Gran Tarajal

Trip from Calero: Thursday 22nd:

We set off about 7.30 to go to Gran Tarajal, only a 42 miles not far I know but as usual the wind did not play nicely. So motored all the way with the headsail up to keep us stable, there was a big swell but not so bad as before. 

When we did reach Gran Tarajal and entered the marina it was blowing around 20 knots which is not so funny when you try to manoeuvre backwards onto short pontoons. There were no marineros to help, just the security guy and thankfully a few boats to help us in. The port captain is on holiday so the security guys are doing everything they can to help. 

The marina has short floating pontoons which are quite low and as there are strip light like the ones to decorate the house with at Christmas the passerelle is out of question, it looks pretty. No big deal but its a challenge to step off the boat as Don found out when we came in. Poor thing slipped an fell in, when we came in Don was using the bow thrusters which couldn't handle the power so the main boat fuse blew. So after Don's dunking he needed a shower, when he tried the tap nothing came out, no fuse so no power. I'm not saying what he used but its still working and when we find a chandler with fuses the same we will buy a few.

Leave him alone for 2 minutes ,,,,  Just who is this woman? I can't take him anywhere!

Gran Tarajal reminds me of the places when I first came to Spain many years ago, we love it. There is some kind of clown festival going on for the kids most of the week. 

The town council seem to be making this place very different, the sides of many buildings are being painted with Murals which are very good, it beats plain white walls any day. It must be difficult not being able to stand back and look at what you have painted, they use a cherry picker.

Saturday 24th November: There was a procession through the main streets. We watched a few hundred kids and adults joining in the fun, one of the floats managed to get a puncture so there were people including kids lifting the float so one guy changed the wheel. All the traffic backed up the town including the camels laden with kids having a great time.

We heard about the weather and the ARC being delayed which means there is no space in Las Palmas marina in Gran Canaria so we decided to sit out the weather here. The earliest the ARC rally will leave now is Tuesday 27th.

To use the internet we have to take the laptops into town and use the cafe to do anything online so doing the blog is not easy.

Sunday 26th November: We are bouncing about quite a lot, the salvamiento boat (life boat) went out today no wonder with the swell and conditions its bad enough here and this afternoon a boat came limping in the engine had failed. We went to the fisherman's bar to eat and watch the Brazilian Gran prix, great atmosphere with all nationalities getting very excited. Not much wind but the water is breaking inside the marina so I think it may be a bumpy night again.

Monday 27th November: As predicted the wind is blustery and we had some rain but its reasonably warm so we went to the cafe in town to upload the blog, are going into town a 15 minute stroll.

Tuesday 27th November: Oh well best laid plans and all that, weather looking too bad to leave here now so looks like Gran Canaria will have to wait.

BFN

Don and Glenys

Agua Therapy