Cartagena

Wind! Great, we had full sail up and were heading out to clear Cabo de Gata, all the time the wind was freshening and when we tried tacking back in it was still bringing us too close to Cabo de Gata, to add to this we had a major diesel leak spilling out from the fuel tank gauge not helped by all the slamming to windward. Continued sailing for a while but it was a terrible slog so after Gordon had his head down the bilges and mopping out diesel we eventually gave up and put the engine on. We had managed 5 hours good sailing, albeit we didn’t get the benefit of the long tack due to a wind shift but hey ho. It was going to be a long enough passage without battling on with the wind on our nose, and to be honest we were still feeling the effects of the past couple of weeks and were pretty knackered.

Cabo de Gata fine on the port bow

We arrived in Cartagena the next morning, went for a well-earned sleep for a few hours before getting the boat gutted, bunks changed, spick and span bilges rid of the last remnants of diesel and a great meal out that night. Best pizza and pasta ever tasted.

Harry and Diane are now back home so we have decided to stay here a while. Dave and Iain are coming out on the 1^st August for a few days and it will give us a chance to recharge our batteries again before they come out and drain them. It’s always a boisterous event but great fun, really looking forward to seeing them. My only reservation is how the four of us will be on this wee boat with the heat………..it is absolutely sweltering and extremely humid, everything feels damp and uncomfortable. Seemingly, it’s been an unusually hot summer; even the Spanish are struggling with the heat. Lucky white heather, welcome to the Med!

On the Saturday Louise heard music in the distance so we followed our ears and we ended up at a street party organised to regenerate funds for the area, the music was great and the people thoroughly enjoying themselves. It was like being downtown Partick in the sun.

A couple of drinks cost you two euros and you got a plate of sardines free.

On returning to the marina one night we discovered Magic , an ARC boat we had been on in Lagos had arrived. The next day Gordon helped them unravel a halliard wrap and after which we we all went out for dinner.

The next day was more subdued, Louise got on with some alfresco ironing as the cruise ships no doubt looked on in wonder.

That’s us under the space blanket!

Off to get some shopping now in preparation for the arrival of our first Mediterranean guests.

Catch you after. . . .