On the move at last.

Dolphins in Torrevieja anchorage . Biggest one I’ve seen!

More wild life on the way to Tarbaca a herd(?) of tuna . Amazing and very big shadowed the boat for 5 minutes.

Sooz doing the tourist angel shot!

The Red Sparrows

Boats queuing behind me at Mar Menor waiting for bridge to lift , delayed by an ambulance so missed part of the airshow!Very busy and fun to anchor a short way off shore in the lagoon to watch proceedings.

Dodgy Johns lovely boat.

Not so bloody lovely when I have to tow him back to Torrevieja. Helped him repair it then started off again next day. Not before the Guardia Civil fascists kicked everyone off the anchorage for no reason!Delayed leaving Torrevieja before John turned up as was having generator repaired 800€ later it’s all done proved to be a mystery but final resolution was  grind the valve seats requiring removal of cylinder head so nothing easy but that was the penultimate option . Next was a bad one!

Calpe . Stopped here and went for a birthday steak pie which I was hankering for!

Dodgy. 🫣.

Now in Moraira on anchor very nice little town. Heading off tomorrow. Johns heading to Ibiza , me heading north. That’s about it for now.

 

Feels like home😳

Back in Torrevieja again! At anchor at the moment for a few days , then in to marina to leave Kat and join another boat I’m taking to Minorca with its new owner. 

A salt freighter manoeuvring in our anchorage! The regular spot on the other side- closer to the shore; has been raided by the Guardia Civil. They kicked people off. No one really knows why!

Been pretty busy. Dismantled the toilet pump and waiting for parts . Very basic facilities here at anchor now! 

Changed engine oil and filter. Re wired and replaced nav lights at front. Took ages to complete due to awkward position of deck hole and position. Changed generator oil and replaced impeller. Serviced one of the winches at the last anchorage! Repaired dingy, serviced carb on the outboard, which stopped working this morning. Ah the joys of the beach commute.

Not all work though. Met up with drunk fin again , not so drunk these days, as with job. Paddle boarding round the anchorage and to nearest shore for exercise, plus been swimming most days. Bit chilly but warmer than British waters, obs! Oh and one Sunday roast in the paddy pub!

From Aguadulce I had a great sail round to Cabo de Palos. 

That’s where the boat got damaged two years ago. Didn’t fancy a repeat so went to the other side of the lighthouse and a moored on a buoy for two days. So nice and had Spanish airforce trainers overhead and second sunset , two firebomber planes - or one twice came round to scoop up unfortunately they scooped on the town side.

Crystal sea, fish everywhere

( escapees from the fish farm) Honed my paddle boarding sea legs which went ok.

That brings me up to date here. Trip from the buoys was about 6 hours sailing . You forget how it was sailing in the summer, just beginning to get hints of it now. The weather has been so unsettled and unreliable, the locals are almost in shock but they’re not Brits! We know weather!

This lovely hound lived on the boat two down at Aguadulce, with a slightly strange but sound ex bullfighter. We did have to cut off a lock and release her when Pepe ( the owner) didn’t come back for two days. Coco was fine loads of food and water,at 17, I reckon she was savouring the peace.

Some interesting chats were had in Sweet Water.

One English neighbour had been in prison for drugs on his boat(75 yr old now) He had a lovely twin masted gaff rigged something or other. Spent some time with him and a younger Dutch bloke with a lovely 55 ft’er. First boat, only had it for a year and came down from Holland. Amazing! An 86 yr old German who lived in china for 30yrs and married a Chinese. Moved to Australia almost killed one of his daughters because of a fault in his Chinese apartment. Above his factory. Went to have a look round his boat which had been fire damaged recently and he came out with all this and tears and should he refurbish this boat or take the insurance and buy another.Bloody hell. With the intention of soloing to Oz or US. At this point sensible Bob appeared and extolled the virtues of dying on one’s 500 hectare farm on the Gold Coast rather than halfway across the pacific with your hand trapped in a winch with no knife handy ! I think he is a bit addled!

Forgot I saw this massive goat in Aguadulce up in the hills. Zoom in to midddle left! Amazing horns.

 

Ah luxury!

Moved from Motril up to Aguadulce. Hot showers , good power , 50 metres from dock side . What’s to complain about.

Motril was fine and good price , just not a lot going on. Very scenic with snow in background.

So waited for favourable winds but with Marina fever departure was delayed a few times. This is when it seems better to lounge about rather than take Kat out for a sail!

Decision was good as using just the furled genakka I was getting 8 kts at times . Following seas but over 4 meter waves with regular 2 meter ones and 30 kts of wind in Almería bay. It was a good return to the water . Only used engine for one hour total . No one to meet me on fuel jetty , so tied up, stayed there the night and moved to a 15 m prime spot😀. Met interesting English bloke , Jon on a 40 ft ketch and his neighbour , mad Spaniard with greyhound!

On the passage down

Several arduous walks up into the hills. This Totem pole was first days destination. Middle of nowhere!

Marina from radio masts . Kat is to the right and front of tower third along gap beside!

Very handy beach! First swim  in sea of 25’ yesterday, googled it and water temp is about 16 °. No news on fine. Not sure what I’m supposed to do about follow up hospital visit will look into it. Otherwise enjoying blue skies.

Been a busy month !

      Portrait of a woman! One of many.

Still no info on final fine to pay but have heard the maximum is €185000 so thats good news. My lawyer found a very useful person to write a report for me. He’s known to the authorities in Almeria . Very qualified master mariner. Used to work for the company who owns the ferry and knows it well . His report has been submitted with my statement so fingers crossed.

Boat has been out of the water, now back in . 40 yr old seacocks have been changed and won’t last half as long but at least now I can turn off incoming water from a relatively simple issue if it occurs.New anti foul. 

Changed main impeller. Removed mainsail for stitching  refitted it and new in boom back haul. Removed the wind vane steering at the back . Heavy , unsightly and unused numerous other little jobs completed but two big ones on hold until I know what the authorities are going to take off me.

                          Vermouth bar Malaga 

Jane visited Malaga so met her there and we trained up to Cordoba then Seville. 

Malaga was a pleasant surprise  and visited an extensive Piccasso collection there. The cathedral in Seville was stunning but the mosque/ cathedral in Cordoba is a favorite. 

A couple more days in Malaga then back to Motril where I decided that the annoying stomach ache I’d had for about 10 days should be investigated. So here I am in the hospital with pancreatitis. Obviously they think I’m an alcaholic but I explained that although there’s been a few drinks had with various people recently, my normal intake is very low. May be the bingeing has bought it on but easy to remedy when I’m out.

The check in and initial checks were unbelievable. X-rays, blood tests drip feeds, escorts and handovers at the relevant departments were smooth and all completed within 1 1/2 hrs of arriving. Last time I was in chichester hospital the patient wasn’t triaged for 5 hrs. I’ve got a two bed room and not sleeping too well but I think that’s common for hospitals and the Spanish do tend to shout at each other!.

Hopefully by the next blog I should have a resolution price for my fine but that’s not guaranteed!

 

       No explanation required but really good show.

Mostly made of wood.

Small baths in Seville!

Rum bodega in Motril started in ‘63’ good year!

And finally two more Picasso’s.

More dramas!

Jeff Koons- the three graces.

Now in Motril on the hard. Time to anti foul and change some sea cocks . Had plans to do other stuff but had a bit of an issue leaving Almeria on the way here which financially precludes anything other than essential work!

7.45; dark, calm weather leaving marina exit into harbour fairway I could sea a ferry coming in at a distance which would be slowing down to manoeuvre so I headed across to other side. No problem and safe distance . The ferry thought otherwise. Long story short. A complaint has been filed €12000 to release my boat as a deposit and as yet an unspecified fine ! Several other factors make me feel I’m being used as a scapegoat and not speaking Spanish I have to get a legal to deal with the maritime law aspects . This is going to cost a lot at best but it’s what’s happened and obviously my insurance for legal services are saying not covered. No surprise there so I’ll probably dispute that and require lawyer input for that as well. Best not to think about it too much and get the boat ship shape.

Otherwise. 

David has been over. Visited by a friend at the marina and another friend visiting next month.

Otherwise David and I travelled up to Alhambra which was amazing then a drive into the mountains which was striking. Tapas here are served automatically with a

beer or wine and consist of meat in sauce with frites or fish and frites. So cheap! Stayed in hotel for a few days so lovely hot showers and proper breakfasts. I’ll probably have to move into a lesser establishment for a few days as not allowed to stay on boat for more than a week very annoyingly. Met an English couple with Ed’s size dog who are digital nomad bloggers . New breed but nice people. Otherwise just mooching around and awaiting descision on my financial destiny.

Did visit thd local sugar house factory museum which was very interesting and cause of massive 18C deforestation. Roll on Monday!

M

Alhambra 

             Mountains Sierra Nevada national park.

                             Local fish dish !!

Heading to Motril for maintenance.

After the Algeria excursion .I settled into Club de Regattas in Alicante. Great little marina, friendly club, two big hills to walk up and right price.

I’ve met two blokes one a Swede the other a Frenchman- very interesting guy who sometimes brought me a croissant to eat with morning coffees. The Swede drove his boat from Scandi through the canals at Hamburg to the Med near Marseilles.Quite a lot of diesel but still an achievement.

Christmas was pretty low key by choice did my usual attempt at boat roast turkey. Pretty successful I think.

I forgot I had a small chunk in the fridge which I discovered on the way to Almeria. Decided against consumption despite my use by date nonchalance. 16 days is pushing my line in the sand for poultry!

New year I went for a meal with French guy , his Ukrainian wife . An Equadorian and his Ukrainian wife and daughter  in a very civilised steak restaurant in Alicante. Last year I was at sea !

Intention at Motril is to take the boat out of the water. Antifoul, change some very old seacocks and quite a few other things. The place comes highly recommended. They speaky ingles and I haven’t been there before so fingers crossed. It is about 200 miles south west of Alicante so with the winds wrong but low I’ve trundled along with no real events. Did see a sword fish jump three times close to the boat. Progress was painfully slow with out wind assistance but it was good to be heading somewhere . Marinas make me a bit soft and squidgy after a time ,not useful. After 17 hrs decided to make anchor at 3am  just past Cartagena, Cabo Tlnoso , just below the fort and guns at Mazarron a favourite of mine.

What a great spot. Not recommend by one boater on a web site I use, as two blokes were having it off on the deserted beach when he was there😵‍💫 no such entertainment for me. The catapult I bought the other day to fire hazel nuts at the drunk Fin in Torrevieja would have come in handy though! 

Pretty rolley during the night but needed the rest so stayed the next day then set off for Almeria. 50 miles from Motril. That’s another 80 sea miles along rocky coast . Had some wind for a while but far too much engine use. Swell was ok , bit of sea fog off Cabo de gato - cape cat!? Then across the bay to Almeria harbour . Not being familiar with the place it’s quite a complicated entry with lots of lights and manoeuvring at 6 am so dark and no point calling for assistance. No one there , plan was to tie up on the fuel pontoon, shouldn’t have to pay and no issues with driving into other berthed boats. Plan worked, so slept for about an hour before bloke turned up and I could fuel up😃.

I came to this place about 15 yrs ago with motorbike on the local circuit , don’t recognize anything must have been at other end of town.

Really like the place . Quite a few Arabs around as Algerian ferries leave from here . Went for a Moroccan kebab last night- why won’t I learn? - they are shit . Mayonnaise, pink cream chilli sauce, he tried to put cheese and sweet corn in it and the meat was ok don’t know what type. I told him I wanted it hot so he put the whole wrap under the grill as normal . ITS GOT carrot and lettuce in!! I got a fork and deconstructed it . Very despondent, I’m not getting another kebab until a Turk or Greek does it in London with greasy lamb and mixed salad with proper chilli sauce.I’m salivating here! I noted there are a lot of Kurds driving kebab shops in the uk . They might be Turkish Kurds but just say no , they don’t know how to make a proper English kebab.

Went up the fort atop the hill here today . I thought Alicante’s was great but this I think is better.

                 

 Water channels and palm trees . Free!How they finance these renovations is beyond me, though the sign does mention EU so at least my tax £ is no longer paying for it . Wow a Brexit benefit! If you look at the sign which mentions about 4.5 million it also says and 49 cents .

 What did that pay for 😂😂 such responsible accounting , the workmanship looks great and within a reasonable time. 

Let’s not refer to Victory minus its masts or the M25 or the Thames wobbly bridge!

That’s more or less up to date . Hopefully leave for Motril on Monday. 

One last thing el cable Inglés. 

A steel structure designed by an Englishman , in the Eiffel style for a Scotch mining company .To unload ore from trains straight into boats holds, now a promenade ,amazing .Ceased  working in 73 .Preserved for posterity and renovated, again at what expense but why not? When I asked about it some one said it was made by Eiffel but Google appears to think not.

View from the cable Inglés , that’s the Kat second from right in the right corner.