A new friend !

 

Larry the Lemur great conversationalist -minimal, no drivel, no politics, no religion got life pretty sorted except he lives in a large cage,Gibraltar wild life park .Most of the animals are impounded as illegal imports very friendly and health and safety doesn't seem to be an issue as you walk through the cage they come up to you. Gib is better than I remember it.Lots of development has occurred with £1m apartments common in the new developments. Very cheap for duty free and not bad in bars etc but still cheaper outside. Getting across is still a problem with three countries  claiming sovereignty but only because they all want to look at your passport and Spain is being obstructive by checking people going in.

The marina is great and the runway 300 metres away is fun. I've had my gear box removed which was pretty impressive in 3 hours. One small problem already found but they need to strip it to ascertain the main issue(no neutral). Apart from that not much to report until they've done that and I know how long I have to stay here.

Will flew home yesterday after about 5 weeks ,1000 miles and numerous ports etc. We had some good times and only a few disagreements which for two blokes who don't know one another that well in a confined space I think is pretty impressive. I've enjoyed having him on board and nice to have some one who knew their way around a boat. Some one with less frequent bowel movements will be an addition to my next crew ad!

Larry giving me some top pulling tips.

                                                                                                              The rock from the dark side             

Ed's last picture hung above his sleeping area.

When in Rome......British territory in this case

 Well despite having bacon proper for the first time in four and a half months a few days ago my hankering for a full English got the better of me. Very tasty it was too. Gibraltar at last ,not my favourite place but interesting and the start of the med.

 So the departure from Cadiz was fine .the gear box still won't go in to neutral but the guy is coming to look at it tomorrow to give me the bad news! Whilst in Cadiz Jane turned up on her cruise ship which was funny and I asked her to rob a bacon sandwich from her breakfast hence my first bacon foray mentioned above. Also she bought me a supply of baked beans which I'd been unable to get since leaving home .Shame Gib has a Morrisons supplying them but that's sods law at work again.

Cadiz cathedral and one of the many green parks with parakeets in residence

The trip over from Cadiz was interesting. People were talking about weather windows due to the Levante winds than funnel down the straits of Gibraltar at commonly 30 MPH. Our decision was to sail through the night and deal with what ever was there if anything. As it happened from about 11pm till anchoring at 4am the sea state was very rough with wave sets about 4 meters apart which is pretty close plus winds gusting at over  30 knots .Even with the the main having two reefs and the genoa half furled we were making absolutely no head way on tacking so again unfortunately desailed and put the engine on.The other issue is very busy major shipping lanes at the point of tack and some of the ships heading off to different directions .Tangier was visible clearly but conditions were bad and the hull was smashing against the waves. All pretty exiting .Will and I were doing 2 hours on 2 off but had to wake him after an hour as the auto helm had given up the ghost (not terminal I fixed it the next day). The lights of Tarifa were clear ahead but the port entry was round the other side up the straits so I decided that anchoring in the peninsular lee was most prudent. That went very well and we woke in the morning in this lovely bay no swell but as big winds as the night before! Always fun to see what you couldn't see the night before.

On the way to this place we went through or over the actual site of the battle of Trafalgar .Very poignant ,couldn't help thinking about what sailing in those ships at that time would have been like especially for the sailors.

That little white spire is Cabo de Trafalgar!! We're about 4 miles off shore. 

Arriving in Gib' the first marina only had stern to which I don't do and no one on phone or radio so having moored alongside apparently behind a locked gate we departed for La Linea marina over the other side of Gib' harbour but still in Spain. Nice place even with 4 young blokes trying to find passages as crew going any where .Not tempted certainly not by the dreadlocked tent dweller who reeked of B.O. There we are Will is staying for a couple of days then departs for UK and I need to make a decision as to where next and who with if the gear box is fixed.

T.N.T.

Ah the historical origin of possibly Britain's greatest sea victory.

 ...........ably assisted by the Portuguese I might add. I learnt the other day that it's the only European nation we haven't had a war with. Not well enough informed to verify that .Lichtenstein?. Did we war with the Danish or Swedish?

 I must have known it but the reason for sticking two fingers up when appropriate stems from the French cutting off the two string fingers of longbow archers. No of course that's complete tosh -urban  myth, but nice idea.

 So Cadiz town is lovely, similar streets to Lisbon. Shared a couple of beers and tapas with two Spaniards really friendly and  visiting themselves .Used new bike purchased off some Norwegian for the first time to take me to town. 20 minutes walk though industrial port area there's a reason this is the cheapest marina I've been to 17 euros inc elec and water I'm not complaining! Interestingly (to some ) fuel here was 1,81/ltr.I paid 2.10 less than 2 weeks ago and that was the going rate, big drop over very short period???

Nothing else to report other than to explain the music video was a band practising in a run down walk way on way back to boat .I thought it was a funeral but its for an Easter procession. The vid doesn't do it justice but incredible sound off a ramshackle bunch of locals.

Catch up

 Why is every one I speak to not reading my blog.I know there hasn't ben much content recently but I suppose its a good way for me to remember where I've been!

Since A Coruna we've been to a few anchorages and a multitude of ports. Most have fishing boats going in and all have a charm about them. Arrived to day in Lagos on the southern coast of Portugal .Noticeably different because .The dolphins are bigger and greyer also the swell is virtually nil at the moment which makes life aboard far more comfortable. My gear box doesn't seem to want to go in to neutral which is more than annoying but still doable .Will probably involve time and expense but I'll choose when. The other issue is the orcas which have been attacking yachts and one which we were shadowing south from Spain has been assaulted. Its rudder badly damaged and other things .This happened about 3 days ago between 1 and 4am .The skipper young and very capable dealt with it but his plans are now up in the air.

 Eds ashes are wending their way home by French post, hopefully to arrive in the next few days and will be sprinkled on one of his walks. He wouldn't have enjoyed some of the passages we've been on or the dingy rides!

Since Porto we've stopped in Figueira da Foz, Peniche,Cascais, Sines and Cabo de SaoVinecte. In Cascais I met up with Andrew and Anna, dog walking circuit friends who have visited there for 30 years really nice to see familiar faces and catch up .time for some more visitors I think that's all for now ,here are a few more pics. Next main destination is Cadiz which has a mystic attraction about it probably Faro first.

                                                              Light repair up mast

                                                                           Lisbon

Last nights anchorage