurricanes and having to seal the boat with corks. John is a fountain of knowledge and will be our weather man for the crossing. His favourite saying is "never trust the expert who packs your parachute"

Not much further out of the bay we came across the replica ship that was used for the festival, it seemed very odd really going so fast without the sails raised, I guessed there would have to have been hundreds rowing at full pelt but Don insisted they had an engine, lol

Sorry to say we couldn't manage raise the sails until quite late in fact it was 3.35 by the time we did but it wasn't much only 7 or 8 knots, oh well this is the med. 

We did see dolphins and pilot wales but none of which wanted to play they must have been on a mission to do something else.

So far we haven't seen many other yachts but we did see one which we rather fancied but it wouldn't be good as we would need crew to help us.

 Coffee and ginger nuts

What did happen was we were surrounded by what looked like a garden centre had blown into the sea, such a mess, bamboo poles, irrigation pipes and huge plastic pipes. We saw a 45 gallon oil drum, a chair and some sort of wooden cradle, this was very stressful when we managed to snag what looked like half a palm tree on our rudder. 

 

it doesn't look too big here most of it was under the stern

This picture was taken from a distance after it was released

If we had hit this while we were motoring in the dark we dread to think what  might have happened.

 So the decision was made for us, no wind and having to motor in the dark we made a run to one of our favourite anchorages Cala San Pedro such a nice place, we did manage a good very still night.

View Larger Map

The following morning we took advantage of the sea being very calm and fitted some of the new rigging which involved both of us going up the mast which was a first for me. Great view up there but I forgot the camera, next time ok!

When we set out again we still had quite a lot of rubbish to contend with but we managed to sail through the night and onto Benalmadena. We stayed just the afternoon and night.

View Larger Map

After leaving we were lucky to have a little wind and used the new cruising chute great fun, so little wind though we could have managed more.

Our old Spanish courtesy flag, we do have a new one for later.

Me all wrapped up, it does get quite chilly at night, I had 5 layers on plus the lifejacket

We sailed into the night and dropped the anchor just outside La Duqesa but had a very rocky night, its only then you realize what is not packed or stashed properly, bottles, and cups clinking, talk about things that go bump in the night!

View Larger Map

The next blog to come Entering Gibraltar.

Back to the boat

Morning coffee with our friend John from "Osprey"

Well more work, poor Don I can hear you say but he enjoys it!
Luckily for us our friend John drove from the UK and bought out all the things we bought from the boat show, its a good job really as the plane may have had trouble taking off.

Don's retirement present from his workmates, "The Thinker" just like Don

So the work started, the watermaker is bolted down now, to be installed in Gibraltar.

The advantage is you didn't have to reach far to have a drink

The freezer, what a major job,  trial fits which meant the existing fridge freezer being taken out and was put on top of the sofa.

Not a jack in the box but a Don in the box

On the left hand side is the awkward spot where the new box is now

I found Don several times in "the hole" but cables and pipes had to be re located before the box was fitted.

The insulation had to be fixed in place which was tricky to say the least having so little space. We used a car jack to lift the box into place and held it in with clamps.

This shows some of the freezer plate which had to be bent into shape.

The black insulation

Lifting the box with the car jack

So now  those jobs are done we couldn't believe the time had come we were about to leave Cartagena.

We did have some "weather" so much rain but we were able to go out later.

Oh boy did it rain.

Part 2 UK trip

Ok so these posting are an indulgence, not much about the boat but was the lead up to our trip, forgive me.

We left Plymouth to drive back to East Midlands airport where Don took his flight to see his Mum and sister Lisbet in Glasgow. He stayed for 4 days while I stayed with Mum again in Weston Coyney.

Mum and I went out for dinner at Spot Gate a pub restaurant where they have very old railway carriages as dining rooms, all very cosy with huge comfy chairs. I seem to remember the place many years ago it was always so busy you have to book way in advance but we were quite lucky. While I was at Mums the weather did it's usual thing, hailed again just to remind me of what I'm missing about the UK.

I'm sure the UK saves the hail for my arrival 

Mum eating lunch at the "Spotgate" in the old railway carriage 

Just as it used to be

After leaving Mums to collect Don from East Midlands we drove to Birdham Marina near Chichester, its the oldest marina in the UK. We stayed with Steve and Lizzie on Seraph they made us very welcome. We slept on the table in the saloon not under it lol, quite comfortable though. On the Saturday we all went to the Southampton boat show which was pretty quiet, quite a relief though as we had lots to do, we ordered the self steering Hydravane which should keep us on track, we hope. That will be delivered to us in Gibraltar where Don will install it. When we returned to the marina we had an amazing surprise, there was a spitfire flying about performing a smashing show, Steve said they had arranged it just for us, hmm.

Don with Lizzie walking about in Birdham marina

We bought quite a bit from the show and had to return the following day and bought even more, I think we carried so much stuff we grazed our knuckles on the ground. On the Saturday night we walked through the lanes to a restaurant to eat and have a few drinks, staggered back to the boat and quaffed a bottle of bubbly.
On the Sunday night we had booked into the Holiday Inn hotel which is quite close to the airport. John our friend came to us and loaded up all the goodies we had bought so that made things so much easier to return. The taxi was waiting our delayed flight at Murcia and bought us safely back here.

There is so much more to tell about the trip but time is so very short now.
We plan to leave Cartagena on Monday and just hope the weather will be kind to us, we are booked into Gibraltar on the 8th Of October.

Next post soon
Byeeeee

Just where does the time go???

Here you go again making excuses, I can hear you saying it.
Well sorry but finding the time to update the blog has been difficult to say the least, its just past 5 in the morning and the body clock is shot to bits now.

Ok a rundown of the last 3 - 4 weeks.
I met Myra in Alicante airport to hand over her car she had return from her trip to South Africa and a visit to the UK. We had arrange our flights on the same day so at least we had a couple of hours to chat and give one another big hugs.

Myra we almost forgot a photo we were in the car park

A 13 day manic Uk visit,
first 2 nights and 1 day with my Mum.
A full day driving for me from Stoke on Trent down to collect the finally retired Don from Heathrow followed by the drive to Plymouth just over 10 hours in total drive to see the kids and more "boat shopping"
Another drive to East midlands airport to drop Don from where he went to Scotland to see his Mum and sister for 4 days.
I stayed with my Mum until Don returned then I drove to Birdham Pool Marina to stay with Steve and Lizzie and visit the boat show in Southampton. Thankfully we booked flights back from Southampton and had booked a taxi to bring us back from Alicante to Cartagena.

Since the return its been non stop work!

It was nice to see Mum of course we went shopping for a new outfit for her as she was going to a christening, this was a very short visit. I didn't take any photos until the return.

When I collected Don at Heathrow it was a very special, at last retired, the poor thing laden down with heavy bags. We were both quite emotional, he told me the touching story of the farewell together at work before he left and about the guys comments. We stayed on the Hoe in Plymouth a small B&B, a great location not too far out of the city and from Vivien and Andy.

Plymouth has some trendy places to eat and some traditional places too but oh heck the prices are so expensive. Tapas seem to be the "in thing" who can afford to pay £15.95 each for a Paella and Tapas for 2 at £26.95 we have no idea. I did that the place wasn't very busy though so we went to the Tanners brothers gin place to eat which was lovely.

The following day was spent visiting chandlers looking at things we needed to bring back then collected the boys Callum and Alfie, both looking a little bewildered why we were there at the school.

While we were in Plymouth we had another celebration, our 7th wedding anniversary so we met up with Andy, Bill (Andy's dad) Viv and the kids and went out for a meal which was great fun. The boys had a chocolate feast afterwards too.

Choc fest

Choc fest

Viv with the boys, Callum and Alfie

 

Viv with a Yummy pudding 

Who is under the table then ???????

This is the end of part 1